Taking all things into consideration, Braddock thought that Archie's judgment was a good one, and yielded.
"Well," he said after reflection, "let us agree.

I shall open the case and examine the mummy, which after all is the reason why I bought it.
When I have satisfied myself as to the difference between the modes of embalming, Don Pedro can give me a check and take away the mummy.

I only hope that he will have less trouble with it than I have had," and, so speaking, Braddock, signing to Cockatoo to bring all the necessary tools, laid hands on the case.
"I am content," said Don Pedro briefly, and seated himself in a chair beside the young Daniel who had delivered judgment.
Hope offered to assist the Professor to open the case, but was dismissed with an abrupt refusal.
"Though I am glad you are present to see the mummy unpacked," said Braddock, laboring at the lid of the case, "for if the emeralds are missing, Don Pedro might accuse me of stealing them." "Why should the emeralds be missing ?" asked Hope quickly.
Braddock shrugged his shoulders.
"Sidney Bolton was killed," said he in a low voice, "and it was not likely that any one would commit a murder for the sake of this mummy, and then leave it stranded in Mrs.Jasher's garden.

I have my doubts about the safety of the emeralds, else I would not have consented to sell the thing back again." With this honest speech, the Professor vigorously attacked the lid of the case, and inserted a steel instrument into the cracks to prize up the covering.

The lid was closed with wooden pegs in an antique but perfectly safe manner, and apparently had not been opened since the dead Inca had been laid to rest therein hundreds of years ago among the Andean mountains.