ted that Basil had had a lucky escape."

"From what?"

"I can't say. The manager--French, his name is--refused to speak more
openly, and of course he couldn't. But if Miss Loach had not died,
Basil would have got into trouble. He didn't put the matter exactly in
these words, but I gathered as much."

"Humph!" said Jennings, his eyes on the carpet, "that supplies a motive
for Basil killing the old woman."

"Nonsense, Basil would not kill anything. He is a coward."

"When a rat is in the corner it fights," said the detective
significantly. "Basil may have been between the devil, represented by
Miss Loach, and the deep sea, which we may call Hale. He may have--"

"No! No! No!" said Mallow, "nothing will ever persuade me that Basil
is guilty."

Jennings looked doubtful. He had his own opinion as to young Saxon's
capability for crime. "However, the whole case is so perplexing that I
fear to name any particular person," said he, taking his hat. "Now I
shall see Miss Garthorne and get her to write to Miss Saxon."

Apparently there was no difficulty about this, for in three days he
wrote to Mallow, telling him to come to Pimlico on Friday at four
o'clock. Juliet was surprised when she received an invitation from an
old schoolfellow of whom she had lost sight for years. However, owing
to her troubles, she felt the need of some sympathetic soul in whom she
could safely confide, and knowing Peggy was one of those rare friends
who could keep her own counsel, Juliet readily agreed to pay the visit.
She arrived at the Academy shortly before three o'clock, and the two
girls had a long talk of their old days. Also Juliet told some of her
difficulties--but not all--to Peggy. "And I don't know how things will
turn out," said Miss Saxon disconsolately, "everything seems to be
wrong."

"They will continue to be wrong unless you act wisely," said Peggy.

"In what way should I act?"

"Stick to Mr. Mallow. He loves you and you love him. I do not see why
you should surrender your life's happiness for the sake of your family.
Of course you have not told me all," and Peggy looked at her
inquiringly.

Juliet shuddered. "I dare not tell you all," she said faintly. "I
have to think of other people."

"Think of Mr. Mallow first."

"I am thinking of him."

"Then it is on his account you keep silence."

Juliet nodded. "I must hold my tongue. If you could advise me--"

"My dear," said clear-headed Miss Garthor