Free Lord of the Silent: A Novel of Suspense by Elizabeth Peters Page A

Howard grinned appreciatively. He had had a falling-out with the Service, which had resulted in his losing his position as Inspector of Upper Egypt, and he thoroughly approved of Emerson's high-handed behavior. "Then how do you know it hasn't been molested? Curse it," Emerson added. I got Emerson off the subject by asking about Howard's recent work in the Valley of the Kings-one of the valleys, that is to say, for there are two of them. The East Valley is the one visited by tourists. The West Valley is seldom visited, for it contains only two royal tombs, both isolated and in bad repair. Howard had spent several weeks exploring one of them. This proved to be a mistake on my part. Emerson had yearned to work in the Valley himself; after years of frustration watching the inept excavations directed by Mr. Theodore Davis of America, he had seen the concession given to another wealthy dilettante, Lord Carnarvon. In my opinion Emerson was a trifle unjust to this gentleman, who was far more conscientious than Davis had been, and who had the good sense to hire Howard to carry out the actual digging; but it was still a sore subject. Dismembering his dinner with wild slashes of his knife, Emerson demanded details which he refused to allow Howard to give, interrupting him after almost every sentence. "You had no business starting on that tomb if you meant to spend only a month at it. Amenhotep the Third was one of Egypt's greatest kings and his tomb could provide vital information about a particularly important period." "Well, sir, you see-" "At least there are tourists and a few token guards in the East Valley. Nobody ever goes to the West Valley. Nobody except vandals and thieves; now that you've aroused their interest, they've probably removed everything of value that you overlooked. How far did you get?" "The entrance corridor and the well-" "Yes, and what happened to the objects you found? Carnarvon's got them, I suppose." "Enough of that, Emerson," I said. "This is a social occasion-at least it would be, if you would leave off badgering the poor man. Have a glass of brandy, Howard." "Thank you, ma'am, I believe I will." Surreptitiously Howard wiped his perspiring brow. "May I smoke?" "Certainly. Now tell us what you are doing in Cairo." Howard looked mysterious, or tried to. "I can't talk about it, Mrs. Emerson." "Ah," I said. "Intelligence. I am sure you are making yourself useful." "You would be of more use in Luxor guarding the tombs," said Emerson. "Damnation! I am tempted to make a quick trip there myself." "One must do what one can for the war effort," Howard protested. The poor man looked so uncomfortable I attempted to change the subject. "Howard, do you happen to know of any unemployed Egyptologist who is looking for a position?" "Why, are you taking on new staff?" "No," said Emerson, who had been holding his breath and was thus able to forestall me. "Curse it, Amelia, I thought we had agreed to think the matter over before we took steps." "I have thought it over, Emerson. You see, Howard, David, and Lia are not coming out this year. Without them we will be short-handed, and we can always use a skilled copyist." "Ah, yes," Howard said. "Someone told me they would not be with you. They had a child last year, I believe. Is that why Todros has deserted you?" Gossip, gossip, I thought. Men love it, no matter what they say. I hastened to clear David of the imputation of disloyalty, but I could tell by Howard's cynical smile that he considered a wife and child an inadequate excuse. "I wish I could offer my own services," he said. "But I am committed to Lord Carnarvon, and I expect to be occupied with-er- other duties. I will put the word out, though I don't know offhand of anyone." We parted soon thereafter and I managed to get myself and Emerson out of the room without our being seen by Miss Minton. I had a feeling we would hear from her before long, however. She was too good a journalist to let go her hold on a source. When we