As a young girl Lucy was pretty, and Mrs.Jasher was a comely widow, but neither one had the majestic looks of the Spanish lady.

She smiled, a veritable queen amidst the gim-crack ornaments of Mrs.Jasher's parlor, and Sir Frank, who was fathoms deep in love, could not keep his eyes off her face.
For a few minutes the conversation was frivolous, quite the Shakespeare and musical glasses kind of speech.

Then Mrs.Jasher, who had no idea that her good dinner should be wasted in charming nothings, introduced the subject of the mummy by a reference to Professor Braddock.

It was characteristic of her cleverness that she did not address Don Pedro, but pointed her speech at Lucy Kendal.
"I do hope your father will return with that mummy," she observed, after a dexterous allusion to the late tragedy.
"I don't think he has gone to look for it," replied Miss Kendal indifferently.
"But surely he desired to get it back, after paying nearly one thousand pounds for it," said Mrs.Jasher, with well-feigned astonishment.
"Oh, of course; but he would scarcely look for it in London." "Has Professor Braddock gone to search for the mummy ?" asked Don Pedro.
"No," answered Lucy.

"He is visiting the British Museum to make some researches in the Egyptian department." "When do you expect him back, please ?" Lucy shrugged her shoulders.
"I can't say, Don Pedro.