rne never came. Your
servants do not know Mrs. Herne--only their invalid mistress."

Maraquito, seeing her danger, panted with rage, and looked like a
trapped animal. "Even if this is true, which I deny," she said in a
voice tremulous with rage, "how dare you arrest me, and for what?"

"For setting that boy Gibber to poison the man who called himself Tyke.
The lad has left your service--which means he is in hiding."

"I know nothing about this," said Maraquito, suddenly becoming cool.
"Do you mean to arrest me now?"

"I have the warrant and a couple of plain-dress detectives below. You
can't escape."

"I have no wish to escape," she retorted, moving towards a door which
led into an inner room. "I can meet and dispose of this ridiculous
charge. The doctor told me that a sudden shock might bring back my
strength. And that it has done. I am not Mrs. Herne--I am not
Bathsheba Saul. I am Maraquito Gredos, a Spanish lady--"

"Who doesn't know her own language," said Jennings.

"I pass over your insults," said the woman with dignity. "But as you
intend to take me away, will you please let me enter my bedroom to
change my dress?"

Jennings drew aside and permitted her to pass. "I am not afraid you
will escape," he said politely. "If you attempt to leave you will fall
into the hands of my men. They watch every door."

Maraquito winced, and with a last look at the astounded Mallow, passed
into the room. When she shut the door Mallow looked at Jennings. "I
don't know what all this means," he said.

"I have told you," replied Jennings, rather impatiently, "the letter I
sent you was to bring you here. The struggle was a feigned one on my
side to make Maraquito defend you. I knew she would never let you be
worsted if she could help; exactly as I knew you would never consent to
play such a trick on her."

"Certainly not. With all her faults, she loves me."

"So well that she will kill Juliet Saxon rather than see her in your
arms. Don't frown, Mallow, Maraquito is a dangerous woman, and it is
time she was laid by the heels. You don't know what I have found out."

"Have you learned who killed Miss Loach?"

"No. But I am on the way to learn it. I'll tell you everything
another time. Meanwhile, I must get this woman safely locked up.
Confound her, she is a long time."

"She may have escaped," said Mallow, as Jennings knocked at the door.

"I don't see how she can. There are men at the front door