"No," said the skipper musingly, and pulling his goatee. "He told me
that he had secured the old corpse, and was bringing it home to you. I
didn't talk much to Bolton; he wasn't my style."
"Have you any idea who killed him?"
"No, I ain't."
"Then how do you propose to find the criminal who has the mummy?"
"You give me five hundred pounds and see," said Hervey coolly.
"I haven't got the money."
"Then I reckon you don't get the corpse. So long," and the skipper
strolled towards the door. Braddock followed him.
"You have a clue?"
"No, I've got nothing; not even that five hundred pounds you make such
a fuss over. It's a wasted day with H.H., I surmise. Wait!" He scribbled
on a card and flung it across the room. "That's my Pierside address if
you should change your blamed mind."
The Professor picked up the card. "The Sailor's Rest! What, are you
stopping there?" Then, when Hervey nodded, he cried violently, "Why, I
believe you have a clue, and stop at the hotel to follow it up."
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," retorted the captain, opening the door
with a jerk; "anyhow, I don't hunt for that corpse without the dollars."
When Hiram Hervey departed, the Professor raged up and down the room so
violently that Cockatoo was cowed by his anger. Apparently this American
skipper knew of something which might lead to the discovery of the
assassin and incidentally to the restoration of the green mummy to its
rightful owner. But he would not make a move unless he was paid five
hundred pounds, and Braddock did not know where to procure that
amount. Having long since made himself acquainted with Hope's financial
condition, he knew well that there was no chance of getting a second
check in that quarter. Of course there was Random, whom he had heard
casually had returned from his yachting cruise, and was now back again
at the Fort. But Random was in love with Lucy, and would probably only
give or lend the money on condition that the Professor helped him with
his wooing. In that case, since Lucy was engaged to Hope, there would
be some difficulty in altering present conditions. But having arrived
at this point of his somewhat angry meditations, Braddock sent Cockatoo
with a message to his step-daughter, saying that he wished to see her.
"I'll see if she really loves Hope," thought the Professor, rubbing his
plump hands. "If she doesn't, there may be a chance of her throwing
him over to become Lady Random. Then I can get the money. And indeed,"
soliloquized the Professor virtuously, "I must point out to her that
it is wrong of her to make a poor marriage, when she can gain a
wealthy husband. I will only be doing my duty by my dear dead wife, by
preventing her wedding poverty. But girls are so obstinate, and Lucy is
a thorough girl."