The Secret Passage
iet's conduct perplexed the young man to such an extent that he felt as though on the point of losing his r
, who at once saw that something wa
ysterious every day. I am determined to get to the bottom of this murder case if only for my own peace of mind. I am
er soothingly, "sit down and let us hav
nt. I saw
u speak
ou talked about from your description and f
aking a seat, "so you
don't know if I'm sane or insane, Je
"At half-past eight. She'll be her
ng the note from Juliet. "I received that
his friend. "It is strange that she should write in that way," said he. "I shoul
t to Rexton and the interview with Juliet. "Now what does she mean," he ad
ing her mind. That bro
w of him?" asked
a lot and falls into rages when he loses. At time
hy Juliet should hint at his own guilt Cuthbert could not imagine. Had he been calmer he might have hesitated to tell Jennings about Basil. But, exasperated by Jul
nothing much to go upon in what he said.
having been in Caranby's groun
ngs straight between me and Juliet. I can't understand her. But I am sure her mother and Basil are tryi
ounds?" asked J
six thousand a year, which is completely at her own disposal. Mrs. Octagon and her pet boy want to have the handling of that. They know if Juliet becomes m
Mrs. Octagon
ve implicated me in the crime, and Juliet thinks that I am in danger of the gallows. That is why she wrote that mysterious note, Jennings. To-day she asked me to stop proceedings for my own sake, which shows that she th
ter, and his accusing you means his acknowledging that he was near Rose Co
articularly as he quarrelled with
quarrel
per he has. I've seen him rage at Maraquito's when he lost at baccarat. Silly ass! He can't play decently and lose his money like
violent temper, as we both knew. Humph! He may have something
he Marlow Theatre to see a me
the Marlow Theatre is not far from Rexton.
as sent by the man
is
ing poets in Octagon House. A set of idiots.
are trying to stop the marriage by bringing you into th
anything about it, as my uncle asked me to hold my tongue. But since things have come to
at heavens! Mallow, why didn't y
here," retorted Cuthbert. "I promised
My dear fellow, make
t the house at the back of Rose Cottage has been des
me about it t
gular jungle. Well, the house is supposed to be haunted. Lights
ind of
all that sort of thing. I heard ind
she hear
haunted, and described the noises and the lights. I don't believe in spooks myself,
asked Jennings, recall
g and nothing appeared to be disturbed. I examined the park and
ne at night when th
ll the same, Caranby is tender on the point. I advised him to pull the house down and let the land out for building leases. He thought he would, but ask
hat t
ten and eleven. I
hat is the very hour
my tongue; particularly as I go
do yo
cottage. It's divided from the garden by a fence. I came along
er Miss Loac
, and got over the wall. Then I dodged through the park, scratching myself a lot. I could find nothing. The house seemed quiet enough, so after a quarter of an hour I had enough of it. I go
told me this b
tell you now, as I want this matter sifted to the bottom. I refu
anything in
saw no one - I
ven a
"had I heard anything I should hav
Jennings, "can't you
many minutes. Perhaps a quarter of an hour. But not suspecti
he carpet. "I wonder if the assas
ch w
thout stumbling against that policeman. But he might have slipped out of the front door at half-past ten and cl
t was nearly eleven when I left the park. If an
e seen you and have taken his precautions. Moreover," added the detective, sitting up a
allow roughly, "he wo
letter was
; "but Basil may have been abou
he won't, and you may be sure Miss Saxon, for his sake, will hold her tongue. No, Mallow.
is head. "I fear
uggested Jennings, "and then,
nown that I was hanging about the place on that night. My explanation might not be believed. In
d himself. "I must see what Susan has to say"; he glanc
"Oh, by the way," he said, taking some papers
t it?" asked Cut
ily" he said, "seem to have been a bad lot. T
ili
it told on her nerves. She went on the concert platform and met Caranby. Then she died, as you know. Afterwards the mother and brother were caught. They bolted. The mother, I believe, died - it was believed sh
s shoulders. "This d
cape your uncle had from marryin
ut Emilia exercised a kind of hypnotic influence over him. However,
of the gang and the whereabouts of the factory. Supposing that person was Selina Loach, who hated Emilia for havin
er all the
ting out evidence about this old coining case, particularly as there are many false coins circulating now.
htest connection between the coiners and this murder. Besides,
ground, "that might be explained." He looked up briskly. "I tell you what, M
t you mean. All I desire is to get to the root of the matter and marry Juliet. Find Mi
ay how the connection comes about, but I feel that a discovery in one case entails a disc
ll happe
the factory that i
he information that a young person was waiting and asked for Mr. Jennings. Mallow ordered
lacing a chair for her. "This is Mr. Mal
w before," said Susan,
ge?" said Mall
ith Senora Gredos
gs, before Cuthbert could sp
ito, sir," said Susan calmly. "A lame
flushing in his turn. "I went there occ
fervently. "Often I have watched y
Let's us get to the pith of the matter at on
to say," mur
id Mallow angrily. "I
ou must know, I took the portrait from Senora Gredos' dressing-room when I left her