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