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but Mrs。 Vandergelt said …〃
〃I understand；〃 Ramses said。 〃Jamil was at the temple？〃
She nodded。 〃He had been waiting for days to find me alone。 He wanted money。 He said that he had discovered a rich tomb； but the others had cheated him and he cursed them all and said he would get even； but he needed money 。 。 。 I gave him all I had。〃
〃You shouldn't have done that；〃 Nefret said。 〃The best thing for Jamil would be to turn himself in。〃
Her mouth drooped like that of a child on the verge of tears。 〃He is my brother。 How could I refuse to help him？ But he said 。 。 。 Oh； I have been so afraid！ I didn't know what to do。 But now you are here； you will tell the Father of Curses； and he will not let Jamil …〃 Her voice broke。
〃It's all right；〃 Ramses said gently。 He took her small shaking hands in his。 〃He won't let Jamil hurt you。 Is that what he threatened？ That he would harm you if you told anyone you had seen him？〃
〃No； oh； no！〃 She clung tightly to his hands and looked up into his face。 〃It is you the Father of Curses must guard。 It is you Jamil hates most。 He said if I told anyone he would kill you。〃
3
〃Bah；〃 said Emerson。
We were seated on the veranda drinking tea。 The rays of the sun； low in the west； cast golden gleams through the roses that twined around the open arcades。 It was like the old days； when we had so often gathered in that shaded spot； the wicker chairs and settees and tables were not much the worse for wear； and Ramses had taken up his old position； perched on the ledge with his back against a pillar。 Now Nefret sat beside him； and her hand was in his。 Fatima had insisted upon serving sandwiches and tea cakes； despite the fact that we were to leave shortly to dine with the Vandergelts。 Rather than disappoint the dear woman； I nibbled on a cucumber sandwich or two。
After learning of the reappearance of Jamil； I had decided a private council of war was imperative。 Sennia； who had expected to take tea with us； strongly objected to being sent away and was only mollified when … before I could stop him … Emerson handed her the entire plate of cakes to take with her。 As soon as she was out of earshot Nefret repeated what Jumana had said； and Emerson responded in characteristic fashion。
〃That is not much help； Emerson；〃 I said。 〃A threat cannot be dismissed so cavalierly。〃
〃It was an idle threat；〃 Emerson declared。 〃How can that miserable little coward constitute a danger to Ramses？〃 He gave his tall son an approving look； and Ramses replied to the implied pliment with an exaggerated lift of his eyebrows。
〃e to that； why Ramses？〃 Emerson went on。 〃I take it as an affront that he didn't threaten me。 Are you going to eat all the cucumber sandwiches； Peabody？〃
〃I think；〃 said Nefret； passing Emerson the plate； 〃that in Jamil's eyes Ramses was the hero of last year's affair。 Or villain； from Jamil's viewpoint！ Not to take anything away from you； Father … or you； Mother …〃
〃You are quite right； my dear；〃 I said graciously。 〃We did our part； but if it had not been for Ramses …〃
〃You ought to take it as a pliment； Father；〃 Ramses said。 He does not often interrupt me； but he does not like to hear himself praised。 〃Jamil would consider it below his dignity to threaten a woman； and he obviously feels I am less dangerous than you。 'No man dares threaten the Father of Curses！' 〃
〃What an annoying development！〃 I mused。 〃I had hoped the wretched boy had taken himself off to distant parts； or that he had met with a fatal accident。〃
〃That is rather cold…blooded； Mother；〃 my son said。
〃Your mother is a practical woman；〃 Emerson declared。 〃I suppose now we'll have to find him and turn him over to the police； which will be cursed embarrassing for everyone concerned； especially his father。 We've left him alone； and instead of taking to his heels he has the effrontery to challenge us！ He must be mad。〃
〃Or mad for revenge；〃 Nefret said； her brows furrowing。
〃No；〃 I said judiciously。 〃He's too much of a coward。 However； his true motive is not difficult to discover。 One of his most notable traits is greed。 He also has an uncanny instinct for locating lost tombs。 Depend on it； that is why he hasn't left Luxor。 He hopes to find another； good Gad； perhaps he has already done so！〃
An all…too…familiar glint brightened Emerson's sapphirine orbs； but after a moment's thought he shook his head regretfully。 〃Pure conjecture； Peabody； born of your rampageous imagination。 It's more likely that he hasn't the courage to leave familiar surroundings and strike out on his own。 He made enough from his share of the princesses' treasure to live fortably for a while； I would guess that the money has been squandered； and that he approached Jumana as a last resort。 He won't try it again。 As for attacking Ramses … stuff and nonsense！〃
〃Yes； but he might try and get back at Jumana；〃 I said。 〃Especially if he learns she told us he is still in Luxor。 She probably won't believe that she could be in danger from him； so we must make certain she is not allowed to go off alone。 Katherine and I had agreed she would e to us； we will bring her back with us tonight。 I will ask Fatima to get a room ready for her。 David's old room； I think； it is next to ours； Emerson； with windows that open only onto the courtyard。 It will not be easy for anyone to get at her there … or for her to creep out unobserved。〃
〃Are you going to tell Cyrus and Katherine about Jamil？〃 Nefret asked。
〃I am glad you raised that point； Nefret。 I will explain the situation to them eventually； but I do not believe it would be advisable to mention it this evening。 The walls have ears and the tongues of Luxor wag at both ends。 We certainly don't want Jamil to find out that his sister has informed on him。〃
〃There you go； trying to make a mountain out of a molehill；〃 Emerson declared。 〃In my humble opinion； the sooner Jamil learns that we are aware of his pathetic threats； the better。 He won't dare show his face again。〃
〃In your opinion？〃 I repeated。 〃Humble？ I trust that you agree that Selim and Daoud must be informed。 Harmless the wretched boy may be； but he is their cousin … of some degree … and …〃
〃Here is Cyrus's carriage； e for us；〃 Nefret said quickly。 〃Are we ready？ Mother； where is your hat？〃
Cyrus's carriage was a handsome open barouche； drawn by a splendid pair of grays。 A brilliant sunset washed the western sky； and across the river the lights of Luxor began to shine。 When the carriage turned into the narrow way that led to the Valley of the Kings； the hills rose up around us； cutting off the last of the sunset light。 Few spots on earth are as magical as the Valley； it is not only the grandeur of the scenery； but the romance of its history。 In the gray twilight one could easily imagine that the shadows cast by the carriage lamps were the ghostly forms of the royal dead； and that the howling in the hills came from the throat of the divine jackal Anubis； god of cemeteries。
〃Now that we are settled here for a long time； we must think seriously of getting our own carriage；〃 I remarked。 〃I don't like depending on Cyrus or on the rattletraps for hire at the dock。〃
Emerson said something under his breath； and I said； 〃I beg your pardon？〃 and Emerson said； 〃Motorcar。〃
That subject caught everyone's attention and we had a nice little argument that lasted all the way to the Castle。 I pointed out that the utility of such vehicles was limited by the condition of the roads and Emerson retorted that the military was using them； and that the new Ford cars had proved to perform admirably in desert terrain。 Nefret and Ramses contributed very little。 To be fair； they didn't get a chance to say much。
Cyrus's Theban residence was called the Castle； and it well deserved the name。 From certain angles it reminded me of the Mena House hotel； it was almost as large as that excellent hostelry and had the same screened balconies attractively arranged at various levels。 There was a stout wall around the entire estate； that night the heavy gates stood hospitably open； and flaming torches lined the drive leading to the house； where Cyrus stood waiting to greet us。
He had； as promised； invited no other guests。 I asked af