The Green Mummy - Page 142/191

"No," said Lucy decisively. "The mummy was taken directly from the

seller's house to the boat, and perhaps Sidney did not find the

manuscript until he looked at the mummy. Then Captain Hervey kept an eye

on Sidney, so that he could not open the mummy to steal the emeralds."

"Still, according to your own showing, Sidney looked at the actual

mummy--he opened the mummy case, that is, else he could not have got the

manuscript."

Lucy nodded.

"I think so, but of course we cannot be sure. But the packing case in

which the mummy was stowed was placed in the hold of the steamer, and

if Sidney had wished to steal the emeralds, he could not have done so

without exciting Captain Hervey's suspicions."

"Then let us say that Sidney robbed the mummy when in the Sailor's Rest,

and took the clothes he borrowed from his mother in order to fly in

disguise. But what of the woman?"

Lucy shook her head.

"I cannot tell. We may learn more later. Don Pedro has gone to Pierside

to search, and my father says that he will send Cockatoo there also to

search."

"Well," sighed Mrs. Jasher wearily, "I hope that all this trouble will

come to an end. That green mummy has proved most unlucky. Leave me now,

dear girls, as I feel somewhat tired."

"Good-bye," said Lucy, kissing her. "I hope that you will be better this

evening. Don't get up unless you feel quite able."

"Oh, I shall take my ease in the drawing-room."

"I thought you always called it the parlor," laughed the girl.

"Ah," Mrs. Jasher smiled, "you see I am practicing against the time

when I shall be mistress of the Pyramids, You can't call that large room

there a parlor," and she laughed weakly.

Altogether, Mrs. Jasher impressed both Lucy and Donna Inez with the fact

that she was very weak and scarcely able, as she put it, to draw one leg

after the other. Both the girls would have been surprised to see what a

hearty meal Mrs. Jasher made that evening, when she was up and dressed.

Perhaps she felt that her strength needed keeping up, but she certainly

partook largely of the delicate dinner provided by Jane, who was a most

excellent cook.

After dinner, Mrs. Jasher lay on a pink couch in the pink parlor by a

splendid fire, for the night was cold and raw with a promise of rain.

The widow had a small table at her elbow, on which stood a cup of

coffee and a glass of liquor. The rose-colored curtains were drawn, the

rose-shaded lamps were lighted, and the whole interior of the cottage

looked very comfortable indeed. Mrs. Jasher, in a crocus-yellow tea-gown

trimmed with rich black lace, reclined on her couch like Cleopatra in

her barge. In the pink light she looked very well preserved, although

her face wore an anxious expression. This was due to the fact that the

mail had come in and the three letters brought by the postman had to do

with creditors. Mrs. Jasher was always trying to make both ends meet,

and had a hard struggle to keep her head above water. Certainly, since

she had inherited the money of her brother, the Pekin merchant, she need

not have looked so worried. But she did, and made no disguise of it,

seeing that she was quite alone.