anner.themummy-第84节

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ical　with　the　other。　She　blurred　her　eyes；　to　see　the　reds　and　blues　dancing　independently　of　all　detail。
　
　She　watched　the　great　surge　up　the　grand　staircase。　She　felt　admiring　glances　on　her；　the　soft　glaze　of　admiration　like　a　light　on　her　skin。
　
　Lord　Summerfield　beamed　at　her　with　pride　and　affection。　〃You　are　the　Queen　here；〃　　he　whispered；　cheeks　flushed　again　for　an　instant。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　merchants　peddling　strange　little　instruments　the　purpose　of　which　she　couldn't　guess。
　
　〃Opera　glasses；〃　　he　said　as　he　handed　them　to　her。〃　And　the　program；　yes；　please。〃
　
　〃But　what　are　they？〃　　she　asked。
　
　He　gave　a　startled　little　laugh。〃　You　did　fall　from　heaven；　didn't　you？〃　　His　lips　touched　her　neck　and　then　her　cheek。〃　Put　them　to　your　eyes；　adjust　them　until　they　e　into　focus。　Yes；　that's　it。　You　see？〃
　
　She　was　shocked。　She　jumped　back　as　the　people　on　the　upper　gallery　appeared　to　loom　over　her。
　
　〃What　a　curious　tiling。　What　makes　it　happen？〃
　
　〃Magnification；〃　　he　said。〃　Pieces　of　glass。〃　　How　delighted
　
　he　seemed　that　she'd　never　heard　of　it。　She　wondered　how　Ramses　had　mastered　all　these　little　secrets；　Ramses；　whose〃　mysterious　tomb〃　　had　been　discovered　only　a　month　ago　by　〃poor　Lawrence；〃　　who　was　now　dead。　Ramses；　who　told〃　in　the　scrolls〃　　of　his　love　for　Cleopatra。　Was　it　really　possible　that　Alex　didn't　know　that　the　mummy　and　his　nemesis　Ramsey　were　the　same？
　
　But　how　could　he　grasp　it？　With　only　the　inane　story　of　the　disreputable　cousin　to　link　the　two？　Had　she　believed　when　the　old　priest　had　led　her　into　the　cave？
　
　Chimes　sounded。　〃The　opera's　going　to　begin。〃
　
　They　moved　up　the　stairs　together。　It　seemed　to　her　a　brilliant　light　surrounded　both　of　them；　separated　them　from　others；　and　others　could　see　this　light；　and　cast　their　glances　carefully；　perceiving　that　it　was　love。　Love。　She　did　love　him；　it　was　not　a　full…blooded　love　such　as　she'd　known　for　Antony；　that　hurtling　through　darkness　and　destruction　because　one　cannot　resist　another；　one　cannot　live　with　him　or　without　him；　and　one　goes　on；　knowing　full　well　that　one　is　being　destroyed。
　
　No；　this　was　a　newborn　love；　fresh　and　gentle　as　Alex　was；　but　it　was　love。　Julie　Stratford　had　been　a　fool　not　to　love　him；　but　then　Ramses　could　seduce　the　goddess　Isis。　Had　there　not　been　Antony；　she　would　never　have　loved　anyone　but　Ramses。　That　he　had　always　understood。
　
　Ramses　the　father；　the　judge；　the　teacher；　Antony　the　bad　boy　with　whom　she'd　run　away。　Playing　in　the　royal　bedchamber　like　children；　drunk；　mad；　answerable　to　no　one；　until　Ramses　had　appeared　after　all　those　years。
　
　This　is　what　you've　done　with　your　freedom？　Your　life？
　
　The　question　was；　what　would　she　do　with　her　freedom　now？　Why　did　the　pain　not　cripple　her？　Because　this　newborn　world　was　too　magnificent。　Because　she　had　what　she　had　dreamed　of　in　those　last　few　months；　when　the　Roman　armies　swarmed　over　Egypt；　when　Antony　was　desperate　and　full　of　delusions：　another　chance。　Another　chance；　without　the　weight　of　a　love　that　was　dragging　her　down　into　those　dark　waves　forever；　another　chance　without　a　hatred　for　Ramses；　who　wouldn't　save　her　doomed　lover；　who　wouldn't　forgive　her　for　being　doomed　herself。
　
　〃Your　Highness；　I'm　losing　you　again；〃　　he　said　intimately。
　
　〃No；　you're　not；〃　　she　said。　The　lights　swam　around　her。〃　I'm　with　you；　Lord　Alex。〃　　The　high　crystal　light　fixture　above　was　full　of　tiny　sparkling　rainbows；　she　could　hear　the　faint　tinkle　of　glass　as　it　moved　in　the　breeze　from　the　open　doors。
　
　〃Oh；　but　look；　there　they　are！〃　　Alex　said　suddenly；　pointing　up　to　where　the　banister　curved　and　ran　away　from　the　top　of　die　stairs。
　
　The　noise　died　around　her；　the　lights；　the　crowds；　the　soft　munal　excitement。　Ramses　stood　there！
　
　Ramses　in　modem　raiment；　and　beside　him　the　woman；　of　considerable　beauty；　young　and　fragile　as　Alex　was　fragile；　her　auburn　hair　brushed　exquisitely　back　from　her　face。　A　flash　of　dark　eyes　as　she　looked　at　them　and　did　not　see　them。　And　Lord　Rutherford；　dear　Lord　Rutherford；　struggling　on　his　silver　cane。　Did　Ramses　really　fool　the　mortals　around　him？　This　giant　of　a　man；　his　face　glistening　with　immortal　vigour；　hair　a　tousled　mane。　And　the　woman…she　had　not　been　given　it。　She　was　mortal　still。　Desperately；　fearfully；　she　clung　to　Ramses'　arm。
　
　〃Darling；　not　now；〃　　she　begged。
　
　Onward　the　party　moved；　the　crowd　swallowing　them。
　
　〃But　dearest；　just　to　tell　them　that　we're　here。　Why；　this　is　splendid；　it　means　Ramsey's　been　cleared。　Everything's　back　to　normal。　Pitfield　worked　the　miracle。〃
　
　〃Give　me　this　time；　Alex；　I　beg　you！〃　　Had　her　tone　bee　imperious？
　
　〃All　right；　Your　Highness；〃　　he　said　with　a　forgiving　smile。
　
　Away　from　them！　She　felt　desperate；　as　if　she　were　suffocating。　Reaching　the　top　of　the　stairs；　she　glanced　back。　They　had　gone　into　a　far　doorway　draped　with　velvet。　And　Alex　was　taking　her　in　another　direction。　Thank　the　gods　for　this。
　
　〃Well；　it　seems　we're　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　dress　circle；〃　　he　said　to　her；　smiling。〃　But　how　can　you　be　so　shy　when　you're　so　lovely？　When　you're　more　beautiful　than　any　woman　I've　ever　beheld？〃
　
　〃I'm　jealous　of　you；　of　the　hours　we've　spent　together。　Believe　me；　the　world　will　ruin　it；　Lord　Alex。〃
　
　〃Ah；　that's　not　possible；〃　　he　said　with　utter　innocence。
　
　Elliott　stood　at　the　curtained　doorway。〃　Where　on　earth　can　Alex　be？　What　could　possess　him　to　wander　off　at　a　time　like　this？　Oh；　this　is　past　all　patience。〃
　
　〃Elliott；　Alex　is　the　least　of　our　worries！〃　　Julie　said。〃　He's　probably　found　another　American　heiress。　The　third　consecutive　love　of　his　life　in　one　week。〃
　
　Elliott　gave　a　faintly　bitter　smile　as　they　went　on　into　the　box。　The　woman　he'd　glimpsed　in　the　car　had　been　all　hat；　ribbons　and　hair　flying。　Maybe　it　was　just　the　bit　of　good　fortune　his　son　required。
　
　A　curved　tier；　a　giant　amphitheatre　save　it　was　covered　over；　and　only　one…half　of　the　oval。　At　the　far　end　lay　the　stage；　obviously；　hidden　by　a　wall　of　soft　shimmering　curtains；　and　sunk　beneath　and　before　it；　a　gathering　of　men　and　women　making　horrid　sounds　with　their　stringed　instruments　and　horns。　She　put　her　hands　to　her　ears。
　
　Alex　led　her　down　the　little　step　to　the　front　row　of　this　small　section。　The　soft　red　chairs　at　the　railing　were　theirs。　She　turned　to　her　left。　Across　the　dimly　lighted　gulf　she　saw　Ramses！　She　saw　the　pale…faced　woman；　with　large　sad　eyes。　Lord　Rutherford　had　settled　directly　behind　them；　and　at　his　arm　was　a　dark…skinned　Egyptian；　beautifully　clad　as　the　other　men。
　
　She　tried　to　take　her　eyes　off　them；　she　did　not　fully　understand　the　tumult　inside　her；　as　she　continued　to　stare。　Then　Ramses　put　his　arm　around　the　woman。　He　embraced　her　tightly　as　if　to　fort　her；　and　the　woman　lowered　her　eyes；　and　there　was　a　sudden　glisten　of　tears　on　her　cheeks！　Ramses　kissed　this　woman；　and　the　woman；　inclining　towards　him；　returned　his　kiss！
　
　How　the　pain　passed　through　her　as　she　saw　this！　It　was　like　a　knife　travelling　down　her　face　suddenly；　slicing　her　open。　She　turned　her　head；　shaken；　staring　before　her　in　the　dark。
　
　It　seemed　she　would　have　cried　out　if　she　could。　But　why；　what　did　she　feel？　A　hatred　for　the　woman　swelled　inside　her；　burning　her。　Give　Antony　the　elixir。
　
　Suddenly　the　great　theatre　went　dark。　A　man　appeared　before　the　audience；　applause　broke　out　all　around　her；　then　rose　in　a　deafening　noise。　Like　so　much　in　modem　times；　it　was　overwhelming　yet　strangely　contained。
　
　The　man　bowed；　lifted　his　hands；　then　turned　and　faced　the　musicians；　who　had　bee　quiet　and　still。　At　his　signal；　they　played　in　concert；　the　sound　rose；　huge　and　searing　and　beautiful。
　
　It　seemed　to　touch　her；　this　sound。　She　felt　Alex's　hand　cover　her　hand。　The　sound　surrounded　her；　swept　her　away　from　her　pain　suddenly。
　
　〃Modem　times；〃　　she　whispered。　Was　she　too　weeping？　She　did　not　want　to　hate！　She　did　not　want　this　pain！　In　memory　again；　she　saw　Ramses　above　her　in　the　darkness；　had　it　been　a　tomb？　She　felt　the　elixir　filling　her　mouth。　And　then　he　backed　away　from　her　in　terror。　Ramses。　But　was　she　sorry　that　he　had　done　it？　Could　she　really　curse　him？　She　was　alive！
　
　Elliott　ducked　outside　the　curtain　into　the　lighted　foyer　behind　the　box；　to　read　the　note　in　the　electric　light。
　
　〃It　was　at　the　desk　at　Shepheard's；　sir；〃　　said　the　boy；　waiting　for　the　coin　which　Elliott　fished　from　his　pocket　and　held　out。
　
　Father；　will　see　you　at　the　opera　or　at　the　ball　afterwards。　Sorry　to　be　so　mysterious；　but　have　met　the　most　entrancing　female　panion。　Alex。
　
　Infuriating。　But　so　be　it！　He　went　back　into　the　darkened　hall。
　
　Ramses　hadn't　thought　it　possible　to　enjoy　this　spectacle。　He　was　furious　still　with　Elliott　that　he　had　been　dragged　here　against　his　will。　And　indeed；　the　opera　would　have　been　ludicrous　had　it　not　been　so　beautiful…the　fat〃　Egyptian〃　　figures　down　there　singing　in　Italian　against　a　backdrop　of　painted　temples　and　statues　which　appeared　to　be　utterly　grotesque。　But　the　melodies　overcame　him；　even　as　they　worsened　Julie's　pain。　Julie　leane