Bolton intended to leave. I gathered--
not directly, of course, but in a roundabout way--that he had
arranged to go next morning and to send on his luggage. Then I
left and went to London. In the course of time I returned here
and learned of the murder and the disappearance of the corpse of
Inca Caxas. And now," Random stood up, "having admitted all
this, perhaps you will believe me to be innocent."
"You have no idea who murdered Bolton and placed his body in the
packing case?" asked Braddock, manifestly disappointed.
"'No. No more than I have any idea of the person who placed the
mummy case and its contents in Mrs. Jasher's garden."
"Oh, you know that!" said Archie quickly.
"Yes. The news was all over the village this morning. I could
hardly help knowing it. And I believe that the mummy has been
taken to your house, Professor."
"It has," admitted Braddock dryly. "I took it myself from Mrs.
Jasher's arbor in a hand-cart, with the assistance of Cockatoo.
But when I made an examination this morning in the presence of
Hope and Don Pedro, I found that the swathings of the body had
been ripped up, and that the emeralds mentioned in that
manuscript had been stolen."
"Strange!" said Random with a frown; "and by whom?"
"No doubt by the assassin of Sidney Bolton.
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