He took a chisel and, working slowly and with infinite patience, began to break the seal. Behind him it was almost possible to see steam coming from Edward’s ears as he fought to control his own impatience. But Sir Matthew seemed unaware of his young protégé’s eagerness and continued to work with a calm unhurried air.
At last he had worked his way round the entire door, and they were ready to proceed. Darcy and Elizabeth moved back to allow the fellahs, along with Edward and Sir Matthew, to push against the door. It seemed to take a long time and Elizabeth thought the door would never budge, but finally there was a sound of stone moving against stone and Sir Matthew’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Then they all felt it—a waft of hot air against their faces. The tomb was open.
The fellahs moved back, muttering to themselves, clearly not eager to be the first into the tomb in case of some potent curse. But Edward suffered no such inhibitions. He strained against the door one last time, pushing it wide open, then picked up a torch. At the last moment he hesitated a second, then with a glance at Sir Matthew, who nodded, he put a foot past the doorway and disappeared from their sight.
“Mr Darcy, Mrs Darcy, wait here a second,” Sir Matthew cautioned. “You too, young Inkworthy. I would like to…”
He got no further. There was a shout of unbridled pleasure from within the tomb and then Edward’s face appeared round the door again, covered in cobwebs and eerily flushed in the flickering orange flames of the torch.
“It is fantastic!” he cried. “You must come see immediately. But take care, the flooring seems rotten in places and some of the Nile has crept in over the aeons. Do you see?”
He held up his left foot and they saw his boot was soaking wet well up to his ankles. He disappeared again almost immediately. More cautiously, the others followed. The workmen did not.
As Elizabeth and Darcy entered the tomb they could not help but give gasps of amazement. It was as unlike the false chamber as it was possible for two spaces to be, and they both understood straightaway why Sir Matthew had been so skeptical when he saw it. This new tomb was vast, cathedral-like in its dimensions, stretching what must have been fifty feet up above them and away beyond their sight. Their footsteps echoed along the walls and back again. And in between were vast stores of possessions—chests and boxes, all gaily bedecked in the most brilliant oranges and yellows and reds, all the colours of the rainbow. A boat stretched out across the centre of the room and as they turned and surveyed the tomb, the light from their torches constantly set off hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights from jewellery that littered the whole place. It was like an exotic fairyland.
But like all stories of fairyland, there was a sinister twist. As they moved farther in, unable to take their eyes off all the treasures in front of them, Edward lurched forward suddenly. He gave a sickening cry that set Elizabeth’s heart racing and then seemed to disappear right before their eyes. At the last moment Darcy caught him by his arm and dragged him back to where they were standing. Sir Matthew and Paul swept their torches down to the floor and they all gasped. The entire chamber was ringed with a moat which was invisible to the naked eye in the gloom. It needed the merciless illumination of fire to make it detectable and as they peered into its depths, Paul’s foot dislodged some stones which fell into the abyss. It was at least ten seconds before they heard the sound of the pebbles hitting the floor.
“And that, gentlemen, is how the ancients kept grave robbers on their toes,” said Sir Matthew dryly. “My dear sir, you must take far greater care in here.”
Edward said nothing. His face was parchment white, and for a moment the excitement that had been almost tangible in his face disappeared. Then he nodded and took hold of Darcy’s arm.
“My profound thanks, cousin,” he said, passing his hand over his eyes.
Darcy nodded in reply and gripped his cousin’s arm tightly. Then he turned to Elizabeth.
“How are you, my love?”
“Very well, Darcy,” she replied, only slightly disconcerted by the wobble in her voice. “But I fear we must disappoint the children. They cannot be allowed in here now.”
“Indeed not,” Darcy replied fervently. “In fact I do not see how anyone can get past this obstacle.”
“I have heard of this device before, Mr Darcy,” said Sir Matthew, walking slowly along the moat. “It merely needs the application of some sturdy walkways to act as a temporary bridge. The moats are deep but not usually very wide. I think we will be able to accommodate such needs and then we will be able to touch these sumptuous treasures. This is truly a magnificent find. Well done, young Fitzwilliam. I confess that when you first came to me back in London with your plans, I expected that I had heard nothing more than a colourful fairy tale. But this is outstanding.” He shook Edward’s hand vigorously, looking very pleased.
They spent a little more time examining the treasures that were tantalisingly out of reach, taking care to keep well away from the moat. Then gradually, curiosity overcoming their fears, the fellahs started coming in and soon the chamber was alive with the sound of human voices for the first time in thousands of years.
Chapter 13
There was much rejoicing at the camp that night. The children were allowed to stay up late and even join in at dinner, and many toasts were made to Edward and Sir Matthew, and Ammon and Husn. Edward seemed to have lost some of his obsession now that the tomb had been found, and he paid Sophie several compliments. Mrs Bennet was beside herself with joy and became tipsy early on and had to be helped to bed by Elizabeth and Sophie.
“Well, my dear,” Mrs Bennet said to Sophie as she removed her bonnet. “You must be very excited. Mr Fitzwilliam is a fine young man and he will be set for life with this magnificent find. Your dear mama will be very pleased.” Try as she might, Mrs Bennet could not help but allow a little envy creep into her voice as she thought once more how tiresome it was that all her daughters were already married.
But Sophie looked uncomfortable at the intimation.
“Everyone will be pleased when they hear this,” said Elizabeth. “Edward’s parents as well, and I am glad. Edward has had to endure a deal of teasing over his passion for Egypt but now it has proved successful. I am glad that Sir Matthew thought to send messengers to the British Embassy straightaway. The sooner people at home know of Edward’s good fortune, the better.”
“Oh indeed,” replied Mrs Bennet, yawning.
As they returned to the others, Elizabeth put a hand companionably through Sophie’s arm.
“Take no notice of my mother,” she said lightly. “She has spent so long conspiring for good marriages for her daughters that she cannot stop now. I daresay she will be the same before long with Beth and then Jane and Margaret.”
“Your mother only said what was on her mind, Elizabeth, and in truth I cannot blame her for her curiosity. Sometimes I wonder myself what Edward’s intentions are. I thought, at first, that he liked me, but ever since reaching the dig he has been so distracted he has barely spoken two words to me. I do not blame him,” she said hurriedly. “Of course it is a wonderful find and I know that what you say is true—he has had to listen to a great deal of discouraging comments about his love of ancient Egypt. But even so… Sometimes on this trip he has been a charming and attentive companion and I have enjoyed his company a great deal—but at other times…”
She trailed off and Elizabeth nodded.
“At other times it has been as though you barely exist. And Paul is much more consistent in his attentions.”