"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.