yes! yes!" cried Braddock irritably. "Am I not telling you so?
I almost believe in Hervey's accusation of Random, and yet the boy
exonerated himself very forcibly--very forcibly indeed."

"Will you explain all that has happened, father?" said Lucy, who was
becoming more and more perplexed by this rambling chatter. "We are quite
in the dark."

"So am I: so is Hope: so is every one," chuckled Braddock. "Ah, yes: of
course, you were not present when these events took place."

"What events?--what events?" demanded Mrs. Jasher, now quite
exasperated.

"I am about to tell you," snapped her future husband, and related all
that had taken place since the arrival of Captain Hervey in the museum
at the Pyramids. The women listened with interest and with growing
astonishment, only interrupting the narrator with a simultaneous
exclamation of indignation when they heard that Sir Frank was accused.

"It is utterly and wholly absurd," cried Lucy angrily. "Sir Frank is the
soul of honor."

"So I think, my dear," chimed in Mrs. Jasher. "And what does he say
to--?"

Braddock interrupted.

"I am about to tell you, if you will stop talking," he cried crossly.
"That is so like a woman. She asks for an explanation and then prevents
the man from giving it. Random offers a very good defense, I am bound to
say," and he detailed what Sir Frank had said.

When the history was finished, Lucy rose to go.

"I shall see Archie at once," she said, moving hastily, towards the
door.

"What for?" demanded her father benignly.

Lucy turned.

"This thing can't go on," she declared resolutely. "Mrs. Jasher was
accused by you, father--"

"Only in a heated moment," cried the Professor, excusing himself.

"Never mind, she was accused," retorted Lucy stubbornly, "and now
this sailor accuses Sir Frank. Who knows who will be charged next with
committing the crime? I shall ask Archie to take the matter up, and hunt
down the real criminal. Until the guilty person is found, I foresee that
we shall never have a moment's peace."

"I quite agree with you," said Mrs. Jasher earnestly. "For my own sake
I wish the matter of this mystery to be cleared up. Why don't you help
me?" she added, turning to Braddock, who listened placidly.

"I am helping," said Braddock quietly. "I intend to set Cockatoo on the
trail at once. He shall take up his abode in the Sailor's Rest on some
pretext, and no doubt will be able to find a clue."

"What?" cried the widow