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Out on the broad front terrace； she could see his son； Alex； leaning against the white pillar…such a ely youth…in fast conversation with a dark…skinned Egyptian。 The Egyptian came back into the hotel。 The young one seemed at a loss。
She went to him immediately。 She crept up and stood beside him and studied his delicate face…yes； a beauty。 Of course Lord Rutherford was a man of considerable charm； but this one was so young that his skin was still petal soft； and yet he was tall and his shoulders were strong and straight； and he had a clear； confident look in his brown eyes when he turned to her。
〃The young Viscount Summerfield；〃 she said。〃 Son of Lord Rutherford； I am told？〃
A great flash of a smile。 〃I'm Alex Savarell； yes。 Forgive me； I don't believe I've had the pleasure。〃
〃I'm hungry； Viscount Summerfield。 Won't you show me to the banquet room of the hotel？ I should like to eat something。〃
〃I'd be delighted！ What an unexpected pleasure。〃
He hooked his arm for her to take it。 Oh； she liked him very much； there was no reticence in him at all。 He escorted her back into the crowded main room； past the dark tavern where his father drank； and on towards a great open place under a high gilded ceiling。
Tables draped in linen filled the sides of the immense room。 In the centre men and women danced； the women's skirts like great softly ruffled flowers。 And the music； oh； so lovely； though it almost hurt her ears。 It was far more shrill than that of the music box。 And it was sweetly sad！
At once he asked an imperious old man to show them to a 〃table。〃 What an ugly person was this imperious man who appeared as finely dressed as anyone present。 But he said；〃 Yes； Lord Summerfield〃 with great respect。 And the table was fine indeed； set with gorgeous plate； and sweet…scented flowers。
〃What is this music？〃 she asked。
〃From America；〃 he said。〃 From Sigmund Romberg。〃
She began rocking back and forth a little。
〃Would you like to dance？〃 he asked。
〃That would be super！〃
Oh； such a warm hand he had as he clasped hers and led her out on the floor。 How peculiar that each couple should be dancing as if entirely alone and engaged in a private ritual。 At once the melancholy rhythm swept her up。 And this adorable young man； how lovingly he looked at her。 This really was a lovely young man； this Alex； Lord Summerfield。
〃How enchanting it is here；〃 she said。〃 A true palace。 And the music； so piercing； but beautiful。 It hurts my ears； but then I do not like loud noises…screeching birds； guns！〃
〃Of course you don't；〃 he said with surprise。〃 You're such a fragile creature。 And your hair； may I tell that your hair is lovely？ It's a rare thing to see a woman who wears her hair free； and natural。 It makes you look like a goddess。〃
〃Yes； that is very okay。 Thank you。〃
He had a sweet laugh。 So honest。 No fear in his eyes； no shrinking。 He was like a prince who had been reared with kind nurses in a palace。 Altogether too gentle for the real world。
〃Would you mind terribly telling me your name？〃 he asked。〃 I know we've not been properly introduced； so we must introduce ourselves； it seems。〃
〃My name is Cleopatra； Queen of Egypt。〃 How she loved this dancing； being carried along； turned about； the floor shimmered like water beneath her。
〃Oh； I could almost believe you；〃 he said。〃 You look like a Queen。 May I call you Your Highness？〃
She laughed。〃 Your High…ness。 Is that the proper address for a Queen！ Yes； you may call me Your High…ness。 And I shall call you Lord Summerfield。 These men here； are they all。。。lords？〃
Through the dark mirror on the panelled wall； Elliott saw Winthrop and his cohorts withdraw。 Pitfield came directly back and took his chair opposite。 He signaled for another drink。
〃More mayhem；〃 he said。〃 What in God's name has happened to young Stratford！〃 〃Tell me。〃
〃Astonishing！ Some belly dancer； Henry Stratford's mistress。 They found her dead； neck broken； in the garden of the house she was sharing with Henry。 All Henry's things were there。 Passport； money； everything。〃
Elliott swallowed。 He needed another drink badly。 It occurred to him that he ought to take some supper just so that he could go on drinking without passing out。
〃Same thing that happened to the Oxford student this afternoon； neck broken； and the American kid out at the pyramids； and the maid at the museum。 Wonder why he bothered to use a knife on Sharpies！ You'd better tell me everything you know about this。〃
The waiter set down the fresh glasses of Scotch and gin。 Elliott took his drink and sipped it thoughtfully。
〃Just what I was afraid of； the whole thing。 He was going out of his mind with guilt。〃
〃Over the gambling。〃
〃No。 Over Lawrence。 It was Henry； you see； and the poisons in the tomb。〃
〃Good Lord； man； are you serious？〃
〃Gerald； that's how it all started。 He had papers for Lawrence to sign。 He probably forged them。 But that's not the point。 He admitted the killing。〃
〃To you。〃
〃No； to someone else。〃 He broke off； had to think this through； but there was no time。〃 To Ramsey。〃
〃Ramsey； the one they're searching for。〃
〃Yes； Ramsey tried to talk to him； early this morning； before Henry went on the rampage and broke into the museum。 By the way 。 。 ？ you said they'd been to the belly dancer's house。 Did they find any evidence of a mummy there； any wrappings？ That would certainly tie it up and then they'd stop persecuting poor Ramsey。 Ramsey is entirely innocent； you see。 He went to the museum to reason with Henry。〃
〃You know this for a fact？〃
〃It was all my fault。 I can't sleep of late； pain in my joints is too severe。 Five o'clock this morning I was just ing in from my walk。 I'd seen Henry； roaring drunk； near the museum； as I told you。 I thought he was pub crawling。 And I made the mistake of telling Ramsey； who had just e down for his morning coffee。 Ramsey had tried to reason with Henry earlier。 And off he went to find him again； for Julie's sake。〃
〃Julie and this Ramsey； they're 。。。〃
〃Yes。 The engagement's off with Alex。 It's all quite amicable； Alex and Ramsey are friends。 And the whole thing must be straightened out。〃
〃Of course； of course。〃
〃Ramsey was trying to stop the robbery when the police apprehended him。 He's a strange man。 He panicked。 But surely you can get this cleared up。〃
〃Well； I can do my damnedest。 But why in the world would Stratford break into the museum to steal a mummy？〃
〃That part I can't quite figure。〃 Understatement of the year； he thought。〃 All I know is that the mummy of Ramses the Damned in London is missing too and apparently he stole some coins and jewelry as well。 I believe somebody may have put him up to it。 Steal a pair of valuable relics； get some ready cash； that sort of thing。〃
〃So he goes blundering into the most famous museum in the entire world？〃
〃Egyptian security isn't very good； old boy。 And you haven't seen Henry in the last few months； have you？ He's quite deteriorated； my friend。 This may be a case of pure insanity。 The thing is； I can't have Alex and Julie detained in Cairo。 And they won't leave until Ramsey's cleared； and Ramsey has not done anything。〃
He finished off the gin。
〃Gerald； get us off the hook； all of us。 I'11 make a statement； if you advise it。 I'll try to reach Ramsey。 If he's granted immunity； then surely he'll back me up。 You can handle it； Gerald； you know these colonial idiots！ You've put up with them for years。〃
〃Yes； I certainly have。 This has to be handled delicately； but immediately。 And the fact is； they're on to Stratford。 It's merely a question of exonerating Ramsey。〃
〃Yes； and protocol and propriety and paperwork and all the other colonial rot。 Go to it； Gerald。 I don't care what you do； I have to get my son home。 I've used my son badly in all this。。。〃
〃What？〃
〃Nothing。 Can you work it out？〃
〃Yes； but Henry himself 。。。 Have you any idea where he could be？〃
In the vat of bitumen。 Elliot shuddered。〃 No；〃 he said。〃 No idea at all。 But he has many enemies out there； people whom he owes money。 I need another drink。 Get the attention of the pretty little nitwit； will you？〃
〃Young Lord Summerfield；〃 she said； gazing at his beautiful mouth；〃 let us banquet in my rooms。 And leave this place to be alone there。〃
〃If you wish。〃 The inevitable flame in the cheeks。 Oh； what would the rest of the young body look like？ Pray there was a priapic organ there worthy of all the other charms！
〃Indeed； but do you wish？〃 she asked him。 She ran the backs of her fingers along his cheek。 Then slid her fingers under the stiff cloth of his garment。
〃Yes； I do；〃 he whispered。
She led him off the dance floor； collecting her handbags as they went out of the swimming music and lights； back into the crowded grand room。
〃Suite two…oh…one；〃 she said； producing the key。〃 How do we find it？〃
〃Well； we'll just take the lift to the second floor；〃 he said； beaming at her。〃 And walk to the very front of the