anner.themummy-第7部分

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　this　discovery　meant　to　my　father。〃　　There　was　a　pause　again　as　if　she　would　begin　crying。　And　why　not？〃　I　only　wish　I'd　been　with　him　in　Egypt。〃
　
　〃Darling；　he　died　where　he'd　been　most　happy；〃　　Alex　offered　lamely。〃　And　among　the　things　he　loved。〃
　
　Pretty　words。　Lawrence　had　been　cheated。　He'd　had　his　momentous　find　for　only　a　few　short　hours。　Even　Randolph　understood　as　much。
　
　Hancock　took　Julie's　arm。　They　moved　towards　the　door　together。
　
　〃Of　course　it's　impossible　to　authenticate　the　remains　until　we　make　a　thorough　examination。　The　coins；　the　bust；　these　are　quite　unprecedented　discoveries。　。。。〃
　
　〃We'll　make　no　extravagant　claims；　Mr。　Hancock。　I　only　want　a　small　reception　for　Father's　oldest　friends。〃
　
　She　offered　her　hand　now；　in　effect　dismissing　him。　She　managed　such　things　so　decisively；　so　like　her　father。　So　like　the　Earl　of　Rutherford　when　you　thought　about　it。　Hers　had　always　been　an　aristocratic　manner。　And　if　only　the　marriage　were　to　take　place。。。
　
　〃Good…bye；　Uncle　Randolph。〃
　
　He　bent　to　kiss　her　cheek。
　
　〃I　love　you；　darling；〃　　he　whispered。　It　surprised　him。　And　so　did　the　smile　that　spread　across　her　face。　Did　she　hear　what　he　had　meant　to　tell　her？　I　am　so　sorry；　sorry　for　everything；　my　dear。
　
　Alone　at　last　on　the　marble　staircase。　All　of　them　gone　but　Alex；　and　in　her　heart　of　hearts；　she　wished　that　he　were　gone　too。
　
　She　wanted　nothing　so　much　now　as　the　quiet　interior　of　her　Rolls…Royce　limousine　with　the　glass　shutting　out　the　noise　of　the　world　around　her。
　
　〃Now；　I'm　going　to　say　this　only　once；　Julie；〃　　Alex　said　as　he　helped　her　down　the　stairs。〃　But　it　es　from　my　soul。　Don't　let　this　tragedy　postpone　the　marriage。　I　know　your　feelings；　but　you're　alone　in　that　house　now。　And　I　want　to　be　with　you；　to　take　care　of　you。　I　want　us　to　be　husband　and　wife。〃
　
　〃Alex；　I'd　be　lying　to　you；〃　　she　said；〃　if　I　told　you　I　could　make　a　decision　now。　More　than　ever　I　need　time　to　think。〃
　
　She　couldn't　bear　to　look　at　him　suddenly；　he　seemed　so　young　always。　Had　she　ever　been　young？　The　question　would　have　made　Uncle　Randolph　smile　perhaps。　She　was　twenty…one。　But　Alex　at　twenty…five　seemed　a　boy　to　her。　And　it　hurt　her　so　much　not　to　love　him　as　he　deserved　to　be　loved。
　
　The　sunlight　hurt　her　eyes　as　he　opened　the　door　to　the　street。　She　brought　the　veil　down　from　the　brim　of　her　hat。　No　reporters；　thank　God　no　reporters；　and　the　big　black　motor　car　there　waiting　with　the　door　open。
　
　〃I　won't　be　alone；　Alex；〃　　she　said　gently。〃　I　have　Rita　and　Oscar　there。　And　Henry's　moving　back　into　his　old　room。　Uncle　Randolph　insisted　upon　it。　I'll　have　more　pany　than　I　need。〃　　Henry。　The　last　person　in　the　world　she　wanted　to　see　was　Henry。　What　an　irony　that　he　had　indeed　been　the　last　person　her　father　saw　before　his　eyes　closed　in　death。
　
　The　reporters　mobbed　Henry　Stratford　as　he　came　ashore。　Had　the　mummy's　curse　frightened　him？　Had　he　glimpsed　anything　supernatural　at　work　in　the　little　rock　chamber　where　the　death　of　Lawrence　Stratford　had　taken　place？　Henry　fought　his　way　through　customs　in　silence；　ignoring　the　noisy；　smoky　flashes　of　the　cameras。　With　icy　impatience　he　glared　at　the　officials；　who　checked　his　few　suitcases　and　then　waved　him　past。
　
　His　heart　thudded　in　his　ears。　He　wanted　a　drink。　He　wanted　the　quiet　of　his　own　home　in　Mayfair。　He　wanted　his　mistress；　Daisy　Banker。　He　wanted　anything　but　the　dreary　ride　with　his　father。　He　avoided　Randolph's　eyes　altogether　as　he　climbed　into　the　back　of　the　Rolls。
　
　As　the　long　cumbersome　saloon　forced　its　way　out　of　the　thick　traffic；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　Samir　Ibrahaim　greeting　a　group　of　black…dressed　men…undoubtedly　busybodies　from　the　museum。　What　a　fortunate　thing　that　this　corpse　of　Ramses　the　Great　concerned　everyone　far　more　than　the　corpse　of　Lawrence　Stratford；　which　had　been　buried　without　ceremony　in　Egypt；　just　as　Lawrence　had　wished。
　
　Good　Lord；　his　father　looked　dreadful；　as　if　he'd　aged　overnight　some　ten　years。　He　was　even　a　little　disheveled。
　
　〃Do　y〃　u　have　a　cigarette？〃　　Henry　asked　sharply。
　
　Without　looking　at　him　his　father　produced　a　small　thin　cigar　and　a　light。
　
　〃The　marriage　is　still　the　essential　thing；〃　　Randolph　murmured　almost　as　if　he　were　speaking　to　himself。〃　A　new　bride　simply　doesn't　have　time　to　think　about　business。　And　for　the　time　being；　I've　arranged　for　you　to　stay　with　her。　She　cannot　remain　alone。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord；　Father；　this　is　the　twentieth　century！　Why　the　hell　can't　she　remain　alone！〃　 '
　
　Stay　in　that　house；　and　with　that　disgusting　mummy　on　display　in　the　library？　It　sickened　him。　He　closed　his　eyes；　savored　the　cigar　silently；　and　thought　of　his　mistress。　A　series　of　sharp；　erotic　images　passed　quickly　through　his　mind。
　
　〃Damn　it；　you　do　what　I　tell　you；〃　　his　father　said。　But　the　voice　lacked　conviction。　Randolph　gazed　out　the　window。〃　You'll　stay　there　and　keep　an　eye　on　her　and　do　what　you　can　to　see　she　consents　to　the　marriage　as　quickly　as　possible。　Do　your　best　to　see　that　she　doesn't　move　away　from　Alex。　I　think　Alex　has　begun　to　irritate　her　slightly。〃
　
　〃Small　wonder。　If　Alex　had　any　gumption　。。。〃
　
　〃The　marriage　is　good　for　her。　It's　good　for　everyone。〃
　
　〃All　right；　all　right；　let's　drop　it！〃
　
　Silence　as　the　car　moved　on。　There　was　time　for　dinner　with　Daisy；　and　a　long　rest　at　the　flat　before　he　hit　the　gambling　tables　at　Flint's；　that　is；　if　he　could　force　a　little　immediate　cash　out　of　his　father。。。
　
　〃He　didn't　suffer；　did　he？〃
　
　Henry　gave　a　little　start。
　
　〃What？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　〃Your　uncle？〃　　his　father　asked；　turning　to　him　for　the　first　time。〃　The　late　Lawrence　Stratford；　who　has　just　died　in　Egypt？　Did　he　suffer；　for　the　love　of　God；　or　did　he　go　quietly？〃
　
　〃One　minute　he　was　fine；　the　next　he　was　lying　on　the　floor。　He　was　gone　within　seconds。　Why　do　you　ask　about　something　like　that？〃
　
　〃You're　such　a　sentimental　young　bastard；　aren't　you？〃
　
　〃I　couldn't　prevent　it！〃
　
　For　one　moment；　the　atmosphere　of　that　close　little　cell　came　back　to　him；　the　acrid　smell　of　the　poison。　And　that　thing；　that　thing　in　the　mummy　case；　and　the　grim　illusion　that　it　had　been　watching。
　
　〃He　was　a　pigheaded　old　fool；〃　　Randolph　said　almost　in　a　whisper。〃　But　I　loved　him。〃
　
　〃Did　you　really？〃　　Henry　turned　sharply　and　peered　into　his　father's　face。〃　He's　left　everything　to　her；　and　you　loved　him！〃
　
　〃He　settled　plenty　on　both　of　us　a　long　time　ago。　It　ought　to　have　been　enough；　more　than　enough…〃
　
　〃It's　a　pittance　pared　to　what　she's　inherited！〃
　
　〃I　won't　discuss　this。〃
　
　Patience；　Henry　thought。　Patience。　He　sat　back　against　the　soft　grey　upholstery。　I　need　a　hundred　pounds　at　least　and　I　won't　get　it　like　this。
　
　Daisy　Banker　watched　through　the　lace　curtains　as　Henry　stepped　out　of　the　cab　below。　She　lived　in　a　long　flat　above　the　music　hail；　where　she　sang　every　night　from　ten　P。M。　until　two　in　the　morning；　a　soft　ripe　peach　of　a　woman　with　big　drowsy　blue　eyes　and　silver　blond　hair。　Her　voice　was　nothing　much　and　she　knew　it；　but　they　liked　her；　they　did。　They　liked　her　very　much。
　
　And　she　liked　Henry　Stratford；　or　so　she　told　herself。　He　was　certainly　the　best　thing　that　had　ever　happened　to　her。　He'd　got　her　the　job　below；　though　how　she　could　never　quite　work　out；　and　he　paid　for　the　flat；　oral　least　he　was　supposed　to。　She　knew　there　was　quite　a　bit　owing；　but　then　he　was　just　back　from　Egypt。　He'd　make　it　right　or　shut　up　anyone　who　questioned　him　about　it。　He　was　very　good　at　doing　that。
　
　She　ran　to　the　mirror　as　she　heard　his　tread　on　the　stairs。　She　pulled　down　the　feathered　collar　of　her　peignoir　and　straightened　the　pearls　at　her　throat。　She　pinched　her　cheeks　to　work　up　the　blush　just　as　his　key　turned　in　the　lock。
　
　〃Well；　I'd　just　about　given　up　on　you；　I　had！〃　　she　bawled　as　he　came　into　the　room。　But　oh；　the　sight　of　him。　It　never　failed　to　work　on　her。　He　was　so　very　handsome　with　his　dark　brown　hair　and　eyes；　and　the　way　he　conducted　himself；　so　truly　the　gentleman。　She　loved　the　way　he　removed　his　cloak　now　and　threw　it　carelessly　over　the　chair；　and　beckoned　for　her　to　e　into　his　arms。　So　lazy　he　was；　and　so　full　of　himself！　But　why　shouldn't　he　be？
　
　〃And　my　motor　car？　You　promised　me　a　motor　car　of　my　own　before　you　left。　Where　is　it！　That　wasn't　it　downstairs。　That　was　a　cab。〃
　
　There　was　something　so　cold　in　his　smile。　When　he　kissed　her；　his　lips　hurt　her　a　little；　and　his　fingers　bit　into　the　soft　flesh　of　her　upper　arms。　She　felt　a　vague　chill　move　up　her　spine；　her　mouth　tingled。　She　kissed　him　again　and　when　he　led　her　into　the　bedroom　she　didn't　say　a　word。
　
　〃I'll　get　you　your　motor　car；〃　　he　whispered　into　her　ear　as　he　tore　off　the　peignoir　and　pressed　her　against　him　so　that　her　nipples　touched　the　scratchy　surface　of　his　starched　shirt。　She　kissed　his　cheek；　then　his　chin；　licking　the　faint　stubble　of　his　beard。　Lovely　to　feel　him　breathe　this　way；　to　feel　his　hands　on　her　shoulders。
　
　〃Not　too　rough；　sir；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃Why　not？〃
　
　The　telephone　rang。　She　could　have　ripped　it　from　the　wall。
　
　She　unbuttoned　his　shirt　for　him　as　he　answered。
　
　〃I　told　you　not　to　call　again；　Sharpies。〃
　
　Oh；　that　bloody　son　of　a　bitch；　she　thought　miserably。　She　wished　he　was　dead。　She'd　worked　for　Sharpies　before　Henry　Stratford　had　rescued　her。　And　Sharpies　was　a　mean　one；　plain　and　simple。　He　had　left　his　scar　on　her；　a　tiny　half…moon　on　the　back　of　her　neck。
　
　〃I　told　you　I'd　pay　you　when　I　got　back；　didn't　I？　Suppose　you　give　me　time　to　unpack　my　trunk！〃　　He　jammed　down　the　little　cone　of　a　receiver　into　the　hook。　She　pushed　the　phone　back　out　of　the　way　on　the　marble…top　table。
　
　〃e　here　to　me；　sweetheart；〃　　she　said　as　she　sat　on　the　bed。
　
　But　her　eyes　dulled　slightly　as　she　watched　him　staring　at　the　telephone。　He　was　broke　still；　wasn't　he？　Stone　broke。
　
　Strange。　There　had　been　no　wake　in　this　house　for　her　father。　And　now　the　painted　coffin　of　Ramses　the　Great　was　being　carried　carefully　through　the　double　drawing　rooms　as　if　by　pallbearers；　an