Then she refused. About a week before Aunt Selina
died, Basil wanted money, and she declined. They had words
and she ordered Basil out of the house. It was to try and
make it up between them that I called on that night."
"Are you sure Basil did not go also?"
"I don't think so," said Juliet doubtfully. "He was on bad
terms with Aunt Selina and knew he would not be welcomed.
Besides, he had not a latch-key. Well, Cuthbert, I reached
Rose Cottage at half-past ten and let myself in. I went
downstairs quietly. I found Aunt Selina seated in her chair
near the fire with the cards on her lap, as though she had
been playing 'Patience.' I saw that she was dead."
"Why did you not give the alarm?"
Juliet hesitated. "I thought it best not to," she said
faintly.
It seemed to Mallow that she was keeping something back.
However, she was very frank as it was, so he thought it best
not to say anything. "Well, you saw she was dead?"
"Yes. She had been stabbed to the heart. There was a knife
on the floor. I picked it up and saw it was yours. Then I
thought--"
"That I had killed her. Thank you, Juliet."
"No, no!" she protested. "Really, I did not believe that at
the time. I could not think why you should kill Aunt Selina.
I was bewildered at the time and then--" here Juliet turned
away her head, "I fancied someone else might have killed her."
"Who?"
"Don't ask me. I have no grounds on which to accuse anyone.
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