As I had expected, Emerson struck out straight across the desert toward the city site. I had not thought of a way to deter him, so I could only slow him down a bit while I continued to cogitate.

“Please don’t walk so quickly,” I said, catching hold of his arm. “I am quite out of breath.”

He immediately slackened his pace, but looked at me in surprise. “Quite well, are you, Peabody?”

“A momentary shortness,” I said. “Where are you going, Emerson? The shortest way to the Workmen’s Village is—”

“Confound it, I know the location of every structure in Amarna as well as I know the scars on my body. Maspero authorized us to take over the site, should we find it necessary. Clearly, Herr Morgenstern abandoned it, and there has been no sign of activity since we departed for Cairo. We have an obligation to make sure none of the local thieves are disturbing his excavation.”

“No one could quarrel with that intention,” I admitted, “if you are sure that is all you intend.”

“I also intend to interrogate that chap von Raubritter,” Emerson said. “Who the devil is he, anyhow? For all we know, he may have usurped Morgenstern’s authority and is making off with valuable discoveries.”

When we reached the area where Herr Morgenstern had been working, we found it deserted except for a few goats and an indolent fellah dozing in the shade of a spindly tamarisk tree. After he had been shaken awake by Emerson, this individual claimed he had come to the site in hopes of being hired. However, he departed with such celerity that might lead one to question this intent when von Raubritter appeared, out of breath and disheveled.

“Good heavens,” I said. “Are you all right, Herr von Raubritter? Has something happened?”

“No, no. That is—yes, I am well. Nothing has happened to me. I was in haste, hoping to have a word with you, Mrs. Emerson. I have been told that you encountered Herr Morgenstern in Cairo and that he was not in his right mind. Based on what I have been told about him, I have a theory that might explain his symptoms. I am frantic to share this with you before more calamities befall him.”

Emerson, who had been investigating a concavity behind a ruined wall, suddenly stood up, glowering like a disagreeable incarnation of Ra, the sun god. Von Raubritter let out a strangled German swear word. “Mrs. Emerson is not to be accosted so unceremoniously!” Emerson snapped. “If you wish to speak with her, you must make an appointment with both of us.”

“Yes, sir, of course. That would be better. I don’t want to keep Mrs. Emerson standing in the sun. I apologize. When—”

Emerson made a great show of consulting his nonexistent watch.

“You are welcome to join us for tea if you like,” I said before Emerson could put the poor fellow off.