“And by a man,” thought Jennings.  “No woman would have such a weapon in her possession; and if she bought one to accomplish a crime, she would purchase a stiletto or a pistol.  It would take a considerable exercise of muscle to drive this heavy knife home.”

Jennings considered that the only person who could make Juliet speak was Cuthbert.  It was true that she already had declined to make a confidant of him, but now, when there was a chance of his being arrested—­as Jennings had hinted—­she might be inclined to confess all, especially if it was Cuthbert she was shielding.  But the detective fancied her brother might be the culprit.  On the night of the murder, both had left the Marlow Theatre, which was near Rexton, and Juliet declined to say where they went.  It might be that both had been on the spot about the time of the commission of the crime.  Again, unless Miss Loach had admitted her assailant, he must have had a latch-key to let himself in.  From the fact that the poor woman had been found with the cards on her lap in the same position in which Susan had left her, Jennings was inclined to think that the assassin had struck the blow at once, and then had left the house at the half hour.  But how had he entered?  There did not appear to be any secret entrance, and no one could enter by the windows; nor by the door either without a latch-key.  The further Jennings examined into the matter, the more he was puzzled.  Never had he undertaken so difficult a case.  But the very difficulty made him the more resolute to unravel the mystery.

For two or three days he went about, asking for information concerning the coining, and reading up details in old newspapers about the exploits of the Saul family.  Also, he went occasionally to the salon of Senora Gredos.  There he constantly met Hale and Clancy.  Also Basil came at times.  That young man now adopted a somewhat insolent demeanor towards the pair, which showed that he was now out of their clutches and no longer had cause to fear them.  Jennings felt sure that Basil could explain much, and he half determined to get a warrant out for his arrest in the hope that fear might make him confess.  But, unfortunately, he had not sufficient information to procure such a thing, and was obliged to content himself with keeping a watch on young Saxon.  But the man sent to spy reported nothing suspicious about Basil’s doings.

In this perplexity of mind Jennings thought he would see Cuthbert and relate what he had discovered.  Also he hoped that Mallow might interview Juliet and learn the truth from her.  But an inquiry at Mallow’s rooms showed that he had gone out of town for a few days with his uncle, and would not be back for another two.  Pending this return, Jennings sorted his evidence.