“There is no reason why we should talk in the hall, and let the whole house know of this new difficulty,” he said in a testy manner.  “Come in here.”

Hope entered and looked with ill-concealed repugnance at the uncanny shape of the green mummy, which was lying on a long table.  He examined the portions where the swathings had been cut with some sharp instrument, to reveal the dry, bony hands, which formerly had held the costly jewels.  The face was invisible and covered with a mask of dull beaten gold.  Formerly the eyes had been jeweled, but these last were now absent.  He pointed out the mask to the Professor, who was hovering over the weird dead with a large magnifying-glass.

“It is strange,” said Hope earnestly, “that the mask of gold was not stolen also, since it is so valuable.”

“Unless melted down, the mask could be traced,” said Braddock after a pause.  “The jewels, according to Don Pedro, are of immense value, and so could have been got rid of easily.  Random was satisfied with those.”

“Don’t talk of him in that way, as though his guilt was certain,” said Hope, wincing.

“Well, you must admit that the evidence against him is strong.”

“But purely circumstantial.”

“Circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man before now.  Humph!” said Braddock uneasily, “I hope it won’t hang our friend.  However, we shall hear what he has to say.  I have sent Cockatoo to the Fort to bring him here at once.  If Random is absent, Cockatoo is to leave a note in his room, on the writing-table.”

“Would it not have been better to have told Cockatoo to give the note to Random’s servant?”

“I think not,” responded Braddock dryly.  “Random’s servant is certainly one of the most stupid men in the entire army.  He would probably forget to give him the note, and as it is important that we should see Random at once, it is better that he should find it placed personally on his writing-table by Cockatoo, upon whom I can depend.”

Archie abandoned the argument, as it really mattered very little.  He took up another line of conversation.

“I expect if the criminal tries to dispose of the emeralds he will be caught,” said he:  “such large jewels are too noticeable to escape comment.”

“Humph!  It depends upon the cleverness of the thief,” said the Professor, who was more taken up with the mummy than with the conversation, “He might have the jewels cut into smaller stones, or he might go to India and dispose of them to some Rajah, who would certainly say nothing.  I don’t know how criminals act myself, as I have never studied their methods.  But I hope that the clue you mention will be hit upon, if only for Random’s sake.”

“I don’t believe for one moment that Random is in danger,” said Archie, “and, if he is, I shall turn detective myself.”