anner.themummy-第37节

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tector　than　Samir。〃
　
　〃Julie；　neither　of　them　is　a　proper　panion　and　you　know　this。　This　is　nothing　short　of　scandalous。〃
　
　〃Uncle　Randolph；　the　boat　leaves　at　four　o'clock。　We　must　be　leaving　here　now。　Let's　get　to　the　business　at　hand；　shall　we？　I've　had　a　power　of　attorney　prepared；　so　that　you　can　run　Stratford　Shipping　with　a　free　hand。〃
　
　Silence。　So　at　last　we　get　to　the　heart　of　the　matter；　Elliott　thought　coolly。　He　could　hear　Randolph　slowly　clearing　his　throat。
　
　〃Well；　I　suppose　mat's　necessary；　my　dear；〃　　he　answered　weakly。
　
　Alex　tried　to　interrupt；　but　Julie　overrode　him　politely。　Were　there　any　other　papers　Randolph　wanted　her　to　sign？　He　could　send　them　on　to　Alexandria　immediately。　She'd　sign　them　and　send　them　home　from　there。
　
　Satisfied　that　Julie　would　be　leaving　on　schedule；　Elliott　rose　and　walked　casually　out　into　the　conservatory。
　
　Ramsey　went　on　eating　superhuman　amounts　of　food；　quite　undeterred。　He　now　took　one　of　three　different　lighted　cigars　and　drew　on　it；　then　went　back　to　his　pudding；　and　his　roast　beef；　and　his　buttered　bread。　It　was　a　history　of　modern　Egypt　that　lay　open　before　him；　the　chapter　entitled〃　The　Mamluke　Massacre。〃　　The　man　appeared　to　be　scanning；　so　rapidly　did　his　finger　move　down　the　page。
　
　Suddenly　Elliott　realized　he　was　surrounded　by　foliage。　He　was　almost　startled　by　the　size　of　the　fern　beside　him；　and　the　immense　heavy　bougainvillea　brushing　his　shoulder；　as　it　partially　blocked　the　door。　Good　Lord；　what　had　happened　here？　Lilies　everywhere　he　looked；　and　the　daisies　exploding　out　of　their　pots；　and　the　ivy　gone　wild　over　the　entire　roof。
　
　Concealing　his　shock；　though　from　whom　he　wasn't　certain；　since　neither　Ramsey　nor　Samir　took　official　note　of　him；　he　tore　off　one　of　the　blue…and…　white　morning　glories　blooming　just　over　his　head。
　
　He　stared　at　the　perfect　trumpet…shaped　blossom。　What　sweetness。　Then　slowly　he　looked　up　to　meet　Ramsey's　gaze。
　
　Samir　roused　himself　suddenly　from　his　apparent　state　of　meditation。
　
　〃Lord　Rutherford；　allow　me　。。。*'　Then　he　stopped　as　if　at　a　plete　loss　for　words。
　
　Ramsey　rose　to　his　feet；　wiping　his　fingers　carefully　on　his　linen　napkin。
　
　Absently　the　Earl　slipped　the　morning　glory　in　his　pocket；　and　then　extended　his　hand。
　
　〃Reginald　Ramsey；〃　　he　said；〃　a　great　pleasure。　I'm　an　old　friend　of　the　Stratford　family。　Something　of　an　Egyptologist　myself。　It　is　my　son；　Alex；　who　is　engaged　to　be　married　to　Julie。　Perhaps　you　know。〃
　
　The　man　hadn't　known。　Or　he　didn't　understand。　A　faint　flush　came　to　his　cheeks。
　
　〃Married　to　Julie？〃　　he　said　in　a　half　whisper。　And　then；　with　forced　gaiety：〃　He　is　a　fortunate　man；　your　son。〃
　
　The　Earl　eyed　the　table　laden　with　food；　because　he　couldn't　stop　himself；　and　the　blossoms　all　but　crowding　out　the　sun　above。　He　looked　placidly　at　the　man　before　him；　who　was　certainly　one　of　the　handsomest　creatures　he'd　ever　seen。　Downright　beautiful；　when　you　thought　of　it。　The　sort　of　large　passionate　blue　eyes　that　drive　women　mad。　Add　the　ready　smile　and　one　has　a　near…fatal　bination。
　
　But　the　silence　was　being　unfortable。
　
　〃Ah；　the　diary；〃　　Elliott　said。　He　reached　into　his　coat。　Samir　recognized　it　immediately；　that　was　plain。
　
　〃This　diary；〃　　Elliott　said；〃　it　belonged　to　Lawrence。　It　has　valuable　information　on　Ramses'　tomb。　Notes　on　a　papyrus　left　by　the　man；　it　seems。　I　picked　it　up　the　other　night。　I　must　put　it　back。〃
　
　There　was　a　sudden　coldness　in　Ramsey's　face。
　
　Elliott　turned；　leaning　on　his　cane；　and　took　a　few　painful　steps　toward　Lawrence's　desk。
　
　Ramsey　came　along　with　him。
　
　〃The　pain　in　your　joints；〃　　Ramsey　asked；〃　have　you　a　modem　。。。　a　medicine　for　it？　There　was　an　old　Egyptian　remedy。　The　willow　bark。　One　had　to　boil　it。〃
　
　〃　Yes；〃　　Elliott　answered；　looking　up　again　into　those　distracting　blue　eyes。〃　In　this　day　and　age　we　call　it　aspirin；　don't　we？〃　　He　smiled。　This　was　going　infinitely　better　than　he　had　ever　anticipated。　He　hoped　the　colour　wasn't　dancing　hi　his　face　as　it　was　in　Ramsey's。〃　Where　have　you　been　all　these　years　that　you　haven't　heard　of　aspirin；　my　dear　man？　We　produce　it　synthetically；　and　of　course　you　are　familiar　with　that　word。〃
　
　Ramsey's　posure　was　unbroken；　though　he　narrowed　his　eyes　just　a　little　as　if　he　wanted　the　Earl　to　realize　he　was　being　appraised。
　
　〃I'm　not　a　scientific　man；　Lord　Rutherford；〃　　he　answered。〃　I'm　more　an　observer；　a　philosopher。　So　you　call　it　aspirin。　I　am　pleased　to　know　it。　Maybe　I　have　spent　too　much　of　my　time　in　distant　lands。〃　　He　raised　his　eyebrows　almost　playfully。
　
　〃Of　course　the　ancient　Egyptians　had　more　potent　medicines　than　willow　bark；　didn't　they？〃　　Elliott　pushed　it。　He　looked　at　the　row　of　alabaster　jars　on　the　table　across　the　room。〃　Potent　medicines…elixirs；　so　to　speak…which　could　cure　more　potent　ailments　than　the　pain　I　suffer　in　my　bones。〃
　
　〃Potent　medicines　have　their　price；〃　　Ramses　replied　calmly。〃　Or　shall　I　say；　their　dangers。　But　what　an　unusual　man　you　are；　Lord　Rutherford。　Surely　you　don't　believe　what　you　read　in　the　notebook　of　your　friend　Lawrence。〃
　
　〃Oh；　but　I　do　believe　it。　Because；　you　see；　I　am　not　a　scientific　man　either。　Perhaps；　we　are　both　philosophers；　you　and　I。　And　I　fancy　myself　something　of　a　poet；　because　so　much　of　my　wandering　has　been　in　my　dreams　alone。〃
　
　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other　in　silence　for　a　moment。
　
　〃A　poet；〃　　Ramsey　repeated；　eyes　moving　over　Elliott　almost　rudely　to　take　his　measure。〃　I　understand　you。　But　you　do　say　most　unusual　things。〃
　
　Elliott　tried　to　hold　steady。　He　could　feel　the　sweat　breaking　out　under　his　shirt。　The　man's　face　was　so　unexpectedly　open；　and　almost　inviting。
　
　〃I　should　like　to　know　you；〃　　Elliott　confessed　suddenly。〃　I。。。1　should　like　to　。。。　learn　from　you。〃　　He　hesitated。　The　blue　eyes　fixed　him　in　silence　again。〃　Perhaps　in　Cairo　or　Alexandria　we　should　have　some　time　to　talk　to　one　another。　Perhaps　even　on　shipboard；　we　might　bee　acquainted。〃
　
　〃You　are　going　to　Egypt？〃　　Ramsey　asked；　cocking　his　head。
　
　〃Yes。〃　　Politely　he　moved　past　Ramsey；　and　into　the　drawing
　
　room。　He　stood　beside　Julie；　who　had　just　signed　another　bank　draft　for　her　uncle；　which　she　placed　now　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Yes；〃　　Elliott　said；　turning　back　to　Ramsey　and　speaking　loudly　enough　for　the　others　to　hear　him。〃　Alex　and　I　are　both　going。　I　booked　passage　on　the　same　ship；　as　soon　as　Julie　called。　We　wouldn't　dream　of　letting　her　go　alone；　would　we；　Alex？〃
　
　〃Elliott；　I　told　you　no；〃　　Julie　said。
　
　〃Father；　I　didn't　realize　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　dear；〃　　Elliott　said　to　Julie；〃　but　I　couldn't　take　no　for　an　answer。　Besides；　this　may　be　the　last　time　I　see　Egypt。　And　Alex　has　never　been　there。　Surely　you　won't　deny　us　the　pleasure。　Is　there　any　reason　why　we　should　not　all　go？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　should　see　it；〃　　Alex　said；　by　this　time　thoroughly　confused。
　
　〃Well；　your　trunk's　packed　and　on　its　way；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　e　on；　now；　or　we're　all　going　to　miss　the　boat；　so　to　speak。〃
　
　Julie　was　staring　at　him　in　a　silent　fury。
　
　Ramsey　gave　a　soft　laugh　behind　him。
　
　〃So　we　all　go　to　Egypt；〃　　he　said。〃　I　find　this　most　interesting。　We　shall　talk　on　board；　Lord　Rutherford；　as　you　have　said。〃
　
　Randolph　looked　up　after　tucking　the　power　of　attorney　into　his　coat。
　
　〃Well；　that　solves　everything；　doesn't　it？　Have　a　pleasant　journey；　my　darling。〃　　He　kissed　his　niece　tenderly　on　the　cheek。
　
　The　dream　again；　but　he　couldn't　wake　up。　He　turned　over　in　Daisy's　bed；　into　the　scratchy　lace　pillow　with　its　cloying　perfume。〃　Just　a　dream；〃　　he　murmured；〃　have　to　stop　it。〃　　But　he　saw　the　mummy　ing　towards　him；　the　long　strips　of　darkened　linen　trailing　from　its　shuffling　feet。　He　felt　the　fingers　lock　on　his　throat。
　
　He　tried　to　scream；　but　he　couldn't。　He　was　suffocated；　the　smell　of　the　filthy　cerements　choking　him。
　
　He　turned　over；　thrashing　at　the　bedcovers　and　suddenly　striking　out　with　his　fist；　only　to　feel　fingers　locked　on　it　tightly。
　
　When　he　opened　his　eyes；　he　saw　his　father's　face。
　
　〃Oh；　God；〃　　he　whispered。　He　fell　back　on　the　pillow。　The　dream　locked　around　him　again　for　an　instant；　but　he　shuddered　and　stared　again　at　his　father　standing　over　the　bed。
　
　〃Father；〃　　he　moaned。〃　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　
　〃I　might　ask　you　that　question。　Get　out　of　that　bed　and　get　dressed。　Your　trunk's　waiting　downstairs；　along　with　a　cab　to　take　you　to　the　P　and　O　docks。　You're　going　to　Egypt。〃
　
　〃The　hell　I　am！〃　　What　was　this；　another　stage　of　the　nightmare？
　
　His　father　removed　his　hat　and　took　the　bedside　chair。　When　Henry　reached　for　his　cigar　and　matches；　his　father　knocked　them　out　of　his　hand。
　
　〃Damn　you；〃　　Henry　whispered。
　
　〃Now　you　listen　to　me。　I　have　things　in　hand　again　and　I　intend　to　keep　it　that　way。　Your　cousin　Julie　and　her　mysterious　Egyptian　friend　are　setting　out　for　Alexandria　this　afternoon；　and　Elliott　and　Alex　are　going　with　them。　Now　you　will　be　on　that　ship；　too；　do　you　understand？　You　are　Julie's　cousin；　and　therefore　the　only　proper　panion。　And　you　wi