"Perhaps you will state on what grounds I am accused ?" Braddock nodded and cleared his throat.
"Captain Hervey declared that your yacht arrived at Pierside almost at the same time as his steamer." "Quite right.

When Don Pedro received a wire from Malta stating that the mummy had been sold to you, and that it was being shipped to London on The Diver, I got up steam at once, and chased the tramp to that port.

As the tramp was slow, and my boat was fast, I arrived on the same day and almost at the same hour, even though Hervey's boat had the start of mine." "Why were you anxious to follow The Diver ?" asked Hope.
"Don Pedro wished to get back the mummy, and asked me to follow.

As I was in love with Donna Inez, and still am, I was only too willing to oblige him." Braddock nodded again.
"Hervey says that you went on board The Diver, and had an interview with Bolton." "That is perfectly true, and my visit was paid for the same reason as I followed the steamer to London--that is, I acted on behalf of Don Pedro.
I wished to ascertain for certain that the mummy was on board, and having done so from Bolton, I urged him to induce you to give back the same, free of charge, to De Gayangos, from whom it had been stolen.

He refused, as he declared that he intended to deliver it to you." "I knew I could always trust Bolton," said the Professor enthusiastically.