"I got it nowhere: this is the first time I have seen it."
"Yet it was hidden amongst your books."
"Then I can't say how it got there. Were you looking for it?"
"No! Certainly not. To pass the time while waiting, I examined
your library, and in pulling out a book, your case, being a swing
one, over-balanced and shot its contents on to the floor.
Amongst the papers which fell with the books, I caught a glimpse
of the manuscript, and, noting that it was written in Latin, I
picked it up, surprised to think that a frivolous young man, such
as you are, should study a dead language. A few words showed me
that the manuscript was a copy of the one referred to by Don
Pedro."
"One moment," said Archie, who had been thinking. "Perhaps this
is the original manuscript, which De Gayangos has given to you,
Random."
"It is good of you to afford me a loophole of escape," said Sir
Frank, leaning back with folded arms, "but De Gayangos gave me
nothing. I saw the manuscript in his hands, when he showed it to
us all at Mrs. Jasher's. But whether this is the original or a
copy I can't say. Don Pedro certainly did not give it to me."
"Has Don Pedro been in your quarters?" asked Hope thoughtfully.
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