"
"Yes," snapped Braddock, "and I daresay the Maltese owner
thought so too, since he bought it from that collector in Paris."
Hope nodded.
"And if Vasa sold it to the man in Paris," said he calmly, "he
certainly would not tell the purchaser that he had looted the
mummy in Lima, and the poor man would not know that he was
receiving stolen goods. Is that right, Don Pedro?"
"Yes, sir," said the Peruvian, who had recovered his temper and
his gravity; "but I declare solemnly that the mummy was stolen
from my father and should belong to me."
"No one disputes that," said Archie cheerfully; "but it ought to
belong to the Professor also, since he has bought it. Now, as it
can't possibly belong to two people, we must split the
difference. You, Professor, must sell back the mummy to Don
Pedro for the price you paid for it, and then, Don Pedro, you
must recompense Professor Braddock for his loss."
"I have not much money," said Don Pedro gravely; "still, I am
willing to do as you say."
"I don't know that I am," protested Braddock noisily. "There are
the two emeralds which are of immense value, as Don Pedro says,
and they belong to me, since the mummy is my property."
"Professor," said Archie solemnly, "you must do right, even if
you lose by it.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220