Lady Marjorie was wreathed in a cloud of smoke from her cigarette when she saw John James enter the garden. He had a far away look in his eye and she decided not to approach him. He's miles away, she noted.

She inhaled the scent of jasmine from the gardens and looked up at a starry sky. It's probably raining in England, she thought. England. Springtime. Suddenly she felt a pang of homesickness for green grass and damp cool air.

"Good show, wasn't it?" John's voice brought her back to the present suddenly.

"Jolly good!" she replied. "I'm a great admirer of Mr. Niall and it's a treat to have him here." She paused. "Do tell, how in the world did you manage to convince them to release you? I always thought that when one is taken away by the Cairo police, one is rarely ever seen again." She smiled a little cynically.

"Oh, friends in high places, I guess," he answered a little coyly.

"Indeed..." she nodded with a small smile. "But truthfully, I never believed you were the one who did it. As a matter of fact, I'm convinced of that even more than ever now." Her smile vanished and she regarded him steadily with a serious expression.

"Thanks, glad to know that some people haven't convicted me. I hate the poor bastard, but I wouldn't have done him in. At least not like that!" he grinned.

"Wouldn't you like to know who did it?" she countered, watching him carefully. "I don't think that bumbling inspector is going to find much." She leaned closer to him. "I want to go to that room."

John lifted an eyebrow. "Well, sister, you might be asking for a world of trouble if you go there... Why so curious?"

Marjorie leaned back and tamped out her cigarette in an ashtray on the small table next to her. "Let's just say that I find the thrill of the hunt too irresistable. Besides, there are no foxes in Egypt." She smiled.

John gazed at her then smiled back. "I'm not so sure of that."