Nefret frowned. “His symptoms suggest psychotic episodes. I wonder if he is taking some sort of drug that causes these severe fluctuations in lucidity. If you will excuse me, I would like to consult my medical journals.” As she left the dining room, she paused briefly in the doorway to rearrange the flowers in a vase.

“Have you noticed,” I said to Emerson, “a tension between her and Ramses? They have not really spoken to each other with the exception of the necessary civilities.”

“I’m sure they have, Peabody, but not within your hearing. They are adults and beyond your desire to meddle. The last time they were together resulted in a nightmare for all of us. Nefret saw her husband fall to his death despite Ramses’s effort to save him. Ramses may not have been fond of Geoffrey, but he never disparaged him.”

“Because he was reared to be a gentleman,” I said, “and he thinks of Nefret as a beloved little sister. At least he used to . . .”

“Allow me to repeat that they are adults.” His voice rose. “Fatima, am I allowed dessert?”

There was no reply from the kitchen.

Ten

From Manuscript H

When the train arrived in Cairo, only two hours late, David and Ramses exited the station without glancing at whatever bloodstains might still be visible on the tracks. They had changed into grimy thobes and kaffiyehs during the trip, and went directly to a café, where they were greeted in a friendly but uneasy fashion.

After they had eaten, David lit his pipe and said, “How long do you think it will take before your spies wander in, their palms itching for payment?”

“I am confident that our arrival has been noted.” Ramses gestured for another cup of coffee. “Would you like to make a wager?”

“I’ll risk a quid that no one appears within an hour, starting now.”

“Pull out your wallet,” Ramses said with a smirk. “Latif is watching us from the sidewalk. Surely he can find the courage to approach us before an hour has passed. Look, here he comes.”

Latif, a clever lad of no more than twelve years old, was fairly fluent in English from his encounters with gullible tourists, lived on the streets, and relied on his wits to survive. Ramses sympathized with his plight and always rewarded him generously when he provided information.

Ramses told him to sit down with them and order whatever he liked from the menu. Latif did so with haste, and then gobbled down the meal. Once he had finished, he leaned forward and whispered, “I have heard a most amazing statue from Amarna is on the market in Cairo. I can show you the shop, Brother of Demons. It will be a great honor.”

“And please allow me to have the great honor of paying the bill,” David said with an ironic smile.