Death Comes as End - Agatha Christie [63]
‘There is an evil of the heart, Imhotep, that does not show in the face.’
‘You mean that one of our servants, or a slave–’
‘No servant and no slave, Imhotep.’
‘One of ourselves? Or else–do you mean Hori or Kameni? But Hori is one of the family, he has proved himself faithful and trustworthy. And Kameni–he is a stranger, true, but he is of our blood and he has proved his devotion by his zeal in my service. Moreover he came to me only this morning and urged that I should consent to his marriage with Renisenb.’
‘Oh, he did, did he?’ Esa showed interest. ‘And what did you say?’
‘What could I say?’ Imhotep was fretful. ‘Is this a time to talk of marriage? I said as much to him.’
‘And what did he say to that?’
‘He said that in his opinion this was the time to talk of marriage. He said that Renisenb was not safe in this house.’
‘I wonder,’ said Esa. ‘I very much wonder…Is she? I thought she was–and Hori thought so–but now…’
Imhotep went on.
‘Can one have marriages and funeral ceremonies going on side by side? It is not decent. The whole Nome would talk about it.’
‘This is no time for convention,’ said Esa. ‘Especially since it would seem that the embalmers’ men are with us permanently. All this must be a blessing to Ipi and Montu–the firm must be doing exceptionally well.’
‘They have put their charges up by ten per cent!’ Imhotep was momentarily diverted. ‘Iniquitous! They say that labour is more expensive.’
‘They should give us a cut rate price for quantity!’ Esa smiled grimly at her joke.
‘My dear mother,’ Imhotep looked at her in horror. ‘This is not a jest.’
‘All life is a jest, Imhotep–and it is death who laughs last. Do you not hear it at every feast? Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you die? Well, that is very true for us here–it is a question only of whose death will come tomorrow.’
‘What you say is terrible–terrible! What can be done?’
‘Trust no one,’ said Esa. ‘That is the first, the most vital thing.’ She repeated with emphasis: ‘Trust no one.’
Henet began to sob.
‘Why do you look at me…I’m sure if anyone is worthy of trust, I am. I’ve proved it over all these years. Don’t listen to her, Imhotep.’
‘There, there, my good Henet–naturally I trust you. I know only too well your true and devoted heart.’
‘You know nothing,’ said Esa. ‘None of us know anything. That is our danger.’
‘You accused me,’ whined Henet.
‘I cannot accuse. I have neither knowledge nor proof–only suspicion.’
Imhotep looked up sharply.
‘You have suspicion–of whom?’
Esa said slowly: ‘I have suspected once–and twice–and a third time. I will be honest, I suspected first Ipy–but Ipy is dead, so that suspicion was false. Then I suspected another person–but, on the very day of Ipy’s death, yet a third idea came to me…’
She paused.
‘Are Hori and Kameni in the house? Send for them here–yes, and Renisenb too from the kitchen. And Kait and Yahmose. I have something to say and all the house should hear it.’
II
Esa looked round at the assembled family. She met Yahmose’s grave and gentle glance, Kameni’s ready smile, the frightened inquiry in Renisenb’s eyes, the placid incurious glance of Kait, the quiet inscrutability of Hori’s thoughtful gaze, the irritable fear of Imhotep’s twitching face and the avid curiosity and–yes–pleasure in Henet’s eyes.
She thought: ‘Their faces tell me nothing. They show only the outward emotion. Yet surely, if I am right, there must be some betrayal.’
Aloud she said: ‘I have something to say to you all–but first I will speak only to Henet–here in front of all of you.’
Henet’s expression changed–the avidity and the pleasure went out of it. She looked frightened. Her voice rose in a shrill protest.
‘You suspect me, Esa. I knew it! You will make a case against me and how am I, a poor woman with no great wits, to defend myself? I shall be condemned–condemned unheard.’
‘Not unheard,’ said Esa with irony and saw Hori smile.
Henet went on, her voice growing more and more hysterical.
‘I have done nothing–I am innocent…Imhotep, my dearest master, save me…’ She flung