“I don’t understand all this.  Is Cuthbert here?”

“Yes.  To be plain with you, Juliet, a person I know arranged that I should write to you and that Mr. Mallow should meet you here.”

Juliet looked annoyed.  “Who is interfering with my private business?”

“Someone who can help you.”

“No one can help me,” retorted Juliet.

“Oh, yes, and the advice of this person is that you should tell the truth to Mr. Mallow.”

“Who is this person?”

“I’ll tell you that after you have seen Mr. Mallow.  He is in the room below.”

“This interfering person you refer to?”

“No, Mr. Mallow.  Will you come downstairs and see him?”

Juliet drew back as Peggy opened the door.  “I dare not.”

“In that case you will have to consent to the arrest of Mr. Mallow.”

Juliet shrieked.  “Cuthbert arrested!  For what?”

“For the murder of Miss Loach.”

“It is not true—­it is not true,” gasped Juliet.  “Oh, Peggy, what does it all mean?  How do you come to know—?”

“Because I’m engaged to Miles Jennings.”

“The detective!  The man who behaved so badly to me?”

“I don’t know what you call behaving badly,” said Miss Garthorne in an offended way.  “Miles wishes to help you out of your difficulties, and you will not allow him.  No!  Don’t ask questions.  I refuse to answer.  Miles told me all about the case and I know everything—­”

“Then you know that he came the other day to Rose Cottage and—­”

“I know everything,” said Peggy, leaving the room; “and if you are wise you will come with me.”

When Peggy disappeared, Juliet hesitated.  She really could not speak to Cuthbert, and resolved to steal out of the trap into which she had been inveigled by the treacherous Peggy.  On the other hand, things were becoming so serious that she knew she would have to speak out sooner or later, especially as Cuthbert was in danger of arrest.  But even if she confessed all, could she save him?  “I should only make matters worse,” thought Juliet, descending the stairs, “he’ll thank me some day for holding my tongue.  I’ll go.”

So she arranged, but meantime Peggy had informed the waiting Mallow of Juliet’s strange behavior.  Determined to make her speak, and anxious to arrive at some understanding, Cuthbert waited at the foot of the stairs.  Juliet, coming down, ran straight into his arms, and turned white.

“You!” she gasped, retreating, “you are here after all.”

“Did you not hear Miss Garthorne tell you so?” asked Cuthbert.

“Peggy is behaving very wickedly.”

“It is you who are behaving badly,” said Mallow bluntly, “you know much about this case and you are keeping me in the dark.”

“It is for your own good,” murmured Juliet.

“You should allow me to be the best judge of that.  Come in here,” and Cuthbert drew her towards the open door of the dancing-room, “tell me what you know and how it affects me.”