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The Secret Passage by Fergus Hume
page 83 of 403 (20%)

He could not find an answer to this question. The whole case
was indeed most perplexing. There seemed absolutely no answer
to the riddle. Even supposing Miss Loach had been murdered
out of a long-delayed revenge by a member of the Saul family--
and that theory appeared ridiculous to Mallow--the
question was how did the assassin escape? Certainly, having
regard to the cards still being on the lap of the deceased,
and the closing of the door at a time when the policeman was
not in the vicinity, the assassin may have escaped in that
way. But how did he come to be hidden in the bedroom, and how
did he kill the old lady before she had time to call out or
even rise, seeing that he had the whole length of the room to
cross before reaching her? And again, the escape of the
assassin at this hour did not explain the ringing of the bell.
Cuthbert was deeply interested, and wondered if the mystery
would ever be solved. "I must see Jennings after all," he
thought as the train steamed into Paddington.

And see Jennings he did, sooner than he expected. That same
evening when he was dressing to go out, a card was brought.
It was inscribed "Miles Jennings." Rather surprised that the
detective should seek him out so promptly, Cuthbert entered
his sitting-room. Jennings, who was standing with his back to
the window, saluted him with a pleasant smile, and spoke to
him as to an equal. Of course he had every right to do so
since he had been at school with Mallow, but somehow the
familiarity irritated Cuthbert.

"Well, Jennings, what is it?"
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