anner.themummy-第66部分

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　The　fact　was；　he　didn't　know。　When　he'd　held　her　in　his　arms；　he'd　known　only　that　this　was　the　flesh　he　had　once　cherished；　this　was　the　voice　that　had　spoken　to　him　both　in　anger　and　in　love；　this　was　the　woman　who　had　broken　him　finally；　and　taken　her　own　life　rather　than　the　elixir…who　now　taunted　him　with　a　fragment　of　memory；　that　she'd　cried　out　to　him　in　her　dying　moments　centuries　ago；　or　tried　to；　and　he　had　not　heard　her　last　plea。　He　loved　her；　just　as　he　loved　Julie　Stratford。　He　loved　them　both！
　
　On　he　walked；　faster　and　faster；　out　of　the　strange　eerie　quiet　of　old　Cairo　and　back　towards　the　bustle　of　the　new　city。　All　he　could　do　was　continue　to　search。　And　what　clue　would　she　give　him　finally？　Another　senseless　killing；　and　that　murder　too　would　be　blamed　on　the　man　known　as　Reginald　Ramsey　and　it　would　drive　another　sword　through　Julie's　heart。
　
　But　there　was　little　chance　that　Julie　would　ever　forgive　him　now。　He　had　hopelessly　pounded　his　folly；　and　she　had　expected　greater　wisdom　from　him；　greater　courage。　And　he　had　been　a　man　standing　in　that　little　house；　a　man　staring　at　the　suffering　image　of　his　lost　love。
　
　And　so　he　had　sacrificed　a　finer；　stronger　love　for　a　passion　that　had　enslaved　him　centuries　ago。　He　no　longer　deserved　that　finer　lover；　and　he　knew　it。　Yet　he　wanted　it；　lusted　for　it；　just　as　he　lusted　for　the　doomed　one　whom　he　must　somehow　control　or　somehow　destroy。
　
　All　consolation　was　now　quite　beyond　his　reach。
　
　*　*　*
　
　Now　there　were　gorgeous　garments；　dresses　she　could　love；　for　they　had　the　old　softness　to　them　and　the　old　simplicity；　and　they　were　threaded　through　and　through　with　silver　and　gold。
　
　She　came　up　to　the　brightly　lighted　window；　and　placed　her　hand　on　it。　She　read　the　sign　in　English：
　
　ONLY　THE　FINEST　FOR　THE　OPERA　BALL
　
　Yes；　she　required　the　finest。　And　there　was　plenty　of　money　in　this　bag。　She　needed　shoes　like　that；　high　shoes　with　daggers　for　heels。　And　jewels　as　well。
　
　She　went　to　the　door　and　tapped。　A　tall　woman　with　silver　hair　came　to　answer。
　
　〃We're　about　to　close；　my　dear。　I'm　sorry；　if　you　e　back　。。。〃
　
　〃Please；　that　dress！〃　　she　said。　She　opened　the　bag　and　withdrew　a　great　handful　of　the　money。　A　few　pieces　of　it　fluttered　out　and　down　to　the　ground。
　
　〃My　dear；　you　mustn't　display　that　much　money　at　this　time　of　night；〃　　the　woman　said　to　her。　She　bent　down　and　gathered　up　the　loose　pieces。〃　e　inside。　Are　you　all　alone？〃
　
　Oh；　but　it　was　quite　lovely　in　here；　she　touched　the　rich　fabric　of　the　small　gilded　chair。　And　behold；　more　of　the　statues　she'd　seen　in　the　window；　and　these　were　decked　not　only　with　rich　flowing　silks；　but　furs　as　well。　The　long　strip　of　white　fur　in　particular　attracted　her。
　
　〃I　want　this；〃　　she　said。
　
　〃Of　course；　my　dear；　of　course；〃　　said　the　proprietress。
　
　She　flashed　her　sweetest　smile　at　the　baffled　woman。〃　Is　this　。。。　is　this　。。。　for　the　opera　ball？〃　　she　asked。
　
　〃Oh；　it　would　be　perfectly　lovely！　I　shall　wrap　it　for　you。〃
　
　〃Ah；　but　I　need　a　gown；　you　see；　and　those　slippers；　and　I　need　pearls　and　rubies；　if　you　have　them；　for　you　see；　I　have　lost　all　my　finery；　I　have　lost　my　jewels。〃
　
　〃We　shall　take　care　of　you！　Please　be　seated。　Now；　what　would　you　like　to　see　in　your　size？〃
　
　It　was　going　to　work。　It　was　an　absurd　story：　Henry　breaking　into　the　Museum　of　Antiquities　to　steal　a　mummy　in　order　to　pay　his　debts。　But　the　simple　fact　was…and　he　must　remember　this…the　truth　was　even　more　absurd！　No　one　would　believe　the　truth　at　all。
　
　He　rang　his　old　friend　Pitfield　as　soon　as　he　reached　the　suite。
　
　〃Tell　him　it's　Elliott　Rutherford；　I'll　hold　on　for　him。　Ah；　Gerald。　I'm　sorry　to　interrupt　your　dinner。　It　seems　I'm　in　a　bit　of　legal　trouble　here。　I　think　Henry　Stratford's　mixed　up　in　it。　Yes。　Yes；　this　evening　if　you　could。　I'm　at　Shepheard's；　of　course。　Ah；　wonderful；　Gerald。　I　knew　I　could　count　on　you。　Twenty　minutes　from　now。　In　the　bar。〃
　
　He　looked　up　to　see　Alex　ing　through　the　door　as　he　put　down　the　phone。
　
　〃Father；　thank　God　you're　back。　They've　confiscated　our　passports！　Julie　is　frantic。　And　Miles　has　just　been　at　her　with　another　wild　story。　Some　poor　American　murdered　at　the　pyramids；　and　an　English　fellow　killed　outside　the　International　Cafe。〃
　
　〃Alex；　pack　your　trunk；〃　　he　said。〃　I've　already　heard　that　whole　story。　Gerald　Pitfield's　on　his　way　over。　He'll　have　your　passports　back　for　you　before　morning；　I　promise；　and　then　you　and　Julie　are　to　be　on　the　train。〃
　
　〃You'll　have　to　tell　her　that；　Father。〃
　
　〃I　will；　but　right　now　I　have　to　see　Pitfield。　Give　me　your　arm；　and　help　me　to　the　lift。〃
　
　〃But；　Father；　who　is　responsible　。。。　？〃
　
　〃Son；　I　don't　want　to　be　the　one　to　tell　you。　And　certainly　not　the　one　to　tell　Julie。　But　it　looks　as　if　Henry　may　be　deeply　involved。〃
　
　Quiet　up　here。　One　could　scarcely　hear　the　music　from　the　lighted　windows　below。　She　had　crept　up　the　stairs　all　alone；　wanting　only　to　see　the　stars；　and　be　away　from　the　unwele　knocks　and　the　unwele　jangling　of　the　phone。
　
　And　there　was　Samir；　standing　there　at　the　edge　of　the　roof；　looking　out　over　the　minarets　and　the　domes；　and　the　myriad　little　rooftops　of　Cairo。　Samir；　looking　up　at　the　heavens　as　if　he　were　in　prayer。
　
　He　slipped　his　arm　around　her　as　she　approached。
　
　〃Samir；　where　is　he？〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃He　will　send　word　to　us；　Julie。　He　will　not　break　his　promise。〃
　
　This　had　been　an　exquisite　choice：　pale　green〃　satin〃　　with　rows　of　pearl〃　buttons〃　　and　layers　of〃　Brussels　lace。〃　　And　the　loose　fur　wrap　looked　quite　being；　said　the　woman；　and　the　woman　should　know；　should　she　not？
　
　〃Your　hair；　so　beautiful；　it　seems　quite　a　sin　to　tie　it　up；　but　my　dear；　you　really　should；　you　know。　It　looks　rather　。。。　Perhaps　tomorrow　I　can　make　an　appointment　for　you　with　a　hairdresser。〃
　
　Of　course　she　was　right。　The　other　women　all　had　hair　upswept；　off　the　neck；　not　unlike　the　manner　in　which　she'd　worn　hers　always　before　this；　except　their　coifs　were　shaped　in　a　different　way；　more　like　a　great　heart　with　fancy　curls。　Yes；　she　would　like　this　hairdresser。
　
　〃Especially　for　the　opera　ball！〃　　Indeed。　And　the　gown　for　the　opera　ball　was　a　lovely　creation；　too；　now　hidden　safely　in　a　bundle　of　stiff　and　shining　paper。　And　so　were　all　the　other　things…the　pretty　lace〃　knickers〃　　and　the　flimsy〃　underskirts〃　　and　the　countless　dresses；　and　shoes　and　hats；　and　various　trifles　she　could　no　longer　now　remember。　Lace　handkerchiefs；　scarves；　and　a　white　parasol　for　carrying　in　the　sun！　What　delightful　nonsense。　It　had　been　like　walking　into　a　great　dressing　closet。　What　were　modern　times　that　such　things　were　everywhere　ready　made　for　the　body？
　
　The　proprietress　had　almost　finished　her　sums；　as　she　called　them。　She　had　counted　out　many〃　bills〃　　from　the　money。　And　now　she　opened　the　drawer　of　a　big　bronze　machine；　the〃　cash　register；〃　　and　there　was　much　more　money；　more　money　by　far　than　Cleopatra　possessed。
　
　〃I　must　say　you　look　stunning　in　that　colour！〃　　said　the　woman。〃　It　makes　your　eyes　change　from　blue　to　green。〃
　
　Cleopatra　laughed。　Heaps　of　money。
　
　She　rose　from　the　chair；　and　walked　delicately　towards　the　woman；　rather　liking　the　clicking　sound　of　these　high　heels　on　the　marble　floor。
　
　She　took　hold　of　the　woman's　throat　before　the　poor　creature　so　much　as　looked　up。　She　tightened　her　grip；　pressing　her　thumb　right　on　the　tender　bone　in　the　middle。　The　woman　appeared　astonished。　She　gave　a　little　hiccuping　noise。　Then　Cleopatra　lifted　her　right　hand　and　carefully　twisted　the　woman's　head　hard　to　the　left。　Snap。　Dead。
　
　No　need　now　to　reflect　upon　it；　to　ponder　the　great　gulf　that　existed　between　her　and　this　poor　sad　being　who　lay　now　on　the
　
　floor　behind　her　little　table；　staring　up　at　the　gilded　ceiling。　All　of　these　beings　were　for　killing　when　it　was　wanted；　and　what　could　they　possibly　do　to　her？
　
　She　scooped　the　money　into　the　new　satin　evening　bag　she　had　found　here。　What　would　not　fit　she　put　into　the　old　canvas　bag。　She　took　also　all　the　jewels　left　in　the　case　beneath　the〃　cash　register。〃　　Then　she　piled　the　boxes　one　atop　another　until　she　had　a　mountainous　stack　of　them；　and　she　carried　them　out　and　heaved　them　into　the　rear　seat　of　the　car。
　
　Off　now；　to　the　next　adventure。　Throwing　the　long　thick　tails　of　the　white　fur　over　her　shoulders；　she　fired　up　the　beast　again。
　
　And　headed　fast　for　the　place　where〃　all　the　best　people　stay；　the　British　and　the　Americans；　that's　Shepheard's；　the　hotel；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　She　gave　a　deep　laugh　when　she　thought　of　the　American　and　his　strange　way　of　talking　to　her；　as　if　she　were　an　idiot；　and　the　merchant　woman　had　been　the　same。　Maybe　at　Shepheard's　she　would　meet　someone　of　charm　and　graceful　manners；　someone　infinitely　more　interesting　than　all　these　miserable　souls　whom　she　had　sent　into　the　dark　waters　whence　she'd　e。
　
　〃What　in　God's　name　has　happened　here！〃　　whispered　the　older　of　the　two　officials。　He　stood　in　the　doorway　of　Malenka's　house；　reluctant　to　enter　without　a　warrant　or　permission。　No　answer　to　his　knock；　no　answer　when　he　had　called　Henry　Stratford's　name。
　
　He　could　see　broken　glass　over　the　dressing　table　in　the　lighted　bedroom。　And　that　looked　like　blood　on　the　floor。
　
　The　younger　man；　as　ever　impatient　and　strong…willed；　had　ventured　into　the　courtyard　with　his　electric　torch。　Chairs　overturned。　Broken　china。
　
　〃Good　Lord；　Davis。　There's　a　woman　dead　out　here！〃
　
　The　older　man　didn't　move　for　a　moment。　He　was　staring　at　the　dead　parrot　on　the　floor　of　its　cage。　And　at　all　the　empty　bottles　ranged　from　one　end　of　the　bar　to　the　other。　And　the　suit　coat　hanging　on　the　corner　rack。
　
　Then　he　forced　himself　to　go　out　into　the　dark　little　garden　and　see　this　corpse　for　himself。
　
　〃That's　the　woman；〃　　he　said。〃　That's　Malenka　from　the　Babylon。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　don't　think　we　need　a　warrant　under　these　circumstances。〃
　
　The　older　man　came　back　into　the　sitting　room。　He　moved　cautiously　into　the　bedroom。
　
　He　stared　at　the　torn　dress　lying　on　the　floor