anner.themummy-第74节

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　〃I　must　say　you　look　stunning　in　that　colour！〃　　said　the　woman。〃　It　makes　your　eyes　change　from　blue　to　green。〃
　
　Cleopatra　laughed。　Heaps　of　money。
　
　She　rose　from　the　chair；　and　walked　delicately　towards　the　woman；　rather　liking　the　clicking　sound　of　these　high　heels　on　the　marble　floor。
　
　She　took　hold　of　the　woman's　throat　before　the　poor　creature　so　much　as　looked　up。　She　tightened　her　grip；　pressing　her　thumb　right　on　the　tender　bone　in　the　middle。　The　woman　appeared　astonished。　She　gave　a　little　hiccuping　noise。　Then　Cleopatra　lifted　her　right　hand　and　carefully　twisted　the　woman's　head　hard　to　the　left。　Snap。　Dead。
　
　No　need　now　to　reflect　upon　it；　to　ponder　the　great　gulf　that　existed　between　her　and　this　poor　sad　being　who　lay　now　on　the
　
　floor　behind　her　little　table；　staring　up　at　the　gilded　ceiling。　All　of　these　beings　were　for　killing　when　it　was　wanted；　and　what　could　they　possibly　do　to　her？
　
　She　scooped　the　money　into　the　new　satin　evening　bag　she　had　found　here。　What　would　not　fit　she　put　into　the　old　canvas　bag。　She　took　also　all　the　jewels　left　in　the　case　beneath　the〃　cash　register。〃　　Then　she　piled　the　boxes　one　atop　another　until　she　had　a　mountainous　stack　of　them；　and　she　carried　them　out　and　heaved　them　into　the　rear　seat　of　the　car。
　
　Off　now；　to　the　next　adventure。　Throwing　the　long　thick　tails　of　the　white　fur　over　her　shoulders；　she　fired　up　the　beast　again。
　
　And　headed　fast　for　the　place　where〃　all　the　best　people　stay；　the　British　and　the　Americans；　that's　Shepheard's；　the　hotel；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　She　gave　a　deep　laugh　when　she　thought　of　the　American　and　his　strange　way　of　talking　to　her；　as　if　she　were　an　idiot；　and　the　merchant　woman　had　been　the　same。　Maybe　at　Shepheard's　she　would　meet　someone　of　charm　and　graceful　manners；　someone　infinitely　more　interesting　than　all　these　miserable　souls　whom　she　had　sent　into　the　dark　waters　whence　she'd　e。
　
　〃What　in　God's　name　has　happened　here！〃　　whispered　the　older　of　the　two　officials。　He　stood　in　the　doorway　of　Malenka's　house；　reluctant　to　enter　without　a　warrant　or　permission。　No　answer　to　his　knock；　no　answer　when　he　had　called　Henry　Stratford's　name。
　
　He　could　see　broken　glass　over　the　dressing　table　in　the　lighted　bedroom。　And　that　looked　like　blood　on　the　floor。
　
　The　younger　man；　as　ever　impatient　and　strong…willed；　had　ventured　into　the　courtyard　with　his　electric　torch。　Chairs　overturned。　Broken　china。
　
　〃Good　Lord；　Davis。　There's　a　woman　dead　out　here！〃
　
　The　older　man　didn't　move　for　a　moment。　He　was　staring　at　the　dead　parrot　on　the　floor　of　its　cage。　And　at　all　the　empty　bottles　ranged　from　one　end　of　the　bar　to　the　other。　And　the　suit　coat　hanging　on　the　corner　rack。
　
　Then　he　forced　himself　to　go　out　into　the　dark　little　garden　and　see　this　corpse　for　himself。
　
　〃That's　the　woman；〃　　he　said。〃　That's　Malenka　from　the　Babylon。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　don't　think　we　need　a　warrant　under　these　circumstances。〃
　
　The　older　man　came　back　into　the　sitting　room。　He　moved　cautiously　into　the　bedroom。
　
　He　stared　at　the　torn　dress　lying　on　the　floor；　and　at　the　curious　rags　pushed　in　a　pile　against　the　wall。　He　paid　little　heed　to　the　young　man　passing　him；　the　young　man　who　moved　about；　vaguely　exhilarated　by　these　obvious　signs　of　disaster；　searching　and　scribbling　in　his　little　book。
　
　Those　rags…why；　they　looked　like　mummy　wrappings；　yet　some　of　the　linen　appeared　to　be　new。　He　looked　up　as　the　young　man　held　a　passport　before　him。
　
　〃Stratford's；〃　　said　the　young　man。〃　All　of　his　identification　is　in　there；　in　his　coat。〃
　
　Elliott　leaned　on　Alex's　arm　as　they　stepped　out　of　the　glass　lift。
　
　〃But　what　if　Pitfield　can't　straighten　all　this　out？〃　　Alex　asked。
　
　〃We　will　continue　to　conduct　ourselves　like　civilized　people　as　long　as　we　must　remain　here；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　You'll　take　Julie　to　the　opera　as　planned　tomorrow　night。　You　will　acpany　her　to　the　ball　afterwards。　And　you　will　be　ready　to　leave　as　soon　as　your　passport　is　released。〃
　
　〃She's　in　no　mood　for　it；　Father。　And　she'd　rather　have　Samir　acpany　her；　if　you　want　the　truth。　Since　all　this　started；　it's　Samir　she　confides　in。　He's　always　at　her　side。〃
　
　〃Nevertheless；　you　are　to　stay　close　to　her。　We　are　going　to　be　seen　together　tomorrow。　Everything　right　and　proper。　Now　why　don't　you　go　out　on　the　veranda　and　have　a　nightcap　and　leave　the　legal　business　to　me？〃
　
　Yes；　she　liked　Shepheard's；　she　knew　it　already。　She　had　liked　it　this　afternoon　when　she　had　seen　the　long　chain　of　motor　cars　before　it；　with　exquisitely　dressed　men　and　women　climbing　out　of　them　and　walking　up　the　steps。
　
　Now　there　were　very　few　cars。　She　managed　to　stop　right　before　the　entrance；　and　a　charming　young　male　servant　came　to　open　her　door。　Carrying　her　canvas　bag　and　satin　purse；　she　walked　serenely　up　the　carpeted　stairs　as　other　servants　scrambled　to　retrieve　her　many　packages。
　
　The　lobby　delighted　her　at　once。　Oh；　she　had　no　idea　the　rooms　of　this　palatial　building　would　be　so　grand。　And　the　crowds　moving　to　and　fro…shapely　women　and　handsomely　clad　men…excited　her。　This　was　an　elegant　world…〃modern　times。〃　　One　had　to　see　such　a　place　as　this　to　grasp　the　possibilities。
　
　〃May　I　help　you；　miss？　Another　servile　male　approached；　how　strange　was　his　clothing；　especially　his　hat。　If　there　was　one　thing　about〃　modern　times〃　　she　did　not　like；　it　was　these　hats！
　
　〃Oh；　would　you　be　so　kind！〃　　she　said　carefully。〃　I　would　like　to　have　lodgings　here。　This　is　Shepheard's　Hotel？　The　hotel？〃
　
　〃Yes；　indeed；　miss。　Let　me　take　you　to　the　desk。〃
　
　〃Wait；〃　　she　whispered。　Some　feet　away　from　her；　she　spied　Lord　Rutherford！　No　mistake。　It　was　he。　And　an　exquisite　young　man　was　with　him；　a　tall；　slender　creature　of　fine　porcelain　features　who　made　her　earlier　panions　seem　quite　crude。
　
　She　narrowed　her　eyes；　concentrating；　trying　to　hear　what　this　young　man　was　saying。　But　there　was　too　great　a　distance。　And　the　two　were　moving　in　and　out　of　sight；　beyond　a　row　of　high　potted　palms。　Then　the　young　one　clasped　Lord　Rutherford's　hand　and　left　him；　moving　towards　the　front　doors。　And　Lord　Rutherford　moved　into　a　large　shadowy　room。
　
　〃That's　Lord　Rutherford；　miss；〃　　said　the　helpful　young　man　beside　her。
　
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　　she　said。〃　But　the　beautiful　one。　Who　is　he？〃
　
　〃Ah；　that's　his　son；　Alex；　miss；　the　young　Viscount　Summerfield。　They're　frequent　guests　of　Shepheard's。　Friends　of　the　Stratfords；　miss。〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　quizzically。
　
　〃Lawrence　Stratford；　miss；〃　　he　explained　as　he　took　her　arm　and　gendy　guided　her　forward。〃　The　great　archaeologist；　the　one　who　just　made　the　discovery　of　the　Ramses　tomb。〃
　
　〃What　did　you　say！〃　　she　whispered。〃　Speak　slowly。〃
　
　〃The　one　that　dug　up　the　mummy；　miss；　of　Ramses　the　Damned。〃
　
　〃Ramses　the　Damned！〃
　
　〃Yes；　miss；　quite　a　story；　miss。〃　　He　pointed　now　to　a　long　ornate　table　in　front　of　her；　which　in　fact　looked　like　an　altar。〃　There's　the　desk；　miss。　Anything　else　I　can　do　for　you？〃　　She　gave　a　little　laugh　of　pure　amazement。　〃No；〃　　she　said。　〃You　have　been　simply　super。　Very　okay！〃
　
　He　gave　her　a　sweet　indulgent　look；　the　look　all　these　men　gave　her。　And　then　he　gestured　for　her　to　step　up　to　the〃　desk。　*'
　
　*　*　*
　
　Elliott　went　right　to　it　as　Pitfield　sat　down　across　from　him。　He　was　aware　that　he　was　talking　too　fast；　and　likely　to　say　strange　things；　but　he　could　not　break　his　momentum。　Get　Alex　out　of　here。　Get　Julie　out　if　at　all　possible。　Those　were　the　only　thoughts　in　his　mind；　and　worry　about　Randolph　later。
　
　〃None　of　us　has　the　slightest　connection　to　any　of　it；〃　　he　said。〃　They　must　all　be　allowed　to　go　home。　I　can　stay　here；　if　it's　absolutely　necessary；　but　my　son　must　be　allowed　to　leave。〃
　
　Gerald；　ten　years　his　senior；　white…haired　and　heavy　about　the　middle；　listened　keenly。　He　was　a　man　not　given　to　strong　drink；　who　tended　to　work　round　the　clock　so　that　his　family　might　enjoy　every　pleasurable　aspect　of　colonial　existence。
　
　〃Of　course　not；〃　　he　said　now；　with　plete　sympathy。〃　But　wait；　there's　Winthrop　in　the　doors。　He　has　two　men　with　him。〃
　
　〃I　can't　talk　to　him！〃　　Elliott　said。〃　Not　now；　for　the　love　of　heaven。〃
　
　〃You　leave　it　to　me　pletely。〃
　
　How　astonished　they　were　when　she　paid　them　in　advance　with　piles　and　piles　of　the　strange　money　they　called〃　pound　notes；〃　　though　they　weighed　nothing。　The　young　servants　would　take　her　many　bundles　to　her　suite；　they　said。　And　indeed；　there　were　kitchens　working　now　to　produce　whatever　food　she　desired；　there　lay　the　dining　room　to　the　right；　and　she　could　banquet　in　her　room　if　that　was　her　wish。　As　for　the　hairdresser　which　she　clearly　required　to　tie　up　her　hair；　that　lady　would　not　be　available　until　tomorrow。　Very　well。　Thank　you！
　
　She　dropped　the　key　into　her　satin　bag。　She　would　find　suite　number　201　later。　She　hurried　to　the　door　of　the　dark　room　into　which　Lord　Rutherford　had　gone；　and　spied　him　drinking　there　alone。　He　did　not　see　her。
　
　Out　on　the　broad　front　terrace；　she　could　see　his　son；　Alex；　leaning　against　the　white　pil