"Whatever do you mean ?" she asked quickly.
"I mean murder, if I must use so vulgar and melodramatic a word." "But I don't understand--" "Bless me," cried Mrs.Octagon, becoming more prosaic than ever, "there is nothing to understand.

But Selina lives in quite a lonely house, and has a lot of money.

I never open the papers but what I expect to read of her death by violence." "Oh," murmured Juliet, again crossing to the window, "you should not talk like that, mother!" Mrs.Octagon laughed good-naturedly.

"Nonsense, child.

I am only telling you my thoughts.