"Then that monster in human form laughed a horrible laugh, avowing
himself guilty of a crime still more hideous than the theft of the Silver
Moon eggs! Do you know what he had done?"
"W-what?" faltered Mildred.
"He had stolen from cold storage and had concealed the leaves of the
Bimba bush, brought from Singapore to feed the Silver Moon caterpillars!
_That's_ what Boomly had done!
_"And my Silver Moon eggs had already begun to hatch!!! And my
caterpillars would starve!!!!"_
His voice ended in a yell; he struggled on his chair until it nearly
upset.
"You lunatic!" I shouted. "Was that a reason for spilling the blood of a
human being!"
"It was reason enough for me!"
"Madman!"
"Let me loose! He's hidden those leaves somewhere or other! I've torn
this place to pieces looking for them. I've got to find them, I tell
you--"
Mildred went to the infuriated entomologist and laid a firm hand on his
shoulder:
"Listen," she said: "how do you know that Professor Boomly has not
concealed these Bimba leaves on his own person?"
Quint ceased his contortions and gaped at her.
"I never thought of that," he said.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232