“As you are a detective, I wonder you haven’t stopped it before,” said Hale, with an unpleasant smile.

“I had my reasons,” said Jennings calmly, “besides, Maraquito has conducted the place quite respectably.  I suppose,” he added idly, “you will go abroad also?”

“What do you mean by that?” demanded Hale in silky tones.

“Mrs. Herne has gone to the Continent,” said Jennings quietly, “and if Senora Gredos gives up this very dangerous business, she may go also.  As you will be deprived of two of your friends, Mr. Hale, doubtless you will go also.”

“I might.  One never knows,” replied Hale coolly.

“By the way?” asked Jennings, looking round, “I was admitted by a parlor-maid this evening.  Where is Gibber?”

“I believe Senora Gredos has dismissed him for dishonesty.”

“Ah, really,” replied the detective, who had his own opinion.  “So it seems Senora Gredos is getting rid of her household already.”

Hale winced under the eye of Jennings and turned away with a shrug.  He was apparently glad to get away.  Jennings looked after him with a smile.  “I’ll catch the whole gang,” he murmured, and took his departure, having learned what he wished to know—­to wit, that Gibber had disappeared.

“Without doubt he was the boy who poisoned Tyke,” said Jennings, as he walked home with a cigar for company.  “I believe Maraquito is the head of the gang, and the fatal woman that Caranby talks about.  She heard that Tyke had been arrested, and sent the boy to poison him lest he should blab.  I wonder if it was by her direction that the house was fired.  Well, I’ll wait.  As yet I cannot get a warrant, having nothing but theory to go on.  But the nets are being spread, and unless Maraquito and her friends clear out with Mrs. Herne, they will be caught.  When they are all in jail there may be some chance of learning who murdered that unfortunate woman in Rose Cottage.”

Later on, Jennings received the report of the inquest, which appeared also that evening in the newspapers.  It seemed that Tyke had been poisoned with arsenic, administered in the whisky bottle.  From his appearance he was a hard drinker, and doubtless the boy had no difficulty in inducing him to drink.  Tyke had drank freely—­indeed the doctor said he had taken enough to kill three men,—­and therefore he had died almost immediately the boy left, and before he had time to speak.  The inspector, who wrote to Jennings, stated that the constable who had admitted the boy had been dismissed the force, but the boy himself could not be traced.  “I shouldn’t be surprised if he had taken refuge in the cellars of the house,” said Jennings, “that is, if the factory is there.  I must see Caranby and get his permission to remove the rubbish.  Only when I have searched the foundation of that house, will my suspicions be set at rest.”