“We all seem to be bent on marriage,” said Mallow, rising to take his leave.  “How’s the shoulder?”

“All right,” said the detective, “and it’s worth the wound to have Peggy nursing me.  She is the dearest—­”

“No, pardon me,” said Cuthbert, “by no means.  Juliet is the dearest girl in the wide world,” and he departed laughing.

Needless to say, under the careful supervision of Jennings, all scandal was averted.  The gang with Clancy at its head were sentenced to years of imprisonment, likely to put a stop to all pranks.  Maraquito was buried quietly and Mallow erected a gravestone to her, in spite of her wicked designs against Juliet.  In six months Jennings married Peggy and took a house at Gunnersbury, where Peggy and he live in the congenial company of Le Beau, who has become quite reconciled to Jennings’ profession.  The old professor teaches dancing to the children of the neighborhood.  Susan Grant also married her baker, and the two now possess one of the finest shops in Stepney.  Mrs. Octagon went to America almost immediately.  She managed to keep the six thousand a year, in spite of Jennings.  No one knows how she managed to do this, but envious people hinted at Government influence.  However, with Basil she departed to the States, as she confessed to being weary of constant triumphs in England.  Mrs. Octagon now has a literary salon in Boston, and is regarded as one of the leading spirits of the age.  Basil married an heiress.  Peter, weary of playing the part of husband to a celebrity, remained in England but not in London.  He sold the “Shrine of the Muses” and took a cottage on an estate in Kent belonging to Lord Caranby.  Here he cultivates flowers and calls frequently on his step-daughter and her husband, when they are in the neighborhood.  Peter never knew the true history of his wife.  He always refers to Mrs. Octagon with respect, but shows no disposition to join her in America.  Peter has had quite enough of sham art and sham enthusiasm.

And Cuthbert was married to Juliet within the year.  The wedding was quiet on account of his uncle’s death, and then Lord Caranby took his bride for a tour round the world.  To this day Lady Caranby believes that Maraquito murdered Miss Loach, and knows also from newspaper reports that the pretended aunt was really Emilia Saul.  Mrs. Octagon also expressed surprise at the infamous imposture, and quite deceived Juliet, who never learned what part her mother had taken in the business.  In fact Juliet thought her mother was quite glad she had married Cuthbert.

“Mother really liked you all the time,” she said to her husband when they set off on their honeymoon.

“I doubt that,” replied Lord Caranby, dryly.

“She told me that it was always the dream of her life to see me your wife, but that Maraquito had threatened to ruin Basil if—­”

“Oh, that is the story, is it?  Well, Juliet, I am much obliged to Mrs. Octagon for loving me so much, but, with your permission, we will not see more of her than we can help.”