Смерть на Ниле / Death on the Nile

Simon, his voice faint, murmured:

‘Fanthorp, for heaven’s sake – there’s someone coming… Say it’s all right – an accident – something. There mustn’t be a scandal over this.’

Fanthorp nodded in quick comprehension. He wheeled round to the door where a startled face showed. He said:

‘All right – all right – just fun!’

The servant’s face looked doubtful, puzzled, then reassured. He nodded and went off. Fanthorp turned back.

‘That’s all right. Don’t think anybody else heard.

Only sounded like a cork, you know. Now the next thing-’

He was startled. Jacqueline suddenly began to weep hysterically.

‘Oh, God, I wish I were dead… I’ll kill myself. I’ll be better dead… Oh, what have I done – what have I done?’

Cornelia hurried to her.

‘Hush, dear, hush.’

Simon, his brow wet, his face twisted with pain, said urgently:

‘Get her away. For God’s sake, get her out of here! Get her to her cabin, Fanthorp.

Look here, Miss Robson, get that hospital nurse of yours.’ He looked appealingly from one to the other of them. ‘Don’t leave her. Make quite sure she’s safe with the nurse looking after her. Then get hold of old Bessner and bring him here. For God’s sake, don’t let any news of this get to my wife.’

Jim Fanthorp nodded comprehendingly. The quiet young man was cool and competent in an emergency.

Between them he and Cornelia got the weeping, struggling girl out of the saloon and along the deck to her cabin.

There they had more trouble with her. She fought to free herself; her sobs redoubled.

‘I’ll drown myself… I’ll drown myself… I’m not fit to live… Oh, Simon – Simon!’

Fanthorp said to Cornelia:

‘Better get hold of Miss Bowers. I’ll stay while you get her.’

Cornelia nodded and hurried out.

As soon as she left, Jacqueline clutched Fanthorp.

‘His leg – it’s bleeding – broken… He may bleed to death.

I must go to him… Oh, Simon – Simon – how could I?’

Her voice rose. Fanthorp said urgently:

‘Quietly – quietly… He’ll be all right.’

She began to struggle again.

‘Let me go! Let me throw myself overboard… Let me kill myself!’

Fanthorp, holding her by the shoulders, forced her back on to the bed.

‘You must stay here. Don’t make a fuss. Pull yourself together. It’s all right, I tell you.