Jasher
had been concealing the mummy. Shortly the rumor spread that she
had also murdered Bolton, for unless she had done so, she
certainly--according to village logic--could not have been
possessed of the spoil. Finally, as Mrs. Jasher's doors and
windows were small and the mummy was rather bulky, it was natural
to presume that she had hidden it in the garden. Report said she
had buried it and had dug it up just in time to be pounced upon
by its rightful owner. From which it can be seen that gossip is
not invariably accurate.
However this may be, the news of Professor Braddock's good
fortune shortly came to Don Pedro's ears through the medium of
the landlady. As she revealed what she had heard in the morning,
the Peruvian gentleman was spared a sleepless night. But as soon
as he learned the truth--which was surprising enough in its
unexpectedness--he hastily finished his breakfast and hurried to
the Pyramids. As yet he had not intended to see Braddock so
promptly, or at least not until he had made further inquiries at
Pierside, but the news that Braddock possessed the royal ancestor
of the De Gayangoses brought him immediately into the museum. He
greeted the Professor in his usual grave and dignified manner,
and no one would have guessed from his inherent calmness that the
unexpected news of Braddock's arrival, and the still more
unexpected information about the green mummy, had surprised him
beyond measure.
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