Even though the weather is hot, I don't
think this can be a case of spontaneous combustion. Probably
some tramp--"
"No," said Jennings decisively, "it is strange you should come
to me with this news. One of my men has lately been here, and
he tells me that a man was arrested near Rexton last night for
passing false money. He had on him a bottle of petroleum and
some rags."
"Ah!" said Caranby, quite serene, "so you think--"
"There can be no doubt about it, my lord. This man set fire
to the house. People don't carry bottles of petroleum about
for nothing."
"But why should he set fire deliberately to my house?"
"At the instance of the Saul family?"
Lord Caranby sat bolt upright. "What do you mean?"
"Humph! It is rather a long story. But this man who was
caught used a particular kind of scent called Hikui.
Maraquito uses it also, and her aunt, Mrs. Herne."
"Mrs. Herne? She is not Maraquito's aunt."
"She told me herself that she was."
"And I tell you that Emilia, who is dead, was the only aunt
Maraquito ever had. Why does Mrs. Herne say this?"
"That is what I am trying to find out. She said that you did
not know the whole history of the Saul family."
"I know quite enough," said Caranby gloomily, "the members
were abominably wicked. Maraquito's father died after he was
discharged from jail for coining; and the mother also."
"Well, my lord, this man, who apparently fired your house, was
trying to pass false coins.
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