And if you come back to England,
look out."
CHAPTER XXI
AN EXPERIMENT
Next day Cuthbert received a letter from Jennings. It
intimated that Maraquito wished to see him that evening. "If
you will call at nine o'clock," wrote the detective, "she will
be alone. The police have decided to close the
gambling-house, and she is making preparations to leave
England. I understand she has something to tell you in
connection with the death of Miss Loach, which it is as well
you should hear. A confession on her part may save you a lot
of trouble in the future."
Mallow hesitated to obey this summons. He thought it was
strange that Maraquito should get the detective to write to
him, as he knew she mistrusted the man. And, apart from this,
he had no wish to see Senora Gredos again. Things were now
smooth between him and Juliet--comparatively so--and it
would not do to rouse the girl's jealousy. Maraquito was a
dangerous woman, and if he paid her a solitary visit, he might
fall into some snare which she was quite capable of laying.
Such was her infatuation, that he knew she would stop at
nothing to gain her ends.
On the other hand, Maraquito, to all appearances, knew of
something in connection with the case which it behooved him to
learn if he wished for peace in the future. So far as Mallow
knew, the matter was at an end. He believed that Jennings had
shelved the affair, and that no further inquiries would be
made.
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