anner.themummy-第34部分

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　〃You　are　going　to　Egypt？〃　　Ramsey　asked；　cocking　his　head。
　
　〃Yes。〃　　Politely　he　moved　past　Ramsey；　and　into　the　drawing
　
　room。　He　stood　beside　Julie；　who　had　just　signed　another　bank　draft　for　her　uncle；　which　she　placed　now　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Yes；〃　　Elliott　said；　turning　back　to　Ramsey　and　speaking　loudly　enough　for　the　others　to　hear　him。〃　Alex　and　I　are　both　going。　I　booked　passage　on　the　same　ship；　as　soon　as　Julie　called。　We　wouldn't　dream　of　letting　her　go　alone；　would　we；　Alex？〃
　
　〃Elliott；　I　told　you　no；〃　　Julie　said。
　
　〃Father；　I　didn't　realize　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　dear；〃　　Elliott　said　to　Julie；〃　but　I　couldn't　take　no　for　an　answer。　Besides；　this　may　be　the　last　time　I　see　Egypt。　And　Alex　has　never　been　there。　Surely　you　won't　deny　us　the　pleasure。　Is　there　any　reason　why　we　should　not　all　go？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　should　see　it；〃　　Alex　said；　by　this　time　thoroughly　confused。
　
　〃Well；　your　trunk's　packed　and　on　its　way；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　e　on；　now；　or　we're　all　going　to　miss　the　boat；　so　to　speak。〃
　
　Julie　was　staring　at　him　in　a　silent　fury。
　
　Ramsey　gave　a　soft　laugh　behind　him。
　
　〃So　we　all　go　to　Egypt；〃　　he　said。〃　I　find　this　most　interesting。　We　shall　talk　on　board；　Lord　Rutherford；　as　you　have　said。〃
　
　Randolph　looked　up　after　tucking　the　power　of　attorney　into　his　coat。
　
　〃Well；　that　solves　everything；　doesn't　it？　Have　a　pleasant　journey；　my　darling。〃　　He　kissed　his　niece　tenderly　on　the　cheek。
　
　The　dream　again；　but　he　couldn't　wake　up。　He　turned　over　in　Daisy's　bed；　into　the　scratchy　lace　pillow　with　its　cloying　perfume。〃　Just　a　dream；〃　　he　murmured；〃　have　to　stop　it。〃　　But　he　saw　the　mummy　ing　towards　him；　the　long　strips　of　darkened　linen　trailing　from　its　shuffling　feet。　He　felt　the　fingers　lock　on　his　throat。
　
　He　tried　to　scream；　but　he　couldn't。　He　was　suffocated；　the　smell　of　the　filthy　cerements　choking　him。
　
　He　turned　over；　thrashing　at　the　bedcovers　and　suddenly　striking　out　with　his　fist；　only　to　feel　fingers　locked　on　it　tightly。
　
　When　he　opened　his　eyes；　he　saw　his　father's　face。
　
　〃Oh；　God；〃　　he　whispered。　He　fell　back　on　the　pillow。　The　dream　locked　around　him　again　for　an　instant；　but　he　shuddered　and　stared　again　at　his　father　standing　over　the　bed。
　
　〃Father；〃　　he　moaned。〃　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　
　〃I　might　ask　you　that　question。　Get　out　of　that　bed　and　get　dressed。　Your　trunk's　waiting　downstairs；　along　with　a　cab　to　take　you　to　the　P　and　O　docks。　You're　going　to　Egypt。〃
　
　〃The　hell　I　am！〃　　What　was　this；　another　stage　of　the　nightmare？
　
　His　father　removed　his　hat　and　took　the　bedside　chair。　When　Henry　reached　for　his　cigar　and　matches；　his　father　knocked　them　out　of　his　hand。
　
　〃Damn　you；〃　　Henry　whispered。
　
　〃Now　you　listen　to　me。　I　have　things　in　hand　again　and　I　intend　to　keep　it　that　way。　Your　cousin　Julie　and　her　mysterious　Egyptian　friend　are　setting　out　for　Alexandria　this　afternoon；　and　Elliott　and　Alex　are　going　with　them。　Now　you　will　be　on　that　ship；　too；　do　you　understand？　You　are　Julie's　cousin；　and　therefore　the　only　proper　panion。　And　you　will　see　that　things　remain　seemly；　that　nothing　intervenes　to　prevent　Julie's　eventual　marriage　to　Alex　Savarell。　And　you　will　see　。。。　you　will　see　that　this　man；　whoever　he　is；　does　not　hurt　my　brother's　only　child。〃
　
　〃That　man！　You're　mad　if　you　think　I'll…〃
　
　〃And　you　are　disinherited　and　penniless　if　you　don't！〃　　Randolph　lowered　his　voice　as　he　leaned　forward。〃　I　mean　this；　Henry。　All　your　life　I've　given　you　everything　you　ever　wanted。　But　if　you　don't　toe　the　line　now；　and　see　this　thing　to　the　bloody　end；　I　shall　remove　you　from　the　board　of　Stratford　Shipping。　I　shall　terminate　your　salary　and　your　personal　ine。　Now　you　will　be　on　that　ship。　And　you　will　keep　an　eye　on　your　cousin　and　see　she　doesn't　elope　with　that　revoltingly　handsome　Egyptian！　And　you　will　keep　me　posted　as　to　everything　that　is　going　on。〃
　
　Randolph　removed　a　slim　white　envelope　from　his　breast　pocket。　He　laid　it　on　the　bedside　table。　There　was　a　thick　wad　of　money　in　the　envelope。　Henry　could　see　that。　His　father　rose　to　go。
　
　〃And　don't　wire　me　from　Cairo　that　you're　broke。　Stay　away　from　the　gaming　tables　and　the　belly　dancers。　I　shall　expect　a　letter　or　a　telegram　within　a　week's　time。〃
　
　Hancock　was　beside　himself。
　
　〃Left　for　Egypt！〃　　he　sputtered　into　the　telephone。〃　But　the　whole　collection　is　still　there　in　that　house！　How　could　she　do　this！〃
　
　He　motioned　for　silence　to　the　clerk　who　meant　to　disturb　him。　Then　he　slammed　down　the　black　receiver　in　its　hook。〃　Sir；　the　newspapermen　are　here　again；　about　the　mummy。〃　〃Oh；　damn　the　mummy。　That　woman's　gone　off　and　left　that　treasure　locked　up　in　her　living　room；　as　if　it　were　a　collection　of　dolls！〃
　
　Elliott　stood　beside　Julie　and　Ramsey　watching　from　the　high　railing　as　Alex　kissed　his　mother　at　the　foot　of　the　gangplank　far　below。
　
　〃But　I'm　not　here　to　cluck　over　you　like　a　mother　hen；〃　　Elliott　said　to　Julie。　Alex　embraced　his　mother　again　and　then　hurried　to　board。〃　I　only　want　to　be　close　at　hand　if　you　need　me。　Please　don't　be　so　distressed。〃
　
　Lord；　he　meant　it。　It　hurt　him　to　see　the　look　on　her　face。
　
　〃But　Henry；　why　on　earth　has　Henry　e　along？　I　don't　want　Henry　with　us。〃
　
　Henry　had　boarded　only　moments　before　without　a　civil　word　to　anyone；　looking　as　pale　and　overwrought　and　generally　miserable　as　he　had　looked　the　day　before。
　
　〃Yes；　I　know。〃　　Elliott　sighed。〃　But　my　dear；　he's　your　next　of　kin　and…〃
　
　〃Give　me　space　to　breathe；　Elliott。　You　know　I　love　Alex；　I　always　have。　But　a　marriage　to　me　may　not　be　the　best　thing　for　him。　And　I've　been　perfectly　honest　about　it　all　along。〃
　
　〃I　know；　Julie；　believe　me；　I　know。　I　always　have。　But　your　friend…〃　He　gestured　to　the　distant　figure　of　Ramsey；　who　was　watching　all　the　goings…on　of　the　harbour　with　obvious　excitement。〃　How　are　we　not　to　worry？　What　are　we　to　do？〃
　
　She　could　not　resist　him。　That　had　always　been　the　case。　One　night　several　months　back；　when　she'd　had　too　much　champagne　and　there'd　been　entirely　too　much　dancing；　she'd　told　Elliott　she　was　more　in　love　with　him　than　she'd　been　with　Alex。　If　he'd　been　free　and　asking　for　her　hand；　it　would　have　been　a　fait　acpli。　Of　course　Alex　had　thought　she　was　joking。　But　there　had　been　a　strange　secret　look　in　her　eye　that　flattered　Elliott　immensely。　And　he　saw　a　pale　flicker　of　that　same　look　now。　And　what　a　liar　he　was。　What　a　liar　he　was　being　just　now。
　
　〃All　right；　Elliott；〃　　she　said。　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek；　and　he　loved　it。〃　I　don't　want　to　hurt　Alex；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃Yes；　darling；〃　　he　said。〃　Of　course。〃
　
　There　was　a　violent　blast　from　the　steam　whistle。　The　last
　
　call　for　boarding　passengers。　Parties　had　broken　up　in　the　staterooms；　and　a　steady　stream　of　guests　was　going　ashore。
　
　Suddenly　Ramsey　came　pounding　towards　them。　He　spun　Julie　around　as　if　he　didn't　realize　his　own　strength。　She　stared　blankly。
　
　〃Feel　it；　Julie；　the　vibrations。　I　must　see　these　engines。〃
　
　Her　face　softened　at　once。　It　was　as　if　his　excitement　were　contagious。
　
　〃Of　course　you　must。　Elliott；　excuse　me。　I　have　to　take　Ramse　。。。　I　mean　Mr。　Ramsey　。。。　to　the　engine　room；　if　it　can　possibly　be　arranged。〃
　
　〃Allow　me；〃　　Elliott　said　agreeably；　motioning　for　a　young　officer　in　a　crisp　white　uniform　who　had　just　e　out　on　deck。
　
　Alex　was　unpacking　already　when　Elliott　entered　the　little　drawing　room　between　their　staterooms。　Two　steamer　trunks　stood　open。　Walter　moved　to　and　fro　with　armfuls　of　clothes。
　
　〃Well；　this　is　pleasant；　isn't　it？〃　　Elliott　said；　surveying　the　little　couch　and　chairs；　the　tiny　portal。　There　had　not　been　much　time　to　arrange　for　proper　acmodations；　but　Edith　had　stepped　in　finally　and　seen　to　everything　herself。
　
　〃You　look　tired；　Father。　Let　me　order　you　some　tea。〃
　
　The　Earl　eased　himself　into　the　little　gilded　fauteuil。　Tea　did　sound　rather　nice。　What　was　that　fragrance？　Were　there　flowers　in　this　room？　He　saw　none。　Only　the　champagne　in　its　glistening　ice　bucket　and　the　glasses　ready　on　the　silver　tray。
　
　Then　he　remembered。　The　morning　glory　he　had　crushed　into　his　pocket。　It　was　still　giving　off　a　latent　perfume。
　
　〃Yes；　tea　would　be　fine；　Alex；　but　there's　no　hurry；〃　　he　murmured。　Reaching　into　his　pocket；　he　found　the　mangled　little　blossom　and　drew　it　out　and　lifted　it　to　his　nose。
　
　A　very　pretty　scent　indeed。　And　then　he　thought　of　that　conservatory；　overgrown　fantastically　with　leaves　and　blossoms。　He　looked　at　the　morning　glory。　As　he　watched；　it　straightened；　the　creases　in　its　waxy　petals　disappearing。　It　opened　pletely　and　within　seconds　had　bee　again　a　perfect　bloom。
　
　Alex　was　talking；　but　Elliott　did　not　hear　him。　He　merely　looked　stupidly　at　the　flower。　Then　he　crushed　it　again；　tightly　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　
　Slowly　he　looked　up　to　see　that　Alex　was　just　putting　down　the　telephone。
　
　〃Tea　in　fifteen　minutes；〃　　Alex　said。〃　What's　the　matter；　Father？　Father；　you're　white　as　a…〃
　
　〃Nothing。　No。　It's　nothing。　I　want　to　rest　now。　Call　me　when　the　tea　es。〃
　
　He　stood　up；　the　flower　clenched　still　in　his　fist。
　
　When　he　had　shut　the　door　of　his　stateroom；　he　leaned　against　it；　the　sweat　flooding　down　his　back。　He　opened　his　hand。　Again　the　blossom　sprang　back　from　a　crushed　and　broken　thing　into　a　perfect　flower；　the　blue…and…white　petals　lengthening　before　his　eyes。
　
　For　an　endless　time；　it　seemed；　he　stared　at　it。　The　tiny　bit　of　green　leaf　at　its　base　curled　as　he　watched。　Then　he　realized　he　was　looking　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　The　grey…haired；　partially　crippled　Earl　of　Rutherford；　handsome　still　at　fifty…five；　though　every　step　he　took　was　an　agony。　He　let　go　his　walking　stick；　ignoring　it　as　it　fell；　and　with　his　left　hand　felt　of　his　grey　hair。
　
　He　could　hear　Alex　calling　him。　The　tea　had　already　e。　Carefully　he　took　out　his　wallet。　He　crushed　the　flower　again　and　slipped　it　into　the　leather　folds。　Then　he　bent　over　very　slowly　and　picked　up　his　cane。
　
　In　a　daze；　it　seemed；　he　stared　at　his　son；　who　poured　the　tea　for　him。
　
　〃Yo