Part 9 (1/2)
”No. You learned nothing?”
”We would have telegraphed Cyrus at once had we found the jewelry. One or two little matters of interest did occur, but . . . My dear boy, why the wild-eyed stare?”
”I beg your pardon, ma'am. It's just that your little matters of interest are often what others might call narrow escapes or close calls. What has happened? Is Ramses-”
”It usually is Ramses, isn't it? As you see, he is perfectly fit. We will tell you all about it this evening, Bertie. May I take the liberty of bringing Selim? He and the others have been fully briefed on the situation. I don't suppose poor Cyrus is capable of discussing anything else.”
”Selim is always welcome, of course,” Bertie said. ”And you are right about Cyrus. He prides himself on his spotless reputation, and he feels it is in jeopardy.”
”Nothing of the sort,” I said firmly. ”We'll get him out of this with his reputation not only intact but enhanced. Tell him I said so, and that we will see you all this evening.”
CHAPTER FOUR
By the time we had the luggage sorted out and got it and ourselves across the river, the sun had pa.s.sed the zenith. I decreed a light repast and a rest for our visitors, particularly the oldest and youngest of them. Evvie was borne off, howling, by her mother and Kadija, with Dolly trotting anxiously after them. The others dispersed, until only Emerson and I were left with the three younger men, who had settled down on the veranda and were engaged in animated conversation. What fine-looking young fellows they were, all three! The family resemblance between David and his uncle Selim was strong, and Ramses might have been kin to both, with his bronzed complexion and black curls.
As I watched them with a fond smile I realized that Emerson was watching them too, but with calculation predominating over fondness. Rubbing his hands, he declared, ”It is still early. What do you say we go to the site?”
”Leave them alone, Emerson,” I said firmly.
”But, Peabody, I want-”
”I know what you want. For pity's sake, give them this afternoon to enjoy one another's company before you put them to work. Is it not delightful to see them so friendly together?”
”Hmph,” said Emerson. ”Well . . .”
”Run along, Emerson.”
”Where?”
”Anywhere you like, so long as you do not disturb their privacy.”
Emerson thought it over. ”Where has Sennia got to? I might give her an archaeology lesson.”
”I am sure she will play with you, Emerson, if you ask nicely.”
Grinning, Emerson went into the house, and I approached the boys. Their heads were close together, and solemnity had replaced their laughter. ”Is there anything I can get you?” I asked, as they rose to greet me. ”Coffee? Tea?”
”No, thank you, Mother,” Ramses said.
After a moment, David said, ”Won't you sit down, Aunt Amelia?”
”I would not want to disturb you, my dear.”
”Not at all,” said Ramses. The corners of his mouth turned up a trifle. ”Take this chair, Mother. Would you like a cigarette?”
David had taken out his pipe and Selim a cigarette; so, in order to put them at ease, I accepted. ”What is this I hear about Abdullah becoming a holy man?” I asked, attempting to blow out a smoke ring. The attempt was not successful. I had not yet got the trick of it, probably because I did not indulge often in tobacco. Every art requires practice.
”How did you find out about that?” David asked. ”Ramses said he hadn't mentioned it to you or the Professor.”
I turned a mildly reproachful look upon my son, who immediately began to invent excuses. ”So much else has happened . . . it didn't seem important . . . at the time.”
”At the time,” I repeated slowly.
Selim remarked, rolling his black eyes, ”It was my father who told you? In a dream?”
Fearing skepticism (which I got, especially from Emerson), I had told only a few about my strange dreams of Abdullah, but I was not surprised that the story had spread. Fatima and Gargery were both accomplished eavesdroppers, and either would have pa.s.sed on the information as a matter of general interest. Once Daoud got hold of the tale, all Luxor would know.
”As a matter of fact, I heard the news from Daoud,” I said. ”Was that what you were discussing? You looked very serious. And what did you mean, Ramses, by 'at the time'? Has something happened to alter your view?”
Ramses blew out a perfect smoke ring, eyeing me thoughtfully. David laughed. ”There's no use trying to hide anything from her, Ramses. Why should we, anyhow? It's only an odd coincidence. A pity about Ha.s.san, but I expect he died happy.”
”Died!” I exclaimed. ”Ha.s.san, Munifa's husband? When? How?”
”Didn't Abdullah tell you about him?” Ramses inquired. ”Ha.s.san was the one responsible for Abdullah's new status; he proclaimed himself servant of the sheikh, and took charge of Abdullah's tomb. The idea was quick to catch on. People began going there to bring offerings and pray for favors. Ha.s.san was happy, or so he seemed, when I saw him last. He was found dead two days ago, by an early-rising pilgrim.”
”We buried him that night,” Selim said. ”It was his heart, Sitt.”
”How do you know? Did a doctor examine him?”
”What need? There was no mark upon him and his face was peaceful. He was not a young man, Sitt Hakim.”
”I am sorry.” I spoke the truth. Ha.s.san had been with us for years, a loyal workman and a merry companion. ”I expect you will want to visit Abdullah's tomb one day soon, David. You will be pleased, I am sure, at how well your plans were carried out. I will go with you, if you don't mind.”
”Yes, Aunt Amelia. Lia and I have spoken of it.”
”You might take Dolly, too.”
David's fine dark eyes widened. ”D'you really think we ought? A bit morbid for a little chap like him, isn't it?”
”Not at all. To hear of his great-grandfather's courage and n.o.ble character will be an inspiration. I promised-”
I stopped myself, somewhat abruptly, and rose. ”I must be about my duties. Don't get up, boys.”
They did anyhow. I had of course trained all of them in proper manners, but I suspected Ramses was looming on purpose and looking down his nose at me. I smiled, and patted him on the shoulder. ”You will always be boys to me,” I informed him.
As I went about my varied tasks, my mind kept returning to Ha.s.san's death. One could not even call it a coincidence; when he died, as he was bound to do one day, the odds were that the event would occur at Abdullah's tomb, since that was where Ha.s.san spent most of his time. What puzzled me was why he should have chosen to spend his declining years in holy works. Until the death of his wife he had practiced hedonism insofar as the bounds of his religion allowed-and occasionally beyond them.
Ah well, I thought, religious fervor is inexplicable except to the one who feels it, and a good many individuals seek the comfort of religion in old age. Ha.s.san would probably have agreed wholeheartedly with Saint Augustine, who asked G.o.d to forgive him for his sins-but not until after he was finished committing them.
One might have supposed that Abdullah would have mentioned Ha.s.san's death. He had made rather a point of our visiting the tomb, but he had not said why. That was just like Abdullah, though-he delighted in hints and provocative statements. He always claimed he was restricted by the undefined rules of whatever afterlife he presently enjoyed, but I couldn't help suspecting some of his reticence was designed to tease me.
We were to have tea at four, since Fatima was determined to provide such a lavish repast as had never been seen in that house. She had half a dozen haggard young women helping her in the kitchen; when I put my nose in, she told me to go away. One does not argue with Fatima when she is in one of her rare bullying moods, so I went.
FROM Ma.n.u.sCRIPT H.
Seated on the settee with his wife on one side and his mother on the other, Ramses felt like Ulysses trying to steer a course midway between Scylla and Charybdis. Not that either of the ladies he loved resembled those mythical monsters, but they both had decided opinions on the subject of child-raising, and those opinions did not always agree. When they disagreed, they appealed to him.