"Of course, and we shall do it. But do you understand the concept, the revolution in thinking?"
"Of course. I don't come to you, as you say, from the nineteenth dynasty of Egypt's history, I come to you from the first days of the Roman Empire. My mind is, how do you say it, flexible, adaptable. I am constantly in, how do you say it, revolution?"
Something startled him; at first she didn't realize what it was. The orchestra had begun, very softly, so that she scarcely heard it over the hum of conversation. He rose, dropping his napkin. He pointed across the crowded room.
The soft strains of the" Merry Widow Waltz" rose strongly over the hum of conversation. Julie turned to see the little string orchestra assembled on the other side of the small polished dance floor.
Ramses rose and went towards them." Ramses, wait," Julie said. But he didn't listen to her. She hurried after him. Surely everyone was looking at the tall man who marched across the dance floor and came to a quick stop right in front of the musicians as if he were the conductor himself.
He positively glared at the violins, at the cello; and then as he studied the huge golden harp, the smile came back, so clearly ecstatic that the female violinist smiled at him and the old grey-haired male cellist seemed vaguely amused.
They must have thought him a deaf mute as he stepped up and laid his fingers right on the cello, drawing back at the power of the vibration, then touching it again." Oooh, Julie," he whispered aloud. Everyone was looking. Even the waiters were glancing at them in obvious alarm. But nobody dared question the handsome gentleman in Lawrence's best suit and silk waistcoat, even when he shuddered all over and clamped his hands to the sides of his head.
She tugged on him. He wouldn't budge." Julie, such sounds!" he whispered.
"Then dance with me, Ramses," she said.
No one else was dancing, but what did that matter? There was the dance floor, and she felt like dancing. She felt like dancing more than anything in the world.
Baffled, he looked at her, then allowed himself to be turned, and his hand to be taken properly as she slipped her arm about his waist.
"Now, this is the way the man leads the woman," she said, beginning the waltz step and moving him easily." My hand should really be on your shoulder. I shall move, and you ... that's it. But allow me to lead."
They turned faster and faster, Ramses following her lead beautifully, only glancing down now and then at his feet. Another couple had joined them; then came another. But Julie didn't see them; she saw only Ramses' rapt face, and the way his eyes moved over the commonplace treasures of the room. It was a haze suddenly, the candles, the gilded fan blades turning above, the drowsing flowers on the tables, and the shimmer of silver everywhere, and the music surrounding them, the music carrying them along ever faster.
He laughed out loud suddenly." Julie, like music poured from a goblet. Like music that has become wine."
She turned him rapidly in small circles.
"Revolution!" he cried out.
She threw back her head and laughed.
Quite suddenly it was over. There must have been a finale. All she knew was that it was finished, and that he was about to kiss her, and she didn't want him to stop. But he hesitated. He noted the other couples leaving. He took her hand.
"Yes, time to go," she said.
The night outside was cold and foggy. She gave the doorman a few coins. She wanted a hansom.
Ramses paced back and forth, staring at the crowds of commercial travellers coming and going from motor cars and carriages, at the newsboy dashing up to him with the latest edition.
"Mummy's Curse in Mayfair!" the boy cried shrilly." Mummy Rises from the Grave!"
Before she could reach him, Ramses had snatched the paper from the boy. Flustered, she gave the child a coin.
There it was all right, the whole silly scandal. An ink sketch of Henry running away from her front stairs.
"Your cousin," Ramses said gloomily." 'Mummy's Curse Strikes Again ...'"he read slowly.
PART 1 Chapter 10
"No one believes it! It's a joke."
He continued to read:" Gentlemen of the British Museum say that the Ramses collection is entirely safe and will be returned to the museum soon."