e purely in the interests
of this case."

"Does she know anything about it?" asked Juliet, astonished.

"Yes," replied Mallow, wondering if the girl knew that Mrs. Octagon had
paid a visit to Senora Gredos. "Mrs. Herne, who was your aunt's
friend, is the aunt of Senora Gredos."

"I never knew that. But about this quarrel. Basil spent more money
than he could afford, poor boy--"

"Young scamp," murmured Cuthbert.

"Don't blame him. He means well," expostulated Juliet. "Well, aunt
gave him a lot of money, but he always wanted more. Then she refused.
About a week before Aunt Selina died, Basil wanted money, and she
declined. They had words and she ordered Basil out of the house. It
was to try and make it up between them that I called on that night."

"Are you sure Basil did not go also?"

"I don't think so," said Juliet doubtfully. "He was on bad terms with
Aunt Selina and knew he would not be welcomed. Besides, he had not a
latch-key. Well, Cuthbert, I reached Rose Cottage at half-past ten and
let myself in. I went downstairs quietly. I found Aunt Selina seated
in her chair near the fire with the cards on her lap, as though she had
been playing 'Patience.' I saw that she was dead."

"Why did you not give the alarm?"

Juliet hesitated. "I thought it best not to," she said faintly.

It seemed to Mallow that she was keeping something back. However, she
was very frank as it was, so he thought it best not to say anything.
"Well, you saw she was dead?"

"Yes. She had been stabbed to the heart. There was a knife on the
floor. I picked it up and saw it was yours. Then I thought--"

"That I had killed her. Thank you, Juliet."

"No, no!" she protested. "Really, I did not believe that at the time.
I could not think why you should kill Aunt Selina. I was bewildered at
the time and then--" here Juliet turned away her head, "I fancied
someone else might have killed her."

"Who?"

"Don't ask me. I have no grounds on which to accuse anyone. Let me
tell you what I can. Then you may think--but that's impossible.
Cuthbert, ask me no more questions."

Mallow thought her demeanor strangely suspicious, and wondered if she
was shielding her mother. Mrs. Octagon, who hated Selina Loach, might
have struck the blow, but there was absolutely no proof of this.
Mallow decided to ask nothing, as Juliet requested. "Tell me what you
will, my dear," he said, "so long as you don't believe me guilty."

"I don't-