" He adjusted his
pince-nez and began to read, "The Osirian, Scemiophis that is a
female name, Mrs. Jasher--who--"
"I don't want to have my history written on my coffin,"
interrupted the widow hysterically, for this funereal talk
frightened her. "It would take much more space than a mummy case
upon which to write it. My life has been volcanic, I can tell
you. By the way," she added hurriedly, seeing that Braddock was
on the eve of resuming the reading, "tell me about your Inca
mummy. Has it arrived?"
The Professor immediately followed the false trail. "Not yet,"
he said briskly, rubbing his smooth hands, "but in three days I
expect The Diver will be at Pierside, and Sidney will bring the
mummy on here. I shall unpack it at once and learn exactly how
the ancient Peruvians embalmed their dead. Doubtless they
learned the art from--"
"The Egyptians," ventured Mrs. Jasher rashly.
Braddock glared. "Nothing of the sort, dear lady," he snorted
angrily. "Absurd, ridiculous! I am inclined to believe that
Egypt was merely a colony of that vast island of Atlantis
mentioned by Plato. There--if my theory is correct--
civilization begun, and the kings of Atlantis--doubtless the
gods of historical tribes--governed the whole world, including
that portion which we now term South America.
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