The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [92]
I was not inclined to ignore the challenge, or to betray Ahmet, who, I considered, was in enough trouble already. ‘You say you know me, Ayesha. Then you must also know I have ways of finding people. I saw you last night, and my keen eyes penetrated your disguise.’
‘Last night?’ Her long neck curved, poised like that of a cobra about to strike. ‘At the . . . Wahyât en-nebi! It was you?’
‘It was I,’ I said calmly. ‘Your eyes did not penetrate my disguise.’
‘Then he took you there. Or at least he allowed . . .’
A sudden burst of light made me shade my eyes. When I lowered my hand I saw she had lit an oil lamp. It had been placed so that the beams fell directly on my face, and then I knew why I had been told to take that particular seat.
She studied me in silence for what seemed like a long time. I remained motionless and let her look her fill. I knew what she saw – not rippling locks nor supple limbs nor features of exquisite beauty – but I had known before ever I went there that I could not fight her and win on that ground. I did not intend to try.
At last a soft, sibilant sound that might have been laughter or a hiss of contempt escaped her lips. ‘He took you there,’ she repeated thoughtfully. ‘I had heard . . . But I found it difficult to believe. So, Sitt Hakim, wife of the great Emerson Effendi – you have found me. You honour my poor house. What do you want from me, the lowest of low slaves?’
I ignored this as the irony it undoubtedly was, and proceeded with my little speech, which I had carefully planned in advance. ‘I want your help, Miss – er – Madam Ayesha, to catch a murderer. You are surely aware that one of your countrymen has been arrested under suspicion of killing Mr Oldacre?’
‘I know it,’ she acknowledged.
‘And you are also aware that Ahmet is innocent.’
‘I do not know that. How should I know it?’
‘Oh, come, my dear – that is, Madam Ayesha. Let us not fence with one another. We both know that the police, being mere men, are not overly intelligent. However, they cannot be so dull as to believe a miserable worm like Ahmet committed the crime. This is some trick of theirs. I have thought the matter over and I have come to the conclusion that the only reason why they would “ask him to assist them in their inquiries,” as they express it, is because they suspect that some person – or several persons – in the Egyptian community is involved in the crime. Ahmet is a dupe, a decoy, or a potential informer.’
She listened intently, her great dark eyes fixed on my face. When I paused, inviting her reply, she was slow to respond. Finally she muttered, ‘It is possible. But how does that concern me? I don’t fear those bunglers at Scotland Yard. I have powerful friends –’
‘I am sure you do. But friends are sometimes false, when danger or disgrace threatens. At the least the attentions of the police must disrupt your – er – business activities, as was the case last night. Now I am certain the killer is not an Egyptian, but an Englishman –’
‘What? Why do you believe that?’
‘You ask questions, but you do not answer them, sitt.’ I now spoke in Arabic. ‘I think you know more than you admit. How could you be ignorant of what is happening among your own people, wealthy and influential as you are?’
She sat up, crossing her legs, and rested her chin on her slender hand. ‘I am ignorant of that matter, at least. You won’t believe me –’
‘If you are speaking the truth, sitt, I respectfully suggest that you had better begin to make inquiries – for your own sake. Together we could accomplish a great deal. As women – and women of considerable ability, each in her own sphere –’
Her little hiss of laughter – for such I had decided it must be – interrupted me. ‘You compare us, Sitt Hakim? You must want something very badly, to stoop to that.’
‘Not at all; I only give you what is your due. I am familiar with the customs of the East and I am well aware of the difficulties you had to overcome in order to attain wealth and independence –’
‘You are mad! How