第30章 CHAPTER IX(2)

"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 stepfather 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.