"
"It will certainly be an acceptable wedding present," said Archie
sarcastically.
"Pardon me," said Mrs. Jasher in her turn, "but I have nothing to
do with it as a present or otherwise. How the thing came into my
arbor I really cannot say. As I told you, Professor Braddock
made no remark about it when he came; and when he left, although
I was at the door, I did not notice anything in this arbor.
Indeed I cannot say if I ever looked in this direction."
Archie mused and glanced at his watch.
"The Professor told Lucy that he came by the six train: you say
that he was here at seven."
"Yes, and he left at eight. What is the time now?"
"Ten o'clock, or a few minutes after. Therefore, since neither
you nor Braddock saw the mummy, I take it that the case was
brought here by some unknown people between eight o'clock and a
quarter to ten, about which time I arrived here with Lucy."
Mrs. Jasher nodded.
"You put the matter very clearly," she observed dryly. "You have
mistaken your vocation, Mr. Hope, and should have been a criminal
lawyer. I should turn detective were I you."
"Why?" asked Archie with a start.
"You might ascertain my movements on the night when the crime was
committed," snapped the little widow.
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