"One of the Saul family. You have the same eyebrows as Maraquito."

"And as Mrs. Herne, who really was Maraquito."

"Yes, I know that. But who are you?"

"My real name is Daniel Saul."

"Ah! I thought you were a member of the family. There is a likeness
to Maraquito--"

"Nose and eyebrows and Hebrew looks. But I am only a distant cousin.
My father married a Christian, but I retain a certain look of his
people. He died when I was young. Emilia's mother brought me up. I
knew a lot about the coining in those days, and I was always in love
with Bathsheba, who is my cousin--"

"Bathsheba?"

"You know her best as Maraquito, so by that name I shall speak of her.
Jennings," said Hale, his voice growing weaker, "I have little time
left, so you had better not interrupt me." He took another sup of
brandy and the doctor felt his pulse. Then he began to talk so fast
that the clerk could hardly keep pace with his speech. Evidently he
was afraid lest he should die before his recital ended.

"When old Mrs. Saul lost Emilia--" he began.

"But she didn't lose Emilia," interrupted Jennings.

"She thought she had. She never knew that Emilia took the name of
Selina Loach. You had better ask Mrs. Octagon for details on that
subject. Don't interrupt. Well, when Mrs. Saul lost Emilia, she took
more and more to coining. So did her son, Bathsheba's father. They
were caught and put in prison. I was taken in hand by a benevolent
gentleman who brought me up and gave me the profession of a lawyer. I
chose that because I thought it might be handy. Then Mrs. Saul came
out of prison and her son also. Both died. Maraquito tried various
professions and finally went in for dancing. She hurt her foot, and
that attempt to gain a living failed. I was in practice then and we
started the gambling-house together. But by this time I had found
Emilia living here as Selina Loach. Mrs. Octagon can tell you how we
met. Emilia persuaded me and Maraquito to go in for the coining. She
already had Clancy interested. He was a good man at getting the proper
ring of the coins. Well, we managed to make a tunnel to the cellars of
the unfinished house, and then Emilia built the extra wing to the
villa. The secret entrances were made by--"

"By Maxwell. I know that. Go on."

"Well, we started the concern. I haven't time to tell you in detail
how lucky we were. We counterfeited foreign coins also. We all made
plenty of money.