While being
examined Susan wept, with an occasional glance at the
bewildered Cuthbert.
"You were with Maraquito as parlor-maid?"
"With Senora Gredos? Yes, sir, for six months."
"Do you know what went on in that house?"
Susan ceased her sobs and stared. "I don't know what you
mean," she said, looking puzzled. "It was a gay house, I
know; but there was nothing wrong that I ever saw, save that I
don't hold with cards being played on Sunday."
"And on every other night of the week," muttered Jennings.
"Did you ever hear Senora Gredos called Maraquito?"
"Sometimes the gentlemen who came to play cards called her by
that name. But she told her maid, who was my friend, that
they were old friends of hers. And I think they were sorry
for poor Senora Gredos, sir," added Miss Grant, naively, "as
she suffered so much with her back. You know, she rarely
moved from her couch. It was always wheeled into the room
where the gambling took place."
"Ah. You knew that gambling went on," said Jennings, snapping
her up sharply. "Don't you know that is against the law?"
"No, sir. Do you know?"
Cuthbert could not restrain a laugh. "That's one for you,
Jennings," said he, nodding, "you often went to the Soho
house."
"I had my reasons for saying nothing," replied the detective
hastily. "You may be sure I could have ended the matter at
once had I spoken to my chief about it. As it was, I judged
it best to let matters remain as they were, so long as the
house was respectably conducted.
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