anner.themummy-第39节

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etter　of　two　evils；　and　you　need　not　worry　about　that　part　of　it。　I　shall　do　it　alone。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sire。　But　if　for　any　reason　you　do　not　want　this　task；　I　shall　be　more　than　happy　to　kill　this　man　myself。〃
　
　Ramses　laughed　softly。　How　he　liked　this　one；　so　shrewd；　yet　honest；　patient；　yet　keenly　clever　as　well。
　
　〃Maybe　we　should　kill　him　together；　Samir；〃　　he　said。〃　But　whatever　the　case　I　am　ravenous。　When　do　we　take　this　great　meal　together　on　the　pink　tablecloths　amid　the　great　potted　palms？〃
　
　〃All　too　soon；　sire；　and　please　be　。。。　careful。〃
　
　〃Samir；　do　not　worry；〃　　Ramses　said。　He　took　Samir's　hand。〃　I　have　my　instructions　already　from　Queen　Julie。　I　am　to　eat　only　one　item　of　fish；　one　item　of　fowl；　one　item　of　meat；　and　not　all　at　the　same　time。〃
　
　It　was　Samir's　turn　to　laugh　softly。
　
　〃Are　you　unhappy　still？〃　　Ramses　asked。
　
　〃No；　sire。　I　am　very　happy。　Don't　ever　be　disappointed　in　my　sombre　expression。　I　have　seen　more　in　my　life；　as　of　this　moment；　than　I　ever　dreamed　I　would　see。　When　Henry　Stratford　is　dead；　I　shall　ask　for　nothing　more。〃
　
　Ramses　nodded。　His　secret　was　safe　forever　with　this　one；　he　knew　it；　though　he　could　not　fully　understand　this　quality　of　wisdom　and　resignation。　He　had　never　known　it　when　he　was　mortal。　He　didn't　know　it　now。
　
　IT　WAS　a　sumptuous　first…class　dining　room；　crowded　already　with　gentlemen　in　white　tie　and　tails　and　ladies　in　low…cut　dresses。　When　Julie　came　in　and　took　her　chair；　Alex　rose　to　assist　her。　Henry　and　Elliott；　already　seated　opposite；　also　rose；　and　though　Julie　nodded　to　Elliott；　she　found　herself　incapable　of　looking　at　her　cousin。
　
　She　turned　to　Alex；　and　placed　her　hand　on　his。　Unfortunately　she　could　not　help　overhearing　Henry　continuing　to　talk　angrily　in　Elliott's　ear。　Something　about　Alex　being　a　fool　that　he　could　not　have　stopped　Julie　from　taking　this　trip。
　
　Alex；　staring　down　at　the　plate　before　him；　seemed　somewhat　at　a　loss。　Was　this　the　time　or　place　for　truth？　She　felt　she　must　be　honest　from　the　beginning；　or　matters　would　only　bee　worse　for　Alex；　and　she　must　see　that　they　did　not。
　
　〃Alex；〃　　she　said　in　a　low　voice；〃　I　may　stay　in　Egypt。　I　don't　know　what　my　plans　are。　You　know　sometimes；　my　darling；　I　think　you　need　someone　as　good　as　you　are。〃
　
　He　wasn't　surprised　by　her　words。　He　thought　for　only　a　moment　before　answering。〃　But　how　could　I　want　anyone　better　than　you？　I'll　follow　you　into　the　jungles　of　the　Sudan　if　that's　where　you　want　to　go。〃
　
　〃You　don't　know　what　you're　saying。〃
　
　He　bent　forward；　his　voice　dropping　to　the　most　intimate　whisper。〃　I　love　you；　Julie。　Everything　else　in　my　life　I　take　for　granted。　But　not　you。　And　you're　more　precious　to　me　than　all　the　rest　put　together。　Julie；　I　mean　to　fight　for　you；　if　that's　what　must　be　done。〃
　
　What　could　she　possibly　say　to　him　that　would　not　wound　him？　He　looked　up　suddenly。　Ramses　and　Samir　were　here。
　
　For　a　moment；　she　was　speechless。　Ramses　was　a　vision　in　her　father's　white　boiled　shirt　and　beautifully　cut　tailcoat。　As　he　took　his　seat；　his　every　gesture　seemed　more　graceful　and　more　decorous　than　those　of　the　Englishmen　around　him。　He　veritably　glistened　with　vigour　and　well…being。　The　smile　he　flashed　was　like　a　light。
　
　Then　something　happened。　He　stared　at　Julie's　bare　shoulders；　at　the　plunging　neck　of　her　gown。　He　stared　in　particular　at　the　tiny　shadow　between　her　half…naked　breasts。　And　Alex　stared　at　Ramses　hi　polite　outrage。　And　Samir；　taking　a　seat　to　the　left　of　the　Earl；　was　obviously　already　alarmed。
　
　She　must　do　something。　Still　staring　at　her；　as　if　he'd　never　laid　eyes　on　a　woman　before；　Ramses　took　the　chair　on　her　left。
　
　Quickly；　she　opened　his　napkin　for　him；　whispering：
　
　〃Here；　in　your　lap。　And　stop　staring　at　me。　It's　a　ball　gown；　quite　proper！〃　　She　turned　at　once　to　Samir　opposite。〃　Samir；　I'm　so　glad　you　could　make　this　journey　with　us。〃
　
　〃Yes；　and　here　we　are；〃　　Elliott　said　immediately；　filling　the　silence。〃　All　having　dinner　together　exactly　as　I'd　planned。　Isn't　mat　marvellous！　Seems　I　got　my　way　after　ah1。〃
　
　〃So　you　did。〃　　Julie　laughed。　She　was　relieved　suddenly　that　Elliott　was　there。　He　would　smooth　over　one　awkward　moment　after　another；　he　did　it　instinctively。　In　fact；　he　probably　couldn't　stop　himself。　It　was　this　buoyant　charm　among　other　things　which　kept　him　perpetually　in　demand。
　
　She　dared　not　look　directly　at　Henry；　but　she　could　see　he　was　hopelessly　uneasy。　He　was　already　drinking。　His　glass　was　half　full。
　
　The　waiters　brought　the　sherry　now；　and　the　soup。　Ramses　had　already　reached　for　the　bread。　He　had　torn　off　a　very　large　piece　from　the　small　loaf　and　eaten　it　whole。
　
　〃And　tell　me；　Mr。　Ramsey；〃　　Elliott　continued；〃　how　did　you　enjoy　your　stay　in　London？　You　weren't　with　us　very　long。〃
　
　Why　the　hell　was　Ramses　smiling？
　
　〃I　found　it　an　overwhelming　place；〃　　he　said　with　immediate　enthusiasm。〃　A　curious　blending　of　fierce　wealth　and　inexplicable　poverty。　I　do　not　understand　how　so　many　machines　can　produce　so　much　for　so　few；　and　so　little　for　so　many。。。〃
　
　〃Sir；　you're　questioning　the　entire　Industrial　Revolution；〃　　Alex　said；　laughing　nervously；　which　for　him　was　most　certainly　a　symptom　of　ill　ease。〃　Don't　tell　me　you're　a　Marxist。　It's　rather　seldom　that　we　encounter　radicals　in　our。。。our　circle。〃
　
　〃What　is　a　Marxist！　I　am　an　Egyptian；〃　　Ramses　said。
　
　〃Of　course　you　are；　Mr。　Ramsey；〃　　said　Elliott　smoothly。〃　And　you're　no　Marxist。　How　perfectly　ridiculous。　You　knew　our　Lawrence　in　Cairo？〃
　
　〃Our　Lawrence。　Briefly　I　knew　him。〃　　Ramses　was　staring　at　Henry。　Julie　quickly　lifted　her　soup　spoon　and；　giving　him　a　gentle　nudge　with　her　elbow；　demonstrated　how　the　soup　was　to　be　eaten。　He　didn't　so　much　as　glance　at　her。　He　picked　up　his　bread；　dipped　it　in　the　soup　and　began　eating　it；　glaring　at　Henry　again。
　
　〃Lawrence's　death　came　as　a　shock　to　me；　as　I'm　sure　it　did　to　everyone；〃　　he　said；　dipping　another　enormous　piece　of　bread。〃　A　Marxist　is　a　type　of　philosopher？　I　do　remember　a　Karl　Marx。　I　discovered　this　person　in　Lawrence's　library。　A　fool。〃
　
　Henry　had　not　touched　his　soup。　He　drank　another　deep　gulp　of　his　Scotch　and　motioned　for　the　waiter。
　
　〃It's　unimportant；〃　　Julie　said　quickly。
　
　〃Yes；　Lawrence's　death　was　a　terrible　shock；〃　　Elliott　said　soberly。〃　I　was　sure　he　had　another　good　ten　years。　Maybe　twenty。〃
　
　Ramses　was　dipping　yet　another　enormous　piece　of　the　bread　into　the　soup。　And　Henry　was　now　staring　at　him　with　veiled　horror；　careful　to　avoid　his　eyes。　Everyone　was　more　or　less　quietly　watching　Ramses；　who　wiped　up　the　very　last　of　the　soup　now　with　another　chunk　of　bread；　and　then　downed　the　sherry；　and　wiped　his　lips　with　the　napkin　and　sat　back。
　
　〃More　food；〃　　he　whispered。〃　It's　ing？〃
　
　〃Yes；　it　is；　but　slow　down；〃　　Julie　whispered。
　
　〃You　were　a　true　friend　of　Lawrence？〃　　Ramses　said　to　Elliott。
　
　〃Absolutely；〃　　said　Elliott。
　
　〃Yes；　well；　if　he　were　here；　he'd　be　talking　about　his　beloved　mummy；〃　　said　Alex　with　that　same　nervous　laugh。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　why　are　you　taking　this　trip；　Julie？　Why　go　back　to　Egypt　when　the　mummy　lies　there　in　London　waiting　for　examination？　You　know；　I　don't　really　understand。　。。。〃
　
　〃The　collection's　opened　several　avenues　of　research；〃　　Julie　said。　〃We　want　to　go　to　Alexandria　and　then　perhaps　Cairo。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　　Elliot　said。　He　was　clearly　watching　Ramses'　reaction　as　the　waiter　set　down　the　fish　before　him；　a　small　portion　in　a　delicate　cream　sauce。〃　Cleopatra；〃　　he　went　on；〃　your　mysterious　Ramses　the　Second　claimed　to　have　loved　and　lost　her。　And　that　happened　in　Alexandria；　did　it　not？〃
　
　Julie　had　not　seen　this　ing。　Neither　had　Ramses；　who　had　laid　down　his　bread　and　was　staring　at　the　Earl　with　a　blank　expression　on　his　face。　There　came　those　dancing　points　of　colour　beneath　the　smooth　skin　of　his　cheeks。
　
　〃Well；　yes；　there　is　that　aspect　of　it；〃　　Julie　struggled。〃　And　then　we're　going　to　Luxor；　and　to　Abu　Simbel。　I　hope　you're　all　in　fine　form　for　an　arduous　journey。　Of　course　if　you　don't　want　to　continue　。。。〃
　
　〃Abu　Simbel；〃　　Alex　said。〃　Isn't　that　where　the　colossal　statues　are　of　Ramses　the　Second？〃
　
　Ramses　broke　off　half　the　fish　with　his　fingers　and　ate　it。　Then　he　ate　the　second　half。　A　curious　smile　had　broken　out　on　Elliott's　face；　but　Ramses　didn't　see　it。　He　was　staring　at　Henry　again。　Julie　was　going　to　start　screaming。
　
　〃Statues　of　Ramses　the　Great　are　everywhere；　actually；〃　　Elliott　said；　watching　Ramses　mop　up　the　sauce　with　the　bread。〃　Ramses　left　more　monuments　to　himself　than　any　other　Pharaoh。〃
　
　〃Ah；　that's　the　one。　I　knew　it；〃　　said　Alex。〃　The　egomaniac　of　Egyptian　history。　I　remember　now；　from　school。〃
　
　〃Egomaniac！〃　　Ramses　said　with　a　grimace。〃　More　bread！〃　　he　said　to　the　waiter。　Then　to　Alex：〃　What　is　an　egomaniac？　If　you　please？〃
　
　〃Aspirin；　Marxism；　egomania；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　These　are　all　new　ideas　to　you；　Mr。　Ramsey？〃
　
　Henry　was　being　positively　agitated。　He　had　drunk　the　second　glass　of　Scotch　and　now　sat　plastered　to　the　back　of　his　chair；　merely