The whole Nile would talk about it."
"This is no time for convention," said Esa.
"Especially since it would seem that the embalmers' men are with us permanently.
All this must be a blessing to Ipi and Montu - the firm must be doing exceptionally well."
"They have put their charges up by ten per cent!" Imhotep was momentarily diverted.
"Iniquitous!
They say that labor is more expensive."
"They should give us a cut-rate price for quantity!" Esa smiled grimly at her joke.
"My dear mother." Imhotep looked at her in horror. "This is not a jest."
"All life is a jest, Imhotep - and it is death who laughs last.
Do you not hear it at every feast?
Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die?
Well, that is very true for us here - it is a question only of whose death will come tomorrow."
"What you say is terrible - terrible!
What can be done?"
"Trust no one," said Esa.
"That is the first, the most vital thing."
She repeated with emphasis: "Trust no one."
Henet began to sob.
"Why do you look at me?...
I'm sure if anyone is worthy of trust, I am.
I've proved it over all these years.
Don't listen to her, Imhotep."
"There, there, my good Henet - naturally I trust you.
I know only too well your true and devoted heart."
"You know nothing," said Esa.
"None of us know anything.
That is our danger."
"You accused me," whined Henet.
"I cannot accuse.
I have neither knowledge nor proof - only suspicion."
Imhotep looked up sharply.
"You have suspicion - of whom?"
Esa said slowly: "I have suspected once - and twice - and a third time.
I will be honest.
I suspected first Ipy - but Ipy is dead, so that suspicion was false.
Then I suspected another person - but, on the very day of Ipy's death, yet a third idea came to me..."
She paused.
"Are Hori and Kameni in the house?
Send for them here - yes, and Renisenb too from the kitchen. And Kait and Yahmose.
I have something to say and all the house should hear it."
II
Esa looked round at the assembled family.
She met Yahmose's grave and gentle glance, Kameni's ready smile, the frightened enquiry in Renisenb's eyes, the placid incurious glance of Kait, the quiet inscrutability of Hori's thoughtful gaze, the irritable fear in Imhotep's twitching face and the avid curiosity and - yes - pleasure in Henet's eyes.
She thought: "Their faces tell me nothing.
They show only the outward emotion.
Yet surely, if I am right, there must be some betrayal."
Aloud she said:
"I have something to say to you all - but first I will speak only to Henet - here in front of all of you."
Henet's expression changed - the avidity and the pleasure went out of it.