The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters Read Free Book Online

sunset. A cool breeze lifted the curtains and stirred the filmy chiffon ruffles trimming the loose collar and elbow sleeves of my wrapper.
    After slapping me (with the kindest of intentions, as Emerson had indicated), and assuring himself that Emerson did not require his services, the young surgeon had taken his departure. Obviously he regarded my earlier reference to poison as no more than an example of female hysteria, and although under normal circumstances I would have felt obliged to set him straight (in justice to myself and my sex), under these circumstances I allowed the delusion to remain.
    The four of us—six, including the cats—had gathered in the sitting room, where we sat sipping restorative cups of tea. I had changed into a loose-fitting, but, I believe I may say, becoming negligee of white silk cut en princesse. Emerson had also changed clothing, not because of damage to his evening attire (most of the blood had come off on me when I clasped him to my bosom), but because he prefers to wear as little as possible. In addition to his evening pumps he had also removed his coat, waistcoat, tie, and shirt. The last-named garment had a stiffly starched front and attached collar, and buttoned up the back, so I could not dispute his claim that it was "the most confoundedly uncomfortable piece of clothing in existence, except, oh, yes, Peabody, I grant you, except for corsets, but you never wear them anyhow." He had replaced the garment with one of his work shirts, open at the neck and rolled up to the elbows. He was smoking his pipe, and stroking the cat that lay across his knees.
    Like his female counterpart Bastet, Anubis is a brindled Egyptian cat, larger and wilder than European varieties of felines. He was Emerson's— or, to be more accurate, since cats cannot be said to belong to anyone, he had condescended to concentrate his attentions on my husband. Bastet, who had been with us longer, favored Ramses, to such an extent that some superstitious persons considered Bastet to be Ramses's feline familiar, with magical powers of her own. She certainly was devoted to the boy (though of late she had begun to share her favors with Nefret), and Ramses would go nowhere without her. We had brought Anubis as well, since our servants in Kent refused to be left alone with him. I confess that Anubis made me a trifle uncomfortable too. Larger and darker than Bastet, he had not her benevolent nature. It could not be said that the two were friends. On the occasion of their first meeting Anubis had attempted to force his attentions on Bastet and she had knocked him head over heels. Their relationship at present could best be described as a negotiated truce.
    Curled on Nefret's lap, the cat Bastet purred hoarsely as the girl's hand moved across her head. Nefret had not changed her dress; bright-eyed and alert, she demanded an account of what had happened.
    "Unless," she added, with a prettily curled lip and a flash of blue eyes, directed at Emerson, "you, sir, are of the school that believes females should be kept ignorant and out of harm's way."
    "Don't play your little games with me, young lady," Emerson replied good-humoredly. "Even if I were of that opinion, experience has taught me the futility of insisting upon it." Sobering, he went on, "I had intended to tell you and Ramses the whole story, for I have a strange foreboding— er—that is to say, I have a feeling this evening's adventure may presage danger to come."
    Whereupon he launched into his account. It was somewhat verbose but quite well-organized, so I did not interrupt.
    Ramses did. "Hmmm," he said, stroking his chin. "Very interesting. May I ask, first, whether Mr. Saleh's fit was feigned? Was it he, or another person, who struck you? Where did—"
    "I don't know," said Emerson loudly. "If you will allow me to finish, Ramses .. ."
    "I beg your pardon, Father. I was under the impression that you had finished; otherwise I would not have—"
    "Hmph," said Emerson.