anner.themummy-第26节

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　She　herself　had　never　been　in　this　part　of　London。　It　saddened　her；　it　exacerbated　her　own　pain。
　
　〃This　Henry　should　be　stopped；〃　　Ramses　said　firmly。　〃Before　he　tries　again　to　hurt　you。　And　your　father's　death；　surely　you　want　it　avenged。〃
　
　〃It　will　kill　my　uncle　Randolph　when　he　finds　out　what　happened。　That　is；　if　he　doesn't　already　know。〃
　
　〃The　uncle；　the　one　who　came　this　morning　with　such　fear　for　you…he's　innocent　and　is　afraid　for　his　son。　But　cousin　Henry　is　evil。　And　the　evil　is　unchecked。〃
　
　She　was　trembling。　The　tears　had　risen　to　her　eyes。
　
　〃I　can't　do　anything　now。　He's　my　cousin。　They're　my　only　family。　And　when　something　is　done；　it　will　have　to　be　in　a　court　of　law。〃
　
　〃You　are　in　danger；　Julie　Stratford；〃　　he　said　to　her。
　
　〃Ramses；　I　am　not　a　Queen　here。　I　cannot　act　on　my　own。〃
　
　〃But　I　am　a　King。　I　always　will　be。　My　conscience　can　bear　this　burden。　Let　me　act　when　I　see　fit。〃
　
　〃No！〃　　she　whispered。　She　looked　up　at　him　imploringly。　He　pressed　his　arm　against　her；　gently；　then　reached　as　if　to　embrace　her。　She　held　steady。〃　Promise　me　you　will　do　nothing。　If　something　happens；　it　will　be　on　my　conscience　too。〃
　
　〃He　killed　your　father。〃
　
　〃Kill　him　and　you　kill　my　father's　daughter；〃　　she　said。
　
　There　was　a　silent　moment　in　which　he　merely　looked　at　her；　marvelling　perhaps；　she　couldn't　tell。　She　felt　his　right　arm　on　her　left　arm。　Then　he　drew　her　close　to　him；　her　breasts　against　his　chest；　and　he　kissed　her；　his　mouth　opening　over　hers。　The　heat　was　immediate　and　utterly　consuming。　She　reached　up　to　push　him　away；　and　found　her　fingers　slipping　up　through　his　hair。　She　cradled　his　head　gently。　And　then　drew　back；　thoughtlessly；　astonished。
　
　For　a　moment　she　couldn't　speak。　Her　face　was　flushed；　and　she　felt　soft　all　over；　and　utterly　exposed。　She　closed　her　eyes。　She　knew　that　if　he　touched　her　again；　the　game　was　up。　She　would　end　up　making　love　to　him　in　this　cab；　if　she　didn't　do　something。。。
　
　〃What　did　you　think　I　was；　Julie？〃　　he　asked。〃　A　spirit？　I'm　an　immortal　man。〃
　
　He　moved　to　kiss　her　again；　she　moved　away；　her　hand　up。
　
　〃Shall　we　speak　again　of　Henry？〃　　he　asked。　He　took　her　hand　and　clasped　it　and　kissed　her　fingers。〃　Henry　knows　what　I　am。　He　saw；　because　I　moved　to　save　your　life；　Julie。　He　saw。　And　there　is　no　reason　to　let　him　live　with　this　knowledge；　since　he　is　evil　and　deserves　to　die。〃
　
　He　knew　she　could　hardly　concentrate　on　the　words　he　was　speaking。　It　made　her　angry　suddenly；　his　lips　grazing　her　fingers；　his　blue　eyes　flashing　like　lights　in　the　dim　cab。
　
　〃Henry　made　a　fool　of　himself　with　that　story；〃　　she　said。〃　And　he　won't　try　to　hurt　me　again。〃　　She　withdrew　her　hand　and　looked　out　the　window。　They　were　leaving　this　sad；　miserable　slum。　Thank　God。
　
　He　gave　a　little　thoughtful　shrug。
　
　〃Henry's　a　coward；〃　　she　said。　Her　body　was　under　control　again。〃　A　terrible　coward。　The　way　he　did　it　to　Father；　such　a　coward。〃
　
　〃Cowards　can　be　more　dangerous　than　brave　men；　Julie；〃　　he　said；　〃Don't　hurt　him！〃　　she　whispered。　She　turned　again　to　face　Ramses。〃　For　my　sake；　leave　it　to　God。　I　can't　be　his　judge　and　jury！〃
　
　〃So　like　a　Queen；〃　　he　said。〃　And　wiser　than　most　Queens。〃
　
　He　bent　slowly　to　kiss　her　again。　She　knew　she　ought　to　turn　away；　but　she　didn't。　And　the　heat　flooded　her　again；　weakening　her　pletely。　When　she　pulled　away；　he　tried　to　hold　her；　but　her　immediate　resistance　won　out。
　
　When　she　looked　at　him　again；　he　was　smiling。
　
　〃A　guest　in　your　court；〃　　he　said　with　a　little　gesture　of　acceptance；〃　my　Queen。〃
　
　Elliott　had　not　the　slightest　difficulty　overwhelming　Rita。　Even　as　she　begged　him　to　understand　that　her　mistress　was　not　at　home；　and　surely　he　must　e　back　another　time；　he　moved　past　her；　directly　into　the　Egyptian　room。
　
　〃Ah；　these　lovely　treasures。　Not　enough　time　in　the　world　to　examine　them。　Do　get　me　a　glass　of　sherry；　Rita。　I　find　I'm　tired。　I'll　rest　for　a　moment　before　going　home。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir；　but…〃
　
　〃Sherry；　Rita。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　
　How　anxious　and　pale　she　looked；　poor　girl。　And　what　a　mess　this　library　was。　There　were　books　scattered　everywhere。　He　looked　at　the　table　in　the　conservatory。　He　could　see　from　where　he　stood　that　there　were　dictionaries　stacked　on　the　wicker　table；　papers　and　magazines　in　neat　little　piles　all　about　the　chairs。
　
　But　Lawrence's　diary　was　here　on　the　desk；　just　as　he　hoped。　He　opened　it；　confirmed　that　there　was　no　mistake；　then　slipped　it　under　his　coat。
　
　He　was　staring　at　the　mummy　case　when　Rita　came　to　him；　with　the　glass　of　sherry　on　a　small　silver　tray。
　
　Leaning　heavily　on　his　cane；　he　lifted　the　glass　and　took　only　a　taste　of　it。〃　You　wouldn't　let　me　have　a　look　at　the　mummy；　now　would　you？〃　　he　asked。
　
　〃Good　Lord；　no；　sir！　Please　don't　touch　it！〃　　Rita　said。　Pure　panic　as　she　stared　at　the　mummy　case。〃　It's　very　heavy；　sir！　We　mustn't　try　to　lift　it。〃
　
　〃There；　there。　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　it's　a　thin　wooden　shell；　and　not　very　heavy　at　all。〃
　
　The　girl　was　terrified。
　
　He　smiled。　He　took　out　a　sovereign　and　gave　it　to　her。　She　was　astonished。　She　shook　her　head。
　
　〃No；　take　it；　dearest。　Buy　yourself　something　pretty。〃
　
　And　before　she　could　think　what　to　say；　he　moved　past　her　and　towards　the　front　door。　She　hurried　to　open　it　for　him。
　
　He　paused　only　when　he　had　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps。　Now；　why　hadn't　he　forced　the　issue？　Why　hadn't　he　looked　in　that　case？
　
　His　man　Walter　came　forward　to　assist　him。　Good　old　Walter；　who　had　been　with　him　since　he　was　a　boy。　He　let　Walter　help　him　up　into　the　idling　car　now；　and　he　sat　back；　the　pain　in　his　hip　biting　deeply　as　he　stretched　out　his　legs。
　
　Would　he　have　been　surprised　to　find　that　case　empty；　to　discover　that　this　was　not　a　little　game？　On　the　contrary。　He　realized　that　he　fully　believed　the　case　was　empty。　And　he　had　been　afraid　to　see　that　for　himself。
　
　Mr。　Hancock　of　the　British　Museum　was　not　a　patient　man。　All　his　life　he　had　used　his　devotion　to　Egyptian　antiquities　to　bully　people；　to　justify　rudeness　and　downright　meanness　to　others。　This　was　part　of　his　nature；　as　much　as　his　genuine　love　for　the　relics　and　papyri　which　he　had　been　studying　ail　his　life。
　
　He　read　aloud　the　headline　before　him　to　the　three　other　gentlemen　in　the　room。
　
　〃　'Mummy　Walks　in　Mayfair。'〃　He　folded　the　papers。〃　This　is　perfectly　disgusting。　Is　young　Stratford　out　of　his　mind？〃
　
　The　older　gentleman　who　sat　directly　opposite　on　the　other　side　of　the　desk　merely　smiled。
　
　〃Henry　Stratford's　a　drunkard；　and　a　gambler。　The　mummy　climbed　out　of　its　case；　indeed！〃
　
　〃But　the　point　is；〃　　said　Hancock；〃　we　have　entrusted　a　priceless　collection　of　antiquities　to　a　private　household；　and　now　we　have　this　little　scandal！　With　Scotland　Yard　ing　and　going　and　reporters　from　the　gutter　press　on　the　steps。〃
　
　〃If　you　will　forgive　me；〃　　the　elder　gentleman　countered。　'〃The　matter　of　the　stolen　coin　is　much　more　disturbing。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　said　Samir　Ibrahaim　quietly　from　the　outer　edge　of　the　circle　where　he　sat。〃　But　I　tell　you　there　were　only　five　when　I　cataloged　the　collection；　and　none　of　us　has　seen　this　so…called　stolen　coin。〃
　
　〃Nevertheless；〃　　said　Hancock；〃　Mr。　Taylor　is　a　reputable　coin　dealer。　He　was　certain　the　coin　was　authentic。　And　that　it　was　Henry　Stratford　who　offered　it　for　sale。〃
　
　〃Stratford　could　have　stolen　it　in　Egypt；〃　　said　the　elder　gentleman。　There　were　a　couple　of　nods　from　the　circle。
　
　〃The　collection　should　be　in　the　museum；〃　　said　Hancock。〃　We　should　be　making　our　examinations　of　the　Ramses　mummy　now。　The　Cairo　Museum　is　angry　about　this　controversy。　And　now；　this　coin…〃
　
　〃But；　gentlemen；〃　　Samir　interrupted。〃　Surely　we　can　make　no　decision　about　the　safety　of　the　collection　until　we've　talked　to　Miss　Stratford。〃
　
　〃Miss　Stratford　is　very　young；〃　　Hancock　said　snappishly。〃　And　she　is　in　a　state　of　grief　which　clouds　her　judgment。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　said　the　elder　gentleman。〃　But　surely　everyone　present　realizes　that　Lawrence　Stratford　contributed　millions　to　this　museum。　No；　I　think　Samir　is　right。　We　cannot　move　the　collection　until　Miss　Stratford　gives　her　permission。〃
　
　Hancock　glanced　again　at　the　newspapers。〃　　'Ramses　Rises　from　the　Grave；'〃　he　read。〃　I　tell　you　I　don't　like　it。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　another　guard　should　be　posted；〃　　said　Samir。〃　Perhaps　two。〃
　
　The　elder　gentleman　nodded。〃　Good　suggestion。　But　again；　Miss　Stratford's　feelings　are　to　be　considered。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　you　should　call　on　her！〃　　Hancock　said；　glaring　at　Samir。〃　You　were　her　father's　friend。〃
　
　〃Very　well；　sir；〃　　Samir　answered　in　a　low　voice。〃　I　shall　certainly　do　that。〃
　
　Early　evening：　the　Hotel　Victoria。　Ramses　had　been　dining　since　four　o'clock；　when　the　sun　was　still　slanting　through　the　leaded　glass；　onto　the　white…draped　tables。　Now　it　was　dark；　candles　blazed　everywhere；　the　ceiling　fans　turned　very　slowly；　barely　stirring　the　fronds　of　the　tall；　elegant　dark…green　palms　in　their　brass　pots。
　
　Liveried　waiters　brought　plate　after　plate　of　food　wit