But do you mean to say that he got that manuscript and
read it and intended to keep the fact of the emeralds secret?"
Hervey nodded three times, and twisted his cheroot in his mouth.
"How else can you figure the business out?" he demanded quietly,
and with his eyes fixed on the excited Professor. "Bolton must
have got that manuscript, as I can't remember what I did with it,
save pass it along with the corpse. He--as you admit--doesn't
tell you about it when he writes. Well, then, I reckon he
calculated getting this corpse to England, and intended to steal
the emeralds when safely ashore."
"But he could have done that on the boat," said Archie quickly.
"I guess not, with me about," said Hervey coolly. "I'd have
spotted his game and would have howled for shares."
"You dare to say that?" demanded De Gayangos fiercely.
"Keep your hair on. I dare to say anything that comes up my
darned back, you bet. I'm not going to knuckle down to a
yellow-stomach--"
Out flew Don Pedro's long arm, and Hervey slammed against the
wall. He slipped his hand around to his hip pocket with an ugly
smile, but before he could use the revolver he produced, Hope
dashed up his arm, and the ball went through the ceiling.
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