ou examine Mrs. Herne at the inquest?"

"No; she gave her evidence." Jennings hesitated. "She also wore a veil
when she spoke, and refused to raise it on account of weak eyes. By
the way, do you notice that Maraquito uses a strong scent?"

"Yes. Clancy and Hale also use it."

"Ha!" said Jennings, surprised. "I never knew that. Decidedly, I am
growing stupid. Well, Mrs. Herne uses that scent also. It is a rare
scent." Then Jennings told what Susan Grant had said. "Now I think
there is some significance in this scent which is connected with the
association of Clancy, Hale, Maraquito and Mrs. Herne."

"But Mrs. Herne doesn't know Maraquito."

"I am not so sure of that. Susan Grant thinks she may be Maraquito's
mother, she is so like her in an elderly way. Did you know this Mrs.
Saul?"

"No. I knew the brother who came to speak to me after the death of his
sister, and who afterwards was put in jail for coining. His wife I
never met. I never even heard of her. But Maraquito takes after her
father in looks and he was like Emilia."

"It is a difficult matter to unravel," said Jennings. "I think Mrs.
Herne refused to raise her veil at the inquest so that the likeness
between her and Maraquito might not be observed. I was there, and if
Mrs. Herne is what I say, she would have been put on her guard by
Maraquito. Though to be sure," added Jennings in a vexed tone,
"Maraquito did not know then, and perhaps does not know now, that I am
a detective."

"Clancy and Hale will enlighten her," said Caranby, as the vehicle
stopped, "will you not come in?"

"Not to-night. I will do myself the honor of calling on you later,
when I have more to say. At present I am going to sort out what
evidence I have. To-morrow I'll call on Miss Saxon."

"Call on Mrs. Octagon," were Caranby's parting words, "believe me, she
knows the truth, but I'll tell you one thing. Maraquito did not kill
Miss Loach, for the death of Selina has given Juliet enough money to
marry Cuthbert, independent of Mrs. Octagon's wishes, and Maraquito
would never have brought that about."

"Yet all the same Miss Saxon will not marry."

Caranby made a gesture to show that the matter was beyond his
comprehension, and ascended the steps of the hotel. Jennings, deep in
thought, walked away, wondering how he was to disentangle the skein
which Fate had placed in his hand to unravel.

That night the detective surveyed the situation. So far as he could