"Well, I walked about. Sometimes it was
moonlight and at other times the moon would be obscured by
clouds. I struggled to get near the house and succeeded.
Then I saw a man standing in the shadow. At once I went up to
him--he fled. I don't know who it was?"
"I can tell you," said Mallow, quietly, "young Saxon."
"Then why did he fly?"
"He was there with no very good purpose and his conscience
smote the miserable creature," said Cuthbert, "go on--or
will you wait?"
"No! no! no!" said Caranby, vehemently; "if I stop now you
will never know the truth. I don't want anyone else to be
accused of the crime. I know Maraquito hinted that Isabella
Octagon was guilty, but she is not. I don't want even
Isabella to suffer, though she has been a fatal woman to me
and wrecked my life's happiness."
His voice was growing so weak that Yeo gave him more cordial.
After a pause Caranby resumed with a last effort, and very
swiftly, as though he thought his strength would fail him
before he reached the end of his dismal story.
"I followed the man, though I did not know who he was, and
wondered why he should be trespassing. He fled rapidly and I
soon lost him. But when the moonlight was bright I saw that
he had dropped a knife from his pocket. In stooping to pick
it up I lost sight of the man."
"Basil crossed the park and ran away. But he came back for
the knife afterwards," explained Mallow. "Juliet saw him. He
had on my coat.
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