Part 11 (1/2)

”Always cheerful, Peabody,” Emerson said, grinning. ”What are you doing? I won't have any confounded bandages.”

I cut off a bit of sticking plaster. ”Out with it, Emerson. You are beating around the bush.”

”Not at all. I am simply admitting that the evidence is inconclusive. It is suggestive, though, don't you think?”

”I think this time it is your imagination that has got out of hand.” I sat down next to him. ”Unless you know something you haven't told me.

”I don't know anything,” Emerson said irritably. ”If I did, I would not be dithering like a nervous old spinster. All the same . . We covered our tracks as well as we could, Peabody, but there are several weak spots in the fictional fabric we wove. A good hard shove at any one of them would leave a gaping hole of speculation.”

”Are you by any chance referring to the Church of the Saints of the Son of G.o.d as a weak spot? Curse it, Emerson, I had to invent a religious sect, if we had claimed Nefret's kindly foster parents were Baptists or Lutherans or Roman Catholics, the most cursory inquiry would prove no such family existed.”

”Especially if you had claimed they were Roman Catholics,” Emerson said. Seeing my expression, he added hastily, ”It was very clever of you, my dear.”

”Don't patronize me, Emerson! I cannot imagine what has got you into this morbid state of mind. The story I- we- invented is no more unbelievable than many true ... I do wish you would stop mumbling under your breath It is very rude. Speak up!”

”Map,” said Emerson.

”Willoughby Forth's maps? You heard how Maspero and the others laughed at them the other night- ”

”The map,” said Emerson loudly, ”that Reginald Forthright showed to half the bloo------- blooming officers at Sanam Abu Dom. Everyone from General Rundle to the lowest subaltern knew when he went after his uncle that he had more to go on than vague rumors. He never came back, but WE did, with Forth's daughter. How long do you suppose it will take some inventive journalist to concoct a thrilling scenario out of those facts? I am only surprised your friend O'Connell hasn't already done so. His imagination is almost as rampageous as- ”

”The implication is insulting and undeserved- especially coming from YOU. I have never heard such . . You are muttering again, Emerson. What did you say?”

With a shrug and a smile Emerson turned and answered, not the question but the underlying emotion that had prompted it and my other (I admit) unfair accusations. A soft answer turneth away wrath, as the Scripture says, but Emerson's methods were even more efficacious.

I had hoped to spend the rest of the week in Cairo enjoying the amenities of the hotel, but Emerson suddenly took it into his head to visit Meidum I had no objection, though I wished he had given me a little more notice.

We had spent the morning in the suk, after lunching at the hotel, Emerson left me reading and resting while he went off on some errand of his own. Upon his return he calmly announced we would take the evening train ”So hurry up and get your gear together, Peabody.”

I dropped my copy of Erman's Agyptiscbe Grammatik Agyptiscbe Grammatik. ”What gear? There is no hotel at Rikka.”

Emerson began, ”I have a friend- ”

”I will not stay with any of your Egyptian friends. They are delightful people, but they have no notion of sanitation.”

”I thought you might feel that way. I have prepared a little surprise for you, Peabody. What has happened to your sense of adventure?”

I was unable to resist the challenge, or Emerson's smile. As I packed a small bag with changes of clothing and toilet articles, my spirits began to soar. This was like the old days-Emerson and I, alone together in the wilderness!

Once we had fought our way through the confusion at the railroad station and found seats on the train, Emerson relaxed, but none of my attempts at conversation seemed to please him.

”I hope that poor fellow who collapsed in the suk will be all right,” was my first attempt. ”You should have let me examine him, Emerson.”

”His- er- friends were there to attend to him,” Emerson said shortly.

After a while I tried again. ”Our friends will be surprised to find we have gone! It was good of so many of them to come round this morning to express their concern.” Emerson grunted.

”I am inclined to believe Mr. Neville's theory was the right one,” I went on. ”How amusingly he put it: 'Some young fellow flushed with wine and inspired by your charms, Mrs. E., playing a silly trick.'”

”And my charms inspired the attentions of the three young fellows in the garden,” said Emerson, with ineffable sarcasm.

”The timing of the two events may have been pure coincidence.” ”Pure balderdash,” growled Emerson. ”Peabody, why do you insist on discussing our private affairs in public?”