it?"

"I don't want to say," murmured the girl.

"But you must say," said Mallow angrily. "I order you to confess."

"I kept silent for your sake, sir," she said, her eyes filled with
tears, "but if you must know, I took the portrait from Senora Gredos'
dressing-room when I left her house. And I left it on your account,
sir," she finished defiantly.

CHAPTER X

THE PARLOR-MAID'S STORY

On hearing the confession of the girl, both men looked at one another
in amazement. How could Cuthbert's photograph have come into the
possession of Senora Gredos, and why had Susan Grant stolen it? And
again, why did she hint that she had held her tongue about the matter
for the sake of Mallow? Jennings at once proceeded to get at the truth.
While being examined Susan wept, with an occasional glance at the
bewildered Cuthbert.

"You were with Maraquito as parlor-maid?"

"With Senora Gredos? Yes, sir, for six months."

"Do you know what went on in that house?"

Susan ceased her sobs and stared. "I don't know what you mean," she
said, looking puzzled. "It was a gay house, I know; but there was
nothing wrong that I ever saw, save that I don't hold with cards being
played on Sunday."

"And on every other night of the week," muttered Jennings. "Did you
ever hear Senora Gredos called Maraquito?"

"Sometimes the gentlemen who came to play cards called her by that
name. But she told her maid, who was my friend, that they were old
friends of hers. And I think they were sorry for poor Senora Gredos,
sir," added Miss Grant, naively, "as she suffered so much with her
back. You know, she rarely moved from her couch. It was always
wheeled into the room where the gambling took place."

"Ah. You knew that gambling went on," said Jennings, snapping her up
sharply. "Don't you know that is against the law?"

"No, sir. Do you know?"

Cuthbert could not restrain a laugh. "That's one for you, Jennings,"
said he, nodding, "you often went to the Soho house."

"I had my reasons for saying nothing," replied the detective hastily.
"You may be sure I could have ended the matter at once had I spoken to
my chief about it. As it was, I judged it best to let matters remain
as they were, so long as the house was respectably conducted."

"I'm sure it was conducted well, sir," said Susan, who appeared rather
indignant. "Senora Gredos was a most respectable lady."

"She lived alone always, I believe?"

"Yes, sir." Then Sus