"Thank you, sir," said Random, moved, and shook his future father-in-law heartily by the hand, while Donna Inez, throwing all restraint to the winds, kissed her lover exultingly on the check. In the midst of this scene Professor Braddock returned, looking very pleased.
"I have induced Hervey to hold his tongue for a few days until we can look into this matter," he said, rubbing his hands "that is, if you think it wise, all of you. Otherwise, I am quite willing to go myself to-morrow and tell the police.""No," said Archie rapidly, "let us thresh out the matter ourselves. We will save Sir Frank's name from a police court slur at all events.""I do not think there is any chance of Sir Frank being arrested,"said Don Pedro politely; "the evidence is insufficient. And at the worst he can provide an alibi.""I am not so sure of that," said Random anxiously. "I went to London certainly, but I did not go to any place where I am known.
However," he added cheerfully, "I daresay I'll be able to defend myself. Still, the fact remains that we are no nearer to learning who killed Bolton than we were.""I am sending Cockatoo to Pierside to-morrow to stop at the Sailor's Rest for a time," said Braddock quickly. "He will watch Hervey, and if there is anything suspicious about his movements, we shall soon know.""And I turn amateur detective to-morrow and question Widow Anne,"said Hope, after which remark he had to explain matters to Braddock, who had been out of the room when Mrs. Bolton's strange request had been discussed.
Meanwhile Donna Inez had been whispering to her lover and pointing to the mummy. Don Pedro followed her thoughts and guessed what she was saying. Random proved the truth of his guess by, turning to him.
"Do you really want to take back the mummy to Peru, sir?" he asked quietly.
"Certainly. Inca Caxas was my forefather. I do not wish to leave him in this place. His body must be restored to its tomb.
All the Indians, who look upon me as their present Inca expect me to bring the body back. Although," added De Gayangos gravely, "I did not come to Europe to look for the mummy, as you know.""Then I shall buy the mummy," said Random impetuously.
"Professor, will you sell it to me?"
"Now that I have examined it thoroughly I shall be delighted,"said the little man, "say for two thousand pounds.""Not at all," interposed Don Pedro; "you mean one thousand.""Of course he does," said Lucy quickly; "and the check must be paid to Archie, Sir Frank.""To me! to me!" cried Braddock indignantly. "I insist.""The money belongs to Archie," said Lucy obstinately. "You have seen what you desired to see, father and as Archie only lent you the money, it is only fair that he should have it again.""Oh, let the Professor have it," said Hope good-naturedly.
"No! no! no!"
Random laughed.
"I shall make the check payable to you, Miss Kendal, and you can give it to whomsoever you choose," he said; "and now, as everything has been settled so far, I suggest that we should retire.""Come to my rooms at the inn," said Don Pedro, opening the door.
"I have much to say to you. Good night, Professor; to-morrow let us go to Pierside and see if we cannot get at the truth.""And to-morrow," cried Random, "I shall send the check, sir."When the company departed, Lucy had another wrangle with her father about the check. As Archie had gone away, she could speak freely, and pointed out that he was enjoying her mother's income and was about to marry Mrs. Jasher, who was rich.
"Therefore," argued Lucy, "you certainly do not want to keep poor Archie's money.""He paid me that sum on condition that I consented to the wedding.""He did nothing of the sort," she cried indignantly. "I am not going to be bought and sold in this manner. Archie lent you the money, and it must be returned. Don't force me to think you selfish, father."The upshot of the argument was that Lucy got her own way, and the Professor rather unwillingly agreed to part with the mummy and restore the thousand pounds. But he regretted doing so, as he wished to get all the money he could to go towards his proposed Egyptian expedition, and Mrs. Jasher's fortune, as he assured his step-daughter, was not so large as might be thought. However, Lucy overruled him, and retired to bed, congratulating herself that she would soon be able to marry Hope. She was beginning to grow a trifle weary of the Professor's selfish nature, and wondered how her mother had put up with it for so long.
Next day Braddock did not go with Don Pedro to Pierside, as he was very busy in his museum. The Peruvian went alone, and Archie, after a morning's work at his easel, sought out Widow Anne to ask questions. Lucy and Donna Inez paid an afternoon visit to Mrs. Jasher and found her in bed, as she had caught a mild sort of influenza. They expected to find Sir Frank here, but it seemed that he had not called. Thinking that he was detained by military business, the girls thought nothing more of his absence, although Donna Inez was somewhat downcast.
But Random was detained in his quarters by a letter which had arrived by the mid-day host, and which surprised him not a little. The postmark was London, and the writing, evidently a disguised hand, was almost illegible in its crudeness. The contents ran as follows, and it will be noticed that there is neither date nor address, and that it is written in the third person:
"If Sir Frank Random wants his character to be cleared and all suspicion of murder to be removed from him, he can be completely exonerated by the writer, if he will pay the same five thousand pounds. If Sir Frank Random is willing to do this, let him appoint a meeting-place in London, and the writer will send a messenger to receive the money and to hand over the proofs which will clear Sir Frank Random. If Sir Frank Random plays the writer false, or communicates with the police, proofs will be forthcoming which will prove him to be guilty of Sidney Bolton's death, and which will bring him to the scaffold without any chance of escape. A couple of lines in the Agony Column of The Daily Telegraph, signed ` Artillery,' and appointing a meeting-place, will suffice; but beware of treachery."
