"The cipher concludes by declaring:
"`_Six curses, yea! sixty times six curses, shall be upon the head of any one who dare to attempt to violate the treasure-house_.'
"That the messages, each identical, run through both Ezekiel and Deuteronomy is indisputable, and I am quite ready to explain them, provided my secret is properly protected.
"Among the many curious and interesting features which go far to prove that the treasure is still lying undisturbed, I may perhaps indicate the Biblical fact that, after the Babylonian imprisonment, the tablets of Moses were never again exhibited in the Temple. Yet did not Nehemiah convince himself that they were intact and in good condition?
"We know that Nebuchadnezzar received certain vessels from the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezra, i, 7-11) but no mention is made of the tablets, of the Ark, or of any other of the things mentioned in the cipher!
"Again, when Titus destroyed Jerusalem he did not obtain the Ark. On the Arch of Triumph still existing in Rome are representations of the candlesticks, but there is no representation of the Ark.
"Through the whole prophecy of Ezekiel I can point out many evidences of the existence of the treasure.
"And, finally, it is extremely curious that the Crusaders searched actively for it, but mostly in the neighbourhood of Engeddin.
"Whether the treasure of Israel still exists or not, the cipher declaration stands out in black and white, one of the best known and most difficult of all the various modes used by the ancients for concealing messages.
"I claim that it is a most amazing discovery which must be of deepest interest to the whole civilised world, and should be at once investigated. I have not, of course, space to give complete Biblical references, etc. These I will supply later on, if necessary.
"Any Jew who may be consulted will no doubt scorn the idea of the existence of the treasure. He will do so because he will argue that no cipher can exist in a book inspired. Again, he may declare that all the treasure was all carried off to Babylon. This is, I maintain, disproved by historical facts.
"Again, there may be considerable argument as to whether the Books of Ezekiel and of Deuteronomy were written about the same period.
According to the latest theory, Deuteronomy was written before Ezekiel, nevertheless this discovery of the same cipher record in both now conclusively proves that they were written at very nearly the same time.
"Further, I am aware of the Talmudic tradition which states that the treasures I have enumerated, with the addition of Aaron's staff, the pot of manna and the flask of anointing oil, are hidden beneath the Temple Mount. But the cipher in question shows plainly that they are not concealed upon the site of the Temple, which is now occupied by the Mosque of Omar, but at some considerable distance away.
"_The Key_.
"As regards the key to the cipher and the manner in which to decipher it, I have, believing my existence to be now short-lived--for alas! I am suffering from a disease that I am told is incurable--placed the key, with such directions as are necessary to read it, in a place where it will remain hidden until such time as I have arranged with a capitalist or syndicate of financiers to despatch an expedition to secretly purchase the land in question and excavate for the holy relics. To them alone it will be revealed.
"The key, which will disclose a statement that must cause the whole world to be surprised and thrilled, is divided into two parts, the one useless without the other. One part now lies in one city and another in a second. Therefore, for any person to attempt to discover the truth without first entering into business relations with me will be utterly impossible. And even if both keys were illegally obtained, the requisite knowledge could not then be ascertained without a third direction, that can be supplied by myself alone.
"If I live, then I hope to search and recover the sacred objects. If, however, Providence wills my death ere my task is done, none shall complete it; for none shall ever profit by the secret which the Unseen Power has revealed unto us, a statement of which I have herein written and signed by my own hand.
"(Signed) Peter Holmboe, _Professor of Hebrew_."
The following note, with the impression of a rubber stamp, was appended in German:
"Sworn before me, Karl Weizel, notary public at 38, Neuer Junugferustieg, in the Free City of Hamburg, on the eighth of July, One thousand Nine hundred and Seven."
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
HIS UGLINESS AT PEMBRIDGE GARDENS.
An hour later the Doctor called upon Frank Farquhar in Half Moon Street, and excitedly showed him the precious copy of the document which "Red Mullet" had secured for him.
Frank was highly interested, of course, but refused to accompany the hunchback to Pembridge Gardens. As his reason, he gave that he had a directors' meeting down in Fleet Street which he was bound to attend.
Sir George was absent and he was therefore compelled to be in his place.
The truth was that he had no desire to meet Gwen.
The girl had written him several pitiful and reproachful letters during the past fortnight, but to these he had made no response, except by one brief note in which he had repeated his very pointed question.
"No, Doctor," he said, "go yourself to Pembridge Gardens. The Professor will, I'm sure, be delighted to meet you, and you can discuss the matter thoroughly with him. I'll see him this evening."
Therefore Diamond had taken a cab out to Notting Hill Gate, and on inquiring for Griffin and giving his name, was shown at once upstairs to the study.
The Professor, with his usual courtesy, expressed his pleasure at the meeting, though if the truth were told he had not expected to see a man of the little Doctor's extreme ugliness. Then, when his visitor produced the precious copy of the dead man's manuscript, the great scholar sat down and breathlessly read it through from end to end.
"This is exactly what I surmised from the burnt fragments," he remarked, taking off his glasses as he turned to where the Doctor was sitting.
"But the great and fascinating problem we have to solve is the whereabouts of the two keys to the cipher. One thing seems clear from the document, namely, that the dead man was Holmboe, the discoverer of the hidden secret."
"Exactly. He knew the uncertainty of his life. Indeed he told me so when he had his first attack," replied the little man, "the initials `P.H.' were also upon his clothing."
"He told you he was a Dane. But in all probability he was a Russian or a Finn," remarked Griffin slowly turning over the leaves of a reference book before him. "Yes--here he is--Peter Holmboe, Professor of Hebrew at St Petersburg, University, appointed four years ago. He apparently occupied a very high post for so young a man. He made the declaration in Hamburg, I see, therefore he had, no doubt, resigned his professorship in order to devote his time to finding capital to exploit the remarkable secret he had discovered."
"Yes. But what's the use of the secret without the key to the cipher?"
queried the Doctor.
"None whatever. We must work to discover the key," Griffin replied.
"If I close study, discover the key myself."
"Farquhar's journey to Copenhagen was utterly fruitless. We were led there upon a wild goose chase," the Doctor said. "The unfortunate fact is that others are also in search of the secret."
"I am aware of that. But how did you discover it?"
"I was told by my friend--the man who secured for me this copy--an old friend named Mullet. He knows more than he will tell me!"
While the Doctor was speaking, Gwen had opened the door and entered the room.
She heard the visitor utter the name of her protector, and became instantly interested.
"This is Doctor Diamond, dear," explained her father. "You have heard Mr Farquhar speak of him."
The little Doctor jumped to his feet and bowed, while the girl, in dark skirt and clean white blouse, graciously acknowledged his greeting.
She was anxious to learn what connection this dwarfed man could have with her mysterious protector.
"I heard you speak of a Mr Mullet, Doctor," she remarked. "Is that a man known as `Red Mullet'?"
"Yes, Miss Griffin. He is a friend of mine."
"Or rather you are a great friend of his, I have heard--eh?"
"Then you know him!" exclaimed the Doctor, much surprised. "You met him abroad, I suppose?" The girl did not reply. She was puzzled at the curious connection between the red-haired man who had been her janitor and the ugly little Doctor who was Frank's friend.
"I know him," she said at last. "And being a friend of yours, he is a friend of ours."
"That's so," declared the Doctor, laughing. "Some people say ill things of him, but I have known him for some years, and he has always acted straight and honourably towards me."