The Green Mummy - Page 122/191

The two ladies looked at one another in amazement, not knowing what

to say. They were ignorant of the theft of the emeralds and of the

accusation of Sir Frank by the Yankee skipper. But, with his usual

absentmindedness, Braddock had forgotten all about that, and sat in his

chair rubbing his head quite pink and rattling on cheerfully.

"I went down with Hope to the embankment," he continued, "but neither

of us could see any sign of a boat. There's the rude, short jetty, of

course, and if a boat came, a boat could go away without leaving any

trace. Perhaps that is so. However, we must wait until we see Don Pedro

and Hervey again, and then--"

Lucy broke in desperately.

"What are you talking about, father? Why do you bring in Sir Frank's

name in that way?"

"What do you expect me to say?" retorted the little man. "After all, the

manuscript was found in his room, and the emeralds are gone. I saw that

for myself, as did Hope and Don Pedro, in whose presence I opened the

mummy case."

Mrs. Jasher rose in her astonishment.

"Are the emeralds gone?" she gasped.

"Yes! yes! yes!" cried Braddock irritably. "Am I not telling you so?

I almost believe in Hervey's accusation of Random, and yet the boy

exonerated himself very forcibly--very forcibly indeed."

"Will you explain all that has happened, father?" said Lucy, who was

becoming more and more perplexed by this rambling chatter. "We are quite

in the dark."

"So am I: so is Hope: so is every one," chuckled Braddock. "Ah, yes: of

course, you were not present when these events took place."

"What events?--what events?" demanded Mrs. Jasher, now quite

exasperated.

"I am about to tell you," snapped her future husband, and related all

that had taken place since the arrival of Captain Hervey in the museum

at the Pyramids. The women listened with interest and with growing

astonishment, only interrupting the narrator with a simultaneous

exclamation of indignation when they heard that Sir Frank was accused.

"It is utterly and wholly absurd," cried Lucy angrily. "Sir Frank is the

soul of honor."

"So I think, my dear," chimed in Mrs. Jasher. "And what does he say

to--?"

Braddock interrupted.

"I am about to tell you, if you will stop talking," he cried crossly.

"That is so like a woman. She asks for an explanation and then prevents

the man from giving it. Random offers a very good defense, I am bound to

say," and he detailed what Sir Frank had said.

When the history was finished, Lucy rose to go.

"I shall see Archie at once," she said, moving hastily, towards the

door.

"What for?" demanded her father benignly.

Lucy turned.

"This thing can't go on," she declared resolutely. "Mrs. Jasher was

accused by you, father--"