anner.themummy-第67部分

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　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；　and　at　the　curious　rags　pushed　in　a　pile　against　the　wall。　He　paid　little　heed　to　the　young　man　passing　him；　the　young　man　who　moved　about；　vaguely　exhilarated　by　these　obvious　signs　of　disaster；　searching　and　scribbling　in　his　little　book。
　
　Those　rags…why；　they　looked　like　mummy　wrappings；　yet　some　of　the　linen　appeared　to　be　new。　He　looked　up　as　the　young　man　held　a　passport　before　him。
　
　〃Stratford's；〃　　said　the　young　man。〃　All　of　his　identification　is　in　there；　in　his　coat。〃
　
　Elliott　leaned　on　Alex's　arm　as　they　stepped　out　of　the　glass　lift。
　
　〃But　what　if　Pitfield　can't　straighten　all　this　out？〃　　Alex　asked。
　
　〃We　will　continue　to　conduct　ourselves　like　civilized　people　as　long　as　we　must　remain　here；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　You'll　take　Julie　to　the　opera　as　planned　tomorrow　night。　You　will　acpany　her　to　the　ball　afterwards。　And　you　will　be　ready　to　leave　as　soon　as　your　passport　is　released。〃
　
　〃She's　in　no　mood　for　it；　Father。　And　she'd　rather　have　Samir　acpany　her；　if　you　want　the　truth。　Since　all　this　started；　it's　Samir　she　confides　in。　He's　always　at　her　side。〃
　
　〃Nevertheless；　you　are　to　stay　close　to　her。　We　are　going　to　be　seen　together　tomorrow。　Everything　right　and　proper。　Now　why　don't　you　go　out　on　the　veranda　and　have　a　nightcap　and　leave　the　legal　business　to　me？〃
　
　Yes；　she　liked　Shepheard's；　she　knew　it　already。　She　had　liked　it　this　afternoon　when　she　had　seen　the　long　chain　of　motor　cars　before　it；　with　exquisitely　dressed　men　and　women　climbing　out　of　them　and　walking　up　the　steps。
　
　Now　there　were　very　few　cars。　She　managed　to　stop　right　before　the　entrance；　and　a　charming　young　male　servant　came　to　open　her　door。　Carrying　her　canvas　bag　and　satin　purse；　she　walked　serenely　up　the　carpeted　stairs　as　other　servants　scrambled　to　retrieve　her　many　packages。
　
　The　lobby　delighted　her　at　once。　Oh；　she　had　no　idea　the　rooms　of　this　palatial　building　would　be　so　grand。　And　the　crowds　moving　to　and　fro…shapely　women　and　handsomely　clad　men…excited　her。　This　was　an　elegant　world…〃modern　times。〃　　One　had　to　see　such　a　place　as　this　to　grasp　the　possibilities。
　
　〃May　I　help　you；　miss？　Another　servile　male　approached；　how　strange　was　his　clothing；　especially　his　hat。　If　there　was　one　thing　about〃　modern　times〃　　she　did　not　like；　it　was　these　hats！
　
　〃Oh；　would　you　be　so　kind！〃　　she　said　carefully。〃　I　would　like　to　have　lodgings　here。　This　is　Shepheard's　Hotel？　The　hotel？〃
　
　〃Yes；　indeed；　miss。　Let　me　take　you　to　the　desk。〃
　
　〃Wait；〃　　she　whispered。　Some　feet　away　from　her；　she　spied　Lord　Rutherford！　No　mistake。　It　was　he。　And　an　exquisite　young　man　was　with　him；　a　tall；　slender　creature　of　fine　porcelain　features　who　made　her　earlier　panions　seem　quite　crude。
　
　She　narrowed　her　eyes；　concentrating；　trying　to　hear　what　this　young　man　was　saying。　But　there　was　too　great　a　distance。　And　the　two　were　moving　in　and　out　of　sight；　beyond　a　row　of　high　potted　palms。　Then　the　young　one　clasped　Lord　Rutherford's　hand　and　left　him；　moving　towards　the　front　doors。　And　Lord　Rutherford　moved　into　a　large　shadowy　room。
　
　〃That's　Lord　Rutherford；　miss；〃　　said　the　helpful　young　man　beside　her。
　
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　　she　said。〃　But　the　beautiful　one。　Who　is　he？〃
　
　〃Ah；　that's　his　son；　Alex；　miss；　the　young　Viscount　Summerfield。　They're　frequent　guests　of　Shepheard's。　Friends　of　the　Stratfords；　miss。〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　quizzically。
　
　〃Lawrence　Stratford；　miss；〃　　he　explained　as　he　took　her　arm　and　gendy　guided　her　forward。〃　The　great　archaeologist；　the　one　who　just　made　the　discovery　of　the　Ramses　tomb。〃
　
　〃What　did　you　say！〃　　she　whispered。〃　Speak　slowly。〃
　
　〃The　one　that　dug　up　the　mummy；　miss；　of　Ramses　the　Damned。〃
　
　〃Ramses　the　Damned！〃
　
　〃Yes；　miss；　quite　a　story；　miss。〃　　He　pointed　now　to　a　long　ornate　table　in　front　of　her；　which　in　fact　looked　like　an　altar。〃　There's　the　desk；　miss。　Anything　else　I　can　do　for　you？〃　　She　gave　a　little　laugh　of　pure　amazement。　〃No；〃　　she　said。　〃You　have　been　simply　super。　Very　okay！〃
　
　He　gave　her　a　sweet　indulgent　look；　the　look　all　these　men　gave　her。　And　then　he　gestured　for　her　to　step　up　to　the〃　desk。　*'
　
　*　*　*
　
　Elliott　went　right　to　it　as　Pitfield　sat　down　across　from　him。　He　was　aware　that　he　was　talking　too　fast；　and　likely　to　say　strange　things；　but　he　could　not　break　his　momentum。　Get　Alex　out　of　here。　Get　Julie　out　if　at　all　possible。　Those　were　the　only　thoughts　in　his　mind；　and　worry　about　Randolph　later。
　
　〃None　of　us　has　the　slightest　connection　to　any　of　it；〃　　he　said。〃　They　must　all　be　allowed　to　go　home。　I　can　stay　here；　if　it's　absolutely　necessary；　but　my　son　must　be　allowed　to　leave。〃
　
　Gerald；　ten　years　his　senior；　white…haired　and　heavy　about　the　middle；　listened　keenly。　He　was　a　man　not　given　to　strong　drink；　who　tended　to　work　round　the　clock　so　that　his　family　might　enjoy　every　pleasurable　aspect　of　colonial　existence。
　
　〃Of　course　not；〃　　he　said　now；　with　plete　sympathy。〃　But　wait；　there's　Winthrop　in　the　doors。　He　has　two　men　with　him。〃
　
　〃I　can't　talk　to　him！〃　　Elliott　said。〃　Not　now；　for　the　love　of　heaven。〃
　
　〃You　leave　it　to　me　pletely。〃
　
　How　astonished　they　were　when　she　paid　them　in　advance　with　piles　and　piles　of　the　strange　money　they　called〃　pound　notes；〃　　though　they　weighed　nothing。　The　young　servants　would　take　her　many　bundles　to　her　suite；　they　said。　And　indeed；　there　were　kitchens　working　now　to　produce　whatever　food　she　desired；　there　lay　the　dining　room　to　the　right；　and　she　could　banquet　in　her　room　if　that　was　her　wish。　As　for　the　hairdresser　which　she　clearly　required　to　tie　up　her　hair；　that　lady　would　not　be　available　until　tomorrow。　Very　well。　Thank　you！
　
　She　dropped　the　key　into　her　satin　bag。　She　would　find　suite　number　201　later。　She　hurried　to　the　door　of　the　dark　room　into　which　Lord　Rutherford　had　gone；　and　spied　him　drinking　there　alone。　He　did　not　see　her。
　
　Out　on　the　broad　front　terrace；　she　could　see　his　son；　Alex；　leaning　against　the　white　pillar…such　a　ely　youth…in　fast　conversation　with　a　dark…skinned　Egyptian。　The　Egyptian　came　back　into　the　hotel。　The　young　one　seemed　at　a　loss。
　
　She　went　to　him　immediately。　She　crept　up　and　stood　beside　him　and　studied　his　delicate　face…yes；　a　beauty。　Of　course　Lord　Rutherford　was　a　man　of　considerable　charm；　but　this　one　was　so　young　that　his　skin　was　still　petal　soft；　and　yet　he　was　tall　and　his　shoulders　were　strong　and　straight；　and　he　had　a　clear；　confident　look　in　his　brown　eyes　when　he　turned　to　her。
　
　〃The　young　Viscount　Summerfield；〃　　she　said。〃　Son　of　Lord　Rutherford；　I　am　told？〃
　
　A　great　flash　of　a　smile。　〃I'm　Alex　Savarell；　yes。　Forgive　me；　I　don't　believe　I've　had　the　pleasure。〃
　
　〃I'm　hungry；　Viscount　Summerfield。　Won't　you　show　me　to　the　banquet　room　of　the　hotel？　I　should　like　to　eat　something。〃
　
　〃I'd　be　delighted！　What　an　unexpected　pleasure。〃
　
　He　hooked　his　arm　for　her　to　take　it。　Oh；　she　liked　him　very　much；　there　was　no　reticence　in　him　at　all。　He　escorted　her　back　into　the　crowded　main　room；　past　the　dark　tavern　where　his　father　drank；　and　on　towards　a　great　open　place　under　a　high　gilded　ceiling。
　
　Tables　draped　in　linen　filled　the　sides　of　the　immense　room。　In　the　centre　men　and　women　danced；　the　women's　skirts　like　great　softly　ruffled　flowers。　And　the　music；　oh；　so　lovely；　though　it　almost　hurt　her　ears。　It　was　far　more　shrill　than　that　of　the　music　box。　And　it　was　sweetly　sad！
　
　At　once　he　asked　an　imperious　old　man　to　show　them　to　a　〃table。〃　　What　an　ugly　person　was　this　imperious　man　who　appeared　as　finely　dressed　as　anyone　present。　But　he　said；〃　Yes；　Lord　Summerfield〃　　with　great　respect。　And　the　table　was　fine　indeed；　set　with　gorgeous　plate；　and　sweet…scented　flowers。
　
　〃What　is　this　music？〃　　she　asked。
　
　〃From　America；〃　　he　said。〃　From　Sigmund　Romberg。〃
　
　She　began　rocking　back　and　forth　a　little。
　
　〃Would　you　like　to　dance？〃　　he　asked。
　
　〃That　would　be　super！〃
　
　Oh；　such　a　warm　hand　he　had　as　he　clasped　hers　and　led　her　out　on　the　floor。　How　peculiar　that　each　couple　should　be　dancing　as　if　entirely　alone　and　engaged　in　a　private　ritual。　At　once　the　melancholy　rhythm　swept　her　up。　And　this　adorable　young　man；　how　lovingly　he　looked　at　her。　This　really　was　a　lovely　young　man；　this　Alex；　Lord　Summerfield。
　
　〃How　enchanting　it　is　here；〃　　she　said。〃　A　true　palace。　And　the　music；　so　piercing；　but　beautiful。　It　hurts　my　ears；　but　then　I　do　not　like　loud　noises…screeching　birds；　guns！〃
　
　〃Of　course　you　don't；〃　　he　said　with　surprise。〃　You're　such　a　fragile　creature。　And　your　hair；　may　I　tell　that　your　hair　is　lovely？　It's　a　rare　thing　to　see　a　woman　who　wears　her　hair　free；　and　natural。　It　makes　you　look　like　a　goddess。〃
　
　〃Yes；　that　is　very　okay。　Thank　you。〃
　
　He　had　a　sweet　laugh。　So　honest。　No　fear　in　his　eyes；　no　shrinking。　He　was　like　a　prince　who　had　been　reared　with　kind　nurses　in　a　palace。　Altogether　too　gentle　for　the　real　world。
　
　〃Would　you　mind　terribly　telling　me　your　name？〃　　he　asked。〃　I　know　we've　not　been　properly　introduced；　so　we　must　introduce　ourselves；　it　seems。〃
　
　〃My　name　is　Cleopatra；　Queen　of　Egypt。〃　　How　she　loved　this　dancing；　being　carried　along；　turned　about；　the　floor　shimmered　like　water　beneath　her。
　
　〃Oh；　I　could　almost　believe　you；〃　　he　said。〃　You　look　like　a　Queen。　May　I　call　you　Your　Highness？〃
　
　She　laughed。〃　Your　High…ness。　Is　that　the　proper　address　for　a　Queen！　Yes；　you　may　call　me　Your　High…ness。　And　I　shall　call　you　Lord　Summerfield。　These　men　here；　are　they　all。。。lords？〃
　
　Through　the　dark　mirror　on　the　panelled　wall；　Elliott　saw　Winthrop　and　his　cohorts　withdraw。　Pitfield　came　directly　back　and　took　his　chair　opposite。　He　signaled　for　another　drink。
　
　〃More　mayhem；〃　　he　said。〃　What　in　God's　name　has　happened　to　young　Stratford！〃　〃Tell　me。〃
　
　〃Astonishing！　Some　belly　dancer；　Henry　Stratford's　mistress。　They　found　her　dead；　neck　broken；　in　the　garden　of　the　house　she　was　sharing　with　Henry。　All　Henry's