anner.themummy-第8部分

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　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；　and　into　the　library；　which　he　had　always　called　the　Egyptian　room。　A　wake　for　the　mummy；　and　the　chief　mourner　was　not　here。
　
　Julie　watched　as　Samir　directed　the　men　from　the　museum　to
　
　place　the　coffin　carefully　upright　in　the　southeast　corner；　to　the　left　of　the　open　conservatory　doors。　A　perfect　position。　Anyone　entering　the　house　could　see　it　immediately。　All　those　in　the　drawing　rooms　would　have　a　good　view　of　it；　and　the　mummy　himself　would　appear　to　have　a　view　of　all　assembled　to　pay　him　homage　when　the　lid　was　lifted　and　the　body　itself　was　revealed。　The　scrolls　and　alabaster　jars　would　be　arranged　on　the　long　marble　table　beneath　the　mirror　to　the　left　of　the　upright　coffin；　along　the　east　wall。　The　bust　of　Cleopatra　was　already　being　placed　on　a　stand　in　the　centre　of　the　room。　The　gold　coins　would　go　in　a　special　display　case　beside　the　marble　table。　And　other　miscellaneous　treasures　could　now　be　arranged　any　way　that　Samir　saw　fit。
　
　The　soft　afternoon　sunlight　poured　in　from　the　conservatory；　throwing　its　intricate　dancing　patterns　over　the　golden　mask　of　the　King's　face　and　his　folded　arms。
　
　Gorgeous　it　was；　authentic　obviously。　Only　a　fool　would　question　such　a　treasure。　But　what　did　the　whole　story　mean？
　
　Oh；　if　only　they　were　all　gone；　Julie　thought；　and　she　could　be　alone　now　to　study　it。　But　the　men　would　be　here　forever　examining　the　exhibit。　And　Alex；　what　to　do　about　Alex；　who　stood　beside　her；　and　gave　her　not　a　moment　to　herself？
　
　Of　course　she'd　been　glad　to　see　Samir；　though　it　had　stirred　her　own　pain　to　see　the　pain　in　him。
　
　And　he　looked　stiff　and　unfortable　in　his　black　Western　suit　and　starched　white　shirt。　In　the　silks　of　his　native　dress；　he　was　a　dark…eyed　prince；　quite　removed　from　the　dreary　routines　of　this　noisy　century　and　its　bludgeoning　drive　to　progress。　Here　he　looked　foreign；　and　almost　servile　in　spite　of　the　imperious　manner　in　which　he　ordered　the　workmen　about。
　
　Alex　stared　at　the　workmen　and　their　relics　with　the　strangest　expression。　What　was　it？　These　things　meant　nothing　to　him；　they　had　to　do　with　some　other　world。　But　did　he　not　find　them　beautiful？　Ah；　it　was　so　difficult　for　her　to　understand。〃　I　wonder　if　there　is　a　curse；〃　　he　whispered　softly。〃　Oh；　please；　don't　be　ridiculous；〃　　Julie　answered。〃　Now；　they're　going　to　be　working　for　some　time。　Why　don't　we　go　on　？　back　into　the　conservatory　and　have　tea？〃
　
　〃Yes；　we　should　do　that；〃　　he　said。　It　was　dislike　in　his　face；　wasn't　it？　Not　confusion。　He　felt　nothing　for　these　treasures。　They　were　alien　to　him；　they　did　not　matter　one　way　or　the　other。　She　might　have　felt　the　same　way　gazing　at　a　modern　machine　she　did　not　understand。
　
　It　saddened　her。　But　everything　saddened　her　now…and　most　of　all　the　fact　that　her　father　had　had　so　little　time　with　these　many　treasures；　that　he　had　died　on　the　very　day　of　his　greatest　discovery。　And　that　she　was　the　one　who　must　savour　each　and　every　article　that　he　had　uncovered　in　this　mysterious　and　controversial　grave。
　
　Perhaps　after　tea；　Alex　would　understand　that　she　wanted　to　be　alone。　She　led　him　down　the　hall　now；　past　the　double　doors　of　me　drawing　rooms；　past　the　doors　of　the　library　and　out　through　the　marble　alcove　into　the　glass　room　of　ferns　and　flowers　that　ran　across　the　entire　back　of　the　house。
　
　This　had　been　Father's　favourite　place　when　he　was　not　in　the　library。　No　accident　that　his　desk　and　his　books　were　only　a　few　feet　away；　through　those　glass　doors。
　
　They　sat　down　at　the　wicker　table　together；　the　sun　playing　beautifully　on　the　silver　tea　service　before　them。
　
　〃You　pour；　dearest；〃　　she　said　to　Alex。　She　laid　out　the　cakes　on　the　plates。　Now　that　gave　him　something　to　do　which　he
　
　understood。
　
　Had　she　ever　known　a　human　being　who　could　do　all　the　little　things　so　well？　Alex　could　ride；　dance；　shoot；　pour　tea；　mix　delicious　American　cocktails；　slip　into　the　protocol　of　Buckingham　Palace　without　batting　an　eyelash。　He　could　read　an　occasional　poem　with　such　a　simulation　of　feeling　that　it　made　her　weep。　He　could　kiss　very　well；　too；　and　there　was　no　doubt　that　marriage　with　him　would　have　its　deeply　sensuous　moments。　No　doubt　whatsoever。　But　what　else　would　it　have？
　
　She　felt　selfish　suddenly。　Wasn't　all　that　enough？　It　hadn't　been　for　her　father；　a　merchant　prince　whose　manners　were　indistinguishable　from　those　of　aristocratic　friends。　It　had　meant　nothing　at　all。
　
　〃Drink　it；　darling；　you　need　it；〃　　Alex　said　to　her；　offering　her　the　cup　the　way　she　liked　it。　No　milk；　no　sugar。　Only　a　thin　slice　of　lemon。
　
　Imagine　anyone　really　needing　tea。
　
　It　seemed　the　light　changed　around　her；　a　shadow。　She　looked　up　to　see　that　Samir　had　e　silently　into　the　room。
　
　〃Samir。　Sit　down。　Join　us。〃
　
　He　motioned　for　her　to　remain　where　she　was。　He　was　holding　a　leather…bound　book　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Julie；〃　　he　said　with　a　slow　and　deliberate　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　Egyptian　room；〃　I　brought　your　father's　notebook　to　you。　I　didn't　want　to　give　it　to　the　people　at　the　museum。〃
　
　〃Oh；　I'm　so　glad。　Do　join　us；　please。〃
　
　〃No；　I　must　return　to　work　immediately。　I　want　to　make　sure　things　are　done　as　they　should　be。　And　you　must　read　this　notebook；　Julie。　The　newspapers；　they　published　only　the　bare　bones　of　this　story。　There　is　more　here。　。。。〃
　
　〃e；　sit　down；〃　　she　pressed　again。〃　We'll　take　care　of　that　together；　later。〃
　
　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　gave　in。　He　took　the　chair　beside　her；　giving　a　little　polite　nod　to　Alex；　to　whom　he'd　been　introduced　before。
　
　〃Julie；　your　father　had　only　begun　his　translations。　You　know　his　mand　of　the　ancient　tongues。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I'm　eager　to　read　it。　But　what　is　really　troubling　you？〃　　she　said　earnestly。〃　What　is　wrong？〃
　
　Samir　pondered；　then：〃　Julie；　I　am　uneasy　about　this　discovery。　I　am　uneasy　about　the　mummy　and　the　poisons　contained　in　the　tomb。〃
　
　〃Were　they　really　Cleopatra's　poisons？〃　　Alex　said　quickly。〃　Or　is　that　something　the　reporters　dreamed　up？〃
　
　〃No　one　can　say；〃　　Samir　answered　politely。
　
　〃Samir；　everything　is　carefully　labelled；〃　　Julie　said。〃　The　servants　had　been　told。〃
　
　〃You　don't　believe　in　the　curse　now；　do　you？〃　　Alex　asked。
　
　Samir　made　a　little　polite　smile。〃　No。　Nevertheless；〃　　he　said；　turning　back　to　Julie。〃　Promise　me　that　if　you　see　anything　strange；　even　if　you　suffer　a　presentiment；　you　will　call　me　at　the　museum　at　once。〃
　
　〃But；　Samir；　I　never　expected　you　to　believe…〃
　
　〃Julie；　curses　are　rare　in　Egypt；〃　　he　said　quickly。〃　And　the　admonitions　written　on　this　mummy　case　are　most　severe。　The　story　of　the　creature's　immortality；　there　are　more　details　in　this　little　book；〃
　
　〃But　you　don't　think　Father　really　succumbed　to　a　curse；　Samir。〃
　
　〃No。　But　the　things　found　in　the　tomb　defy　explanation。　Except　if　one　believes　。。。　But　then　that　is　absurd。　I　ask　only　that　you　take　nothing　for　granted。　That　you　call　me　if　you　need　me　at　once。〃　　He　took　his　leave　of　her　abruptly；　and　went　back　into　the　library。　She　could　hear　him　speaking　Arabic　to　one　of　the　workmen。　She　watched　them　uneasily　through　the　open　doors。
　
　Grief；　she　thought。　It's　a　strange　and　a　misunderstood　emotion。　He　grieves　for　Father　as　I　do；　and　so　the　whole　discovery　is　ruined　for　him。　How　difficult　all　this　must　be。
　
　And　he　would　have　so　enjoyed　all　of　it　if　only　。。。　Well；　she　understood。　It　was　not　so　with　her。　She　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　be　alone　with　Ramses　the　Great　and　his　Cleopatra。　But　she　understood。　And　the　pain　of　Father's　loss　would　be　there　forever。　She　didn't　really　want　it　to　go　away。　She　looked　at　Alex；　poor　lost　boy　staring　at　her　with　such　concern。
　
　〃I　love　you；〃　　he　whispered　suddenly。
　
　〃Why；　what　on　earth　has　e　over　you！〃　　She　laughed　softly。
　
　He　looked　baffled；　childlike。　Her　handsome　fiancé　was　really　suffering　suddenly。　She　couldn't　bear　it。
　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　　he　said。〃　Maybe　I'm　having　a　presentiment。　Is　that　what　he　called　it？　I　only　know　I　want　to　remind　you…I　love　you。〃
　
　〃Oh；　Alex；　dear　Alex。〃　　She　bent　forward　and　kissed　him；　and　felt　his　sudden　desperate　clasp　of　her　hand。
　
　The　gaudy　little　clock　on　Daisy's　dressing　table　rang　six。
　
　Henry　sat　back；　stretched；　then　reached　for　the　champagne　again；　filling　his　glass；　then　hers。
　
　She　looked　drowsy　still；　the　thin　satin　strap　of　her　nightgown　fallen　down　over　one　rounded　arm。
　
　〃Drink；　darling；〃　　he　said。
　
　〃Not　me；　lovey。　Singing　tonight；〃　　she　said　with　an　arrogant　lift　of　her　chin。〃　I　can't　drink　all　day　like　some　I　know。〃　　She　tore　off　a　bit　of　meat　from　the　roasted　fowl　on　her　plate；　and　put　it　in　her　mouth　crudely。　Beautiful　mouth。〃　But　this　cousin　of　yours！　She's　not　afraid　of　the　bloody　mummy！　Putting　it　right　there　in　her　own　house！〃
　
　Big　stupid　blue　eyes　fixed　on　him；　just　the　kind　he　liked。　Though　he　missed　Malenka；　his　Egyptian　beauty；　he　really　did。　The　thing　about　an　Eastern　woman　was　she　didn't　have　to　be　stupid；　she　could　be　clever；　and　just　as　easy　to　manage。　With　a　girl　like　Daisy；　the　stupidity　was　essential；　and　then　you　had　to　talk　to　her…and　talk　to　her　and　talk　to　her。
　
　〃Why　the　hell　should　she　be　afraid　of　the　damned　mummy！〃　　he　said　irritably。〃　The　daft　part　is　giving　the　whole　treasure　to
　
　a　museum。　She　doesn't　know　what　money　is；　my　cousin。　She　has　too　much　of　it　to　know。　He　increased　my　trust　fund　by　a　pittance　and　he　leaves　her　a　shipping　empire。　He's　the　one　who　was　。。。〃
　
　He　stopped。　The　little　chamber；　the　sunlight　falling　in　shafts　on　that　thing。　He　saw　it　again。　Saw　what　he　had　done！　No。　Not　right。　Died　of　a　heart　attack　or　a　stroke；　he　did…the　man　lying　sprawled　on　the　sandy　floor；　I　didn't　do　it。　And　that　thing；　it　hadn't　been　staring　through　the　wrappings；　that　was　absurd！
　
　He　drank　the　champagne　too　quickly。　Ah；　but　it　was　good；　He　filled　his　glass　again。
　
　〃But　a　bleeding　mummy　in　the　very　house　with　her；〃　　Daisy　said。
　
　And　suddenly；