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

it to Rexton and the interview with Juliet. "Now what does she mean," he a

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

emper 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 li

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

y anything about it, as my uncle asked me to hold my tongue. But since things have come

at heavens! Mallow, why didn't y

there," retorted Cuthbert. "I promise

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

and nothing appeared to be disturbed. I examined the park and fo

ne at night when th

l 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 got

told me this b

tell you now, as I want this matter sifted to the bottom. I refu

anything in

saw no one-I h

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, Mallo

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 she

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

eting 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

if you must know, I took the portrait from Senora Gredos' dressing-room when