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somewhat exasperated with Sethos。 What had been the point of that brief encounter？
Unfortunately I was unable to locate the archaeologist whom Emerson had hoped to interrogate。 Howard Carter was not in Cairo。 No one knew where he was。 However； when the sadly diminished group met next evening； he was the chief topic of conversation。 Owing to the short notice； the Quibells were the only ones who had been able to accept my invitation。
〃You just missed him；〃 Annie Quibell said。 〃He got back from Luxor a few days ago； and went off again without any of us seeing him。 James was furious。〃
She smiled at her husband； whose equable temper was well known； and who said calmly； 〃I presume his duties for the War Office called him away； but I had hoped to hear more about his recent work in Luxor。〃
〃And his dealings with Mohassib？〃 Emerson inquired； motioning the waiter to refill James's wineglass。
〃Who told you that？〃
〃Cyrus Vandergelt；〃 I replied。 〃Is it true？〃
James shrugged。 〃I've heard the rumor too； but I doubt Carter would admit it to me； even if it were true。 He spent several months out in the southwest wadis； where the princesses' tomb was found； when he was in Cairo for a few days early in December； he gave me a brief report。 Did you hear about his finding another tomb of Hatshepsut's？ This one was made for her when she was queen； before she assumed kingly titles。 It was empty except for a sarcophagus。〃 He picked up his glass and sipped his wine appreciatively。
〃Where？〃 Emerson asked。
〃High in a cleft in the cliffs； in one of the western wadis；〃 Annie said。 She and her husband were not great admirers of Howard； after his falling…out with the Service； he had begun dealing in antiquities； and this did not make him popular with his professional colleagues。 She added； with a distinct and amusing touch of malice； 〃He didn't find Hatshepsut's tomb； James。 Some of the Gurnawis did。 He only followed them。〃
〃Bah；〃 said Emerson vehemently。 〃I wonder what else he did？〃
〃So do I；〃 said James。
Having failed to locate Howard； Emerson was ready to leave for Luxor at once。 However； it was not to be。 We were finishing breakfast en famille in our sitting room when a messenger arrived with a letter for Emerson。 It was a delightful little domestic scene； with Sennia badgering Ramses to give her a lesson in hieroglyphs and Horus snarling at Gargery and Emerson reading the Egyptian Gazette and smoking his pipe； while Nefret told me about the new arrangements at the hospital。 When I saw the envelope； with its official seal； it was as if the sun had gone behind a cloud。
〃Whom is it from？〃 I demanded。
Emerson frowned over the epistle； which he was holding so I couldn't read over his shoulder。 〃Wingate。 He would like me to e to his office at my earliest convenience。〃
〃Sir Reginald Wingate？ What does the Sirdar of the Sudan want with you？〃
〃He replaced MacMahon as high missioner last month；〃 Emerson replied。 〃He doesn't say what he wants。〃
We had all fallen silent except for Sennia； who had no idea who the high missioner was and cared even less。 Emerson looked at his son。 〃Er … Ramses 。 。 。〃
〃Yes； sir。 When？〃
〃Later。 He says 'at our convenience。' It is not convenient for me at present。〃
Sennia understood that。 〃Ramses will have time to give me my lesson；〃 she announced firmly。 Sennia was in the habit of making pronouncements instead of asking questions； it usually worked。
Ramses rose； smiling。 〃A short lesson； then。 Let's go to your room where we won't be distracted。〃
The door closed behind them … and Horus； who went wherever Sennia went unless forcibly prevented from doing so。 Having got Sennia out of the way； Emerson turned stern blue eyes on Gargery； who stood with arms folded and feet slightly apart； exuding stubbornness。 〃Go away； Gargery；〃 Emerson said。
〃Sir …〃
〃I said； go away。〃
〃But sir …〃
〃If there is anything you need to know； Gargery； I will tell you about it at the proper time；〃 I interrupted。 〃That will be all。〃
Gargery stamped out； slamming the door； and Nefret said quietly； 〃Do you want me to leave too？〃
〃No； of course not。〃 Emerson leaned back in his chair。 〃It isn't the military or the secret service this time； Nefret。 Wingate probably wants us for some tedious office job。〃
〃Are you going to accept？〃
〃That depends。〃 Emerson got to his feet and began pacing。 〃Like it or not； and God knows we don't； we cannot ignore the fact that there is a bloody war going on。 They won't let me carry a rifle； and Ramses won't carry one； but there are other things we can do； and we have no right to refuse。〃
〃You and Ramses；〃 Nefret repeated； with a curl of her lip。 〃Men。 Never women。〃
〃You offered your services as a surgeon； didn't you？〃
〃Yes。〃 Nefret's eyes flashed。 〃The military isn't accepting women physicians。 But that would have been saving lives； not …〃
〃There are other ways of saving lives； or at least minimizing suffering。 You can't keep him out of this forever； Nefret； I've seen the signs； and so have you。 He's feeling guilty because he thinks he is not doing his part。〃
〃He's done his part and more；〃 Nefret cried。 〃It wasn't only that ghastly business two years ago； it was the same sort of thing again last winter； if he hadn't risked his life twice over； the War Office would have lost its favorite spy and a German agent would have got away。 What more do they want from him？〃
It did seem to me as if she were underestimating my contribution and that of Emerson； but I did not say so； where her husband was concerned； Nefret was passionately single…minded。 Her eyes were bright with tears of anger。 Emerson stopped by the chair in which she sat and put his hand on her shoulder。
〃I know； my dear；〃 he said gently。 〃But I cannot suppose they want us to go chasing spies again。 The situation has changed。 With the Turks driven out of the Sinai； the Canal is no longer in danger； and the Senussi are in full retreat。 There is nothing going on that requires Ramses's unusual talents； or；〃 he added with a grin； 〃mine。〃
〃Unless；〃 I said； 〃this has something to do with Sethos。〃
Emerson shot me a reproachful glance； but I had only voiced aloud what was in all our minds。
〃There's been no further word from him？〃 Nefret asked。 I shook my head。
〃If Ramses gets in trouble because of him； I'll murder him；〃 she muttered。
She did not go to the hospital that morning。 She did not want to leave the hotel； though I pointed out that we could probably not expect Emerson and Ramses back before luncheon。 Finally I managed to persuade her to go walking in the Ezbekieh Gardens with Sennia and me。 I always say there is nothing like the beauties of nature to distract one from worrisome thoughts。 The Gardens are planted with rare trees and shrubs and the air is harmonious with birdsong。 Sennia was even more of a distraction； it required both of us to keep track of her as she ran up and down the graveled paths。 It did Nefret good； I believe。 When we started back； both of us holding tight to Sennia's hands； she said ruefully； 〃You think I'm behaving like a silly coward； don't you？〃
〃Perhaps just a bit。 But I understand。 One bees accustomed to it； you see；〃 I continued。 〃One never likes it； but one bees resigned。〃
〃I know I can't keep him out of trouble；〃 Nefret said。 〃It's just this particular …〃
〃Little pitchers have big ears；〃 I warned。
〃If you are referring to me；〃 said Sennia； with great dignity； 〃my ears are not at all large。 Ramses says they are pretty ears。 Is he in trouble？〃
Nefret laughed and picked her up。 We were about to cross the street； which was crowded with traffic。 〃No； Little Bird。 And we will make sure he doesn't get into it； won't we？〃
We had been waiting for almost an hour before they returned。 Sennia was reading aloud to us from a little book of Egyptian fairy tales； but the moment the door opened she dropped it and ran to meet them。 Throwing her arms round Ramses's waist； she asked anxiously； 〃Are you in trouble？〃
〃Not unless you crack one of my ribs；〃 Ramses said； with a theatrical gasp of pain。 〃Who told you that？〃
〃Let us go to luncheon；〃 I said。
〃Yes； I am starving；〃 Sennia announced； rolling her eyes dramatically。 〃I didn't