Lion in the Valley - Elizabeth Peters [126]
Sir Eldon started to speak, but was anticipated by the major. “The source was unimpeachable,” he said, scowling.
“It must have been, to send you out on what might have been a wild-goose chase,” said Emerson. “Curse it, I insist upon knowing who dumped a corpse on my doorstep. I am not a man to be trifled with, Ramsay.”
“Damn it, Professor,” Ramsay began.
“My dear fellow, there are ladies present,” Sir Eldon exclaimed. “Speaking of ladies—I am correct, madam, am I not, in assuming that you are Miss Enid Debenham, whose prolonged absence has caused such concern to my office?”
“I am she.”
“And I,” said Donald, “am Donald Fraser. I expect, Sir Eldon, that you have been looking for me too.”
Sir Eldon bowed. It was clear that his unknown informant had told him, not only about the death of Ronald, but the presence of Donald. “It is my duty to inform you,” he began.
“For once I agree with Professor Emerson,” growled the major. “Let’s get this over with.”
He gestured. One of the constables stepped forward. There was a click, and a soft moan from Enid, and Donald stood handcuffed before us.
•
Thirteen
•
Enid insisted upon accompanying Donald to Cairo. Sir Eldon tried to dissuade her, but Major Ramsay, who had no gentlemanly instincts, said she might as well come along, since she would have to give a statement and he had a lot of questions to ask her. I of course assured her I would follow as soon as possible. Instead of protesting, as I expected, Emerson only gave me an odd look and said nothing.
One of the constables was left behind to search for the weapon. As I departed from my tent with my sponge-bag over my arm, I saw him disconsolately surveying the vast and tumbled terrain.
We had to bustle in order to catch the morning train. I say we, for to my surprise I discovered that Emerson meant to come with me. I was about to express my approval and my pleasure when Emerson put an end to both by pointing out that we would have to take Ramses too. He was quite correct; leaving Ramses at Dahshoor was too fraught with terrible possibilities to be contemplated. He had Abdullah and the other men completely under his thumb. It need hardly be said that Bastet also accompanied us, for Ramses refused to be parted from her for any length of time.
I could not make out what Emerson was planning. For him to abandon his work was almost unheard of, yet he had not even given Abdullah directions as to how to proceed, only told him to declare a holiday.
As soon as we had taken our seats on the train, I began my inquiries. I thought it better not to ask Emerson pointblank what was on his mind, but instead attempted to work up to it by subtle indirection.
“I trust,” I began, “that the events of this morning have altered your appraisal of the situation and brought you around to my way of thinking.”
“I doubt it,” Emerson said curtly.
“Your belief that Donald’s difficulties are purely domestic in nature—I believe you used that phrase—was obviously erroneous. Unless you think Donald killed his brother?”
“It seems unlikely,” said Ramses, who had recovered his breath after being yanked into the compartment and thrust into a seat. “Mr. Donald Fraser is not distinguished by great intellectual capacity—indeed, I cannot help but wonder what a lady of Miss Debenham’s superior qualities could possibly see in him—but there is no reason why he should go to the trouble of carrying the body a long distance from the scene of the murder in order to place it conspicuously in front of your tent.”
“Humph,” said Emerson, tacitly acknowledging the truth of Ramses’ analysis.
“Furthermore,” Ramses continued, “if the pistol was his, it must have been procured in the last day or two, since he did not have it with him when he came, and I do not see how—”
“Did you have the effrontery to search the young man’s belongings?” I demanded indignantly.
“He had no belongings,” Ramses replied calmly. “Except