tell the police that
Isabella had murdered her sister. As the sisters were on bad terms,
Isabella knew that she might be accused, and so she held her tongue."

"But she could have accused Emilia."

"Emilia would have denied the accusation. Moreover, Isabella was
intimidated by the fierce nature of my aunt."

"A fierce nature, indeed, that would mutilate the dead. But I do not
see how Emilia hoped that the substitution would pass undiscovered by
Selina's friends, to say nothing of her father."

"The idea was that Emilia, as Selina, should go abroad and return to
England in a few years. Owing to the unexpected death of Mr. Loach,
the father, the substitution was easy. You know how Isabella alone
appeared at the inquest, and how Selina--really my aunt--pretended to
be sick. Then the two went abroad and came back; Emilia as Miss Loach
went to Rose Cottage, and Isabella married Mr. Saxon."

"But why did Emilia take Selina's name and--"

"Because Emilia was in danger of being arrested along with her mother
and brother for coining. You could not have saved her. The accident of
Selina's death--"

"The murder of Selina, you mean."

Maraquito made a gesture of indifference. "Call it what you like. It
happened opportunely however. It gave Emilia safety, and by
threatening to denounce Isabella, she stopped her from marrying you."

Caranby looked up. "Ah! Now I see why Isabella left me alone. She made
one attempt, however."

"And did not succeed in inducing you to marry her. But had she
succeeded, Emilia would have stopped the marriage. Emilia loved you."

"No," said Caranby coldly, "she loved my title and my name and wealth.
I never loved her nor she me. She exercised a kind of hypnotic
influence over me, and I dare say I would have married her. But her
heart I am sure was always in the coining business."

"You are quite right," said Maraquito, looking keenly at him, "though I
can't guess how you came to think so, seeing you thought my aunt dead.
Yes, she loved coining. When I grew up she sent for me and for Daniel
Saul--"

"Who is he? Another of your precious family."

"A distant cousin. You know him best as Hale the lawyer."

"Oh, indeed," said Caranby, considerably surprised, "and what did
Emilia do with you two?"

"She got us to help her to coin. We made use of your house. I need not
tell you how we dug the tunnel and arranged the factory. Emilia knew
that you would not disturb the house-