"There is no reason why we should talk in the hall, and let the whole
house know of this new difficulty," he said in a testy manner. "Come in
here."
Hope entered and looked with ill-concealed repugnance at the uncanny
shape of the green mummy, which was lying on a long table. He
examined the portions where the swathings had been cut with some sharp
instrument, to reveal the dry, bony hands, which formerly had held the
costly jewels. The face was invisible and covered with a mask of dull
beaten gold. Formerly the eyes had been jeweled, but these last were now
absent. He pointed out the mask to the Professor, who was hovering over
the weird dead with a large magnifying-glass.
"It is strange," said Hope earnestly, "that the mask of gold was not
stolen also, since it is so valuable."
"Unless melted down, the mask could be traced," said Braddock after a
pause. "The jewels, according to Don Pedro, are of immense value, and so
could have been got rid of easily. Random was satisfied with those."
"Don't talk of him in that way, as though his guilt was certain," said
Hope, wincing.
"Well, you must admit that the evidence against him is strong."
"But purely circumstantial."
"Circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man before now.
Humph!" said Braddock uneasily, "I hope it won't hang our friend.
However, we shall hear what he has to say. I have sent Cockatoo to the
Fort to bring him here at once. If Random is absent, Cockatoo is to
leave a note in his room, on the writing-table."
"Would it not have been better to have told Cockatoo to give the note to
Random's servant?"
"I think not," responded Braddock dryly. "Random's servant is certainly
one of the most stupid men in the entire army. He would probably forget
to give him the note, and as it is important that we should see Random
at once, it is better that he should find it placed personally on his
writing-table by Cockatoo, upon whom I can depend."
Archie abandoned the argument, as it really mattered very little. He
took up another line of conversation.
"I expect if the criminal tries to dispose of the emeralds he will
be caught," said he: "such large jewels are too noticeable to escape
comment."
"Humph! It depends upon the cleverness of the thief," said the
Professor, who was more taken up with the mummy than with the
conversation, "He might have the jewels cut into smaller stones, or he
might go to India and dispose of them to some Rajah, who would certainly
say nothing. I don't know how criminals act myself, as I have never
studied their methods. But I hope that the clue you mention will be hit
upon, if only for Random's sake."