Part 43 (1/2)

With a wry smile Cyrus put down his cup and got to his feet. ”Are you going to tell Emerson?”

”No, why should I? I am sure he has already cautioned you not to let me out of your sight.”

”He didn't have to,” Cyrus said, no longer smiling. There was no need for him to say more, his steady regard and firmly set lips proclaimed his resolution. The removal of the goatee had definitely been an improvement. He reminded me of those strong, silent sheriffs of whom one reads in American fiction.

He left me after promising he would be ready to go in five minutes.

I did not require so much time. I put away the tea things and strapped on my belt,- then I took from my pocket the small object my groping hands had encountered on the rock-strewn floor of the tomb. My touch has been trained by years of experience, I had known by the shape of it that it was not a stone but an object shaped by man, and the same trained instinct had prompted me to slip it into my pocket.

It was a ring bezel of cheap faience, like those I had found in the workmen's village and elsewhere.

Some bore the name of the ruling pharaoh, others were adorned with the images of different G.o.ds. This was of the second variety. The image was that of Sobek-the crocodile G.o.d.

Not only Cyrus but two of his men accompanied me this time. All were armed. It was a needless precaution, I felt sure, but men always enjoy marching around with weapons and flexing their figurative muscles, and I saw no reason to deny them this harmless exercise As I had expected, the journey was without incident, and after hailing Selim, who had come out of hiding when he saw us, we emerged from the mouth of the wadi and walked the short distance to the little mud-brick house.

Kevin had certainly made himself comfortable. We found him sitting on a camel bag in the shade at the front of the house reading a yellowback novel, a gla.s.s in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He pretended to go on reading until we were almost upon him, then he leapt to his feet with a theatrical and unconvincing start of surprise.

”Sure an' it's one of those mirages I'm seeing- a vision of loveliness like the houris in the Moslem paradise! Top o' the afternoon to ye, Mrs. Emerson, me dear.”

As he came to meet me the sun set his hair ablaze and reddened his sunburned cheeks. Freckles, snub nose, ingratiating grin, wide blue eyes made up an irresistible picture of a young Irish gentleman- and roused an irresistible urge in my breast. I did not try to resist it. I brought my parasol down on his outstretched arm.

”I am not your dear, and that brogue is as false as your professions of friends.h.i.+p!”

Kevin fell back, rubbing his arm, and Cyrus, unable to hide his smile, said, ”I thought you were going to use gentle persuasion. If you wanted the guy beaten up, I could have done that for you.”

”Oh, dear,” I said, lowering the parasol. ”I fear that in the stress of emotion I lost sight of my object.

Stop cringing, Kevin, I won't hit you again. Unless you annoy me.”

”I certainly would like to avoid doing so,” said Kevin earnestly. ”Would it annoy you if I offered you a chair- or a camel bag, rather? I'm afraid I have not enough seats for your escort.”

Cyrus had already gestured his men to take up positions on either side of the little structure, where they could see in all directions. ”I'll stand,” he said curtly.

”You remember Mr. Vandergelt, of course,” I said to Kevin, taking the seat he had offered

”Ah, I thought he looked familiar. It has been a good many years, and I didn't know him at first without his goatee. How do you do, sir?” He started to offer his hand, Cyrus's frosty stare made him think better of it. ”And how's the professor?” Kevin went on, squatting at my feet. ”Fully recovered, I hope, from his- er- accident?”

”I give you credit, Kevin,” I said. ”You don't beat around the bush. It was no accident, as you well know. The curse of the ancient G.o.ds of Egypt' was how you put it, I believe. Surely your readers must be tiring of curses.”

”Och- I mean, oh, no, ma'am. Readers never tire of mystery and sensationalism. You and I know better, to be sure, and I'd be glad to set them straight if I had the facts.”

He continued to nurse his arm. I knew full well that Kevin would have considered a broken arm, much less one that was slightly bruised, as a fair exchange for the story he wanted, so I was unmoved by his look of hurt reproach.

”You will be the first to have the facts, I promise, as soon as they can be made public.”

The reprehensible young man gave a crow of delight. ”Aha! So there are facts as yet unknown. Never mind denying it, Mrs. Emerson, and don't be chewing on that pretty lip of yours, one particular fact, which cannot fail to capture the imagination of the reading public, is already known to me, for I spent several enlightening days in Cairo conversing with mutual friends.”

It is an old trick of journalists and other villains to pretend to knowledge in order to trick the victim into an admission of it I laughed lightly. ”You are referring, I suppose, to the incident at the ball. That was a silly joke- ”

”Let's not fence, Mrs. E. I am referring to the professor's loss of memory.”

”Curse it,” I exclaimed. ”The few who knew were sworn to secrecy. Which- ”