"Yes--when he 'discovered' the thing. But it must have been done
long before. Who knows? He may have entered. The deed might have
been done. He may have left. No one saw him come or go. What then
more likely to cover himself up than to return when he knew that
his entrance would be known, and find the thing himself?"
Norton's reasoning was clever and plausible. Yet Kennedy scarcely
nodded his head, one way or the other.
"You were acquainted with Lockwood?" he asked finally. "I mean to
say, of course, before this affair."
"Yes, I met him in Lima just as I was starting out on my
expedition. He was preparing to come to New York."
"What did you think of him then?"
"Oh, he was all right, I suppose. He wasn't the sort who would
care much for an archaeologist. He cared more for a prospector
going off into the hills than he did for me. And I--I admit that I
am impossible. Archaeology is my life."
Norton continued to study the prints. "I can hardly believe my
eyes," he murmured; then he looked up suddenly. "Does Whitney know
about this--or Lockwood?"
Kennedy shook his head negatively.
"Because," pursued Norton, "an added inference to that I spoke of
would be that the reason why they are so sure that they will find
the treasure is that they are not going on tradition, as they say,
but on the fact itself.
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