Braddock, when in Peru many years before, had tried to get
mummies for some scientific reason. When Hervey--then known as
Vasa--promised to procure him the mummy of the last Inca,
Braddock was extremely pleased. Hervey stole the mummy and also
the copy of the manuscript which was written in Latin. He sent
this latter to Braddock--who was then at Cuzco--as an earnest of
his success in procuring the mummy, and when the Professor
returned to Lima the mummy was to be handed to him.
Unfortunately, Braddock was carried into captivity for one year,
and when he escaped Vasa had disappeared with the mummy. As the
Professor had deciphered the Latin manuscript, he knew of the
emeralds, and for years had been hunting for the mummy--sure to
be recognized from its peculiar green color--in order to get the
jewels, and thus secure money for his Egyptian expedition. All
through, it seems, the Professor was actuated by purely
scientific enthusiasm, as in the abstract he cared very little
for hard cash. Bolton told Mrs. Jasher that Braddock explained
how much he desired to get the mummy, but he did not mention
about the jewels. For a long time Sidney was under the
impression that his master merely wanted the mummy to see the
difference between the Egyptian and Peruvian modes of embalming.
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