All day I have been down there with Mallow."
"With Cuthbert," said Juliet, starting and growing red. "What
was he doing there?"
"He came down to Rexton to see about the unfinished house.
Lord Caranby has returned to England, and he has thoughts of
pulling it down. Mallow came to have a look at the place."
"But he can't get in. There is a wall round the grounds."
"He climbed over the wall," said Basil, quickly, "and after
looking through the house he came out. Then he saw me, and I
told him what had happened. He appeared dreadfully shocked."
Juliet shivered in spite of the heat of the day and the fire,
near which she was seated. "It is strange he should have been
there."
Her brother threw a keen glance at her. "I don't see that!"
he exclaimed. "He gave his reason for being in the
neighborhood. He came up with me, and is coming on here in a
few moments. This is why he did not turn up this afternoon."
Juliet nodded and appeared satisfied with this explanation.
But she kept her eyes on her brother when he entered into
details about the crime. Her emotions during the recital
betrayed themselves markedly.
"I saw the detective," said Basil, with quicker speech than
usual. "He is a first-rate chap called Jennings, and when he
heard I was Miss Loach's nephew he didn't mind speaking
freely."
"What did you learn?" asked Mr. Octagon.
"Enough to make the mystery surrounding the death deeper than
ever.
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