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By Root 1441 0

than I to evaluate the effect of large quantities of beer), they did not hear the men climbing over the wall, and it was not until those individuals were discovered by the dogs that the barking of the said dogs roused Bob and Jerry. They arrived on the scene in time to drive off the would-be burglars, to the great disappointment of the dogs, who had been trying to induce the visitors to throw sticks for them. Do not worry, Mama and Papa, I have thought of a way of ensuring that this will not occur again.

“In conclusion, let me say that I am all the more determined to join you and offer the affectionate assistance only a son can render. I now have three pounds eighteen shillings.

“Curse it!”

“Why does he say… Oh,” said Cyrus.

“The expletive was mine,” I admitted. “Ramses is saving his money to buy a steamship ticket.”

“Now don’t worry, my dear. A child can’t purchase a ticket, or travel alone; someone would catch him before the boat left the dock.”

“I dare not hope that difficulty has not occurred to Ramses. He probably intends to persuade Gargery to buy the tickets and accompany him. Gargery is a weak vessel, I fear; not only would he aid and abet Ramses in any wild scheme the latter proposed, but he is a hopeless romantic. I must telegraph at once, forbidding him to do any such thing.”

“A telegram to your butler?” Cyrus inquired, raising his eyebrows.

“Why not, if the circumstances require it? I must warn Walter as well; he is too innocent to anticipate the diabolical machinations of which Ramses and Gargery are capable.”

“The boy will take your messages whenever you like, Amelia. There is a telegraph office at Minia.”

“It can wait till morning. I will get a letter off as well. First I had better see what lies the newspapers have printed; I can contradict them at least, if I cannot tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Immediately Cyrus brought me a stiff whiskey and soda. Thus fortified, I was able to peruse the accounts in relative calm. I left Kevin’s till last.

The brash young Irish journalist and I had had a rather up-and-down relationship. On the occasion of our first meeting his impertinent questions had so infuriated Emerson that my hot-tempered spouse had kicked him down the stairs at Shepheard’s. It was not a propitious beginning for a friendship; but Kevin had stood valiantly at our side on several occasions when danger threatened. He was at heart a gentleman and a sentimental one at that; unfortunately the gentleman and the sentimentalist were both submerged, at times, by the professional journalist.

Thanks to the whiskey (which Cyrus thoughtfully kept replenishing) I got through the first part of Kevin’s story without undue stress. “It could be worse,” I muttered. “I suppose it was impossible for Kevin to resist dragging in hints of curses and ‘doom falling at last on the head of one who had too long defied the ancient gods of Egypt.’ I am not altogether happy about his reference to…Oh, good Gad!”

I leapt to my feet. “What is it?” Cyrus asked apprehensively.

“Listen to this. ‘Our correspondent is leaving immediately for Egypt, where he hopes to interview Professor and Mrs. Emerson in order to ascertain the true facts behind this strange affair. That there are mysteries yet to be uncovered he does not doubt.’ ”

I crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it on the floor. Anubis pounced on it and began batting it back and forth.

Ordinarily this kittenish behavior on the part of a particularly large and dignified animal would have entertained me. On this occasion I was too distraught to pay him any heed. Pacing furiously, I went on, “This is disastrous news! At all costs we must prevent Kevin from speaking with Emerson.”

“Well, sure, if we can. But he’s just another consarned reporter.”

“You don’t understand, Cyrus. Isolated as we are, and with Abdullah on guard, we can fend off other journalists. Kevin’s acquaintance with our habits and his cursed Irish charm render him a more formidable opponent. Have you forgotten that it was Kevin who turned the death of Lord