"
"Archaeological work?"
"Yes. I don't wash, whatever Bolton's mother may, do. Don't ask
silly questions."
"Be more respectful," said the Coroner again, and grew red.
"Have you any idea as to the name of anyone who desired to obtain
possession of this mummy?"
"I daresay dozens of scientists in my line of business would have
liked to get the corpse of Inca Caxas. Such as--" and he reeled
out a list of celebrated men.
"Nonsense," growled the Coroner. "Famous men like those you
mention would not murder even for the sake of obtaining this
mummy."
"I never said that they would," retorted Braddock, "but you
wanted to hear who would like to have the mummy; and I have told
you."
The Coroner waived the question.
"Was there any jewelry on the mummy likely to attract a thief?"
he asked.
"How the devil should I know?" fumed the Professor. "I never
unpacked the mummy; I never even saw it. Any jewelry buried with
Inca Caxas would be bound up in the bandages. So far as I know
those bandages were never unwound."
"You can throw no light on the subject?"
"No, I can't. Bolton went to get the mummy and brought it home.
I understood that he would personally bring his precious charge
to my house; but he didn't.
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