a
plausible excuse he did not know. But Fate gave him a chance which he
was far from expecting. On arriving at the "Shrine of the Muses" he
was informed that Miss Saxon had gone to Rexton. This was natural
enough, since she owned the cottage, but Jennings was inclined to
suspect Juliet from her refusal to marry Cuthbert or to explain her
reason, and saw something suspicious in all she did. He therefore took
the underground railway at once to Rexton, and, alighting at the
station, went to Crooked Lane through the by-path, which ran through
the small wood of pines. On looking at the cottage he saw that the
windows were open, that carpets were spread on the lawn, and that the
door was ajar. It seemed that Mrs. Pill was indulging in the spring
cleaning alluded to by Susan Grant.

At the door Jennings met Mrs. Pill herself, with her arms bare and a
large coarse apron protecting her dress. She was dusty and untidy and
cross. Nor did her temper grow better when she saw the detective, whom
she recognized as having been present at the inquest.

"Whyever 'ave you come 'ere, sir?" asked she. "I'm sure there ain't no
more corpses for you to discover."

"I wish to see Miss Saxon. I was told she was here."

"Well, she is," admitted Mrs. Pill, placing her red arms akimbo, "not
as I feel bound to tell it, me not being in the witness-box. She 'ave
come to see me about my rent. An' you, sir?"

"I wish to speak to Miss Saxon," said Jennings patiently.

Mrs. Pill rubbed her nose and grumbled. "She's up in the attics," said
she, "lookin' at some dresses left by pore Miss Loach, and there ain't
a room in the 'ouse fit to let you sit down in, by reason of no chairs
being about. 'Ave you come to tell me who killed mistress?"

"No! I don't think the assassin will ever be discovered."

"Ah, well. We're all grass," wailed Mrs. Pill; "but if you wish to see
Miss Saxon, see her you will. Come this way to the lower room, an'
I'll go up to the attics."

"Let me go, too, and it will save Miss Saxon coming down," said
Jennings, wishing to take Juliet unawares.

"Ah, now you speaks sense. Legs is legs when stairs are about,
whatever you may say," said Mrs. Pill, leading the way, "an' you'll
excuse me, Mr. Policeman, if I don't stop, me 'avin' a lot of work to
do, as Susan's gone and Geraldine with 'er, not to speak of my 'usbin'
that is to be, he havin' gone to see Mrs. Herne, drat her!"

"Why has he gone to see Mrs. Herne