The Green Mummy - Page 172/191

"As I said," remarked Random at this stage, "the miserable creature was

more sinned against than sinning."

"Her moral sense seemed to have become blunted, however," said Archie

doubtfully.

"And small wonder, amidst such surroundings; but it seems to me that she

was much better under the circumstances than many another woman would

have been. Go on."

In Melbourne Mrs. Jasher made a lucky speculation in mines, which

brought her one thousand pounds. With this she came to England, and

resolved to make a bid for respectability. Chance led her into the

neighborhood of Gartley, and thinking that if she set up her tent in

this locality she might manage to marry an officer from the Fort--since

amidst such dismal surroundings a young man might be the more easily

fascinated by a woman of the world--she took the cottage amidst the

marshes at a small rent. Here she hoped to eke out what money she had

left--a few hundreds--until the coveted marriage should take place.

Afterwards she met Professor Braddock and determined to marry him, as

a man more easy to manage. She was successful in enlisting Lucy on her

side, and until the green mummy brought its bad luck to the Pyramids

everything went capitally.

It was in connection with the name of Bolton that the first mention was

made of the green mummy. Sidney was a clever young man, although

very lowly born, and having been taken up by Professor Braddock as

an assistant, could hope some day to make a position. Braddock was

educating him, although he paid him very little in the way of wages.

Sidney fell in love with Mrs. Jasher, and in some way--she did not

mention how--gained her confidence. Perhaps the lonely woman was glad

to have a sympathetic friend. At all events she told her past history

to Sidney, and mentioned that she desired to marry Braddock. But Sidney

insisted that she should marry him, and promised to make enough money

to satisfy her that he was a good match, setting aside his humble birth,

for which Mrs. Jasher cared nothing.

It was then that Sidney related what he had discovered. Braddock, when

in Peru many years before, had tried to get mummies for some scientific

reason. When Hervey--then known as Vasa--promised to procure him the

mummy of the last Inca, Braddock was extremely pleased. Hervey stole the

mummy and also the copy of the manuscript which was written in Latin.

He sent this latter to Braddock--who was then at Cuzco--as an earnest of

his success in procuring the mummy, and when the Professor returned

to Lima the mummy was to be handed to him. Unfortunately, Braddock

was carried into captivity for one year, and when he escaped Vasa had

disappeared with the mummy. As the Professor had deciphered the Latin

manuscript, he knew of the emeralds, and for years had been hunting for

the mummy--sure to be recognized from its peculiar green color--in order

to get the jewels, and thus secure money for his Egyptian expedition.

All through, it seems, the Professor was actuated by purely scientific

enthusiasm, as in the abstract he cared very little for hard cash.

Bolton told Mrs. Jasher that Braddock explained how much he desired to

get the mummy, but he did not mention about the jewels. For a long time

Sidney was under the impression that his master merely wanted the

mummy to see the difference between the Egyptian and Peruvian modes of

embalming.