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I had to admit that thus far his confidence had been justified； he had outwitted us on every occasion。
Emerson announced that we would return to Deir el Medina next morning。 〃We will finish that plan of yours； Bertie；〃 he said。 〃Fine job； my boy。 There are only a few more details to be added。〃
〃Tomorrow's Friday；〃 Cyrus objected。 〃My men have the day off； and you ought to rest； Emerson。〃
〃We can finish the surveying without the men；〃 Emerson said dogmatically。 〃And I have no intention of allowing a minor injury to keep me from my usual activities … all my usual activities。〃
Nor did it。 I wished Nefret had not made the cast quite so heavy。
We managed to get off next morning without Sennia or the Great Cat of Re。 Nefret did not acpany us either。 I had suggested … tactfully； as is my habit … that she might want to give a little luncheon party； since she had not had the opportunity to entertain our friends in her new abode。 Under threat of losing our custom； Abdul Hadi had actually finished a dining table and several chairs。 She readily consented； but added with a knowing smile； 〃I won't ask what you are up to； Mother； since I know you enjoy your little surprises。〃
Early morning in Luxor； particularly at that season of the year； is always beautifully cool and stimulating。 I was even more keenly aware of it that day； after those long hours in the stifling darkness of the buried chamber。 Truth pels me to admit that I had wondered at times whether I would ever again behold the shining cliffs of western Thebes and feel the morning breeze against my face。 Logic had informed me that Jamil could not continue pouring stones into the shaft indefinitely； but the space in the passage and the chamber itself was limited； and so was the air。
I had not； and would not； confess this weakness to any other。 After all； it had turned out right in the end。
When we arrived at Deir el Medina； Bertie was working on his plan； and Selim had also turned up。 He was not as devout as his Uncle Daoud； who always attended Friday services when he could。
〃That is very well done； Bertie；〃 I exclaimed。 〃Obviously you didn't spend all the time staring at the cliffs！ But where is Cyrus？ Didn't he e with you？〃
〃Up there。〃 Bertie gestured。 〃I offered to go with him； but he said …〃
〃Damnation！〃 Emerson exclaimed loudly。 Cyrus was high on the hillside； north of the area where most of the tombs were located。 Hearing Emerson's shout； he straightened and waved。
〃What's he doing up there？〃 Ramses asked。
〃He wanted to have a look at the tombs of the Saite princesses；〃 Bertie explained。
〃Why； for Heaven's sake？〃 I demanded。 〃They aren't the original tombs of the princesses … the God's Wives； to be more precise … or even their reburials。 Two of their sarcophagi were …〃
〃Yes； yes； Peabody；〃 said Emerson。 〃Damned old fool climbing around up there 。 。 。〃 He set off toward the slope with his usual brisk stride。
Ramses caught my eye； nodded； and went trotting after him。 The rest of us followed more slowly。 Bertie was determined to acpany us； so I walked with him； giving him little suggestions as to where to place his feet。
The shafts … tombs； I should say … were not in the main cemetery on the western hill； but on the northern slope； closer to the temple； so we did not have far to go。 We found Emerson on his hands and knees … one hand and both knees； that is … peering down into a dark opening while Ramses directed his torch into it。 It did not look much like a tomb entrance； the edges were broken and irregular。
〃Are you sure this is it？〃 I inquired。 〃It doesn't look like a tomb entrance。〃
〃Of course I'm sure〃 was the querulous reply。 A chunk of rock broke off from under his hand。 〃Curse it；〃 said Emerson； recovering his balance without difficulty。 〃The whole place is falling in。 Nobody has been down there for a while。〃
〃Which one of the princesses' tombs is it？〃 Cyrus asked eagerly。
Emerson got to his feet。 〃None； as a matter of fact。 This is the tomb where they found the reused sarcophagus of Ankhnesneferibre。 Another sarcophagus was found nearby。〃
〃Here；〃 said Ramses； a little distance away。
We must have looked somewhat absurd clustered round that hole in the ground peering intently at nothing。 There was nothing to be seen； not even rubble。 The shaft was fairly clear； but so deep； the light of our torches did not reach the bottom。
〃Nobody has been down there either；〃 Ramses said。 〃Not since … 1885； wasn't it； that the sarcophagus was removed？〃
Emerson grunted agreement。 〃I cannot imagine what prompted this performance； Vandergelt；〃 he said severely。 〃You might have done yourself an injury。〃
〃Idle curiosity；〃 said Cyrus with a sheepish grin。
〃The view is worth the climb；〃 Bertie said； shading his eyes with his hand。
We were about halfway up the sloping ground that ended at the base of a precipitous cliff。 It dropped abruptly to the level； opposite lay another high range of hills； and in the cleft between them we could see the Theban plain； misty green in the morning light； stretching down toward the distant sparkle of the river。
〃Quite beautiful；〃 I agreed。 〃Now that we have seen it； shall we go？ Nefret is expecting us for luncheon； and I want to call on Yusuf sometime today。〃
We retraced our steps； down the hill toward the temple。 Emerson； who had disdained assistance from Ramses； allowed me to take his arm； under the impression that he was assisting me。 〃Are you planning to question Yusuf？〃 he inquired。 〃I suppose we ought to。〃
〃I will interrogate him； yes … subtly and indirectly … but my primary motive is to be of help to the poor old fellow。 I ought to have gone before。〃
〃Hmph；〃 said Emerson。 It was an expression of doubt or derision； but I did not know whether he was being sarcastic about my motives or my ability to carry out a subtle interrogation。 I did not ask。
〃I will e with you to see Yusuf；〃 Selim announced。
〃I would rather you did not； Selim。 In fact；〃 I added； inspecting my escort； 〃I don't want any of you to e with me。 Goodness gracious； the five of you looming over him would frighten the poor old man into a fit。〃
〃I guess you don't need Bertie and me；〃 Cyrus conceded。 〃We may as well go home and get spiffed up for the party。〃
〃Nefret will not expect you to dress； Cyrus；〃 I assured him。 〃Emerson won't bother。〃
〃Selim will；〃 said Cyrus； directing a grin at the young man。 〃Can't let him outshine the rest of us。〃
Selim remained grave。 〃I will only do what is right。 The Father of Curses does what is right in his eyes。〃
〃Well said。〃 Cyrus gave him a friendly slap on the back。 〃Don't let Amelia go by herself； Emerson。 Lord only knows what she might get up to。〃
〃What nonsense！〃 I exclaimed。 〃I am only going to examine Yusuf and prescribe …〃
〃My house is not far from Yusuf's；〃 Selim said。 〃We will sit in the courtyard； Ramses and the Father of Curses and I； and keep watch。〃
However； Yusuf was not at home。 That elderly harridan his wife informed me that he had gone to the mosque。 She did not know when he would be back。
〃He cannot be as feeble as I feared； then；〃 I remarked。 〃He is able to be up and about？〃
〃Yes。〃 No thanks to you； her hostile stare added。
〃Give him this。〃 I extracted a bottle from my medical bag。 It was a harmless concoction of sugar water with a few herbs added to give it piquancy。 Such placebos can be as effective as medicine in certain cases； if the sufferer believes in them。 〃He is not to take it all at once；〃 I added。 〃This much 。 。 。〃 I measured with my fingers on the bottle。 〃Morning and night。 I will e round tomorrow or the next day to see how he is getting on。〃
Her wrinkled face softened a trifle。 〃Thank you； Sitt Hakim。 I will do as you say。〃
My reception by Selim's wives was much more enthusiastic。 They were both young and pretty and I must confess … though I do not approve of polygamy … that they seemed to get on more like affectionate sisters than rivals。 Selim was an indulgent husband； who had bee a convert to certain Western ways； with his encouragement； both had attended school。 They offered me a seat and brought tea and coffee； with which they had already supplied Ramses and Emerson。
〃You may as well have some