offers; but the oddly shaped mummy case, stained green, having been seen, it needed little wit for those who had caught a sight of it to put two and two together, especially as the weird object had been described at the inquest and had been talked over ever since in every cottage.  And as the cart had been seen coming out of the widow’s garden, it naturally occurred to the villagers that Mrs. Jasher had been concealing the mummy.  Shortly the rumor spread that she had also murdered Bolton, for unless she had done so, she certainly—­according to village logic—­could not have been possessed of the spoil.  Finally, as Mrs. Jasher’s doors and windows were small and the mummy was rather bulky, it was natural to presume that she had hidden it in the garden.  Report said she had buried it and had dug it up just in time to be pounced upon by its rightful owner.  From which it can be seen that gossip is not invariably accurate.

However this may be, the news of Professor Braddock’s good fortune shortly came to Don Pedro’s ears through the medium of the landlady.  As she revealed what she had heard in the morning, the Peruvian gentleman was spared a sleepless night.  But as soon as he learned the truth—­which was surprising enough in its unexpectedness—­he hastily finished his breakfast and hurried to the Pyramids.  As yet he had not intended to see Braddock so promptly, or at least not until he had made further inquiries at Pierside, but the news that Braddock possessed the royal ancestor of the De Gayangoses brought him immediately into the museum.  He greeted the Professor in his usual grave and dignified manner, and no one would have guessed from his inherent calmness that the unexpected news of Braddock’s arrival, and the still more unexpected information about the green mummy, had surprised him beyond measure.  Being somewhat superstitious, it also occurred to Don Pedro that the coincidence meant good fortune to him in the recovery of his long-lost ancestor.

Braddock, already knowing a great deal about Don Pedro from Lucy and Archie Hope, was only too pleased to see the Peruvian, hoping to find in him a kindred spirit.  As yet the Professor was not aware of the contents of the ancient Latin manuscript, which revealed the fact of the hidden emeralds, since Hope had decided to leave it to the Peruvian to impart the information.  Archie knew very well that Don Pedro—­as he had plainly stated—­wished to purchase the mummy, and it was only right that Braddock should know what he was selling.  But Hope forgot one important fact perhaps from the careless way in which Don Pedro had told his story—­namely, that the Professor in a second degree was a receiver of stolen goods.  Therefore it was more than probable that the Peruvian would claim the mummy as his own property.  Still, in that event he would have to prove his claim, and that would not be easy.

The plump little professor had not yet unsealed the case, and when Don Pedro entered, he was standing before it rubbing his fat hands, with a gloating expression in his face.  However, as Cockatoo had brought in the Peruvian’s card, Braddock expected his visitor and wheeled to face him.