Cuthbert was considerably perplexed by the attitude of
Juliet's mother. She had always been more than kind to him.
On the announcement that he wished to marry her daughter, she
had expressed herself well pleased, and during the engagement,
which had lasted some six months, she had received him as
Juliet's intended husband, with almost ostentatious delight.
Now, for some inexplicable reason, she suddenly changed her
mind and declined to explain. But rack his brains as he
might, Cuthbert could not see how the death of a sister she
had quarrelled with, and to whom she had been a stranger for
so long, could affect the engagement.

However, there was no doubt in his mind that the refusal of
Mrs. Octagon to approve of the marriage lay in the fact that
her sister had met with a violent end. Therefore Mallow was
determined to see Jennings, and help him to the best of his
ability to discover the assassin. When the criminal was
brought to justice, either Mrs. Octagon's opposition would be
at an end, or the true reason for its existence would be
revealed. Meantime, he was sure that she would keep Juliet
out of his way, and that in future he would be refused
admittance to the "Shrine of the Muses." This was annoying,
but so long as Juliet remained true, Cuthbert thought he could
bear the exclusion. His betrothed--as he still regarded the
girl--could meet him in the Park, at the houses of mutual
friends, and in a thousand and one places which a clever woman
like her could think of. And although Cuthbert knew that Mrs.
Octagon had frequently regretted the refusal of her daughter
to marry Arkwright, and would probably try and induce her to
do so now that matters stood thus, yet he was not afraid in