They were all coiners. Somewhere in Hampstead they
had a regular factory. Others were mixed up in the matter
also, but Mrs. Saul was the head of the gang. Then Emilia
grew tired of the life--I expect it told on her nerves. She
went on the concert platform and met Caranby. Then she died,
as you know. Afterwards the mother and brother were caught.
They bolted. The mother, I believe, died--it was believed
she was poisoned for having betrayed secrets. The brother
went to jail, got out years afterwards on ticket-of-leave, and
then died also. The rest of the gang were put in jail, but I
can't say what became of them."
Cuthbert shrugged his shoulders. "This does not help us
much."
"No. But it shows you what an escape your uncle had from
marrying the woman. I can't understand--"
"No more can Caranby," said Mallow, smiling; "he loved Miss
Loach, but Emilia exercised a kind of hypnotic influence over
him. However, she is dead, and I can see no connection
between her and this crime."
"Well," said Jennings soberly, "it appears that some other
person besides the mother gave a clue to the breaking up of
the gang and the whereabouts of the factory. Supposing that
person was Selina Loach, who hated Emilia for having taken
Caranby from her. One of the gang released lately from prison
may have killed the old lady out of revenge."
"What! after all these years?"
"Revenge is a passion that grows with years," said Jennings
grimly; "at all events, I intend to go on ferreting out
evidence about this old coining case, particularly as there
are many false coins circulating now.
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