"But, look here," said Mr. Octagon, who had been ruminating; "if, as the doctor says, death was instantaneous, how could your aunt have rung the bell?" 

 "Yes," added Juliet.  "And even had death not taken place at once, it could not have been more than a few minutes before eleven when the blow was struck. Aunt might have had strength to crawl to the bell and touch it, but the assassin could not have escaped from the house, seeing—as you say—the policeman was on guard." 

 "Aunt died instantaneously," insisted Basil. 

 "Then she could not have sounded the bell," said Juliet triumphantly. 

 "The assassin did that," said Peter. 

 "And thus called a witness," cried Basil.  "Ridiculous!" 

 "Then how do you explain the matter?" 

 "I can't explain. Neither can the detective Jennings. It's a mystery." 

 "Could any of the servants—" began Peter. 

 "No," interrupted Saxon.  "The four servants were having supper in the kitchen. They are innocent. Well, we'll see what the inquest reveals. Something may be found before then likely to elucidate the mystery. But here comes Mallow. He questioned Jennings also, so you can question him if you like. Does mother know?" 

 "Yes. And she doesn't want the fact of her relationship to your aunt talked about." 

 Basil understood at once.  "No wonder," he said, shrugging his shoulders.  "It is not a pleasant affair for a woman of mother's celebrity to be mixed up with." 

 Meantime, Juliet having heard the ring at the front door, escaped from the room to see her lover. She met him divesting himself of his overcoat in the hall, and ran to him with outstretched hands.  "But why have you got on an overcoat this warm day?" she asked. 

 "I have a cold. I caught one last night," said Cuthbert, kissing her. 

 "Where were you last night?" asked Juliet, drawing him into a side room.  "I thought you were coming to the Marlow Theatre with Basil and me." 

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