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〃I thought I'd find you here； Mother。 Is everything satisfactory？〃
〃I see you have used the stove。〃
〃Only for morning coffee。 Najia makes it perfectly。〃
〃So the girls suit； do they？〃 I inquired； after we had left the house。
〃Oh； yes。 What are we looking for today？〃
〃Don't you have a list？〃 I whipped mine out。
〃It's in my head；〃 Nefret said cheerfully。 〃Anyhow； half of the fun of shopping is to find something one didn't know one wanted。〃
We went first to the shop of Abdul Hadi； since the sooner we got him started； the better。 Nefret did have a list in her head； she ordered a number of things； chairs and tables and chests； and made rough sketches of each； including the dimensions。 Abdul Hadi kept bobbing up and down； his knees creaking every time he bent them； and assured her that the honor of her patronage would spur him on to work day and night。 We left him creaking and bowing； and Nefret said； 〃Two weeks。〃
〃He said one week。〃
〃That was just his usual habit。 But I think I can get some of them in a fortnight； if I keep after him。〃
The merchants all knew us； and they brought out their best； including some lengths of beautifully handwoven fabric that Nefret intended to have made into cushions for the parlor。 I consider myself an efficient buyer； but never had I been whisked in and out of shop and suk as quickly as I was that day。 We ended up at a potter's； where Nefret purchased a quantity of vessels of all shapes and sizes。
〃Some of them will do for the courtyard；〃 she declared。 〃I want hibiscus and lemon trees and roses； and bougainvillea。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； and stopped to clear my throat。 〃Then 。 。 。 you do like the house？ It is satisfactory？〃
〃Yes； Mother； of course。 Did you doubt it？〃
I hadn't … not really … I had not given them much choice！ But with two such strong…willed individuals one can never be certain。 I knew now that I had them。 A woman does not purchase new furnishings for a house unless she means to stay。
We treated ourselves to luncheon at the Winter Palace； where we had a merry time。 No one is a better panion than Emerson … when he is in a friendly state of mind … but it is impossible to discuss household arrangements when men are present。 After we finished； I suggested we call on Mohassib。
〃Was that your real purpose in ing to Luxor？〃 Nefret asked； frowning slightly。
〃Not at all； my dear。 It only just occurred to me。 We have plenty of time； and Heaven knows when we will get to Luxor again； and I promised Cyrus I would have a chat with Mohassib about …〃
〃Did you really？〃
〃Promise him？ Implicitly。〃
〃I see。 All right； Mother。 But you aren't fooling me。 You are trying to track Jamil down。〃
〃Someone must；〃 I declared。 〃Emerson has lost interest … I knew he would； as soon as he became involved with his work … and no one else takes the wretched boy seriously。〃
The clot of dragomen and guides that infested the steps of the hotel parted before us like the Red Sea。 We strolled on； past the Temple of Luxor。 I could never pass those magnificent columns without a sidelong glance； but for once Nefret did not appear to notice them。 Striding along with her hands clasped behind her back and her head bowed； she said； 〃Has it occurred to you that it might have been Jamil from whom Aslimi got those artifacts you bought in Cairo？〃
〃Certainly it occurred to me。 The description fits。 He secreted those particular items when they were clearing the tomb … they all do it； you know； cheating one another if they can … and used his share of the money to travel to Cairo。 Jamil isn't especially intelligent； but he has sense enough to know he could get better prices from Cairo dealers than from Mohassib。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 Nefret murmured。 〃You are terrifyingly single…minded when you go after something or someone； Mother。〃
〃Not at all； my dear。 I have no difficulty in thinking of several things at once。〃
Her brow cleared and the corners of her mouth turned up。 〃So long as you aren't having one of your famous premonitions about Jamil。〃
To call the feeling a premonition or foreboding would not have been entirely accurate。 It was； rather； based on expert knowledge of the criminal mind and a certain degree of informed cynicism。 Criminals； in my experience； do not suddenly turn into honest men。 Jamil was still in need of money and he was still resentful of us。 Nothing had changed there； and the more often we frustrated his attempts to get what he wanted； the more resentful he would be。
Mohassib was the best…known and most highly respected （by everyone except Emerson） antiquities dealer in Luxor。 He had been dying for at least ten years； and was dying at that very moment； so the doorkeeper informed me。
〃Then he will wish to see me before he passes on；〃 I replied； handing over the expected baksheesh。
He was in bed； propped up on pillows and looking like a biblical patriarch with his snowy beard and mustache； but he was not alone。 I stopped short when I recognized the Albions。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 I said。 〃The doorkeeper did not tell me you had other visitors。〃
〃That's okay；〃 said Mr。 Albion； who seemed to make a habit of answering remarks addressed to other persons。 〃We were about to leave anyhow。 Good to see you； Mrs。 Emerson … and Mrs。 Emerson。 Hope you didn't e here to bid on any of Mohassib's treasures。 I've already made him an offer。〃
〃Indeed？〃 I took a chair； indicating my intention of remaining。 〃I was under the impression that you meant to find yourself a tomb robber instead of buying from dealers。〃
Mrs。 Albion's lips parted； like a crack in a block of ice。 〃Mr。 Albion was teasing； Mrs。 Emerson。 He has a marvelous sense of humor。〃
〃That's right；〃 said her husband merrily。 〃I'm quite a tease； Mrs。 Emerson。 Well； see you folks later。〃
The younger Mr。 Albion； mute as usual； followed his parents out。
After we had exchanged pliments and inquired after one another's health； and Mohassib had ordered tea for us； he said； 〃Are they friends of yours； Sitt？〃
〃Mere acquaintances。〃
〃Good。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃 I asked curiously。
〃They are strange people。 I am a good judge of strange people； Sitt Hakim； and I would not trust that happy little man。 He wants too much for too little。〃
〃What did he want？〃 Nefret inquired。 〃Part of the princesses' treasure？ Or all of it？〃
〃Treasure？〃 Mohassib repeated； widening his eyes。 No saint could have looked more innocent。 〃Ah … you are referring to the rumors about a rich find in the Gabbanat el…Qirud。 The men of Luxor are great liars； Nur Misur。 Perhaps there was no treasure。〃
〃e now； Mohammed；〃 I said。 〃You know there was such a find and I know the thieves sold it to you； and you know I cannot prove that； and I know that even if I could there is little likelihood of your being charged with a crime。 Why not speak freely to me； your old friend？ Vandergelt Effendi would pay well for such objects； if they are as described。〃
We settled down； with mutual enjoyment； to the customary exchange of hints and innuendos； winks and nods and pursed lips and raised eyebrows。 I rather prided myself on my ability to carry on this form of munication； which Emerson could not or would not do。 Mohassib eventua