“Hullo!  Latin,” said he, and read a line or two.  “Oh!” he gasped, “Hope!  Hope!  The manuscript of Don Pedro!”

“Impossible!”

Archie rose and stared at the discolored paper.

“Sorry to have kept you,” said Random, entering at this moment.

“You villain!” shouted Braddock furiously, “so you are guilty after all?”

CHAPTER XVII

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Random was so taken aback by the fierce accusation of the Professor that he stood suddenly still at the door, and did not advance into the room.  Yet he did not look so much afraid as puzzled.  Whatever Braddock might have thought, Hope, from the expression on the young soldier’s face, was more than ever satisfied of his innocence.

“What are you talking about, Professor?” asked Random, genuinely surprised.

“You know well enough,” retorted the Professor.

“Upon my word I don’t,” said the other, walking into the room and unbuckling his sword.  “I find you here, with the contents of my bookcase on the floor, and you promptly accuse me of being guilty.  Of what, I should like to know?  Perhaps you can tell me Hope.”

“There is no need for Hope to tell you, sir.  You are perfectly well aware of your own villainy.”

Random frowned.

“I allow a certain amount of latitude to my guests, Professor,” he said with marked dignity, “but for a man of your age and position you go too far.  Be more explicit.”

“Allow me to speak,” intervened Archie, anticipating Braddock.  “Random, the Professor has just had a visit from Captain Hiram Hervey, who was the skipper of The Diver.  He accuses you of having murdered Bolton!”

“What?” the baronet started back, looking thunderstruck.

“Wait a moment.  I have not finished yet.  Hervey accuses you of this murder, of stealing the mummy, of gaining possession of the emeralds, and of placing the rifled corpse in Mrs. Jasher’s garden, so that she might be accused of committing the crime.”

“Exactly,” cried Braddock, seeing that his host remained silent from sheer surprise.  “Hope has stated the case very clearly.  Now, sir, your defense?”

“Defense! defense!” Random found his tongue at last and spoke indignantly.  “I have no defense to make.”

“Ah!  Then you acknowledge your guilt?”

“I acknowledge nothing.  The accusation is too preposterous for any denial to be necessary.  Do you believe this of me?” He looked from one to the other.

“I don’t,” said Archie quickly, “there is some mistake.”

“Thank you, Hope.  And you, Professor?”

Braddock fidgeted about the room.

“I don’t know what to think,” he said at length.  “Hervey spoke very decisively.”

“Oh, indeed,” returned Random dryly, and, walking to the door, he locked it.  “In that case, I must ask you for an explanation, and neither of you shall leave this room until one is given.  Your proofs?”