"Have you heard the news?" he said, dropping into a chair and casting a side look at the evening paper which Peter still held.
"If you mean about the death—"
"Yes; Aunt Selina has been murdered. I called to see her this morning, and found the house in the possession of the police. All day I have been down there with Mallow."
"With Cuthbert," said Juliet, starting and growing red. "What was he doing there?"
"He came down to Rexton to see about the unfinished house. Lord Caranby has returned to England, and he has thoughts of pulling it down. Mallow came to have a look at the place."
"But he can't get in. There is a wall round the grounds."
"He climbed over the wall," said Basil, quickly, "and after looking through the house he came out. Then he saw me, and I told him what had happened. He appeared dreadfully shocked."
Juliet shivered in spite of the heat of the day and the fire, near which she was seated. "It is strange he should have been there."
Her brother threw a keen glance at her. "I don't see that!" he exclaimed. "He gave his reason for being in the neighborhood. He came up with me, and is coming on here in a few moments. This is why he did not turn up this afternoon."
Juliet nodded and appeared satisfied with this explanation. But she kept her eyes on her brother when he entered into details about the crime. Her emotions during the recital betrayed themselves markedly.