Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters Page B

you the most skilled excavator in Egypt."
    "Oh, you did, did you?" Emerson, who had been shifting restlessly from one foot to the other, suddenly sat down and fixed the other man with a steady stare. "And what did Maspero say?"
    "He did not commit himself," was the smooth reply. "But I have reason to believe he would be receptive to your application should you approach him again."
    "Indeed? Well, I am obliged to you for your interest"
    Colonel Bellingham had sense enough to leave it at that. He bade us good evening, and we watched him walk away.
    "Well?" I said.
    "Well. You don't suppose I am going to follow up that interesting suggestion, do you?"
    "I know you too well to suppose any such thing," I replied. "You have taken a dislike to Colonel Bellingham, though I am at a loss to understand why."
    "I do not need a reason to take a dislike to a man," Emerson declared.
    "That is true," I admitted.
    Emerson gave me an amused look. After knocking out his pipe, he pocketed it and rose to his feet. "I don't know what Bellingham was up to, but his implied promise was pure poppycock. Davis has the firman for the Valley of the Kings, and Maspero would have no reason to revoke it. Come along, my dear, the children will be waiting for us."
    One of them was. Nefret stood at the entrance to the hotel, looking out toward the street.
    "Where are the others?" I asked.
    "David went to hire a cab. Ramses..." She swung round to face me and burst out, "They have gone into the gardens. They were standing together at the top of the steps-Miss Dolly having made it clear to me and David that our company was not welcome-when she suddenly darted off across the street. Ramses went after her."
    The Ezbekieh Gardens cover an area of over twenty acres. They afford a popular promenade at all times of day; the attractions include cafes and restaurants, as well as a variety of rare plants and trees. After dark, in the limited glow of gaslight, they are even more romantic than the Moorish Hall at Shepheard's, and not at all the sort of place into which a young unmarried lady should venture even with an escort.
    Colonel Bellingham-having, as I assumed, sought in vain within-hurried up to us. "Into the gardens, did you say?" he exclaimed. "Good heavens! Why didn't you Stop them?"
    Without waiting for a reply, he rushed down the steps.
    "It was not your responsibility," I assured Nefret. "I am certain there is not the slightest cause for alarm, but perhaps we had better go in search of them."
    Emerson caught hold of Nefret as she started impulsively down the stairs. "Ramses will find her and bring her back," he said. "I see David has a cab waiting; come along, my dears."
    Nefret would not get into the cab. "Please, sir, let go of my arm," she pleaded. "You are hurting me."
    "You are hurting yourself, child," Emerson said in increasing exasperation. "Stop trying to pull away from me. Do you suppose I will allow you to enter that dark den of iniquity alone? Oh, very well, we will go as far as the entrance, but not a step farther. Damnation!"
    "What is wrong?" David asked in alarm.
    "Nothing is wrong," I said. "Miss Bellingham went into the garden and Ramses followed her, that is all. I can't think what has come over Nefret. She is usually more sensible."
    "Perhaps we should go with them." David offered me his arm.
    Fending off beggars and pedlars of dubious goods, avoiding carriages and camels and strolling tourists, we made our way across the busy thoroughfare. There was a little crowd gathered around the entrance to the gardens; as we hurried toward it I heard Nefret's voice raised in appeal and Emerson's loud response. It was, I am sorry to say, a swear word, I had to use my parasol to get through the ring of staring spectators, and I believe our arrival saved Emerson from assault by the gentlemen who were present. He had both arms round Nefret, who was pounding on his chest and demanding he let her go on into the gardens.
    "Shameful!" exclaimed one of the