"Mrs. Octagon can tell you!" said the woman significantly.
"Do you mean to say—"
"I say nothing. Emilia came to the factory and went out into the open air by another exit to see if anyone was about. She never returned and Hale and I went in search of her. We found her dead, and—"
"I know all this. Hale confessed it. But he does not know who killed her. Do you?"
"I can't say for certain. But I suspect Mrs. Octagon stabbed her."
"But how could Mrs. Octagon get the knife?"
"Basil got that from Mallow's room. He gave it to his mother, and—"
"This is all theory," said Caranby angrily, "you have no grounds."
"None at all," replied Maraquito calmly, "but if anyone had a wish to kill my aunt, Mrs. Octagon had. Emilia kept a tight hold over that woman, and made her do what she wished."
"About the marriage?"