anner.themummy-第75节

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　Out　on　the　broad　front　terrace；　she　could　see　his　son；　Alex；　leaning　against　the　white　pillar…such　a　ely　youth…in　fast　conversation　with　a　dark…skinned　Egyptian。　The　Egyptian　came　back　into　the　hotel。　The　young　one　seemed　at　a　loss。
　
　She　went　to　him　immediately。　She　crept　up　and　stood　beside　him　and　studied　his　delicate　face…yes；　a　beauty。　Of　course　Lord　Rutherford　was　a　man　of　considerable　charm；　but　this　one　was　so　young　that　his　skin　was　still　petal　soft；　and　yet　he　was　tall　and　his　shoulders　were　strong　and　straight；　and　he　had　a　clear；　confident　look　in　his　brown　eyes　when　he　turned　to　her。
　
　〃The　young　Viscount　Summerfield；〃　　she　said。〃　Son　of　Lord　Rutherford；　I　am　told？〃
　
　A　great　flash　of　a　smile。　〃I'm　Alex　Savarell；　yes。　Forgive　me；　I　don't　believe　I've　had　the　pleasure。〃
　
　〃I'm　hungry；　Viscount　Summerfield。　Won't　you　show　me　to　the　banquet　room　of　the　hotel？　I　should　like　to　eat　something。〃
　
　〃I'd　be　delighted！　What　an　unexpected　pleasure。〃
　
　He　hooked　his　arm　for　her　to　take　it。　Oh；　she　liked　him　very　much；　there　was　no　reticence　in　him　at　all。　He　escorted　her　back　into　the　crowded　main　room；　past　the　dark　tavern　where　his　father　drank；　and　on　towards　a　great　open　place　under　a　high　gilded　ceiling。
　
　Tables　draped　in　linen　filled　the　sides　of　the　immense　room。　In　the　centre　men　and　women　danced；　the　women's　skirts　like　great　softly　ruffled　flowers。　And　the　music；　oh；　so　lovely；　though　it　almost　hurt　her　ears。　It　was　far　more　shrill　than　that　of　the　music　box。　And　it　was　sweetly　sad！
　
　At　once　he　asked　an　imperious　old　man　to　show　them　to　a　〃table。〃　　What　an　ugly　person　was　this　imperious　man　who　appeared　as　finely　dressed　as　anyone　present。　But　he　said；〃　Yes；　Lord　Summerfield〃　　with　great　respect。　And　the　table　was　fine　indeed；　set　with　gorgeous　plate；　and　sweet…scented　flowers。
　
　〃What　is　this　music？〃　　she　asked。
　
　〃From　America；〃　　he　said。〃　From　Sigmund　Romberg。〃
　
　She　began　rocking　back　and　forth　a　little。
　
　〃Would　you　like　to　dance？〃　　he　asked。
　
　〃That　would　be　super！〃
　
　Oh；　such　a　warm　hand　he　had　as　he　clasped　hers　and　led　her　out　on　the　floor。　How　peculiar　that　each　couple　should　be　dancing　as　if　entirely　alone　and　engaged　in　a　private　ritual。　At　once　the　melancholy　rhythm　swept　her　up。　And　this　adorable　young　man；　how　lovingly　he　looked　at　her。　This　really　was　a　lovely　young　man；　this　Alex；　Lord　Summerfield。
　
　〃How　enchanting　it　is　here；〃　　she　said。〃　A　true　palace。　And　the　music；　so　piercing；　but　beautiful。　It　hurts　my　ears；　but　then　I　do　not　like　loud　noises…screeching　birds；　guns！〃
　
　〃Of　course　you　don't；〃　　he　said　with　surprise。〃　You're　such　a　fragile　creature。　And　your　hair；　may　I　tell　that　your　hair　is　lovely？　It's　a　rare　thing　to　see　a　woman　who　wears　her　hair　free；　and　natural。　It　makes　you　look　like　a　goddess。〃
　
　〃Yes；　that　is　very　okay。　Thank　you。〃
　
　He　had　a　sweet　laugh。　So　honest。　No　fear　in　his　eyes；　no　shrinking。　He　was　like　a　prince　who　had　been　reared　with　kind　nurses　in　a　palace。　Altogether　too　gentle　for　the　real　world。
　
　〃Would　you　mind　terribly　telling　me　your　name？〃　　he　asked。〃　I　know　we've　not　been　properly　introduced；　so　we　must　introduce　ourselves；　it　seems。〃
　
　〃My　name　is　Cleopatra；　Queen　of　Egypt。〃　　How　she　loved　this　dancing；　being　carried　along；　turned　about；　the　floor　shimmered　like　water　beneath　her。
　
　〃Oh；　I　could　almost　believe　you；〃　　he　said。〃　You　look　like　a　Queen。　May　I　call　you　Your　Highness？〃
　
　She　laughed。〃　Your　High…ness。　Is　that　the　proper　address　for　a　Queen！　Yes；　you　may　call　me　Your　High…ness。　And　I　shall　call　you　Lord　Summerfield。　These　men　here；　are　they　all。。。lords？〃
　
　Through　the　dark　mirror　on　the　panelled　wall；　Elliott　saw　Winthrop　and　his　cohorts　withdraw。　Pitfield　came　directly　back　and　took　his　chair　opposite。　He　signaled　for　another　drink。
　
　〃More　mayhem；〃　　he　said。〃　What　in　God's　name　has　happened　to　young　Stratford！〃　〃Tell　me。〃
　
　〃Astonishing！　Some　belly　dancer；　Henry　Stratford's　mistress。　They　found　her　dead；　neck　broken；　in　the　garden　of　the　house　she　was　sharing　with　Henry。　All　Henry's　things　were　there。　Passport；　money；　everything。〃
　
　Elliott　swallowed。　He　needed　another　drink　badly。　It　occurred　to　him　that　he　ought　to　take　some　supper　just　so　that　he　could　go　on　drinking　without　passing　out。
　
　〃Same　thing　that　happened　to　the　Oxford　student　this　afternoon；　neck　broken；　and　the　American　kid　out　at　the　pyramids；　and　the　maid　at　the　museum。　Wonder　why　he　bothered　to　use　a　knife　on　Sharpies！　You'd　better　tell　me　everything　you　know　about　this。〃
　
　The　waiter　set　down　the　fresh　glasses　of　Scotch　and　gin。　Elliott　took　his　drink　and　sipped　it　thoughtfully。
　
　〃Just　what　I　was　afraid　of；　the　whole　thing。　He　was　going　out　of　his　mind　with　guilt。〃
　
　〃Over　the　gambling。〃
　
　〃No。　Over　Lawrence。　It　was　Henry；　you　see；　and　the　poisons　in　the　tomb。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord；　man；　are　you　serious？〃
　
　〃Gerald；　that's　how　it　all　started。　He　had　papers　for　Lawrence　to　sign。　He　probably　forged　them。　But　that's　not　the　point。　He　admitted　the　killing。〃
　
　〃To　you。〃
　
　〃No；　to　someone　else。〃　　He　broke　off；　had　to　think　this　through；　but　there　was　no　time。〃　To　Ramsey。〃
　
　〃Ramsey；　the　one　they're　searching　for。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Ramsey　tried　to　talk　to　him；　early　this　morning；　before　Henry　went　on　the　rampage　and　broke　into　the　museum。　By　the　way　。　。　？　you　said　they'd　been　to　the　belly　dancer's　house。　Did　they　find　any　evidence　of　a　mummy　there；　any　wrappings？　That　would　certainly　tie　it　up　and　then　they'd　stop　persecuting　poor　Ramsey。　Ramsey　is　entirely　innocent；　you　see。　He　went　to　the　museum　to　reason　with　Henry。〃
　
　〃You　know　this　for　a　fact？〃
　
　〃It　was　all　my　fault。　I　can't　sleep　of　late；　pain　in　my　joints　is　too　severe。　Five　o'clock　this　morning　I　was　just　ing　in　from　my　walk。　I'd　seen　Henry；　roaring　drunk；　near　the　museum；　as　I　told　you。　I　thought　he　was　pub　crawling。　And　I　made　the　mistake　of　telling　Ramsey；　who　had　just　e　down　for　his　morning　coffee。　Ramsey　had　tried　to　reason　with　Henry　earlier。　And　off　he　went　to　find　him　again；　for　Julie's　sake。〃
　
　〃Julie　and　this　Ramsey；　they're　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes。　The　engagement's　off　with　Alex。　It's　all　quite　amicable；　Alex　and　Ramsey　are　friends。　And　the　whole　thing　must　be　straightened　out。〃
　
　〃Of　course；　of　course。〃
　
　〃Ramsey　was　trying　to　stop　the　robbery　when　the　police　apprehended　him。　He's　a　strange　man。　He　panicked。　But　surely　you　can　get　this　cleared　up。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　can　do　my　damnedest。　But　why　in　the　world　would　Stratford　break　into　the　museum　to　steal　a　mummy？〃
　
　〃That　part　I　can't　quite　figure。〃　　Understatement　of　the　year；　he　thought。〃　All　I　know　is　that　the　mummy　of　Ramses　the　Damned　in　London　is　missing　too　and　apparently　he　stole　some　coins　and　jewelry　as　well。　I　believe　somebody　may　have　put　him　up　to　it。　Steal　a　pair　of　valuable　relics；　get　some　ready　cash；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　
　〃So　he　goes　blundering　into　the　most　famous　museum　in　the　entire　world？〃
　
　〃Egyptian　security　isn't　very　good；　old　boy。　And　you　haven't　seen　Henry　in　the　last　few　months；　have　you？　He's　quite　deteriorated；　my　friend。　This　may　be　a　case　of　pure　insanity。　The　thing　is；　I　can't　have　Alex　and　Julie　detained　in　Cairo。　And　they　won't　leave　until　Ramsey's　cleared；　and　Ramsey　has　not　done　anything。〃
　
　He　finished　off　the　gin。
　
　〃Gerald；　get　us　off　the　hook；　all　of　us。　I'11　make　a　statement；　if　you　advise　it。　I'll　try　to　reach　Ramsey。　If　he's　granted　immunity；　then　surely　he'll　back　me　up。　You　can　handle　it；　Gerald；　you　know　these　colonial　idiots！　You've　put　up　with　them　for　years。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　certainly　have。　This　has　to　be　handled　delicately；　but　immediately。　And　the　fact　is；　they're　on　to　Stratford。　It's　merely　a　question　of　exonerating　Ramsey。〃
　
　〃Yes；　and　protocol　and　propriety　and　paperwork　and　all　the　other　colonial　rot。　Go　to　it；　Gerald。　I　don't　care　what　you　do；　I　have　to　get　my　son　home。　I've　used　my　son　badly　in　all　this。。。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Nothing。　Can　you　work　it　out？〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　Henry　himself　。。。　Have　you　any　idea　where　he　could　be？〃
　
　In　the　vat　of　bitumen。　Elliot　shuddered。〃　No；〃　　he　said。〃　No　idea　at　all。　But　he　has　many　enemies　out　there；　people　whom　he　owes　money。　I　need　another　drink。　Get　the　attention　of　the　pretty　little　nitwit；　will　you？〃
　
　〃Young　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said；　gazing　at　his　beautiful　mouth；〃　let　us　banquet　in　my　rooms。　And　leave　this　place　to　be　alone　there。〃
　
　〃If　you　wish。〃　　The　inevitable　flame　in　the　cheeks。　Oh；　what　would　the　rest　of　the　young　body　look　like？　Pray　there　was　a　priapic　organ　there　worthy　of　all　the　other　charms！
　
　〃Indeed；　but　do　you　wish？〃　　she　asked　him。　She　ran　the　backs　of　her　fingers　along　his　cheek。　Then　slid　her　fingers　under　the　stiff　cloth　of　his　garment。
　
　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　　he　whispered。
　
　She　led　him　off　the　dance　floor；　collecting　her　handbags　as　they　went　out　of　the　swimming　music　and　lights；　back　into　the　crowded　grand　room。
　
　〃Suite　two…oh…one；〃　　she　said；　producing　the　key。〃　How　do　we　find　it？〃
　
　〃Well；　we'll　just　take　the　lift　to　the　second　floor；〃　　he　said；　beaming　at　her。〃　And　walk　to　the　very　front　of　the