accusations and rushed towards Mrs. Bolton, dragging Cockatoo by
the arm. In less time than it takes to tell, he had swept both
Archie and the widow out into the hall, where Lucy was trembling,
and Cockatoo, by his master's order, was locking the door.

"Not a thing shall be touched until the police come. Hope, you
are, a witness that I have not meddled with the dead: you were
present when I opened the packing case: you have seen that a
useless body has been substituted for a valuable mummy. And yet
this old witch dares--dares--" Braddock stamped and grew
incoherent from sheer rage.

Archie soothed him, leaving go of Widow Anne's arm to do so.
"Hush! hush!" said the young man quietly, "the poor woman does
not know what she is saying. I'll go for the police and--"

"No," interrupted the Professor sharply; "Cockatoo can go for the
inspector of Pierside. I shall call in the village constable.
Meanwhile you keep the key of the museum," he dropped it into
Hope's breast-pocket, "so that you and the police may be sure the
body has not been touched. Widow Anne, go home," he turned
angrily on the old creature, who was now trembling after her
burst of rage, "and don't dare to come here again until you ask
pardon for what you have said."

"I want to be near my poor boy's corp," wailed Widow Anne, "and
I'm very sorry, Perfesser. I didn't mean to--"

"But you have, you witch. Go away!" and he stamped.