"Precisely," replied the Professor suavely. "Every Englishman has
a bull-dog tenacity of purpose. Brag is a good dog, Don Pedro, but
Holdfast is a better one."
"Then I understand," said the Peruvian, stretching out his hand to pick
up the fallen manuscript, "that you will keep the mummy."
"Certainly," said Braddock coolly, "since I have paid for it. Also, I
shall keep the jewels, which the manuscript tells me--from the glance I
obtained of it--were buried with it."
"The sole jewels buried are two large emeralds which the mummy holds in
its hands," explained Don Pedro, restoring the manuscript to his pocket,
"and I wish for them so that I may get money to restore the fortunes of
my family."
"No! no! no!" said Braddock forcibly. "I have bought the mummy and the
jewels with it. They will sell to supply me with money to fit out my
expedition to the tomb of Queen Tahoser."
"I shall dispute your claim," cried De Gayangos, losing his calmness.
Braddock waved his hand with supreme content.
"I can give you the address of my lawyers," he retorted; "any steps you
choose to take will only result in loss, and from what you hint I should
not think that you had much money to spend on litigation."
Don Pedro bit his lip, and saw that it was indeed a more difficult task
than he had anticipated to make Braddock yield up his prize.
"If you were in Lima," he muttered, speaking Spanish in his excitement,
"you would then learn that I speak truly."
"I do not doubt your truth," answered the Professor in the same
language.
De Gayangos wheeled and faced his host, much surprised.
"You speak my tongue, senor?" he demanded.
Braddock nodded.
"I have been in Spain, and I have been in Peru," he answered dryly,
"therefore I know classical Spanish and its colonial dialects. As to
being in Lima, I was there, and I do not wish to go there again, as I
had quite enough of those uncivilized parts thirty years ago, when the
country was much disturbed after your civil war."
"You were in Lima thirty years ago," echoed Don Pedro; "then you were
there when Vasa stole this mummy."
"I don't know who stole it, or even if it was stolen," said the
Professor obstinately, "and I don't know the name of Vasa. Ah! now I
remember. Young Hope did say something about the Swedish sailor who you
said stole the mummy."
"Vasa did, and brought it to Europe to sell--probably to that man in
Paris, who afterwards sold it to your Malteses collector."
"No doubt," rejoined Braddock calmly; "but what has all this to do with
me, Don Pedro?"
"I want my mummy," raged the other, and looked dangerous.