"I have bought the mummy
and the jewels with it. They will sell to supply me with money
to fit out my expedition to the tomb of Queen Tahoser."
"I shall dispute your claim," cried De Gayangos, losing his
calmness.
Braddock waved his hand with supreme content.
"I can give you the address of my lawyers," he retorted; "any
steps you choose to take will only result in loss, and from what
you hint I should not think that you had much money to spend on
litigation."
Don Pedro bit his lip, and saw that it was indeed a more
difficult task than he had anticipated to make Braddock yield up
his prize.
"If you were in Lima," he muttered, speaking Spanish in his
excitement, "you would then learn that I speak truly."
"I do not doubt your truth," answered the Professor in the same
language.
De Gayangos wheeled and faced his host, much surprised.
"You speak my tongue, senor?" he demanded.
Braddock nodded.
"I have been in Spain, and I have been in Peru," he answered
dryly, "therefore I know classical Spanish and its colonial
dialects. As to being in Lima, I was there, and I do not wish to
go there again, as I had quite enough of those uncivilized parts
thirty years ago, when the country was much disturbed after your
civil war.
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