seclusion," chimed in Hope,
rising. "Well, and what is to be done now?"

For answer Sir Frank picked up the manuscript which still remained on
the table.

"I shall see Don Pedro about this," he said quietly, "and ascertain if
it is the original or a copy."

Braddock rose slowly and stared at the paper.

"Do you know Latin?" he asked.

"No," rejoined Random, knowing what the savant meant. "I learned it, of
course, but I have forgotten much. I might translate a word or two,
but certainly not the hedge-priest Latin in which this is written." He
looked carefully at the manuscript as he spoke.

"But who could have placed it in your room?" questioned Archie.

"We cannot learn that until we see Don Pedro. If this is the original
manuscript which we saw the other night, we may learn how it passed from
the possession of De Gayangos to my bookcase. If it is a copy, then we
must learn, if possible, who owned it."

"Don Pedro said that a transcript or a translation had been made,"
mentioned Hope.

"Evidently a transcript," said Braddock, glaring at the paper in
Random's hand. "But how could that find its way from Lima to this
place?"

"It might have been packed up with the mummy," suggested Archie.

"No," contradicted Random decisively, "in that event, the man in Malta
from whom the mummy was bought would have discovered the emeralds, and
would have taken them."

"Perhaps he did. We have nothing to show that Bolton's assassin
committed the crime for the sake of the jewels."

"He must have done so," cried the Professor, irritably, "else there is
no motive for the commission of the crime. But I think myself that we
must start at the other end to find a clue. When we discover who placed
the mummy in Mrs. Jasher's garden--"

"That will not be easy," murmured Hope thoughtfully, "though, of
course, the same must have been brought by river. Let us go down to the
embankment and see if there are any signs of a boat having been brought
there last night," and he moved to the door. "Random?"

"I cannot leave the Fort, as I am on duty," replied the officer, putting
the manuscript away in a drawer and locking the same, "but this evening
I shall see Don Pedro, and in the meanwhile I shall endeavor to learn
from my servant who visited me lately while I was absent. The manuscript
must have been brought here by someone. But I trust," he added as he
escorted his two visitors to the door, "that you now acquit me of--"

"Yes! yes!