Then the dragoman, wishing to know to what secret place the old woman’s remains1 had been taken, and from which direction Kāra returned, and having a fair share of oriental shrewdness, had stretched two threads across the narrow street—one on either side the arch—and afterward2 returned to his couch in the house of old S?ra to sleep.
Daybreak found him awake and stirring. He discovered both his threads unbroken, yet the young Egyptian was sound asleep within the room. The dragoman scratched his left ear in perplexity and shook his head. Kāra was doubtless clever, but his unusual actions led Tadros to believe there was something important afoot. And that matter of the coins and the ancient jewel of old Hatatcha was well worth investigating.
He sat down cross-legged in the cool arch and waited. Kāra slept on. The girl Nephthys brought{64} the dragoman a cake for his breakfast, silently placed it in his hand, and carried her jar to the river. On her return she paused to allow her master to drink and then left him again.
Tadros lighted a cigarette and smoked it to the end. Then he pushed aside the mat and looked into the room long and steadily3. Kāra lay like one dead; in some strange manner the lazy one must have exhausted4 his strength—perhaps in carrying his grandmother’s corpse5 to some far-away tomb. Ah, that was the secret place, doubtless, from whence the coins and the jewel had come. Kāra must know of it, and therefore it would be well for Tadros to win his confidence. What was that heap of rushes in the corner, and why had they been taken from Hatatcha’s former couch? The dragoman was suddenly interested. He unfastened a portion of the mat and crept into the room. Kāra did not hear him. Softly he advanced on hands and knees to the corner. He felt among the rushes and drew out a roll of papyrus6.
For a moment the dragoman sat still, his heart beating wildly. Here was a find, indeed! He knew of a dozen scholars who would willingly bankrupt themselves to discover a new papyrus roll.
He crawled slowly back to the arch and seated himself where a ray of light came between the mat and the gray stones. Here he unrolled the manuscript and examined it eagerly. He did not claim to be much of a student, but he could read hieroglyphics7 a little and{65} was a judge of ancient picture-writing. Here was doubtless a scroll8 of great antiquity9 and value, relating incidents of the war of Rameses against the Kheta, and its state of preservation10 was wonderful. In this place was a list of captives brought back to Thebes; in that was the expense account of the army. Here was told the—
“Henf!”
The sharp, quick cry was followed by a sudden rustle11 of the rushes, and with a spring like that of a panther, Kāra was upon the impudent12 intruder into his domain13. Before Tadros could rise, his assailant was kneeling upon his body and with lithe14, delicate fingers clutching viciously at his throat. The dragoman struggled to free himself, but could not. He tried to breathe, without effect. The skin of his bronzed face grew black, and his eyes protruded15 from their sockets16 with a look of horror and fear.
Seeing this, Kāra’s set face suddenly relaxed and lost its look of murderous determination. He released his hold of the dragoman and pushed away the mat to allow more air to get to him.
Slowly the other, gasping17 and uttering low moans, recovered his breath. Kāra’s fingers had left great discoloured blotches18 upon his neck; but that did not matter. From certain death he was coming back to life, and the transition was one to evoke19 gratitude20 and joy. Life was sweet to the dragoman—the sweetest thing he possessed21.{66}
Kāra, standing22 erect23, looked down upon him with arms folded in repose24 and a countenance25 very thoughtful. Two reasons had stayed his vengeful hands. To murder Tadros would get him into trouble with the authorities, and so cause him great annoyance26 at this critical juncture27, when liberty of action and freedom from espionage28 was important. In the second place, his half-formed plans included the use of the dragoman for his own advantage. Tadros was both clever and well known. He would become a good servant when he knew it would further his personal interest to be faithful, and so it was best that the dragoman should live—for a time.
He had now almost recovered from the shock of Kāra’s assault, and began to grow angry.
“What do you mean, you dog, by felling me like a wild beast and trying to throttle29 me?” he demanded, with his first breath.
“What do you mean by stealing into my house and prying30 into my private affairs?” returned Kāra brusquely.
The dragoman’s eyes fell upon the papyrus at his feet, and his face changed its expression.
“Where did you get it?” he asked, quickly. “Are there more of them? Is it a tomb or a temple? Tell me, Kāra, tell me all about it.”
The Egyptian smiled, grimly.
“There are more of them,” he said. “Look! in that corner are fourteen other rolls; but whether they{67} came from a tomb or a temple I do not know. They are my inheritance from Hatatcha. Where she found them she alone could have told; but she carried the secret to the nether31 world.”
Tadros mused32 for a time.
“Where have they been kept all these years?” he asked in a tone of disbelief.
“Hidden underneath33 the rushes of her bed. I dragged them all out last night, as you can see.”
“Were there any more of the coins?”
“A few.” He showed some in his hand.
“Ah!”
The dragoman drew a deep breath.
“You are rich, my prince,” said he. “Fifteen papyri of the ancient days!—they are worth a fortune in any event.”
“How much?” asked Kāra, amused.
“This one,” said Tadros, picking it up and partly unrolling it to glance again at the writing, “I could sell in Cairo for five hundred piastres—perhaps a thousand. It is wonderfully clear and well preserved.”
“You may keep it for yourself,” said Kāra.
Tadros stared.
“I will exchange it for the girl Nephthys,” continued the young man, coolly. “For her you have paid to old S?ra two hundred and fifty piastres already. You must pay a like sum to take the girl away with you, and afterward you must pay for her support. Very well; I will relieve you of the burden. You will not only save your{68} money, but you will get a papyrus worth four times what you have invested.”
Tadros frowned and looked glum34.
“But the girl is mine!” he exclaimed.
“And the papyrus is mine,” returned Kāra. “Perhaps I could buy two or three like Nephthys with it; but never mind, it shall be yours in the way of exchange.”
Tadros moved uneasily and cast a longing35 glance at the roll.
“I like not this barbaric traffic in womankind,” he muttered, with indecision.
“Nor I,” agreed Kāra. “It is S?ra who is to blame. If she has a fat daughter, she will want a fat price for her. Otherwise, how can she be recompensed for the girl’s keep? But five hundred is too much for Nephthys. I would have to give her mother the other two hundred and fifty piastres myself—and you would have the roll. By Isis, ’tis a bad bargain! Here; let us say no more about it. Give me the papyrus.”
“Wait—wait!” cried Tadros. “Why are you so unjust in your conclusions? The bargain is made. No one but a sneaking36 Arab goes back on his word.”
“It is as you say,” replied Kāra, stretching his long arms and yawning. “But it is a fine papyrus, Tadros—all about the Kheta and King Rameses.”
“I know; I know!” returned the dragoman, nervously37 tucking his prize under his arm. “Come with{69} me at once. I will inform S?ra of the transfer of my property.”
He rose to his feet a little unsteadily, because his throat still hurt him, and led the way.
Kāra quietly followed.
In S?ra’s hovel mother and daughter were weaving upon a rude cane38 loom39.
“See here,” announced the dragoman; “this Nephthys is too free with her favors, and I cannot be coming forever to this forsaken40 village to look after her. Besides, I must get back to Cairo to attend to my business, so I have sold the girl to my friend Kāra here, and when he takes her away from you, if ever he does, he is to pay the other two hundred and fifty piastres I promised.”
S?ra seemed surprised, but nodded her head cheerfully.
“It is all the same to me,” she replied. “If the royal one has the money to satisfy you, it is none of my business, I am sure. An alliance with the descendant of the great Ahtka-Rā is something to be proud of.”
The girl had broken a thread. As she prepared to retie it, she glanced from one to the other of the two men with a look of indifference41.
“I do not promise to make Nephthys a wife,” said Kāra, slowly, “although, of course, it may come to that. My plans are not formed for the future. But I have acquired the girl in betrothal42 through my compact with Tadros, and his rights are hereafter mine.”{70}
“She grows plumper every day,” said S?ra, glancing at Nephthys critically. “You will seek long, my Kāra, before you find a more desirable wife. Yet I am in no hurry to lose my daughter, believe me, even for the money she will bring. Take your time about deciding the matter.”
“I will,” responded Kāra, briefly43.
“And now, tell me, what has become of your grandmother, Hatatcha?”
“I have carried her into the desert to be embalmed44.”
And then, to avoid further questioning, he went away.
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1
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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hieroglyphics
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| n.pl.象形文字 | |
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8
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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9
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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12
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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17
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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18
blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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evoke
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| vt.唤起，引起，使人想起 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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27
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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28
espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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29
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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30
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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31
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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33
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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40
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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41
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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42
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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43
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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44
embalmed
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| adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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