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CHAPTER XX
BASIL
While Jennings was thus working at the case, and hoping to
bring it to a successful issue, Cuthbert was resting in the
happy belief that no further steps were being taken. The
detective had appeared so despondent when Mallow called with
Caranby that the former thought with some show of reason that
he meant what he said. Had he known that Jennings was still
active he would have been much disturbed.
Agreeably to Cuthbert's suggestion, Juliet had offered the
money of Miss Loach to her mother. But Mrs. Octagon refused
to be bribed--as she put it--into consenting to the match.
In the presence of Mallow himself, she expressed the greatest
detestation for him and for his uncle, and told Juliet she
would never acknowledge her as a daughter if she married the
young man. The poor girl was thus between two fires--that
of her love for Cuthbert, and that of her mother's hearty
hatred for the Earl and his nephew. Under the circumstances
Cuthbert thought it best to remain away from the "Shrine of
the Muses" for a time until Mrs. Octagon could be brought to
see reason. But she was so obstinate a woman that it was
doubtful if she would ever behave in, an agreeable manner.
Cuthbert returned to his rooms in a rather low state of mind.
He knew that Juliet, whatever happened, would remain true to
him, and had quite hoped to bribe Mrs. Octagon into consenting
by means of the inherited money. But now things seemed more
hopeless than ever.
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