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！
〃I must say you look stunning in that colour！〃 said the woman。〃 It makes your eyes change from blue to green。〃
Cleopatra laughed。 Heaps of money。
She rose from the chair； and walked delicately towards the woman； rather liking the clicking sound of these high heels on the marble floor。
She took hold of the woman's throat before the poor creature so much as looked up。 She tightened her grip； pressing her thumb right on the tender bone in the middle。 The woman appeared astonished。 She gave a little hiccuping noise。 Then Cleopatra lifted her right hand and carefully twisted the woman's head hard to the left。 Snap。 Dead。
No need now to reflect upon it； to ponder the great gulf that existed between her and this poor sad being who lay now on the
floor behind her little table； staring up at the gilded ceiling。 All of these beings were for killing when it was wanted； and what could they possibly do to her？
She scooped the money into the new satin evening bag she had found here。 What would not fit she put into the old canvas bag。 She took also all the jewels left in the case beneath the〃 cash register。〃 Then she piled the boxes one atop another until she had a mountainous stack of them； and she carried them out and heaved them into the rear seat of the car。
Off now； to the next adventure。 Throwing the long thick tails of the white fur over her shoulders； she fired up the beast again。
And headed fast for the place where〃 all the best people stay； the British and the Americans； that's Shepheard's； the hotel； if you know what I mean。〃
She gave a deep laugh when she thought of the American and his strange way of talking to her； as if she were an idiot； and the merchant woman had been the same。 Maybe at Shepheard's she would meet someone of charm and graceful manners； someone infinitely more interesting than all these miserable souls whom she had sent into the dark waters whence she'd e。
〃What in God's name has happened here！〃 whispered the older of the two officials。 He stood in the doorway of Malenka's house； reluctant to enter without a warrant or permission。 No answer to his knock； no answer when he had called Henry Stratford's name。
He could see broken glass over the dressing table in the lighted bedroom。 And that looked like blood on the floor。
The younger man； as ever impatient and strong…willed； had ventured into the courtyard with his electric torch。 Chairs overturned。 Broken china。
〃Good Lord； Davis。 There's a woman dead out here！〃
The older man didn't move for a moment。 He was staring at the dead parrot on the floor of its cage。 And at all the empty bottles ranged from one end of the bar to the other。 And the suit coat hanging on the corner rack。
Then he forced himself to go out into the dark little garden and see this corpse for himself。
〃That's the woman；〃 he said。〃 That's Malenka from the Babylon。〃
〃Well； I don't think we need a warrant under these circumstances。〃
The older man came back into the sitting room。 He moved cautiously into the bedroom。
He stared at the torn dress lying on the floor； and at the curious rags pushed in a pile against the wall。 He paid little heed to the young man passing him； the young man who moved about； vaguely exhilarated by these obvious signs of disaster； searching and scribbling in his little book。
Those rags…why； they looked like mummy wrappings； yet some of the linen appeared to be new。 He looked up as the young man held a passport before him。
〃Stratford's；〃 said the young man。〃 All of his identification is in there； in his coat。〃
Elliott leaned on Alex's arm as they stepped out of the glass lift。
〃But what if Pitfield can't straighten all this out？〃 Alex asked。
〃We will continue to conduct ourselves like civilized people as long as we must remain here；〃 Elliott said。〃 You'll take Julie to the opera as planned tomorrow night。 You will acpany her to the ball afterwards。 And you will be ready to leave as soon as your passport is released。〃
〃She's in no mood for it； Father。 And she'd rather have Samir acpany her； if you want the truth。 Since all this started； it's Samir she confides in。 He's always at her side。〃
〃Nevertheless； you are to stay close to her。 We are going to be seen together tomorrow。 Everything right and proper。 Now why don't you go out on the veranda and have a nightcap and leave the legal business to me？〃
Yes； she liked Shepheard's； she knew it already。 She had liked it this afternoon when she had seen the long chain of motor cars before it； with exquisitely dressed men and women climbing out of them and walking up the steps。
Now there were very few cars。 She managed to stop right before the entrance； and a charming young male servant came to open her door。 Carrying her canvas bag and satin purse； she walked serenely up the carpeted stairs as other servants scrambled to retrieve her many packages。
The lobby delighted her at once。 Oh； she had no idea the rooms of this palatial building would be so grand。 And the crowds moving to and fro…shapely women and handsomely clad men…excited her。 This was an elegant world…〃modern times。〃 One had to see such a place as this to grasp the possibilities。
〃May I help you； miss？ Another servile male approached； how strange was his clothing； especially his hat。 If there was one thing about〃 modern times〃 she did not like； it was these hats！
〃Oh； would you be so kind！〃 she said carefully。〃 I would like to have lodgings here。 This is Shepheard's Hotel？ The hotel？〃
〃Yes； indeed； miss。 Let me take you to the desk。〃
〃Wait；〃 she whispered。 Some feet away from her； she spied Lord Rutherford！ No mistake。 It was he。 And an exquisite young man was with him； a tall； slender creature of fine porcelain features who made her earlier panions seem quite crude。
She narrowed her eyes； concentrating； trying to hear what this young man was saying。 But there was too great a distance。 And the two were moving in and out of sight； beyond a row of high potted palms。 Then the young one clasped Lord Rutherford's hand and left him； moving towards the front doors。 And Lord Rutherford moved into a large shadowy room。
〃That's Lord Rutherford； miss；〃 said the helpful young man beside her。
〃Yes； I know；〃 she said。〃 But the beautiful one。 Who is he？〃
〃Ah； that's his son； Alex； miss； the young Viscount Summerfield。 They're frequent guests of Shepheard's。 Friends of the Stratfords； miss。〃
She looked at him quizzically。
〃Lawrence Stratford； miss；〃 he explained as he took her arm and gendy guided her forward。〃 The great archaeologist； the one who just made the discovery of the Ramses tomb。〃
〃What did you say！〃 she whispered。〃 Speak slowly。〃
〃The one that dug up the mummy； miss； of Ramses the Damned。〃
〃Ramses the Damned！〃
〃Yes； miss； quite a story； miss。〃 He pointed now to a long ornate table in front of her； which in fact looked like an altar。〃 There's the desk； miss。 Anything else I can do for you？〃 She gave a little laugh of pure amazement。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃You have been simply super。 Very okay！〃
He gave her a sweet indulgent look； the look all these men gave her。 And then he gestured for her to step up to the〃 desk。 *'
* * *
Elliott went right to it as Pitfield sat down across from him。 He was aware that he was talking too fast； and likely to say strange things； but he could not break his momentum。 Get Alex out of here。 Get Julie out if at all possible。 Those were the only thoughts in his mind； and worry about Randolph later。
〃None of us has the slightest connection to any of it；〃 he said。〃 They must all be allowed to go home。 I can stay here； if it's absolutely necessary； but my son must be allowed to leave。〃
Gerald； ten years his senior； white…haired and heavy about the middle； listened keenly。 He was a man not given to strong drink； who tended to work round the clock so that his family might enjoy every pleasurable aspect of colonial existence。
〃Of course not；〃 he said now； with plete sympathy。〃 But wait； there's Winthrop in the doors。 He has two men with him。〃
〃I can't talk to him！〃 Elliott said。〃 Not now； for the love of heaven。〃
〃You leave it to me pletely。〃
How astonished they were when she paid them in advance with piles and piles of the strange money they called〃 pound notes；〃 though they weighed nothing。 The young servants would take her many bundles to her suite； they said。 And indeed； there were kitchens working now to produce whatever food she desired； there lay the dining room to the right； and she could banquet in her room if that was her wish。 As for the hairdresser which she clearly required to tie up her hair； that lady would not be available until tomorrow。 Very well。 Thank you！
She dropped the key into her satin bag。 She would find suite number 201 later。 She hurried to the door of the dark room into which Lord Rutherford had gone； and spied him drinking there alone。 He did not see her。
Out on the broad front terrace； she could see his son； Alex； leaning against the white pil