The Secret Passage
delivering it in her usual dramatic manner, she swept from the room, leaving Juliet
ars to be very po
up Cuthbert?" ask
er knew Miss Loach myself," added Mr. Octagon, seating himself and ruffling h
, and, to tell you the truth, father," Juliet always addressed Pet
so refined as my
t, taking no notice of this interpolation, "it's non
gentlemen have participated in the delights of our literary
er doesn't like them because they were such good friends to Aunt
for over fifteen years your mother spoke little of your aunt and never called to see her. I was quite
," continued the girl, leaning her chin on her hand and staring into the fire; "why
she will
ce or twice, but he did not care for her. But he can have nothing to do with the matt
and your mother were great friends of Lord Caranby's in their youth, over twenty years ago. I believe at one
building at Rexton, and it has been shut up all these years. Aunt Selina
s very firm wh
ever, I am not going to give up Cuthbert. I love him and h
mother refuse
over
d way. His hair was long, he wore a moustache and a short imperial, and talked in a languid way in a somewhat obscure manner. These were the traits Juliet disliked in Basil. She would rather
ng into a chair and casting a side look at
an about t
this morning, and found the house in the possession of
t, starting and growing red
Lord Caranby has returned to England, and he has thoughts o
n. There is a wall
looking through the house he came out. Then he saw me, and I
day and the fire, near which she was seate
gave his reason for being in the neighborhood. He came up with me, and is co
kept her eyes on her brother when he entered into details about the
sual. "He is a first-rate chap called Jennings, and when he h
learn?" aske
stery surrounding the
his sister, restlessly. "C
of him can be
him.' It might ha
unt Selina was stabbed to the heart. She must have been killed as she was risi
n found?" asked Jul
"not a sign of any weapon can be found, nor can it be discovered how anyone
cried Mr. Octagon,
relled with Hale and Mrs. Herne. They left before ten o'clock. At all events, when she entered the room in answer to my aunt's summons, she found only Mr. Clancy, and aunt was scolding him for having provoked Mrs. Herne by contradicting her. Apparently
Juliet. "But how could aunt
ed near the button of the bell and could have touched it without rising. She might have r
ve his perspicuity, "the assassin may have
think the assassin would be such a fool. However, that's all that can
nd barred. Besides, a policeman was walking down Crooked Lane a few minutes before e
ht have rung the bell
have escaped immediately afterwards
out by the back,"
exit at the back. Anyone leaving the house must go up the lane or through that part at the
uminating; "if, as the doctor says, death was inst
inutes before eleven when the blow was struck. Aunt might have had strength to crawl to the bell and touch
tantaneously,"
e sounded the bell," sa
n did that,"
witness," cried B
you explain
er can the detective Je
the servants
e'll see what the inquest reveals. Something may be found before then likely to elucidate the mystery. Bu
the fact of her relationshi
gging his shoulders. "It is not a pleasant affair fo
her lover. She met him divesting himself of his overcoat in the hall, and ran to him
t one last night," said
ing him into a side room. "I thought you were c
now. He will insist on a fire even in June, and the room was so hot that I caught cold when I came out. I had to go do
om. They are talking of the murder, and
out," said Mallow. "I knew Basil would
ther from the detective. It seems
escaped, after killing her, cannot be discovered. Jennings
im?" asked Jul
n through his money and took up the detective business. He is very c
," she said. "I have had enough horrors fo
this," said Mallo
would marry a man who never opened a book. Cuthbert nearly fulfilled this requirement, as he read little, save novels and newspapers. He was well known in sporting circles, and having a good private income, owned race-horses. He was always irreproachably dressed, good-humored and cheerful. Consequently he was popular, and if not overburdened with brains, managed t
stronger will than Mallow, she guided him in every way, and had already succeeded in improving his morals. With so gentle and charming a mentor, Cut
n the lovers were seated on the sofa. "I wonder
il, the case is most mysterious, so it is useless for us to worry over it until somethi
said Cuthbert,
ated again. "Promise me you will keep t
ever was a fell
this murder will put
his ears. "What on earth does sh
gly at him. "Do you kn
e death of your aunt, but I really don't
. "Mother hints that she knows
nows. How do
s with Aunt Selina and they never saw one another for over f
owever much one may have quarrelled. But
you do. Here is mothe
posed. In silence she gave her hand to Cuthbert, and kept her black eyes fixed steadily on his face. T
"I have told Cuthb
ight to," said Mrs
rather annoyed. "Seeing you hint tha
answer. "Is your uncl
rom the continent
f, and strove to repress her agitation.
Give you
o reason
s it on account
uliet so. But I
objection seemed to be senseless. "Surely you don't think Cuthb
on't sus
you suspect?"
decline
ine to say it
back a pace. "Yes, I
she was so agitated, and Juliet stole her h
r remark about my uncle leads
an't marry Juliet on a
ment I devote myself to finding out who killed your unfortunate sist
tagon had left the room, almost be