按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ate 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 eventually remarked pensively that if he should hear of such objects he would be happy to do his friends a service。
〃Excellent；〃 I said； knowing that was as much as I could expect。 Mohassib always played his little game of innocence and ignorance； but in this case the business had caused quite a stir； and I suspected he would not make any move to market the objects until things had died down。
We parted in the friendliest manner。 Eyes twinkling； Mohassib sent his respectful regards to Emerson； whose opinion of him he knew quite well。 At the door； I stopped and turned； as if a new idea had struck me。 In fact； the question I asked was the one I had had in mind all along。
〃Has Jamil been here？〃
Caught off…guard； believing the interview to be over； Mohassib burst into a fit of violent coughing。 I knew the paroxysm was only a device to give him time to think； so I pressed on。
〃Don't pretend you don't know who I mean。 Jamil； Yusuf's youngest son。 Did he try to sell you artifacts from the princesses' tomb？〃
Mohassib shook his head vigorously。 〃No；〃 he gasped。 〃No； Sitt Hakim。 I thought he had left Luxor。〃
〃I hope you are telling the truth； Mohassib。 Two of the other men who robbed the tomb are dead； under suspicious circumstances； and Jamil holds a grudge against everyone involved in that business。〃
Mohassib abruptly stopped coughing。 〃Are you saying that Jamil killed them？〃
〃I only repeat the latest gossip； old friend；〃 I replied。 〃Since you had nothing to do with the disposal of the artifacts； there is no reason for you to be alarmed； is there？〃
Mohassib grunted。 He thought for a minute； and then he said； 〃Jamil brought me nothing from the tomb of the princesses。 That is true； Sitt Hakim。〃
His lips closed so tightly they almost disappeared in the beard and mustache。 Knowing that was all I was going to get out of the wily old fellow； I repeated my assurances of goodwill； and we left the house。
〃Do you think he was telling the truth？〃 Nefret asked； waving aside a carriage that had stopped。
〃About Jamil？ The literal truth； yes。 He did not deny he had seen the boy。 My warning … for so it was meant； and so Mohassib took it … caught him by surprise； but it did not； as I had hoped； startle him into an indiscretion or worry him much。 He is safe in his house； behind those stout walls； and well guarded。 Ah； well； it was worth a try。〃 We strolled on； acknowledging the greetings of passersby； and I continued； 〃What I found interesting was his opinion of Mr。 Albion。 We keep running into them； don't we？ Do you think they are following us because they are up to no good？〃
Nefret laughed and slipped her arm through mine。 〃Don't sound so hopeful； Mother。 They are an oddly matched couple； though。〃
〃What do you think of young Mr。 Albion？〃
She answered with another question。 〃Did Ramses tell you what he said at Cyrus's soiree … about Jumana？〃
〃No。〃
She repeated the young man's remark。 I shook my head。 〃Disgusting； but not surprising。 I trust Ramses put the young man in his place？〃
〃Ramses almost put him on the carpet；〃 Nefret said。 〃You know that look of his … white around the mouth； and eye