Part 45 (1/2)

”By the Almighty!” Cyrus exclaimed ”For pity's sake, go on, Amelia, I can't stand the suspense!”

”. . . its cage, and then waking up at dawn to put it back before some other member of the household encountered it. Nefret very kindly a.s.sisted

Again emotion overcame me. ”Another one,” I said hollowly. ”I thought one was bad enough, and now . . . Forgive me, Cyrus. I will endeavor not to break down again.

”. . . a.s.sisted me on two occasions she said I was a growing boy and needed my rest. I hardly need say, Mama and Papa, that I took this without resentment, in the spirit in which it was meant.

”Naturally I had shut up the dogs and warned Bob and Jerry to lock themselves into the lodge while the lion was out. They agreed this was a sensible procedure.

<>”Uncle Walter has insulted me mortally. His remarks on the subject of the lion were uncalled <>for, unfair, and extremely rude, particularly in view of the fact that my foresight prevented- <>or helped to prevent, at least- an incident that might have proved disastrous.

<>”Having antic.i.p.ated such an occurrence, I was the first to wake when the piercing screams of <>a female in the last extremity of terror, mingled with the growls of a large feline, rent the night!

<>I had been sleeping in my clothes, of course, in order to be fully prepared and ready for action, <>it was the work of a moment to s.n.a.t.c.h up the weapon I had put at hand (a poker from the fireplace] and rush down the stairs.

<>”The moon cast a frosty light upon the lawn (which was, in fact, covered with frost, the night being cold). The forms of the great jungle beast and its prey stood out in sharp outline.

<>Hastening toward the group, poker at the ready, I beheld a somewhat disconcerting sight. There was just enough light for me to make out the features of the individual lying supine between the lion's paws. With a start of chagrin, I recognized her as Ellis, Aunt Evelyn's new maid.

<>”In fact, the lion would probably not have harmed her. To be sure, it was growling, but the sound held a note of inquiry rather than ferocity. I had the distinct impression it did not know what to do next. Ellis had swooned, which was no doubt a sensible move on her part.

<>”While I was thinking how best to proceed, I saw Nefret running toward me, her little bare feet noiseless on the gra.s.s. Her unbound hair streamed out behind her, silver-gold in the pale light, her light nightdress billowed about her slender limbs. She was a vision of. . . [Something had been scratched out here. Ramses went on.] . . . of womanly efficiency. Her knife was in her hand.

<>”With her a.s.sistance I persuaded the lion to abandon his new toy. Grumbling under his breath he ambled off, with Nefret's fingers twisted affectionately in his mane. The literary allusions that occurred to me will doubtless occur to you, Mama, as well, so I will not take up paper describing them.

<>”I set to work restoring Ellis to consciousness, but I had not had time to slap her more than once before I heard a considerable racket coming from the house. I had been expecting some reaction from that Quarter, I was surprised it had not occurred before, but I suppose the actions I have described had taken only a few minutes. Astonis.h.i.+ng, is it not, how quickly time pa.s.ses when one is engaged in interesting activities?

<>”The sounds I heard suggested to me something rather more serious than the indignation of Uncle Walter at being awakened. These cries were high-pitched- female, I deduced. So abandoning Ellis, I hastened to ascertain their origin.

<>”As you know, the majority of the windows in the castle are narrow and small. Only the sitting room has been modernized; its windows open onto the rose garden. It was from this room that the noise issued, and as I came through the garden I was distressed to note that the windows stood open. The room was dark and at first I could not make out what was going on, rapid movements, gasps and exclamations of pain and exertion were all the evidence available to me. Then the combatants- for such they were- approached the window. The poker fell from my palsied hand when I identified them.

<>”One was a man, a hulking fellow wearing a short fustian jacket and a cap pulled low over his eyes. He held a cudgel or thick stick, with which be was warding off the blows directed at him by . . .

<>”But no doubt you have antic.i.p.ated me. Her nightcap had come off and hung by its strings, her braided hair fell over one shoulder. Her face was set in a ferocious snarl. Quite unlike her normal sweet look, and the<> <>instrument with which she was belaboring the cowering villain appeared-and indeed proved-to be a parasol.

<>”I recovered myself and my poker and rushed to her a.s.sistance. She was not in need of it, but the rascal might have got away from her if I had not tripped him up. Together we subdued him. Tearing off the sash of her dressing gown, Aunt Evelyn bade me bind his arms.

<>”It was at this point that Uncle Walter arrived on the scene, followed by Gargery and Bob, both of whom carried lanterns. They had been wandering around the grounds, uncertain as to where the action was taking place. (Wandering gives an inaccurate impression, in fact, for it was obvious from Uncle Walter's appearance that he had been running as fast as he could, though to little effect. Like Papa, he does not like being waked up suddenly and is slow to react.) <>.

<>”Bob lit the lamps and Gargery finished binding the arms and legs of our burglar. This was at my direction, I am sorry to say that Uncle Walter lost his head completely. I have never seen him behave so erratically. He rushed at Aunt Evelyn and shook her very hard. Then he embraced her as fiercely as ever I have seen . . . [Another phrase was scratched out. I knew what it must have been, though ] . . . others do. Then he shook her again. Strangely enough, Aunt Evelyn did not seem to mind.

<>”I do not have another sheet of paper, and cannot get one, since Uncle Walter has confined me to my room until further notice, so I am forced to be brief. Ellis was on her way to meet a friend, as she explained, when the lion intercepted her. (Rose says people like Ellis manage to find friends wherever they go. It is an endearing characteristic, I think.) The burglar claimed he was looking for valuables. Inspector Cuff has taken him off to London. Inspector Cuff is a very taciturn person. All he would say, before he left with his prisoner, was, 'I think I can be of greater use to you elsewhere, Master Ramses. You will hear from me in due course.' As for Aunt Evelyn, she says she has had the parasol for quite a long time. I have never seen her carry it. It is like yours, Mama, very heavy and plain, not her usual little ruffled ones. I wonder why she would have something like that if she never expected to need it? But that is another matter we can discuss at a future time.

<>”My paper tells me I must stop. Your loving son, Ramses.

<>”P.S. I know that Papa is very busy with his excavations, but it would comfort me a great deal to receive a message in his own hand.”

Cyrus and I sat in silence for a few moments. Then he said, ”Excuse me, Amelia. I will be right back.”

When he returned he was carrying a bottle of brandy. I had a little sip. Cyrus had a little more.