anner.themummy-第24部分

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　〃There；　there。　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　it's　a　thin　wooden　shell；　and　not　very　heavy　at　all。〃
　
　The　girl　was　terrified。
　
　He　smiled。　He　took　out　a　sovereign　and　gave　it　to　her。　She　was　astonished。　She　shook　her　head。
　
　〃No；　take　it；　dearest。　Buy　yourself　something　pretty。〃
　
　And　before　she　could　think　what　to　say；　he　moved　past　her　and　towards　the　front　door。　She　hurried　to　open　it　for　him。
　
　He　paused　only　when　he　had　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps。　Now；　why　hadn't　he　forced　the　issue？　Why　hadn't　he　looked　in　that　case？
　
　His　man　Walter　came　forward　to　assist　him。　Good　old　Walter；　who　had　been　with　him　since　he　was　a　boy。　He　let　Walter　help　him　up　into　the　idling　car　now；　and　he　sat　back；　the　pain　in　his　hip　biting　deeply　as　he　stretched　out　his　legs。
　
　Would　he　have　been　surprised　to　find　that　case　empty；　to　discover　that　this　was　not　a　little　game？　On　the　contrary。　He　realized　that　he　fully　believed　the　case　was　empty。　And　he　had　been　afraid　to　see　that　for　himself。
　
　Mr。　Hancock　of　the　British　Museum　was　not　a　patient　man。　All　his　life　he　had　used　his　devotion　to　Egyptian　antiquities　to　bully　people；　to　justify　rudeness　and　downright　meanness　to　others。　This　was　part　of　his　nature；　as　much　as　his　genuine　love　for　the　relics　and　papyri　which　he　had　been　studying　ail　his　life。
　
　He　read　aloud　the　headline　before　him　to　the　three　other　gentlemen　in　the　room。
　
　〃　'Mummy　Walks　in　Mayfair。'〃　He　folded　the　papers。〃　This　is　perfectly　disgusting。　Is　young　Stratford　out　of　his　mind？〃
　
　The　older　gentleman　who　sat　directly　opposite　on　the　other　side　of　the　desk　merely　smiled。
　
　〃Henry　Stratford's　a　drunkard；　and　a　gambler。　The　mummy　climbed　out　of　its　case；　indeed！〃
　
　〃But　the　point　is；〃　　said　Hancock；〃　we　have　entrusted　a　priceless　collection　of　antiquities　to　a　private　household；　and　now　we　have　this　little　scandal！　With　Scotland　Yard　ing　and　going　and　reporters　from　the　gutter　press　on　the　steps。〃
　
　〃If　you　will　forgive　me；〃　　the　elder　gentleman　countered。　'〃The　matter　of　the　stolen　coin　is　much　more　disturbing。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　said　Samir　Ibrahaim　quietly　from　the　outer　edge　of　the　circle　where　he　sat。〃　But　I　tell　you　there　were　only　five　when　I　cataloged　the　collection；　and　none　of　us　has　seen　this　so…called　stolen　coin。〃
　
　〃Nevertheless；〃　　said　Hancock；〃　Mr。　Taylor　is　a　reputable　coin　dealer。　He　was　certain　the　coin　was　authentic。　And　that　it　was　Henry　Stratford　who　offered　it　for　sale。〃
　
　〃Stratford　could　have　stolen　it　in　Egypt；〃　　said　the　elder　gentleman。　There　were　a　couple　of　nods　from　the　circle。
　
　〃The　collection　should　be　in　the　museum；〃　　said　Hancock。〃　We　should　be　making　our　examinations　of　the　Ramses　mummy　now。　The　Cairo　Museum　is　angry　about　this　controversy。　And　now；　this　coin…〃
　
　〃But；　gentlemen；〃　　Samir　interrupted。〃　Surely　we　can　make　no　decision　about　the　safety　of　the　collection　until　we've　talked　to　Miss　Stratford。〃
　
　〃Miss　Stratford　is　very　young；〃　　Hancock　said　snappishly。〃　And　she　is　in　a　state　of　grief　which　clouds　her　judgment。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　said　the　elder　gentleman。〃　But　surely　everyone　present　realizes　that　Lawrence　Stratford　contributed　millions　to　this　museum。　No；　I　think　Samir　is　right。　We　cannot　move　the　collection　until　Miss　Stratford　gives　her　permission。〃
　
　Hancock　glanced　again　at　the　newspapers。〃　　'Ramses　Rises　from　the　Grave；'〃　he　read。〃　I　tell　you　I　don't　like　it。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　another　guard　should　be　posted；〃　　said　Samir。〃　Perhaps　two。〃
　
　The　elder　gentleman　nodded。〃　Good　suggestion。　But　again；　Miss　Stratford's　feelings　are　to　be　considered。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　you　should　call　on　her！〃　　Hancock　said；　glaring　at　Samir。〃　You　were　her　father's　friend。〃
　
　〃Very　well；　sir；〃　　Samir　answered　in　a　low　voice。〃　I　shall　certainly　do　that。〃
　
　Early　evening：　the　Hotel　Victoria。　Ramses　had　been　dining　since　four　o'clock；　when　the　sun　was　still　slanting　through　the　leaded　glass；　onto　the　white…draped　tables。　Now　it　was　dark；　candles　blazed　everywhere；　the　ceiling　fans　turned　very　slowly；　barely　stirring　the　fronds　of　the　tall；　elegant　dark…green　palms　in　their　brass　pots。
　
　Liveried　waiters　brought　plate　after　plate　of　food　without　ment；　eyebrows　arched　as　they　opened　the　fourth　bottle　of　Italian　red　wine。
　
　Julie　had　finished　her　scant　meal　hours　ago。　They　were　deep　in　conversation　now；　the　English　flowing　as　easily　as　the　wine　flowed。
　
　She　had　taught　Ramses　how　to　use　the　heavy　silver；　but　he　ignored　it。　In　his　time　only　a　barbarian　would　have　shoveled　food　into　the　mouth。
　
　In　fact；　he　had　remarked　after　a　little　consideration；　no　one　had　shoveled　food　into　the　mouth。　There　was　time　for　Julie　to　explain　how　silverware　had　e　about。　For　now；　she　must　agree　that　he　was　most；　most　。。。　fastidious；　she　volunteered。　Elegant；　civilized；　deft　at　the　breaking　of　bread　and　meat　into　small　portions；　and　the　placing　of　them　on　the　tongue　without　the　ringers　touching　the　lips。
　
　She　was　now　deep　into　her　discussion　of　revolution。〃　The　first　machines　were　simple…for　weaving；　tilling　the　fields。　It　was　the　idea　of　the　machine　that　caught　the　mind。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃If　you　make　a　machine　to　do　one　thing；　then　you　can　perfect　a　machine　to　do　another。　。。。〃
　
　〃I　understand　you。〃
　
　〃And　then　came　the　steam　engine；　the　motor　car；　the　telephone；　the　aeroplane。〃
　
　〃I　want　to　do　it；　fly　in　the　sky。〃
　
　〃Of　course；　and　we　shall　do　it。　But　do　you　understand　the　concept；　the　revolution　in　thinking？〃
　
　〃Of　course。　I　don't　e　to　you；　as　you　say；　from　the　nineteenth　dynasty　of　Egypt's　history；　I　e　to　you　from　the　first　days　of　the　Roman　Empire。　My　mind　is；　how　do　you　say　it；　flexible；　adaptable。　I　am　constantly　in；　how　do　you　say　it；　revolution？〃
　
　Something　startled　him；　at　first　she　didn't　realize　what　it　was。　The　orchestra　had　begun；　very　softly；　so　that　she　scarcely　heard　it　over　the　hum　of　conversation。　He　rose；　dropping　his　napkin。　He　pointed　across　the　crowded　room。
　
　The　soft　strains　of　the〃　Merry　Widow　Waltz〃　　rose　strongly　over　the　hum　of　conversation。　Julie　turned　to　see　the　little　string　orchestra　assembled　on　the　other　side　of　the　small　polished　dance　floor。
　
　Ramses　rose　and　went　towards　them。〃　Ramses；　wait；〃　　Julie　said。　But　he　didn't　listen　to　her。　She　hurried　after　him。　Surely　everyone　was　looking　at　the　tall　man　who　marched　across　the　dance　floor　and　came　to　a　quick　stop　right　in　front　of　the　musicians　as　if　he　were　the　conductor　himself。
　
　He　positively　glared　at　the　violins；　at　the　cello；　and　then　as　he　studied　the　huge　golden　harp；　the　smile　came　back；　so　clearly　ecstatic　that　the　female　violinist　smiled　at　him　and　the　old　grey…haired　male　cellist　seemed　vaguely　amused。
　
　They　must　have　thought　him　a　deaf　mute　as　he　stepped　up　and　laid　his　fingers　right　on　the　cello；　drawing　back　at　the　power　of　the　vibration；　then　touching　it　again。〃　Oooh；　Julie；〃　　he　whispered　aloud。　Everyone　was　looking。　Even　the　waiters　were　glancing　at　them　in　obvious　alarm。　But　nobody　dared　question　the　handsome　gentleman　in　Lawrence's　best　suit　and　silk　waistcoat；　even　when　he　shuddered　all　over　and　clamped　his　hands　to　the　sides　of　his　head。
　
　She　tugged　on　him。　He　wouldn't　budge。〃　Julie；　such　sounds！〃　he　whispered。
　
　〃Then　dance　with　me；　Ramses；〃　　she　said。
　
　No　one　else　was　dancing；　but　what　did　that　matter？　There　was　the　dance　floor；　and　she　felt　like　dancing。　She　felt　like　dancing　more　than　anything　in　the　world。
　
　Baffled；　he　looked　at　her；　then　allowed　himself　to　be　turned；　and　his　hand　to　be　taken　properly　as　she　slipped　her　arm　about　his　waist。
　
　〃Now；　this　is　the　way　the　man　leads　the　woman；〃　　she　said；　beginning　the　waltz　step　and　moving　him　easily。〃　My　hand　should　really　be　on　your　shoulder。　I　shall　move；　and　you　。。。　that's　it。　But　allow　me　to　lead。〃
　
　They　turned　faster　and　faster；　Ramses　following　her　lead　beautifully；　only　glancing　down　now　and　then　at　his　feet。　Another　couple　had　joined　them；　then　came　another。　But　Julie　didn't　see　them；　she　saw　only　Ramses'　rapt　face；　and　the　way　his　eyes　moved　over　the　monplace　treasures　of　the　room。　It　was　a　haze　suddenly；　the　candles；　the　gilded　fan　blades　turning　above；　the　drowsing　flowers　on　the　tables；　and　the　shimmer　of　silver　everywhere；　and　the　music　surrounding　them；　the　music　carrying　them　along　ever　faster。
　
　He　laughed　out　loud　suddenly。〃　Julie；　like　music　poured　from　a　goblet。　Like　music　that　has　bee　wine。〃
　
　She　turned　him　rapidly　in　small　circles。
　
　〃Revolution！〃　　he　cried　out。
　
　She　threw　back　her　head　and　laughed。
　
　Quite　suddenly　it　was　over。　There　must　have　been　a　finale。　All　she　knew　was　that　it　was　finished；　and　that　he　was　about　to　kiss　her；　and　she　didn't　want　him　to　stop。　But　he　hesitated。　He　noted　the　other　couples　leaving。　He　took　her　hand。
　
　〃Yes；　time　to　go；〃　　she　said。
　
　The　night　outside　was　cold　and　foggy。　She　gave　the　doorman　a　few　coins。　She　wanted　a　hansom。
　
　Ramses　paced　back　and　forth；　staring　at　the　crowds　of　mercial　travellers　ing　and　going　from　motor　cars　and　carriages；　at　the　newsboy　dashing　up　to　him　with　the　latest　edition。
　
　〃Mummy's　Curse　in　Mayfair！〃　　the　boy　cried　shrilly。〃　Mummy　Rises　from　the　Grave！〃
　
　Before　she　could　reach　him；　Ramses　had　snatched　the　paper　from　the　boy。　Flustered；　she　gave　the　child　a　coin。
　
　There　it　was　all　right；　the　whole　silly　scandal。　An　ink　sketch　of　Henry　running　away　from　her　front　stairs。
　
　〃Your　cousin；〃　　Ramses　said　gloomily。〃　　'Mummy's　Curse　Strikes　Again　。。。'〃he　read　slowly。
　
　〃No　one　believes　it！　It's　a　joke。〃
　
　He　continued　to　read：〃　Gentlemen　of　the　British　Museum　say　that　the　Ramses　collection　is　entirely　safe　and　will　be　returned　to　the　museum　soon。〃　　He　paused。〃　Museum；〃　　he　said。〃　Explain　this　word　museum。　What　is　the　museum；　a　tomb？〃
　
　The　poor　girl　was　miserable；　Samir　could　see　it。　He　ought　to　go。　But　he　had　to　see　Julie。　And　so　he　waited　in　the　drawing　room；　sitting　stiffly　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa；　refusing　Rita's　third　offer　of　coffee；　tea；　or　wine。
　
　Now　and　then　he　glanced　down　the　length　of　the　house　to　see　the　gleaming　Egyptian　coffin。　If　only　Rita　did　not　stand　there；　but　clearly　she　was　not　go