He uses the same scent as
Maraquito does, leaving mysterious Mrs. Herne out of the
question."
"Well, and what do you deduce from that?"
"I believe that there is a gang of coiners in existence, of
which this man, Clancy, Hale, Maraquito and Mrs. Herne are
members. All use the scent Hikui, which probably is a sign
amongst them. In what way it is utilized I cannot say, unless
they meet one another in the dark, and recognize their
confreres by the scent."
"I see. It might be so. But why should this man burn my
house?"
Jennings shrugged his shoulders. "I can hardly say. I think
the coiners used that house as a factory. But since it is
burnt down, that seems impossible. This man may have fired it
out of revenge, on account of some row with the gang."
"Or else," said Caranby deliberately, "knowing that you were
going to search the house, perhaps it was fired to destroy all
traces of the factory. Do you connect this with Selina's
death?"
"I do. I believe that she learned of the existence of the
factory, and that she threatened to denounce Clancy, Hale and
Mrs. Herne. Then, to silence her, she was stabbed."
"But the three you mention were out of the house before the
death."
"I know that, and they gave their evidence freely enough at
the inquest. I have not yet fitted the pieces of the puzzle
into one another, but I am certain the lot are connected from
their use of the perfume. Also, as this man who has been
caught was passing false money, and as Maraquito and probably
Mrs.
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