I believe at one time Selina was
engaged to him, but he was in love with a young lady called
Miss Saul, who died unexpectedly."
"I know," said Juliet; "and then Lord Caranby abandoned the
house he was building at Rexton, and it has been shut up all
these years. Aunt Selina told me the story. When I asked
mother for details, she refused to speak."
"Your mother is very firm when she likes."
"Very obstinate, you mean," said Juliet, undutifully.
"However, I am not going to give up Cuthbert. I love him and
he loves me. I intend to marry him whatever mother may say."
"But if your mother refuses her consent?"
"I am over age."
As she spoke her brother entered the room hurriedly. Basil
Saxon was as fair and weak-looking as his sister was dark and
strong in appearance. He was smartly dressed, and in a rather
affected way. His hair was long, he wore a moustache and a
short imperial, and talked in a languid way in a somewhat
obscure manner. These were the traits Juliet disliked in
Basil. She would rather have seen him a spruce well-groomed
man about town like Cuthbert. But at the present moment
Basil's face was flushed, and he spoke hurriedly, evidently
laboring under great stress of emotion.
"Have you heard the news?" he said, dropping into a chair and
casting a side look at the evening paper which Peter still
held.
"If you mean about the death--"
"Yes; Aunt Selina has been murdered. I called to see her this
morning, and found the house in the possession of the police.
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