This belief calmed his anxiety, as he greatly desired
to save Basil Saxon from arrest. Certainly, the young scamp
protested his innocence, and told a plausible tale, but he was
such a liar that Mallow could not be satisfied. He might be
innocent as he said, yet the facts of the visit to the
cottage, the possession of the knife and of the overcoat which
he wore when seen by Juliet, hinted at his guilt. Also the
forged bill and check might implicate him in the matter. Did
Jennings learn of these things, he would certainly arrest
Saxon on suspicion, and, for Juliet's sake, Cuthbert did not
wish such a thing to happen.
It struck Mallow that Hale might have confided in Maraquito,
with whom he was in love. Being unscrupulous, she would
probably use this information, and might threaten to denounce
Basil, to the subsequent disgrace of Juliet, if Cuthbert
refused to marry her. Taking these things into consideration,
Mallow decided that it would be best to pay the visit and
learn what Maraquito had to say.
It was a wild, blustering evening, rainy and damp. When
Mallow stepped out of the door he shivered as the keen wind
whistled down the street. Few people were abroad, as they
preferred, very sensibly, the comfort of a fireside to the
windy, gleaming thoroughfares. Wishing his visit to be as
secret as possible, Mallow walked to Soho and turned into
Golden Square shortly before the appointed hour. He did not
expect a pleasant interview, as Maraquito was an uncivilized
sort of woman with little control over her very violent
emotions.
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