“Strange!” said Random with a frown; “and by whom?”

“No doubt by the assassin of Sidney Bolton.”

“Probably.”  Random kicked a mat straight with his foot.  “At any rate the theft of the emeralds shows that it was not any Indian who killed Bolton.  None of them would rifle so sacred a corpse.”

“Besides which—­as you say—­the Indians in Peru do not know that the mummy has reappeared after thirty years’ 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—­”