ossible," she answered coldly; "unless you were in this
house before the death of my aunt."

"Ah! then it was to Miss Loach you gave it," said Jennings, wondering
how Maraquito had become possessed of it.

"It was; though I do not recognize your right to ask such a question,
Mr. Jennings. My late aunt was very devoted to Mr. Mallow and anxious
that our marriage should take place. He gave me the photograph--"

"With an inscription," put in the detective.

"Certainly," she rejoined, flushing, "with an inscription intended for
me alone. I was unwilling to part with the photograph, but my aunt
begged so eagerly for it that I could not refuse it."

"How did she see it in the first instance?"

"I brought it to show her after Mr. Mallow gave it to me. May I ask
where you saw it?"

Jennings looked at her with marked significance. "I saw it in the
house of a woman called Maraquito."

"And how did it get there?"

"I can't tell you. Do you know this woman?"

"I don't even know her name. Who is she?"

"Her real name is Senora Gredos and she claims to be a Spanish Jewess.
She keeps a kind of gambling salon. To be plain with you, Miss Saxon,
I really did not see the photograph in her house. But a girl called
Susan Grant--"

"I know. My late aunt's parlor-maid."

"Well, the photograph was in her box. I found it when the servants
insisted on their boxes being searched. She confessed that she had
taken it from her last mistress, who was Senora Gredos. As you gave it
to Miss Loach, I should be glad to know how it came into the possession
of this woman."

"I really can't tell you, no more than I can say why Susan took it.
What was her reason?"

"Mr. Mallow is a handsome man--" began Jennings, when she stopped him
with a gesture.

"Do you mean to say--no, I'll never believe it."

"I was not going to say anything against Mallow's character. But this
foolish girl cherished a foolish infatuation for Mallow. She saw him
at Senora Gredos' house--"

"Ah!" said Juliet, turning pale. "I remember now. Basil mentioned
that Cuthbert gambled, but he did not say where."

"Mallow gambled a little at Maraquito's, as did your brother. The only
difference is that Mallow could afford to lose and your brother could
not. Are you sure you never heard the name of Maraquito?"

"Quite sure," said Juliet, meeting his gaze so calmly that he saw she
was speaking the truth. "Well, I understand how you got the
photograph, b