“A jolly good idea,” Ramses said. “Thank you for your time. Come along and step lively, Arbaaz. I intend to be totally potted by dinner time.”

They remained silent as they walked across the gravel to the gate, and ignored the guard’s “Guten Tag” as they continued down the street. Once they were around the corner and safely out of sight, they both began to laugh.

“Excessive nictitation?” chortled Ramses. “It sounds like a contagious disease. Poor Helmut looked as though he wanted to flee to his office and barricade the door.”

David leaned against a wall and took out his pipe. “I was getting bored. Gunter wasn’t going to tell us anything useful. I did notice his carefully worded statement that the ambassador has no knowledge of Morgenstern’s whereabouts.”

“As did I,” Ramses said thoughtfully.

*  *  *

Daoud was still peevish as he joined me at a table on the hotel terrace, although he looked splendid in his scarlet turban and embroidered robe. I commented on the weather and the motorcars that drove by, but he remained mute with the exception of an occasional grunt. When the waiter appeared, I ordered tea for four. A few of the priggish English ladies stared at us, appalled that I would sit with a “native” dark-skinned Egyptian man who was not of the same class. I returned their stares with a frigid smile. Miss Smith did not appear, to my relief; she was the sort to assume an empty chair was an invitation, despite my previous assertion that I would not be available.

I was taken aback when Ramses and David arrived, both clad in suits and ties. “We don’t normally dress for tea,” I said as they took their seats. “Is that your father’s suit, Ramses? It is ill-fitting on your slighter frame. Furthermore, I am quite certain I gave him that tie last year on his birthday.”

“Yes, it is his,” Ramses said. “He took it out of his suitcase before he left for Amarna.” He leaned back, as if he’d explained everything to my satisfaction. I can assure my Readers that I was far from satisfied.

I turned to David. “And you?”

“I borrowed this from an old friend who works at a bank. We were in school together for many years.”