e to Miss Saxon and ask her to come and see her
at the Pimlico Academy. As Miss Saxon was great friends with Peggy,
she will come. Then you can talk to her there and learn the truth.
Find out who gave her the knife. She will answer, especially if you
tell her that, owing to my finding the knife, I am inclined to have you
arrested. You understand?"

"Yes," said Cuthbert, a new fire in his eyes, and drawing himself up
firmly. "I'll get at the truth somehow, and Juliet will not leave that
Academy until I learn it. I have had more than enough of this kind of
thing. But how did the knife leave my rooms?"

"Who has called to see you within the last month?"

"Oh, dozens of people."

"Has Mrs. Octagon?"

"No. She never liked me enough to pay me a visit. But Basil--"

"Ha!" cried Jennings, slapping his knee. "I believe Basil may have
taken it. He is working with his mother to stop the marriage, and--"

"Stop--stop!" interposed Mallow, coloring, "you are accusing Juliet's
mother and brother of being accomplices to a crime. Basil is a fool and
Mrs. Octagon is not a nice woman, but I don't think either would kill a
woman in cold blood."

Jennings had his own opinion about this. Mrs. Octagon--as was proved
by her early history--was capable of doing much, when number one was in
question, and Basil was an irresponsible, hysterical fool. In a moment
of rage he might have--"But no," said Jennings, breaking off this train
of thought. "I can't see the truth. Miss Saxon knows it. You must
ask her. Be careful, for your life may depend upon it."

"Bunkum!" said Mallow roughly, "I am not afraid."

"Then you ought to be," said Jennings quickly, "you were down at Rose
Cottage on that night and the knife is yours. Certainly you have no
motive, but Mrs. Octagon and Maraquito will soon find one, if you don't
fall in with their wishes. However, you know what you have to do," and
Jennings rose to take his leave, first slipping the knife into his
pocket.

"Wait a bit," said Cuthbert, rising. "I'll do what you say. Just drop
me a line when the meeting is to be. But I want to tell you--At the
Metropolitan Hotel at Brighton I met with my bank manager."

"What of that?"

"He happens to be the manager of the bank where Miss Loach kept her
money and where Juliet keeps it now."

"Well," said Jennings, becoming suddenly attentive.

"He didn't tell secrets," went on Mallow, "but we got talking of Basil,
and the manager hin