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〃With one arm in a cast；〃 said Ramses under his breath。
Emerson inspected the cast irritably。 〃I don't see why I need it。 My arm itches like fury。 Nefret …〃
〃No； Father。 Absolutely not。〃 She moved closer to Ramses； her shoulder against his。 〃We don't have to e to a decision immediately。 In fact； it would be the height of folly to go rushing into action until we know more。 It's all very well to say that Sethos must be in Gaza because only he could have got Ramses away； but we can't be certain of that； can we？ The most sensible course is to give him a chance to municate with us； as Father suggested。〃
And keep Ramses with her a few days longer。 〃I agree；〃 I said。 〃It behooves us； then； to make our presence known。 Shall we pay a little visit to the suk； Nefret？ Gracious； it will be good to get out of this house。〃
Ramses's limited wardrobe； and the fact that he had； as he remarked； seen enough of bloody Khan Yunus； made him agreeable to my suggestion that he remain in the house。 Selim stayed with him。 We left them deep in conversation； some of which had to do with Sahin's interesting daughter。
Squashed into the tonneau of the motorcar and half…buried in bundles； I had not seen much of the town when we arrived。 It had only one structure of artistic interest； a fine thirteenth…century mosque。 With a few exceptions the houses were small and mean； and the suk had not much to offer。 However； the gardens made up for the general squalor。 Some of them were enclosed by the same thick cactus hedges that surrounded the town； very curious in appearance and more effective than any fence or wall。 It was a veritable garden spot； where every variety of fruit and vegetable was grown。 Fig and almond trees； orange and pomegranate waved leafy branches。
We strolled for an hour or so； admiring the luxuriant vegetation； and purchased a few articles of clothing for Ramses in the bazaar。 By the time we returned to the house I felt certain our presence had been noted by the entire population of Khan Yunus。 Nefret and I were wearing our European garments。 Emerson was bareheaded； but he had declined to abandon his fortable caftan； or his beard。 （I meant to attend to the beard in due course。） Our presence occasioned considerable curiosity but less surprise than I had anticipated； and as we crossed the square； Emerson was accosted by a ragged individual who addressed him by name and demanded baksheesh。
The fellow was tall for an Arab and well built； I thought for a moment Emerson was going to grab hold of his beard。 But then he saw； as did I； that one of the extended arms had no hand； and that the sleeve hung empty from the elbow。
〃It is too soon to hear from him； Emerson；〃 I said as we walked away； followed by the loud blessings of the beggar。
〃No； it isn't。 We might have spared ourselves this little stroll； the word of our presence had already spread。 Otherwise；〃 Emerson added； stroking his beard fondly； 〃that chap wouldn't have recognized me。〃
〃But how did it get about？〃 Nefret demanded； quickening her pace。
〃Any one； or all； of a number of ways；〃 I replied。 〃The servants have been gossiping and speculating about us ever since we arrived。 There are undoubtedly informers in Khan Yunus who report to the Turks or the British； some probably sell the same information to both。 Lieutenant Chetwode 。 。 。 Don't be in such a rush； my dear； Selim is with Ramses； he won't let anyone get near him。〃
Ramses was asleep； curled up like a cat on the cushions of the divan。 Squatting by the door； his knife in his hand； Selim was obviously disappointed to see us instead of the assassin he had hoped for。
〃No one came；〃 he said regretfully。
〃But someone might have。〃 I patted his shoulder。 〃Thank you； Selim； for guarding him。〃
〃It is my duty and my pleasure；〃 said Selim。 〃Now I will go and see what that fool of a cook is doing to our lunch。〃
We had several callers that afternoon。 All of them wanted to sell us something。
Our visit to the suk had aroused the mercenary instincts of every entrepreneur within a twenty…mile radius。 It was customary for sellers of choice merchandise to bring it to the house of wealthy individuals； especially to the ladies of the harem。 Female brokers are employed for this latter errand； but since we were known to be infidel English persons； we were attended by the merchants themselves； who spread out their silks and jewels； carpets and brassware； for our inspection。 One of them； more canny than the rest； had several antiquities for sale； including a fine scarab of Seti I。 The area had been in Egyptian hands for a long period of time； Gaza being one of the cities mentioned in documents of the fourteenth century b。c。 Arms folded and lips set in a sneer； Emerson refused to violate his rule of never buying from dealers； but I saw the acquisitive gleam in his eyes and bought the scarab and a remarkably well preserved Phoenician vessel。
After that I told Selim we would receive no more callers for a while； and Emerson got out the whiskey。 We were using the ka'ah of the harem as our sitting room； I had got it in a state of relative cleanliness； which could not be said of other apartments in the house。 Ramses had just opened the whiskey when Selim came hurrying into the room。
〃There is a man；〃 he panted。 〃An officer。 He asks …〃
〃I'll do my own asking。 Stand out of the way。〃 The officer had followed him。 I recognized the voice and the square； flushed face that peered over Selim's shoulder。 Selim didn't budge。
Emerson took the pipe from his mouth。 〃Ah。 Major Cartright； as I live and breathe。 May I remind you that you don't give the orders here？ Ask politely。〃
Cartright got the word out； though it almost choked him。 〃Please！〃
Selim stepped aside； folding his arms。 Cartright marched in。 Emerson pointed out； in the same mild voice； that there were ladies present and Cartright removed his hat with a muttered apology。
〃That's more like it；〃 said Emerson。 He sipped appreciatively at his whiskey。 〃Well？ Don't stand there gaping； you must have something to say。〃
Emerson was doing his best to be annoying； and no one can do it better than Emerson。 Cartright swallowed several words he knew better than to pronounce； and took a long breath。 〃Send … that is； will you please send that man away？〃
〃No；〃 said Emerson。 〃But I will do my best to prevent him from using his knife on you。 You are either very placent or very courageous to show your face after the filthy trick you played。〃
Still standing … for no one had invited him to sit … Cartright took out a handkerchief and wiped his perspiring brow。 〃Mrs。 Emerson … I appeal to you。 May I be allowed to speak？〃
He was looking at me； not at Nefret； whose tight lips and crimson cheeks must have told him he could not expect any consideration from her。 I nodded。 〃Are you going to claim you knew nothing about Chetwode's plan？〃
〃Chetwode is a bloo … … is a young idiot！〃 his superior exclaimed heatedly。 〃I didn't know； Mrs。 Emerson； and that is the truth。〃
Ramses spoke for the first time。 〃On your word as an officer and a gentleman？〃
The irony went unnoticed by Cartright。 〃Yes！ I was appalled when I learned what Chetwode had done。 He has been relieved of duty and will be punished appropriately。 Do you believe me？〃
〃Since you have given your word； we have no choice but to do so；〃 said Ramses； eyebrows raised and tilted。 〃Was that the only reason you came； to express your regrets？〃
〃Regrets！〃 Nefret exclaimed。 〃That is somewhat inadequate； Major。 Do you know what happened to my husband after …〃
〃He doesn't；〃 Ramses said； giving her a warning look。 〃I expect that is why he is here； to find out。 I did make my report； Cartright； to General Chetwode。〃
〃I know； he forwarded it immediately； and I 。 。 。〃 He cast a longing glance at the bottle of whiskey。 〃My relief； believe me； was inexpressible。 But he gave me few details … which was quite in order； quite right of you to tell him no more than was necessary。〃
〃A basic rule of the Service；〃 said Ramses； in his even； pleasant voice。 〃You are； I suppose； entitled to know more。 In a nutshell； then； I don't know whether Ismail Pasha is the man you want or not。 Chetwode didn't give me time enough to mak