But I am really ignorant of
all, save what appeared in the papers. I am the worst person
in the world to apply to for information, sir."
"Perhaps you are, so far as the crime is concerned. But there
is one question I should like to ask you. An impertinent
one."
"What is it?" demanded the girl, visibly nervous.
"Why do you refuse to marry Mallow?"
"That is very impertinent," said Juliet, controlling herself;
"so much so that I refuse to reply."
"As a gentleman, I take that answer," said Jennings mildly,
"but as a detective I ask again for your reason."
"I fail to see what my private affairs have to do with the
law."
Jennings smiled at this answer and thought of the knife which
he had found. A less cautious man would have produced it at
once and have insisted on an explanation. But Jennings wished
to learn to whom the knife belonged before he ventured. He
was sure that it was not the property of Juliet, who had no
need for such a dangerous article, and he was equally sure
that as she was shielding someone, she would acknowledge that
she had bought the weapon. He was treading on egg-shells, and
it behooved him to be cautious. "Very good," he said at
length, "we will pass that question for the present, though as
Mallow's friend I am sorry. Will you tell me to whom you gave
the photograph of Mallow which he presented to you?"
"How do you know about that?" asked Miss Saxon quickly. "And
why do you ask?"
"Because I have seen the photograph.
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