“We may find nothing but rubble,” he replied stoutly. “Thutmose could have used it as a garbage pit, but more probably, it has already been looted. However, thieves would hardly have replaced the lid with precision. Morgenstern was not the first Egyptologist to examine this site, and no one found it.” His eyes regained their sparkle. “Sand has been accumulating for three thousand years. I envisioned the studio as it was then, and instructed the workmen to dig deeply. The clank of a shovel confirmed my expectation.”

“I share your anticipation, Emerson. If you do not object, I would like to return to the dahabeeyah to analyze my notes. Nefret and I look forward to hearing more about this when we have tea this afternoon.” I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek, and then made my way back through the crowd. As I walked toward the cultivation, I was not taken aback when I noted one of our loyal workmen trailing after me. Until the fifth assassin was exposed and disarmed, I knew Emerson would arrange for me to be escorted. I insisted that the man join me, and inquired, in Arabic, after his family, who resided in a tiny village north of Luxor. His litany of births, marriages, and deaths kept us occupied until we reached the gangplank. I thanked him and sent him back to the site.

Fatima came out of the kitchen as I entered the drawing room. “Please do not be angry with me, Mrs. Emerson! I did not know what to do! Mahmoud had taken Nefret and the young lady to Minya and was not here to assist me. I am so sorry if I have done something wrong.”

I caught her trembling hand. “To begin, I do not know what you have done. Let us sit down and discuss it over glasses of tea. I need a few minutes to freshen up, and then I will join you at the dining table.”

Fatima scurried into the kitchen. I retreated to the marital chamber to tidy my hair and wipe my face with a damp washcloth. The latter was not easy, in that the washbasin was cluttered with so many flower petals that I could barely penetrate them to achieve access to the water. When Fatima is peeved with me, she leaves no more than two or three petals on the surface of the water. I was curious to hear what she had done to evoke a bouquet.

I went to the dining room and sat down. Seconds later she came out of the kitchen with tea and a plate of biscuits. I smiled and said, “Sit down, Fatima, and please tell me what is troubling you.”

“That man—that German man! I did not know what to do,” she said, her face sagging despondently. “If only you had been here, Mrs. Emerson.”