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elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第97章

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the adoring mob that presses round the holy man asking for his blessing。〃
 〃So he can pass messages to you; and you to him;〃 I prompted。
 〃Something like that;〃 Sir Edward said evasively。 〃I knew he planned to get Sahin's daughter away。 I'd have talked him out of it if I could; or at least tried to persuade him not to go back to Gaza。 Sahin was bound to suspect he'd had a hand in the business and clamp down on him even more closely。 I think that is what has happened。〃
 〃Can you send someone to find out?〃 I asked。
 Emerson cleared his throat。 〃My papers …〃
 〃No;〃 Ramses and I said in the same breath。
 〃What papers?〃 Sir Edward demanded; his eyes widening。
 Proudly Emerson drew them forth and handed them to Sir Edward。 The sun was well up now; the gilt sparkled impressively in the light。
 〃I can't read Turkish;〃 Sir Edward said blankly。
 〃Ramses can。〃 Emerson's pipe had gone out。 He struck a match。 〃He says they are perfectly in order。〃
 〃Yes; very well; but you can't … you can't just walk up to the trenches and …〃
 〃No; it will take some preparation;〃 Emerson admitted。
 〃That is quite right;〃 I said; seeing in my mind's eye the preparations Emerson was planning。 Camels; servants; gold…trimmed robes; and a huge scimitar 。 。 。 He would so enjoy it; and sheer effrontery might allow him to carry it off。 For a while。
 〃Admirable;〃 Sir Edward murmured。 He sounded more horrified than admiring。 〃Sir; give me a chance to use our regular channels first。〃
 〃An excellent idea;〃 I said; before Emerson could object。 〃Sir Edward; I am curious to know how …〃
 〃I beg you will excuse the interruption; Mrs。 Emerson; but could we postpone the interrogation for a few hours?〃 Sir Edward rubbed his eyes。 〃I need to rest; even if you don't; and there are a few domestic matters I must attend to。〃
 〃Certainly。 Just show me where you keep the clean sheets。〃
 It was the final straw for poor Sir Edward。 〃I … Oh; Lord。 I don't know that there are any; Mrs。 Emerson。〃
 〃If there were; where would they be? e;〃 I said in a kindly manner; 〃let's just have a look。 It won't take long。〃
 The others declared they would stretch out on the divans; and Sir Edward and I went off on what he clearly believed was a hopeless quest。 Eventually we found a cupboard that contained linens of various kinds。 I selected a few。 Sir Edward; always the gentleman; took the pile from me。 I allowed him to do so; though he had a little difficulty getting hold of it。
 〃I was sorry to see that;〃 I said; with the lightest possible touch of his arm。 〃It was in France that it happened; I suppose。〃
 〃Ypres。〃 He spoke curtly; avoiding my eyes。 Pity he would not accept; acknowledgment of his sacrifice was owed him; and I felt obliged to make it。
 〃It must have been dreadful。 I am so sorry。〃
 〃What; womanly sympathy from you; Mrs。 Emerson? A touch out of character; isn't it?〃
 〃It is sincere。〃
 〃I know。〃 His rigid features relaxed。 〃I am sorry too; for speaking rudely。 It's not so bad; you know。 It got me out of the army; which was all to the good。 I had bee somewhat disenchanted。〃
 〃Can nothing be done about an artificial limb?〃
 〃Oh; yes。 I've got quite a good one。 It broadens my repertoire of disguises to a remarkable extent。 I'm thinking of attaching a bayonet; or perhaps a hook。〃
 I patted him on the shoulder。 〃Splendid;〃 I said heartily。
 〃Or a parasol;〃 said Sir Edward。 His smile was that of the charming debonair gentleman I had known。
 I was to remember that smile for a long time。 When I woke from a brief but refreshing nap; he was gone … from the house and from the grounds and; I feared; back into the powder keg that was Gaza。
 It took me a while to discover this。 I had decided to sleep on one of the divans rather than go to the trouble of making up a bed which; if events continued to unfold; I might never occupy。 When I went to look in at Esin; I almost fell over Selim; who was stretched out across her threshold。 I left him there; since that was where he had chosen to be; and went back to the saloon。 Ramses and Nefret lay side by side; his arm round her and her head on his shoulder。 I stood for a moment watching them。 One of Ramses's eyes opened and regarded me quizzically。
 〃All's well;〃 I reported; and tiptoed toward the divan where Emerson lay。
 I did not mean to sleep for more than an hour; but even as I reclined the skies were darkening; and the gentle murmur of rain must have lulled me。 It was the sound of heavy footsteps that woke me … the running steps of a person in haste。 I sat up with a start and reached into my nearest pocket。 It was the wrong pocket。 I was fumbling in another; trying to locate my little pistol; when a man burst into the room and came to a stop。 He was breathing heavily and water poured from his soaked garments。
 Emerson was thrashing around and muttering; as he always does when he is suddenly aroused; but Ramses was on his feet; alert and ready。 The newer; too breathless to speak; held out empty hands in the universal gesture of conciliation。 I could not see him clearly; the room was rather dark。 I knew him; though。
 〃Ah;〃 I said。 〃So here you are at last。 It is all right; Ramses。〃
 〃No … it … isn't。〃 Sethos got it out one word at a time。 〃Where's … Edward?〃
 〃He isn't here?〃 I asked。
 〃No。〃
 Emerson had finally got his wits together。 〃It's you; is it?〃 he demanded; squinting through the gloom。 〃High bloody time。〃
 〃Bloody too late;〃 said Sethos; beginning to control his breath。 〃Did Edward tell you where …〃
 〃We were not even aware of his departure;〃 I replied。 〃Please pose yourself so that we can converse rationally。〃
 〃And get out of those wet clothes;〃 Nefret said。
 〃What; here and now?〃
 Ramses had lighted several of the lamps。 Sethos threw his shoulders back and tried to look as if he were in mand of the situation; but he was a wretched figure; every garment saturated and even his beard dripping。
 〃A chill can bring on malaria;〃 Nefret said calmly。 〃Get them off at once。 I'll ask Mustafa to make tea。〃
 〃And something to eat;〃 I called after her; as she hastened from the room。
 〃And something to wear;〃 said my brother…in…law resignedly。 He pulled off the sodden lump of his turban and the fez round which it had been wrapped。 〃This is as far as I am prepared to go; Amelia; while you remain in the room。〃
 Anxious as I was to hold the long…delayed discussion … urgent as were the questions to be asked and answered … physical needs took precedence。 Sethos had had malaria before。 It would be extremely inconvenient if he came down with it again。
 〃e with me;〃 I ordered; and led the way out of the room。
 Selim; still lying romantically across the girl's threshold; woke instantly when we approached … and no wonder; on that hard floor。 He sprang up; reaching for his knife。
 〃He is a friend; Selim;〃 I said。 〃Perhaps you would be good enough to help him change his wet clothing。〃
 〃I do not require a damned valet;〃 Sethos snarled。
 〃Selim isn't a valet。 You require assistance; and that is what you are about to get。 Follow me; both of you。〃
 A large cupboard in the other bedroom contained an extensive wardrobe; ranging from abas and galabeeyahs to a nice tweed suit 
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