The Green Mummy - Page 117/191

"Oh!" Archie jumped up with widely opened eyes. "Then perhaps this

solves the problem. Bolton was murdered by some Peruvian Indian."

Random shook his head gravely.

"Again you offer me a loophole of escape, my dear fellow," he said

sententiously, "but that theory will not hold water. At present the

Indians in Lima and Cuzco do not know that the mummy has been found. Don

Pedro only chanced upon the paper which announced the sale by accident

and had no time to communicate with his barbaric friends in South

America. Failing to get the mummy from you, Professor, he would have

returned to Peru and then would have told who possessed the corpse of

Inca Caxas, leaving the Indians to deal with the matter. In that case my

warning to Bolton would be necessary. But at the time I told him, it

was not necessary. However, Bolton remained true to you, Professor, and

declined to surrender the mummy. I therefore wired to Don Pedro at Genoa

that the mummy was on board The Diver and was being sent to Gartley. I

also advised him to come to me here in order to be introduced to you.

The rest you know."

There was a moment's silence. Then Archie, to test if Random was

willing to admit everything--as an innocent man certainly would--asked

significantly, "Did you see Bolton again after your interview on board ship?"

It was then that the baronet proved his good faith.

"Oh, yes," he said easily and without hesitation. "I was walking

about Pierside later, and, passing along that waterside alley near

the Sailor's Rest, I saw a window on the ground floor open, and Bolton

looking out across the river. I stopped and asked him when he proposed

to take the mummy to Gartley, and if it was on shore. He admitted that

it was in the hotel, but declined to say when he would send it on to

you, Professor. When he closed the window, I afterwards went into the

hotel and had a drink in order to ask casually when Mr. Bolton intended

to leave. I gathered--not directly, of course, but in a roundabout

way--that he had arranged to go next morning and to send on his luggage.

Then I left and went to London. In the course of time I returned here

and learned of the murder and the disappearance of the corpse of Inca

Caxas. And now," Random stood up, "having admitted all this, perhaps you

will believe me to be innocent."

"You have no idea who murdered Bolton and placed his body in the packing

case?" asked Braddock, manifestly disappointed.

"'No. No more than I have any idea of the person who placed the mummy

case and its contents in Mrs. Jasher's garden."

"Oh, you know that!" said Archie quickly.