I would have taken the hint, but Schmidt went gaily on. ‘A few years ago the University of Michigan undertook a complete X-ray examination of the royal mummies. There were some peculiar discoveries. For instance, the small wrapped mummy found with the body of a high priestess was not, as had been believed, that of her stillborn child, but a baboon! One of the little old queens was bald and had – what do you call it – teeth that stuck out – ’

‘Brotzeit, Schmidt,’ I interrupted. ‘Specifically, teatime. Why don’t you get us a good table near the buffet before the others come out?’

The prospect of food can distract Schmidt from just about anything. He went bustling off.

‘Are you having tea?’ I asked Larry.

He shook his head. ‘I’m saving myself for the banquet this evening. Come to think of it, I ought to get a costume of some sort together. If you’ll excuse me . . .’

I joined Schmidt. ‘They are still setting out the food,’ he complained. ‘There was no hurry. Why – ’

‘A gentle hint, Schmidt: if you want to win Larry’s heart, don’t talk to him about mummies. Especially the mummies of beautiful Egyptian queens.’

‘Ah.’ Schmidt thought it over. ‘Ah! Vielen Dank, Vicky, I should have realized. A romantic he is, nicht? He dreams of the lovely images, the paintings and the statues.’

‘That’s my guess. Even at their best, mummies aren’t romantic’

‘Mmmm, yes. That is why he does not want to believe the little old lady, who is bald and sticking out of tooth like her descendant, is his dream queen. The head was broken from the badly damaged body – ’

I let out a croak of protest. ‘Schmidt, I’m no romantic, but I am just about to eat. Knock it off, will you?’

I realized I was still holding the cigarette. I was about to return it to the packet when a lighter went off, so close to the end of my nose that I shied back.

‘May we join you?’ Mary asked.

Schmidt leaped to his feet and held a chair for her. I sucked on the damned cigarette, womanfully suppressing a cough. ‘Thank you,’ I said.

‘A pleasure,’ said John.

I didn’t doubt it.

‘We were talking about Tetisheri,’ Schmidt explained. ‘Vicky did not want to hear about her mummy.’

‘Mary dotes on dead bodies,’ said John.

‘Oh, darling, don’t tease!’ Mary’s pretty mouth quirked with distaste.