The Secret Passage

to marry her daughter, she had expressed herself well pleased, and during the engagement, which had lasted some six months, she had received him as

he death of a sister she had quarrelled with, and to whom she

hat she would keep Juliet out of his way, and that in future he would be refused admittance to the "Shrine of the Muses." This was annoying, but so long as Juliet remained true, Cuthbert thought he could bear the exclusion. His betrothed-as he still regarded the girl-could meet him in the Park, at the houses of mutual friends, and in a thousand and one places which a clever woman like her could think of. And although Cuthbert knew that Mrs. Octa

returned from abroad, and her remark on hearing that he had, some suspicion was in her mind as to his being concerned in the crime. Yet, beyond the fact that the unfinished house stood behind the cottage where the crime had been committed and belonged to Lord Caranby who had known the dead woman in the past, Cuthbert could not see how Mrs. Octagon

ing that he wished to see him after eight o'clock

t was difficult to induce him to be confidential. But invariably he had approved of his nephew's engagement, although he had never seen Juliet, so it might be that he

ice he owned was unoccupied by this strange nobleman, and was usually let to rich Americans. When in England he stopped at the Avon Hotel and when in the country remained at any inn of the neighborhood in which he might chance to find himself wandering. And wandering is an excellent word to apply to Lord

assistance of his stick. And on this account also, he always insisted on the room being heated to an extraordinary degree. Like a salamander he basked in the heat, and would not allow either door or window to be opened, even in the midst of summer,

or all that he wore several costly rings. He was perfectly dressed, and as quiet and composed as an artist's model. When he spoke it was in an unemotional way, as though he had exhausted all expression of his feelings early in life. Perhaps he had, for from what Cuthber

seeing me again to-n

another before eight o'clock last night, at which time you left. I therefore don't know why you have com

eeable last night," rejoined Mallow, equally dryly, "we

ige of a smile. "That should interest a young man of your ard

gagement has been broken off since our conv

oman. After all, perhaps you are to be co

ith the breaking of our eng

months that her mother not on

h of her sister, Mrs. Octagon suddenly changed her min

give an

lined to

, "always mysterious and unsatisfa

ave read the papers, sir-" "Yes! I have read that Miss Loach has been murdered. You went down

. "It appears t

fire. "Poor Selina!" he said half to hims

ss Loach, sir. She did not appear to b

r young days she and her sister we

gaged to one of them,"

is uncle grimly.

cap

is it not, but

this speech. "Have I your permission t

you have so

here. Will you-" he extended the case

cher to get me

que to his uncle's side. In another minute the old man was smoking as gravely as any Turk. This method of c

lp you to find out Mr

rather surprised by C

you think I

ay be able to do so," he said gravely. "The fact is, to be frank, Mrs.

ed, but smoked imperturbably

l was back from the Continent, and her subsequent remark. "Of

ing two and two together. Isabella Octagon hates me so much that she woul

otive can s

a motive if it suits her. But what I cannot understand is, why she should accuse me now. She ha

t exactly a

t night affords her the opportunity of getting me into trouble. But I am afraid

, sir, she is the

. "To be perfectly plain with you, Cuthbert, I could never understand why Mrs. Oct

d," said Mallow, s

ning heavily on his cane. Mallow offered his arm but was impatiently waved aside. When th

my heart

he lov

were made for

rs. Oc

for her opposition. I shall marry Juliet in spite of this revenge she seems to be practising o

a nutshell," said Caran

rage like love

ry like a wom

cigarette, and a whole story was

ll, as Mrs. Octagon does not hesitate to strike at me through you, and as your happiness is at stake, and th

" and Cuthbert settl

ill pardon my vanity-fell in love with me. She hated her sister on my account. I would have married Selina, but her father, who was hard up, wished her to marry a wealthy American. Isabella, to part Selina from me, helped her father. What arguments they used I do not know, but Selina suddenly changed in her

ad really lov

milia was charming, and I was weak. Therefore, I became engaged to Emilia, and Selina-as I heard, arranged to marry

said he slowly, "I should have remained true to her, and

don't forget that, Cuthbert. And I could scarcely

?" asked Mallow, reme

I never pretended to be a saint, and had Selina really loved me she would have overlooked certain faults. I did love her, Cuthbert. I did all in my po

exton!" exclaim

nd I became-out of pique, remember-engaged to Miss Saul, I still went on building the house. Selina, I believe, was

there wa

seeing the Loach girls-this is Isabella's tale-Emilia lost her footing and fell thirty feet. She was killed almost instantaneously, and her face was mu

the girls

esh disaster awaited them. Mr. Loach was dead. He died suddenly of hea

turned

ent, and only came back after two years abroad. Then Isabella, after vainly trying to get me to marry her, becam

," corrected Cuthbert,

s Saul. That poor soul was buried, and then I shut up the house and left it as it is now. I travelled, as you know, for years, and I

t an inquest held

was no need. The cause of the death was plain enough. Moreover, Emilia had no relatives who ca

ing puzzled. "Had you an idea that Emilia ma

dignantly. "She was a good and kind

the eagle nose and thin lips of Mi

I wish to speak to her on the subject, but I never did. And after all, the jur

atives who might h

er. He looked a thorough blackguard, sly and dangerous. But, as I said, Emilia came of low people. It was only her fine voice and great talents that brought her into the society where I met her. I have never hea

tand why she should have consented at all,

cline to mix myself up in the matter. You

connected with the violent death of her sister!" A speech to which

d no reason to kill Selina," said Caranby gravely.