I was flabbergasted when Miss Smith offered her arm to Mr. Dullard, who was goggling at her as if he were intoxicated. They made an odd couple; he was at least a foot taller than she and coated with copious dark hair, while she was fair-skinned and as plump and rosy as a pomegranate. I watched them walk in the direction of the Nile, where presumably he had a mode of transport to the far shore. They toddled away amid squeaks and giggles.

“Emerson,” I said, “I believe I shall return to the dahabeeyah now. Do remember that Fatima can be a trifle belligerent when we are late for a meal. Good day to you, Herr Morgenstern.”

“Guten Tag, Frau Emerson.”

I knew perfectly well that my pronouncement left Emerson in a painful dilemma. He had sworn to stay at my side to protect me, but he had caught a glimpse of something that might prove to be of archaeological value. The decision was his, of course, but he needed to be reminded that Herr Morgenstern was in charge. I did not look back as I walked toward the village site.

“Peabody!” he called in a rather pathetic voice.

I held up my hand and wiggled my fingers in farewell. When I arrived at our site, I found Nefret and Selim in the midst of a minor dispute over the placement of the tripod. I gathered Nefret up and we walked through the scattered huts alongside the shore. After I related the unexpected arrival of Miss Smith and her equally unexpected departure on the arm of the missionary, I said, “I am concerned about her safety, but she is determined.”

“Maybe she was expecting you to offer her a cabin on the Amelia,” said Nefret with a wicked smile. “That might incur the wrath of the Father of Curses.”

“One shudders to imagine Emerson’s reaction to such an invitation. In any case, we do not have room for her. I suppose I ought to invite her for tea or even dinner, but that is the extent of my Christian duty. She has made a decision, and she must endure the consequences. If we can figure out which hut is to be her temporary home, I will ask Selim to have the night guard keep his ears open for sounds of distress.”

“That would not be a problem, Aunt Amelia.” She went to the nearest hut and engaged in conversation with its occupants. After a rapid exchange in Arabic, Nefret returned to the path. “There has been a great deal of chatter about the appearance of the Englishwoman. It took three men to transport her trunk, suitcases, and hatboxes from Minya to this location, and over an hour to force the trunk through the doorway. Shall we have a look?”

“I think we should, if only to be neighborly,” I said.