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eave that to Fatima。 One of the girls who's been working here asked me yesterday if she could continue doing so； she is very hardworking； if a little shy； so I told her that would be fine。 Her name is Najia。〃
〃Ah； yes； Mohammed Hammad's niece。 Or is she his stepdaughter？ Never mind。 The poor girl is somewhat self…conscious； it is that liver birthmark； I suppose。〃
〃It won't bother us；〃 Nefret said。
〃Of course not。 Now； concerning the garden 。 。 。〃
Finally Nefret said； 〃I think that's everything； Mother。 We will probably have to run up to Cairo to find some things； but I will talk with Abdul Hadi about making a few chairs and tables。 He is the best woodworker in Luxor。〃
〃And the slowest；〃 I said。
Nefret smiled。 〃I can hurry him up。〃
I observed that Ramses was yawning； and took the hint。 He insisted on walking back with me； despite my objections。
〃Nothing can possibly happen to me between your door and mine；〃 I declared。
〃Ah； but you don't have your parasol；〃 Ramses said。
I took Gargery into our confidence next morning at breakfast； while Sennia was dawdling over her preparations for departure。 He and Fatima took it in turn to serve meals； it had been a promise proposed by me； to prevent them from quarreling over which of them had that right。 It was his turn that morning； and he followed my well…organized account with such interest that I was forced several times to remind him to serve the food。 He then straightened to his full height … five feet six inches or thereabouts … and stood at attention。 It would have required more than that to make him appear impressive； his frame was meager； his face lined； and he had taken to bing his hair across his forehead in an unconvincing attempt to conceal a receding hairline。 He looked like a butler； which is what he was； but he possessed a number of qualities that are not often found in persons of that position。 At the moment he was a very happy butler。 As he had once observed to me； 〃If there's got to be a murder； madam； it might as well be us that gets the use of it。〃
〃I depend on you； Gargery； to keep a close eye out when you take Miss Sennia to the Castle for her lessons with Mrs。 Vandergelt。 I doubt there is any reason for concern； but it would be foolish to take chances。〃
〃I agree； madam；〃 said Gargery； standing stiff as a wooden soldier and smiling broadly。
〃How good of you to say so； Gargery。 Where the devil is that girl？ Gargery； please go and 。 。 。 Ah； there you are； Jumana。 Sit down and eat something and be quick about it。〃
We were to meet Daoud and Selim at Gurneh and go on from there to the Cemetery of the Monkeys； taking with us the necessary equipment for the ghoulish task that lay ahead。 Since no one was keen on carrying the dreadful burden any farther than they had to； we planned to go the long way round； by way of the road which would enable us to bring a donkey…drawn cart part of the distance。
The cart was ready when we arrived at Selim's house； to find him and Daoud and Hassan； another of our fellows； waiting。 I could see by their faces that they had been warned of what they were supposed to do； and I didn't blame them for looking gloomy。
〃I have everything we will need；〃 Selim announced。 〃But before we go； I think you will wish to talk with Mohammed Hammad。 He is here。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Emerson。 〃The disappointed bridegroom。 Have you told him of our discovery yesterday？〃
〃No； Father of Curses；〃 said Selim； looking as demure as a husky young man with a large black beard can look。
Emerson laughed aloud and clapped him on the back。 〃Good。 It will be an even greater shock ing from me。〃
Mohammed Hammad was a wiry little man with a face as wrinkled as a raisin and a graying beard。 Like most Egyptians of the fellahin class； he was probably younger than he looked。 Inadequate diet； insanitary living conditions； and an absence of proper medical care can age an individual rapidly。 Now there； I thought； is a cause that might attract Nefret； and allow her to use her medical skills in the place where I intended she should be … a clinic on the West Bank； to treat mon ailments such as parasites and infections。 Not a stimulating practice； perhaps； for a trained surgeon； but one thing might lead to another 。 。 。
I put the matter aside for the moment； so that I could concentrate on our suspect。 Expecting to be lectured by Emerson about the tomb； and prepared to deny everything； he greeted us with a certain reserve。 Emerson did not beat around the bush。
〃We found one of your friends yesterday； in the tomb you robbed。 Dead。 Murdered。〃
It was an effective； if somewhat brutal； method of shocking Mohammed into an admission。 I thought for a moment the poor man would have a stroke or a heart attack。 He finally managed to gasp out a word。 〃Who 。 。 。〃
〃You would know better than we；〃 Emerson said。 〃Selim tells me that Abdul Hassan has not been seen for a week。 He was one of your 。 。 。 Damnation；〃 he went on； in English。 〃He's about to have a fit。 Give him some brandy； Peabody。〃
Mohammed accepted the brandy （one of the little items I always carry attached to my belt） with an eagerness unbeing a good Moslem （which I had never thought he was）。 He was ready to talk； the words poured out of him； and a disturbing story it was。
Of the original thieves； two were now dead。 The other death had been attributed to accident； the body had been found at the base of the cliffs and it was assumed he had fallen。
〃The curse of the pharaohs；〃 said Emerson； unable to resist。 〃Death to those who defile the tombs。〃
The brandy had restored Mohammed's nerve。 He gave Emerson a cynical look。 〃It took the pharaohs a long time to act； Father of Curses。 Abdul has been robbing tombs since he was a boy。〃
〃He won't rob any more；〃 Emerson pointed out。 〃Who were the others？〃
Mohammed rattled the names off without hesitating。 Everyone in the village knew； including his rivals in the business； so there was no profit in reticence。 He demanded extralarge baksheesh for his candor； of course。 〃That is all I can tell you； Father of Curses。 Can I go now？〃
〃You have not told me everything；〃 Emerson said。 〃You gave me six names。 There was a seventh man； wasn't there？〃
〃He was not one of us；〃 Mohammed muttered。
〃I know who he was。〃
〃The Father of Curses knows all；〃 Daoud intoned。
Emerson acknowledged this tribute with a gracious nod； and went on； 〃Was it Jamil who found the tomb？〃
〃We all found it！ We shared with him … we were generous。〃
Mohammed's voice was shrill with unconvincing indignation。 The falsity of his claim was obvious。 Jamil was not a regular member of their little gang； they would never have shared the treasure with him unless he had been the one responsible for discovering it。
〃Have you seen or heard from him since you divided the money？〃 Emerson persisted。
A look of calculation； not unmixed with fear； sharpened Mohammed's features。 〃No； Father of Curses。〃 He clutched his chest and rolled his eyes。 〃Ah！ The pain！〃
He was not too feeble to hold out his hand。 Emerson dropped a few coins into it。 〃There will be more for you； Mohammed； if you bring us news of Jamil。 Tell the others the same … and warn them to watch out