The Falcon at the Portal: An Amelia Peabody Mystery by Elizabeth Peters Page A

of your father's, and I don't doubt he has already—"
    "Who?" Nefret barked, and then produced a particularly sickening smile as Esdaile stared at her in surprise.
    "I shouldn't... But the ushebtis will soon be placed on exhibit."
    Ramses said weakly, "In the British Museum?"
"There, I felt certain you knew already. Yes, it was Mr. Budge himself who bought them. He doesn't often buy from British dealers, you know, gets most of what he wants directly from the Egyptians, but I always let him know when I acquire something unusual, and when I told him the provenance of the ushebtis, he assured me he just could not resist."
    Ramses stared at the dealer. He knew he must appear particularly feeble-witted. "Provenance," he repeated.
    "Yes, from the collection of your friend's grandfather. The old man was your foreman, was he not? As Mr. Budge said, who would have better sources than the longtime reis of the distinguished Professor Emerson? Mr. Budge was so pleased, he was chuckling quite merrily when he left. He... Why, Miss Forth, what is wrong? Are you feeling faint? Here—a chair—"
Ramses wrapped his arm tightly round Nefret's rigid shoulders. "Fresh air," he said. "She gets these spells. That's all she needs, a breath of fresh air."
    He snatched up the parcel Esdaile had made of the necklace, shoved it in his pocket, got a firmer, two-handed grip on his speechless "sister," and led her out. He had to drag her round the next corner and into the recessed entry of a building before he dared loosen his grasp.
"Did you think I was going to faint?" she demanded, eyes flashing.
"You? I thought you were going to fly at Esdaile shouting denials. The fat would have been in the fire then."
"I wouldn't have done anything so stupid. But to accuse a man who was the soul of honor—who is dead and can't defend himself against such a contemptible accusation—"
"Don't be so theatrical." He took her by the shoulders. She flinched, and he let go. "What is it?"
"I'll have bruises," Nefret said with grim satisfaction. "Did you have to be so rough?"
    "Oh, God, Nefret, I'm sorry!"
"Maybe you did have to." With one of her bewitching, bewildering changes of mood, she moved closer, taking hold of his lapels and smiling up into his remorseful face. "You were a bit angry yourself. Admit it."
"Perhaps I was. But most people wouldn't think any the worse of Abdullah for collecting antiquities. Everyone does it—everyone except Father, that is. The Cairo Museum buys from dealers, most of whose stock is derived from illegal excavation, Budge buys from the tomb robbers themselves—"
        "No wonder Budge was so pleased." Nefret ground her teeth.
"Yes. Father has criticized him privately and publicly for doing precisely what Budge assumes Abdullah must have done. Good Lord, half the tomb robbers in Luxor are relations of Abdullah's, and the other half were old acquaintances. And if Ab dullah had done it behind his back, Father would be hurt and furious."
    She bowed her head and did not reply. She's taking it badly, he thought, and reached for her hand. "Let's go home, dear. We've found out what we wanted to know."
"Mmmm." After a moment she looked up, slipped her arm through his, and said calmly, "We missed lunch. Let's stop somewhere for tea before we start back."
    "All right."
"It's a good thing Aunt Amelia wasn't with us," Nefret said, as they walked to the motorcar. "You know how she feels about Abdullah. She will explode when she hears this!"
    "I'm afraid you're right. She was devoted to the dear old fellow."
    "She dreams about him, you know."
    "I didn't know." He opened the door for her.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have told you. She hates being thought sentimental."
"I won't say anything. It's rather touching, really. Have you ever wondered..." He went round to the driver's side and got in. "Have you ever wondered what he whispered to her in those last moments before he died?"
Nefret burst into one of her delightful gurgling laughs. "Why, Ramses, I didn't