“This knife?” Cuthbert, still bewildered, took up the formidable weapon.  “But how did she become possessed of it?”

“You must ask her that.”

“I?  Why did you not ask her yourself?”

“She would have lied to me—­for your sake.”

“For my sake?  Do you mean to say she thinks I am guilty?”

“Yes, I do,” said Jennings decisively.

“It’s an infernal lie!  I don’t believe Juliet would think me such a blackguard unless she did not love me—­and she does love me.”

“Of course,” interposed Jennings swiftly, “so much so that she has concealed this knife so as to—­as she thinks—­save you.  Now, can you not see why she asked you to proceed no further in the case for your—­own sake.  I thought she was shielding her brother.  It is you she believes guilty—­”

“And therefore will not marry me?”

“No.  I don’t think for one moment she cares about that.  When a woman loves a man she will stick to him through thick and thin.  If he is a regular Cain, she will marry him.  Bless the whole sex, they are the staunchest of friends when they love.  No, Mallow, in some way Mrs. Octagon has learned that you have killed her—­”

“But I never did—­I never did.  I told you everything.”

“What you told me may have been told to Mrs. Octagon with additions.  She thinks you guilty, and therefore has threatened to denounce you unless Juliet gives you up.  She has done so, therefore Mrs. Octagon holds her bitter tongue.”

“But her reason for wishing to break off the marriage.”

“We discussed that before.  In the first place, you are Caranby’s nephew and she hates him.  In the second, she and Basil want the fingering of the six thousand a year left by Miss Loach.  Should you marry Miss Saxon, they know well you will look after her interests, therefore they don’t wish the match to take place.  I am not quite sure if this is Basil’s plan, or if he knows so much, but I am quite certain that the scheme is of Mrs. Octagon’s concoction.  But now you can see why Miss Saxon behaved so strangely.”

“She has no right to take up such a position,” cried Cuthbert, with a fierce look.  “She should have been plain with me and have accused me to my face.”

“Do you think a woman cares to accuse the man she loves?  Besides, Mrs. Octagon may have forced her to keep silence, so as to make the matter more difficult for you.  The only way in which you can clear up matters is to see Miss Saxon and insist on an explanation.”

“And if she won’t give it?”

“I think she will this time,” said Jennings with a grim smile.  “By now she must have discovered her loss, and she knows well enough that the knife is in my possession.  Already she knows that I threatened to arrest you—­”

“But you would never do that.”

“I would if it meant the clearing of your character.  I tell you, Mallow, you are in danger.  There is a conspiracy against you, and the using of your knife to kill that old woman proves it.  To prepare the ground for an accusation, someone stole it.  You must fight, man, or your enemies may bring about your arrest, in spite of all I can do.”