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VI. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
Amesseemedratheratalossforthemoment.“No,no,donotanswerme,buttellmethis.Whatdothenativeworkmenthink?”
“Iguess,”saidDr.Ames,“that,wherewhitefolklosetheirheads,nativesaren’tgoingtobefarbehind.I’lladmitthatthey’regettingwhatyoumightcallscared—butthey’venocausetobe.”
“Iwonder,”saidPoirotnon-committally.
SirGuyleantforward.
“Surely,”hecriedincredulously,“youcannotbelievein—oh,butthething’sabsurd!YoucanknownothingofAncientEgyptifyouthinkthat.”
ForanswerPoirotproducedalittlebookfromhispocket—anancienttatteredvolume.AshehelditoutIsawitstitle,TheMagicoftheEgyptiansandChaldeans.Then,wheelinground,hestrodeoutofthetent.Thedoctorstaredatme.
“Whatishislittleidea?”
Thephrase,sofamiliaronPoirot’slips,mademesmileasitcamefromanother.
“Idon’tknowexactly,”Iconfessed.“He’sgotsomeplanofexorcizingtheevilspirits,Ibelieve.”
IwentinsearchofPoirot,andfoundhimtalkingtothelean-facedyoungmanwhohadbeenthelateMr.Bleibner’ssecretary.
“No,”Mr.Harperwassaying,“I’veonlybeensixmonthswiththeexpedition.Yes,IknewMr.Bleibner’saffairsprettywell.”
“Canyourecounttomeanythingconcerninghisnephew?”
“Heturneduphereoneday,notabad-lookingfellow.I’dnevermethimbefore,butsomeoftheothershad—Ames,Ithink,andSchneider.Theoldmanwasn’tatallpleasedtoseehim.Theywereatitinnotime,hammerandtongs.‘Notacent,’theoldmanshouted.
