we could only make her speak--"

Cuthbert shook his head. "I fear it's impossible."

"Why not let me arrest you," suggested Jennings, "and then, if at
anytime, she would speak."

"Hang it, no!" cried Mallow in dismay, "that would be too realistic,
Jennings. I don't want it known that I was hanging about the place on
that night. My explanation might not be believed. In any case, people
would throw mud at me, considering I am engaged to the niece of the
dead woman."

"Yes! I can see that. Well," Jennings rose and stretched himself. "I
must see what Susan has to say"; he glanced at his watch; "she should
be here in a few minutes."

A silence ensued which was broken by Jennings. "Oh, by the way," he
said, taking some papers out of his pocket, "I looked up the Saul case."

"Well, what about it?" asked Cuthbert indolently

Jennings referred to his notes. "The Saul family" he said, "seem to
have been a bad lot. There was a mother, a brother and a daughter--"

"Emilia!"

"Just so. They were all coiners. Somewhere in Hampstead they had a
regular factory. Others were mixed up in the matter also, but Mrs.
Saul was the head of the gang. Then Emilia grew tired of the life--I
expect it told on her nerves. She went on the concert platform and met
Caranby. Then she died, as you know. Afterwards the mother and
brother were caught. They bolted. The mother, I believe, died--it was
believed she was poisoned for having betrayed secrets. The brother
went to jail, got out years afterwards on ticket-of-leave, and then
died also. The rest of the gang were put in jail, but I can't say what
became of them."

Cuthbert shrugged his shoulders. "This does not help us much."

"No. But it shows you what an escape your uncle had from marrying the
woman. I can't understand--"

"No more can Caranby," said Mallow, smiling; "he loved Miss Loach, but
Emilia exercised a kind of hypnotic influence over him. However, she
is dead, and I can see no connection between her and this crime."

"Well," said Jennings soberly, "it appears that some other person
besides the mother gave a clue to the breaking up of the gang and the
whereabouts of the factory. Supposing that person was Selina Loach,
who hated Emilia for having taken Caranby from her. One of the gang
released lately from prison may have killed the old lady out of
revenge."

"What! after all these years?"

"Revenge is a passion that grows with years," said Jennings