"
"And who the deuce is he? Some Spanish Egyptologist?"
"I don't think he is an Egyptologist, sir."
"He must be, if he wants my mummy."
"You forget, Professor, that the green mummy comes from Peru."
"Who denied that it did, sir? You are illogical--infernally
so." The little man rose and straddled on the hearth-rug, with
his back to the fire and his hands under his coat-tails. "Now,
sir," he said, glaring at the young man like a school-master--
"what the deuce are you talking about? Out with it: no evasion."
"Oh, hang it, Professor, don't jump down my throat, spurs and
all," said Random, rather annoyed by this dictatorial tone.
"I never wear spurs: go on, sir, and don't argue."
Sir Frank could not help laughing, although he knew that it was
useless to induce Braddock to be civil. Not that the Professor,
meant to be rude, especially as he desired to conciliate Random.
But long years of fighting with other scientists and of having
his own scientific way had turned him into a kind of
school-master, and every one knows that they are the most
domineering of the human race.
"It's a long story," said the baronet, with a shrug and a smile.
"Story! story! What story?"
"'That which I am about to tell you.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127