as well you should
hear. A confession on her part may save you a lot of trouble in the
future."

Mallow hesitated to obey this summons. He thought it was strange that
Maraquito should get the detective to write to him, as he knew she
mistrusted the man. And, apart from this, he had no wish to see Senora
Gredos again. Things were now smooth between him and
Juliet--comparatively so--and it would not do to rouse the girl's
jealousy. Maraquito was a dangerous woman, and if he paid her a
solitary visit, he might fall into some snare which she was quite
capable of laying. Such was her infatuation, that he knew she would
stop at nothing to gain her ends.

On the other hand, Maraquito, to all appearances, knew of something in
connection with the case which it behooved him to learn if he wished
for peace in the future. So far as Mallow knew, the matter was at an
end. He believed that Jennings had shelved the affair, and that no
further inquiries would be made. This belief calmed his anxiety, as he
greatly desired to save Basil Saxon from arrest. Certainly, the young
scamp protested his innocence, and told a plausible tale, but he was
such a liar that Mallow could not be satisfied. He might be innocent
as he said, yet the facts of the visit to the cottage, the possession
of the knife and of the overcoat which he wore when seen by Juliet,
hinted at his guilt. Also the forged bill and check might implicate
him in the matter. Did Jennings learn of these things, he would
certainly arrest Saxon on suspicion, and, for Juliet's sake, Cuthbert
did not wish such a thing to happen.

It struck Mallow that Hale might have confided in Maraquito, with whom
he was in love. Being unscrupulous, she would probably use this
information, and might threaten to denounce Basil, to the subsequent
disgrace of Juliet, if Cuthbert refused to marry her. Taking these
things into consideration, Mallow decided that it would be best to pay
the visit and learn what Maraquito had to say.

It was a wild, blustering evening, rainy and damp. When Mallow stepped
out of the door he shivered as the keen wind whistled down the street.
Few people were abroad, as they preferred, very sensibly, the comfort
of a fireside to the windy, gleaming thoroughfares. Wishing his visit
to be as secret as possible, Mallow walked to Soho and turned into
Golden Square shortly before the appointed hour. He did not expect a
pleasant interview, as Maraquito was an unc