"What do you mean by that phrase?"
"Isabella exercised a bad influence on my life. But for her I should have married Selina and should not have fallen in with Emilia Saul. I should have been happy, and probably Selina would not have met with her tragic death."
"Do you think the sister has anything to do with it?"
"I can't say. All I know is that whomsoever Isabella came into contact with had trouble. I do well to call her a fatal woman."
"Humph!" said Jennings, "I would rather call Maraquito a fatal woman, as I believe she brought about the death in some way for the double purpose of silencing Miss Loach regarding the factory of coins and of stopping the marriage of her rival with Cuthbert."
Curiously enough, Cuthbert was shown into the room at this moment. So interested had Caranby and Jennings been in their conversation that they had not heard the bell. Mallow looked in good health, but his face wore a worried expression. Without preamble, and after greeting his uncle, he walked up to his friend.
"Jennings," he said calmly, "I have seen Juliet, and she agrees with me that this case should not be gone on with."
"Ah! does she, and on what grounds?"
"Because she has consented to marry me. She intends, at my request, to make over Miss Loach's money to her mother. We have had quite enough dabbling in crime, and we are both sick of it."
"I think you are very wise," said Caranby unexpectedly, "let the case be, Mr. Jennings."