anner.themummy-第78部分

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circle　placed　them　both　clearly　in　view！　Don't　have　a　heart　attack　now；　Elliott；　not　after　all　you've　been　through。　Alex　turned　and　kissed　the　woman's　cheek　as　she　stared　at　the　stage…the　tomb；　the　doomed　lovers…and　then　in　a　little　silent　frenzy　she　turned　to　Alex　with　heartbroken　eyes　and　nestled　into　the　crook　of　his　arm。
　
　〃Ramsey；〃　　he　whispered。　He　had　disturbed　those　around　him；　even　woken　up　somebody　in　the　next　box。　But　Ramsey　had　heard　him　and　had　e　through　the　curtain；　kneeling　down　beside　his　seat。
　
　〃There；　look！　With　Alex；　it's　she。〃　　The　whisper　was　a　gasp。　Shoving　the　opera　glasses　at　Ramsey；　he　stared　at　the　two　distant　figures。　He　didn't　need　the　glasses　to　see　that　Cleopatra　had　lifted　her　own　and　was　staring　at　them！
　
　He　heard　Ramsey's　low　moan　of　distress。
　
　Alex　had　turned。　Alex　was　making　a　little　cheerful　gesture　to　them；　a　discreet　little　wave　with　his　left　hand。
　
　The　last　dying　notes　of　the　duet　ended。　Applause　broke　out　all　around　them。　The　inevitable〃　Bravos！〃　　came　from　all　directions。　The　house　lights　were　rising。　People　were　climbing　to　their　feet。
　
　Julie　and　Samir　stood　in　the　open　doorway。
　
　〃What　is　it！〃　　Julie　demanded。
　
　〃They're　leaving。　I'm　going　after　them！〃　　Ramses　said。
　
　〃No！〃　　Julie　cried。
　
　〃Julie；　she's　with　Alex　Savarell；〃　　Ramsey　said。〃　She　has　ensnared　the　Earl's　son！　Both　of　you；　stay　with　Julie。　Take　Julie　back　to　the　hotel。〃
　
　He　knew　it　was　no　good　as　soon　as　he　had　reached　the　box。　They　were　gone。　At　least　three　exits　opened　on　iron　stairways　down　the　side　of　the　building。　And　people　were　using　all　of　them。　He　rushed　along　the　mezzanine；　scanning　those　who　descended　the　grand　stairway。　Not　a　chance　of　finding　them　now。　He　was　at　the　front　doors　when　Elliott；　Samir　and　Julie　came　down　the　stairs。　Julie　looked　like　the　ghost　of　herself；　clinging　to　Samir。　Elliott　was　clearly　drawing　upon　the　very　last　of　his　stamina；　and　his　face　had　turned　a　deathly　white。
　
　〃It's　no　use；〃　　Ramses　explained。〃　They　are　lost　again。〃　〃Our　only　chance　then　is　the　ball；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　It's　a　game；　don't　you　see！　Alex　doesn't　understand　what's　happening。　He　said　he　would　meet　us　here；　or　at　the　ball。〃
　
　THEY　HAD　followed　the　flow　of　the　guests；　streaming　out　of　the　Opera　House；　and　walking　across　the　broad　square　towards　the　hotel。
　
　There　was　no　doubt　in　her　mind　that　Ramses　was　following　them。　Undoubtedly　Lord　Rutherford　would　e　in　the　hope　of　rescuing　his　son。
　
　She　made　no　decision　as　to　what　she　should　do。　The　meeting　was　inevitable。　Words　must　be　spoken；　and　beyond　that？　She　saw　only　freedom；　but　she　did　not　know　where　she　must　go　or　what　she　must　do　to　be　free。
　
　Killing　the　other；　that　was　not　the　answer。　A　great　revulsion　rose　in　her　against　all　the　lives　she'd　thoughtlessly　taken…even　the　life　of　the　man　who　had　fired　the　gun　at　her；　whoever　he　had　been。
　
　Solving　the　riddle　of　why　Ramses　had　resurrected　her；　of　how　precisely　he'd　done　it…that　must　be　part　of　what　she　had　to　do。　But　maybe　she　should　run　from　that　and　run　from　him。
　
　She　glanced　at　the　motor　cars　nosing　their　way　up　the　circular　drive　before　the　entrance　of　Shepheard's。　Why　couldn't　they　run　away；　she　and　Alex；　right　now？　There　was　time　enough；　wasn't　there；　for　her　to　seek　her　old　teacher；　this　man　who　had　dominated　all　of　her　mortal　life；　and　had　now　re…created　her　for　reasons　she　couldn't　understand？
　
　And　for　one　second　a　dreadful　foreboding　shook　her。　She　clasped　Alex's　hand　all　the　more　tightly。　There　came　his　reassuring　smile　again。　She　said　nothing。　Her　mind　was　confusion　as　they　entered　the　bright　hotel　lobby　and　followed　the　crowds　up　another　grand　stairway。
　
　The　ballroom　opened　before　them　on　the　second　floor；　a　vast　space　far　larger　than　the　ballroom　she　had　seen　last　night　below。　Linen…draped　tables　lined　the　walls　on　either　side；　and　the　room　itself　seemed　to　go　on　forever；　music　surging　from　an　orchestra　now　hidden　by　the　milling　crowd。
　
　Gold　draperies　hung　from　the　high…panelled　ceiling。　How　these　people　loved　plaster　ornament；　doors　and　windows　were　covered　with　it；　as　if　with　carefully　sculpted　whipped　cream。　Couples　had　already　begun　to　dance　to　the　music。　Light　appeared　to　drip　from　the　great　tinkling　glass　fixtures。　Young　servants　moved　about　offering　white　wine　in　exquisite　glasses　from　silver　trays。
　
　〃How　are　we　going　to　find　them？〃　　Alex　said。〃　Oh；　I'm　so　eager　for　them　to　meet　you。〃
　
　〃Are　you？〃　　she　whispered。〃　And　if　they　fail　to　approve　your　choice；　Lord　Alex；　what　will　you　do？〃
　
　〃What　a　strange　thing　to　say；〃　　he　said　with　characteristic　innocence。〃　They　can't　fail。　And　it　doesn't　matter　finally　whether　or　not　they　do。〃
　
　〃I　love　you；　Lord　Alex。　I　didn't　think　that　I　would　when　I　first　saw　you。　I　thought　you　were　pretty　and　young　and　that　it　would　be　lovely　to　have　you　in　my　arms。　But　I　love　you。〃
　
　〃I　know　perfectly　what　you　are　saying；〃　　he　whispered；　with　a　strange　look　in　his　eyes。〃　Does　that　surprise　you？〃　　It　seemed　he　wanted　desperately　to　say　something　else　to　her　but　could　not　find　the　words。　That　sadness　came；　the　little　shadow　of　sadness　she'd　seen　in　him　from　the　beginning；　and　for　the　first　time　she　realized　it　was　something　in　her　which　aroused　it；　it　was　a　response　to　something　he　saw　in　her　face。
　
　Someone　called　his　name。　His　father　calling。　She　knew　the　voice　before　she　turned　to　see　for　herself。〃　Remember；　I　love　you；　Alex；〃　　she　said　again。　She　had　the　strangest　feeling　that　she　was　saying　farewell。　Too　innocent；　those　were　the　only　words　that　came　clear　to　her。
　
　Turning；　she　saw　them　all　moving　towards　her　from　the　open　doors。
　
　〃Father；　and　Ramsey！　Ramsey；　old　man；〃　　Alex　said；〃　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you。〃
　
　In　a　dream　she　watched　them；　Alex　pumping　Ramses'　hand　and　Ramses　staring　at　her。
　
　〃My　darling。〃　　Alex's　voice　sought　to　reach　her。〃　Let　me　present　my　father；　and　my　dearest　friends。　Why；　Your　Highness…〃　He　broke　off　suddenly。　And　in　a　low　whisper　he　confided；〃　I　don't　even　know　your　real　name。〃
　
　〃Yes；　you　do；　my　beloved；〃　　she　said。〃　I　told　you　when　first　we　met。　It's　Cleopatra。　Your　father　knows　me　and　so　does　your　good　friend　Ramsey；　as　you　call　him。　And　I　have　met　your　friend　Julie　Stratford　as　well。〃
　
　She　fixed　her　gaze　on　Lord　Rutherford；　the　music　and　the　noise　of　the　crowd　was　a　roar　in　her　ears。
　
　〃Allow　me　to　thank　you；　Lord　Rutherford；　for　your　recent　kindness　to　me。　What　would　I　have　done　without　you？　And　I　was　so　unkind　in　return。〃
　
　The　feeling　of　foreboding　grew　stronger。　She　was　doomed　if　she　remained　in　this　room。　Yet　she　stood　there；　her　hand　trembling　as　she　held　on　to　Alex；　who　looked　from　her　to　his　father　in　plete　confusion。〃　Why；　I　don't　understand；　you　mean　you've　met？〃
　
　Ramses　stepped　forward　suddenly。　He　took　her　arm　roughly；　and　pulled　her　away　from　Alex。
　
　〃I　must　speak　to　you；〃　　he　said；　glaring　down　at　her；〃　now；　alone。〃
　
　〃Ramsey；　what　in　the　world　are　you　doing？〃
　
　Others　had　turned　to　stare　at　them。
　
　〃Alex；　stay　here！〃　　said　his　father。
　
　Ramses　pulled　her　farther　away。　She　turned　her　ankle　in　the　high　shoes。〃　Let　me　go！〃　　she　whispered。
　
　In　a　blur；　she　saw　pale　Julie　Stratford　turning　desperately　to　the　dark…faced　Egyptian；　and　old　Lord　Rutherford　physically　restraining　his　son。
　
　In　a　rage；　she　drew　back　from　Ramses；　startling　him；　freeing　herself　at　once。　Gasps　from　all　these　strange　modern　people；　who　looked　as　they　pretended　not　to　look。　A　hush　had　fallen　around　them；　though　the　music　roared　over　it。
　
　〃We　will　speak　when　I　say；　my　beloved　teacher！　You　interfere　just　now　with　my　pleasures；　just　as　you　always　did　in　the　past。〃
　
　Alex　rushed　to　her　side。　She　slipped　her　arm　around　him　as　once　again　Ramses　advanced　on　her。
　
　〃What　in　God's　name　is　the　matter　with　you；　Ramsey！〃　　Alex　protested。
　
　〃I　tell　you　now；　we　are　to　speak；　you　and　I；　alone；〃　　Ramses　said　to　her；　ignoring　her　lover。
　
　Her　anger　went　before　her　words　and　her　words　went　before　her　thoughts。
　
　〃You　think　you　can　force　me　to　do　your　will！　I'll　pay　you　out　for　what　you've　done　to　me！　I'll　pay　you　in　kind！〃
　
　He　grabbed　her；　swinging　her　away　from　Alex；　whose　father　moved　in　again　to　take　his　arm。　She　glanced　back　to　see　Alex　vanishing　as　the　crowds　closed　in　front　of　him；　Ramses　forcing　her　deeper　into　the　dancers；　refusing　to　let　her　go；　though　she　struggled；　his　right　hand　clutching　her　left　wrist；　his　left　hand　locked　on　her　waist。
　
　All　about　them　couples　whirled　to　the　deafening　music　and　its　deep　throbbing　rhythmic　beat。　He　forced　her　into　the　dance　as　he　towered　over　her；　lifting　her　off　her　feet　as　he　turned　her　about。
　
　〃Let　go　of　me！〃　　she　hissed。〃　You　think　I'm　the　same　mad　creature　you　left　in　that　hovel　in　old　Cairo。　You　think　I　am　your　slave！〃
　
　〃No；　no；　I　can　see　you　are　different；〃　　dropping　into　the　old　Latin。〃　But　who　are　you；　really？〃
　
　〃Your　magic　has　restored　my　mind；　my　memory。　All　that　I　suffered…it　is　there；　and　I　hate　you　now　more　truly　than　I　did　before。〃
　
　How　stunned　he　was；　how　he　suffered。　Was　she　supposed　to　pity　him？
　
　〃You　have　always　been　magnificent　at　suffering！〃　　She　spat　the　words　at　him。〃　And　in　your　judgments！　But　I　am　not　your　slave　or　your　property。　What　you　have　brought　back　to　life　would　be　free　to　live。〃
　
　〃It　is　you；〃　　he　whispered。〃　The　Queen　who　was　wise　as　well　as　impulsive？　Who　loved　recklessly　but　knew　always　how　to　conquer　and　rule？〃
　
　〃Yes；　precisely。　The　Queen　who　begged　you　to　share　your　gift　with　one　mortal　man；　but　you　refused　her。　Selfish；　spiteful　and　petty　in　the　end。〃
　
　〃Oh；　no；　you　know　it　is　not　true。〃　　Same　old　charm；　same　old　persuasiveness。　And　the　same　fierce　and　unyielding　will。〃　It　would　have　been　a　ghastly　error！〃
　
　〃And　I？　Am　I　not　an　error！〃
　
　She　struggled　to　free　herself。　She　couldn't。　Again　he　turned　her　in　a　great　circle　to　the　rhythm　of　the　music；　skirts　brushing
　
　her　as　others　danced　around　them；　oblivious；　it　seemed；　to　her　struggle。
　
　〃Last　night　you　told　me　that　when　you　were　dying；　you　tried　to　call　out　to　me；〃　　he　said。〃　The　venom　of　the　snake　had　paralyzed　you。　Were　you　telling