anner.themummy-第75部分

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　But　I　have　to　go　home　to　Edith。　I　have　to　take　care　of　Alex；　he　had　said。　And　I　want　to　drink　myself　to　death　in　the　country。　I've　already　planned　it。
　
　I　know；　said　Lawrence；　that's　what　I　mean。　That　won't　take　very　long。
　
　Miles　Winthrop　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　any　of　it　finally。　They　had　issued　a　warrant　for　Henry's　arrest；　but　frankly　at　this　moment　everything　pointed　to　the　possibility　that　the　bastard　was　dead。　Clothes；　money；　identification；　all　left　behind　at　the　scene　of　Malenka's　murder。　And　no　telling　when　the　shopkeeper　had　been　killed。
　
　He　had　a　premonition　that　this　whole　grisly　case　might　never　be　solved。
　
　The　only　thing　to　be　thankful　for　was　that　Lord　Rutherford　was　not　at　the　moment　his　sworn　enemy。　A　stigma　like　that　would　never　be　overe。
　
　Well；　at　least　the　day　so　far　had　been　peaceful。　No　more　hideous　corpses　with　their　necks　broken；　staring　off　as　they　lay　on　the　slab；　saying　in　a　silent　whisper；　Will　you　not　find　the　one　who　did　this　to　me？
　
　He　dreaded　the　opera　tonight；　the　continuous　questions　he　would　get　from　the　entire　British　munity。　And　he　knew　that　he　could　not　take　refuge　in　Lord　Rutherford's　shadow。　On　the　contrary；　he　dreaded　another　run…in。　He　would　keep　to　himself。
　
　Seven　o'clock。
　
　Julie　stood　before　the　mirror　in　her　sitting　room。　She　had　put　on　the　low…cut　gown　that　violently　disturbed　Ramses；　but　then　she　had　no　other　appropriate　clothing　for　this　inane　occasion。　As　she　watched　Elliott　through　the　mirror；　he　fastened　her　pearls　at　the　back　of　her　neck。
　
　Elliott　always　looked　better　than　almost　anyone　around　him。　Trim；　still　handsome　at　fifty…five；　he　wore　white　tie　and　tails　as　if　they　were　entirely　natural　to　him。
　
　And　it　struck　her　as　faintly　horrible　that　they　could　resume　like　this；　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　They　might　as　well　have　been　in　London；　Egypt　was　a　nightmare　suddenly；　only　Julie　was　not　ready　to　wake　up。
　
　〃And　so　here　we　are　in　our　feathers；〃　　she　said；〃　ready　to　do　our　ritual　dance。〃
　
　〃Remember；　until　he's　apprehended；　which　he　won't　be；　we　have　every　right　to　presume　he's　innocent。　And　carry　on　as　if　he　were。〃
　
　〃It's　monstrous　and　you　know　it。〃
　
　〃It's　necessary。〃
　
　〃For　Alex；　yes。　And　Alex　hasn't　seen　fit　to　call　us　all　day。　As　for　myself；　it　doesn't　matter。〃
　
　〃You　have　to　go　back　to　London；〃　　he　said。〃　I　want　you　to　go　back　to　London。〃
　
　〃I'll　always　love　you；〃　　she　said。〃　You're　flesh　and　blood　to　me；　really；　you　always　have　been。　But　what　you　want　doesn't　matter　anymore。〃　　She　turned　around。
　
　Up　close　she　could　see　the　evidence　of　the　strain　in　him；　he'd　aged；　the　way　Randolph　had　suddenly　aged　when　he'd　heard　of　Lawrence's　death。　He　was　as　handsome　as　ever；　but　now　there　was　a　tragic　quality　to　it；　a　certain　philosophical　sadness　had　replaced　the　old　twinkle　in　his　eye。
　
　〃I　can't　go　back　to　London；〃　　she　said。〃　But　I　will　get　Alex　on　that　train。〃
　
　Destroy　the　elixir。　He　stood　before　the　mirror。　He　had　put　on　most　of　the　required　garments；　taken　from　the　trunk　of　Lawrence　Stratford…the　shining　black　trousers；　shoes；　belt。　Naked　from　the　waist　up；　he　stared　at　his　own　reflection。　The　money…belt　girded　him　as　it　had　since　he　left　London。　And　the　vials　gleamed　in　their　canvas　pockets。
　
　Destroy　the　elixir。　Never　use　it　again。
　
　He　lifted　the　stiff　white　shirt　and　put　it　on　carefully；　working　the　impossible　buttons。　He　saw　Elliott　Savarell's　drawn　and　weary　face。　You　will　persuade　Julie　to　go　back　to　London…until　this　is　over；
　
　Beyond　the　windows；　the　city　of　Cairo　seethed　quietly　with　the　great　noise　of　modern　cities；　a　sound　he　had　never　heard　in　ancient　times。
　
　Where　was　she；　the　dark…haired　queen　with　the　violent　blue　eyes？　He　saw　her　again；　sighing　under　him；　her　head　thrown　back　on　the　pillows；　same　flesh。〃　Suckle　me！〃　　she'd　cried　out　as　she　had　done　so　long　ago；　back　arched　like　a　cat。　And　then　the　smile　on　her　face；　a　stranger's　smile。
　
　〃Yes；　Master　Alex；〃　　Walter　said　into　the　telephone；〃　to　suite　two…oh…one；　I'll　bring　your　clothes　right　away。　But　do　call　your　father　in　Miss　Stratford's　suite。　He's　eager　to　get　in　touch　with
　
　you。　He's　worried　that　he　hasn't　seen　you　all　day。　So　much　has　happened；　Master　Alex…〃　But　the　connection　was　already　broken。　Quickly　he　rang　Miss　Stratford。　No　answer。　He　had　no　time。　He　had　to　hurry　with　the　clothes。
　
　Cleopatra　stood　at　the　window。　She　had　dressed　in　the　gorgeous　gown　of　pure　silver　which　she　had　taken　from　the　poor　woman　in　the　little　shop。　Ropes　of　pearls　fell　down　over　the　swell　of　her　breasts。　She　had　never　done　her　hair　properly；　in　a　dark　black　veil　it　hung　down　about　her；　moist　still　from　the　bath；　and　full　of　perfume；　and　she　liked　it。　It　made　her　smile　bitterly　to　think　it　was　like　being　a　girl　again。
　
　Running　through　the　palace　gardens；　her　hair　her　cloak。
　
　〃I　like　your　world；　Lord　Alex；〃　　she　said　as　she　watched　the　winking　lights　of　Cairo　under　the　paling　evening　sky。　The　stars　seemed　so　lost　above　this　dazzling　splendour。　Even　the　headlamps　moving　through　the　streets　had　a　soothing　beauty。〃　Yes；　I　like　your　world。　I　like　everything　about　it。　I　want　to　have　money　and　power　in　it；　and　for　you　to　be　at　my　side。〃
　
　She　turned。　He　was　staring　at　her　as　if　she'd　hurt　him。　She　ignored　the　knock　at　the　door。
　
　〃Dearest；　those　things　don't　always　go　hand　in　hand　in　my　world；〃　　he　said。〃　Lands；　a　title；　education…these　I　have；　but　money　I　do　not。〃
　
　〃Don't　worry；〃　　she　said；　so　relieved　it　was　only　that。〃　I　shall　acquire　the　wealth；　my　lord；　that's　nothing。　Not　when　one　is　invulnerable。　But　there　are　some　scores　I　must　settle　first。　I　must　hurt　someone　who　has　hurt　me。　I　must　take　from　him　。。。　what　he　took　from　me。〃
　
　The　knock　sounded　again。　As　if　waking　from　a　dream；　he　took　his　eyes　off　her　and　went　to　the　door。　A　servant。　His　evening　clothes　had　e。
　
　〃Your　father's　already　left；　sir。　Your　tickets　will　be　at　the　box　office　under　his　name。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Walter。〃
　
　There　was　barely　time　for　him　to　dress。　As　he　shut　the　door；　he　looked　at　her　again；　curiously；　with　that　little　touch　of　sadness。
　
　〃Not　now；〃　　she　said；　quickly　kissing　him。〃　And　we　may　use　these　tickets；　may　we　not？〃　　She　picked　up　off　the　dressing　table　the　pair　she'd　stolen　from　the　poor　dead　boy　in　the　alleyway；　the　little　papers　which　said〃　Admit　One。〃
　
　〃But　I　want　you　to　meet　my　father；　I　want　you　to　meet　all　of　them。　I　want　them　to　meet　you。〃
　
　〃Of　course　you　do；　and　I　shall；　soon　enough。　But　let　us　be　alone　somewhere　lost　in　the　crowd　so　that　we　can　be　together。　We　shall　see　them　when　it　suits　us。　Please？〃
　
　He　wanted　to　protest；　but　she　was　kissing　him；　stroking　his　hair　again。〃　Let　me　have　a　chance　to　see　your　lost　love　Julie　Stratford　from　a　distance。〃
　
　〃Oh；　but　none　of　that　matters　now；〃　　he　said。
　
　8
　
　ANOTHER　MODERN　palace…the　Opera　House；　swarming　with　bejeweled　women　in　gowns　the　colours　of　the　rainbow；　and　the　men　beside　them；　elegant　in　white　and　black。　How　curious　it　was；　all　colours　belonging　to　the　females。　The　males　wore　uniforms；　it　seemed；　each　perfectly　identical　with　the　other。　She　blurred　her　eyes；　to　see　the　reds　and　blues　dancing　independently　of　all　detail。
　
　She　watched　the　great　surge　up　the　grand　staircase。　She　felt　admiring　glances　on　her；　the　soft　glaze　of　admiration　like　a　light　on　her　skin。
　
　Lord　Summerfield　beamed　at　her　with　pride　and　affection。　〃You　are　the　Queen　here；〃　　he　whispered；　cheeks　flushed　again　for　an　instant。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　merchants　peddling　strange　little　instruments　the　purpose　of　which　she　couldn't　guess。
　
　〃Opera　glasses；〃　　he　said　as　he　handed　them　to　her。〃　And　the　program；　yes；　please。〃
　
　〃But　what　are　they？〃　　she　asked。
　
　He　gave　a　startled　little　laugh。〃　You　did　fall　from　heaven；　didn't　you？〃　　His　lips　touched　her　neck　and　then　her　cheek。〃　Put　them　to　your　eyes；　adjust　them　until　they　e　into　focus。　Yes；　that's　it。　You　see？〃
　
　She　was　shocked。　She　jumped　back　as　the　people　on　the　upper　gallery　appeared　to　loom　over　her。
　
　〃What　a　curious　tiling。　What　makes　it　happen？〃
　
　〃Magnification；〃　　he　said。〃　Pieces　of　glass。〃　　How　delighted
　
　he　seemed　that　she'd　never　heard　of　it。　She　wondered　how　Ramses　had　mastered　all　these　little　secrets；　Ramses；　whose〃　mysterious　tomb〃　　had　been　discovered　only　a　month　ago　by　〃poor　Lawrence；〃　　who　was　now　dead。　Ramses；　who　told〃　in　the　scrolls〃　　of　his　love　for　Cleopatra。　Was　it　really　possible　that　Alex　didn't　know　that　the　mummy　and　his　nemesis　Ramsey　were　the　same？
　
　But　how　could　he　grasp　it？　With　only　the　inane　story　of　the　disreputable　cousin　to　link　the　two？　Had　she　believed　when　the　old　priest　had　led　her　into　the　cave？
　
　Chimes　sounded。　〃The　opera's　going　to　begin。〃
　
　They　moved　up　the　stairs　together。　It　seemed　to　her　a　brilliant　light　surrounded　both　of　them；　separated　them　from　others；　and　others　could　see　this　light；　and　cast　their　glances　carefully；　perceiving　that　it　was　love。　Love。　She　did　love　him；　it　was　not　a　full…blooded　love　such　as　she'd　known　for　Antony；　that　hurtling　through　darkness　and　destruction　because　one　cannot　resist　another；　one　cannot　live　with　him　or　without　him；　and　one　goes　on；　knowing　full　well　that　one　is　being　destroyed。
　
　No；　this　was　a　newborn　love；　fresh　and　gentle　as　Alex　was；　but　it　was　love。　Julie　Stratford　had　been　a　fool　not　to　love　him；　but　then　Ramses　could　seduce　the　goddess　Isis。　Had　there　not　been　Antony；　she　would　never　have　loved　anyone　but　Ramses。　That　he　had　always　understood。
　
　Ramses　the　father；　the　judge；　the　teacher；　Antony　the　bad　boy　with　whom　she'd　run　away。　Playing　in　the　royal　bedchamber　like　children；　drunk；　mad；　answerable　to　no　one；　until　Ramses　had　appeared　after　all　those　years。
　
　This　is　what　you've　done　with　your　freedom？　Your　life？
　
　The　question　was；　what　would　she　do　with　her　freedom　now？　Why　did　the　pain　not　cripple　her？　Because　this　newborn　world　was　too　magnificent。　Because　she　had　what　she　had　dreamed　of　in　those　last　few　months；　when　the　Roman　armies　swarmed　over　Egypt；　when　Antony　was　desperate　and　full　of　delusions：　another　chance。　Another　chance；　without　the　weight