opped back as though he had been shot.

"Yes. I learned from my man that you took the bowie knife which used
to hang on the wall yonder. He saw you take it, and thought you had
received my permission. You went to the Marlow Theatre with your
sister. You left her in the box and went out after eight o'clock. You
went to Rexton to Rose Cottage. After Clancy left the house your aunt
admitted you and you killed her--"

"I swear I did not!" said Basil, perfectly white and trembling.

"You did, you liar! Juliet followed you to the cottage."

"Juliet? She did not know I had gone."

"Ah! you see, you were there. Yes, she said she went in order to try
and make it up between your aunt and you. But I believe now she went
to see if you were committing a crime. I am not aware how much Juliet
knows of your wickedness, Basil, but--"

"She knows only about the forgery. I was not at the cottage."

Mallow made a weary gesture. "Why do you tell these falsehoods?" he
said with scorn. "Juliet entered the cottage by means of her
latch-key. She found Miss Loach dead and the knife on the floor. You
dropped it there. She came out and saw a man of my height--which you
are, and of my appearance (you are not unlike me at a distance)
climbing the wall into the park. He had on alight overcoat--my
overcoat. Juliet thought I was the man. I did not say no. But the
moment she mentioned the coat I knew it was you. You borrowed the coat
from me, and returned it the other day. Now then--"

"Stop! stop!" cried Basil, rising with pale lips and shaking hands, "I
admit that I went to Rexton on that night, but I swear I am innocent."

"Pah!" cried Mallow, thinking this was another lie, and a weak one too.

Basil seized him by the arm. "Mallow, I swear by all that I hold most
sacred that I did not kill Aunt Selina. I own I took the knife. I
wished to frighten her into giving me money. I left the theatre in
order to go to Rexton. I thought I might be spotted if I came by the
lane. I climbed the wall of the park on the other side after nine,
some time after nine. I was crossing when a man chased me. I don't
know who it was. I could not see in the bushes, and the night was
rather dark at the moment, though clear later. I dropped the knife, it
fell out of my pocket, and I scrambled over the wall and bolted."

"Then how did Juliet see you shortly before eleven?"

"I came back for the knife. I thought it might be traced to