anner.themummy-第72节

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th。〃　Am　I　not　beautiful？　And　now　you　weep。　What　a　fool　you　are！　It　was　all　your　design；　wasn't　it？　You　came　into　my　tomb；　you　brought　me　back；　and　now　you　weep　as　if　I　were　dead。　Well；　you　turned　away　from　me　when　I　was　dying！　You　let　them　pull　the　shroud　over　my　face！〃
　
　He　sighed。〃　No。　I　never　did　that。　You　don't　remember　what　happened。〃
　
　〃Why　did　you　do　it？　Why　did　you　bring　me　back？　What　were　we　to　each　other；　you　and　I？〃　　How　did　all　these　little　shimmering　bits　and　pieces　of　memory　fit　together？　When　would　they　make　one　cloth？
　
　She　drew　closer；　peering　at　his　skin；　touching　it　again。　Such　resilient　skin。
　
　〃Don't　you　know　the　answer？〃　　he　asked。〃　Isn't　it　deep　inside　you？〃
　
　〃I　know　only　that　you　were　there　when　I　died。　You　were　someone　I　loved。　I　remember。　You　were　there　and　I　was　frightened。　The　poison　from　the　snake　had　paralyzed　me；　and　I　wanted　to　cry　out　to　you；　but　I　couldn't…　I　struggled。　I　said　your　name。　You　turned　your　back。〃
　
　〃No！　No；　that　could　not　have　happened！　I　stood　there　watching　you。〃
　
　The　women　weeping；　she　heard　it　again。　Move　away　from　that　room　full　of　death；　the　room　where　Antony　had　died；　beloved　Antony。　She　wouldn't　let　them　take　the　couch　away；　though　the　blood　from　his　wounds　had　soaked　into　the　silk。
　
　〃You　let　me　die。〃
　
　He　look　her　by　the　arms　again；　roughly。　Was　that　always　his　way？
　
　〃I　wanted　you　to　be　with　me；　the　way　you　are　now。〃
　
　〃As　I　am　now。　And　how　is　that？　What　is　this　world？　Is　it　the　Hades　of　myth？　Will　we　e　upon　the　others　。。。　upon　。。。〃　　But　it　had　been　right　there　a　moment　ago。〃　Upon　Antony！〃　　she　said。〃　Where　is　Antony！〃　　Oh　。。。　but　she　knew。
　
　She　turned　away。　Antony　was　dead　and　gone；　laid　in　the　tomb。　And　he　would　not　give　the　magic　to　Antony；　it　was　all　there　again。
　
　He　came　up　behind　her；　and　embraced　her。
　
　〃When　you　called　out　to　me；〃　　he　said；〃　what　was　it　you　wanted？　Tell　me　now。〃
　
　〃To　make　you　suffer！〃　　She　laughed。　She　could　see　him　in　the　mirrored　door　of　the　cabinet；　and　she　laughed　at　the　pain　in　his　face。〃　I　don't　know　why　I　called　out　to　you！　I　don't　even　know　who　you　are！〃　　She　slapped　him　suddenly。　No　effect。　Like　slapping　marble。
　
　She　wandered　away　from　him　into　the　dressing　room。　She　wanted　something　beautiful。　What　was　the　finest　dress　that　miserable　woman　had　possessed？　Ah；　this　one　of　rose…colored　silk　with　fragile　cutwork　trimming。　She　took　it　up；　slipped　her　arms　into　it　and　quickly　snapped　the　little　hooks　up　the　front。　It　flattered　her　breasts　beautifully；　and　the　skirt　was　full　and　beautiful；　though　she　no　longer　had　to　hide　her　feet。
　
　Once　again　she　put　on　the　sandals。
　
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　
　〃Out　in　the　city。　This　is　the　city　of　Cairo。　Why　should　I　not　go　out　into　it？〃
　
　〃I　must　talk　to　you。　。。。〃
　
　〃Must　you？〃　　She　gathered　up　her　canvas　bag。　In　the　corner　of　her　eye　she　could　see　a　great　sliver　of　broken　glass　on　the　marble　dressing　table　top。　A　shard　from　the　bottle　she'd　smashed。
　
　She　moved　lazily　towards　it。　Her　hand　played　with　the　pearls　there。　She　should　take　these　too。　Of　course　he　followed　her。
　
　〃Cleopatra；　look　at　me；〃　　he　said。
　
　She　turned　abruptly　and　kissed　him。　Could　he　be　so　easily　fooled？　Yes；　his　lips　told　her　that；　oh；　so　delicious。　How　splendidly　he　suffered！　Groping　blindly　at　her　side；　she　found　that　shard　and；　lifting　it；　gashed　his　throat。
　
　She　stepped　backwards。　He　stood　staring　at　her。　The　blood　poured　down　his　white　robe。　But　he　wasn't　afraid。　He　did　not　move　to　stop　the　bleeding。　His　face　showed　only　sadness；　not　fear。
　
　〃I　cannot　die　either；〃　　he　whispered　softly。
　
　〃Ah！〃　　She　smiled。　〃Did　someone　wake　you　from　the　grave？〃
　
　Again　she　rushed　at　him；　kicking　at　him；　clawing　at　his　eyes。
　
　〃Stop；　I　beg　you。〃
　
　She　raised　her　knee；　jamming　him　hard　between　his　legs。　That　pain　he　felt；　oh；　yes。　He　doubled　over　with　it；　and　she　kicked　him　hard　in　the　side　of　the　head。
　
　Through　the　courtyard　she　raced；　gripping　the　canvas　bag　with　her　left　hand；　as　with　her　right　she　reached　for　the　top　of　the　wall。　In　a　second　she　was　over　it　and　racing　through　the　narrow　unlighted　street。
　
　Within　minutes　she　reached　the　motorcar。　Instantly　she　turned　on　the　engine；　gave　it　fuel　with　a　stab　of　the　pedal　and　roared　out　of　the　small　alleyway　and　onto　the　main　road。
　
　Ah；　the　wind　in　her　face　again；　the　freedom；　and　the　power　of　this　great　iron　beast　at　her　mand。
　
　〃Take　me　to　the　bright　lights　of　British　Cairo；〃　　she　said；〃　dear　sweet　little　beast。　Yes！〃
　
　HE　FRONT　lounge　at　Shepheard's。　Good　gin　from　the　bar；　with　plenty　of　ice　and　just　a　little　lemon。　He　was　grateful　mat　they　had　allowed　him　that。　What　a　drunkard　he　had　bee。　A　lovely　realization　came　over　him。　When　he　got　back　to　England；　he　was　going　to　drink　himself　to　death。
　
　But　would　they　never　stop？　Surely　they　had　realized　he　would　tell　them　nothing。　They　looked　like　mannequins　to　him；　their　mouths　jerking　as　if　worked　by　wires。　Every　gesture　seemed　artificial。　Even　the　handsome　little　boy　who　came　in　and　out　with　the　ice　and　the　gin　appeared　to　be　acting。　All　of　it　false。　Grotesque　the　figures　moving　past　in　the　lobby；　and　the　music　drifting　from　the　bars　and　the　ballroom；　why；　it　sounded　like　what　they　might　be　playing　tonight　in　hell。
　
　Sometimes　the　words　they　said　made　no　sense。　He　knew　the　definition　of　each　word；　but　what　was　the　meaning？　Dead　men　with　their　necks　broken。　Had　she　done　it　in　the　short　tune　that　he　had　absented　himself？
　
　〃I'm　tired；　gentlemen；〃　　he　said　finally。〃　The　heat　here　does　not　agree　with　me。　I　took　a　bad　fall　today。　I　need　my　rest　now。　You　must　allow　me　to　go　to　my　room。〃
　
　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。　Mock　frustration。　Nothing　was　real　here。　What　was　real？　Cleopatra's　hands　closing　on　his　throat；　the　white…draped　figure　behind　her；　catching　hold　of　her？
　
　〃Lord　Rutherford；　we　are　now　dealing　with　several　murders！
　
　Clearly；　the　stabbing　in　London　was　only　the　beginning。　Now　we　must　ask　for　your　full　cooperation。　These　two　young　men　murdered　this　afternoon。　。。。〃
　
　〃I　have　told　you。　I　know　nothing　about　it！　What　is　it　you　want　from　me；　young　man；　that　I　spin　fancies　for　you？　This　is　absurd。〃
　
　〃Henry　Stratford。　Do　you　know　where　we　can　find　him？　He　was　here　at　Shepheard's　to　see　you　two　days　ago。〃
　
　〃Henry　Stratford　frequents　the　worst　parts　of　Cairo。　He　walks　dark　streets　alone　at　night。　I　don't　know　where　he　is；　God　help　him。　Now；　I　really　must　go。〃
　
　He　rose　from　his　chair。　Where　was　that　damned　walking　stick　now？
　
　〃Do　not　attempt　to　leave　Cairo；　sir；〃　　said　the　young　one；　the　arrogant　one；　the　one　with　the　pinched　nose。〃　We　have　your　passport。〃
　
　〃You　what！　That's　outrageous；〃　　Elliott　whispered。
　
　〃I'm　afraid　the　same　applies　to　your　son。　And　to　Miss　Stratford。　I've　already　collected　their　passports　from　the　desk　as　well。　Lord　Rutherford；　we　must　get　to　the　bottom　of　this。〃
　
　〃You　idiot；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　I'm　a　British　citizen！　You　dare　do　this　to　me！〃
　
　The　other　man　stepped　in。
　
　〃My　lord；　let　me　speak　to　you　candidly！　I　know　of　your　close　relationship　with　the　Stratford　family；　but　do　you　think　Henry　Stratford　could　be　connected　to　these　killings？　He　knew　this　man　in　London；　the　one　who　was　stabbed。　As　for　the　American　found　out　at　the　pyramids；　the　fellow　had　been　robbed　of　quite　a　good　deal　of　money。　Now　we　know　Stratford　had　his　ups　and　downs　with　regard　to　money。〃
　
　Elliott　held　his　gaze　without　speaking。　Pinning　it　on　Henry。　That　had　not　occurred　to　him。　Oh；　but　it　was　obvious！　Pinning　it　all　on　Henry；　of　course。　And　Henry　knew　the　fellow　in　London。　What　luck。　What　supremely　marvellous　luck。　He　eyed　the　two　gentlemen　who　stood　now　before　him；　awkwardly。　What　if　this　could　work！
　
　〃My　lord；　there's　even　more　to　it　than　that。　We　have　two　mysterious　thefts　as　well。　Not　only　the　mummy　stolen　from　the　Cairo　museum；　but　it　seems　the　mummy's　been　stolen　from　Miss　Stratford's　house　in　Mayfair　too。〃
　
　〃Really。〃
　
　〃And　a　bit　of　priceless　Egyptian　jewelry　was　found　in　the　possession　of　Henry　Stratford's　mistress；　a　Daisy　Banker；　a　music　hall　singer。　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes。。。〃　　Elliott　eased　back　down　into　his　chair。
　
　〃Well；　what　I'm　driving　at；　my　lord；　is　perhaps　Stratford　was　involved　in　something；　you　know；　some　sort　of　smuggling　arrangement　。。。　the　jewelry　and　the　coins　and　the　mummies。　。。。〃
　
　〃Mummies　。。。　Henry　and　mummies　。。。〃　　Oh；　it　was　too　beautiful；　and　Henry；　poor　Henry；　who　had　murdered　Lawrence；　was　floating　in　the　bitumen　right　now。　He　would　begin　to　laugh；　thinly；　hysterically；　if　he　weighed　it　all　too　deeply。
　
　〃You　see；　Lord　Rutherford；　we　might　be　looking　for　the　wrong　man。〃
　
　〃But　then　what　was　Ramsey　doing　at　the　museum？〃　　said　the　younger　official　a　bit　impatiently。
　
　〃Trying　to　stop　Henry；〃　　Elliott　murmured。〃　He　must　have　followed　him。　He　was　desperate　to　talk　to　Henry；　for　Julie's　sake。　Of　course。〃
　
　〃But　how　do　we　explain　the　coins！〃　　asked　the　young　man；　getting　a　little　steamed　now。〃　We　found　seven　gold　Cleopatra　coins　in　Ramsey's　room。〃
　
　〃But　that's　obvious；〃　　said　Elliott；　looking　up；　the　light　just　dawning。〃