anner.themummy-第23部分

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　〃Britannia；〃　　he　whispered　as　they　looked　out　on　the　rooftops　of　London；　as　they　listened　to　the　scream　of　the　factory　whistles；　to　the　jangling　of　the　tram　bells　far　below。〃　America；　Julie。〃　　He　turned　to　her　excitedly；　clasping　her　shoulders；　his　fingers　surprisingly　gentle。　〃How　many　days　by　mechanical　ship　to　America？〃
　
　〃Ten　days；　I　believe。　One　could　be　in　Egypt　in　less　time　than　that。　A　passage　to　Alexandria　is　six　days。〃
　
　Why　had　she　said　those　words？　His　face　darkened　ever　so　slightly。〃　Alexandria；〃　　he　whispered；　pronouncing　it　as　she　had。〃　Alexandria　still　stands？〃
　
　She　led　him　to　the　lift。　So　much　more　to　see。　She　explained　there　was　still　an　Athens；　still　a　Damascus；　still　an　Antioch。　And　Rome；　of　course　there　was　Rome。
　
　A　wild　idea　had　e　to　her。　Hailing　a　hansom；　she　told　the　driver：　〃Madame　Tussaud's。〃
　
　All　those　costumed　figures　in　the　wax　museum。　Hastily　she　explained　what　it　was；　a　panorama　of　history。　She　would　show　him　American　Indians；　she　would　show　him　Genghis　Khan　or　Attila　the　Hun…creatures　who　had　brought　terror　to　Europe　after　Rome　fell。
　
　She　could　not　envision　the　mosaic　of　facts　being　created　for　him。　His　equanimity　amazed　her　more　and　more。
　
　But　they　had　been　in　Madame　Tussaud's　only　a　few　moments　when　she　realized　her　error。　His　posure　crumbled　at　the　first　sight　of　Roman　soldiers。　He　recognized　the　figure　of　Julius　Caesar　instantly。　And　then　in　disbelief　he　stared　at　the　Egyptian　Cleopatra；　a　wax　doll　which　bore　no　resemblance　to　the　bust　he　had　cherished　or　the　coins　he　still　possessed。　But　her　identity　was　unmistakable　as　she　reclined　on　her　gilded　couch；　the　snake　coiled　in　her　hands；　its　fangs　just　beneath　her　breast。　The　stiff　figure　of　Mark　Antony　stood　behind　her；　a　characterless　man　in　Roman　military　dress。
　
　Ramses'　face　coloured。　There　was　something　savage　in　his　eyes　as　he　turned　to　Julie；　then　looked　back　at　the　printed　labels　beneath　this　display。
　
　Why　hadn't　she　realized　these　figures　would　be　here？　Why　hadn't　she　remembered？　She　caught　his　hand　as　he　backed　away　from　the　glass。　He　turned　around；　almost　stumbling　into　a　couple　who　blocked　his　path。　The　man　said　something　threatening；　but　Ramses　didn't　seem　to　hear　it。　He　was　hurrying　towards　the　exit。　She　ran　after　him。
　
　He　appeared　calmer　when　she　reached　the　street。　He　was　scanning　the　traffic。　He　reached　out　for　her　hand　without　looking　at　her；　and　together　they　proceeded　slowly　until　he　stopped　to　watch　the　workmen　on　a　construction　sight。　The　great　cement　mixer　was　churning。　The　sound　of　hammering　echoed　against　distant　walls。
　
　A　faint　bitter　smile　passed　over　Ramses'　lips。　Julie　hailed　a　passing　hansom。
　
　〃Where　shall　we　go　now？〃　　she　asked。　〃Tell　me　what　you　want　to　see。〃
　
　He　was　staring　at　a　beggar　woman；　a　ragged　figure　in　broken…down　shoes　who　extended　her　hand　now　as　she　passed。
　
　〃The　poor；〃　　he　said；　glancing　at　the　woman。　〃Why　are　the　poor　still　here？〃
　
　They　rode　silently　through　cobblestone　streets。　Strings　of　laundry　closed　out　the　damp　gray　sky。　The　smoke　of　cooking　fires　rose　in　the　alleys。　Barefoot　children　with　soiled　faces　turned　to　watch　them　pass。
　
　〃But　cannot　all　this　wealth　help　these　people？　They　are　as　poor　as　the　peasants　of　my　land。〃
　
　〃Some　things　don't　change　with　time；〃　　Julie　said。　〃And　your　father？　He　was　a　rich　man？〃　　She　nodded。　〃He　built　a　great　shipping　pany…ships　that　carry　merchandise　from　India　and　Egypt　to　England　and　America。　Ships　that　circle　the　world。〃
　
　〃For　this　wealth；　Henry　tried　to　kill　you；　as　he　killed　your　father　in　the　tomb。〃
　
　Julie　stared　straight　forward。　It　seemed　the　words　would　strip　away　every　vestige　of　control　she　had。　This　day；　this　adventure；　it　had　carried　her　to　the　heights；　and　now　she　felt　herself　descending。　Henry　killed　Father。　It　was　near　impossible　for　her　to　speak。
　
　Ramses　took　her　hand　in　his。
　
　〃There　should　have　been　enough　wealth　for　all　of　us；〃　　she　said；　her　voice　strained。〃　Enough　for　me；　for　Henry；　for　Henry's　father。〃
　
　〃Yet　your　father　dug　in　Egypt　for　treasure。〃　〃No；　not　for　treasure！〃　　She　looked　at　him　sharply。〃　He　dug　to　find　evidence　of　the　past。　Your　writings　meant　more　to　him　than　the　rings　on　your　ringers。　The　story　you　told；　that　was　his　treasure。　That　and　the　painted　coffin　because　it　was　a　pure　thing；　from　your　time。〃
　
　〃Archaeology；〃　　Ramses　said。
　
　〃Yes。〃　　She　smiled　in　spite　of　herself。〃　My　father　was　not　a　robber　of　tombs。〃
　
　〃I　understand　you。　Don't　bee　angry。〃　〃He　was　a　scholar；〃　　she　said；　a　little　more　gently。〃　He　had　all　the　money　he　needed。　If　he　made　a　mistake；　it　was　that　he　left　his　pany　to　his　brother；　and　to　his　nephew；　but　then　he　paid　them　so　very　well。〃
　
　She　stopped。　She　felt　weary　suddenly。　Beneath　the　euphoria；　she　had　been　ever　mindful　of　what　happened；　and　the　pain　had　only　begun。
　
　〃Something　went　wrong；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃Greed　is　what　went　wrong。　Greed　is　what　always　goes　wrong。〃
　
　He　was　looking　out　the　window　at　the　dull；　broken　windows　above。　Foul　smells　rose　from　the　puddles　and　from　the　doorways。　The　stench　of　urine；　and　decay。
　
　She　herself　had　never　been　in　this　part　of　London。　It　saddened　her；　it　exacerbated　her　own　pain。
　
　〃This　Henry　should　be　stopped；〃　　Ramses　said　firmly。　〃Before　he　tries　again　to　hurt　you。　And　your　father's　death；　surely　you　want　it　avenged。〃
　
　〃It　will　kill　my　uncle　Randolph　when　he　finds　out　what　happened。　That　is；　if　he　doesn't　already　know。〃
　
　〃The　uncle；　the　one　who　came　this　morning　with　such　fear　for　you…he's　innocent　and　is　afraid　for　his　son。　But　cousin　Henry　is　evil。　And　the　evil　is　unchecked。〃
　
　She　was　trembling。　The　tears　had　risen　to　her　eyes。
　
　〃I　can't　do　anything　now。　He's　my　cousin。　They're　my　only　family。　And　when　something　is　done；　it　will　have　to　be　in　a　court　of　law。〃
　
　〃You　are　in　danger；　Julie　Stratford；〃　　he　said　to　her。
　
　〃Ramses；　I　am　not　a　Queen　here。　I　cannot　act　on　my　own。〃
　
　〃But　I　am　a　King。　I　always　will　be。　My　conscience　can　bear　this　burden。　Let　me　act　when　I　see　fit。〃
　
　〃No！〃　　she　whispered。　She　looked　up　at　him　imploringly。　He　pressed　his　arm　against　her；　gently；　then　reached　as　if　to　embrace　her。　She　held　steady。〃　Promise　me　you　will　do　nothing。　If　something　happens；　it　will　be　on　my　conscience　too。〃
　
　〃He　killed　your　father。〃
　
　〃Kill　him　and　you　kill　my　father's　daughter；〃　　she　said。
　
　There　was　a　silent　moment　in　which　he　merely　looked　at　her；　marvelling　perhaps；　she　couldn't　tell。　She　felt　his　right　arm　on　her　left　arm。　Then　he　drew　her　close　to　him；　her　breasts　against　his　chest；　and　he　kissed　her；　his　mouth　opening　over　hers。　The　heat　was　immediate　and　utterly　consuming。　She　reached　up　to　push　him　away；　and　found　her　fingers　slipping　up　through　his　hair。　She　cradled　his　head　gently。　And　then　drew　back；　thoughtlessly；　astonished。
　
　For　a　moment　she　couldn't　speak。　Her　face　was　flushed；　and　she　felt　soft　all　over；　and　utterly　exposed。　She　closed　her　eyes。　She　knew　that　if　he　touched　her　again；　the　game　was　up。　She　would　end　up　making　love　to　him　in　this　cab；　if　she　didn't　do　something。。。
　
　〃What　did　you　think　I　was；　Julie？〃　　he　asked。〃　A　spirit？　I'm　an　immortal　man。〃
　
　He　moved　to　kiss　her　again；　she　moved　away；　her　hand　up。
　
　〃Shall　we　speak　again　of　Henry？〃　　he　asked。　He　took　her　hand　and　clasped　it　and　kissed　her　fingers。〃　Henry　knows　what　I　am。　He　saw；　because　I　moved　to　save　your　life；　Julie。　He　saw。　And　there　is　no　reason　to　let　him　live　with　this　knowledge；　since　he　is　evil　and　deserves　to　die。〃
　
　He　knew　she　could　hardly　concentrate　on　the　words　he　was　speaking。　It　made　her　angry　suddenly；　his　lips　grazing　her　fingers；　his　blue　eyes　flashing　like　lights　in　the　dim　cab。
　
　〃Henry　made　a　fool　of　himself　with　that　story；〃　　she　said。〃　And　he　won't　try　to　hurt　me　again。〃　　She　withdrew　her　hand　and　looked　out　the　window。　They　were　leaving　this　sad；　miserable　slum。　Thank　God。
　
　He　gave　a　little　thoughtful　shrug。
　
　〃Henry's　a　coward；〃　　she　said。　Her　body　was　under　control　again。〃　A　terrible　coward。　The　way　he　did　it　to　Father；　such　a　coward。〃
　
　〃Cowards　can　be　more　dangerous　than　brave　men；　Julie；〃　　he　said；　〃Don't　hurt　him！〃　　she　whispered。　She　turned　again　to　face　Ramses。〃　For　my　sake；　leave　it　to　God。　I　can't　be　his　judge　and　jury！〃
　
　〃So　like　a　Queen；〃　　he　said。〃　And　wiser　than　most　Queens。〃
　
　He　bent　slowly　to　kiss　her　again。　She　knew　she　ought　to　turn　away；　but　she　didn't。　And　the　heat　flooded　her　again；　weakening　her　pletely。　When　she　pulled　away；　he　tried　to　hold　her；　but　her　immediate　resistance　won　out。
　
　When　she　looked　at　him　again；　he　was　smiling。
　
　〃A　guest　in　your　court；〃　　he　said　with　a　little　gesture　of　acceptance；〃　my　Queen。〃
　
　Elliott　had　not　the　slightest　difficulty　overwhelming　Rita。　Even　as　she　begged　him　to　understand　that　her　mistress　was　not　at　home；　and　surely　he　must　e　back　another　time；　he　moved　past　her；　directly　into　the　Egyptian　room。
　
　〃Ah；　these　lovely　treasures。　Not　enough　time　in　the　world　to　examine　them。　Do　get　me　a　glass　of　sherry；　Rita。　I　find　I'm　tired。　I'll　rest　for　a　moment　before　going　home。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir；　but…〃
　
　〃Sherry；　Rita。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　
　How　anxious　and　pale　she　looked；　poor　girl。　And　what　a　mess　this　library　was。　There　were　books　scattered　everywhere。　He　looked　at　the　table　in　the　conservatory。　He　could　see　from　where　he　stood　that　there　were　dictionaries　stacked　on　the　wicker　table；　papers　and　magazines　in　neat　little　piles　all　about　the　chairs。
　
　But　Lawrence's　diary　was　here　on　the　desk；　just　as　he　hoped。　He　opened　it；　confirmed　that　there　was　no　mistake；　then　slipped　it　under　his　coat。
　
　He　was　staring　at　the　mummy　case　when　Rita　came　to　him；　with　the　glass　of　sherry　on　a　small　silver　tray。
　
　Leaning　heavily　on　his　cane；　he　lifted　the　glass　and　took　only　a　taste　of　it。〃　You　wouldn't　let　me　have　a　look　at　the　mummy；　now　would　you？〃　　he　asked。
　
　〃Good　Lord；　no；　sir！　Please　don't　touch　it！〃　　Rita　said。　Pure　panic　as　she　stared　at　the　mummy　case。〃　It's　very　heavy；　sir！　We　mustn't　try　to　lift　it。〃
　
　〃There；　there。　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　it's　a　thin　wooden　shel