Certainly he had--to put
it bluntly--purchased Braddock's consent, and that gentleman
could scarcely draw back from his plighted word, which had cost
the lover so much. Nevertheless, Hope did not entirely, trust
the Professor, as, from the few words which he had let drop at
the dinner party, it was plain that he hankered after money with
which to fit out the expedition in search of the mysterious tomb
to which he had alluded. Archie knew, as did the Professor, that
he could not supply the necessary five thousand pounds without
practically ruining himself, and already he had crippled his
resources in paying over the price of the green mummy. He had
fondly believed that Braddock would have been satisfied with the
relic of Peruvian humanity; but it seemed that the Professor,
having got what he wanted, now clamored for what was at present
beyond his reach. The mummy was his property, but he desired the
contents of Queen Tahoser's tomb also. This particular moon,
which he cried for, was a very expensive article, and Hope did
not see how he could gain it.
Unless--and here came in the cause of Archie's worry--unless
the five thousand pounds was borrowed from Sir Frank Random, the
Professor would have to content himself with the Maltese mummy.
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