As soon
as she saw him she came down with rather a white face. The
room was filled with trunks and large deal boxes, and some
were open, revealing clothes. Dust lay thick on others
apparently locked, and untouched for many years. The light
filtered into the dusty attic through a dirty window, and the
floor was strewn with straw and other rubbish. Miss Saxon did
not know the detective and her face resumed its normal color
and expression.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she asked, casting a
nervous look at the cornice.
Jennings removed his hat. "I beg your pardon," he said
politely. "Mrs. Pill showed me up here when I asked to see
you."
"She had no right," said Juliet, looking at her dress, which
was rather dusty, "come downstairs and tell me who you are."
She appeared anxious to get him out of the room, and walked
before him out of the door. As she passed through Jennings
contrived to shut it as though her dress had caught the lower
part. Then he lightly turned the key. He could hear Juliet
fumbling at the lock. "What is the matter?" she called
through.
"The lock has got hampered in some way," said Jennings,
rattling the key, "one moment, I'll look at it carefully."
As he said this he made one bound to the chair upon which she
had been standing and reached his hand to the cornice at which
she had looked. Passing his hand rapidly along it came into
contact with an object long and sharp. He drew it down.
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