But why should Maraquito send for Mrs. Octagon?"

"Why?" echoed Caranby in surprise, "in order to stop the marriage with
Cuthbert. Maraquito loves Cuthbert and hates Juliet. I daresay this
is the solution of Mrs. Octagon's strange behavior since the death. It
is Maraquito who is stopping the marriage by threatening to denounce
Mrs. Octagon for the murder of her aunt. Juliet knows this, and hence
her reticence."

"It might be so," murmured Jennings, more and more perplexed. "But Miss
Saxon won't be reticent with me. I'll see her to-morrow."

"What means will you use to make her speak?"

"I'll tell her that Cuthbert may be arrested for the crime. You know he
was about the place on the night of the murder."

"Yes. He went down to look after a possible ghost. But I hope you
will not bring Cuthbert into the matter unless it is absolutely
necessary. I don't want a scandal."

"Rest easy, Lord Caranby. I have the complete control of this affair,
and I'll only use Cuthbert's presence at Rexton to make Miss Saxon
speak out. But then, she may not be keeping silence for Cuthbert's
sake, as she can't possibly know he was at Rexton on that night. My
own opinion is that she is shielding her brother."

"Do you suspect him?" asked Caranby quickly.

"He may not be guilty of the crime, but he knows something about it, I
am sure." Here Jennings related how Clancy had said Basil would speak
out if pressed too hard. "Now Basil, for some reason, is in
difficulties with Hale, who is a scoundrel. But Basil knows something
which Hale and Clancy wish to be kept silent. Hale has been using
threats to Basil, and the young man has turned restive. Clancy, who is
by no means such a fool as he looks, warned Hale to-night. Therefore I
take it, that Basil has some information about the murder. Miss Saxon
knows he has, and she is shielding him."

"But Clancy, Hale and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house when the
woman was stabbed," said Caranby, "they cannot have anything to do with
it."

"Quite so, on the face of it. But that bell--" Jennings broke off. "I
don't think those three are so innocent as appears. However, Mrs.
Herne is coming back to her Hampstead house next week; I'll see her and
put questions."

"Which she will not answer," said Caranby drily. "Besides, you should
have put them at the inquest."

"The case had not developed so far. I had not so much information as I
have now," argued Jennings.

"Did y