"Ah! It was you opening the door that Thomas heard."
"Yes! At half-past ten; I had a latch-key. Aunt Selina loved me very much and wanted me to come and see her whenever I could. So that I could come and go at pleasure without troubling the servants, she gave me a latch-key. I happened to have it in my pocket. I really wished to see her about this quarrel she had with Basil."
"What was this quarrel about?"
Juliet deliberated before replying. "It was a small thing," she said at length. "Aunt Selina was fond of Basil and often gave him money. Mr. Octagon doesn't allow Basil much, and mother has enough to do to make both ends meet. Basil is, I fear, extravagant. I know he gambles, though he never told me where he went—"
"To Maraquito's," said Cuthbert. "I have met him there."
"I know," said Juliet in rather a reproachful tone. "I wish you would not gamble, Cuthbert."
"I have given it up now. I only played for the excitement, but since our engagement I have hardly touched a card. I shall not play for money again. My visits to Maraquito's now are purely in the interests of this case."
"Does she know anything about it?" asked Juliet, astonished.
"Yes," replied Mallow, wondering if the girl knew that Mrs. Octagon had paid a visit to Senora Gredos. "Mrs. Herne, who was your aunt's friend, is the aunt of Senora Gredos."
"I never knew that. But about this quarrel. Basil spent more money than he could afford, poor boy—"