Here he removed the lid of Hatatcha’s mummy case and carefully dusted the interior. The forty days were ended. The case might have its occupant before morning.
Within the splendidly carven casket Kāra found an oblong green stone, with polished flat surfaces. On one of these surfaces was the cartouche of Ahtka-Rā, as follows:
[Image of the hyroglyphic cartouche not available.]
The Egyptian examined this relic5 carefully and placed it in his pocket. It was the emerald that Hatatcha had promised the dwarf6 Sebbet in payment for embalming8 her body. How Andalaft’s eyes would sparkle could he but see this wonder!{96}
But this thought reminded Kāra that he was loitering. He picked up his lamp and went to the mummy of Ahtka-Rā, sliding back the slab9 of malachite and descending10 through the opening to the treasure chamber hidden below.
His first act was to inventory11 carefully the contents of the twelve great vases that stood upon their alabaster12 pedestals. From these vases he abstracted choice specimens13 of emeralds, sapphires14, diamonds and rubies15, filling with them several small leathern sacks he had brought concealed16 upon his person. Perhaps he had taken a fortune in this careless manner; but so vast was the treasure that the contents of the vases seemed scarcely disturbed.
In one of the numerous jars resting upon the granite17 floor, and which had doubtless been added to the hoard18 at a much later period than that of Ahtka-Rā, the Egyptian found a quantity of pearls of a size and quality that rendered them almost peerless among the treasures of the world. The jar contained a full quart, and Kāra took them all. At the moment he did not comprehend their value, although Hatatcha had told him that a single one of these pearls would be sufficient to ransom19 a kingdom.
The gems20 he had already secured were enough to weigh heavily upon his person; but Kāra was greedy. He examined the contents of many jars and vases, choosing here and there a jewel that appealed to his fancy, and adding to his selection a number of exquisite{97} ornaments21 of wrought22 gold; but at last he was forced to admit that he had taken enough from the treasure chamber to answer his present purposes, and so he reluctantly returned to the vault23 above.
As he closed the slab, his eye fell upon a strange jewel set in the mummy case of Ahtka-Rā. It was surrounded by a protecting band of chased gold, and sparkled under the rays of Kāra’s lamp in a manner that distinguished24 it from any of the thousands of other gems that literally25 covered the mummy case of the great Egyptian; for at first this odd jewel had a dark steely lustre26, which changed while Kāra’s eyes rested upon it to a rich transparent27 orange, and then to an opal ground with tongues of flame running through it. A moment later the color had faded to a dull gray, which gradually took on a greenish tinge28.
Kāra set down the lamp and pried29 the stone from its setting with the point of his dagger, placing it afterward30 in a secure inner pocket of his robe. As he did so, a golden bust31 of Isis that stood upon the mummy case toppled and fell to the pavement, and from a hollow underneath32 the bust rolled a small manuscript of papyrus33. This Kāra took also, and replaced the bust in its former position. His nerves must have been of iron, for the uncanny incident had not even startled him.
Now he made his way back to the entrance and along the passage, finally emerging with his treasure into the room that had been his former dwelling-place. All was silent and dark. A mild bray34 from the blind Nikko’s{98} donkey was occasionally heard, and at times the far-away hoot35 of a desert owl36; but those within the village seemed steeped in slumber37.
Kāra divided his burden by placing the greater part in his traveling case, which he locked securely. Then he reclined upon the rushes and was about to compose himself to sleep when the mat across the archway was thrust aside and Sebbet entered.
“I am here, most royal one!” he announced.
Kāra sat up.
“And my grandmother?” he inquired.
“Here also, my prince. Ah, how natural is Hatatcha! You will be delighted. It is a skilful38 and almost perfect piece of work, even though I praise my own craft in saying so.”
With these words the dwarf led in the donkey. Upon its back was the form of a swaddled mummy, which was bound to a flat plank39 to hold it rigidly40 extended.
“I will show you the face,” continued Sebbet, in an eager tone, as he lifted the mummy and placed it upon the ground.
“Do not trouble yourself,” said Kāra. “I will look upon my grandmother at my leisure. The night is waning41. Take your price and go your way.”
He handed the dwarf the emerald, holding the lamp, which he had relighted, while Sebbet examined the stone with great care.
“Yes; it is the great emerald with the cartouche of Ahtka-Rā,” said the embalmer42, in a low, grave voice.{99} “Osiris be praised that at last it is my own! Hatatcha was a wise woman, and she kept her word.”
Kāra extinguished the light, but the moon was shining and sent some of its rays through the arch to relieve the gloom.
“Good-night,” said he.
The dwarf stood still, thinking deeply. Finally he said, glancing at the mummy:
“Where will my old friend repose43?”
“It is her secret,” returned the prince, brusquely. “She trusted you not to ask questions.”
“And yourself? Will you not wish to be mummified when your course is run?”
Kāra laughed.
“Ah, my Sebbet, are you immortal44?” he asked. “Do you expect to live to embalm7 all the generations? You made a mummy of my great-grandmother and of my grandmother. Your hairs are now white. Be content, and think upon your own future.”
“That has already occupied my mind,” answered the dwarf, quietly. “Farewell, then, prince of a royal line. Your ancestors thought first of the tomb, then of the life preceding it. You are indulging in life, with no thought of the tomb and the resurrection. It is the new order of things, the trend of a civilization that forgets its dead and hides the silent ones in the earth, that they may putrify and decay and become mere45 dust. Very well; the age is yours, not mine. May Osiris guide thy life, my prince!”{100}
He turned to his donkey and led the ghost-like animal out into the night. Kāra stood still, and in a moment he could hear their footsteps no longer.
Then he secured the mat before the arch and for a second time swung back the stone in the wall. This done, he felt in the dusk for the mummy of Hatatcha, and lifting it in his arms, bore it through the opening and replaced the stone. The body was heavy, and he panted as he paused to light his lamp.
It was nearly an hour before Kāra, weary and perspiring46, finally deposited the mummy of his grandmother beside its elaborately constructed case. He then unfastened the straps47 that bound it to the board, and by exercising great care succeeded in placing the body in its coffin48 without breaking or injuring it. Next he removed the outer strips of linen49 that swathed the head until the outlines of Hatatcha’s face showed clearly through its mask of tightly drawn50 bandages. Then he stood aside, and holding up the lamp, gazed long and earnestly upon the calm features.
“I promised,” he murmured, “here to repeat my oath: That I will show no mercy to any one of Lord Roane’s family; that I will hunt them down, every one, as a tiger hunts his prey51, and crush and humble52 them in the eyes of all men; that not one shall finally escape my vengeance53, and that all shall know in the end that it was Hatatcha who destroyed them. So be it. By āmen-Rā, the Sun-God who gave me being; by Ahtka-Rā, whose blood now courses through my veins54; by my{101} hope of peace on earth and in the life to come, I swear that Hatatcha’s will shall be obeyed!”
His voice was cold and even of tone; his face grave, but unmoved. He placed his hand upon the breast of the mummy and repeated the mystic sign he had used at her death-bed. This done, he raised the heavy carved lid of the case and placed it in position.
* * * * * * * *
Next morning Kāra gave Nephthys a kiss and returned across the river on his way to Cairo. The dragoman carried the traveling bag and grumbled55 at its weight. He was in a bad humor. It is all very well to make money, and Kāra is a veritable mine; but had Tadros realized that Nephthys was so fat and flabby, it would have required much more than a roll of papyrus to induce him to part with her. True, he had managed, while her master was asleep, to stealthily meet the girl and embrace her; but he lacked the satisfaction that exists in proprietorship56. One should be careful about selling young women. They are like untried camels—liable to develop unexpected and valuable qualities.
These reflections engrossed57 the dragoman all the way to Cairo; but there were other things to demand his attention. Prince Kāra announced his intention of taking the next steamer to Naples, and then traveling to Paris and London. He asked Tadros to accompany him.{102}
“But that is impossible!” was the reply. “I am a dragoman of Egypt, the chief of my profession, a guide unequaled for knowledge, intelligence and fidelity58 in all the land! But take me away from my own country, and what am I? Take me from the poor tourists, and what will become of them?”
“I need you in Europe, to do things in my service that I would not dare propose to anyone else. I believe,” said the prince, coolly, “that you are an unprincipled scoundrel. You lie easily and without hesitation59; you rob me cheerfully every day that you are in my employ; you have no conscience and no morality, except that you are afraid of the law. I have studied your character with care, and I have estimated it aright.”
Tadros first looked shame-faced, then humble, then indignant.
“By every god of Egypt,” he cried, earnestly, “I am an honest man!”
“That is proof of my assertion to the contrary,” replied the unmoved Kāra. “Now, I need a scoundrel to assist me, and you are the man of my choice. Continue to fleece me, if you like; I do not mind. But if you serve me faithfully in some delicate matters that will soon require my attention, I will make you the richest dragoman alive, so that Raschid and the Haieks will all turn green with envy. On the other hand, should you choose to betray me, you will not require riches, for the nether60 world has no commerce.”
Tadros thought it over.{103}
“We are Egyptians,” he said, at last. “Your enemies are equally mine. Very well; command and I will obey. Are you not a prince of my people? And why should I ever wish to betray you?”
“Because wise men sometimes become fools. In your case a lapse61 from wisdom means death. Others may bribe62 you with an equal amount of money, but I alone will exact the penalty for betrayal. I think you will remain wise.”
“Ah, that is certain, my prince!” declared Tadros, with conviction.
And so Kāra sailed from Alexandria, taking with him the great diamonds which the Van der Veens had already recut, the wonderful pearls which no eye but his had yet beheld63, and the priceless treasures of Ahtka-Rā.
The dragoman followed him, humble and obedient.
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1
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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7
embalm
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| v.保存（尸体）不腐 | |
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embalming
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| v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的现在分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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9
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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10
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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11
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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12
alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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13
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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14
sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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15
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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16
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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17
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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18
hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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21
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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24
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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29
pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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40
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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41
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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42
embalmer
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| 尸体防腐者 | |
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43
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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45
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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46
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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47
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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48
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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49
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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50
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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51
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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52
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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53
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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54
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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55
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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56
proprietorship
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| n.所有（权）；所有权 | |
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57
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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58
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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59
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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60
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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61
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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62
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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63
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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