"But
of course, if you can explain--"
"Explain!" she cried wildly and sinking into a chair. "What
can I explain? That I saw you climbing that wall, running
away apparently from the scene of your crime. That I found
the knife by the body?"
"What!" Cuthbert started up and looked at her. "You saw the
body?"
"Yes. I was in the house--in the room. I found my aunt
dead in her chair, with the cards on her lap, exactly as the
parlor-maid saw her. Near her on the floor was the knife.
There was blood on the blade. I picked it up--I saw the
handle was notched in three places, and then--"
"Then you suspected me."
"No. Not till I saw you outside."
Cuthbert took a turn up and down the dais much perplexed.
"Juliet," he said. "I swear to you I never killed this
woman."
Juliet flew to him and folded him in her arms. "I knew it--
I knew it," she said, "in spite of the letter--"
"What letter?"
"That accusing you and threatening to tell the police about
you if I did not break the engagement."
"Who wrote it?"
"I can't say, save that it must have been some enemy."
"Naturally," replied Mallow cynically. "A friend does not
write in that way. Have you the letter with you."
"No. It is at home. I never thought of bringing it. But I
will show it to you soon. I wish now I had spoken before."
"I wish to heaven you had!"
"I thought it best to be silent," said Juliet, trying to
argue. "I feared lest if I spoke to you, this enemy,
whosoever he is, might carry out the threat in the letter.
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