The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [28]
‘I have not changed my mind, Peabody. Ramses is a good little chap – in his way – I am sure he really was trying to be helpful, and perhaps I was a trifle harsh. But he is . . . He sometimes . . . He really is a trifle odd, Peabody, don’t you think? He has been too much in the company of adults. It will do him good to join in the innocent games of ordinary youngsters. Cricket and – er – that sort of thing.’
‘Did you ever play cricket, Emerson?’
‘I? Good Gad, no! Can you picture ME wasting my time with what is probably the most infernally illogical and pointless activity ever conceived by the human brain?’
And when he put it in that light, I had to confess that I could not.
IV
DO not suppose, dear Reader, that I had forgotten or dismissed the interesting occurrences of the early evening, particularly the appearance of the eerie apparition. It was not until the morning after these events, however, that I was able to turn my attention to a consideration of their meaning.
I usually wake before Emerson does. Sometimes I take advantage of the interlude to write letters and compose articles for archaeological journals; more often I lie quietly in bed, planning my activities for the day. I daresay my mental processes are assisted by Emerson’s presence at my side; the vigorous sounds of his breathing, the solidity and warmth of his person remind me that in many respects I am among the most fortunate of women.
If memory serves me correctly (which it seldom fails to do), my thoughts that morning ran along the following lines.
Imitation is not unknown in the annals of crime. Indeed, an intelligent criminal might well take advantage of a series of murders or robberies by inserting (so to speak) a single effort of his own, similar in method and appearance, thereby disguising his true motive. It was possible that a second lunatic, too limited in imagination to invent his own eccentricity, had imitated the original sem priest. However, that did not seem likely. I had no doubt the apparition I had seen was the same one who haunted the halls of the British Museum. He might be mad, but he was not without intelligence. In common with most of the other inhabitants of London, he could easily have ascertained where we were staying and when we would be likely to arrive there. That he should be curious about us was not surprising; the newspapers had intimated we were about to be consulted by the Museum. But, much as I would like to have hoped that I had become an object of interest to a homicidal maniac, that premise did not stand up, for the simple reason that no homicide had been committed. Emerson had been right all along, and I . . . I too had been correct, since I had never believed the malignant mummy was anything more than a journalistic faradiddle. The lunatic had no murderous designs upon us; he had not even fired a revolver in our direction.
I had reached this stage in my meditations and was struggling to control the disappointment and chagrin my conclusions provoked, when the door opened and Rose poked her head in.
‘Hush,’ I hissed. ‘The professor is still asleep.’
‘Indeed, madam?’ Her voice was not hushed; indeed, it was a trifle loud. ‘I came to ask whether Master Ramses may leave his room.’
‘I cannot say, Rose. The professor confined him to his room, it is the professor’s decision as to whether he may leave it.’
‘Yes, madam.’ Rose’s voice rose to a well-bred shriek. ‘May I inquire –’
‘No, you may not. I don’t want you to wake the professor.’
‘Of course, madam. Thank you, madam.’ She slammed the door. Emerson stirred irritably. ‘She always takes Ramses’ part,’ he muttered, and pulled the sheet over his head.
He was obviously awake, and obviously out of temper. There was no use remaining, since he would not be in a proper frame of mind to pursue the course of action that often recommended itself to him on occasions when conditions were propitious. I therefore arose, dressed – not thinking it wise to request Rose’s assistance – and went downstairs.
I wanted to get Emerson out of London as quickly as