“What means will you use to make her speak?”

“I’ll tell her that Cuthbert may be arrested for the crime.  You know he was about the place on the night of the murder.”

“Yes.  He went down to look after a possible ghost.  But I hope you will not bring Cuthbert into the matter unless it is absolutely necessary.  I don’t want a scandal.”

“Rest easy, Lord Caranby.  I have the complete control of this affair, and I’ll only use Cuthbert’s presence at Rexton to make Miss Saxon speak out.  But then, she may not be keeping silence for Cuthbert’s sake, as she can’t possibly know he was at Rexton on that night.  My own opinion is that she is shielding her brother.”

“Do you suspect him?” asked Caranby quickly.

“He may not be guilty of the crime, but he knows something about it, I am sure.”  Here Jennings related how Clancy had said Basil would speak out if pressed too hard.  “Now Basil, for some reason, is in difficulties with Hale, who is a scoundrel.  But Basil knows something which Hale and Clancy wish to be kept silent.  Hale has been using threats to Basil, and the young man has turned restive.  Clancy, who is by no means such a fool as he looks, warned Hale to-night.  Therefore I take it, that Basil has some information about the murder.  Miss Saxon knows he has, and she is shielding him.”

“But Clancy, Hale and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house when the woman was stabbed,” said Caranby, “they cannot have anything to do with it.”

“Quite so, on the face of it.  But that bell—­” Jennings broke off.  “I don’t think those three are so innocent as appears.  However, Mrs. Herne is coming back to her Hampstead house next week; I’ll see her and put questions.”

“Which she will not answer,” said Caranby drily.  “Besides, you should have put them at the inquest.”

“The case had not developed so far.  I had not so much information as I have now,” argued Jennings.

“Did you examine Mrs. Herne at the inquest?”

“No; she gave her evidence.”  Jennings hesitated.  “She also wore a veil when she spoke, and refused to raise it on account of weak eyes.  By the way, do you notice that Maraquito uses a strong scent?”

“Yes.  Clancy and Hale also use it.”

“Ha!” said Jennings, surprised.  “I never knew that.  Decidedly, I am growing stupid.  Well, Mrs. Herne uses that scent also.  It is a rare scent.”  Then Jennings told what Susan Grant had said.  “Now I think there is some significance in this scent which is connected with the association of Clancy, Hale, Maraquito and Mrs. Herne.”

“But Mrs. Herne doesn’t know Maraquito.”

“I am not so sure of that.  Susan Grant thinks she may be Maraquito’s mother, she is so like her in an elderly way.  Did you know this Mrs. Saul?”

“No.  I knew the brother who came to speak to me after the death of his sister, and who afterwards was put in jail for coining.  His wife I never met.  I never even heard of her.  But Maraquito takes after her father in looks and he was like Emilia.”