Free Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie

tossing her handsome head.
    “Because you are a fool,” snapped Esa. “Nofret has twice the brains of any of you three.”
    “That remains to be seen,” said Satipy. She looked good-humored and pleased with herself.
    “What do you think you are all doing?” inquired Esa.
    Satipy's face hardened.
    “You are an old woman, Esa. I do not speak with any lack of respect - but things no longer matter to you in the way they matter to us who have husbands and young children. We have decided to take matters into our own hands - we have ways of dealing with a woman whom we do not like and will not accept.”
    “Fine words,” said Esa. “Fine words.” She cackled. “But a good discourse can be found with slave girls over the millstone.”
    “A true and wise saying,” sighed Henet from the background.
    Esa turned on her.
    “Come, Henet, what does Nofret say to all this that is going on? You should know - you are always waiting on her.”
    “As Imhotep told me to do. It is repugnant to me, of course - but I must do what the master ordered. You do not think, I hope -”
    Esa cut into the whining voice:
    “We know all about you, Henet. Always devoted - and seldom thanked as you should be. What does Nofret say to all this? That is what I asked you.”
    Henet shook her head.
    “She says nothing. She just - smiles.”
    “Exactly.” Esa picked up a jujube from a dish at her elbow, examined it and put it in her mouth. Then she said with sudden, malevolent acerbity:
    “You are fools, all of you. The power is with Nofret, not with you. All you are doing is to play into her hands. I dare swear it even pleases her what you are doing.”
    Satipy said sharply:
    “Nonsense. Nofret is alone amongst many. What power has she?”
    Esa said grimly:
    “The power of a young, beautiful woman married to an ageing man. I know what I am talking about.” With a quick turn of her head she said: “Henet knows what I am talking about!”
    Henet started. She sighed and began to twist her hands.
    “The master thinks a great deal of her - naturally - yes, quite naturally.”
    “Go to the kitchen,” said Esa. “Bring me some dates and some Syrian wine - yes, and honey too.”
    When Henet had gone, the old woman said:
    “There is mischief brewing - I can smell it. Satipy, you are the leader in all this. Be careful that while you are thinking yourself clever, you do not play into Nofret's hands.”
    She leaned back and closed her eyes.
    “I have warned you - now go.”
    “We in Nofret's power, indeed!” said Satipy with a toss of her head as they went out to the lake. “Esa is so old she gets the most extraordinary ideas into her head. It is we who have got Nofret in our power! We will do nothing against her that can be reported - but I think, yes, I think that she will soon be sorry she ever came here.”
    “You are cruel - cruel -” cried Renisenb.
    Satipy looked amused.
    “Do not pretend you love Nofret, Renisenb!”
    “I do not. But you sound so - so vindictive.”
    “I think of my children - and Yahmose! I am not a meek woman or one who brooks insult - and I have ambition. I would wring that woman's neck with the greatest of pleasure. Unfortunately it is not so simple as that. Imhotep's anger must not be aroused. But I think - in the end - something may be managed.”

Death Comes as the End
    II
    The letter came like a spear thrust to a fish.
    Dumbfounded, silent, Yahmose, Sobek and Ipy stared at Hori as he read out the words from the papyrus scroll.
    “Did I not tell Yahmose that I would hold him to blame if any harm came to my concubine? As you all live, I am against you and you are against me! I will no longer live with you in one house since you have not respected my concubine Nofret! You are no longer my son of my flesh. Neither are Sobek and Ipy my sons of my flesh. Each one of you has done harm to my concubine. That is attested by Kameni and Henet. I will turn you out of my house - each of you! I have supported you - now I