The Green Mummy - Page 19/191

"Indeed," said Lucy politely, and wondering why Mrs. Jasher was so

communicative. "Soon I hope."

"It may be very soon. My brother, you know--a merchant in Pekin. He

has come home to die, and is unmarried. When he does die, I shall go to

London. But," added the widow, meditatively and glancing again at the

Professor, "I shall be sorry to leave dear Gartley. Still, the memory

of happy hours spent in this house will always remain with me. Ah me! ah

me!" and she put her handkerchief to her eyes.

Lucy telegraphed to Archie that the widow was a humbug, and Archie

telegraphed back that he quite agreed with her. But the Professor, whom

the momentary silence had brought back to the present century, looked up

and asked Lucy if the dinner was finished.

"I have to do some work this evening," said the Professor.

"Oh, father, when you said that you would take a holiday," said Lucy

reproachfully.

"I am doing so now. Look at the precious minutes I am wasting in

eating, my dear. Life is short and much remains to be done in the way

of Egyptian exploration. There is the sepulchre of Queen Tahoser. If I

could only enter that," and he sighed, while helping himself to cream.

"Why don't you?" asked Mrs. Jasher, who was beginning to give up her

pursuit of Braddock, for it was no use wooing a man whose interests

centered entirely in Egyptian tombs.

"I have yet to discover it," said the Professor simply; then, warming to

the congenial theme, he glanced around and delivered a short historical

lecture. "Tahoser was the chief wife and queen of a famous Pharaoh--the

Pharaoh of the Exodus, in fact."

"The one who was drowned in the Red Sea?" asked Archie idly.

"Why, yes--but that happened later. Before pursuing the Hebrews,--if

the Mosaic account is to be believed,--this Pharaoh marched far into

the interior of Africa,--the Libya of the ancients,--and conquered the

natives of Upper Ethiopia. Being deeply in love with his queen, he

took her with him on this expedition, and she died before the Pharaoh

returned to Memphis. From records which I discovered in the museum of

Cairo, I have reason to believe that the Pharaoh buried her with much

pomp in Ethiopia, sacrificing, I believe, many prisoners at her gorgeous

funeral rites. From the wealth of that Pharaoh--for wealthy he must have

been on account of his numerous victories--and from the love he bore

this princess, I am confident--confident," added Braddock, striking the

table vehemently, "that when discovered, her tomb will be filled with

riches, and may also contain documents of incalculable value."

"And you wish to get the money?" asked Mrs. Jasher, who was rather

bored.

The Professor rose fiercely. "Money! I care nothing for money. I desire

to obtain the funeral jewelry and golden masks, the precious images of

the gods, so as to place them in the British Museum. And the scrolls

of papyrus buried with the mummy of Tahoser may contain an account

of Ethiopian civilization, about which we know nothing. Oh, that

tomb,--that tomb!" Braddock began to walk the room, quite forgetting

that he had not finished his dinner. "I know the mountains whose

entrails were pierced to form the sepulchre. Were I able to go to

Africa, I am certain that I should discover the tomb. Ah, with what

glory would my name be covered, were I so fortunate!"