I told Emerson that I desired to climb down the ladder to the bottom of the serdab to have a look before the lid was replaced. He opened his mouth to protest, but closed it and strode toward the huddled workmen. Nefret gave me the electric torch and cautioned me about the ladder that consisted of dubious lengths of wood and somewhat rotted rungs. Having descended into deep tombs by less sturdy ladders, I proceeded with confidence.

I knelt to examine the two busts of Nefertiti. Neither captured the incomparable allure of the masterpiece that Morgenstern had taken to Cairo. One had a large nose. The second had a small headpiece and lacked perfect symmetry. Thutmose must have been scolded by Queen Nefertiti when he presented each one, and thus relegated them to the serdab. The statue of Nefertiti and a male newborn reflected an intimacy between them. I wondered if Borchardt might consider my hypothesis that the baby could be Tutankhamen. I utilized the beam of light to admire colorfully painted pottery jars, a box inlaid with gold and ivory, and a shining broad collar of semiprecious stones that had once adorned one of the busts. I emerged from the serdab, my mind swirling with glittering images, and noted that the workmen had resumed their assigned duties. Emerson’s arms were crossed and his expression was unusually dour. He pretended not to notice me.

Shortly thereafter, Ramses returned with a misshapen canvas bag and disappeared down the ladder. The bag was flat when he reappeared. Emerson instructed some of the men to lift the stone slab back onto the serdab.

The workmen chanced upon various artifacts and put them in their allotted baskets. Latif was determined to prove his worthiness; he squealed in delight when his trowel encountered an object. He and David scooped away sand until they exposed a shard of blue-painted pottery, typical of the Amarna period. We toiled well past our customary luncheon respite, and I began to worry that Emerson would not allow us to stop for tea on the dahabeeyah. I had shared my pita with Nefret, but neither of us had eaten an ample breakfast.

I was working the sieve and gathering together the smaller objects when I glanced up and saw Dullard coming toward us. Luckily for him, Emerson and Ramses were occupied at the back of the studio. Nefret positioned herself behind me.

“My dear Mrs. Emerson,” Dullard began in his grating voice, “I am so sorry that I did not have the opportunity to speak to you when you visited the Coptic village. I was told that you and Dr. Forth partook of tea and biscuits in one of the homes.”

Nefret stared at him. “Yes, and we were made aware of your wicked scheme. We shall notify the proper authorities in Cairo so that you will be arrested for fomenting a rebellion.”