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〃Not now； Nefret；〃 I said firmly。
〃Where are we going？〃 Emerson asked。 〃I want my dinner。〃
〃The Luxor will suit； I believe。 We must have a little chat before he tracks us down again。〃
Emerson waved away the carriages that sought our custom。 It is only a short walk from the Winter Palace to the Luxor； and it was a lovely evening； the dark sky star…strewn and the air fresh。 The scent of night…blooming jasmine tried （in vain） to counter the other scents of Luxor； but even these had a certain charm … the smell of cooking fires and camel dung； of unwashed donkeys； camels； and humans。
We were greeted with pleasure and seated at one of the best tables in the dining saloon。 After consulting with Ramses； Emerson ordered a bottle of wine and then shoved his plate aside and planted both elbows on the table； a habit of which I have given up trying to break him。
〃You think he will follow us here； do you？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes。 What other reason could he have for being in Luxor？〃
〃It may be a perfectly innocent reason；〃 Ramses said。 〃Do you suppose the lady is really his sister？〃
〃Possibly；〃 I replied； studying the menu。 〃Men of his sort are not above using personal relationships for their own purposes。 It was only her presence that prevented your father from being rude。 I believe I will start with lentil soup。 They make it very well here。 Nefret？〃
〃I don't care。 Mother； how can you think about food； when you know that bas … … that man is after Ramses again？〃
〃He can't make me do anything I don't want to do；〃 Ramses said； somewhat sharply。 〃You are getting yourself into a rage about nothing； Nefret。 There is no inducement they could offer that would make me change my mind。〃
〃Damn right；〃 said Emerson。 〃Who's he working for anyhow？ I can't get all these departments and bureaus and agencies straight in my mind。 Not that I care to；〃 he added。
〃Nobody's got them straight；〃 Ramses said with a wry smile。 〃At one time there were four separate intelligence groups； and the police。 I believe they've been reorganized； but there is still a certain amount of infighting between the civilian branch； which reports to the high missioner and the Foreign Office； and the military branches； who are under the C…in…C … that's General Murray … in Cairo。 The Admiralty has； or had； its own group。 God knows where Smith fits in。〃
〃I don't give a damn where he fits in；〃 Nefret declared。 〃So long as you aren't in it with him。〃
I was tempted to intervene； for her voice had risen and Ramses's eyes had narrowed … sure signs； in both cases； of rising temper。 Considering the scrapes we often got into … Nefret included … her almost hysterical fear of this particular danger might have seemed exaggerated； but I understood。 In our other adventures we worked as a family。 Well 。 。 。 most of the time。 In these he was alone； with every man's hand against him。 I told myself to leave it to them。 It was not my role to interfere … unless it became necessary。
〃The devil with Smith； eh？〃 said Emerson； whose fond paternal brow had furrowed。 He is such a hopeless sentimentalist； he hates to see the children exchange hard words； whereas I； who understand the human heart better； knew that little disagreements are natural and healthy。 On this occasion his remark had the desired effect。 The lines of tension left Nefret's face and she smiled affectionately at Emerson。
〃Quite right； Father。 Let us drink to it： The devil with Mr。 Smith！〃
He had at least enough courtesy to allow us to finish our dinner in peace。 The waiter was hovering； waiting to remove our plates； when he approached us。 The lady was not with him。
〃Will you allow me to offer you a liquor or a glass of brandy？〃 he asked。
〃I don't want any damned brandy；〃 said Emerson； glowering。 〃Or a conversation with you。〃
〃I think you had better； Professor。〃
Emerson's face brightened。 〃Is that a threat？〃 he asked hopefully。
I had once before observed in Smith the rudiments of a sense of humor。 Amusement narrowed his eyes and he shook his head emphatically。 〃Good Lord； no。 Threatening you； Professor Emerson； is tantamount to teasing a tiger。 However； I am sure you will want to hear what I have to say； and if I am mistaken； you will … er … take whatever steps occur to you。 May I sit down？〃
〃Oh； I suppose so；〃 Emerson grumbled。 〃Just be quick about it。 You want Ramses for some other filthy job； I suppose。 He has already refused。 What makes you suppose that you can change his mind？〃
〃He is wanted；〃 Smith said quietly。 〃And I think he will change his mind。〃
Nefret caught hold of Ramses's hand。 Ramses gave her a quick glance from under lowered lids； and although his controlled countenance did not change； I knew he had misunderstood； and resented； the gesture。 It was not one of possessiveness but of fear … the unreasoning panic of a child reaching out for fort in a dark room。
〃He will；〃 Smith went on； 〃because he won't want to see a close friend face a firing squad。 Someone closer than a friend； in fact。 A kinsman。〃
There was no doubt as to whom he meant。 Nefret's face turned pale； Emerson's turned red。 〃Don't speak； Emerson；〃 I exclaimed。 〃Don't anyone speak until he has explained what he means。〃
〃You know who I mean；〃 Smith said； with that thin； satisfied smirk I remembered so well。 〃He has turned traitor。 Gone over to the enemy。〃
FROM MANUSCRIPT H
Nefret had told herself there was no reason to be apprehensive。 She had Ramses's word； and he would not break it。 But because she was so intensely aware of the emotions he succeeded in concealing from almost everyone but her； she had sensed his growing restlessness and feelings of guilt at going on with his work while friends and kin were fighting and dying。 He wouldn't fight； but his unique skills could be of use without violating his pacifist principles； and there was one appeal he would find impossible to resist： danger to her or his parents or a friend。 It was difficult to classify the enigmatic； eccentric individual who was Emerson's half brother； but whether he was friend or foe … over the years he had been both … they were indebted to him。
Emerson's sun…browned face was almost as expressionless as that of his son； and when he spoke； it was in a soft purring voice。 〃That's a lie。〃
Smith leaned forward。 〃Then prove it。〃
〃I thought it was Ramses you wanted；〃 said Emerson； in the same soft voice。
〃It is。 May I explain？〃
〃You had damned well better；〃 said Emerson。 〃Peabody； my dear； would you care for a whiskey and soda？〃
Nefret had never been certain precisely how her mother…in…law felt about the man who had pursued her so ardently all those years； obviously she cared enough about him to resent the accusation。 Her gray eyes had a hard； almost metallic shine。
〃No；〃 she said。 〃Thank you。 Mr。 Smith； how did you find out？〃
〃Find out what？〃
She was too clever to be tricked into an admission。 〃Whatever it is you know。〃
Smith gave her a nod of grudging admiration。 〃If you are referring to my knowledge of the … er … relationship between you and the individual in question； I … uh … Please； Mrs。 Emerson； won't you let me offer you something to drink？〃
〃No。 There were a good many people p