“You wonder?” David said sardonically. “Of course he will, although one cannot predict how he will be disguised. By now he must know that we possess the original sculpture. He will be on the same train, dressed as a rabbi, a wild-eyed dervish, a stout matriarch, or a Slavic musician with a violin case. In case you have forgotten, Aunt Amelia refers to him as the Master of Disguise, among other things.”

Ramses snorted. “I will recognize Sethos despite his best efforts. We will be in the last carriage before the freight car. He will not be able to get past us to pilfer the trunk, and he will be conspicuous if he departs the train at our customary unscheduled stop before Minya. Once we have deposited the trunk on the dahabeeyah, we will alert our staff to be on the lookout for him. Should Sethos attempt to sneak on board, my father will welcome the opportunity to express his animosity.”

“That he will. I look forward to observing from a safe distance. You may be obliged to restrain Aunt Amelia, who has an inexplicable tenderness for Sethos. Shall we have a final look at the contents of the trunk to make sure all the busts are well wrapped? They may be subjected to jostling.”

“That is a mild description of what may happen,” Ramses replied as he opened the trunk and viewed the contents. “Tahir’s wife will be distraught if we appropriate her draperies, so this will have to do. Let us have a final glass of tea before we enter the fray.”

“I would prefer something stronger, but I have already checked the cabinets without luck. Tahir is clearly an observant Moslem, worse luck. All we can do is fortify the tea with sugar.”

They drank the tea in silence, made sure that all their personal belongings were in the trunk, and each took a side handle. “Fourteen stone?” David groaned. “It feels as though there is a pygmy hippo hidden under the wadded newspapers.”

“Once we get it down to the street, we can delegate it to the most muscular recruits. That will give us a better opportunity to watch for Gunter’s thugs. Now stop whining and try not to drop your end.”

With frequent stops to put down the trunk in order to catch their breath, they made it to the sidewalk. The men swarmed them, shouting for the attention of the Brother of Demons. Many offered to carry the trunk alone in order to receive the five pounds Ramses had promised. Others displayed knives and lengths of chain as weapons of protection. Latif wiggled his way through them to stand beside the trunk, his arms crossed as if he were a stone guardian of the Temple of Karnak.