The Green Mummy - Page 149/191

Mrs. Jasher had thought Random exceedingly clever in acting as he had

done to trap her. She would have thought him still more clever had she

known that he trusted to the power of suggestion to prevent her from

trying to escape. Sir Frank had not the slightest intention of setting

his soldier-servant to watch, as such was not the duty for which such

servants are hired. But having impressed firmly on the adventuress's

mind that he would act in this way, he departed, quite certain that the

woman would not attempt to run away. Although no one was watching the

cottage, Mrs. Jasher, believing what had been told her, would think that

sharp eyes were on her doors and windows day and night, and would firmly

believe that if she tried to get away she would be captured forthwith

by the Pierside police, or perhaps by the village constable. Like an

Eastern enchanter, the baronet had placed a spell on the cottage, and

it acted admirably. Mrs. Jasher, although longing to escape and hide

herself, remained where she was, cowed by a spy who did not exist.

The next day Random went to the Pyramids as soon as his duties permitted

and saw the Professor. To the prospective bridegroom he explained all

that had happened, and displayed the anonymous letter, with an account

of how he had proved Mrs. Jasher to be the writer. Braddock's hair could

not stand on end, as he had none, but he lost his temper completely, and

raged up and down the museum in a way which frightened Cockatoo out of

his barbaric wits. When more quiet he sat down to discuss the matter,

and promptly demanded that Mrs. Jasher should be handed over to the

police. But he might have guessed that Sir Frank would refuse to follow

this extreme advice.

"She has acted badly, I admit," said the young man. "All the same, I

think she is a better woman than you may think, Professor."

"Think! think! think!" shouted the fiery little man, getting up once

more to trot up and down like an infuriated poodle. "I think she is a

bad woman, a wicked woman. To deceive me into thinking her rich and--"

"But surely, Professor, you wished to marry her also for love?"

"Nothing of the sort, sir: nothing of the sort. I leave love and

such-like trash to those like yourself and Hope, who have nothing else

to think about."

"But a marriage without love--"

"Pooh! pooh! pooh! Don't argue with me, Random. Love is all moonshine.

I did not love my first wife--Lucy's mother--and yet we were very happy.

Had I made Mrs. Jasher my second, we should have got on excellently,

provided the money was forthcoming for my Egyptian expedition. What am

I to do now, I ask you, Random? Even the thousand pounds you pay for the

mummy goes back to that infernal Hope because of Lucy's silly ideas.

I have nothing--absolutely nothing, and that tomb is amongst those

Ethiopian hills, I swear, waiting to be opened. Oh, what a chance I have

missed!--what a chance! But I shall see Mrs. Jasher myself. She knows

about this murder."