 Peabody and Emerson return to Egypt at least once without Ramses ("The Curse of the Pharaohs") in 1892 before deciding to bring him along on their annual digs ("The Mummy Case"), beginning in the 1894-95 season.Amelia's desire to explore pyramids is countered by Emerson's refusal to be diplomatic with the Egyptian Service d'Antiquites, resulting in the loss of their "firman" (permit) to excavate at one of the major pyramid fields, and instead being awarded Mazghuna, a minor pyramid field southwest of Cairo.While the Emersons are excavating at Mazghuna, they encounter an enigmatic criminal mastermind who runs an illicit underground antiquities trade, stealing artifacts from tombs, which puts him at odds with the Emersons.