“He has been absent from his excavations for a long period of time, leaving them in the charge of an individual who appears to have little or no experience in archaeology. That is not like Herr Morgenstern, who is well respected in his field. Rumor has it that he is in Cairo.” Maspero’s shrug was melodramatic. “What is he doing there? It is highly improbable that a woman is involved. A dalliance might distract him for a short while, but he is a dedicated archaeologist who has been given the opportunity to excavate a significant site. Besides that, there has been no gossip. When such things occur, there is always gossip.”

“Are you asking us to find out?” I inquired. “For it would be impertinent of us to pry into his private affairs without a direct order from you. Herr Morgenstern is not an easy man to get on with; Emerson has never got on with him.”

“Not an order,” Maspero said with a sigh. “A request. A direct request. An urgent request. Tell el-Amarna must be protected at all costs.”

“We will consider that sufficient authorization,” I said. “And we will let you know as soon as is possible what we propose to do.”

“Does your request have anything to do with the dead man who intruded upon Mrs. Emerson’s bath this morning?” Emerson asked.

“Pardon?” Maspero exclaimed. “A dead man walked into Mrs. Emerson’s bath chamber?”

“He wasn’t dead until after he came in,” said Emerson, thus adding to Maspero’s confusion.

“Allow me, Emerson,” I said, and proceeded to explain the situation in my customary efficient fashion.

“Mon Dieu!” the director exclaimed. “I regret, madame, that you should have been subjected to such a distressing sight.”

“Bah,” said Emerson. “She thrives on such sights.”

I had brought the broken ushebti with me. “We found this outside the door of our sitting room this morning,” I said, handing it to the director. “I believe it is meant to communicate a message.”

“Message?”

“An appeal for help,” I explained.

“Help?” Maspero echoed, staring at the ushebti.

“Please pay attention, monsieur,” I said. “That object conveys two ideas: first, Amarna, and second, destruction, damage.”

Maspero continued to stare at the ushebti. “It is Akhenaton,” he muttered. “He is unmistakable. Where did it come from?”

“That is the question,” I said. “If it does not come from any collection with which you are familiar, then it must have come from the site of Amarna itself.”

“But not from Morgenstern’s excavations,” Emerson said. “He is excavating the city site. Ushebtis are funerary objects. They would not be found in a private house.”

“Then from a hitherto undiscovered tomb!” Maspero proclaimed. “The task of discovery would seem to be yours, my friends.”