"Because I have proofs."
"Proofs?" Basil dropped back as though he had been shot.
"Yes. I learned from my man that you took the bowie knife
which used to hang on the wall yonder. He saw you take it,
and thought you had received my permission. You went to the
Marlow Theatre with your sister. You left her in the box and
went out after eight o'clock. You went to Rexton to Rose
Cottage. After Clancy left the house your aunt admitted you
and you killed her--"
"I swear I did not!" said Basil, perfectly white and
trembling.
"You did, you liar! Juliet followed you to the cottage."
"Juliet? She did not know I had gone."
"Ah! you see, you were there. Yes, she said she went in order
to try and make it up between your aunt and you. But I
believe now she went to see if you were committing a crime. I
am not aware how much Juliet knows of your wickedness, Basil,
but--"
"She knows only about the forgery. I was not at the cottage."
Mallow made a weary gesture. "Why do you tell these
falsehoods?" he said with scorn. "Juliet entered the cottage
by means of her latch-key. She found Miss Loach dead and the
knife on the floor. You dropped it there. She came out and
saw a man of my height--which you are, and of my appearance
(you are not unlike me at a distance) climbing the wall into
the park. He had on alight overcoat--my overcoat. Juliet
thought I was the man. I did not say no. But the moment she
mentioned the coat I knew it was you.
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