This was a difficult question.  It could not have been Basil Saxon, for he was at the Marlow Theatre on that night with his sister.  Cuthbert had no motive, and Jennings quite believed his explanation as to his exploration of the park between the hours of ten and eleven.  Hale, Clancy and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house before the blow had been struck, and, moreover, there was no reason why they should murder a harmless old lady.  Maraquito confined to her couch could not possibly have anything to do with the crime.  Mrs. Octagon did hate her sister, but she certainly would not risk killing her.  In fact, Jennings examining into the motives and movements of those mentioned, could find no clue to the right person.  He began to believe that the crime had been committed by someone who had not yet appeared—­someone whose motive might be found in the past of the dead woman.  Say a member of the Saul family.

But Maraquito was the sole surviving member, and on the face of it was innocent.  As yet Jennings did not know whether Mrs. Herne was her mother, in spite of the resemblance which Susan claimed to have seen.  Also, Caranby said that Maraquito resembled her father, and the features of the Saul family were so strongly marked that it was impossible the elder Saul could have married a woman resembling him.  “Though, to be sure, he might have married a relative,” said Jennings, and went to bed more perplexed than ever.

Next day, before calling at the “Shrine of the Muses,” he went to Scotland Yard, and there made inquiries about the rumor of false coins being in circulation.  These appeared to be numerous and were admirably made.  Also from France and Russia and Italy came reports that false money was being scattered about.  The chief of the detective staff possessed these coins of all sorts, and Jennings was forced to own that they were admirable imitations.  He went away, wondering if this crime could be connected in any way with the circulation of false money.  “Maraquito is a member of the Saul family, who appear to have been expert coiners,” said Jennings, on his way to Kensington, “and, according to Le Beau, she gave him a false sovereign.  I wonder if she keeps up the business, and if Clancy and Hale, together with Mrs. Herne, this supposititious mother, have to do with the matter.  That unfinished house would make an admirable factory, and the presence of the ghosts would be accounted for if a gang of coiners was discovered there.  But there is a fifteen-feet wall round the house, and the park is a regular jungle.  Cuthbert examined the place by day and night and could see nothing suspicious.  I wonder if Miss Loach, living near the place, learned that a gang was there.  If so, it is quite conceivable that she might have been murdered by one of them.  But how the deuce did anyone enter the house?  The door certainly opened at half-past ten o’clock, either to let someone in or someone out.  But the bell did not sound for half an hour later.  Can there be any outlet to that house, and is it connected with the unfinished mansion of Lord Caranby, used as a factory?”