"To search for the mummy?" questioned Archie eagerly.
"No, sir. I had given up all hope of finding that. But chance placed a
clue in my hands. At Genoa I came across a newspaper, which stated that
a mummy in a green case--and a Peruvian mummy at that--was for sale
at Malta. I immediately made inquiries, thinking that this was the
long-lost body of Inca Caxas. But it so happened that I was too late,
as already the mummy had been sold to Professor Braddock, and had been
taken to England on board The Diver by Mr. Bolton. Chance, which had
pointed out the whereabouts of the mummy, also brought me at Genoa
into relations with Sir Frank Random"--Don Pedro bowed his head to
the baronet--"and, as it appeared that he knew Professor Braddock, I
thankfully accepted his offer to introduce me. Hence I am here, but only
to hear that the mummy is again lost. That is all," and the Peruvian
gentleman dramatically waved his arm.
"A strange story," said Archie, who was the first to speak, "and it
certainly solves at least one part of the mystery."
"What is that?" demanded Mrs. Jasher quickly.
"It shows that the mummy was stolen on account of the emeralds."
"Pardon me, but that is impossible, sir," said Don Pedro, drawing up his
lean figure. "No one but myself knew that the mummy held two emeralds
in its dead hands, and I learned that only a few years ago from the
manuscript which I had the honor of showing you."
"There is that objection assuredly," replied Hope with composure. "Yet
I can hardly believe that any man would risk his neck to steal so
remarkable a mummy, which he would have a difficulty in disposing of.
But did this assassin know of the emeralds, he would venture much to
gain them, since jewels can be disposed of with comparative ease, and
cannot easily be traced."
"All the same," said Random, looking up, "I do not see how the assassin
could have learned that the jewels were wrapped in the bandages."
"Humph!" said Hope, glancing at De Gayangos, "perhaps there is more than
one copy of this manuscript you speak of."
"Not to my knowledge."
"The sailor Vasa might have copied it."
"No." Don Pedro shook his head. "It is written in Latin, since a Spanish
priest taught the son of Inca Caxas, who wrote it, that language. I do
not think that Vasa knew Latin. Also, if Vasa had copied the manuscript,
he would have stripped the mummy to procure the jewels. Now, in the
newspaper advertisement it stated that the bandages of the mummy were
intact, as also was the verdant case. No," said Don Pedro decisively, "I
am quite of opinion that Vasa, and indeed everyone else, was ignorant of
this manuscript."