“So do I,” said Random.  “Well, Don Pedro, it seems to me that your task in Gartley is ended.  All you have to do is to wait for the inquest and see Mrs. Jasher buried, poor soul!  Then you can go to London and remain there until after Christmas.”

“But why should I remain in London?” asked the Peruvian, surprised.

Random glanced at Donna Inez, who blushed.

“You forget that you have given your consent to my marriage with—­”

“Ah, yes,” Don Pedro smiled gravely.  “I return with the jewel to Lima, but I leave my other jewel behind.”

“Never mind,” said the girl, kissing her father; “when Frank and I are married we will come to Callao in his yacht.”

“Our yacht,” said Random, smiling.

“Our yacht,” repeated Donna Inez.  “And then you will see, father, that I have become a real English lady.”

“But don’t entirely forget that you are a Peruvian,” said Don Pedro playfully.

“And a descendant of Inca Caxas,” added Donna Inez.  Then she flirted her fan, which she was rarely without, and laughed in her English lover’s face.  “Don’t forget, senor, that you marry a princess.”

“I marry the most charming girl in the world,” he replied, catching her in his arms, rather to the scandal of De Gayangos, who had stiff Spanish notions regarding the etiquette of engaged couples.

“There is one thing you must do for me, senor,” he said quietly, “before we leave this most unhappy case of murder and theft for ever.”

“What is that?” asked Sir Frank, turning with Inez in his arms.

“To-night at eight o’clock, Captain Hervey—­the sailor Gustav Vasa, if you prefer the name—­steams down the river in his new boat The Firefly.  I received a note from him”—­he displayed a letter—­“stating that he will pass the jetty of Gartley at that hour, and will burn a blue light.  If I fire a pistol, he will send off a boat with a full account of the theft of the mummy of Inca Caxas, written by himself.  Then I will hand his messenger fifty gold sovereigns, which I have here,” added Don Pedro, pointing to a canvas bag on the table, “and we will return.  I wish you to go with me, senor, and also I wish your friend Mr. Hope to come.”

“Do you anticipate treachery from Captain Hervey?” asked Random.

“I should not be surprised if he tried to trick me in some way, and I wish you and your friend to stand by me.  Were this man alone, I would go alone, but he will have a boat’s crew with him.  It is best to be safe.”

“I agree with you,” said Random quickly.  “Hope and I will come, and we will take revolvers with us.  It doesn’t do to trust this blackguard.  Ho! ho!  I wonder if he knows of the Professor’s flight.”

“No.  Considering the terms upon which the Professor stood with Hervey, I should think he would be the last person he would trust.  I wonder what has become of the man.”