Nefret emerged and looked warily at Emerson’s backside. “There are many items that may be of great consequence, and the workmanship is extraordinary,” she said loudly to me. “We dared not touch them, but we saw many sculptures. One appears to be of Nefertiti with an infant boy in her arms.”

“Could it be Tutankhamen?” I asked.

“Ridiculous!” Emerson barked over my shoulder. “Nefertiti had six daughters. Tutankhamen’s father was presumably Akhenaton, but the mother was either a sister or cousin of his. Quite possibly Tutankhamen married one of his half sisters, making the situation more incestuous.”

I was quite aware that incest was commonplace among the pharaohs, having been engaged in exhaustive discussions about this with my husband, son, and brother-in-law. Nonetheless, Nefret and I listened meekly as he expounded on the topic and its political implications. I noticed that the redness of his face was lessening and his voice had resumed its normal decibel level (high but tolerable). When he paused to take a breath, I took advantage of it and said, “Selim is looking about for you, Emerson. He most likely needs your approval before he and Nefret begin to set up their equipment. You must go to him. ” I saw no reason to add that I was yearning to eat the pita sandwich I had stashed in my pocket.

I did not have the opportunity to do so. Herr Morgenstern, now as welcome as an infestation of lice, came bounding through the spectators, his round cheeks flushed and his eyes bulging. “Hallo, hallo!” he shouted. “I have astonishing news to share with you. I received a telegram from Herr Maspero informing me that Herr Borchardt will be here within days to resume supervision of the firman. I knew that my position was temporary, but I did not anticipate that it would be so stressful. I am eager to return to Cairo to deal with an incompleted . . . task.”

“Searching for Harun’s studio?” I suggested nicely.

A trickle of saliva escaped his mouth. “I know nothing of this person, Frau Emerson. It is a personal matter. I have packed my belongings and arranged to be taken to the train station in Minya. It has been an honor to work alongside you and your esteemed husband. Auf Wiedersehen!” He winked at me, startled Nefret with a sloppy kiss, and then disappeared through the crowd of spectators.

“I smelled liquor on his breath,” Nefret said to me, shaking her head. “Let us hope he is able to make his way to the safety of the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft house before he becomes disorientated.”

“He is no longer our responsibility. I must inform Emerson of Borchardt’s imminent arrival. It will have a major impact on how we proceed today.” I found Emerson in a dialogue with Selim and related the news.