arsenic also, so they are carrying on the same game."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" wept Susan, not hearing the latter part of the
sentence. "So father was poisoned after all. Who did it, sir?"

"I can't tell you that," said Jennings, becoming cautious. "You had
better say nothing about this, Susan, till I give you leave. You have
done Mr. Mallow a great service. These plans may lead to a discovery
of the murderer."

"And then Miss Saxon will marry Mr. Mallow."

"Yes. Will you be sorry?"

"No, Mr. Jennings. I am quite satisfied with my baker."

"Then I tell you what, Susan. Lord Caranby has offered a reward for
the detection of the murderer. If these plans lead to his detection,
you will receive a sufficient sum to set up in business."

CHAPTER XX

BASIL

While Jennings was thus working at the case, and hoping to bring it to
a successful issue, Cuthbert was resting in the happy belief that no
further steps were being taken. The detective had appeared so
despondent when Mallow called with Caranby that the former thought with
some show of reason that he meant what he said. Had he known that
Jennings was still active he would have been much disturbed.

Agreeably to Cuthbert's suggestion, Juliet had offered the money of
Miss Loach to her mother. But Mrs. Octagon refused to be bribed--as
she put it--into consenting to the match. In the presence of Mallow
himself, she expressed the greatest detestation for him and for his
uncle, and told Juliet she would never acknowledge her as a daughter if
she married the young man. The poor girl was thus between two
fires--that of her love for Cuthbert, and that of her mother's hearty
hatred for the Earl and his nephew. Under the circumstances Cuthbert
thought it best to remain away from the "Shrine of the Muses" for a
time until Mrs. Octagon could be brought to see reason. But she was so
obstinate a woman that it was doubtful if she would ever behave in, an
agreeable manner. Cuthbert returned to his rooms in a rather low state
of mind. He knew that Juliet, whatever happened, would remain true to
him, and had quite hoped to bribe Mrs. Octagon into consenting by means
of the inherited money. But now things seemed more hopeless than ever.
Juliet, although not very fond of her mother, was a devoted daughter
from a sense of duty, and it would be difficult to bring her to consent
to a match against which the elder woman so obstinately set her face.

Certainly Juliet