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ronger will。 〃Say nothing to anyone。 That is an order from me； the Sitt Hakim。 We will take care of you … and find you a husband； if that is what you want。 You know we can do what we promise。〃
〃Yes … yes； it is true。〃 She threw herself at Nefret's feet。 〃How can you forgive me？ You were so kind； and I betrayed you。〃
〃For pity's sake； stop crying；〃 I said impatiently。 My handkerchief was stained； not only with tears but with some brownish substance； the birthmark； wiped clean； stood out strong as ever。 〃Run along and remember that the word of the Sitt Hakim is stronger than another man's oath。〃
〃That's 'the word of the Father of Curses；' isn't it？〃 Nefret remarked； as the girl scampered off； still swabbing at her face。 〃I don't see how we can keep all of it secret； though。 Someone is bound to suspect it was my clothing Jamil wore。 They'd have been a tight fit； but not as tight as Jumana's。 Especially the boots。 I hope they pinched horribly。〃
〃He probably cut the toes out or slit the heels；〃 I said absently。 〃Some people must be told some part of the truth； but it is the girl's dishonor； as men call it； that we must hide。 We may have to buy a husband for her；〃 I added in disgust。 〃That seems to be all she cares about。〃
〃She and a good many other women of all nationalities；〃 said Nefret。 〃Do you think she knows more than she told us？〃
〃Jamil is too wily to give away useful information。 He even lied to his sister。 What worries me；〃 I continued； as we strolled slowly back toward the kitchen； 〃is how many others he may have seduced from their duty … literally and figuratively。 I fear； Nefret； that the wretched boy has caused a rift in his family that may never be mended。〃
Emerson took a brighter view。 I told him the whole sad story later； when we were alone； knowing his chivalrous heart would respond sympathetically to the girl's plight。 After cursing Jamil with admirable eloquence； he calmed down and said； 〃We've eliminated two of the boy's allies。 How many more can he have？〃
〃Some of the younger men； perhaps。 There are a few who would see nothing wrong in a spot of tomb robbing。 And he seems to have a way with women。〃
〃He selected a victim who would be particularly susceptible to flattery；〃 said Emerson with a curl of his lips。 〃Grrr！ As for the men； yesterday's events must end any influence he might have had with them。 None of the Gurnawis would dare bee involved with a murderous attack on us。〃
〃That is probably true；〃 I agreed。
〃There's another angle we haven't considered fully；〃 Emerson went on。 〃He had made himself very fortable。 I cannot see our lad abandoning his cozy little den unless he had another hiding place prepared。〃
〃That is also true； and no help whatever；〃 I said。
〃I thought you were the one who insists we must look on the bright side； Peabody。 We are whittling away his assets； one by one； and his repeated failures to damage us will lead him； sooner or later； into a false move。〃
〃Such as trying to murder us again？〃
Emerson let out a shout of laughter and threw his arm round me。 〃Precisely。 It is time for tea。 Let us go down。 Are the children joining us？〃
〃If you mean Nefret and Ramses； the answer is no。 I suggested they might like to have tea alone for a change。〃
〃Why should they？〃 Emerson asked in surprise。
〃Really； Emerson； you of all people should not have to ask that question。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Emerson。
〃Jumana and Sennia will be with us。 That should be entertainment enough for you。〃
They were on the veranda； sitting side by side and looking very pleased with themselves。
〃Only see what Jumana has given me；〃 Sennia shouted。
〃Unless the Museum takes it；〃 Jumana warned。
〃Yes； you said that； but I know Mr。 Quibell will let me have it； he is a very kind man。〃
It was the little stela with the two cats which I had seen Bertie copying。 I admired it all over again； while Emerson smiled sentimentally at the two。 Sennia had not been an admirer of Jumana's； perhaps because she was aware of Jumana's admiration of Ramses。 I gave Jumana credit for wanting to win Sennia's friendship。 A present is a sure way of influencing a young child in one's favor。
Fatima brought the tea and Emerson settled down with his pipe； and I began looking through the post。 There was a several days' accumulation of letters and messages； which I sorted； putting aside the ones directed to Nefret or Ramses； and opening the envelopes addressed to Emerson before I handed them to him。
〃Howard Carter； by G … … by heaven；〃 Emerson exclaimed； extracting one of the letters。 〃High time we heard from him。 Listen to this； Peabody； he says he won't be ing to Luxor for …〃
He looked up and stopped speaking in mid…syllable。 〃Peabody？ What is it？〃
〃Nothing；〃 I said； forcing a smile。 Sennia； quick to catch every nuance； especially the ones one hoped she would miss； demanded； 〃Is something the matter； Aunt Amelia？〃
〃Nothing；〃 I repeated。 〃Have another biscuit； my dear。〃
I handed Emerson the missive that had occasioned my lapse。 It was a telegram； addressed to Ramses and bearing the stamp of the C…in…C of the Egypt Expeditionary Force。
We had to wait until dinnertime to find out what was in the cursed thing。 I think that if I had not been watching him； Emerson would have ripped it open … and if he had not been watching me； I might have done the same。 Delivering it immediately to the addressee was also out of the question； if we had rushed off； Sennia would have been alarmed by our urgency。 As Emerson later confessed； the telegram felt as if it were burning a hole in the pocket where he had placed it。 Fortunately for his nerves and mine； the children came early in order to say good night to Sennia before she went to bed。
〃Whiskey and soda； my boy？〃 Emerson asked； his manly voice gruff with the effort it cost him to keep from shouting and/or swearing。
〃Thank you； sir。〃 Emerson's perturbation would have been obvious even to an individual less perceptive than his son。 〃I see you and Mother are already one ahead of me。〃
〃Two；〃 I said。 〃Yes； yes； Sennia； you have already kissed everybody； now run along。〃
Darkness had fallen； the night breeze rustled the leaves。 The lamps； enclosed in glass； burned with a steady flame。 〃What's wrong； Mother？〃 Nefret asked。 〃Has something happened to Katherine or Cyrus or …〃
〃No； my dear； and your question is a salutary reminder of one of my favorite aphorisms …〃
〃Don't say it； Peabody！〃 Emerson exclaimed。
〃If you insist； Emerson。 This is such a minor difficulty； pared with others； that we ought to be humbly grateful for …〃
〃And don't paraphrase； either。 Here。〃 Emerson handed the telegram to his son。
〃Hmmm；〃 said Ramses； inspecting the envelope。
〃Open it this instant！〃 I exclaimed。
He put the glass down before he did so； remarking in his usual cool voice； 〃Have you two been hoarding this all afternoon？ I am surprised you should get yourself worked up over 。 。 。 〃 His voice checked briefly； and then he read the message aloud。 〃 'Your assistance required in important matter。 Please report soonest。' Good of him to say 'please。' 〃
〃Smith；〃 Emerson said through his teeth。
〃No。 It is signed by Cartright。 You remember he …〃
〃That visit was a reconnaissance；〃 I said。 〃Though I cannot explain what he learned from it。〃
〃Are you going to answer it？〃 Nefret demanded。
〃Courtesy requires an answer； surely。〃 He took up a sheet of paper and a pencil。 Nefret； looking over his shoulder； read the message as he wrote it。 〃Sorry cannot ply。 Needed here。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Emerson。
〃Thank you； darling；〃 Nefret murmured。
〃What for？ Can't leave Luxor； can I； with Jamil on the loose？〃 His voice changed； he sounded exactly like his father when he went on。 〃And I don't jump when someone like Cartright cracks the whip。〃
〃I'll send Ali to the telegraph office at once；〃 Nefret said。 She picked up the paper； hesitated for a moment； then took the pencil and crossed out a word。
Ramses laughed。 〃Quite right。 I'm not at all sorry。〃
The following day brought a discovery that kept us fully occupied for a time … a cache of mummies； several in their original wooden coffins。 To Cyrus's annoyance we found them； not in a tomb but in