to
silence her, she was stabbed."

"But the three you mention were out of the house before the death."

"I know that, and they gave their evidence freely enough at the
inquest. I have not yet fitted the pieces of the puzzle into one
another, but I am certain the lot are connected from their use of the
perfume. Also, as this man who has been caught was passing false
money, and as Maraquito and probably Mrs. Herne are surviving members
of the Saul family who practised coining, I should not be surprised to
find that my theories are correct. But how could anyone know that I
intended to go, over your house?"

"You asked me in Maraquito's salon. Clancy and Hale were about."

"Humph!" said Jennings, "you see the various parts of the puzzle are
fitting together excellently. Probably one of those two overheard."

"Probably. That Hale looks a sly creature and capable of much. I
wonder if he is related to the Saul family. He has the same nose."

"And the same eyebrows meeting over the nose," said Jennings. "Mrs.
Herne has a similar mark. I am sure she is a relative of Maraquito's."

"If she is her aunt, I give you leave to call me a fool," said Caranby,
rising. "I know that Emilia told me she had no sister. What will you
do next, Jennings?"

"I shall see this man who fired the house and try to get at the truth.
Then I am having Mrs. Herne watched--"

"And Maraquito?"

"She can't move from her couch, so there is no danger of her escaping.
But now that the coining factory is destroyed, I shall find it
difficult to bring home the crime to anyone. I wish Cuthbert would
come."

"Do you expect him?"

"Yes. Listen, Lord Caranby," and Jennings related the episode of the
knife, and how he had brought Mallow and Juliet together. "And it
seems to me," went on the detective, "that Cuthbert learned something
from Miss Saxon which he does not wish to tell me."

"Something to do with Mrs. Octagon."

"Why with her?" demanded Jennings suddenly.

"Oh, because I think Isabella capable of much. She is a fatal woman!"

"What do you mean by that phrase?"

"Isabella exercised a bad influence on my life. But for her I should
have married Selina and should not have fallen in with Emilia Saul. I
should have been happy, and probably Selina would not have met with her
tragic death."

"Do you think the sister has anything to do with it?"

"I can't say. All I know is that whomsoever Isabella came into contact
with had