The Green Mummy - Page 79/191

Three days went by, and Professor Braddock still remained absent in

London, although an occasional letter to Lucy requested such and such an

article from the museum to be forwarded, sometimes by post and on other

occasions by Cockatoo, who traveled up to town especially. The Kanaka

always returned with the news that his master was looking well, but

brought no word of the Professor's return. Lucy was not surprised, as

she was accustomed to Braddock's vagaries.

Meanwhile Don Pedro, comfortably established at the Warrior Inn,

wandered about Gartley in his dignified way, taking very little interest

in the village, but a great deal in the Pyramids. As the Professor was

absent, Lucy could not ask him to dinner, but she did invite him and

Donna Inez to afternoon tea. Don Pedro was anxious to peep into the

museum, but Cockatoo absolutely refused to let him enter, saying that

his master had forbidden anyone to view the collection during his

absence. And in this refusal Cockatoo was supported by Miss Kendal, who

had a wholesome dread of her step-father's rage, should he return and

find that a stranger had been making free of his sacred apartments. The

Peruvian gentleman expressed himself extremely disappointed, so much

so, indeed, that Lucy fancied he believed Braddock had the green mummy

hidden in the museum, in spite of the reported loss from the Sailor's

Rest.

Failing to get permission to range through the rooms of the Pyramids,

Don Pedro paid occasional visits to Pierside and questioned the police

regarding the Bolton murder. From Inspector Date he learned nothing of

any importance, and indeed that officer expressed his belief that not

until the Day of judgment would the truth become known. It then occurred

to De Gayangos to explore the neighborhood of the Sailor's Rest, and

to examine that public-house himself. He saw the famous window through

which the mysterious woman had talked to the deceased, and noted that

it looked across a stony, narrow path to the water's edge, wherefrom a

rugged jetty ran out into the stream for some little distance. Nothing

would have been easier, reflected Don Pedro, than for the assassin to

enter by the window, and, having accomplished his deed, to leave in the

same way, bearing the case containing the mummy. A few steps would carry

the man and his burden to a waiting boat, and once the craft slipped

into the mists on the river, all trace would be lost, as had truly

happened. In this way the Peruvian gentleman believed the murder and the

theft had been accomplished, but even supposing things had happened as

he surmised, still, he was as far as ever from unraveling the mystery.

While Don Pedro searched for his royal ancestor's corpse, and

incidentally for the thief and murderer, his daughter was being wooed by

Sir Frank Random. Heaven only knows what he saw in her--as Lucy observed

to young Hope--for the girl had not a word to say for herself. She was

undeniably handsome, and dressed with great taste, save for stray

hints of barbaric delight in color, doubtless inherited from her Inca

ancestors. All the same, she appeared to be devoid of small talk or

great talk, or any talk whatsoever. She sat and smiled and looked like

a handsome picture, but after her appearance had satisfied the eye,

she left much to be desired. Yet Sir Frank approved of her stately

quietness, and seemed anxious to make her his wife. Lucy, in spite of

the fact that he had so speedily got over her refusal to marry him, was

anxious that he should be happy with Donna Inez, whom he appeared to

love, and afforded him every opportunity of meeting the lady, so that

he might prosecute his wooing. All the same, she wondered that he should

desire to marry an iceberg, and Donna Inez, with her silent tongue and

cold smiles, was little else. However, as Frank Random was the

chief party concerned in the love-making--for Donna Inez was merely

passive--there was no more to be said.