human
The money for the Moustafa revolution was to come from America, Ben continued.
gpt
Bartouki needed a messenger, so he waited until one came along. That was you.
human
But why should he trust his finances to a stranger? There must have been better ways of getting the money here!
gpt
It is not as easy as you think. We know who these revolutionaries are. We keep an eye on their comings and goings. They do not get past our borders without a thorough customs inspection. Now, ask yourself--who can get past customs with no difficulty? Officials of governments, scientific groups who come at our invitation, and tourists.
human
Why didn't he use someone disguised as a tourist?
gpt
That probably would have been his method, except that you stumbled into things and the chance was too good to miss. Also, you did not declare the cat on your customs statement. We would have been interested in an Egyptian cat coming the wrong way!
human
I didn't know I was supposed to declare it, Rick said.
gpt
It just never occurred to me.
human
Technically, you have broken our laws. He relented and grinned.
gpt
But if you will promise to import no more Egyptian cats....
human
I promise, swear, and affirm,
gpt
Good. To continue. We took Ali Moustafa into custody, but not before a phone call reached him from New York. His chief clerk listened to this call and sold the information to Youssef. The clerk also agreed, for a share of the profits, to pretend to be Ali, and he enlisted the help of the other clerks. We know this from the clerk. He talked freely, in the hope of leniency.
human
Do you know what is in the cat?
gpt
Only that it is of great value. I bought the clerk's information and help because I knew it was the Moustafas who stole the necklace from the museum. I believe the necklace is in the cat.
human
The necklace was smuggled out of the country, Ben agreed.
gpt
We are certain of that. But I do not believe it is in the cat.
human
Open it,
gpt
Presently. Aren't you enjoying the suspense?
human
It's killing us,
gpt
Ah, the impatience of the young! Ismail ben Adhem obviously was having a good time.
human
Well, the pieces are nearly tied up.
gpt
Good,
human
On the same day that Kerama invited you to come, I had a call from the Interpol clearinghouse in Paris, a relay from the San Francisco police. A wealthy collector of early Egyptian objects in San Francisco had been bragging that he had just purchased a genuine necklace that had belonged to one of the early Pharaohs. We requested the Americans to investigate.