Jasher's
garden, so that she might be accused of committing the crime."
"Exactly," cried Braddock, seeing that his host remained silent
from sheer surprise. "Hope has stated the case very clearly.
Now, sir, your defense?"
"Defense! defense!" Random found his tongue at last and spoke
indignantly. "I have no defense to make."
"Ah! Then you acknowledge your guilt?"
"I acknowledge nothing. The accusation is too preposterous for
any denial to be necessary. Do you believe this of me?" He
looked from one to the other.
"I don't," said Archie quickly, "there is some mistake."
"Thank you, Hope. And you, Professor?"
Braddock fidgeted about the room.
"I don't know what to think," he said at length. "Hervey spoke
very decisively."
"Oh, indeed," returned Random dryly, and, walking to the door, he
locked it. "In that case, I must ask you for an explanation, and
neither of you shall leave this room until one is given. Your
proofs?"
"Here is one of them," snapped Braddock, throwing the manuscript
on the table. "Where did you get this?"
Random took up the discolored paper with a bewildered air.
"I never set eyes on this before," he said, much puzzled. "What
is it?"
"A copy of the manuscript mentioned by Don Pedro, which describes
the two emeralds buried with the mummy of Inca Caxas.
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