For a single moment the new-comer stood as though turned to stone. There
was a silence which was not without its curious dramatic significance.
Then a light broke across the Professor's face. He gave a great gulp of
relief.
"My skeleton!" he murmured. "Mr. Quest, I knew it. You are the greatest
man alive. Now tell me quickly--I want to know everything, but this first
of all.--Where did you find the skeleton? Who was the thief?"
"We found the skeleton, Professor," Quest replied, "within a hundred yards
of this house."
The Professor's mouth was wide open. He looked like a bewildered child. It
was several seconds before he spoke.
"Within a hundred yards of this house? Then it wasn't stolen by one of my
rivals?"
"I should say not," Quest admitted.
"Where? Where exactly did you find it?" the other insisted.
Quest was standing very still, his manner more reserved even than usual,
his eyes studying the Professor, weighing every spoken word.
"I found it in a hut," he said, "hidden in a piano box. I found there,
also, a creature--a human being, I must call him--in a state of
captivity."
"Hidden in a piano box?" the Professor repeated wonderingly. "Why, you
mean in Hartoo's sleeping box, then?"
"If Mr. Hartoo is the gentleman who tried to club me, you are right,"
Quest admitted. "Mr. Ashleigh, before we go any further I must ask you for
an explanation as to the presence of that person in your grounds!"
The Professor hesitated for a moment.
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