"
"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!"
"Why don't you go to Africa, sir, and try?" asked Hope.
"Fool!" cried the Professor politely. "To fit out an expedition
would take some five thousand pounds, if not more. I would have
to penetrate through a hostile country to reach the chain of
mountains I speak of, where I know this precious tomb is to be
found. I need supplies, an escort, guns, camels, and all the
rest of it. A leader must be obtained to manage the fighting men
necessary to pass through this dangerous zone.
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