Circumstantial Evidence

"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?"

"Here is one of them," snapped Braddock, throwing the manuscript on the
table. "Where did you get this?"

Random took up the discolored paper with a bewildered air.

"I never set eyes on this before," he said, much puzzled. "What is it?"

"A copy of the manuscript mentioned by Don Pedro, which describes the
two emeralds buried with the mummy of Inca Caxas."

"I see." Random understood all in a moment. "So you say that I knew of
the emeralds from this, and so murdered Bolton to obtain them."

"Pardon me," said Braddock with elaborate politeness. "Hervey says
that you murdered my poor assistant, and although my discovery of this
manuscript proves that you must have known about the jewels, I say
nothing. I wait to hear your defense."