Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters Page A

and demanded loudly, "What is it you and Carter find so absorbing, Peabody? Share it with us-unless it is of a private nature."
    Poor Howard started convulsively. He had once been the victim of Emerson's suspicions-the innocent victim, I hardly need say-and was still nervous about it* "Not at all sir," he exclaimed. "I mean-er-Mrs. Emerson was asking about *This incident may be described in one of Mrs. Emerson's missing journals. Or it may not one of the tombs, and I was about to tell her there is not a bloo-not a blooming thing there worth the attention of an excavator of her-of your-skill. Er-that is-"
    "Hmph," said Emerson. "So what are your plans for this season, Carter? Still plugging away at that elongated tomb of Hatshepsut's?"
    Conversation became general, to Howard's obvious relief. When we parted at last it was with the expectation of seeing many of our friends, including Howard, at a later time. I was chatting with Mr. Reisner, who had very politely invited me to visit him at Gizeh- "The third pyramid is part of our concession, Mrs. Emerson, and it is always at your disposal"-when another gentleman joined us.
    "Forgive the interruption," he said with a courtly bow. "May I beg the favor of a word with you, Mrs. Emerson, when you have finished your conversation with Mr. Reisner?"
    It was Colonel Bellingham. Mr. Reisner excused himself and somehow I was not surprised to find Emerson suddenly at my side. For so very large a man he can move as quickly and silently as a cat when he chooses.
    "Come, Amelia," he said brusquely. "The cab is waiting."
    "If I may have a moment of your time-" the Colonel began.
    "It is late. We are leaving Cairo early in the morning."
    "Indeed? Then," said the Colonel with perfect aplomb, "it is all the more necessary that I speak with you this evening. Won't you take a chair, Mrs. Emerson? I promise I won't keep you long." He added with a smile, "It will give the young people a chance to improve their acquaintance."
    One of them, at least, was already improving it. Dolly, in pink silk and lace embroidered with pearls, had Ramses firmly by the arm.
    "Good evening, sir," she said. "Good evening, Mrs. Emerson, ma'am. I am so glad Daddy was able to catch you. I think he wants to talk with you about boring old tombs, so we will just wait on the terrace."
    "Without a chaperone?" I exclaimed.
    Dolly tossed her head and glanced over her shoulder at Nefret and David. "Why, sure 'nuf, Miss Forth will be a perfect chaperone. And-David? Hurry along now, Mr. Emerson."
    Ramses allowed himself to be removed. Nefret took David's arm. "May I lean on you, David?" she inquired with a dazzling smile and eyes as hard as lapis beads. "At my age one tires so easily."
    "They make a handsome pair, don't they?" Bellingham said. He was not speaking of Nefret and David, though the description would have been accurate.
    "What is it you want?" Emerson demanded.
    "Why, sir, first of all to thank your son for coming to Dolly's assistance the other day. But I expect she is doing that now, and much more prettily than I could."
    I had not found the young lady's manners especially pretty. She had been sweetly rude to Nefret, and by using his first name, she had relegated David to the status of a servant.
    Emerson had not missed the slight to his protege. "Miss Bellingham was not in need of assistance. The young man may have annoyed her, but she was in no danger from him or anyone else in such a public place. If that was your sole motive for detaining us-"
    "I have not yet mentioned my principal reason for wishing to speak with you."
    "Do so, then."
    "Certainly. I heard today, from M. Maspero, that your excavations this season will be restricted to the more obscure and least interesting tombs in the Valley of the Kings." He looked inquiringly at Emerson, who nodded brusquely. "I made so bold as to tell M. Maspero that it would be a pity to hand over such an important site to less competent archaeologists, when he has available in