“Can Archie and I come in also?” asked Miss Kendal anxiously.

Somewhat to her surprise, the Professor yielded a ready assent.

“By all means, my dear.  The more witnesses we have, the better it will be.  We must do all in our powers to bring this matter to a successful issue.”

So things were arranged, and when Archie came up to the drawing-room, Lucy informed him that Braddock was in the museum with Don Pedro, telling all that had happened.  Hope was glad to hear that Lucy had secured the Professor’s consent that they should be present, for the mystery of Bolton’s terrible death was piquing him, and he dearly desired to learn the truth.  As a matter of fact, although he was unaware of it, he was suffering from an attack of detective fever, and wished to solve the mystery.  He therefore went gladly into the museum with his sweetheart.  Oddly enough—­as Lucy recollected when it was too late to speak—­she quite forgot to relate what Widow Anne had said about the borrowed clothes.

Don Pedro, looking more stiff and dignified than ever, was in the museum with Braddock.  The two men were seated in comfortable chairs, and Cockatoo, some distance away, was polishing with a cloth the green mummy case of the fatal object which had brought about all the trouble.  Lucy had half expected to see Donna Inez, but De Gayangos explained that he had left her writing letters to Lima in the Warrior Inn.  When Miss Kendal and Hope were seated, the Peruvian expressed himself much surprised at the charge which had been brought against Sir Frank.

“If I can speak of such things in the presence of a lady,” he remarked, bowing his head to Lucy.

“Oh yes,” she answered eagerly.  “I have heard all about the charge.  And I am glad that you are here, Don Pedro, for I wish to say that I do not believe there is a word of truth in the accusation.”

“Nor do I,” asserted the Peruvian decisively.

“I agree—­I agree,” cried Braddock, beaming.  “And you, Hope?”

“I never believed it, even before I heard Random’s defense,” said Archie with a dry smile.  “Did you not see Captain Hervey yourself, sir?” he added, turning to Don Pedro; “he started for Pierside to look you up.”

“I have not seen him,” said De Gayangos in his stately way, “and I am very sorry, as I desire to examine him about the accusation he had dared to bring against my very good friend, Sir Frank Random.  I wish he were here at this very minute, so that I could tell him what I think of the charge.”

Just as Don Pedro spoke the unexpected happened, as though some genie had obeyed his commands.  As though transported into the room by magic, the American skipper appeared, not through the floor, but by the door.  A female domestic admitted him and announced his name, then fled to avoid the anger of her master, seeing she had violated the sacred precincts of the museum.

Captain Hervey, amused by the surprise visible on every face, sauntered forward, hat on head and cheroot in mouth as usual.  But when he saw Lucy he removed both with a politeness scarcely to be expected from so rude and ready and rough a mariner.