But Mrs.Octagon may have pushed her off." "May have murdered her in fact." "Quite so.

Isabella loved me, and was, and is, a very violent woman.
It may be that she pushed Emilia off the plank, and Maraquito, through her dead father, may have learned the truth.

This would give her a hold over Mrs.Octagon." "But Selina may have killed Emilia.

That would explain her hermit life, inexplicable in any other way." "No," said Caranby in a shaking voice, "I am sure the woman I loved would never have behaved in that way.

Isabella killed Emilia--if it was a murder--and then threatened to denounce Selina unless she gave up the idea of marrying me.