Lion In The Valley Part 24

Musingly I pondered the possible significance of such a recurring dream. Further study of the subject suggested itself. I resolved to take advantage of the prolongation of this vision to explore the ambiance more thoroughly, so I swung my feet off the couch and stood up.

A wave of giddiness sent me reeling back onto the cushions. But it was not that unpleasant sensation so much as the cool marble against the soles of my bare feet that brought the shocking truth home to me. This was not a dream. I was here, in the flesh-and someone had had the audacity to remove my boots!

And my tools! They were the first things I reached for; the dizziness had pa.s.sed, and I was fully alert and capable of reasoning logically. Logic quickly informed me of the full horror of my situation. How he had abducted me in broad daylight from a crowded hotel I did not know, but I had no doubt of his ident.i.ty. Only Sethos could be so bold; only he could carry out such a daring plot. And he was-he must be-the vapid viscount! The little trick with the winegla.s.s, so deftly performed, had given him an opportunity to drug my wine. Emerson had been right and I had been wrong. The only consolation was that Ramses had been wrong too.

My heart was beating rather more rapidly than was comfortable, but the emotion that tingled through me was not so much fear as intense determination, mingled, I confess, with a burning curiosity. Was I at last to come face to face with the enigmatic personage whose exploits had aroused in me both repugnance and a certain unwilling admiration? There is, all critics agree, a dark grandeur in Milton's Satan; his local emissary could not but inspire a degree of the same respect. face to face with the enigmatic personage whose exploits had aroused in me both repugnance and a certain unwilling admiration? There is, all critics agree, a dark grandeur in Milton's Satan; his local emissary could not but inspire a degree of the same respect.

Without moving from my seat, I took stock of the situation. Now I understood the absence of the crystal gla.s.ses and decanter I had seen in my dream. There was not a single object in the room that could be used as a weapon. My tools and my parasol had been taken, my pistol had been removed from its holster; even the heavy boots were gone from my feet. I saw no mirrors, no vases, no gla.s.s objects of any kind, whose shattered shards could be used to strike at an enemy or slash a vein. A grim smile, worthy of Emerson himself, crossed my lips. If Sethos feared I would attempt self-destruction in order to cheat him of his revenge, he underestimated me.

The drug had left me extremely thirsty, but I was afraid to taste the delectable fruit or drink the water from the fountain, though a delicate silver cup had been provided. Rising cautiously to my feet, I was pleased to find that I experienced no recurrence of the giddiness. A hasty circuit of the chamber revealed what I had expected. The windows, concealed behind filmy draperies, were shuttered and bolted. The shutters were beautifully carved wooden affairs, pierced in a delicate pattern to admit air, but when I applied my eye to one of the larger holes I could see only a narrow sliver of daylight, owing to the cunning curvature of the aperture. No hinges were visible; evidently they were on the outside of the shutters.

The only other exit from the room was a heavy door behind a curtain of fringed damask. Its inner surface was unmarked by hinges or keyholes or handles. I put my shoulder against it but it did not yield so much as a fraction of an inch. my shoulder against it but it did not yield so much as a fraction of an inch.

Returning to the couch, I pondered my new discoveries and was forced to conclude that they offered little hope. The room had been designed for a prisoner, and I was sure I knew what kind of prisoner. That the villain should insult me by putting me into a room of the harem made me grind my teeth in rage. Nor was my ire a.s.suaged when I discovered, spread upon the couch, such a costume as was worn by favored concubines of wealthy voluptuaries-the flowing, semi-transparent shintiyan, shintiyan, or trousers, and the or trousers, and the anteree, anteree, or vest, that leaves half the bosom exposed. A respectable woman would wear a robe over these garments even in the privacy of her house, but none had been supplied. I tossed or vest, that leaves half the bosom exposed. A respectable woman would wear a robe over these garments even in the privacy of her house, but none had been supplied. I tossed shintiyan shintiyan and and anteree anteree contemptuously onto the floor. contemptuously onto the floor.

At the moment there appeared to be nothing more I could do. The lamps were too high for me to reach, the door and windows were una.s.sailable. I could probably twist the filmy fabric of the trousers into a rope, but a rope was of no use to me except to hang myself. Yet the situation was not entirely hopeless. In his consummate arrogance, Sethos had not bothered to change his headquarters. Not that I expected anything would come of Ramses' ridiculous idea of locating the place by means of the muezzins' calls, but I knew Emerson would raze the city of Cairo to its foundations before he gave up the search. There was hope as well in the information Mr. Gregson had discovered. Perhaps even now he and Emerson were on their way to release me!

I cannot say the time dragged, for I was fully occupied in considering and dismissing ideas for escape (mostly, I confess, the latter). I had no intention of sitting supinely waiting to be rescued. When I heard the faint sound at the curtained door I was instantly on my feet and speeding across the room. I had no great expectation that my attempt would succeed, for I had only my bare hands with which to strike at the person who was about to enter, and I was also ignorant of whether the door opened in or out, to right or to left. Still, one must do one's best. Clasping my hands together in the manner demonstrated to me by an Arab thug of my acquaintance, I took up my position by the door. feet and speeding across the room. I had no great expectation that my attempt would succeed, for I had only my bare hands with which to strike at the person who was about to enter, and I was also ignorant of whether the door opened in or out, to right or to left. Still, one must do one's best. Clasping my hands together in the manner demonstrated to me by an Arab thug of my acquaintance, I took up my position by the door.

I did not see the door open, or hear it; the hinges had been well oiled. A faint draft of air was the only warning I had. It was followed by the abrupt displacement of the heavy curtain as a man pa.s.sed through. I was ready. I brought my clenched hands down with bruising force on the back of his neck.

At least that was where I had planned to strike him. My fists landed in the middle of his back and fell numb and tingling to my side. The fellow was almost seven feet tall, and his muscles felt like granite.

He was an astonishing and formidable figure, one that might have stepped straight out of the pages of The Arabian Nights. The Arabian Nights. His sole article of attire was a pair of knee-length drawers, bound at the waist by a wide crimson sash into which he had thrust a pair of long, curving swords, one on each side. Otherwise his body was bare, from the crown of his shaven head to his midriff and from his knees to the soles of his enormous feet. Every inch of his exposed skin gleamed with oil and bulged with muscle. His arms were as big around as my waist. His sole article of attire was a pair of knee-length drawers, bound at the waist by a wide crimson sash into which he had thrust a pair of long, curving swords, one on each side. Otherwise his body was bare, from the crown of his shaven head to his midriff and from his knees to the soles of his enormous feet. Every inch of his exposed skin gleamed with oil and bulged with muscle. His arms were as big around as my waist.

He glanced at me with mild curiosity. I suppose my blow must have felt to him like the brush of a b.u.t.terfly's wing. As he advanced slowly toward me I retreated, step by step, until the backs of my calves struck the couch and I sat down rather more abruptly than I had intended. That seemed to be what the apparition desired I should do. He halted, and then drew himself up into military rigidity as the curtain once more lifted to admit his master. rigidity as the curtain once more lifted to admit his master.

I knew him-yet he was no one I had ever seen before. A black beard and mustache masked the lower part of his face; but unlike the hirsute adornments he had worn in his disguise as Father Girgis, this beard was short and neatly trimmed. Tinted gla.s.ses concealed his eyes, and I had no doubt that his black, waving locks were false. He wore riding boots and breeches and a white silk shirt with full sleeves, a costume that set off his narrow waist and broad shoulders, and made me wonder how he could ever have played the role of the hollow-chested, feeble-looking young n.o.bleman.

With a peremptory gesture he dismissed the guard. The giant dropped to the floor in a deep salaam and then went out.

"Good afternoon, Amelia," said Sethos. "I hope I may call you that?"

"You may not," I replied.

"Defiant as ever," he murmured. "It does not surprise me to find your spirit undaunted and your courage high; but are you not in the least curious as to how I brought you here?"

"Curiosity is a quality I hope I will never lose," I said. "But at the moment the question of how I came here interests me less than the more important question of how I will get away."

"Allow me to satisfy the former question, then," came the suave reply. "But first, let us make ourselves comfortable."

He clapped his hands. The giant reappeared, carrying a tray that looked like a doll's platter in his huge hands. He placed it on the table and withdrew. Sethos poured wine into the crystal gla.s.ses.

"I know you must be thirsty," he remarked, "for the drug I was forced to use has that effect, and I observe you have not tasted the fruit or used the cup. I admire your caution, but it was unnecessary; the water and the fruit are untainted, as is the wine." drug I was forced to use has that effect, and I observe you have not tasted the fruit or used the cup. I admire your caution, but it was unnecessary; the water and the fruit are untainted, as is the wine."

"I had expected cognac," I remarked ironically.

Sethos burst out laughing, displaying a set of handsome white teeth. "So you appreciated my little joke with the good father? Since some ignorant persons persist in regarding my divine patron as the Egyptian Satan, I feel I ought to live up to the reputation he enjoys. Tempting the smug and the pious, and observing the ludicrous haste with which they tumble from virtue, gives me a great deal of innocent pleasure."

"I am not amused," I a.s.sured him. "It was a childish, unworthy gesture."

'"One day, my dear, you will learn to laugh with me at the follies of mankind. But I beg you will a.s.suage your thirst."

The sight of the pale liquid in the gla.s.s he offered made my throat feel drier than ever, but I folded my arms and shook my head. "Thank you, no. I never drink with a.s.sa.s.sins and kidnappers."

"You don't trust me? See here." He raised the gla.s.s to his lips and drank deeply before offering it again. I took it; ostentatiously turning it so that my lips would not touch the spot his had rested upon, I quenched my thirst. The wine had a dry, tingling taste that was most refreshing.

"Now," Sethos went on, seating himself on a cushion, "shall I tell you how I captured you?"

"It is obvious," I said with a shrug. "You slipped something into my gla.s.s of wine when you caught it to prevent it from spilling. My collapse alarmed my companion; a.s.sisted by you, she had me carried to her room. Her balcony gives onto a courtyard, from which it would not be difficult to transport a trunk or a bag of laundry to a waiting carriage. Is Miss Debenham also a prisoner, or have you added another murder to your long list?" would not be difficult to transport a trunk or a bag of laundry to a waiting carriage. Is Miss Debenham also a prisoner, or have you added another murder to your long list?"

Sethos was offended. "I do not murder women," he said haughtily.

"You only have them abducted, accused of murder-''

"The young woman was never in danger of being executed or even imprisoned," Sethos said. "Nor has she been harmed. A touch of chloroform, from which she has long since recovered ..."

"Then she must know you are the viscount-or you were-or perhaps I should say that the viscount was you...."

"It does not matter. That persona is of no use to me now; it has been discarded. You never suspected me?"

"Emerson did," I cried. "You cannot deceive Emerson; he is on your trail, and you will not escape his vengeance!"

"Emerson," Sethos repeated, with a sardonic smile. "Never mind him; what about you?"

"I thought you were Mrs. Axhammer," I admitted. "And Ramses-you remember Ramses-"

"Only too well."

"Ramses-after all, he is only a little boy-suspected the detective, Mr. Gregson."

"I was Gregson."

"What!"

"I was also Mrs. Axhammer. I was all three!"

As the meaning of his words struck home, my spirits plummeted into the depths. I was as close to despair as I have ever been, even when I thought myself buried alive in the Black Pyramid. For I had counted on Gregson to a.s.sist Emerson in tracking Sethos to his lair___ Galvanized, I bounded to my feet. "Emerson," I shrieked. "He was to meet you-Gregson-what have you done with my husband?"

"d.a.m.n Emerson," was the irritated reply. "Why must you keep mentioning him? I haven't done anything to him. The appointment was a ruse, to get him out of the way. I never went near the Cafe Orientale, and I hope he is still sitting there swilling coffee and reeling from the conversation of that abominably loquacious offspring of yours."

"I don't know why I should believe you."

"I don't know why you should not." Sethos rose to his feet. Slowly and thoughtfully, he said, "Radcliffe Emerson is one of the few men in the world who could be a serious threat to me. An ordinary, unimaginative villain would have him exterminated; but that is not my way. Besides, I rather enjoy a challenge, and appreciate a worthy adversary. The only advantages I have over Emerson are, first, his preoccupation with his archaeological research, from which he is not easily distracted, and, second, his atrocious temper, which leads him to act without thinking."

"Yet," I said wonderingly, "you have destroyed the first of those advantages by abducting me; for if I am not restored to Emerson unharmed, every ounce of his considerable energy and intelligence will be bent on finding you. As for his temper, it is a terrifying thing to encounter when it is aroused. You, sir, have aroused it."

"Quite true. Don't suppose I was unaware of the risks. Since I proceeded with my plan, you must believe I considered the result worth those risks."

As he spoke, he advanced slowly toward me. I stepped back, circling the couch, until I could retreat no farther. Sethos came on, lightly as a panther stalking its prey. farther. Sethos came on, lightly as a panther stalking its prey.

I set my back against the wall, prepared to defend myself to the last. "Do your worst, you monster," I cried. "You have taken away my parasol and stripped off my tools; but never think you can break the spirit of a Peabody! Torture me, murder me-"

"Torture? Murder?" He gasped for breath, his hands tearing at the open throat of his shirt. "Madam! Amelia! You misunderstand me totally. Why, I killed a man yesterday and left him lying before your tent only because he dared hazard your safety by shooting at the man who was with you!"

Before I could take in this remarkable speech, much less respond to it, he had flung himself-not at my throat-but at my feet. "Most magnificent of women, I adore you with all my heart and soul! I brought you here, not to harm you, but to shower upon you the ardent devotion of a soul hopelessly caught in your spell!" And he buried his flushed face in the folds of my trousers.

Fourteen.

Though the astonishing turn of events surprised me considerably, it did not offer any rea.s.surance for the future, and my indomitable will quickly conquered my amazement. Sethos continued to breathe heavily onto my left knee. His shirt collar had slipped back, exposing the nape of his neck. The trick had failed the first time; all the more reason why I should give it another try. Clasping my hands tightly together, I struck.

The results were most gratifying. Sethos let out a grunt and released his hold. His knees slipped on the polished marble and his head hit the floor as he fell forward. His head would have struck my feet had I remained motionless, but even as he toppled, I was running for the door.

I had forgotten the cursed thing had no handle. I pushed at it in vain. Turning at bay, I saw Sethos advancing toward me. His tinted gla.s.ses had fallen off.

His black eyes-his brown eyes-or were they gray? Whatever color they were, they were blazing with homicidal l.u.s.t-or perhaps, considering his recent declaration, it was another kind of l.u.s.t. To be honest, I did not really care which. Desperately I ran my hands over my trousers, hoping against hope some small tool had been overlooked-my penknife, my scissors, even a box of matches. He was almost upon me when a burst of inspiration illumined the darkness of despair. The belt itself! It was two inches wide and fashioned of thick though flexible leather, with a heavy steel buckle. Whipping it off, I whirled it vigorously.

"Back!" I shouted. "Stand back, or I will mark you in such a fashion that you will always bear one unmistakable stigma no disguise can hide!"

Sethos leaped back with agile grace. A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. "That," he remarked, "is what made me love you, Amelia. You are so magnificently disdainful of common sense and discretion. The man who shares your life will never be bored.

"Please put that down and be reasonable. Even if you could strike me unconscious you could not leave the house."

"I could try," I retorted, continuing to whirl my belt, which made a sharp singing sound, like that of an angry insect.

"You could try. But you would fail; and if my men thought you had killed me or seriously injured me, they might harm you. Will you be more amenable if I promise on my solemn oath that I will not touch you or approach you again until you ask me to?"

"That will never happen," I a.s.sured him.

"Who knows? Life is full of unexpected happenings; that is what makes it endurable. If you won't take my word, look at it this way: You know me to be-well, let us not say vain-let us just say I have a good opinion of myself. Does it not seem more in keeping with what you know of my character that I would derive a peculiar pleasure from winning your affection-turning hate to love, contempt to admiration-rather than resorting to the brute force lesser men might employ? I despise such crudeness. And," he added, with another smile, "I am sure your arm must be getting tired." let us not say vain-let us just say I have a good opinion of myself. Does it not seem more in keeping with what you know of my character that I would derive a peculiar pleasure from winning your affection-turning hate to love, contempt to admiration-rather than resorting to the brute force lesser men might employ? I despise such crudeness. And," he added, with another smile, "I am sure your arm must be getting tired."

"Not at all," I said stoutly. "I can keep this up all afternoon. However, your argument has its merits." I did not mention another, more persuasive argument, and I must say he was courteous enough not to refer to it with so much as a fleeting glance-the fact that my trousers, deprived of a large part of their support, were responding to the inexorable law of gravity.

"Very well," I said. "It appears to be an impa.s.se, Mr. Sethos. I will take your word, but mind you, I give no promise in return."

I had not used his name before. Upon hearing it, his eyebrows lifted and he laughed. "So you have discovered my favorite pseudonym! Leave off the honorific, if you please; it sounds a trifle absurd, and dispels the confidential air I would like to see between us."

"No, thank you," I replied. "I prefer to maintain as much formality between us as the unusual circ.u.mstances permit."

"But, hang it," he cried, half laughing and half angry, "how can I begin my wooing with soft phrases and tender words if I must refer to you as Mrs. Emerson?"

"I feel sure a little difficulty of that nature will only be a challenge to you."

He held out his hand. With a shrug I gave him the belt.

"Thank you, Mrs. Emerson," he said gravely. "And now I must ask that you a.s.sume those garments I have had laid out for you." now I must ask that you a.s.sume those garments I have had laid out for you."

"How dare you, sir!"

"As a simple matter of self-defense, Mrs. Emerson. Heaven knows what other hard or p.r.i.c.kly objects you have concealed about your person. There is room for a set of carving knives in those trousers." Correctly interpreting my mutinous expression, he added, "Aside from removing the a.r.s.enal you carried on your belt, and your boots, neither I nor my a.s.sistants searched you. It was a mark of the peculiar respect I feel for you, but if you force me..."

"Again your arguments are persuasive, sir. I trust you will show me the additional courtesy of leaving me alone while I carry out your command?"

"Certainly. Rap on the door when you are ready. But don't try my patience too long." Then he said, in a language I recognized as French, though it was slurred and oddly accented, "Let down your tresses, oh my beloved, that their perfumed splendor may be the only barrier between your ecstasy and mine."

I believe I succeeded in concealing my surprise at this extremely personal comment, for I thought it better to pretend I had not understood. Yet a strange sensation ran through me-a tingling warmth, if there can be such a thing. The extraordinary powers of the man were not limited to those of the mind; his body was that of an athlete, and his voice-that remarkable, flexible, and sonorous instrument-could change as suddenly and as completely as could his appearance.

He left me then, and I did not delay in following his orders. Do not believe, dear Reader, that I would have acquiesced so meekly had I not had an ulterior motive. Little did the villain know he had played into my hands! It was a pity that I could only attain my ends by such a doubtful stratagem, but by ordering me to remove my garments he had given me an excuse to dispose of certain of those garments in a manner he could not expect. He had said he would not return until I summoned him, but not knowing whether he would keep to his word, I had to work quickly. a doubtful stratagem, but by ordering me to remove my garments he had given me an excuse to dispose of certain of those garments in a manner he could not expect. He had said he would not return until I summoned him, but not knowing whether he would keep to his word, I had to work quickly.

Removing my trousers, I unwound the flannel belt I always wear when in Egypt and tore off a strip. How often had my dear Emerson teased me about this article of clothing! It was an invaluable protection against catarrh, as was proved by the fact that I had never suffered from that complaint. (In fact, Emerson had never suffered from it, either, though he absolutely refused to wear a flannel belt. However, Emerson is a law unto himself.) The belt had proved useful on a number of occasions; now it might be my salvation. Fortunately I had purchased a new supply before leaving England, and the bright pink color had not been faded by repeated washings.

It was with some reluctance that I removed from around my neck the chain from which hung my lapis scarab bearing the cartouche of Thutmose the Third. It had been Emerson's bridal gift; to part with it now, when it was my only memento of him, was hard indeed. But my hands were firm as I knotted the chain onto the end of the flannel strip. How fitting it would be if the gift of marital affection should save me from a fate that is (supposed to be) worse than death.

Returning to the window with my bit of flannel, I extracted one of my hairpins. Though a good three inches in length, these devices were useless as weapons because of their flexibility. However, this very quality was what I counted on now. Selecting the largest of the apertures in the shutter, I pushed the flannel and its scarab appendage into the hole as far as I could reach with my finger. The hairpin then came into play. There was a moment of suspense when the flannel jammed in the outer opening and would not move; after poking and prodding it, I finally felt it give way, and triumph filled me as I pushed the rest of the strip through and knotted the end to prevent it from falling out. with my finger. The hairpin then came into play. There was a moment of suspense when the flannel jammed in the outer opening and would not move; after poking and prodding it, I finally felt it give way, and triumph filled me as I pushed the rest of the strip through and knotted the end to prevent it from falling out.

I felt certain the shutters covered a window that opened onto the open air. From that shutter now dangled a bright pink strip of flannel with a lapis scarab at its end. If, as I hoped, the window gave onto a public thoroughfare, someone was certain to notice my marker eventually.

I ripped the rest of the flannel into strips and knotted the ends together. Not even Sethos would notice that one strip was missing, and he could amuse himself by speculating on what I had meant to do with the cloth.

Once stripped down to my combinations-a one-piece, knee-length cotton garment trimmed with lace and little pink bows-I picked up the filmy objects Sethos had supplied. They were not quite so indecent as I had thought; the bodice was low-cut and sleeveless, but not translucent, for the fabric was covered with heavy embroidery and beadwork. But the trousers! There was enough fabric in them to have covered the tall windows in my drawing room at home, but they concealed very little. I put them on over my combinations.

"Let down thy hair, oh my beloved...." It was halfway down already. My hair is heavy and coa.r.s.e, and the rough handling I had received had not improved the neatness of my coiffure. I had no intention of appearing to respond to Sethos' impertinent request, particularly since I meant to retain my hairpins if I could. One never knows when a hairpin may come in handy. However, it was not easy to rearrange my tresses without the help of a comb or brush and I was still struggling with them when there was a rap on the door. of a comb or brush and I was still struggling with them when there was a rap on the door.

"Oh, curse it," I said, quite as Emerson might have done.

The door opened and Sethos put his head through the curtain. He stepped aside; the bald-pated giant entered with another tray, this one loaded with plates and dishes.

Sethos looked me over and then remarked coolly, "I hope you don't mind my saying, Mrs. Emerson, that the effect is not quite what I had expected. Never mind, it is a start. That unusual garment you are wearing is sufficiently form-fitting to a.s.sure me you are not concealing a pistol or a stiletto."

Having arranged the dishes on the table, the giant retired. Scarcely had he vanished behind the curtain before a series of thuds and knocks broke out. "Don't get your hopes up," said Sethos with a smile. "It is not a rescue party you hear, but my servant engaging in a bit of carpentry. I ordered a bar to be placed on this side of the door, as a token of my respectful intentions and my high esteem. Aren't you going to thank me?"

"What, thank my jailor for refraining from a.s.saulting me?"

Sethos laughed and shook his head. "You are incomparable, my dear-Mrs. Emerson. Please sit down and let us dine."

He lifted a silver cover. The delicious aroma of chicken and spices reminded me that I was extremely hungry, my luncheon having been rudely interrupted. I would require all my strength in the hours to come; so I sat down on a cushion and helped myself. I refused wine, however.

"Don't worry," said Sethos, with one of his peculiar smiles. "I do not intend to weaken your resistance by rendering you intoxicated. It may take weeks, even months, but eventually you will learn to love me for myself." months, but eventually you will learn to love me for myself."

"Months! You can't keep me shut up in one room so long. I need exercise, fresh air-"

"Never fear. This is only a temporary stopover. Tomorrow we leave for one of my country estates. I have prepared it especially for you and I know you will appreciate it. There are gardens filled with shade trees and exotic blooms, winding paths and crystal fountains, where you will be free to wander as you will."