The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [158]
Emerson’s lips parted. He was in a quizzical mood that evening, and I thought it wiser not to allow him to offer a suggestion, so I hastened on.
‘As early as the twelfth century, there is a record of a physician prescribing ground-up mummy as medicine. Four centuries later, mummy was a standard drug, to be found in apothecaries’ shops throughout Europe. Large quantities of mummies were imported for that purpose, and when the supply dwindled, unscrupulous persons manufactured them, from fresh cadavers.
‘One would suppose that in this modern age, the advancement of science and reason would have destroyed this superstition, but in fact there are still shops in London and, I am told, in Paris and in New York, where powdered mummy can be purchased. Ignorance never dies, Ramses and gentlemen; and when it is combined with desperation, we can hardly wonder that the young Earl was ready to believe that the revolting substance, drawn from an unimpeachably genuine source, and combined with solemn rituals and prayers, might assist his desperate need.
‘Like Oldacre, Wilson met the Earl through Lord St John, who does have a dilettante’s interest in archaeology, and who also possesses a perverse sense of humour. They were all involved in the original scheme. Why should Lord St John not participate if it comforted his friend and allowed him to mock the conventions he despised? At first the rituals and concomitant orgies took place at Mauldy Manor; it is no wonder the housemaids heard strange noises from the room in question at various times. Then the Earl’s father discovered what was going on. He was no saint, but these perversions appalled him; he presented the violated mummy to the British Museum and forbade further experiments. Shortly thereafter he died; and although it probably can never be proved, I suspect the hunting accident was no accident. It would be interesting to obtain a list of the guests who were present on that occasion.
‘I also suspect that Oldacre was not one of the original members of the conspiracy. He may have discovered what was happening in the dignified halls of the Museum and was then, perforce, allowed to join the group. Not content with a subordinate role, he demanded greater power and a share of the money Wilson was squeezing from Lord Liverpool. So Wilson killed him. He considered himself quite safe, did the gentle Mr Wilson, until Emerson and I entered the case. He knew our reputations, and feared (quite correctly, as it proved) that we would see through his scheme. It was my discovery of Ayesha’s involvement that brought matters to a head. As Emerson once pointed out, most opium dens are managed by Indians or Chinese; it was not mere happenchance that Lord Liverpool procured his supply of the drug from this particular establishment. He was introduced to it and to Ayesha by Wilson, who had worked in Egypt, and had connections in the Egyptian community here.
‘By this time Wilson faced another dangerous dilemma. The Earl was dying; the grim, though lucrative charade could not be continued much longer. In the beginning, Lord St John had been a willing participant in the scheme; they all took turns playing the sem priest, which is why that mysterious individual’s behaviour confused us so – on one occasion hesitant and unsure of his role, on another confident and cool. As time went on St John came to despise Wilson, and to resent his power over Liverpool; but by then he was helpless to interfere. Liverpool would brook no criticism of the man he hoped would save his life, and after the murder of Oldacre convinced St