Let me tell you what I can. Then you may think--but that's
impossible. Cuthbert, ask me no more questions."
Mallow thought her demeanor strangely suspicious, and wondered
if she was shielding her mother. Mrs. Octagon, who hated
Selina Loach, might have struck the blow, but there was
absolutely no proof of this. Mallow decided to ask nothing,
as Juliet requested. "Tell me what you will, my dear," he
said, "so long as you don't believe me guilty."
"I don't--I don't--really I don't. I picked up the knife
and left the room after ten minutes. I stole up the stairs
and shut the door so quietly that no one heard. You see, the
first time I did not trouble to do that, but when I found that
aunt was dead I was afraid lest the servants should come and
find me there. I fancied, as I had the knife in my hand and
had entered by means of the latch-key, that I might be
suspected. Besides, it would have been difficult to account
for my unexpected presence in the house at that hour."
"I quite comprehend!" said Mallow grimly. "We can't all keep
our heads in these difficult situations. Well?"
"I came out into the garden. I heard the policeman coming
down the lane, and knew I could not escape unobserved that
way. Then if I took the path to the station I fancied he
might see me in the moonlight. I ran across the garden by the
wall and got over the fence amongst the corn, where I lay
concealed. Then I saw you coming round the corner.
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