Part 41 (1/2)

”It's very good of you to say there is no wound,” said he. ”But you won't gull me with words. I felt his knife in my windpipe, and if I had not jumped out of bed----”

”You locked your door. No one could enter. Look in the gla.s.s, there is not even a scratch. This is pure imagination.”

”I'll tell you what, old fellow, I won't sleep in that room again.

Change with me, there's a charitable buffer. If you don't believe in Musty, Musty won't hurt you, maybe--anyhow you can try if he's solid or a phantom. Blow me if the knife felt like a phantom.”

”I do not quite see my way to changing rooms,” I replied; ”but this I will do for you. If you like to go to bed again in your own apartment, I will sit up with you till morning.”

”All right,” answered Jameson. ”And if Musty comes in again, let out at him and do not spare him. Swear that.”

I accompanied Jameson once more to his bedroom, Little as I liked the man, I could not deny him my presence and a.s.sistance at this time. It was obvious that his nerves were shaken by what had occurred, and he felt his relation to Mustapha much more than he cared to show. The thought that he had been the cause of the poor fellow's death preyed on his mind, never strong, and now it was upset with imaginary terrors.

I gave up letter writing, and brought my Baedeker's _Upper Egypt_ into Jameson's room, one of the best of all guide-books, and one crammed with information. I seated myself near the light, and with my back to the bed, on which the young man had once more flung himself.

”I say,” said Jameson, raising his head, ”is it too late for a brandy-and-soda?”

”Everyone is in bed.”

”What lazy dogs they are. One never can get anything one wants here.”

”Well, try to go to sleep.”

He tossed from side to side for some time, but after a while, either he was quiet, or I was engrossed in my Baedeker, and I heard nothing till a clock struck twelve. At the last stroke I heard a snort and then a gasp and a cry from the bed. I started up, and looked round. Jameson was slipping out with his feet onto the floor.

”Confound you!” said he angrily, ”you are a fine watch, you are, to let Mustapha steal in on tiptoe whilst you are cartouching and all that sort of rubbish. He was at me again, and if I had not been sharp he'd have cut my throat. I won't go to bed any more!”

”Well, sit up. But I a.s.sure you no one has been here.”

”That's fine. How can you tell? You had your back to me, and these devils of fellows steal about like cats. You can't hear them till they are at you.”

It was of no use arguing with Jameson, so I let him have his way.

”I can feel all the three places in my throat where he ran the knife in,” said he. ”And--don't you notice?--I speak with difficulty.”

So we sat up together the rest of the night. He became more reasonable as dawn came on, and inclined to admit that he had been a prey to fancies.

The day pa.s.sed very much as did others--Jameson was dull and sulky.

After dejeuner he sat on at table when the ladies had risen and retired, and the gentlemen had formed in knots at the window, discussing what was to be done in the afternoon.

Suddenly Jameson, whose head had begun to nod, started up with an oath and threw down his chair.

”You fellows!” he said, ”you are all in league against me. You let that Mustapha come in without a word, and try to stick his knife into me.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”YOU LET THAT MUSTAPHA COME IN, AND TRY AND STICK HIS KNIFE INTO ME.”]

”He has not been here.”

”It's a plant. You are combined to bully me and drive me away. You don't like me. You have engaged Mustapha to murder me. This is the fourth time he has tried to cut my throat, and in the _salle a manger_, too, with you all standing round. You ought to be ashamed to call yourselves Englishmen. I'll go to Cairo. I'll complain.”