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Updated: May 1, 2025
The mole, the neighboring ships, the landward quays and the warehouses thereon, seemed to diminish in size without any perceptible cause, and, in a space of time that might have been measured by seconds rather than minutes, the Aphrodite was throbbing southward. Mrs. Haxton, whose eagerness to inspect her stateroom had gone, was hailed pleasantly by Irene.
Owing to the Babel of tongues in the street, neither Irene nor Captain Stump knew how terribly the mere sight of the staring Italian had affected Mrs. Haxton. It came to Royson with a flash of inspiration that this man must be Alfieri, that the woman had recognized him, and that she feared him with a mortal dread. He sprang upright and went to her.
"We may be able to answer those questions, and others, when we find out who it was that came for her." "Some Arab, the man says. How strange that Mrs. Haxton should be acquainted with an Arab in Massowah!" Mr. Fenshawe bent towards them. "Do not forget," he said in a low voice, "that Mrs. Haxton may not have heard earlier of von Kerber's arrest.
Grandad promised me two years ago that we should pass the present winter in Upper Egypt. Unhappily, Mrs. Haxton introduced von Kerber to him at a place in the Highlands where we were invited for the shooting. The instant he heard of the legend on that wretched scrap of paper all his old enthusiasm for exploration work revived, and he has followed their plans blindly ever since."
Perhaps, by this time, they may have slipped away to sea under cover of the darkness." Mrs. Haxton laughed, but her mirth had not its wonted musical cadence. "No," she said, "that is not likely. Grand Dieu, if only it were! Now, listen, and do exactly as I bid you. Somewhere in Massowah, probably in one of the small restaurants, you will find a man named Giuseppe Alfieri.
Signora, do me the favor of sitting here while I discuss matters briefly with Signor Alfieri. Signor, be good enough to precede me." He pointed to the door. With a queer catching at her breath, Mrs. Haxton sank into a chair. Alfieri folded his arms and gazed at the Governor with eyes that blazed under his heavy brows.
Fenshawe's eyes to the character of his associates, for Dick had no manner of doubt that Mrs. Haxton was the leading spirit in the plot of which the millionaire was the "dupe," according to the lawyer. But Royson had found adversity a hard task-master.
Haxton drank no wine when the Governor followed Alfieri. She bit her lips and clenched her hands in an agony of restraint. This lull in the storm was more trying than the full fury of the blast. The Governor's two minutes lengthened into ten. Then he hurried back, alone. He was manifestly ill at ease, though he spoke glibly enough.
Alfieri leaped to his feet. His voice rose to a cracked falsetto. "You hear, you hear!" was his cry. "She robbed me of the papyrus, yet boasts of it. She is a thief, self-confessed." Mrs. Haxton also sprang up. Her physical dread of the man had yielded to the triumph of having cornered him. "Truly I hope his Excellency hears," she said.
'Wot time will ye be back, m'am, an' I'll send a boat, sez I. 'I dunno, sez she, 'I may be late, so I shall return in a native boat. She axed your maid, miss, to bring a wrap from her cabin, and she was gone without another word." "Then that settles it," interposed Mr. Fenshawe dryly. "Mrs. Haxton is a lady who knows her own mind. She is fully qualified to take care of herself.
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