"Hum," thought Jennings, "so you have been here before and you have kept the door locked on account of the knife probably," but he looked smilingly at the girl all the time. "I am sorry," he said, when she desisted from her examination. "It's my fault," said Juliet unsuspiciously, and closed the door. She led the way along the passage and down the stairs. "Who are you?" she asked, turning round half way down. "I am a friend of Mallow's," said the detective. "I have never met you?" "Yet I have been to your house, Miss Saxon. Perhaps my name, Miles Jennings, may--" The girl started with a cry. "You are a detective!" she gasped. CHAPTER XIV MRS. OCTAGON EXPLAINS The young girl leaned against the wall, white, and with closed eyes. Alarmed by her appearance, Jennings would have assisted her, but she waved him off and staggered down the stairs. By a powerful effort she managed to subdue her feelings, and when in the hall turned to him with a sickly smile. "I am glad to see you," she said. "Mr. Mallow has often spoken to you of me. You are his friend, I know." "His best friend, in spite of the difference in our position." "Oh," Juliet waved that objection aside, "I know you are a gentleman and took up this work merely as a hobby." "I fear not," smiled Jennings. "To make money." "Not in a very pleasant way. However, as you are Mr. Mallow's friend, I am glad you have this case in hand," she fixed her eyes on the detective. "Have you discovered anything?" she asked anxiously. "Nothing much," replied Jennings, who rapidly decided to say nothing about his discovery of the knife. "I fear the truth will never be found out, Miss Saxon. I suppose you have no idea?" "I," she said, coloring, "what put such a thing into your head? I am absolutely ignorant of the truth. Did you come to ask me about--" "That amongst other things," interrupted Jennings, seeing Mrs. Pill's bulky figure at the door. "Can we not talk in some quieter place?" "Come downstairs," said Juliet, moving, "but the rooms are unfurnished as Mrs. Pill is cleaning them. The house is quiet enough." "So I see," said the detective, following his companion down to the basement, "only yourself and Mrs. Pill." "And my mother," she answered. "We came here to see about some business connected with the letting of the cottage. My mother is lying down in the old part of the house. Do you wish to see her?" "No. I wish to see you."