The Green Mummy

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Mrs. Jasher in a tea-rose tea-gown for afternoon tea--she always
liked to be in keeping--rang for that beverage dear to the
feminine heart, and lighted a rose-shaded lamp. When a glow as
of dawn spread through the dainty room, she settled Lucy on the
sofa near the fire, and drew up an arm-chair on the other side of
the hearth-rug. Outside it was cold and foggy, but the rose-hued
curtains shut out all that was disagreeable in the weather, and
in the absence of male society, the two women talked more or less
confidentially. Lucy did not dislike Mrs. Jasher, even though
she fancied that the lively widow was planning to become the
mistress of the Pyramids.

"Well, my dear girl," said Mrs. Jasher, shading her face from the
fire with a large fan, "and how is your dear father after his
late terrible experiences?"

"He is perfectly well, and rather cross," replied Lucy, smiling.

"Cross?"

"Of course. He has lost that wretched mummy."

"And poor Sidney Bolton."

"Oh, I don't think he cares for poor Sidney's death beyond the
fact that he misses his services. But the mummy cost nine
hundred pounds, and father is much annoyed, especially as
Peruvian mummies are somewhat hard to obtain. You see, Mrs.
Jasher, father wishes to see the difference between the Peruvian
and Egyptian modes of embalming."

"Ugh! How gruesome!" Mrs. Jasher shuddered. "But has anything
been discovered likely to show who killed this poor lad?"

"No, the whole thing is a mystery."

Mrs. Jasher looked into the fire over the top of the fan.

"I have read the papers," she said slowly, "and have gathered
what I could from what the reporters explained. But I intend to
call on the Professor and hear all that evidence which did not
get into the papers."

"I think that everything has been made public. The police have
no clue to the murderer. Why do you want to know?"

Mrs. Jasher made a movement of surprise.

"Why, I am the Professor's friend, of course, my dear, and
naturally I want to help him to solve this mystery."

"There is no chance, so far as I can see, of it ever being
solved," said Lucy. "It's very sweet of you, of course, but were
I you I should not talk about it to my father."

"Why?" asked Mrs. Jasher quickly.

"Because he thinks of nothing else, and both Archie and I are
trying to get him off the subject. The mummy is lost and poor
Sidney is buried. There is no more to be said."

"Still, if a reward was offered--"

"My father is too poor to offer a reward, and the Government will
not do so. And as people will not work without money, why--"
Lucy completed her sentence with a shrug.

"I might offer a reward if the dear Professor will let me," said
the widow unexpectedly.

"You! But I thought that you were poor, as we are."

"I was, and I am not very rich now. All the same, I have come in
for some thousands of pounds."

"I congratulate you. A legacy?"

"Yes. You remember how I told you about my brother who was a
Pekin merchant. He is dead."

"Oh, I am so sorry."

"My dear, what is the use of being sorry. I never cry over spilt
milk, or assume a virtue which I have not. My brother and I were
almost strangers, as we lived apart for so many years. However,
he came home to die at Brighton, and a few weeks ago--just after
this murder took place, in fact--I was summoned to his
death-bed. He lingered on until last week and died in my arms.
He left me nearly all his money, so I will be able to help the
Professor."

"I don't see why you should," said Lucy, wondering why Mrs.
Jasher did not wear mourning for the dead.

"Oh yes, you do see," remarked the widow, raising her eyes and
rubbing her plump hands together. "I want to marry your father."

Lucy did not express astonishment, as she had understood this for
a long time.

"I guessed as much."

"And what do you say?"

Miss Kendal shrugged her shoulders.

"If my step-father," she emphasized the word--"if my step-father
consents, why should I mind? I am going to marry Archie, and no
doubt the Professor will be lonely."

"Then you do not disapprove of me as a mother."

"My dear Mrs. Jasher," said Lucy, coldly, "there is no
relationship between me and my step-father beyond the fact that
he married my mother. Therefore you can never be my mother.
Were I stopping on at the Pyramids, that question might arise,
but as I become Mrs. Hope in six months, we can be friends--
nothing more."

"I am quite content with that," said Mrs. Jasher in a
businesslike way. "After all, I am no sentimentalist. But I am
glad that you do not mind my marrying the Professor, as I don't
want you to prevent the match, my dear."

Lucy laughed.

"I assure you that I have no influence with my father, Mrs.
Jasher. He will marry you if he thinks fit and without
consulting me. But," added the girl with emphasis, "I do not see
what you gain in becoming Mrs. Braddock."

"I may become Lady Braddock," said the widow, dryly. Then, in
answer to the open astonishment on Lucy's face, she hastened to
remark: "Do you mean to say that you don't know your father is
heir to a baronetcy?"

"Oh, I know that," rejoined Miss Kendal. "The Professor's
brother, Sir Donald Braddock, is an old man and unmarried. If he
dies without heirs, as it seems likely, the Professor will
certainly take the title."

"Well, then, there you are!" cried Mrs. Jasher, in her liveliest
tone. "I want to give my legacy for the title and preside over a
scientific salon in London."

"I understand. But you will never get my father to live in
London."

"Wait until I marry him," said the little woman shrewdly. "I'll
make a man of him. I know, of course, that mummies and
sepulchral ornaments and those sort of horrid things are dull,
but the Professor will become Sir Julian Braddock, and that is
enough for me. I don't love him, of course, as love between two
elderly people is absurd, but I shall make him a good wife, and
with my money he can take his proper position in the scientific
world, which he doesn't occupy at present. I would rather he had
been artistic, as science is so dull. However, I am getting on
in years and wish to have some amusement before I die, so I must
take what I can get. What do you say?"

"I am quite agreeable, as, when I leave, someone must look after
my father, else he will be shamefully robbed by everyone in
household matters. We are good friends, so why not you as well
as another."

"You are a dear girl," said Mrs. Jasher with a sigh of relief,
and kissed Lucy fondly. "I am sure we shall get on excellently."

"At a distance. The artistic world doesn't touch on the
scientific, you know. And you forget, Mrs. Jasher, that my
father wishes to go to Egypt to explore this mysterious tomb."

Mrs. Jasher nodded.

"Yes, I promised, when I came in for my brother's money, to help
the Professor to fit out his expedition. But it seems to me that
the money will be better spent in offering a reward so that the
mummy can be found."

"Well," said Lucy, laughing, "you can give the Professor his
choice."

"Before marriage, not after. He needs to be managed, like all
men."

"You will not find him easy to manage," said Lucy dryly. "He is
a very obstinate man, and quite feminine in his persistency."

"H'm! I recognize that he is a difficult character, and between
you and me dear, I should not marry him but for the title. It
sounds rather like an adventuress talking in this way, but, after
all, if he makes me Lady Braddock I can give him enough money to
let him realize his desire of getting the mummy back. It's six
of one and half a dozen of the other. And I'll be good to him:
you need not fear."

"I am quite sure that, good or bad, the Professor will have his
own way. It is not his happiness I am thinking of so much as
yours."

"Really. Here is the tea. Put the table near the fire, Jane,
between Miss Kendal and myself. Thank you. The muffins on the
fender. Thank you. No, there is nothing more. Close the door
when you go out."

The tea equippage having been arranged, Mrs. Jasher poured out a
cup of Souchong, and handed it to her guest, resuming the subject
of her proposed marriage meanwhile.

"I don't see why you should be anxious about me, dear. I am
quite able to look after myself. And the Professor seems to be
kind-hearted enough."

"Oh, he is kind-hearted when he gets his own way. Give him his
hobby and he will never bother you. But he won't live in London,
and he will not consent to this salon you wish to institute."

"Why not? It means fame to him. I shall gather round me all the
scientists of London and make my house a centre of interest. The
Professor can stop in his laboratory if he likes. As his wife, I
can do all that is necessary. Well, my dear"--Mrs. Jasher took
a cup of tea--"we need not talk the subject threadbare. You do
not disapprove of my marriage with your step-father, so you can
leave the rest to me. If you can give me a hint of how to
proceed to bring about this marriage, of course I am not above
taking it."

Lucy glanced at the tea-gown.

"As you will have to tell the Professor that your brother is dead
to account for possessing the money," she said pointedly, "I
should advise you to go into mourning. Professor Braddock will
be shocked otherwise."

"Dear me, what a tender heart he must have!" said Mrs. Jasher
flippantly. "My brother was very little to me, poor man, so he
cannot be anything to the Professor. However, I shall adopt your
advice, and, after all, black suits me very well. There"--she
swept her hands across the tea-table--"that is settled. Now
about yourself?"

"Archie and I marry in the springtime."

"And your other admirer, who has come back?"

"Sir Frank Random?" said Lucy, coloring.

"Of course. He called to see me a day or so ago, and seems less
broken-hearted than he should be."

Lucy nodded and colored still deeper.

"I suppose some other woman has consoled him."

"Of course. Catch a modern man wearing the willow for any girl,
however dear. Are you angry?"

"Oh no, no."

"Oh yes, yes, I think," said the widow, laughing, "else you are
no woman, my dear. I know I should be angry to see a man get
over his rejection so rapidly."

"Who is she?" asked Lucy abruptly.

"Donna Inez de Gayangos."

"A Spaniard?"

"I believe so--a colonial Spaniard, at least--from Lima. Her
father, Don Pedro de Gayangos, met Sir Frank in Genoa by chance."

"Well?" demanded Lucy impatiently.

Mrs. Jasher shrugged her plump shoulders.

"Well, my dear, can't you put two and two together. Of course
Sir Frank fell in love with this dark-hued angel."

"Dark-hued! and I am light-haired. What a compliment!"

"Perhaps Sir Frank wanted a change. He played on white and lost,
and therefore stakes his money on black to win. That's the
result of having been at Monte Carlo. Besides, this young lady
is rich, I understand, and Sir Frank--so he told me--lost much
more money at Monte Carlo than he could afford. Well, you don't
look pleased."

Lucy roused herself from a fit of abstraction.

"Oh yes, I am pleased, of course. I suppose, as any woman would,
I felt rather hurt for the moment in being forgotten so soon.
But, after all, I can't blame Sir Frank for consoling himself.
If I am married first, he shall dance at my wedding: if he is
married first, I shall dance at his."

"And you shall both dance at mine," said Mrs. Jasher. "Why,
there is quite an epidemic of matrimony. Well, Donna Inez
arrives here with her father in a day, or so. They stop at the
Warrior Inn, I believe."

"That horrid place?"

"Oh, it is clean and respectable. Besides, Sir Frank can hardly
ask them to stop in the Fort, and I have no room in this bandbox
of mine. However, the two of them--Donna Inez and Frank, I mean
--can come here and flirt; so can you and Archie if you like."

"I fear four people in this room would not do," laughed Lucy,
rising to take her leave. "Well, I hope Sir Frank will marry
this lady and that you will become Mrs. Braddock. Only one thing
I should like to know."

"And that is?"

"Why was the mummy stolen. It was not valuable save to a
scientist."

"By that argument a scientist must be the murderer and thief,"
said Mrs. Jasher. "However, we shall see. Meanwhile, live every
moment of love's golden hours: they never return."

"That is good advice; I shall take it and my leave," said Lucy,
and departed in a very happy frame of mind.

CHAPTER X

THE DON AND HIS DAUGHTER

Professor Braddock was usually the most methodical of men, and
timed his life by the clock and the almanac. He rose at seven,
summer and winter, to partake of a hearty breakfast, which served
him until dinner came at five thirty. Braddock dined at this
unusual hour--save when there was company--as he did not eat
any luncheon and scorned the very idea of afternoon tea. Two
meals a day, he maintained, was enough for any man who led a
sedentary life, as too much food was apt to clog the wheels of
the intellect. He usually worked in his museum--if the
indulgence of his hobby could be called work--from nine until
four, after which hour he took a short walk in the garden or
through the village. On finishing his dinner he would glance
over some scientific publication, or perhaps, by way of
recreation, play a game or two of patience; but at seven he
invariably retired into his own rooms to renew work. Retirement
to bed took place at midnight, so it can be guessed that the
Professor got through an enormous quantity of work during the
year. A more methodical man, or a more industrious man did not
exist.

But on occasions even this enthusiast wearied of his hobby, and
of the year's routine. A longing to see brother scientists of
his own way of thinking would seize him, and he would abruptly
depart for London, to occupy quiet lodgings, and indulge in
intercourse with his fellow-men. Braddock rarely gave early
intimation of his urban nostalgia. At breakfast he would
suddenly announce that the fit took him to go to London, and he
would drive to Jessum along with Cockatoo to catch the ten
o'clock train to London. Sometimes he sent the Kanaka back; at
other times he would take him to town; but whether Cockatoo
remained or departed, the museum was always locked up lest it
should be profaned by the servants of the house. As a matter of
fact, Braddock need not have been afraid, for Lucy--knowing her
step-father's whims and violent temper--took care that the
sanctity of the place should remain inviolate.

Sometimes the Professor came back in a couple of days; at times
his absence would extend to a week; and on two or three occasions
he remained absent for a fortnight. But whenever he returned, he
said very little about his doings to Lucy, perhaps deeming that
dry scientific details would not appeal to a lively young lady.
As soon as he was established in his museum again, life at the
Pyramids would resume its usual routine, until Braddock again
felt the want of a change. The wonder was, considering the
nature of his work, and the closeness of his application, that he
did not more often indulge in these Bohemian wanderings.

Lucy, therefore, was not astonished when, on the morning after
her visit to Mrs. Jasher, the Professor announced in his usual
abrupt way that he intended to go to London, but would leave
Cockatoo in charge of his precious collection. She was somewhat
disturbed, however, as, wishing to forward the widow's
matrimonial aims, she had invited her to dinner for the ensuing
night. This she told her step-father, and, rather to her
surprise, he expressed himself sorry that he could not remain.

"Mrs. Jasher," said Braddock hastily, drinking his coffee, "is a
very sensible woman, who knows when to be silent."

"She is also a good housekeeper, I believe," hinted Miss Kendal
demurely.

"Eh, what? Well? Why do you say that?" snapped Braddock
sharply.

Lucy fenced.

"Mrs. Jasher admires you, father."

Braddock grunted, but did not seem displeased, since even a
scientist possessing the usual vanity of the male is not
inaccessible to flattery.

"Did Mrs. Jasher tell you this?" he inquired, smiling
complacently.

"Not in so many words. Still, I am a woman, and can guess how
much another woman leaves unsaid." Lucy paused, then added
significantly: "I do not think that she is so very old, and you
must admit that she is wonderfully well preserved."

"Like a mummy," remarked the Professor absently; then pushed back
his chair to add briskly: "What does all this mean, you minx? I
know that the woman is all right so far as a woman can be: but
her confounded age and her looks and her unexpressed admiration.
What are these to an old man like myself?"

"Father," said Lucy earnestly, "when I marry Archie I shall, in
all probability, leave Gartley for London."

"I know--I know. Bless me, child, do you think that I have not
thought of that? If you were only wise, which you are not, you
would marry Random and remain at the Fort."

"Sir Frank has other fish to fry, father. And even if I did
remain at the Fort as his wife, I still could not look after
you."

"Humph! I am beginning to see what you are driving at. But I
can't forget your mother, my dear. She was a good wife to me."

"Still," said Lucy coaxingly, and becoming more and more the
champion of Mrs. Jasher, "you cannot manage this large house by
yourself. I do not like to leave you in the hands of servants
when I marry. Mrs. Jasher is very domesticated and--"

"And would make a good housekeeper. No, no, I don't want to give
you another mother, child."

"There is no danger of that, even if I did not marry," rejoined
Lucy stiffly. "A girl can have only one mother."

"And a man apparently can have two wives," said Braddock with dry
humor. "Humph!"--he pinched his plump chin--"it's not a bad
idea. But of course I can't fall in love at my age."

"I don't think that Mrs. Jasher asks for impossibilities."

The Professor rose briskly.

"I'll think over it," said he. "Meanwhile, I am going to
London."

"When will you be back, father?"

"I can't say. Don't ask silly questions. I dislike being bound
to time. I may be a week, and I may be only a few days. Things
can go on here as usual, but if Hope comes to see you, ask Mrs.
Jasher in, to play chaperon."

Lucy consented to this suggestion, and Braddock went away to
prepare for his departure. To get him off the premises was like
launching a ship, as the entire household was at his swift heels,
packing boxes, strapping rugs, cutting sandwiches, helping him on
with his overcoat and assisting him into the trap, which had been
hastily sent for to the Warrior Inn. All the time Braddock
talked and scolded and gave directions and left instructions,
until every one was quite bewildered. Lucy and the servants all
sighed with relief when they saw the trap disappear round the end
of the road in the direction of Jessum. In addition to being a
famous archaeologist, the Professor was assuredly a great
nuisance to those who had to do with his whims and fancies.

For the next two or three days Lucy enjoyed herself in a quiet
way with Archie. In spite of the lateness of the season, the
weather was still fine, and the artist took the opportunity of
the pale sunshine to sketch a great deal of the marsh scenery.
Lucy attended him as a rule when he went abroad, and sometimes
Mrs. Jasher, voluble and merry, would come along with them to
play the part of chaperon. But the girl noticed that Mrs.
Jasher's merriment was forced at times, and in the searching
morning light she appeared to be quite old. Wrinkles showed
themselves on her plump face and weary lines appeared round her
mouth. Also, she was absent-minded while the lovers chattered,
and, when spoken to, would return to the present moment with a
start. As the widow was now well off as regards money, and as
her scheme to marry Braddock was well on the way to success--for
Lucy had duly reported the Professor's attitude--it was
difficult to understand why Mrs. Jasher should look so worried.
One day Lucy spoke to her on the subject. Random had strolled
across the marshes to look at Hope sketch, and the two men
chatted together, while Miss Kendal led the little widow to one
side.

"There is nothing the matter, I hope," said Lucy gently.

"No. Why do you say that?" asked Mrs. Jasher, flushing.

"You have been looking worried for the last few days."

"I have a few troubles," sighed the widow--"troubles connected
with the estate of my late brother. The lawyers are very
disagreeable and make all sorts of difficulties to swell their
costs. Then, strangely enough, I am beginning to feel my
brother's death more than I thought I should have done. You see
that I am in mourning, dear. After what you said the other day I
felt that it was wrong for me not to wear mourning. Of course my
poor brother and I were almost strangers. All the same, as he
has left me money and was my only relative, I think it right to
show some grief. I am a lonely woman, my dear."

"When my father comes back you will no longer be lonely," said
Lucy.

"I hope not. I feel that I want a man to look after me. I told
you that I desired to marry the Professor for his possible title
and in order to form a salon and have some amusement and power.
But also I want a companion for my old age. There is no
denying," added Mrs. Jasher with another sigh, "that I am growing
old in spite of all the care I take. I am grateful for your
friendship, dear. At one time I thought that you did not like
me."

"Oh, I think we get on very well together," said Lucy somewhat
evasively, for she did not want to say that she would make the
widow an intimate friend, "and, as you know, I am quite pleased
that you should marry my step-father."

"So pleasant to think that you look at my ambition in that
light," said Mrs. Jasher, patting the girl's arm. "When does the
Professor return?"

"I cannot say. He refused to fix a date. But he usually remains
away for a fortnight. I expect him back in that time, but he may
come much earlier. He will come back when the fancy takes him."

"I shall alter all that, when we are married," muttered Mrs.
Jasher with a frown. "He must be taught to be less selfish."

"I fear you will never improve him in that respect," said Lucy
dryly, and rejoined the gentlemen in time to hear Random mention
the name of Don Pedro de Gayangos.

"What is that, Sir Frank?" she asked.

Random turned toward her with his pleasant smile.

"My Spanish friend, whom I met at Genoa, is coming here
to-morrow."

"With his daughter?" questioned Mrs. Jasher roguishly.

"Of course," replied the young soldier, coloring. "Donna Inez is
quite devoted to her father and never leaves him."

"She will one day, I expect," said Hope innocently, for his eyes
were on his sketch and not on Random's face, "when the husband of
her choice comes along."

"Perhaps he has come along already," tittered Mrs. Jasher
significantly.

Lucy took pity on Random's confusion.

"Where will they stay?"

"At the Warrior Inn. I have engaged the best rooms in the place.
I fancy they will be comfortable there, as Mrs. Humber, the
landlady, is a good housekeeper and an excellent cook. And I
don't think Don Pedro is hard to please."

"A Spaniard, you say," remarked Archie idly. "Does he speak
English?"

"Admirably--so does the daughter."

"But why does a Spaniard come to so out-of-the-way a place?"
asked Mrs. Jasher, after a pause.

"I thought I told you the other day, when we spoke of the
matter," answered Sir Frank with surprise. "Don Pedro has come
here to interview Professor Braddock about that missing mummy."

Hope looked up sharply.

"What does he know about the mummy?"

"Nothing so far as I know, save that he came to Europe with the
intention of purchasing it, and found himself forestalled by
Professor Braddock. Don Pedro told me no more than that."

"Humph!" murmured Hope to himself. "Don Pedro will be
disappointed when he learns that the mummy is missing."

Random did not catch the words and was about to ask him what he
had said, when two tall figures, conducted by a shorter one, were
seen moving on the white road which led to the Fort.

"Strangers!" said Mrs. Jasher, putting up her lorgnette, which
she used for effect, although she had remarkably keen sight.

"How do you know?" asked Lucy carelessly.

"My dear, look how oddly the man is dressed."

"I can't tell at this distance," said Lucy, "and if you can, Mrs.
Jasher I really do not see why you require glasses."

Mrs. Jasher laughed at the compliment to her sight, and colored
through her rouge at the reproof to her vanity. Meanwhile, the
smaller figure, which was that of a village lad leading a tall
gentleman and a slender lady, pointed toward the group round
Hope's easel. Shortly, the boy ran back up to the village road,
and the gentleman came along the pathway with the lady. Random,
who had been looking at them intently, suddenly started, having
at length recognized them.

"Don Pedro and his daughter," he said in an astonished voice, and
sprang forward to welcome the unexpected visitors.

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