“You aren’t going to marry anyone?” Tony asked, having found his voice at last.

“Why do I have to marry anyone?” I asked reasonably. “It’s only in simpleminded novels that the heroine has to get married. I’m not even the heroine. You told me that once. Irma is the heroine. Go marry her.”

“I don’t want to,” Tony said sulkily.

“Then don’t. But stop hassling me.” I smiled impartially at both of them. “You’re very sweet,” I said kindly. “The trouble is, neither of you has the faintest idea of how to handle women—not women like me, anyhow. But you’re both young, and fairly bright; you can learn…. Who knows, I might decide to get married someday. I’ll be around; if, in the meantime, you feel like—”

Blankenhagen’s expression changed ominously, and I said, with dignity.

“If you feel like taking a girl out now and then, I am open to persuasion.”

I smiled guilessly at him.

After a long moment he smiled back.

“Also,” he said coolly. “I will be here. I will continue to be here. I do not give up easily.”

There was a knock at the door, followed by the voice of one of the maids telling us dinner was ready. I started for the door.

Tony got there ahead of me.

“It wouldn’t help Schmidt’s reputation if this affair were made public,” he said meditatively. “I don’t suppose you intimated—”

“Why, Tony,” I said, with virtuous indignation. “That would be blackmail! Would I resort to such a low trick?”

“Of course not. Schmidt offered you a job because of your brilliance. I’m brilliant too,” said Tony. “I imagine Herr Schmidt could find another job at the Museum, if I asked him nicely….”

Blankenhagen stood up.

“You talk to me of rascals!” he exclaimed. “You are an unprincipled, dishonest—”

I left the two of them jostling each other in the doorway and went humming down the corridor. The next five years were going to be fun.

About the Author

Elizabeth Peters was named Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America in 1998. She earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s famed Oriental Institute. In addition to the Vicky Bliss mysteries, Elizabeth Peters is the author of the bestselling Amelia Peabody mysteries.

Books by Elizabeth Peters

THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE

SEEING A LARGE CAT • THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL

NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS

THE SNAKE, THE CROCODILE AND THE DOG

THE LAST CAMEL DIED AT NOON • NAKED ONCE MORE

THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER • TROJAN GOLD

LION IN THE VALLEY • LORD OF THE SILENT

THE MUMMY CASE • DIE FOR LOVE

SILHOUETTE IN SCARLET • THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION

THE CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS • THE LOVE TALKER

SUMMER OF THE DRAGON • STREET OF THE FIVE MOONS

DEVIL MAY CARE • LEGEND IN GREEN VELVET

CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK • THE MURDERS OF RICHARD III

BORROWER OF THE NIGHT • THE SEVENTH SINNER

THE NIGHT OF FOUR HUNDRED RABBITS