"The way in which you made it is not creditable," said Caranby.
"Bah!" she sneered. "I did not come here to hear you talk morality, Lord Caranby. You were no saint in your young days. I have heard all about you."
"From whom?"
"From my Aunt Emilia."
"I scarcely think that. You were but a child when she died."
"She did not die," said Maraquito coldly. "I have come to tell you that she lived as Miss Loach at Rose Cottage."
Caranby started to his feet. "What is this you tell me?"
"The truth. Emilia is dead now, but she lived alone for many a long day. I knew that Selina Loach was my aunt, and," Maraquito looked at him with piercing eyes, "Mrs. Octagon knew also."
By this time Caranby had recovered from his emotion. "There is nothing bad I don't expect to hear of Isabella Octagon," he said, "so this then was why she visited you?"
"Yes. I ordered her to come by threatening to reveal what she knew to the police. I could have done so by an anonymous letter. She came and then I forced her to promise to stop the marriage. I may as well add that I wrote insisting on the marriage being stopped as soon as Emilia died."