"Needed you!"
"Yes, my dear cousin. Even the most self-sufficient of us need others at times."
"Are you hinting something?"
He shrugged his shoulders and gave me that crooked smile which I had always found rather endearing. It was there in his serious moments when he was pretending to be lighthearted over something which affected him deeply.
I thought then: He knows something. He is warning me. What about? Tybalt!
I said sharply: "You had better explain yourself."
He seemed then to decide that he had gone too far.
"There's nothing to explain."
"But you implied . . ."
"I'm just being my nonsensical self once again."
But he had succeeded in planting seeds of uneasiness in my mind.
A few days later there was great excitement throughout the palace. Tybalt was jubilant. He had been following a false clue for months but he had picked up another trail.
He talked to me excitedly about it.
"I have this notion that we have been working in the wrong place. There's something behind the wall which we have yet to probe."
"What if it's another blind alley?"
"I don't think there could be two."
"Why not?"
"Oh for Heaven's sake, Judith, why should there be?"
"I don't know, but there was this one."
"I've got to try it," he said. "I won't give up until I've tried it."
"And that means that we shall stay here for how long?"
"Who can say? But we're going to try."
The effect on everyone was startling.
People like Terence Gelding and the senior members of the party were delighted. So was Tabitha. Poor Theodosia! She was so disappointed. So was Evan I believed, but solely on Theodosia's account. He was so kind and tender to her —a husband first, I thought, archaeologist second.
And I knew that in my secret thoughts I was making comparisons.
Theodosia was melancholy. Her hopes of going home were dashed.
Tabitha said: "She's upsetting Evan. Tybalt is quite concerned. He says Evan is not concentrating on his work because he is continually worrying about his wife."
I felt resentful. Why should Tybalt talk to Tabitha about Evan? I suspected he talked to her about a great deal. I had come upon them more than once in earnest conversation. I remembered that scene with Hadrian and wondered whether others had noticed these things as I did.
Tabitha was always energetic in smoothing the way for Tybalt. It was she who had the idea that since Theodosia was fretting about a prolonged stay she ought to take more interest in what was going on. She thought it would be a good idea to make up a little party and go for a tour of inspection. Theodosia should be a member of it. Leopold Harding, who called now and then at the palace and never lost an opportunity of talking to any of us when we met by chance, had asked if he might have an opportunity some time of being taken on a tour of the dig.
"Let Theodosia see for herself how interesting it is," said Tabitha. "I'm sure that would help her overcome her nervous fears."
Tabitha spoke to Tybalt who gave his permission and then she arranged the party. To my surprise Theodosia agreed to join it. She genuinely wished not to worry Evan and was determined to put on a bold face in spite of her fears.
Leopold Harding was very interested in what was happening at the site. Hadrian told me that he had met him once or twice and he always asked how things were going. He had been very sympathetic when we had believed the expedition had failed and had told Hadrian how pleased he was that hopes had been revived.
"He is longing to have a real look round," said Hadrian, "and has asked me if there is a hope of his joining this tour. He was delighted when Tybalt gave his permission. He invited me to go along to that storehouse of his. Would you like to come?"
I said I would so Hadrian and I went together.
It was a small shop on the edge of the souk, heavily padlocked, and I gathered that some of the pieces he had there were very valuable.
The small space inside was full of the most fascinating things. Leopold Harding glowed with enthusiasm as he pointed out various objects.
"Look at this folding stool. It's carved with interlaced foliage. You see the lions' heads on the upper terminals and the claws on the lower ends. I found it here but it might well be Scandinavian. But one never knows what one is going to pick up where. This could be twelfth century."
Hadrian had picked up a plaque. "Why look at this. I could swear this was genuine." I saw the profiled figures— a Pharaoh presenting gifts to Horus.
"A lovely piece," said Leopold Harding, "and it would fool most people. Wouldn't you think it had been plucked from the walls of a tomb? Not so. It is old—though not old enough. Three hundred years, I'd say. You can imagine how excited I was when that came into my hands."
Hadrian allowed Leopold Harding to take it from him very reluctantly, I thought.
"Look at this," went on Mr. Harding, picking up a box. "It's for jewels. See the ivory inlay and the small checkered panels on the lid. This is one of my most valuable pieces."
We admired the box and went from one object to another. He told us about the difficulties of getting the goods shipped to England and how glad he was when he was able to acquire jewelry or small pieces which he could carry himself.
He showed us some collar-necklets and earrings of lapis and turquoise cut and set in the Egyptian manner. I was fascinated by them. There was one statue which intrigued me. It was of the god Horus with his hawk-like face and at the feet of the god was a small and beautifully carved figure of a Pharaoh. Over this small figure the hawk-god towered protectively. It seemed to take on life; it was some five feet in height but as I looked, as though hypnotized, it appeared to grow to enormous proportions. I could not take my eyes from it. There was about it a quality which made me want to escape from it and yet held me there.
When I felt a touch on my shoulder I started. It was Leopold Harding and he was smiling at me.
"Fine, is it not?" he said. "A wonderful copy."
"What was the original?" I asked.
"That I never saw, but it was clearly meant to decorate some long dead Pharaoh's tomb. The sort of image which was put there to ward off tomb robbers." He turned to Hadrian. "But you would know more of that than I."
"I doubt it," said Hadrian. "I have never seen the inside of an undisturbed tomb."
"That image is certainly a little chilling, don't you agree? Now I want your opinion of this alabaster ornament. The Sphinx, no less. It's rather good. Quite valuable too. It's very cleverly carved."
We agreed and went on to examine the other interesting articles he had assembled, but I kept thinking of the stone Horus and whenever I turned to look at it, I imagined those hawk's eyes were on me menacingly.
It was certainly an interesting experience and when we left we told Leopold Harding so and thanked him warmly.
"One good turn deserves another," he said lightly. "Don't forget you are taking me on a tour of the site."
The party consisted of Terence Gelding, who was in charge, with Hadrian and Evan to assist him, Leopold Harding, the interested guest, Tabitha, Theodosia, and myself.
We went to the site in the evening when the workmen were not there.
I could never enter those subterranean passages without a thrill of excitement so I guessed how Theodosia would be feeling. She was now noticeably pregnant and leaned on Evan's arm; but I was surprised how reconciled she was and she seemed almost prepared to enjoy the adventure.
This was an excellent plan and it didn't seem too much to hope that this might induce Theodosia to cast aside her terrors and begin to be what Tabitha called "a good archaeologist's wife."