"
"One moment," said Don Pedro, as the Professor began to literally
devour the discolored page. "You know from Hope, I have no
doubt, how I chance upon my own property in Europe?"
Braddock, still with his eyes on the manuscript, mumbled
"Your own property. Quite so: quite so."
"You admit that. Then you will no doubt restore the mummy to
me."
By this time the drift of Don Pedro's observations entirely
reached the understanding of the scientist, and he dropped the
document he was reading to leap to his feet.
"Restore the mummy to you!" he gasped. "Why, it is mine."
"Pardon me," said the Peruvian, still gravely but very
decisively, "you admitted that it belonged to me."
Braddock's face deepened to a fine purple.
"I didn't know what I was saying," he protested. "How could I
say it was your property when I have bought it for nine hundred
pounds?"
"It was stolen from me."
"That has got to be proved," said Braddock caustically.
Don Pedro rose, looking more like, Don Quixote than ever.
"I have the honor to give you my word and--"
"Yes, yes. That is all right. I cast no imputation on your
honor."
"I should think not," said the other coldly but strongly.
"All the same, you can scarcely expect me to part with so
valuable an object," Braddock waved his hand towards the case,
"without strict inquiry into the circumstances.
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