But is there anything in those typed lines which strikes you as unusually curious? demanded young Farquhar, pointing to the smoked and charred fragment upon the blotting-pad.
The Professor was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed upon the disjointed and unfinished sentences.
Well yes. There is something, was his answer. That statement that something exists in the whole prophecy of Ezekiel. What is that something?
Is it what Doctor Diamond suspects it to be, do you think?
I can form no definite conclusion until I have investigated the whole, was the great scholars response. But I would, at this point, withdraw my own light remarks of half an hour ago. There may be something of interest in it, but what the picturesque story is all leading up to I cannot quite imagine.
To a secret to the solution of a great and undreamed-of mystery! declared Frank excitedly.
The last few lines of this scrap before me certainly leads towards that supposition, was the answer of Gwen Griffins father.
Then you do not altogether negative Diamonds theory that there is here, if we can only supply the context, the key to the greatest secret this world has ever known!
Ah! that is saying a good deal, was the reply. Let me continue the investigation of this wonderful document which the dying man was so anxious to destroy.
And by the sphinx-like expression upon the old mans face it was apparent that he had already gathered more information than he was willing to admit.
The truth was that the theory he had already formed within his own mind held him bewildered. His thin fingers trembled as he touched the dried, crinkled folio.
There was a secret there without a doubt, colossal and astounding one of which even the greatest scholars in Europe through all the ages had never dreamed!
The old man sat staring through his spectacles in abject wonder.
Was Doctor Diamonds theory really the correct one? If so, what right had these most precious papers to be in the hands of an irresponsible journalist?
If there was really a secret, together with its solution then the latter must be his, and his alone, he decided. How it would enhance his great reputation if he were the person to launch it forth upon the world!
Therefore the old mans attitude suddenly changed and he pretended to regard the affair humorously, in the hope of putting Frank off his guard.
If the world was ever to be startled by the discovery it should, he intended, be by Professor Arminger Griffin, and not through any one of those irresponsible halfpenny sheets controlled by Sir George Gavin and his smart and ingenious young brother-in-law.
Both Frank Farquhar and Gwen noticed the old mans sudden change of manner, and stood puzzled and wondering, little dreaming what was passing with his mind.
Few men are alas! honest where their own reputations are at stake.
Chapter Seven
In which the Professor Exhibits Cunning
Frank was fully aware that Professor Griffin was an eccentric man, full of strange moods and strong prejudices. Most scholars and writers are.
But, dad, exclaimed his daughter, placing her soft hand upon his shoulder, what do you really think of it? Is there anything in this Doctor Diamonds theory?
My dear child, I never jump to conclusions, as you know. It is against my habit. Its probably one of the many hoaxes which have been practised for the last thousand years.
The girl exchanged a quick glance with her lover. She could see that Frank was annoyed by the light manner with which her father treated the alleged secret.
Well, Professor, said the young man at last, this, apparently, is the next folio, though the numbering of each has been destroyed, and he placed before the man in spectacles another scrap which presented the appearance as shown.
In an instant the old man became intensely interested though he endeavoured very cleverly to conceal the fact. He bent, and taking up a large magnifying-glass mounted in silver a gift from Frank on the previous Christmas he carefully examined each word in its order.
Ah! he exclaimed, the first three lines, underlined as you see, are apparently a portion of some prophecy regarding the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, the period of the Blood-debts, after which comes the period when the oppression will lose its power, which means their release by Cyras. Come now, this is of some interest!
Read on, dad, urged the dainty girl, excitedly. Tell us what you gather from it.
The pair were standing hand-in-hand, at the back of the old mans writing-chair.
Not so quickly, dear not so quickly. Thats the worst of women. They are always so erratic, always in such an uncommon hurry, he added with a laugh.
Then, after a pause during which he carefully examined the lines which followed, he pointed out: You see that somebody not the writer of the document, remember has stated that Moses tablets The Cha , which must mean the Chair of Grace, between two cherubims of fine gold, a number of other things, including the Ark of the Covenant itself and the archives of the Temple down to B.C. 600 are what?
And he raised his head staring at the pair through his round and greatly magnifying-glasses.
Doctor Diamonds theory is that the treasures of Solomons Temple are still concealed at the spot where they were hidden by the priests before the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
The Professor laughed aloud.
My dear Farquhar, he exclaimed, on the face of this folio it would, of course, appear so. One may read it as a statement of fact that all the relics of the Temple and all the great treasures of the ages bygone the Treasure of Israel are concealed beneath, somewhere which is a series of something. To this, there are three entrances, one only being accessible. Then in the final lines, we have another prophecy that the tablets shall remain in their hiding-place that is with the Ark of the Covenant till the coming of the Messiah who alone may open the treasure-house, or place of concealment, in order that he may show proof of , and the rest is lost. he added with a sigh of disappointment.
I admit, said Frank, that is one reading of it. But what is your reading that of an expert?
The old man merely shrugged his shoulders and said:
I dont think that the Doctors theory is the correct one. The belief that the Treasure of Solomons Temple still exists is far too wild and unsubstantiated. Of course, it is not quite clear in history what became of the contents of the Temple, but I think we may safely at once dismiss any possibility of the relics of Moses as being intact after a couple of thousand years or so. Stories of hidden treasure have appealed to the avarice of man throughout all the ages, from the days of the Roman Emperors, down to the day before yesterday, when a ship went forth to search for the lost gold of President Kruger. There have been hundreds, nay thousands of expeditions to search for treasure, but in nearly every case the searchers have returned sadder and poorer men. No, Frank, he exclaimed, decisively, I dont think any one would be such an utter fool as to attempt to suggest that the Treasure of Israel still exists. At least no scholar would. Whoever would do such a thing would be a clumsy bungler, ignorant of both the Hebrew language and the history of the Hebrew nation. Doctor Diamond, from what you tell me, is, I gather, one of such.
But they are not the Doctors documents, Frank hastened to point out. As Ive told you, a man dying in Paris ordered him to burn them. He did so, but they were not all consumed.