But then, she may not be keeping
silence for Cuthbert's sake, as she can't possibly know he was
at Rexton on that night. My own opinion is that she is
shielding her brother."
"Do you suspect him?" asked Caranby quickly.
"He may not be guilty of the crime, but he knows something
about it, I am sure." Here Jennings related how Clancy had
said Basil would speak out if pressed too hard. "Now Basil,
for some reason, is in difficulties with Hale, who is a
scoundrel. But Basil knows something which Hale and Clancy
wish to be kept silent. Hale has been using threats to Basil,
and the young man has turned restive. Clancy, who is by no
means such a fool as he looks, warned Hale to-night.
Therefore I take it, that Basil has some information about the
murder. Miss Saxon knows he has, and she is shielding him."
"But Clancy, Hale and Mrs. Herne were all out of the house
when the woman was stabbed," said Caranby, "they cannot have
anything to do with it."
"Quite so, on the face of it. But that bell--" Jennings
broke off. "I don't think those three are so innocent as
appears. However, Mrs. Herne is coming back to her Hampstead
house next week; I'll see her and put questions."
"Which she will not answer," said Caranby drily. "Besides,
you should have put them at the inquest."
"The case had not developed so far. I had not so much
information as I have now," argued Jennings.
"Did you examine Mrs. Herne at the inquest?"
"No; she gave her evidence.
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