"Ah!" she flashed out, "you have been looking up the case. Why?"

"From what Lord Caranby said--"

"He has no right to say anything," cried Mrs. Herne, rising and
speaking vehemently; "he loved my sister, and she lost her life at that
dreadful house. I was abroad at the time, and had only just married.
My husband was a jeweller. We cut ourselves off from the family when
the misfortune came. Only of late years did I recognize Maraquito when
she came to me for assistance. Her father died and she had no money.
I helped her to pay for her dancing--"

"Oh," said Jennings, recalling the false money, "you paid."

"Have you anything to say on that point?" she asked haughtily.

"No! No! I merely congratulate you on your generosity."

"I could not allow my own niece to starve. I helped her, and then she
met with the accident. After that--"

"You assisted her to start this gambling-house."

"By no means. Mr. Hale found the money for that. He is in love with
Maraquito. But you can understand why I do not proclaim my
relationship with her. The past of our family is too painful. I
became acquainted with Miss Loach through Mrs. Octagon--she was then
the wife of Mr. Saxon--when I went to inquire into my sister's death.
I liked Miss Loach and frequently went to see her. Now that she is
dead I shall leave England. I have arranged to do so next week, and
you will not see me here again. That is why I gave you this chance of
making inquiries."

"I am much obliged," said Jennings quite believing her story, since she
told it so earnestly: "but does Maraquito love Hale?"

"No. She loves Mr. Mallow, Lord Caranby's nephew."

"She has a rival in Miss Saxon," said the detective.

Mrs. Herne turned red. "My niece fears no rival," she said haughtily.
"Miss Saxon shall never be the wife of Mr. Mallow."

Jennings shrugged his shoulders. "I do not see how she can stop the
affair."

"Oh yes, she can. The mother is on her side."

"Ah! I thought there was some work of that kind."

"Hear me!" cried Mrs. Herne, imposing silence with a gesture. "Basil
Saxon is in love with Maraquito and she can twist the poor fool round
her finger. She agrees to send him away if Mrs. Octagon stops this
most absurd marriage."

"Which she has done."

"And which she will continue to do," said Mrs. Herne decisively; "the
mother does not wish Basil to marry my niece, though she is quite as
good as they if not better."

"Well," drawle