"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 043 - The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

Although somewhat pale, Mr Brower managed an apologetic smile. "I am sorry I put you boys to so much trouble. I was very foolish and regret having entered the house. Jonathan gave me a key years ago that I never returned."

Mr Brower added that he was badly in need of the inheritance willed to him. "I was merely doing what you people are - looking for a clue to the Aztec warrior object."

"By finding it, you could receive your inheritance sooner," Mr Hardy remarked.

"That's right. Well, I didn't have any luck but I did have a bad accident for my trouble."

Mr Hardy asked Mr Brower if he had any idea what the Aztec warrior object was. The sick man shook his head. "Jonathan told me a long time ago that he had received a very unusual and valuable piece from a descendant of the Aztecs, but he never told me what it was. My cousin was pretty secretive."

"And you have no idea what this thing was?"

"Not the slightest."

Mr Brower said that his cousin had told him the precious piece had been lent to him on condition that he return it at the end of five years. "I think he may have meant the Aztec warrior object mentioned in the will."

"Then it's possible this mysterious piece may have been sent back already and Mr Moore forgot to take the notation out of the will," Mr Weaver suggested.

Mr Brower said he doubted this. "Only three years have gone by since Jonathan received it. My cousin said he had the object safely hidden. I have assumed it is in his house."

Since nothing more could be learned from Mr Brower, his visitors left. When they reached the street, Frank suggested that they all return to the Moore home and make a still more intensive search. The others agreed and soon the lawyer was unlocking the front door of the mansion.

Mr Hardy, who always carried several detecting devices in the boot of his car, went to get them.

The boys helped to carry in a portable fluoroscope and a metal detector. Every wall, floor and ceiling was gone over. Several times Frank and Joe became excited as the fluoroscope, lighted up objects or the detector began to click, but nothing of importance was located. The Hardys had no better luck with a systematic examination for hollow walls and trap doors. Nothing was found.

Mr Weaver, who had followed in amazement the Hardys' search from room to room, sighed. "The, answer to this whole mystery must lie with Roberto Hermosa."

Mr Hardy agreed that they seemed to have come to a dead end in every other direction. He asked if there had been up-to-date news on the man who had tried to get into the house.

"No," Mr Weaver replied. "Just to be sure the fellow wasn't one of the beneficiaries, I checked each one. Every man has an alibi." The lawyer smiled. "I tried hard to be a detective but haven't come up with a single clue."

"I think you have done very well for an amateur," said Mr Hardy with a smile. "Here we are, trained in this kind of work, and we haven't done any better than you!"

When they reached Mr Weaver's office, the lawyer got out of the car and wished the boys the best of luck in Mexico. "It has just about everything one could wish in the way of scenery, the mystery of ancient civilizations, and the fascinating Spanish influence."

Joe grinned. "We'll try to take in all of them, and solve your mystery besides."

When the Hardys reached home, the boys' mother greeted them in Spanish, adding, "I thought I might as well give you a little practice."

Frank and Joe were amazed at their mother's command of the language which they and Chet already spoke.

"I thought I'd surprise you," she said. "I'll tell you a little secret. I studied Spanish in school but forgot most of what I learned, so I have been taking lessons for the past two months."

"Mother, why don't you come along with us?" Frank asked suddenly.

Mrs Hardy smiled. "I don't think I'd be equal to meeting an Aztec warrior!"

The Hardys spent a pleasant evening together. The following morning Chet's father dropped his son off at the Hardy home. With warm embraces from Mrs Hardy for Frank and Joe, and words of advice from Aunt Gertrude to watch out for jaguars, the three boys set off for the airport with Mr Hardy.