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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26063-8.txt b/26063-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7fb3a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/26063-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10049 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Coin of Edward VII, by Fergus Hume + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Coin of Edward VII + A Detective Story + + +Author: Fergus Hume + + + +Release Date: July 15, 2008 [eBook #26063] +Most recently updated: May 12, 2010 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Annie McGuire, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 26063-h.htm or 26063-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063/26063-h/26063-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063/26063-h.zip) + + + + + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +by + +FERGUS HUME + + * * * * * * + +Popular Novels by Fergus Hume + + +THE SECRET PASSAGE + +The _Albany Evening Journal_ says: "Fully as interesting as his former +books, and keeps one guessing to the end. The story begins with the +murder of an old lady, with no apparent cause for the crime, and in +unraveling the mystery the author is very clever in hiding the real +criminal. A pleasing romance runs through the book, which adds to the +interest." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE YELLOW HOLLY + +_The Philadelphia Public Ledger_ says: "'The Yellow Holly' outdoes any +of his earlier stories. It is one of those tales that the average reader +of fiction of this sort thinks he knows all about after he has read the +first few chapters. Those who have become admirers of Mr. Hume cannot +afford to miss 'The Yellow Holly.'" 12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +_The Philadelphia Item_ says: "This book is quite up to the level of the +high standard which Mr. Hume has set for himself in 'The Mystery of a +Hansom Cab' and 'The Rainbow Feather.' It is a brilliant, stirring +adventure, showing the author's prodigious inventiveness, his well of +imagination never running dry." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE PAGAN'S CUP + +_The Nashville American_ says: "The plot is intricate with mystery and +probability neatly dovetailed and the solution is a series of surprises +skillfully retarded to whet the interest of the reader. It is +excellently written and the denouement so skillfully concealed that +one's interest and curiosity are kept on edge till the very last. It +will certainly be a popular book with a very large class of readers." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE MANDARIN'S FAN + +_The Nashville American_ says: "The book is most attractive and +thoroughly novel in plot and construction. The mystery of the curious +fan, and its being the key to such wealth and power is decidedly +original and unique. Nearly every character in the book seems possible +of accusation. It is just the sort of plot in which Hume is at his best. +It is a complex tangle, full of splendid climaxes. Few authors have a +charm equal to that of Mr. Hume's mystery tales." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + * * * * * * + +[Illustration: "HE SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN LYING FACE DOWNWARD ON THE +SNOW."--_Page 45._] + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +A Detective Story + +by + +FERGUS HUME + +Author of +"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab"; "The Pagan's Cup"; +"Claude Duval of 95"; "The Rainbow Feather," Etc. + + + + + + + +G. W. Dillingham Company +Publishers New York + +Copyright, 1903, By +G. W. Dillingham Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAP. PAGE + + I. THE CHRISTMAS TREE 7 + + II. AN ANONYMOUS LETTER 16 + + III. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR 26 + + IV. THE CHURCHYARD 37 + + V. AFTERWARDS 46 + + VI. THE CASE AGAINST ANNE 55 + + VII. OLIVER MORLEY 65 + + VIII. THE IRONY OF FATE 74 + + IX. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 84 + + X. ON A FRESH TRAIL 96 + + XI. PRINCESS KARACSAY 106 + + XII. MRS. PARRY'S TEA 118 + + XIII. MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS 129 + + XIV. TREASURE TROVE 139 + + XV. AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW 148 + + XVI. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 159 + + XVII. PART OF THE TRUTH 169 + + XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 180 + + XIX. THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON 190 + + XX. MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP 201 + + XXI. A STORY OF THE PAST 212 + + XXII. OLGA'S EVIDENCE 223 + + XXIII. MARK DANE 233 + + XXIV. A RAT IN A CORNER 245 + + XXV. A CATASTROPHE 259 + + XXVI. THE END OF THE TROUBLE 272 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + +Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger--a +colonial cousin of the elder--was listening eagerly to gossip which +dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in +particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the +children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree, +provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too +interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention. + +"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue +and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none +of his own." + +"But those three pretty little girls?" said Mrs. McKail, who was fat, +fair, and considerably over forty. + +"Triplets," replied the other, sinking her voice. "The only case of +triplets I have met with, but not his children. No, Mrs. Morley was a +widow with triplets and money. Morley married her for the last, and had +to take the first as part of the bargain. I don't deny but what he does +his duty by the three." + +Mrs. McKail's keen grey eyes wander to the fat, rosy little man who +laughingly struggled amidst a bevy of children, the triplets included. +"He seems fond of them," said she, nodding. + +"Seems!" emphasised Mrs. Parry shrewdly. "Ha! I don't trust the man. If +he were all he seems, would his wife's face wear that expression? No, +don't tell me." + +Mrs. Morley was a tall, lean, serious woman, dressed in sober grey. She +certainly looked careworn, and appeared to participate in the +festivities more as a duty than for the sake of amusement. "He is said +to be a good husband," observed Mrs. McKail doubtfully. "Are you sure?" + +"I'm sure of nothing where men are concerned. I wouldn't trust one of +them. Morley is attentive enough to his wife, and he adores the +triplets--so he says; but I go by his eye. Orgy is written in that eye. +It can pick out a pretty woman, my dear. Oh, his wife doesn't look sick +with anxiety for nothing!" + +"At any rate, he doesn't seem attentive to that pretty girl over +there--the one in black with the young man." + +"Girl! She's twenty-five if she's an hour. I believe she paints and puts +belladonna in her eyes. I wouldn't have her for my governess. No, she's +too artful, though I can't agree with you about her prettiness." + +"Is she the governess?" + +Mrs. Parry nodded, and the ribbons on her cap curled like Medusa's +snakes. "For six months Mrs. Morley has put up with her. She teaches the +Tricolor goodness knows what." + +"The Tricolor?" + +"So we call the triplets. Don't you see one is dressed in red, another +in white, and the third in blue? Morley's idea, I believe. As though a +man had any right to interest himself in such things. We call them +collectively the Tricolor, and Anne Denham is the governess. Pretty? No. +Artful? Yes. See how she is trying to fascinate Ware!" + +"That handsome young man with the fair moustache and----" + +"The same," interrupted Mrs. Parry, too eager to blacken character to +give her friend a chance of concluding her sentence. "Giles Ware, of +Kingshart--the head of one of our oldest Essex families. He came into +the estates two years ago, and has settled down into a country squire +after a wild life. But the old Adam is in him, my dear. Look at his +smile--and she doesn't seem to mind. Brazen creature!" And Mrs. Parry +shuddered virtuously. + +The other lady thought that Ware had a most fascinating smile, and was a +remarkably handsome young man of the fair Saxon type. He certainly +appeared to be much interested in the conversation of Miss Denham. But +what young man could resist so beautiful a woman? For in spite of Mrs. +Parry's disparagement Anne was a splendidly handsome brunette--"with a +temper," added Mrs. McKail mentally, as she eyed the well-suited couple. + +Mrs. Parry's tongue still raged like a prairie fire. "And she knows he's +engaged," she snorted. "Look at poor Daisy Kent out in the cold, while +that woman monopolizes Ware! Ugh!" + +"Is Miss Kent engaged to Mr. Ware?" + +"For three years they have been engaged--a family arrangement, I +understand. The late Kent and the late Ware," explained Mrs. Parry, who +always spoke thus politely of men, "were the greatest of friends, which +I can well understand, as each was an idiot. However, Ware died first +and left his estate to Giles. A few months later Kent died and made +Morley the guardian of his daughter Daisy, already contracted to be +married to Giles." + +"Does he love her?" + +"Oh, he's fond of her in a way, and he is anxious to obey the last wish +of his father. But it seems to me that he is more in love with that +black cat." + +"Hush! You will be heard." + +Mrs. Parry snorted. "I hope so, and by the cat herself," she said +grimly. "I can't bear the woman. If I were Mrs. Morley I'd have her out +of the house in ten minutes. Turn her out in the snow to cool her hot +blood. What right has she to attract Ware and make him neglect that dear +angel over there? See, yonder is Daisy. There's a face, there's charm, +there's hair!" finished Mrs. Parry, quite unconscious that she was using +the latest London slang. "I call her a lovely creature." + +Mrs. McKail did not agree with her venomous cousin. Daisy was a +washed-out blonde with large blue eyes and a slack mouth. Under a hot +July sky and with a flush of color she would have indeed been pretty; +but the cold of winter and the neglect of Giles Ware shrivelled her up. +In spite of the warmth of the room, the gaiety of the scene, she looked +pinched and older than her years. But there was some sort of character +in her face, for Mrs. McKail caught her directing a glance full of +hatred at the governess. In spite of her ethereal prettiness, Daisy Kent +was a good hater. Mrs. McKail felt sure of that. "And she is much more +of the cat type than the other one is," thought the observant lady, too +wise to speak openly. + +However, Mrs. Parry still continued to destroy a character every time +she opened her mouth. She called the rector a Papist; hinted that the +doctor's wife was no better than she should be; announced that Morley +owed money to his tradesmen, that he had squandered his wife's fortune; +and finally wound up by saying that he would spend Daisy Kent's money +when he got it. "If it ever does come to her," finished this amiable +person. + +"Did her father leave her money?" asked Mrs. McKail. + +"He!" snapped the other; "my dear, he was as poor as a church mouse, and +left Daisy only a hundred a year to live on. That is the one decent +thing about Morley. He did take Daisy in, and he does treat her well, +though to be sure she is a pretty girl, and, as I say, he has an eye." + +"Then where does the fortune come from?" + +"Kent was a half-brother who went out to America, and it is rumored that +he made a fortune, which he intends to leave to his niece--that's Daisy. +But I don't know all the details of this," added Mrs. Parry, rubbing her +beaky nose angrily; "I must find out somehow. But here, my dear, those +children are stripping the tree. Let us assist. We must give pleasure to +the little ones. I have had six of my own, all married," ended the good +lady irrelevantly. + +She might have added that her four sons and two daughters kept at a safe +distance from their respected parent. On occasions she did pay a visit +to one or the other, and usually created a disturbance. Yet this +spiteful, mischief-making woman read her Bible, thought herself a +Christian, and judged others as harshly as she judged herself leniently. +Mrs. McKail was stopping with her, therefore could not tell her what she +thought of her behavior; but she privately determined to cut short her +visit and get away from this disagreeable old creature. In the meantime +Mrs. Parry, smiling like the wicked fairy godmother with many teeth, +advanced to meddle with the Christmas tree and set the children by the +ears. She was a perfect Atê. + +Giles said as much to Miss Denham, and she nervously agreed with him as +though fearful lest her assent should reach the ears of Mrs. Parry. +"She has no love for me," whispered Anne. "I think you had better talk +to Daisy, Mr. Ware." + +"I prefer to talk to you," said Giles coolly. "Daisy is like her name--a +sweet little English meadow flower--and I love her very dearly. But she +has never been out of England, and sometimes we are at a loss what to +talk about. Now you?" + +"I am a gipsy," interrupted Anne, lest he should say something too +complimentary; "a she-Ulysses, who has travelled far and wide. In spite +of your preference for my conversation, I wish I were Daisy." + +"Do you?" asked Ware eagerly. "Why?" + +Anne flushed and threw back her head proudly. She could not altogether +misunderstand his meaning or the expression of his eyes, but she strove +to turn the conversation with a laugh. "You ask too many questions, Mr. +Ware," she said coldly. "I think Daisy is one of the sweetest of girls, +and I envy her. To have a happy home, a kind guardian as Mr. Morley is, +and a----" She was about to mention Giles, but prudently suppressed the +remark. + +"Go on," he said quietly, folding his arms. + +She shook her head and bit her lip. "You keep me from my work. I must +attend to my duties. A poor governess, you know." With a laugh she +joined the band of children, who were besieging Morley. + +Giles remained where he was, his eyes fixed moodily on the ground. For +more than five months he had fought against an ever-growing passion for +the governess. He knew that he was in honor bound to marry Daisy, and +that she loved him dearly, yet his heart was with Anne Denham. Her +beauty, her brilliant conversation, her charm of manner, all appealed to +him strongly. And he had a shrewd suspicion that she was not altogether +indifferent to him, although she loyally strove to hide her true +feelings. Whenever he became tender, she ruthlessly laughed at him: she +talked constantly of Daisy and of her many charms, and on every occasion +strove to throw her into the company of Giles. She managed to do so on +this occasion, for Giles heard a rather pettish voice at his elbow, and +looked down to behold a flushed face. Daisy was angry, and looked the +prettier for her anger. + +"You have scarcely spoken to me all night," she said, taking his arm; "I +do think you are unkind." + +"My dear, you have been so busy with the children. And, indeed," he +added, with a grave smile, "you are scarcely more than a child yourself, +Daisy." + +"I am woman enough to feel neglect." + +"I apologize--on my knees, dearest." + +"Oh, it's easy saying so," pouted Daisy, "but you know Anne----" + +"What about Miss Denham?" asked Giles, outwardly calm. + +"You like her." + +"She is a very charming woman, but you are to be my wife. Jealous little +girl, can I not be ordinarily civil to Miss Denham without you getting +angry?" + +"You need not be so _very_ civil." + +"I won't speak to her at all if you like," replied Ware, with a fine +assumption of carelessness. + +"Oh, if you only wouldn't," Daisy stopped--then continued passionately, +"I wish she would go away. I don't like her." + +"She is fond of you, Daisy." + +"Yes. And a cat is fond of a mouse. Mrs. Parry says----" + +"Don't quote that odious woman, child," interrupted Ware sharply. "She +has a bad word for everyone." + +"Well, she doesn't like Anne." + +"Does she like anyone?" asked Giles coolly. "Come, Daisy, don't wrinkle +your face, and I'll take you out for a drive in my motor-car in a few +days." + +"To-morrow! to-morrow!" cried Daisy, her face wreathed in smiles. + +"No. I daren't do that on Christmas Day. What would the rector say? As +the lord of the manor I must set an example. On Boxing Day if you like." + +"We will go alone?" + +"Certainly. Who do you expect me to ask other than you?" + +"Anne," said Daisy spitefully, and before he could reply she also moved +away to join the children. Giles winced. He felt that he was in the +wrong and had given his little sweetheart some occasion for jealousy. He +resolved to mend his ways and shun the too fascinating society of the +enchantress. Shaking off his moody feeling, he came forward to assist +Morley. The host was a little man, and could not reach the gifts that +hung on the topmost boughs of the tree. Giles being tall and having a +long reach of arm, came to his aid. + +"That's right, that's right," gasped Morley, his round face red and +shining with his exertions, "the best gifts are up here." + +"As the best gifts of man are from heaven," put in Mrs. Parry, with her +usual tact. + +Morley laughed. "Quite so, quite so," he said, careful as was everyone +else not to offend the lady, "but on this occasion we can obtain the +best gifts. I and Ware and Mrs. Morley have contributed to the tree. The +children have their presents, now for the presents of the grown-ups." + +By this time the children were gorged with food and distracted by many +presents. They were seated everywhere, many on the floor, and the room +was a chaos of dolls, trumpets, toy-horses, and drums. The chatter of +the children and the noise of the instruments was fearful. But Morley +seemed to enjoy the riot, and even his wife's grave face relaxed when +she saw her three precious jewels rosy with pleasure. She drew Anne's +attention to them, and the governess smiled sympathetically. Miss Denham +was popular with everyone save Daisy in that happy home. + +Meantime Giles handed down the presents. Mrs. Morley received a chain +purse from her affectionate husband; Mrs. Parry a silver cream-jug, +which she immediately priced as cheap; Mrs. McKail laughed delightedly +over a cigarette-case, which she admitted revealed her favorite vice; +and the rector was made happy with a motor-bicycle. + +"It has been taken to your house this evening," explained Morley. "We +couldn't put that on the tree. Ha! ha!" + +"A muff-chain for Daisy," said Giles, presenting her with the packet, +"and I hope you will like it, dear." + +"Did you buy it?" she asked, sparkling and palpitating. + +"Of course. I bought presents both for you and Miss Denham. Here is +yours," he added, turning to the governess, who grew rosy, "a very +simple bangle. I wish it were more worthy of your acceptance," and he +handed it with a bow. + +Daisy, her heart filled with jealousy, glided away. Giles saw her face, +guessed her feeling, and followed. In a corner he caught her, and placed +something on her finger. "Our engagement ring," he whispered, and Daisy +once more smiled. Her lover smiled also. But his heart was heavy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +AN ANONYMOUS LETTER + + +After the riot of the evening came the silence of the night. The +children departed amidst the stormy laughter of Morley, and it was +Anne's task to see that the triplets were put comfortably to bed. She +sat in the nursery, and watched the washing and undressing and +hair-curling, and listened to their joyous chatter about the wonderful +presents and the wonderful pleasures of that day. Afterwards, when they +were safely tucked away, she went down to supper and received the +compliments of Morley on her capability in entertaining children. Mrs. +Morley also, and in a more genuine way, added her quota of praise. + +"You are my right hand, Miss Denham," she said, with a smile in her +weary blue eyes. "I don't know what I shall do without you." + +"Oh, Miss Denham is not going," said the master of the house. + +"Who knows?" smiled Anne. "I have always been a wanderer, and it may be +that I shall be called away suddenly." + +It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to ask by whom, but the hardening +of Anne's face and the flash of her dark eyes made him change his mind. +All the same he concluded that there was someone by whom she might be +summoned and guessed also that the obeying of the call would come as an +unwilling duty. Mrs. Morley saw nothing of this. She had not much brain +power, and what she had was devoted to considerations dealing with the +passing hour. At the present moment she could only think that it was +time for supper, and that all present were hungry and tired. + +Hungry Anne certainly was not, but she confessed to feeling weary. +Making some excuse she retired to her room, but not to sleep. When the +door was locked she put on her dressing-gown, shook down her long black +hair, and sat by the fire. + +Her thoughts were not pleasant. Filled with shame at the knowledge of +his treachery towards the woman he was engaged to marry, Giles had kept +close to Daisy's side during supper and afterwards. He strove to +interest himself in her somewhat childish chatter, and made her so happy +by his mere presence that her face was shining with smiles. Transfigured +by love and by gratified vanity, Daisy looked really pretty, and in her +heart was scornful of poor Anne thus left out in the cold. She concluded +that Giles loved her best after all, and did not see how he every now +and then stealthily glanced at the governess wearily striving to +interest herself in the breezy conversation of Morley or the domestic +chatter of his wife. In her heart Anne had felt a pang at this +desertion, although she knew that it was perfectly justifiable, and +unable to bear the sight of Daisy's brilliant face, she retired thus +early. + +She loved Giles. It was no use blinking the fact. She loved him with +every fibre of her nature, and with a passion far stronger than could be +felt for him by the golden-haired doll with the shallow eyes. For Giles +she would have lost the world, but she would not have him lose his for +her. And, after all, she had no right to creep like a serpent into the +Eden of silly, prattling Daisy. In her own puny way the child--for she +was little else--adored Giles, and as he was her affianced lover it +would be base to come between her and her god. But Anne knew in her +heart that Giles loved her best. If she did but lift her hand he would +leave all and follow her to the world's end. But lift her hand she would +not. It would be too cruel to break the butterfly Daisy on such a +painful wheel. Anne loved sufficiently to be large and generous in her +nature, and therefore broke her own heart to spare the breaking of +another woman's. Certainly Giles was as unhappy as she was; that was +patent in his looks and bearing. But he had forged his own chains, and +could not break them without dishonor. And come what may, Giles would +always love her best. + +Anne's meditations were disturbed by a knock at the door. Glancing at +the clock, she saw it was close on midnight, and wondering who wished to +see her at so late an hour, she opened the door. Daisy, in a blue +dressing-gown, with her golden hair loose and her face flushed, entered +the room. She skipped towards Anne with a happy laugh, and threw her +arms round her neck. + +"I could not sleep without telling you how happy I am," she said, and +with a look of triumph displayed the ring. + +Anne's heart beat violently at this visible sign of the barrier between +her and Giles. However, she was too clever a woman to betray her +emotion, and examined the ring with a forced smile. + +"Diamonds for your eyes, rubies for your lips," she said softly. "A very +pretty fancy." + +Daisy was annoyed. She would rather that Anne had betrayed herself by +some rude speech, or at least by a discomposed manner. To make her heart +ache Daisy had come, and from all she could see she had not +accomplished her aim. However, she still tried to wring some sign of +emotion from the expression or lips of the calm governess. + +"Giles promised me a ring over and over again," she said, her eyes fixed +on Anne. "We have been engaged for over six months. He asked me just +before you came, although it was always an understood thing. His father +and mine arranged the engagement, you know. I didn't like the idea at +first, as I wanted to make my own choice. Every girl should, I think. +Don't you?" + +"Certainly," Anne forced herself to say, "but you love Mr. Ware." + +Daisy nodded. "Very, very much," she assented emphatically. "I must have +loved him without knowing it, but I was only certain when he asked me to +marry him. How lucky it is he has to make me his wife!" she sighed. "If +he were not bound----" Here she stopped suddenly, and looked into the +other woman's eyes. + +"What nonsense!" said Anne good-humoredly, and more composed than ever. +"Mr. Ware loves you dearly. You are the one woman he would choose for +his wife. There is no compulsion about his choice, my dear." + +"Do you really think so?" demanded the girl feverishly. "I thought--it +was the ring, you know." + +"What do you mean, Daisy?" + +"He never would give me the ring, although I said it was ridiculous for +a girl to be engaged without one. He always made some excuse, and only +to-night---- But I have him safe now," she added, with a fierce +abruptness, "and I'll keep him." + +"Nobody wants to take him from you, dear." + +"Do you really think so?" said Miss Kent again. "Then why did he delay +giving me the ring?" + +Anne knew well enough. After her first three meetings with Giles she had +seen the love light in his eyes, and his reluctance to bind himself +irrevocably with the ring was due to a hope that something might happen +to permit his choosing for himself. But nothing had happened, the age of +miracles being past, and the vow to his dead father bound him. Therefore +on this very night he had locked his shackles and had thrown away the +key. Anne had made it plain to him that she could not, nor would she, +help him to play a dishonorable part. He had accepted his destiny, and +now Daisy asked why he had not accepted it before. Anne made a feeble +excuse, the best she could think of. + +"Perhaps he did not see a ring pretty enough," she said. + +"It might be that," replied Daisy reflectively. "Giles has such good +taste. You did not show me what he gave you to-night." + +Miss Denham would rather not have shown it, but she had no excuse to +refuse a sight of the gift. Without a word she slipped the bangle from +her wrist--Daisy's jealous eyes noted that she had kept it on till +now--and handed it to the girl. + +"Oh, how sweet and pretty!" she cried, with artificial cordiality. "Just +a ring of gold with a coin attached. May I look?" And without waiting +for permission she ran to the lamp. + +The coin was a half-sovereign of Edward VII., with three stones--a +diamond, an amethyst, and a pearl--set in a triangle. A thin ring of +gold attached it to the bangle. Daisy was not ill pleased that the gift +was so simple. Her engagement ring was much more costly. + +"It's a cheap thing," she said contemptuously. "The coin is quite +common." + +"It will be rare some day," said Anne, slipping the bangle on her wrist. +"The name of the King is spelt on this one 'Edwardus,' whereas in the +Latin it should be 'Edvardus.' I believe the issue is to be called in. +Consequently coins of this sort will be rare some day. It was kind of +Mr. Ware to give it to me." + +Daisy paid no attention to this explanation. "An amethyst, a diamond, +and a pearl," she said. "Why did he have those three stones set in the +half-sovereign?" + +Anne turned away her face, for it was burning red. She knew very well +what the stones signified, but she was not going to tell this jealous +creature. Daisy's wits, however, were made keen by her secret anger, and +after a few moments of thought she jumped up, clapping her hands. + +"I see it--the initials of your name. Amethyst stands for Anne and +Diamond for Denham." + +"It might be so," replied Miss Denham coldly. + +"It is so," said Daisy, her small face growing white and pinched. "But +what does the pearl mean? Ah, that you are a pearl!" + +"Nonsense, Daisy. Go you to bed, and don't imagine things." + +"It is not imagination," cried the girl shrilly, "and you know that +well, Anne. What right have you to come and steal Giles from me?" + +"He is yours," said Anne sharply. "The ring----" + +"Oh, yes, the ring. I have his promise to marry me, but you have his +heart. Don't I know. Give me that bangle." And she stretched out her +hand with a clutching gesture. + +"No," said Anne sternly, "I shall keep my present. Go to bed. You are +overtired. To-morrow you will be wiser." + +"I am wise now--too wise. You have made Giles love you." + +"I have not; I swear I have not," said Anne, beginning to lose her +composure. + +"You have, and you love him; I see it in your face. Who are you to come +into my life and spoil it?" + +"I am a governess. That is all you need to know." + +"You look like a governess," said Daisy, insultingly. "I believe you are +a bad woman, and came here to steal Giles from me." + +"Daisy!"--Anne rose to her feet and walked towards the door--"I have had +quite enough of your hysterical nonsense. If you came here to insult me +in this way, it is time you went. Mr. Ware and I were complete strangers +to one another when I came here." + +"Strangers! And what are you now?" + +"Friends--nothing more, nothing less." + +"So you say; and I daresay Giles would say the same thing did I ask +him." + +Anne's face grew white and set. She seized the foolish, hysterical +little creature by the wrist and shook her. "I'll tell you one thing," +she said softly, and her threat was the more terrible for the softness, +"I have black blood in my veins, for I was born at Martinique, and if +you talk to Giles about me, I'll--I'll--kill you. Go and pray to God +that you may be rid of this foolishness." + +Daisy, wide-eyed, pallid, and thoroughly frightened, fled whimpering, +and sought refuge in her own room. Anne closed the door, and locked it +so as to prevent a repetition of this unpleasant visit. Then she went to +open the window, for the air of the room seemed tainted by the presence +of Daisy. Flinging wide the casement, Anne leaned out into the bitter +air and looked at the wonderful white snow-world glittering in the thin, +chill moonlight. She drew several long breaths, and became more +composed. Sufficient, indeed, to wonder why she had behaved in so +melodramatic a fashion. It was not her custom to so far break through +the conventions of civilization. But the insults of Daisy had stirred in +her that wild negro blood to which she had referred. That this girl who +had all should grudge her the simple Christmas present made Anne +furious. Yet in spite of her righteous anger she could not help feeling +sorry for Daisy. And, after all, the girl's jealousy had some foundation +in truth. Anne had given her no cause, but she could not deny that she +loved Giles and that he loved her. To end an impossible situation there +was nothing for it but flight. + +Next day Anne quite determined to give Mrs. Morley notice, but when she +found that Daisy said nothing about her visit, she decided to remain +silent. Unless the girl made herself impossible, Anne did not see why +she should turn out of a good situation where she was earning excellent +wages. Daisy avoided her, and was coldly polite on such occasions as +they had to speak. Seeing this, Anne forbore to force her company upon +the unhappy girl and attended to her duties. + +These were sufficiently pleasant, for the three children adored her. +They were not clever, but extremely pretty and gentle in their manners. +Mrs. Morley often came to sit and sew in the schoolroom while Anne +taught. She was fond of the quiet, calm governess, and prattled to her +just as though she were a child herself of the perfections of Mr. Morley +and her unhappy early life. For the sake of the children she forbore to +mention the name of their father, who from her account had been a sad +rascal. + +Giles came sometimes to dine, but attended chiefly to Daisy. Anne was +content that this should be so, and her rival made the most of the small +triumph. Indeed, so attentive was Giles that Daisy came to believe she +had been wrong in suspecting he loved the governess. She made no +further reference to Anne, but when Miss Denham was present narrowly +watched her attitude and that of Ware. Needless to say she saw nothing +to awaken her suspicions, for both Giles and Anne were most careful to +hide their real feelings. So far the situation was endurable, but it +could not continue indefinitely. Anne made up her mind to leave. + +On the day before New Year she was wondering what excuse she could make +to get away when an incident happened which set her duty plainly before +her and did away with all necessity for an excuse. It occurred at +breakfast. + +The little man was fond of his meals, and enjoyed his breakfast more +than any other. He had the most wonderful arrangement for keeping the +dishes hot--a rather needless proceeding, as he was invariably punctual. +So were Mrs. Morley and Anne, for breakfast being at nine o'clock they +had no excuse for being late. Nevertheless, Daisy rarely contrived to be +in time, and Morley was much vexed by her persistent unpunctuality. On +this occasion she arrived late as usual, but more cheerful. She ever +greeted Anne with a certain amount of politeness. + +"There's a letter for you," said Morley, "but if you will take my advice +you will leave it until breakfast is over. I never read mine until after +a meal. Bad news is so apt to spoil one's appetite." + +"How do you know the news will be bad?" asked Daisy. + +"Most news is," replied Morley, with a shade on his usually merry face. +"Debts, duns, and difficulties!" and he looked ruefully at the pile of +letters by his plate. "I haven't examined my correspondence yet." + +Anne said nothing, as she was thinking of what arrangement she could +make to get away. Suddenly she and the others were startled by a cry +from Daisy. The girl had opened the letter and was staring at it with a +pale face. Anne half rose from her seat, but Mrs. Morley anticipated +her, and ran round to put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Daisy, what +is the matter?" + +"The--the--letter!" gasped Daisy, with chattering teeth. Then she cast a +look full of terror at the astonished Anne. "She will kill me," cried +the girl, and fell off the chair in a faint. + +Morley hastily snatched up the letter. It was unsigned, and apparently +written in an uneducated hand on common paper. He read it out hurriedly, +while Anne and Mrs. Morley stood amazed to hear its contents. + +"'Honored Miss,'" read Morley slowly, "'this is from a well-wisher to +say that you must not trust the governess, who will kill you, because of +G. W. and the Scarlet Cross.'" + +Anne uttered a cry and sank back into her chair white as the snow out of +doors. "The Scarlet Cross," she murmured, "again the Scarlet Cross." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR + + +Later in the day Mr. Morley called the three women into his library to +have a discussion regarding the strange letter and its stranger +accusation. Daisy had recovered from her faint, but was still pale and +obviously afraid of Anne. The governess appeared perfectly composed, but +her white face was as hard as granite. Both Morley and his wife were +much disturbed, as was natural, especially as at the moment Anne had +refused any explanation. Now Morley was bent on forcing her to speak out +and set Daisy's mind at rest. The state of the girl was pitiable. + +The library was a large square apartment, with three French windows +opening on to a terrace, whence steps led down to a garden laid out in +the stiff Dutch style. The room was sombre with oak and heavy red velvet +hangings, but rendered more cheerful by books, photographs, and +pictures. Morley was fond of reading, and during his ten years' +residence at The Elms had accumulated a large number of volumes. Between +the bookcases were trophies of arms, mediæval weapons and armor, and +barbaric spears from Africa and the South Seas, intermixed with bows and +clubs. The floor was of polished oak, with here and there a brilliantly +colored Persian praying-mat. The furniture was also of oak, and +cushioned in red Morocco leather. Altogether the library gave evidence +of a refined taste, and was a cross between a monkish cell and a +sybarite's bower. + +"Well, Miss Denham," said Morley, his merry face more than a trifle +serious, "what have you to say?" + +"There is nothing I can say," replied Anne, with composure, "the letter +has nothing to do with me." + +"My dear," put in Mrs. Morley, much distressed, "you cannot take up this +attitude. You know I am your friend, that I have always done my best for +you, and for my sake, if not for Daisy's, you must explain." + +"She won't--she won't," said Daisy, with an hysterical laugh. + +"I would if I could," replied Anne, talking firmly, "but the accusation +is ridiculous. Why should I threaten Daisy?" + +"Because you love Giles," burst out the girl furiously. + +"I do not love Mr. Ware. I said so the other night." + +"And you said more than that. You said that you would kill me." + +"Miss Denham," cried Morley, greatly shocked, "what is this?" + +"A foolish word spoken in a foolish moment," said Anne, realizing that +her position was becoming dangerous. + +"I think so too," said Mrs. Morley, defending her. "It so happened, Miss +Denham, that I overheard you make the speech to Daisy, and I told my +husband about it the next morning. We decided to say nothing, +thinking--as you say now--that it was simply a foolish speech. But this +letter"--she hesitated, then continued quickly, "you must explain this +letter." + +Anne thought for a moment. "I can't explain it. Some enemy has written +it. You know all about me, Mrs. Morley. You read my credentials--you +inquired as to my former situations at the Governess Institute where you +engaged me. I have nothing to conceal in my life, and certainly I have +no idea of harming Daisy. She came to my room and talked nonsense, which +made me lose my temper. I said a foolish thing, I admit, but surely +knowing me as you do you will acquit me of meaning anything by a few +wild words uttered in a hurry and without thought." + +"Why did you make use of such an expression?" asked Morley. + +"Because I was carried out of myself. I have a strain of negro blood in +me, and at times say more than I mean." + +"And your negro blood will make you kill me," cried Daisy, with an +expression of terror. "I am doomed--doomed!" + +"Don't be a fool, child," said Morley roughly. + +"She is a trifle hysterical," explained Mrs. Morley, comforting the +girl, who was sobbing violently. + +"Mr. Morley," said Anne, rising, "I don't know who wrote that letter, or +why it should have been written. Mr. Ware and I are friends, nothing +more. I am not in love with him, nor is he in love with me. He has paid +me no more attention than you have yourself." + +"No, that is true enough," replied Morley, "and as Giles is engaged to +Daisy I don't think he is the man to pay marked attention to another +woman." + +"Ah! Giles is all right," cried Daisy angrily, "but she has tempted +him." + +"I deny that." + +"You can deny what you like. It is true, you know it is true." + +"Daisy! Daisy!" said Morley persuasively, whereupon she turned on him +like a little fury. + +"Don't you defend her. You hate me as much as she does. You are a----" + +"Stop!" said Mrs. Morley, very pale. "Hold your tongue, Daisy. My +husband has treated you in the kindest manner. When your father died you +were left penniless. He took you in, and both he and I have treated you +like our own child. Ungrateful girl, how can you speak so of those who +have befriended you?" + +"I do. I shall. You all hate me!" cried Daisy passionately. "I never +wanted your help. Giles would have married me long ago but for Mr. +Morley. I had no need to live on your charity. I have a hundred a year +of my own. You brought that horrid woman down to steal Giles from me, +and----" + +"Take her away, Elizabeth," said Morley sharply. + +"I'll go of my own accord," cried Daisy, retreating from Mrs. Morley; +"and I'll ask Giles to marry me at once, and take me from this horrid +house. You are a cruel and a wicked man, Mr. Morley, and I hate you--I +hate you! As for you"--she turned in a vixenish manner on Anne--"I hope +you will be put in gaol some day. If I die you will be hanged--hanged!" +And with a stamp of her foot she dashed out of the room, banging the +door. + +"Hysteria," said Morley, wiping his face, "we must have a doctor to see +her." + +"Miss Denham," said the wife, who was weeping at the cruel words of the +girl, "I ask you if Daisy has ever been treated harshly in my house?" + +"No, dear Mrs. Morley, she has always received the greatest kindness +both from you and your husband. She is not herself to-day--that cruel +letter has upset her. In a short time she will repent of her behavior." + +"If she speaks like this to Mrs. Parry, what will happen?" moaned the +poor woman, wringing her hands. + +"I'll have Mrs. Parry in court for libel if she says anything against +us," said Morley fiercely. "The girl is an hysterical idiot. To accuse +her best friends of--pshaw! it's not worth taking notice of. But this +letter, Miss Denham?" + +"I know nothing about it, Mr. Morley." + +"Humph! I wonder if Daisy wrote it herself." + +"Oliver!" cried Mrs. Morley in amazement. + +"Why not? Hysterical girls do queer things at times. I don't suppose +Mrs. Parry wrote it, old scandal-monger as she is. It is a strange +letter. That Scarlet Cross, for instance." He fixed an inquiring eye on +Anne. + +"That is the one thing that makes me think Daisy did not write the +letter. I fancied myself she might have done it in a moment of hysteria +and out of hatred of me, but she could not know anything of the Scarlet +Cross. No one in Rickwell could know of that." + +"The letter was posted in London--in the General Post Office." + +"But why should any one write such a letter about me," said Anne, +raising her hands to her forehead, "and the Scarlet Cross? It is very +strange." + +"What is the Scarlet Cross?" asked Mrs. Morley seriously. + +"I know no more than you do," replied Anne earnestly, "save that my +father sometimes received letters marked with a red cross and on his +watch-chain wore a gold cross enamelled with scarlet." + +"Did your father know what the cross meant?" asked Mrs. Morley. + +"He must have known, but he never explained the matter to me." + +"Perhaps if you asked him now to----" + +"My father is dead," she said in a low voice; "he died a year ago in +Italy." + +"Then this mystery must remain a mystery," said Morley, with a shrug. +"Upon my word, I don't like all this. What is to be done?" + +"Put the letter into the hands of the police," suggested his wife. + +"No," said Morley decisively; "if the police heard the ravings of Daisy, +Heaven knows what they would think." + +"But, my dear, it is ridiculous," said Mrs. Morley indignantly. "We have +always treated Daisy like one of ourselves. We have nothing to conceal. +I am very angry at her." + +"You should rather pity her," said Anne gently, "for she is a prey to +nerves. However, the best thing to be done is for me to leave this +place. I shall go after the New Year." + +"I'm sure I don't know what the children will do without you," sighed +the lady; "they are so fond of you, and I never had any governess I got +on better with. What will you do?" + +"Get a situation somewhere else," said Anne cheerfully, "abroad if +possible; but I have become a bugbear to Daisy, and it is best that I +should go." + +"I think so too, Miss Denham, although both my wife and I are extremely +sorry to lose you." + +"You have been good friends to me," said Miss Denham simply, "and my +life here has been very pleasant; but it is best I should go," she +repeated, "and that letter, will you give me a copy, Mr. Morley?" + +"Certainly, but for what reason?" + +"I should like to find out who wrote it, and why it was written. It +will be a difficult matter, but I am curious to know who this enemy of +mine may be." + +"Do you think it is an enemy?" asked Mrs. Morley. + +Anne nodded. "And an enemy that knows something about my father's life," +she said emphatically, "else why was mention made about the Scarlet +Cross? But I'll learn the truth somehow, even if I have to employ a +detective." + +"You had much better leave the matter alone and get another situation, +Miss Denham," said Morley sagely. "We will probably hear no more of +this, and when you go the matter will fade from Daisy's mind. I'll send +her away to the seaside for a week, and have the doctor to see her." + +"Dr. Tait shall see her at once," said Mrs. Morley, with more vigor than +was usual with her. "But about your going, Miss Denham, I am truly +sorry. You have been a good friend to me, and the dear children do you +credit. I hope we shall see you again." + +"When Daisy is married, not before," replied Anne firmly; "but I will +keep you advised of my address." + +After some further conversation on this point the two women left the +library. Daisy had shut herself in her room, and thither went Mrs. +Morley. She managed to sooth the girl, and gave her a sedative which +calmed her nerves. When Daisy woke from sleep somewhere about five she +expressed herself sorry for her foolish chatter, but still entertained a +dread and a hatred of Anne. The governess wisely kept out of the way and +made her preparations for departure. As yet the children were not told +that they were to lose her. Knowing what their lamentations would be +like, Mrs. Morley wisely determined to postpone that information till +the eleventh hour. + +There was to be a midnight service at the parish church in honor of the +New Year, and Anne determined to go. She wanted all the spiritual help +possible in her present state of perplexity. The unhappy love that +existed between her and Giles, the enmity of Daisy, the anxiety of the +anonymous letter--these things worried her not a little. She received +permission from Mrs. Morley to go to the midnight service. + +"But be careful Daisy does not see you," said she anxiously. + +"Is Daisy going also?" + +"Yes. Giles is coming to take her in his motor-car." + +"I hope she will say nothing to him about the letter." + +"I'll see to that. She is much quieter and recognizes how foolish she +has been. It will be all right." + +Morley was much upset by the state of affairs. But a few days before and +life had been all plain sailing, now there was little else but trouble +and confusion. His ruddy face was pale, and he had a careworn +expression. For the most part of the day he remained in his library and +saw no one. Towards the evening he asked his wife not to bring the +triplets to the library as usual, as he had to see some one on business. +Who it was he refused to say, and Mrs. Morley, having no curiosity, did +not press the question. + +After dinner the visitor arrived--a tall man muffled in a great-coat +against the cold, and wearing a thick white scarf round his throat. He +was shown into the library and remained with Mr. Morley till after nine. +About that time Anne found occasion to go into the library in search of +a book. She had not heard the prohibition of Morley, and did not +hesitate to enter without knocking, supposing that no one was within. + +Meantime Daisy dressed herself very carefully in expectation of Ware's +arrival. He was to take her for a ride in his motor before Church, and +then they were to go to the service together. There was plenty of snow +on the ground, but the nights were always bright with moonlight. Daisy +had a fancy for a moonlight ride, and Giles was willing to humor her. +She expected him about ten, and descended shortly after nine to watch +for him from the drawing-room window. + +Outside it was almost as light as day, and the white sheet of snow threw +back a reflection of the moonlight. Daisy gazed eagerly down the avenue, +where the leafless trees rocked in the cutting wind. Unexpectedly she +saw a tall man come round the corner of the house and walk swiftly down +the avenue. She knew from Mrs. Morley that there was a visitor in the +library, and wondered why he had elected to leave by the window, as he +must have done to come round the house in this way. Being curious, she +thought she would tell Mr. Morley of what she had seen, and went in +search of him. + +At the door of the library she had just laid her hand on the handle when +it suddenly opened, and Anne came out. Her face was white and drawn, her +eyes were filled with fear, and she passed the astonished girl in a +blind and stumbling fashion as though she did not see her. Daisy saw her +feebly ascend the stairs, clutching the banisters. Wondering at this, +Miss Kent entered the room. Morley was standing by the window--the +middle window--looking out. It was open. He started and turned when +Daisy entered, and she saw that he was perturbed also. + +"What is the matter?" she asked, coming forward. + +"Nothing. What should be the matter?" + +Morley spoke shortly and not in a pleasant tone. "I thought that Anne, +that Miss Denham, looked ill," said Daisy. + +"Don't you think you had better leave Miss Denham alone, Daisy, seeing +the mischief you have caused? She has been weeping herself blind here." + +"Well, that letter----" + +"Oh, that letter is rubbish!" interrupted Morley scornfully. "Miss +Denham is a simple, kind woman, and you should take no notice of +anonymous correspondence. However, she is going away to-morrow. I have +just paid her her wages." + +"I am glad she is going," said Miss Kent doggedly; "I am afraid of her. +You think she is an angel; I don't." + +"I don't think anything about her; but I do think you are a very +hysterical girl, and have caused a great deal of unnecessary trouble. +Miss Denham is not in love with Ware, and it is only your absurd +jealousy that would accuse her of such a thing. Besides, this morning +you behaved very badly to my wife and myself. You must go away for a +time till we can get over your ungrateful words and conduct." + +"I am very sorry," said Daisy humbly, "but it was Anne who disturbed me, +and that letter. I was afraid." + +"Then you admit that we have behaved well?" + +"You are my best friends." + +"Thank you. And now may I ask what you want?" + +"I came to tell you that I am going to church. I thought you were +engaged." + +"So I was; but my visitor is gone." + +"I know; he went out by that window. I saw him going down the avenue. +Who is he?" + +"A friend of mine. That is all you need to know. Did you think it was +some one who had to do with the anonymous letter?" + +"No, no!" Daisy seemed to be thoroughly ashamed of herself. "But you +must admit that the letter was strange." + +"So strange that you had better say nothing about it. Don't mention it +to Giles." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I will find occasion to tell him myself. I at least will be +able to explain without showing jealousy of poor Miss Denham." + +"I won't say anything," replied Daisy, with a toss of her head, "but you +are all mad about Anne Denham. I don't believe she is a good woman. What +is the matter with her now? She seems ill." + +"For Heaven's sake don't ask me any further questions," said Morley +irritably. "What with your conduct of this morning and other things with +which you have no concern I am worried out of my life." + +Daisy took the hint and walked away. When she got outside the library +she came to the conclusion that Morley's visitor was a bailiff, and that +was why he had been shown out by the window. Decidedly her guardian was +in a bad way financially speaking. + +"I shall marry Giles and get away from them all," said the grateful +Daisy. "They may be sold up, and my hundred a year will not keep me. +What a mercy that Giles is so rich and loves me! No, he does not love +me," she said vehemently to herself. "It is that woman. But he is +engaged to me, and I'll marry him if only to spite her." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CHURCHYARD + + +To Daisy that drive in the motor-car was like an exquisite dream. Her +frivolous, shallow soul was awed by the vast white waste gleaming +mysteriously in the moonlight as the car sped like a bird along the +silent roads. There was not a cloud in a sky that shone like tempered +steel; and amidst the frosty glitter of innumerable stars the hard moon +looked down on an enchanted world. With Giles' hand on the steering gear +and Daisy beside him wrapped in a buffalo rug, the machine flew over the +pearly whiteness with the skimming swiftness of the magic horse. For the +first time in her life Daisy felt what flying was like, and was content +to be silent. + +Giles was well pleased that the Great Mother should still her restless +tongue for the moment. He was doing his duty and the will of his dead +father, but his heart ached when he thought of the woman who should be +by his side. Oh that they two could undertake this magical journey +together, silent and alone in a silent and lonely world. He made no +inquiries for Anne, and Daisy said nothing. Only when the car was +humming along the homeward road to land them at the church did she open +her mouth. The awe had worn off, and she babbled as of old in the very +face of this white splendor. + +"Anne's going away," she said abruptly. + +For the life of him Giles could not help starting, but he managed to +control his voice and speak carelessly. "Ah, and how is that?" he asked, +busy with the wheel. + +"She is going to-morrow. I suppose she is tired of the dull life here." + +"I expect she is," replied Ware curtly. + +"Are you sorry?" + +Giles felt that she was pushing home the point and that it behooved him +to be extra careful. "Yes, I am sorry," he said frankly. "Miss Denham is +a most interesting woman." + +"Does that mean----" + +"It means nothing personal, Daisy," he broke in hastily; then to change +the subject, "I hope you have enjoyed the ride." + +"It is heavenly, Giles. How good of you to take me!" + +"My dear, I would do much more for you. When we are married we must tour +through England in this way." + +"You and I together. How delightful! That is if you will not get tired +of me." + +"I am not likely to get tired of such a charming little woman." + +Then he proceeded to pay her compliments, while his soul sickened at the +avidity with which she swallowed them. He asked himself if it would not +be better to put an end to this impossible state of things by telling +her he was in love with Anne. But when he glanced at the little fragile +figure beside him, and noted the delicacy and ethereal look in her face, +he felt that it would be brutal to destroy her dream of happiness at the +eleventh hour. Of himself he tried to think not at all. So far as he +could see there was no happiness for him. He would have to go through +life doing his duty. And Anne--he put the thought of her from him with a +shudder. + +"What is the matter, Giles? Are you cold?" asked Daisy. + +"No; I expect a white hare is loping over my grave." + +"Ugh! Don't talk of graves," said Daisy, with a nervous expression. + +"Not a cheerful subject, I confess," said Giles, smiling, "and here we +are in the very thick of them," he added, as the motor slowed down +before the lych-gate. + +Daisy looked at the innumerable tombstones which thrust themselves up +through the snow and shivered. "It's horrible, I think. Fancy being +buried there!" + +"A beautiful spot in summer. Do you remember what Keats said about one +being half in love with death to be buried in so sweet a place?" + +"Giles," she cried half hysterically, "don't talk like that. I may be +dead and buried before you know that a tragedy has occurred. The cards +say that I am to die young." + +"Why, Daisy, what is the matter?" + +She made no reply. A memory of the anonymous letter and its threat came +home vividly to her as she stepped inside the churchyard. Who knew but +what within a few days she might be borne through that self-same gate in +her coffin? However, she had promised to say nothing about the letter, +and fearful lest she should let slip some remark to arouse the +suspicions of Giles, she flew up the path. + +Already the village folk were thronging to the midnight service. The +bells were ringing with a musical chime, and the painted windows of the +church glittered with rainbow hues. The organist was playing some +Christmas carol, and the waves of sound rolled out solemnly on the +still air. With salutation and curtsey the villagers passed by the young +squire. He waited to hand over his car to his servant, who came up at +the moment, breathless with haste. "Shall I wait for you, sir?" + +"No, take the car to the inn, and make yourself comfortable. In an hour +you can return." + +Nothing loth to get indoors and out of the bitter cold, the man drove +the machine, humming like a top, down the road. The sky was now clouding +over, and a wind was getting up. As Giles walked into the church he +thought there was every promise of a storm, and wondered that it should +labor up so rapidly considering the previous calm of the night. However, +he did not think further on the matter, but when within looked around +for Daisy. She was at the lower end of the church staring not at the +altar now glittering with candles, but at the figure of a woman some +distance away who was kneeling with her face hidden in her hands. With a +thrill Giles recognized Anne, and fearful lest Daisy should be jealous +did he remain in her vicinity, he made his way up to his own pew, which +was in the lady chapel near the altar. Here he took his seat and strove +to forget both the woman he loved and the woman he did not love. But it +was difficult for him to render his mind a blank on this subject. + +The organ had been silent for some time, but it now recommenced its +low-breathed music. Then the choir came slowly up the aisle singing +lustily a Christmas hymn. The vicar, severe and ascetic, followed, his +eyes bent on the ground. When the service commenced Giles tried to pay +attention, but found it almost impossible to prevent his thoughts +wandering towards the two women. He tried to see them, but pillars +intervened, and he could not catch a glimpse of either. But his gaze +fell on the tall figure of a man who was standing at the lower end of +the church near the door. He was evidently a stranger, for his eyes +wandered inquisitively round the church. In a heavy great-coat and with +a white scarf round his throat, he was well protected against the cold. +Giles noted his thin face, his short red beard, and his large black +eyes. His age was probably something over fifty, and he looked ill, +worried, and worn. Wondering who he was and what brought him to such an +out-of-the-way place as Rickwell at such a time, Giles settled himself +comfortably in his seat to hear the sermon. + +The vicar was not a particularly original preacher. He discoursed +platitudes about the coming year and the duties it entailed on his +congregation. Owing to the length of the sermon and the lateness of the +hour, the people yawned and turned uneasily in their seats. But no one +ventured to leave the church, although the sermon lasted close on an +hour. It seemed as though the preacher would never leave off insisting +on the same things over and over again. He repeated himself twice and +thrice, and interspersed his common-place English with the lordly roll +of biblical texts. But for his position, Giles would have gone away. It +was long over the hour, and he knew that his servant would be waiting in +the cold. When he stood up for the concluding hymn he craned his head +round a pillar to see Daisy. She had vanished, and he thought that like +himself she had grown weary of the sermon, but more fortunate than he, +she had been able to slip away. Anne's place he could not see and did +not know whether she was absent or present. + +Giles wondered for one delicious moment if he could see her before she +left the church. Daisy, evidently wearied by the sermon, had gone home, +there was no one to spy upon him, and he might be able to have Anne all +to himself for a time. He could then ask her why she was going, and +perhaps force her to confess that she loved him. But even as he thought +his conscience rebuked him for his treachery to Daisy. He fortified +himself with good resolutions, and resolved not to leave his seat until +the congregation had dispersed. Thus he would not be tempted by the +sight of Anne. + +The benediction was given, the choir retired with a last musical "Amen," +and the worshippers departed. But Giles remained in his seat, kneeling +and with his face hidden. He was praying for a strength he sorely needed +to enable him to forget Anne and to remain faithful to the woman whom +his father had selected to be his wife. Not until the music of the organ +ceased and the verger came to extinguish the altar candles did Giles +venture to go. But by this time he thought Anne would surely be well on +her homeward way. He would return to his own place as fast as his motor +could take him, and thus would avoid temptation. At the present moment +he could not trust to his emotions. + +Outside the expected storm had come on, and snow was falling thickly +from a black sky. The light at the lych-gate twinkled feebly, and Giles +groped his way down the almost obliterated pathway quite alone, for +every one else had departed. He reached the gate quite expecting to find +his motor, but to his surprise it was not there. Not a soul was in +sight, and the snow was falling like meal. + +Giles fancied that his servant had dropped asleep in the inn or had +forgotten the appointed hour. In his heart he could not blame the man, +for the weather was arctic in its severity. However, he determined to +wend his way to the inn and reprove him for his negligence. Stepping out +of the gate he began to walk against the driving snow with bent head, +when he ran into the arms of a man who was running hard. In the light +of the lamp over the gate he recognized him as Trim, his servant. + +"Beg pardon, sir, I could not get here any sooner. The car----" The man +stopped and stared round in amazement. "Why, sir, where's the machine?" +he asked, with astonishment. + +"In your charge, I suppose," replied Ware angrily. "Why were you not +here at the time I appointed?" + +"I was, begging your pardon, sir," said Trim hotly; "but the lady told +me you had gone to see Miss Kent back to The Elms and that you wanted to +see me. I left the car here in charge of the lady and ran all the way to +The Elms; but they tell me there that Miss Daisy hasn't arrived and that +nothing has been seen of you, sir." + +Ware listened to this explanation with surprise. "I sent no such +message," he said; "and this lady, who was she?" + +"Why, Miss Denham, sir. She said she would look after the car till I +came back, and knowing as she was a friend of yours, sir, I thought it +was all right." Trim stared all round him. "She's taken the car away, I +see, sir." + +The matter puzzled Giles. He could not understand why Anne should have +behaved in such a manner, and still less could he understand why the car +should have disappeared. He knew well that she could drive a motor, for +he had taught her himself; but that she should thus take possession of +his property and get rid of his man in so sly a way perplexed and +annoyed him. He and Trim stood amidst the falling snow, staring at one +another, almost too surprised to speak. + +Suddenly they heard a loud cry of fear, and a moment afterward an +urchin--one of the choir lads--came tearing down the path as though +pursued by a legion of fiends. Giles caught him by the collar as he ran +panting and white-faced past him. + +"What's the matter?" he asked harshly. "Why did you cry out like that? +Where are you going?" + +"To mother. Oh, let me go!" wailed the lad. "I see her lying on the +grave. I'm frightened. Mother! mother!" + +"Saw who lying on the grave?" + +"I don't know. A lady. Her face is down in the snow, and she is +bleeding. I dropped the lantern mother gave me and scudded, sir. Do let +me go! I never did it!" + +"Did what?" Giles in his nervous agitation shook the boy. + +"Killed her! I didn't! She's lying on Mr. Kent's grave, and I don't know +who she is." + +He gave another cry for his mother and tried to get away, but Giles, +followed by Trim, led him up the path. "Take me to the grave," he said +in a low voice. + +"I won't!" yelped the lad, and tearing his jacket in his eagerness to +escape, he scampered past Trim and out of the gate like a frightened +hare. Giles stopped for a moment to wipe his perspiring forehead and +pass his tongue over his dry lips, then he made a sign to Trim to +follow, and walked rapidly in the direction of Mr. Kent's grave. He +dreaded what he should find there, and his heart beat like a +sledge-hammer. + +The grave was at the back of the church, and the choir boy had evidently +passed it when trying to take a short cut to his mother's cottage over +the hedge. The snow was falling so thickly and the night was so dark +that Giles wondered how the lad could have seen any one on the grave. +Then he remembered that the lad had spoken of a lantern. During a lull +in the wind he lighted a match, and by the blue glare he saw the lantern +almost at his feet, where the boy had dropped it in his precipitate +flight. Hastily picking this up, he lighted the candle with shaking +fingers and closed the glass. A moment later, and he was striding +towards the grave with the lantern casting a large circle of light +before him. + +In the ring of that pale illumination he saw the tall tombstone, and +beneath it the figure of a woman lying face downward on the snow. Trim +gave an exclamation of astonishment, but Giles set his mouth and +suppressed all signs of emotion. He wondered if the figure was that of +Anne or of Daisy, and whether the woman, whomsoever she was, was dead or +alive. Suddenly he started back with horror. From a wound under the left +shoulder-blade a crimson stream had welled forth, and the snow was +stained with a brilliant red. The staring eyes of the groom looked over +his shoulder as he turned the body face upwards. Then Giles uttered a +cry. Here was Daisy Kent lying dead--murdered--on her father's grave! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AFTERWARDS + + +Never before had any event created such a sensation in the village of +Rickwell. From the choir boy and his mother the news quickly spread. +Also Giles had to call in the aid of the rector to have the body of the +unfortunate girl carried to The Elms. In a short time the churchyard was +filled with wondering people, and quite a cortege escorted the corpse. +It was like the rehearsal of a funeral procession. + +Mrs. Morley had gone to bed, thinking the two girls might be reconciled +in church and come home together. Her husband, not so sanguine, had +remained in the library till after midnight, ready to play the part of +peace-maker should any fracas occur. He appeared in the hall when poor +dead Daisy was carried through the door, and stared in surprise at the +spectacle. + +"Great heavens!" he cried, coming forward, his ruddy face pale with +sudden emotion. "What is all this?" + +Giles took upon himself the office of spokesman, which the rector, +remembering that he had been engaged to the deceased, tacitly delegated +to him. + +"It's poor Daisy," he said hoarsely. "She has been--" + +"Murdered! No. Don't say murdered!" + +"Yes, we found her lying on her father's grave, dead; a knife-thrust +under the left shoulder-blade. She must have died almost +instantaneously." + +"Dead!" muttered Morley, ghastly white. And he approached to take the +handkerchief from the dead face. "Dead!" he repeated, replacing it. Then +he looked at the haggard face of Ware, at the silent group of men and +the startled women standing in the doorway, where the rector was keeping +them back. + +"Where is her murderess?" he asked sharply. + +"Murderess!" repeated Giles angrily. "What do you mean?" + +"Mean? Why, that Miss Denham has done this, and----" + +"You are mad to say such a thing." + +"I'll tax her with it to her face. Where is she? Not at home, for I have +been waiting to see her." + +"She's run way on Mr. Ware's motor-car," volunteered Trim, only to be +clutched violently by his master. + +"Don't say that, you fool. You can't be sure of that, Mr. Morley," he +added, turning to the scared man. "Make no remark about this until we +can have a quiet talk about it." + +"But I say----" + +"You can say it to the police officer in the morning." + +"She'll have escaped by that time," whispered Trim to his master. + +Giles saw the danger of Anne--supposing her to be guilty, as the groom +thought her--and made up his mind at once. + +"Go home, Trim, and saddle a couple of horses. We'll follow the track of +the car, and when we find it----" + +"You'll never find it," put in Morley, who had been listening with all +his ears. "The falling snow must have obliterated any wheel-marks by +this time. When did this occur?" + +"I don't know," replied Giles coldly. "And instead of chattering there, +you had better have the--the--" he stammered, "the body taken into some +room and attended to. Poor Daisy," he sighed, "what an end to your +bright young life!" + +Here Mr. Drake, the rector, thought it necessary to assert himself, and +waved aside the throng. + +"All you men and women, go to your homes," he said. "Nothing can be done +to-night, and----" + +"The car might be followed," said a voice. + +"And the car will be followed," said Giles, pushing his way to the door. +"Come, Trim, we'll ride at once. Did no one see the car pass out of the +village?" + +No one had seen it, as most of the villagers had been inside the church +and the rest in their homes. + +There was some talk and suggestions, but Ware, with a nod to Morley, +took a hasty departure and disappeared into the stormy night. + +"He might track the car," said the rector. + +"He won't," replied Morley bitterly; "he'll lead Trim on a wrong scent. +He liked Miss Denham too well to let her drop into the hands of the +police." + +"Then you really think she did it?" asked Drake, horrified. + +"I am perfectly certain," was the reply. "Come into the library, and +I'll show you what evidence I have." + +Meantime the hall was cleared of the eager listeners, and all present +went to their homes less to sleep than to argue as to the guilt or +innocence of Anne. The body of the girl was taken to her bedroom, and +poor scared Mrs. Morley, roused from her bed to face this tragedy, did +all that was needful, assisted by two old women, who remained behind to +offer their services. This was all that could be done till dawn, and +Mrs. Morley, thinking of the dead Daisy and the missing Anne, wept till +the first streaks of daylight. As yet her limited understanding could +not grasp the horror of the thing. + +Morley conducted Mr. Drake to the library. He related how his wife had +heard Anne threaten to kill Daisy, produced the anonymous letter, +detailed Daisy's accusation that the governess was in love with Ware, +and finally pointed out the damning fact of the flight. The rector was +quite convinced by this reasoning that Anne was guilty. + +"And now I come to think of it," he said, stroking his shaven chin, +"Miss Kent was in church." + +"Yes, so was Miss Denham; but I don't think they sat together, as they +were on the worst possible terms. Did you see Daisy?" + +Drake nodded. "She went out when I was half-way through my sermon. I +remember that I felt a little annoyed that she should leave when I was +doing my best to inculcate good habits for the year in my congregation. +She must have gone to pray at her father's grave, and there----" Drake +stopped with sudden terror in his eyes. + +"And there Miss Denham stabbed her. Ware said the wound was beneath the +left shoulder-blade. That looks as though Daisy was struck from behind. +I can see it all," cried Morley, with a shudder. "The poor child praying +by her father's grave, and the stealthy approach of that woman armed +with a----" + +"Ah!" interposed Drake, "there you are. We have not yet found the +weapon; and after all, Morley, the evidence is purely circumstantial. We +do not know for certain that Miss Denham is the guilty person." + +"Why did she fly, then?" demanded Morley fiercely. "If she were +innocent--if she had not left the church until the others did--she would +have returned, and now been in bed. But from what Trim says she fled on +Ware's motor-car." + +"Humph! She can't get far on that. Such a night, too." + +And the rector walked to the window to watch the still falling snow. + +Morley shook his head. "Miss Denham knows the country for miles and +miles, and Ware taught her how to drive the motor. I shouldn't be +surprised if she got away after all, in spite of the weather." + +Drake looked uneasy, and placed himself before the fire with a shiver. +He rather admired Miss Denham, and could not yet bring himself to +believe that she was guilty. Even if she were, he cherished a secret +hope that she might escape the police. It was terrible to think that one +woman should be dead, but it was more awful to look forward to the +trial, condemnation, and hanging of the other. + +"I blame Ware a good deal for this," continued Morley gloomily. "He +openly admired Miss Denham, and encouraged her to flirt with him. A rash +thing to do to one who has negro blood in her veins. I expect passion +carried her beyond herself." + +"How do you know she has negro blood?" + +"She said so herself." + +"Did you know that when you engaged her?" + +"I never engaged her at all, Drake. My wife did. I must say that Miss +Denham's credentials were good. She had been governess in an Italian +family, and ha!----" He stopped suddenly, and started up. "In Italy she +might have procured a stiletto. From the nature of the wound--which is +small and deep--I should think it was inflicted with such a weapon." + +"How do you know that the wound is small and deep?" + +"My wife told me when she came to the door that time. You did not hear +her. She says the wound is quite small. In that case it must be deep, or +the death would not have occurred so suddenly." + +Drake shook his head. "We don't know that it did occur suddenly." + +Morley contradicted this angrily. "If Daisy had not died at once she +would have had time to shriek, and the cry would have been heard in the +church." + +"I doubt it. The people were deeply interested in my sermon." + +The other man shrugged his shoulders. It was scarcely worth while +arguing this point with the rector. He relapsed into a brown study, +until roused to reply to a question asked by his guest. + +"Have you ever seen a stiletto?" asked Drake. + +"I have one here," replied Morley, running his eye along the wall; "one +that I got in Italy myself. It was said to have belonged to Lucrezia +Borgia. I wonder where it is." + +"Rather difficult to discover it amidst all these weapons, Mr. Morley. +Good heavens! what is the matter?" + +He might well ask. His host was clutching his arm in a vice-like hold, +and was pointing to a certain part of the wall whereon hung a pair of +ancient pistols, a crusader's shield, and an old helmet. + +"The stiletto was there. It is gone!" gasped Morley. + +"Impossible. Who can have taken it?" + +"Miss Denham! Miss Denham! Oh, and you believe her to be innocent!" +cried the other. "She came into this very room at nine o'clock, or a +little after. I was outside on the terrace seeing a visitor off. She +was alone in the room for a time. She must have taken the weapon." + +"No, no; why should she have?" + +"Because she intended to murder my poor Daisy. It was all arranged in +her black heart. Drake," he added solemnly, "I have done my best to +believe that woman innocent. I defended her against Daisy, and my wife +defended her also. We tried to believe that she had no ill intention, +and see--see what comes of it. She steals the stiletto, and kills the +child in the most brutal manner. I swear to hunt her down. I swear----!" + +The rector caught down the uplifted hand which Morley was raising to the +heavens. "Be yourself," he said sternly; "there is no need for a man to +call upon God to witness a blood-thirsty oath. If the woman is guilty, +let her be punished. But give her the benefit of the doubt. Appearances +are against her, I admit. All the same, she may be able to prove her +innocence." + +"You might as well talk to the wind as to me. She is a murderess; I'll +do my best to have her hanged." + +Morley spoke with such vehemence that Drake looked closely at him. He +wondered if the man had any grudge against Anne Denham that he spoke of +her with such bitterness. Certainly her crime was a terrible one, and +she deserved to be condemned. But it would only be fair that she should +be first tried. Morley, on the contrary, had already judged her, without +waiting to hear what she had to say in her own favor. + +"Well, Mr. Morley, there is nothing more to be said," he remarked +coldly, for he disliked this melodrama; "we must wait till the police +come in the morning. Meanwhile I shall go to my home and get some +sleep." + +"I can't sleep with that in the house," replied Morley, abruptly rising; +"I'll go with you." + +"Where?" + +"To the churchyard--to the grave. I intend to look for the weapon. It +may have been left there--tossed aside by the assassin after the crime." + +"But the night is dark--the snow is falling. You will not be able to do +anything. Be advised, and----" + +"No. I'll come with you now. If I find nothing, it is all the better for +her. If I do----" He shook his hand again fiercely. + +Drake argued no longer, seeing that the man's brain was in such a state +that it was best to humor him. They went out together, but at the +church-gate Drake excused himself and retired to his home. He had no +wish to see Morley groping amongst the graves like a ghost. Pausing +until the little man disappeared into the gloom, the rector went to his +house, wondering at the sudden change in Morley's character. He had been +a light-hearted and rather frivolous creature; fond of gaiety and +overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Now he was fierce and +savage enough for a Caliban. "He must have loved that poor girl very +dearly," sighed Drake, "but I can't believe that such a charming woman +as Miss Denham committed so cruel a crime. There is some mystery about +this," and in this last speech he was right. There was a mystery about +the death, and a much deeper one than a shallow man like the rector +could fathom. + +All through the long night Mrs. Morley watched by the dead. She had +placed candles on either side of the bed, and laid a cross on the poor +child's breast. Drake was quite shocked when he saw this Papistical +arrangement. But it afterwards came out that Mrs. Morley had been +educated in a convent, and had imbibed certain notions of the Romish +ritual for the dead that, her memory reviving, made her act thus, in +spite of her openly confessed belief in the communion of the English +Church. While she was thus sitting and weeping, Morley looked in. He was +wild and haggard, but in his eyes glared a triumphant expression which +terrified his wife. She did not dare to move. He crossed the room, and +looked at the body. "You shall be avenged, my dear," he said solemnly, +and before Mrs. Morley could recover from her surprise and denounce this +ill-chosen moment for a visit, he wheeled round and disappeared. + +He did not retire either, no more did the servants, who were collected +in the kitchen steadying their nerves with tea. So it happened that when +Giles, weary, wet, and worn, rode up to the door in the morning on a +jaded beast, he was met by Morley. + +"Have you caught her?" asked the man. + +Giles dismounted and threw the reins to a groom. "No. Trim went one way +and I another. Where he is I don't know, but my horse gave in, and I +returned." He entered the house. "Where is the body?" he asked. + +"Up in the room it occupied during life," said Morley; "but come into +the library, I have something to show you." + +Ware followed and sank wearily into a chair. He could scarcely keep his +eyes open. Nevertheless he started up wide awake when his host spoke. +"Miss Denham killed Daisy," said Morley. "She took a stiletto from the +wall yonder, and here it is." He produced it with a dramatic wave. + +"Where did you find it?" + +"Beside the grave--on the spot of the murder." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE CASE AGAINST ANNE + + +The contradictory qualities of Mrs. Parry's nature came out strongly in +connection with the Rickwell tragedy. When Miss Denham was prosperous +the old woman had nothing but bad to say of her, now that she was a +fugitive and generally credited with a crime, Mrs. Parry stood up for +her stoutly. She made herself acquainted with all details, and delivered +her verdict to Mrs. Morley, on whom she called for the express purpose +of giving her opinion. + +"I never liked the woman," she said impressively, "she was artful and +frivolous; and to gain admiration behaved in a brazen way of which I +thoroughly disapproved. All the same, I do not believe she killed the +girl." + +"But the evidence is strongly against her," expostulated Mrs. Morley. + +"And how many people have been hanged on evidence which has afterwards +been proved incorrect?" retorted Mrs. Parry. "I don't care how certain +they are of her guilt. In my opinion she is an innocent woman. I am glad +she has escaped." + +"I am not sorry myself," sighed the other. "I was fond of Anne, for she +had many good points. But Mr. Steel says----" + +"Who is Mr. Steel?" + +"The detective who has charge of the case." + +"I thought the police from Chelmsford had it in hand." + +"Of course, Mr. Morley sent for the police the morning after poor +Daisy's death. That is three days ago. To-morrow the inquest is to be +held. I suppose they will bring a verdict against poor Miss Denham." + +"Ha!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose, "and my greengrocer is on the +jury. Much he knows about the matter. But this Steel creature. Where +does he come from?" + +"Mr. Morley sent to London for him. He has a private inquiry office, I +believe." + +"No such thing," contradicted Mrs. Parry, "he is from Scotland Yard. A +genuine detective--none of your makeshifts." + +"I thought you knew nothing about him?" + +"Nor did I till this minute. But I now remember seeing his name in +connection with the theft of Lady Summersdale's diamonds. He caught the +thief in a very clever way. Steel--Martin Steel, I remember now. So he +has the case in hand. Humph! He won't accuse Anne Denham, you may be +sure of that. He's too clever." + +"But he is convinced of her guilt," said the other triumphantly. + +"Then the man's a fool. I'll see him myself." + +Mrs. Parry did so the very next day after the inquest had been held and +the verdict given. She possessed a small, neat cottage on the outskirts +of Rickwell, standing some distance back from the high road. Seated at +her drawing-room window, she could see all those who came or went, and +thus kept a watch over the morals of the village. This window was called +"Mrs. Parry's eye," and everyone sneaked past it in constant dread of +the terrible old lady who looked through it. Beyond Mrs. Parry's cottage +were the houses of the gentry and the church; therefore she knew that +Steel would pass her house on the way to The Elms, where he would +doubtless go to report himself to Morley. To be sure Morley was to be at +the inquest, but Mrs. Parry took no account of that. He and the +detective would certainly return to The Elms to compare notes. + +Also there was another chance. Steel might go on to see Ware at his +place, which was a mile beyond the village. Giles had caught a cold +after his midnight ride and search for the missing motor, and since then +had been confined to his bed. His deposition had been taken down in +writing, for the benefit of the jury, as he could not be present +himself. Since he was deeply interested in the matter, Steel would +probably go and tell him about the inquest. Mrs. Parry therefore posted +herself at the window about twelve and waited for the detective. + +At half-past twelve she saw him come along, having on the previous day +made herself acquainted with his personality. He was a dapper pert +little man, neat in his dress, and suave in his manners. Not at all like +the detective of fiction as known to Mrs. Parry. There was no solemnity +or hint of mystery about Mr. Steel. He would pass unnoticed in a crowd, +and no one would take him for a bloodhound of the law. He did not even +possess the indispensable eagle eye, nor did he utter opinions with the +air of an oracle. In fact, when Mrs. Parry captured him and lured him +into her parlor, she was exceedingly disappointed with his appearance. +"No one would even take you for a detective," said she brusquely, +whereat Steel laughed cheerily. + +"All the better for me, ma'am. Folk speak more freely when they don't +know my business. But you will excuse me," he added, glancing at his +watch, "I am in a hurry. You say you know something about this matter?" + +It was on this pretence that Mrs. Parry had got him into her house, else +he would not have wasted his time on her. She had therefore to make good +her words, but had not the slightest chance of doing so. + +"I know that Anne Denham is innocent," was all that she could say, but +said it with the air of one who settles a difficult matter once and for +all. + +"On what grounds, ma'am?" + +"On no grounds, save those of my own common sense." + +"You have no evidence to----?" + +"I have the evidence of my own eyes. You haven't seen the woman. I have. +She is not the kind of person who would act so." + +"The jury take a different view," said Steel dryly. "They have brought +in a verdict of wilful murder against her." + +"Fools! But what can you expect from a parcel of tradesmen? I wish to +hear on what grounds they made such idiots of themselves." + +Steel was somewhat taken aback by this coolness. "You must really excuse +me," said he, rising, "but I have to see Mr. Ware." + +"All in good time, Steel," said the old lady coolly. "You might do worse +than spend an hour with me. There is precious little going on in this +parish I don't know of. I might be able to help you in your search." + +"After this woman?" Steel shook his head. "I don't think so. I expect +she has escaped to foreign parts." + +"Oh, I know all about that. I made Trim tell me. You know Trim, of +course. He was a groom once." + +"Isn't he a groom now?" + +"Well"--Mrs. Parry rubbed her nose--"you might call him an engineer. +When Ware started a motor-car Trim refused to let anyone else attend to +his young master but himself. He was the servant of old Ware, and thinks +it is his duty to look after the son--not but what it's needed," added +Mrs. Parry spitefully; "but Trim learned how to work the car, and so he +is what you might call an engineer." + +"All very interesting ma'am, but I have an appointment." + +"It will keep," replied Mrs. Parry suavely. "You had better wait, Steel. +I have something to show you." + +"In connection with the case?" + +"In connection with Miss Denham." + +"What is it? Show it to me." + +"All in good time, Steel. I must first know what you think of the +matter." + +"I think that this woman is guilty." + +"Oh, you do, do you. Humph! And I thought you clever. How easily one can +be deceived! However, you can sit down and tell me your grounds for this +preposterous belief." + +Steel hesitated. In all his career--and it had been a varied one--he had +never met before with anyone like this determined old dame. She took +possession of him in the calmest way, and was evidently bent upon +pumping him dry before he left the house. As a rule Steel was not a man +to be pumped, but after some reflection he concluded that it was just as +well to use a sprat to catch a mackerel. In plain English, he +determined, with reservations, to gratify Mrs. Parry's curiosity, so +that he might get a sight of what she had to show him. If he were +reticent, she would show him nothing; whereas if he told her all about +the evidence at the inquest--and that was public property--she would +certainly open her mind to him. Moreover, Steel knew the value of having +a gossip like Mrs. Parry to aid him in gaining knowledge of the +neighborhood. Finally, he saw that she was a shrewd, matter-of-fact old +person, and for the sake of making his work easy it would be as well to +conciliate her. He therefore sat down with a cheerful air, and prepared +himself for an interesting conversation. + +"I shall be perfectly candid with you," said he, taking out his notes. +"These are the memoranda I made at the inquest." + +"Humph! You have a bad memory I see. I," said Mrs. Parry, with emphasis, +"I carry all I know in my head. Go on." + +Steel detailed the facts of the case. He related the threat of Anne +against Daisy overheard by Mrs. Morley; read out a copy of the anonymous +letter; emphasized the presence of Anne in the library for the few +minutes Morley was absent, when she would have had time to secure the +stiletto; and explained how Morley had found the very weapon near the +scene of the crime. Then he continued to relate what took place in +church during the midnight service. + +"Martha James," said he, "was sitting not far from Miss Kent. The corner +was rather dark----" + +"The whole church is badly lighted," interrupted Mrs. Parry. "I never +could bear smelly kerosene lamps." + +"The corner was dark," resumed Steel patiently, "and Martha, as she +says, having a headache, was rather inattentive to the sermon. She saw a +man near the door--a tall man, with a great-coat and a white scarf. She +couldn't see his face plainly. He slipped along the wall during the +sermon, when the attention of everyone was fixed on the preacher, +and--as Martha saw--slipped a scrap of paper into the hand of Miss Kent. +She started, and bending towards a near lamp, read the paper." + +"Did anyone else see her read it?" + +"No. She placed the paper in her prayer-book, and so contrived to read +it without exciting suspicion. Martha saw the action, because she was +well placed for observation." + +"And couldn't mind her own business. I know Martha James. Go on." + +"After a few minutes Miss Kent seemed to grow faint, and slipped out of +the church. Another witness--Samuel Gibbs--says that as she brushed past +him she murmured that she felt unwell. However, she went out." + +"And the tall man also?" + +"No. He remained for another ten minutes. Martha James watched him, +because she could not think why he did not follow Miss Kent after giving +her the paper." + +"Of course, Martha thought of something bad," sniffed Mrs. Parry; "no +doubt she believed that the two had arranged to meet. So the tall man +went out ten minutes afterwards. What about Anne?" + +"She was a few pews behind, and apparently inattentive, but a small girl +called Cissy Jinks----" + +"A most precocious child," interpolated the lady. + +"She is smart," admitted Steel. "Well, she declares that Miss Denham was +watching the tall man all the time. Whether she saw him give the paper +to Miss Kent no one seems to know; I think myself she must have done so, +if she was as watchful as Cissy Jinks declares. Moreover, she followed +the tall man when he went out." + +"Immediately?" + +"Five minutes afterwards." + +"Ha! Then it was a quarter of an hour before she followed Daisy. Humph! +Didn't Trim see them come out of the church?" + +"The groom? No, he was at the lych-gate with the car, and the snow was +falling fast; besides, the night was so dark that he could see nothing. +The first intimation he had of Miss Denham was when she came through the +lych-gate to tell him that his master was with Miss Kent on the way to +The Elms and wished to see him. Trim followed, and left her in charge of +the car. When he was gone she went off, leaving the body of the girl +behind her. The case is dead against her." + +"As you make it out, it certainly is," said Mrs. Parry scathingly. "But +what about the tall man--what became of him?" + +"He has vanished, and no one seems to know anything about him." + +"Ha!" said the old lady, with satisfaction; "well, I can enlighten you +on that point. He was the man who called to see Mr. Morley, and who left +just before Anne entered the library." + +"Are you sure Morley said nothing about that?" + +"Morley can hold his tongue when necessary," said the old lady dryly. +"Yes, that was the man. The footman at The Elms told me that Mr. +Morley's visitor wore a great-coat and a white scarf." + +"The same dress," murmured Steel, "and the man was afterwards in church. +He passed a note and went out apparently to see Miss Kent. I must +question Mr. Morley about him. I wonder if he went away in the motor +also." + +"Of course he did," replied Mrs. Parry calmly. "Anne was watching him, +according to Cissy Jinks, and she followed him five minutes later. It +would seem that she knew him, and after he killed Daisy helped him to +escape." + +"What do you say," asked Steel, wrinkling his brows, "that this man +killed Miss Kent?" + +"The evidence is nearly as strong against him as against Anne. He was in +the library also and might have obtained the stiletto. It was he who +lured Daisy out of the church. He was five minutes absent before Anne +followed--quite long enough for him to kill the poor girl." + +"It sounds feasible, I admit," said the detective thoughtfully; "but +even if this is true, it incriminates Miss Anne. She helped him to +escape, according to your theory. She must, therefore, have known about +the murder, and that makes her an accessory after the fact. In any case +she should be arrested." + +"But not hanged," insisted Mrs. Parry. "I am sure she did not kill the +girl. As for the man, she had a strong reason to get him out of the way, +but that does not say she knew of the crime." + +"I don't see what other reason she could have had," said Steel. "I +daresay you are right, and that this stranger did go with Miss Denham on +the car. What a pity no one saw them!" + +"Did no one see the car?" + +"No, it was found overturned in a hedge, near Tilbury." + +"I know," said Mrs. Parry, not liking to have her omniscience +questioned; "Trim told me. He came on the car by chance. It was quite +cold--the furnace was extinguished. It must have been abandoned for some +time when he came across it. I wonder where the pair went then." + +"You seem certain that the stranger was with Miss Denham." + +"Yes, I am quite satisfied on that point. Tilbury--ha! they were making +for Tilbury. Did you inquire there?" + +Steel nodded. "I could find no trace of them. No one saw them, or rather +her, for I asked only after Miss Denham. It is my opinion that they must +have got on board some ship, and have escaped to foreign parts. I could +not learn of any ship having left that night, though. Well, that is all +the evidence, Mrs. Parry, and you can see for yourself that the case +against Miss Denham is almost conclusive." + +"All the same, I believe she is innocent," insisted the old lady; "it +was the man who committed the crime. Ask Morley about him." + +"Do you think he knows anything?" + +"Not of the murder; but he must know the man's name. And now as you have +been so frank with me I'll show you what I promised. Do you remember the +anonymous letter and the reference to the Scarlet Cross?" + +"Yes. Miss Denham said that her father--who is now dead--wore a +red-enamelled cross on his watch-chain." + +"I know. Mrs. Morley told me so. Now see here." Mrs. Parry opened her +left hand, which for some time she had kept clenched. In her palm lay a +small gold cross enamelled red. + +"Where did you get that?" asked Steel, astounded. + +"Mrs. Bates, the pew-opener, found it in the church and brought it to +me. It was found near the spot where the stranger stood." + +"What?" Steel started to his feet. + +"Ah, you are beginning to see now!" said the old lady. "Yes, Steel, you +may well look. Anne is innocent. On the evidence of this cross I believe +that her father is not dead. He was the stranger; he killed Daisy, and +because he was her father Anne aided him to escape." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OLIVER MORLEY + + +In due time the body of Daisy Kent was buried. Her remains were laid by +those of her father in the very churchyard about which she had +complained to Giles a short time before the tragedy of her death. Ware +being still ill, did not attend the funeral, but a large concourse of +people from all parts of the county followed the coffin to the grave. + +Morley was the chief mourner, and looked haggard, as was natural. Poor +Mrs. Morley remained at home and wept. She did little else but weep in +those days, poor soul! + +When Mr. Drake had finished the service, and the grave was filled up, +the crowd dispersed. There was a great deal of talk about the untimely +death of the girl and the chances of her murderess being caught. +Everyone believed that Anne was guilty; but as Steel had kept his own +counsel and Mrs. Parry held her tongue, no mention was made of the tall +man. + +The chatter of Cissy Jinks and Martha Gibbs certainly seemed to +inculpate him in the matter, but only the villagers talked of this +especial point. It never reached the ears of the reporters, and did not +get into the papers. But the journals gave a good deal of space to the +affair, and hinted that it was what the French call "un crime +passional." Still, no paper was daring enough to hint at Giles and his +presumed connection with the tragedy. It was merely stated that he had +been engaged to the deceased girl, and felt her death so deeply, as was +natural, that he had taken to his bed. Of course, this was an +embellishment of facts, as Ware was simply laid up with an attack of +pneumonia. But for the benefit of the public the journalists ascribed it +to romantic and undying love. Giles, who was a matter-of-fact young +Englishman, did not see these descriptions, or he would have been much +disgusted at the sickly sentimentality. + +Meantime no news was heard of Anne. It was not known that the tall +stranger had been with her, for several people had seen the car passing +on its way to Tilbury. It was a lucky thought that had made Trim take +that particular direction, and merely by chance that he had stumbled on +the motor overthrown in a hedge. Evidently an accident had occurred, but +no one was near at the time, as it took place some little distance from +Tilbury and in a lonely part. But it was conjectured that the two +occupants had proceeded on foot to Tilbury. A boatman was found who +related that he had taken a lady and gentleman across to Gravesend, and +that the gentleman walked a trifle lame. They landed on the Gravesend +shore, and here the boatman lost sight of them. It was the lady who paid +his fare, and he said that she appeared to be quite calm. He did not see +the face of the man, but described that of Anne and her dress also. +There was no doubt but what she was the fugitive. + +However, here the trail ended. Once in Gravesend, and all trace of the +pair was lost. Steel made inquiries everywhere, but without success. The +two might have got away in a ship, but this he could not learn. The +night was foggy and dark, and no ship had gone out of the river, +according to the boatmen. Steel could discover nothing, and resolved to +throw up the case. But at the eleventh hour he stumbled on a clue, and +followed it up. The result of his inquiries made him return at once to +Rickwell, where he sought out Mr. Morley. + +The little man had sent his wife and family away from The Elms, as the +atmosphere of the house was melancholy in the extreme. Mrs. Morley, not +averse to more cheerful surroundings, elected to go to Brighton with the +triplets, and took two servants with her. Morley remained behind with a +reduced staff, and promised to join her later. He desired to wait until +he could see the detective. His wish was speedily gratified, for three +days after the departure of his wife Steel made his appearance. Morley +received him in the library. + +"How do you do, sir?" said the detective, as they shook hands. "I am +glad to see that you are looking better." + +"I am getting over the shock," replied the other, "now that the poor +child is buried; there is no use mourning further. I have sent my wife +and family to Brighton and propose to follow myself in a day or so." + +"I am lucky to have caught you, then?" + +"What? Have you found any clue?" + +"I think so. It is connected with the Scarlet Cross." + +Morley, who was warming his hands over the fire, looked round eagerly, +and his eyes flashed. + +"I thought there was something in that reference. You remember the +letter, Steel?" + +"Yes. And I showed it to Mrs. Parry." + +"To that meddlesome old woman. Why?" + +"It's too long a matter to go into. But it was just as well I did. She +gave me this little ornament." + +Morley turned over the enamelled cross and examined it carefully. +"Humph! It is the kind of thing Miss Denham said was worn by her dead +father." + +"Exactly. Well, Mr. Morley, either the father is dead as she told you +and that cross was worn by a stranger, or the man who called to see you +here was the father." + +"How do you make that out? What do you mean?" said Morley, and his face +exhibited genuine amazement. + +For answer Steel related what Mrs. Parry had told him about the +discovery of the cross, and how she had put two and two together. + +"And now, sir, you must see that in some way this stranger is connected +with the crime. He called to see you. May I ask what you know of him?" + +"Absolutely nothing," replied the other emphatically. "Wait! I must show +you something." He rose and went to his desk. "Of course, I am telling +you my private business," he added, opening a drawer, "so don't please +speak about it." + +"If it has nothing to do with the murder I won't; but if----" + +"Pshaw! that is all right, I know as much about these things as you do. +However, we can talk of that later. Meantime cast your eye over that," +and he placed a document on the table. + +"A judgment summons for five hundred pounds," said Steel, with a +whistle. "Did he serve this?" + +"Yes," replied Morley, returning to his seat with a gloomy face. "You +will see that it is dated three days before he came to me. I have outrun +the constable, and have the greatest difficulty in keeping my head above +water. This man--I don't know his name--said that he came from those +solicitors----" + +"'Asher, Son, and Asher,'" read out the detective. + +Morley nodded. "Of twenty-two, St. Audrey's Inn. A firm of sharpers I +call them. The money has certainly been owing a long time, but I offered +to pay off the sum by degrees. They refused, and insist upon immediate +payment. If they would only wait until the war is over, my South African +shares would go up and there would be a chance of settling the matter. +But they will not wait. I expect a bankruptcy notice next." + +"I am very sorry for you, Mr. Morley, and of course, I shall not betray +the confidence you have placed in me; but the point is, what is the name +of the man who served this?" + +"I don't know; I never asked him his name. He entered by the front door +and served this here. I sent him out by the window, so that the servants +should not see him again. He had the look of a sheriff's officer, and +one can't be too careful here. I believe Mrs. Parry pays my servants to +tell her what goes on in my house. I didn't want her to learn about this +summons." + +"I can easily understand that," replied the detective; "and I see now +why you let the man out by the window. You left the room with him?" + +"Yes. I didn't say anything much at the inquest beyond that he was a +visitor, and I was relieved when I found that no questions were asked. +But I walked with him to the end of the terrace and saw him go down the +avenue. Then I returned to this room, and found Miss Denham waiting by +the desk. I asked her what she wanted. She asked for her wages, as she +was leaving the next day. I had no ready money, and promised to see to +it before she departed. Then she went out, and shortly afterwards Miss +Kent came in to say she had seen the man go down the avenue. She asked +me who he was, and I was rather short with her, poor creature!" and +Morley sighed. + +"I wonder why the man went to church." + +"I can't say that; but I can guess that when he knew who Daisy was he +wanted to speak to her." + +"What about?" asked Steel eagerly. + +"About me and the summons. You see, Steel, there is a half-uncle of +Daisy Kent's who went to Australia. He said that if he made his fortune +he would leave the money to her. Whether he is dead or alive I don't +know, but certainly she did not get any money left to her. Powell's +solicitors are Asher, Son, and Asher----" + +"Powell? I thought the uncle would be called Kent, unless, of course, he +was uncle by the mother's side." + +"I said half-uncle," said Morley dryly. "Powell is his name--William +Powell--and his solicitors are those who issued that judgment summons. I +expect the clerk wanted to tell Daisy about my position and warn her +against lending me money. As though I should have asked the girl for +sixpence!" + +"I don't see why this clerk should warn Miss Kent." + +"Well, you see, Daisy had a hundred a year, and they pay it to her. As +she might one day be an heiress, I suppose they think it as well to keep +an eye on her. This man could not have known that Daisy was in church, +and may have just gone there to kill time. But when he saw her and knew +who she was, I daresay he wrote that note asking her to come outside and +be told all about me." + +"It might be so. Was the note found?" + +"Not to my knowledge. But you should know, being a detective." + +"I'm not omniscient," replied Steel good-humoredly; "it is only in +novels that you get the perfect person who never makes a mistake. Well, +to resume. I don't see why the clerk should have killed Miss Kent." + +"He did not kill her," insisted Morley. "I was in the room with him from +the time he entered by the door to the time he left by that middle +window. He had no chance of stealing the stiletto. Now Miss Denham had, +for she was in the room alone for a few moments." + +"But why should she have taken the clerk with her on the car? If she +killed the girl her object must have been to escape herself?" + +"I can't explain. Perhaps this clerk saw the crime and hoped to make +money out of it. Had he given the alarm he wouldn't have gained any +reward. So I suppose he mounted the car with her, so that she should not +escape him." + +"A wild theory." + +"It's the only one I can think of," responded Morley; "but if you want +to know more of this man go up to Asher, Son, and Asher. I daresay they +will be able to give you his history." + +"And the Scarlet Cross?" + +"I know nothing about that. I did not even notice if the man had such a +cross on his chain. In fact," added Morley frankly, "he was too shabby +and poverty-stricken to have a chain. I think Anne Denham killed Daisy; +you think this man did, and----" + +"Pardon," protested Steel. "I have not yet made up my mind. But the two +fled together, and there must be some reason for that." + +"If so, it will be found in the past history of both, or either. You +know where to look for the man. I can get from my wife the address of +the Governesses' Institute where she engaged Miss Denham. That is all I +can do, unless I take up the case myself." + +Steel looked up with a laugh. He was copying the address of the +solicitors from the summons, but could not help pausing to reply to this +egotistical remark. "Why, Mr. Morley, what do you know of such work?" he +asked, bantering. + +"Much more than you would give me credit for. Did you ever hear of--by +the way, this is another of my secrets I am telling you, so please don't +repeat it." + +"Are you going to say that you were in the profession?" + +"I am. You may have heard of Joe Bart." + +"I should think so," said Steel quickly. "He had a splendid reputation, +and was much thought of. But he retired before I came to London. I was +in the country police for a long time. But"--he started up--"you don't +mean to say that----" + +"That I am Joe Bart?" interrupted Morley, not ill-pleased. "Yes, I do. I +retired over ten years ago, more fool I. You see, Steel, I grew wearied +of thief-catching, and as I had a chance of marrying a widow with money, +I took the offer and retired. But"--he looked at the summons--"the game +wasn't worth the candle. I have had nothing but trouble. Still, I am +devoted to my wife and her children." + +"And you have forgotten your former glory," said Steel enthusiastically; +"surely not. That Hatton Garden jewel robbery, the man with the red coat +who committed the Lichfield murder, and----" + +"I remember them all," said Morley, with gentle melancholy. "I have a +full report of all the cases I was engaged in yonder"--he nodded to a +distant shelf. "Sometimes I take those volumes down and think what an +ass I was to retire." + +"But see here, Mr. Morley. You are hard up; you want money. I am sure +they would be glad to have you back at the Yard. Why not recommence +your detective life with searching out this case?" + +Morley, late Joe Bart, shook his head. "There is no difficulty about +this case to tempt me," he said. "Anne Denham killed the girl. But I +must say I should like to find out about this clerk, and why he went off +with her. Still, it is useless for me to become a detective again. In +the first place my wife would not like it, and in the second I have lost +my keen scent. I am rusty--I am laid on the shelf. No, no, Steel, you +look after this matter yourself. Any advice I can give you I shall, but +don't tempt the old dog out of his kennel." + +Steel looked admiringly at his host. Bart had been a celebrated +detective in his day, although not one of the best. Still, he had made a +reputation on two or three cases, which entitled him to respect. "I +should be proud to work with you, Mr. Morley." + +"Well, well," said Morley, rather pleased, "we'll see. At present I must +put my wits to work to get money to prevent my being made a bankrupt. +Now don't give me away, Steel." + +"I'll say nothing. I suppose your wife knows that you were----" + +"Of course. But she made me promise to give it up. Therefore you see I +can't take up the life again. But my advice to you--if you care to take +it--is to look after the governess, and leave the clerk alone. She is +guilty; he is not." + +"I'll look after both," said Steel firmly, "after both Mr.--Bart." + +Morley laughed. "Report to me all you do," he said, and this Steel +willingly promised. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE IRONY OF FATE + + +Giles was slowly recovering from his illness, but as yet was unable to +leave his room. It was now over a month since the death of Daisy, and +during that time all matters connected therewith had been reported to +the invalid. Thus he knew of the funeral, of the verdict of the jury, +and of the search that was being made for Anne. Trim, who nursed his +young master--and he would not allow any one else to do so--day by day, +related all that was taking place. The man himself quite believed that +Miss Denham was guilty, but he did not offer this opinion to Ware, +knowing how keenly Giles felt the untoward tragedy. + +The young squire could not bring himself to believe that Anne was +guilty. Appearances were against her, and he could not conceive what +excuse she could make for her flight with the lawyer's clerk. If she +were innocent, she had gone the best way to work up a feasible case +against her. But Giles was so deeply in love with her that the blacker +became her character in the mouths of the general public, the more +persistently he held to the belief that it was whiter than snow. Had he +been able he would have followed her, in order to persuade her to +return and face the worst with a frank story of the events of that +terrible night. But he was chained to his bed, and even had he been +sufficiently well, he could not have traced her whereabouts. Steel had +called to explain his doings, but not even he could guess where Anne was +to be found. And Giles rejoiced that this should be so. + +"What's the news this morning, Trim?" he asked languidly. + +"Mr. Morley has come to see you, sir. He is waiting below." + +"I thought he had gone to Brighton with his wife and family?" + +"He did go some days back," assented Trim, "but he returned, sir--so he +says--especially to see you." + +"How very good of him! Ask him to come up." + +"Are you strong enough, Master Giles?" + +"Yes, you old tyrant. I hope to be up and about in a week." + +Trim shook his grey head. He was rather a pessimist, and did not believe +in too sudden recoveries, insisting that such did not last. + +"You'll have a relapse, sir, and be worse than ever." + +Ware laughed, knowing Trim's ways, and motioned him out of the room. +When the old servant left, grumbling that his master should be +disturbed, Giles began to wonder what had brought Morley back from +Brighton. Perhaps he had come to speak of Daisy and her untimely end; +but he had already, on a previous occasion, said all that was to be said +about that matter. Ware sincerely mourned Daisy, for in a way he had +been fond of her. Still, he could not but confess that a marriage +between them would have been a mistake, and that drastic as was the +cutting of the Gordian knot, it relieved him from an impossible +position. His love for Anne would always have stood between himself and +the unfortunate girl, and her jealousy would have ruined both their +lives. Certainly he saw no chance of making Anne his wife, seeing that +she was a fugitive and accused of a terrible crime. Nevertheless, since +he had not to marry Daisy, the situation was less difficult. But Ware, +his heart aching for the woman he loved, found cold comfort in this +reasoning. + +Morley entered, looking ruddy and cheerful, quite his old self, in fact. +Evidently the sea air and the change had assuaged his grief to a +considerable extent, and Giles could not help remarking cynically on his +quick recovery. "I thought you were fond of Daisy," he said +reproachfully. + +"I was, and so was my wife," answered Morley, taking a seat beside the +bed. "But what's done can't be undone, and I have been trying to get +over my sorrow. But in spite of my looks, Ware, I have my bad moments. +And you?" + +"I sincerely mourn for the poor girl. It is terrible that she should be +cut off so suddenly. But I am just as sorry for Miss Denham, if not more +sorry. It is those who are left behind that suffer most, Morley." + +"Humph!" said the little man thoughtfully, "then you _did_ love Miss +Denham?" + +"Morley"--Giles started up on his elbow--"what do you mean?" + +"I am simply repeating what Daisy said." + +"She had a monomania on the subject," said Ware uneasily. "I never gave +her any cause for jealousy." + +"Would you have married her had she lived?" + +"Certainly," said Ware coldly. "I promised my father that the daughter +of his old friend should be my wife." + +"I am sure you would have acted honorably," said Morley gravely, "but it +is just as well that you did not marry the girl. I think she had some +reason to be jealous of Miss Denham." + +Ware groaned. "I tried my best to----" He broke off with a frown. "This +is my private business, Morley. You have no right to pry into these +things." + +Morley shrugged his shoulders. "As you please. I shall say no more. But +I don't expect you'll see Miss Denham again." + +"I don't expect I shall. Please leave her name out of this +conversation." + +"For the moment I am agreeable to do so. But as I believe her to be +guilty, I must ask you a question or two." + +"I shall answer no questions," responded Giles violently. "Miss Denham +is innocent." + +"Then why did she fly?" + +"I don't know. If I can only find her, I shall ask her to come back and +face the worst. She can explain." + +"She will have to when she is caught. How do you propose to find her, +Ware?" + +"I don't know. Wait till I am on my feet again." + +"Well," said Morley cheerfully, "I'll give you a clue--the Scarlet +Cross." + +"Rubbish! There's nothing in that in spite of the anonymous letter. What +do you know about the matter?" + +"Only what Steel told me. He found a boatman at Gravesend who declared +that on the day of the crime--Steel gave him the date--a small steam +yacht was lying in the river off the town. It was called _The Red +Cross_. The next morning it was gone. The night was foggy, and no one +saw it leave its moorings. It simply vanished. What do you make of that, +Ware?" + +"Nothing at all. What has this yacht to do with Miss Denham?" + +"Can't you see? The anonymous letter referred to a Scarlet Cross. Such +an ornament was picked up in the church, and the boat was called----" + +"_The Red Cross_--not _The Scarlet Cross_," interrupted Ware. + +"Only a difference of shade," said Morley ironically. "But I am certain +that Miss Denham with her companion went on board that yacht. I can't +think how else they escaped." + +"Why should this lawyer's clerk have gone on board?" + +"That's what Steel is trying to find out. I expect he will make +inquiries of Asher, Son, and Asher's office. But the name of the yacht, +the fact that Miss Denham made for Gravesend, where it was lying, and +its appearance and disappearance within twenty-four hours during which +the crime was committed shows me that she fled and that she is guilty." + +Ware restrained himself with a violent effort. "Oh," he said ironically, +"then you believe that Miss Denham arranged that the yacht should be at +Gravesend, ready for her flight, after the death of Daisy." + +"It looks like that," assented Morley. "I believe myself that the crime +was premeditated." + +"And was the fact of my car being at the church gate premeditated?" +asked Ware angrily. + +"Why not? Miss Denham knew that your car was coming for you after the +service." + +"Morley, I admit that things look black, but she is not guilty." + +"Humph! You love her." + +"That has nothing to do with it." + +"As you will. Let us say no more on the subject. I wish to tell you why +I came." + +"It is sure to be a more disagreeable subject," retorted Giles; then +felt compunction for the rude speech. "I beg your pardon, Morley, I am a +perfect bear. But this illness has made me peevish, and the events of +the last few weeks have rendered my brain irritable. Forgive my bad +temper." + +"Oh, that's all right, Ware," replied his visitor heartily. "I can +always make allowances for invalids. You'll be your old self again +shortly." + +"I shall never be myself again," replied Giles gloomily. + +It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to make some fresh reference to +Anne. But he knew that such a remark would only exasperate the invalid; +and, moreover, Giles looked so ill and worried that Morley generously +refrained from adding to his troubles. "Let us come to business," he +said, taking some papers out of his breast coat-pocket. "Since you were +engaged to Daisy I thought it right that you should be made aware of a +communication I have received from Asher, Son, and Asher." + +"About the summons you told me of?" asked Ware wearily. He did not take +much interest in Morley's affairs. + +"No. I have managed to compromise that. The solicitors have accepted +payment in instalments. In this instance they write to me officially as +Daisy's guardian. She has come into five thousand a year, Ware." + +Giles opened his eyes and sat up in bed excitedly. + +"Do you mean to say that her half-uncle Powell is dead?" + +Morley nodded. "Very ironical, isn't it?" he said. "She was always +talking and hoping for the money, and now when it comes she is unable to +enjoy it. What tricks Fate plays us to be sure!" + +"Poor girl!" sighed Giles; "how often have we discussed the prospect of +her being an heiress! I always told her that I had enough for both, but +she hankered after having money in her own right." + +"Look at the papers," said Morley, handing them to the young man, "and +you will see that Powell died over four months ago in Sydney. His +solicitors arranged about the estate in the colony of New South Wales, +and then communicated with Asher as Powell had advised them before he +died. There is a copy of the will there." + +"So I see. But tell me the chief points in it. I feel too tired to wade +through all this legal matter." + +"Well, the money was left to Daisy, and failing her it goes to a man +called George Franklin." + +"H'm! He has come in for his kingdom very speedily, thanks to the death +of poor Daisy. Who is he?" + +Morley glanced at a letter. "He was the brother-in-law of Mr. +Powell--married Powell's sister who is dead. I don't know if there is +any family. Asher's firm doesn't know the whereabouts of Franklin, but +they are advertising for him. The five thousand a year goes to him +without reservation." + +"Why did they tell you all this?" + +"I really can't say, unless it is because I was Daisy's legal guardian. +I wish she had come in for this money, Ware, for I do not say but what I +shouldn't have been glad of a trifle. And if Daisy had lived she would +have paid me something. Certainly as I did what I did do out of sheer +friendship with her father, I have no right to demand anything, but when +Franklin hears of my circumstances I hope he will lend me some money to +get me out of my difficulties." + +"It all depends upon the kind of man he turns out to be. But I always +thought, Morley, that it was your wife to whom Kent left his daughter. +She was an old friend of his." + +"Quite so; but Kent appointed me guardian, as Mrs. Morley refused to be +legally bound. I am sure I did my duty," added the little man, with +sudden heat. + +"I am sure you did. You behaved like a father to her, and I am sorry she +did not live to repay you." Giles thought for a moment or so, then +added, "I was engaged to Daisy, and I am rich. Let me help you, Morley." + +"No, thanks. It is good of you to suggest such a thing, but I am a very +independent man. If this Franklin will do anything, I don't mind +accepting a thousand from him; otherwise--no, Ware." + +Giles admired the bluff way in which Morley said this. He knew well that +for a long time Morley and his wife had done all they could for Daisy +Kent, and that both of them deserved great praise. He suggested that +Mrs. Morley might be induced---- + +"No," interrupted his visitor, "my wife wants nothing. She has her own +money, and ample means." + +"Then why don't you ask for her help?" + +"My dear Ware, I married Mrs. Morley because I loved her, and not for +her money. All her property is settled on herself, and I have not +touched one shilling of it. She would willingly help me, but I have +refused." + +"Isn't that rather quixotic on your part?" + +"Perhaps," responded Morley, with some dryness; "but it is my nature. +However, I see that I am tiring you. I only came to tell you of this +irony of fate, whereby Daisy inherited a fortune too late to benefit by +it. I must go now. My wife expects me back in Brighton to-morrow." + +"When do you return to The Elms?" + +"In a month. And what are your movements?" + +Ware thought for a few minutes before he answered. At length he spoke +seriously. + +"Morley, I know you are prejudiced against Miss Denham." + +"I think she is guilty, if that is what you mean, Ware." + +"And I say that she is innocent. I intend to devote myself to finding +her and to clearing up this mystery." + +"Well, I wish you good luck," said Morley, moving towards the door; "but +don't tell me when you find Miss Denham. If I come across her I'll have +her arrested." + +"That's plain enough. Well, since you are her declared enemy, I shall +keep my own counsel." He raised himself on his elbow. "But I tell you, +Morley, that I shall find her. I shall prove her innocence, and I shall +make her my wife." + +Morley opened the door. + +"The age of miracles is past," he said. "When you are more yourself, you +will be wiser. Good-bye, and a speedy recovery." + +As the visitor departed Trim entered with the letters. He was not at all +pleased to find Giles so flushed, and refused to hand over the +correspondence. Only when Ware began to grow seriously angry did Trim +give way. He went grumbling out of the room as Giles opened his letters. +The first two were from friends in town asking after his health; the +third had a French stamp and the Paris postmark. Ware opened it +listlessly. He then uttered an exclamation. On a sheet of thin foreign +paper was the drawing in pencil of a half-sovereign of Edward VII., and +thereon three circles placed in a triangle, marked respectively "A," +"D," and "P." Below, in a handwriting he knew only too well, was written +the one word "Innocent." + +"Anne, Anne!" cried Ware, passionately kissing the letter, "as though I +needed you to tell me that!" + +And it was not till an hour later that he suddenly remembered what a +narrow escape he had had from putting Morley on the track of Anne +Denham. Had Morley seen that letter----? + +"Paris," murmured Giles, "I'll go there." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A STRANGE DISCOVERY + + +The offices of Asher, Son, and Asher were situated in a dark, narrow +street in the City, which led down to the river. In former days the +place might have been respectable, and then the original Asher had set +up his official tent in the neighborhood; but civilization had moved +westward, and Terry Street was looked on askance by fashionable +solicitors. Nevertheless the firm of Asher continued to dwell in the +dingy office, where their progenitors had slaved for close on a hundred +years. It was quite good enough, thought the present head of the firm, +for such well-known lawyers. + +The firm did a good old-fashioned business, eminently respectable and +safe. None of the three partners was a sharper, as Morley asserted; but +as the firm had issued a judgment summons against the master of The +Elms, he could scarcely be expected to think well of them. Old Mr. Asher +rarely came to the office, preferring his country house and melon beds, +and the business was conducted by the son and the other Asher, who was a +cousin. Both these gentlemen were over forty, and in spite of a modern +education were decidedly old-fashioned. There was something in the +musty air of the Terry Street office that petrified them into old men +before their due time. The three clerks who sat in the outer rooms were +also elderly, and the sole youthful creature about the place was the +office boy, a red-haired imp who answered to the name of Alexander. His +surname was Benker, but was not thought sufficiently dignified for use +in so sedate a place of business. + +With some difficulty Steel found this musty haunt of the legal Muse, and +sent up his name to the senior partner with a request for an interview. +Alexander, whistling between his teeth, led him into a frowzy apartment +lined with books and tin boxes, and furnished with a green baize-covered +table heaped with legal papers, three chairs, and a mahogany sofa of the +Early Victorian period. Mr. Asher, the son, might have belonged to the +same epoch, in spite of his age, so rusty and smug did he look. His face +was clean-shaven with the exception of side-whiskers; his hair was thin +on the top and sparse on the sides, and he was dressed in a suit of +solemn black, with a satin tie to match. In fact, he was the typical +lawyer of melodrama, and Steel was surprised to find so ancient a +survival in these modern days. But when they began to talk Asher proved +to be quite able to hold his own, and was not at all fossilized in +brain, whatever he might be in appearance. He knew not only the name of +Steel, but all about the case and Steel's connection therewith. He +referred in feeling terms to Daisy's death. + +"A very charming girl, Mr. Steel," said the young-old lawyer. "On +several occasions she has been here to draw her little income. It is sad +that she should have met with her death at the hands of a jealous woman +at the very time she was about to enjoy a legacy of five thousand a +year." + +"You don't say so!" cried Steel, who had heard nothing of this. + +"Ah! Mr. Morley never informed you of the fact." + +"Well, no, he didn't; but then, I have not seen him for over a week. I +believe he is at Brighton with his wife. Who left this money to the late +Miss Kent?" + +"A relative of hers who died lately in Australia." + +"And failing her who inherits?" + +Mr. Asher reflected. "I don't know that you have any right to ask that +question," he said, after a pause. + +"Pardon me," replied the detective. "Miss Kent was murdered. I fancied +that the money might have something to do with the commission of the +crime." + +"No, Mr. Steel. I read the evidence given at the inquest. Jealousy was +the motive of the crime, and Miss Denham is guilty." + +"I am somewhat of that way of thinking myself, Mr. Asher. And on the +face of it there is no other way of accounting for the murder. +Nevertheless it is just as well to look at the matter from all sides. +The crime may be connected with the question of this fortune. You may as +well tell me what I wish to know. I'll keep my mouth closed." + +"Are you going to accuse our client of the crime?" asked Asher dryly. "I +fear you will waste your time if you do. Since you look at the matter in +this way, I don't mind speaking about what after all is not your +business." + +"That is as it may be," returned Steel enigmatically. + +Asher passed this remark over. "Failing Miss Kent, the five thousand a +year goes to George Franklin, a brother-in-law of the testator. We +lately received a letter from him, informing us that he intended to +claim the money." + +"How did he know that he would inherit?" + +"We advertised for him. He is quite unaware of the death of Miss Kent, +and I daresay thinks Mr. Powell left the fortune to him direct." + +"You can't be certain of his ignorance. However, let us give him the +benefit of the doubt. Where did he write from?" + +"From Florence, in Italy, where he has lived for four years. He will be +in London next week, and if you want to see him----" + +"I'll think of it," interrupted Steel. "There may be no need to trouble +Mr. Franklin. At present I am searching for this clerk of yours, who +went off with Miss Denham." + +The lawyer raised his eyebrows with manifest surprise. "A clerk of ours, +Mr. Steel? I don't quite follow you." + +"I refer to the man who served a judgment summons on Mr. Morley." + +"A boy served that," explained Asher. "The boy who showed you in." + +Steel stared hard at the solicitor, trying to understand why he had made +such a statement. "But that is absurd," he remarked. "I know that +nothing was said at the inquest about the matter, as Mr. Morley did not +wish it to be known that he was in such difficulties. But a tall man, +with a reddish beard, dressed in a great-coat, with a white scarf, +served the summons. Afterwards he went to the midnight service in the +parish church, and lured Miss Kent outside by means of a note, which we +cannot find. From what I have gathered this man went with Miss Denham in +Mr. Ware's motor-car. He fled with her, and I fancy he must be either +the assassin or an accessory after the fact." + +Asher heard all this with extreme surprise. When Steel concluded he +touched the bell. Alexander responded with his usual cheerful and +impudent air. His master addressed him with some severity. "What about +that summons which was served by you on Mr. Morley, of Rickwell?" he +demanded. + +The lad grew crimson to his ears, and looked at the floor much +embarrassed. "I served it all right, sir," he mumbled. + +"_You_ served it," struck in Steel, with emphasis. "That is quite +untrue. A tall man with a red beard served it." + +"Alexander, tell the truth. What does this mean?" + +The boy began to sob, and drew his coat-sleeve across his eye with a +snuffle. "I thought it was all right," he said, "or I should not have +given it to him." + +"The summons! You gave it to someone to serve?" + +"Yes, sir. To Mr. Wilson, mother's lodger." + +"Is he tall? Has he a pale face and a red beard?" asked Steel. + +"He has, sir. He's been with mother six months, and was always kind. +When I got the summons he said that he was going into the country, and +would serve it on Mr. Morley." + +"Alexander," said Asher in an awful tone, "I gave you money for your +railway fare to go to Rickwell. What have you done with that money, +wretched boy?" + +"I went to the Hippodrome with another boy," wept Alexander. "I thought +as I'd take the holiday, as you'd think I was in the country. Please, +sir, I'm very sorry, but I thought Mr. Wilson was all right." + +"Did Mr. Wilson come back to say that all was right?" demanded Steel +sharply. + +"No, sir, he didn't. Mother and I ain't set eyes on him since he went +away to serve the summons. I was afraid to tell you, sir," he added to +his master, "'cause I knew I'd done wrong. But I hope you won't be hard +on me, sir." + +"Alexander," said Mr. Asher, "you have disgraced a most respectable +office, and can no longer continue in it. You have spent money, you have +wasted time, both given to you for a certain purpose. For the sake of +your mother, who is a hard-working woman, I shall not take any legal +steps. But from this day you cease to be in our employment. Your wages +for the week shall be confiscated, since you have made free with my +money. At five to-day, Alexander, you leave this place forever." + +"Oh, sir--please, sir--I didn't----" + +"Alexander, I have spoken. You can depart." + +With a howl the boy went out of the room, and sat weeping in the outer +office for at least ten minutes. He was wondering what he should say to +his mother, for she was a terrible woman, with a short temper and a hard +hand. His fellow-clerks demanded what was the matter, but Alexander had +sense enough to keep his own counsel. All he said was that the governor +had discharged him, and then he wept afresh. + +While thus employed Steel made his appearance. He had been discussing +the matter with Asher, and had proposed a course of action in connection +with the delinquent to which Asher agreed. He advanced to the weeping +Alexander and lifted him from his seat by the collar. + +"Come, young man," said he, "take me home to your mother at once." + +"Oh, Lor'," cried Alexander, "she'll give me beans!" + +"You deserve the worst beating she can give you," said Steel severely, +while the clerks grinned. "However, you must come with me. Where do you +live?" + +"Warder Street, Lambeth," snuffled Alexander, and urged by the hand on +his collar, went out of the office with the detective. + +"We'll take a hansom," said Steel, and shortly was ensconced in one with +the miserable Alexander. + +As a rule a ride in a hansom would have been a joy to Master Benker, but +he was too much afraid of the meeting with his mother to take any +pleasure in the treat. However, he relied on the promise of the +detective that he would sooth the maternal ire, and managed to reply +fairly well to the questions Steel asked. These referred to Mr. Wilson. + +"Who is he?" demanded the detective. + +"Mother's lodger," replied Alexander; "he's been with her six months, +and mother thought a deal of him. He was kind to me." + +"Ah! Was he well off?" + +"I don't know. He paid his rent regular, but he wore shabby clothes, and +was always out. I only saw him at night when I came home from the +office." + +"Did he ask you many questions about the office?" + +"Oh, yes. He said he wished me to get on--that I was a smart boy, and a +credit to my mother." + +"So you are," answered Steel genially. "I'm sure she'll give you a proof +of her approval to-day. Now don't cry, boy." Steel shook Alexander, and +then demanded suddenly, "You copy all the letters, do you not?" + +"Yes, I do," answered Master Benker, wondering why this was asked. + +"And you read them sometimes?" + +"Nearly always. I like to know what's going on. Mr. Wilson said I should +make myself acquainted with everything." + +"I'm sure he did," muttered Steel ironically. "Did you read any letter +saying that Miss Kent had inherited a fortune? Miss Daisy Kent, who +lived with Mr. Morley at Rickwell?" + +Alexander thought for a moment. "Yes, I did. It was a letter to some +lawyers in Sydney." + +"Did you tell Mr. Wilson about it?" + +"Yes, sir. He was always talking about people coming in for money, and I +said that a girl called Miss Kent had come in for five thousand a year." + +"I thought so. When did you tell Mr. Wilson this?" + +"Three days after Christmas." + +"Before he offered to serve the summons?" + +"Why, I hadn't got the summons then," said Alexander. "Mr. Asher gave it +to me the day before New Year. I said I was going into the country to +Rickwell, for Mr. Wilson asked me what I was making myself smart for. He +said he'd take the summons, and that I could go to the Hippodrome with +Jim Tyler." + +"Which you did on your employer's money. You are a smart lad, Alexander. +What did your mother say?" + +"Mother was out when I came home with the summons, and after Mr. Wilson +said he'd take it I didn't say anything to her." + +"Then she thought that on the day before the New Year you were at the +office as usual?" + +"Yes," snuffled Master Benker, "she did. Oh, Lor'!" as the cab stopped +before a tidy house in a quiet street, "here we are." + +"And there is your mother," said the detective cheerfully, as a severe +face appeared at the white-curtained window. + +Alexander wept afresh as Steel paid the cabman, and positively howled +when the door opened and his mother--a lean woman in a black dress, with +a widow's cap--appeared. He would have run away but that Steel again +had a hand on his collar. + +"Alexander," cried his mother harshly, "what have you been doing?" + +"Nothing very dreadful, ma'am," interposed Steel. "It will be all right. +Let me in, and I'll speak for my young friend." + +"And who may you be, sir?" demanded Mrs. Benker, bristling. + +"A personal friend of Mr. Asher's." + +On hearing this dreaded name Mrs. Benker softened, and welcomed Steel +into a neat parlor, where he seated himself in a horsehair mahogany +chair of the most slippery description and related what had happened. +Alexander stood by and wept all the time. He wept more when his mother +spoke. + +"I expected it," she said in quiet despair; "that boy is the bane of my +life. I'll speak to you shortly, Alexander. Go to your room and retire +to bed." + +"Oh, mother! mother!" cried Master Benker, writhing at the prospect of a +thorough whipping. + +"Go to your room, Alexander, and make ready," repeated the widow, with a +glare, and the boy retired slowly, wriggling and snuffling. When his +sobs died away and an upstairs door was heard to close with a bang, Mrs. +Benker addressed herself to Steel. + +"I hope you will induce Mr. Asher to overlook this," she said, clasping +a pair of lean, mittened hands; "I am so poor." + +"I'll do my best," responded Steel; "that is, if you will give me some +information about your late lodger, Mr. Wilson." + +"Why should I do that?" asked Mrs. Benker suspiciously. + +"Because Mr. Asher wishes to know all about him. You see, your son +allowed Mr. Wilson to serve this summons, and it is necessary that Mr. +Asher should learn where he is." + +"That's only fair; but I don't know. Mr. Wilson has not returned here +since he left on the day before New Year." + +"Did he leave any luggage behind him?" + +"No, sir, he didn't." Mrs. Benker paused, then continued, "I'll tell you +exactly how it occurred, if Mr. Asher will make some allowance for the +wickedness of that wretched boy of mine." + +"I'll see what can be done, and use my influence with Mr. Asher." + +"Thank you, sir," said the widow gratefully. "Well, sir, I was absent +all the last day of the year, as I was seeing a married daughter of mine +in Marylebone. Mr. Wilson was in the house when I left at ten in the +morning, but said nothing about going away. When I returned at six in +the evening I found that he was gone bag and baggage, and that he had +left his rent on the table. Also a note saying that he was suddenly +called away and would not return." + +"Have you the note?" asked Steel, thinking it just as well to have some +specimen of Wilson's handwriting. + +Mrs. Benker shook her head. "I burnt it," she replied; "it was only +written in pencil and not worth keeping. I must say that Mr. Wilson +always behaved like a gentleman, although I saw little of him. He was +queer in his habits." + +"How do you mean--'queer'?" + +"Well, sir, I hardly ever saw him in the daytime, and when I did he +usually kept his blinds down in his room, as he suffered from weak eyes. +Even when he saw Alexander in the evening he would hardly have any +light. Then sometimes he would lie in bed all the day, and be out all +the night. At other times he would stay at home the whole of the +twenty-four hours. But he always paid his rent regularly, and gave +little trouble over his food. Yes," added Mrs. Benker, smoothing her +apron, "Mr. Wilson was always a gentleman. I will say that." + +"Humph!" thought Steel, taking all this in eagerly. "A queer kind of +gentleman," he added aloud. "Did you know anything else about him, Mrs. +Benker?" + +"No, sir." She drew herself up primly. "I never pry--never." + +"Did any one call to see Mr. Wilson?" + +"No one. All the time he was here not one person called." + +"Did he receive any letters?" + +"No. Not one letter arrived." + +"Queer," murmured Steel. "What newspaper did he take?" + +"The _Morning Post_. Also he took the _World_, _Truth_, _Modern +Society_, and _M. A. P._ He was fond of the fashionable intelligence." + +"Oh, he was, was he? Would you have called him a gentleman?" + +"He always paid his rent duly," hesitated Mrs. Benker, "so far he was a +perfect gentleman. But I have lived as a lady's maid in the best +families, sir, and I don't think Mr. Wilson was what you or I would call +an aristocrat." + +"I see. So you were a lady's maid once. In what families?" + +Mrs. Benker was not at all averse to relating her better days, and did +so with pride. "I was with the Countess of Flint, with Mrs. Harwitch, +and with Lady Susan Summersdale." + +"Ha!" said Steel, starting. He remembered that Morley had been concerned +with Lady Summersdale about the robbery of her jewels. "Did you tell Mr. +Wilson this?" he asked. + +"Oh, yes. We had long talks about aristocratic families." + +She repeated several tales she had told Wilson, and Steel asked her many +questions. When he took his leave he asked a leading one: "Did Mr. +Wilson wear a red cross as an ornament?" + +"On his watch-chain he did," said Mrs. Benker, and Steel departed very +satisfied with his day's work. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +ON A FRESH TRAIL + + +If Giles Ware had not been desperately in love and desperately anxious +to find Anne Denham, he would scarcely have gone to Paris on such a +wild-goose chase. The postmark on the letter showed that she was, or she +had been, in the French capital; but to find her in that immense city +was like looking for a haystack in a league-long desert. However, Ware +had an idea--foolish enough--that some instinct would guide him to her +side, and, therefore, as soon as he recovered sufficiently to travel he +crossed the Channel with Trim. He left Rickwell about three weeks after +his interview with Morley. Time enough, as he well knew, for Anne to +change her place of residence. But he trusted to luck. + +For quite a fortnight he explored the city, accompanied by the faithful +old servant. Trim had sharp eyes, and would be certain to recognize Anne +if she came within eyesight. But in spite of their vigilance and +observation, the two saw no one even distantly resembling Anne. +Certainly if Giles had gone to the authorities, who take note of all who +come and go, he might have been more successful. But knowing that Anne +was wanted by the English police, he did not dare to adopt this method. +He was forced to rely entirely on himself, and his search resulted in +nothing. + +"It ain't no good, Master Giles," said Trim for at least the tenth time; +"we've lost the scent somehow. Better go back to London. I don't want +you to be ill over here, sir, with nothing but foreign doctors to look +after you." + +"I shan't leave Paris until I am certain that she is not in the place," +declared Ware resolutely. + +"Well, sir, I don't know how much more certain you wants to be. We've +tramped them bullyvardes and Chamy Elizas till our feet are near +dropping off. You're looking a shadow, Master Giles, if you'll excuse an +old man as nursed you when you were a baby. She ain't here. Now I +shouldn't be surprised if she were in London," said Trim wisely. + +"What, in the very jaws of the lion? Nonsense!" + +"Oh, but is it, sir? I always heard it said by them as knows that the +jaws of the lion is the very last place any one expects to find them." +Trim did not state what "them" he meant. "If she went back to Rickwell +she would be safe, especially if she laid up in some cottage and called +herself a widder." + +"Trim, you've been reading detective novels!" + +"Not me, sir; I ain't got no time. But about this going back----" + +"We'll go back to-morrow, Trim," said Ware, with sudden resolution. And +Trim joyfully departed to pack. + +It just struck Giles that after all Trim might be right, and that having +thrown the police off the scent by going abroad in the yacht, Anne might +return to London. She might be there now, living in some quiet suburb, +while the police were wasting their time corresponding with the French +authorities. Moreover, Ware thought it would be just as well to learn +what Steel was doing. He had charge of the case and might have struck +the trail. In that case Giles wanted to know, for he could then avert +any possible danger from Anne. And finally he reflected that he might +learn something about Anne's friends from the people at the Governesses' +Institute where Mrs. Morley had engaged her. If she returned to London +it was not impossible that she might have gone to hide in the house of +some friend. Any one who knew Anne could be certain that she was not +guilty of the crime she was accused of, and would assuredly aid her to +escape the unjust law. So thought Giles in his ardor; but he quite +forgot that every one was not in love with Anne, and would scarcely help +her unless they were fully convinced of her innocence, and perhaps not +even then. Most people have a holy horror of the law, and are not +anxious to help those in danger of the long arm of justice. + +However, Giles reasoned as above and forthwith left Paris for London. He +took up his quarters in the Guelph Hotel, opposite the Park, and began +his search for Anne again. Luckily he had obtained from Mrs. Morley the +number of the Institute, which was in South Kensington, and the day +after his arrival walked there to make inquiries. It was a very forlorn +hope, but Ware saw no other chance of achieving his desire. + +The Institute was a tall red-brick house, with green blinds and a prim, +tidy look. He was shown into a prim parlor and interviewed by a prim old +lady, who wore spectacles and had a pencil stuffed in the bosom of her +black gown. However, she was less prim than she looked, and had a +cheerful old ruddy face with a twinkling pair of kindly eyes. In her +heart Mrs. Cairns admired this handsome young man who spoke so politely, +and was more willing to afford him the desired information than if he +had been elderly and ugly. Old as she was, the good lady was a true +daughter of Eve, and her natural liking for the opposite sex had not +been crushed out of her by years of education. Nevertheless when she +heard the name of Anne she threw up her hands in dismay. + +"Why do you come here to ask about that unfortunate girl?" she demanded, +and looked severely at Giles. Before he could reply she glanced again at +his card, which she held in her fingers, and started. "Giles Ware," she +read, drawing a quick breath. "Are you----" + +"I was engaged to the young lady who was killed," said Ware, surprised. + +Mrs. Cairns' rosy face became a deep red. "And you doubtless wish to +avenge her death by finding Miss Denham?" + +"On the contrary, I wish to save Miss Denham." + +"What! do you not believe her guilty?" + +"No, Mrs. Cairns, I do not. Every one says she killed the girl, but I am +certain that she is an innocent woman. I come to ask you if you can tell +me where she is." + +"Why do you come to me?" Mrs. Cairns went to see that the door was +closed before she asked this question. + +"I thought you might know of her whereabouts." + +"Why should I?" + +"Well, I admit that there is no reason why you should--at least, I +thought so before I came here." + +"And now?" She bent forward eagerly. + +"Now I think that if she had come to you for refuge she would get help +from you. I can see that you also believe her guiltless." + +"I do," said Mrs. Cairns in a low voice. "I have known Anne for years +and I am certain that she is not the woman to do a thing like this. She +would not harm a fly." + +"Then you can help me. You know where she is?" + +Mrs. Cairns looked at his flushed face, at the light in his eyes. In +her shrewd way she guessed the secret of this eagerness. "Then you love +her," she said under her breath. "You love Anne." + +"Why do you say that?" asked Giles, taken aback. He was not prepared to +find that she could read him so easily. + +"I remember," said Mrs. Cairns to herself, but loud enough for him to +hear, "there was a Society paper said something about jealousy being the +motive of the crime, and----" + +"Do you mean to say that such a statement was in the papers?" asked Ware +angrily, and with a flash of his blue eyes. + +"It was in none of the big daily papers, Mr. Ware. They offered no +explanation. But some Society reporter went down to Rickwell; to gather +scandal from the servants, I suppose." + +"Off from Mrs. Parry," muttered Giles; then aloud, "Yes?" + +"Well, this man or woman--most probably it was a woman--made up a very +pretty tale, which was printed in _The Firefly_." + +"A scandalous paper," said Ware, annoyed. "What did it say?" + +"That you were in love with Anne, that you were engaged to Miss Kent, +and that to gain you as her husband Anne killed the girl." + +"It's a foul lie. I'll horsewhip the editor and make him put in an +apology." + +"I shouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Ware," said the old lady dryly. +"Better let sleeping dogs lie. I don't believe the whole story +myself--only part of it." + +"What part, Mrs. Cairns?" + +"That part which says you love Anne. I can see it in your face." + +"If I can trust you----" + +"Certainly you can. Anne is like my own child. I believe her guiltless +of this terrible crime, and I would do anything to see her righted. She +did not kill the girl." + +"No, I believe the girl was killed by a nameless man who came to +Rickwell from some firm of solicitors. I don't know why he murdered the +poor child, no more than I can understand why Anne should have helped +him to escape." + +"You call her Anne," said Mrs. Cairns softly. + +Giles flushed through the tan of his strong face. + +"I have no right to do so," he said. "She never gave me permission. Mrs. +Cairns, I assure you that there was no understanding between Miss Denham +and myself. I was engaged by my father to Miss Kent, and we were to be +married. I fell in love with Miss Denham, and I have reason to believe +that she returned my love." + +"She told you so?" + +"No, no! She and I never said words like that to one another. We were +friends; nothing more. Miss Kent chose to be jealous of a trifling gift +I gave Miss Denham at Christmas, and there was trouble. Then came an +anonymous letter, saying that Anne wished to kill Daisy." + +"A letter, and said that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cairns in surprise. "But I +can't understand it at all. Anne had no enemies, so far as I know. No +one could hate so sweet a girl. Her father----" + +"Did you know her father?" asked Ware quickly. + +"No; but she often spoke of him. She was fond of her father, although he +seems to have been a wandering Bohemian. He died at Florence." + +"I wonder if he really did die." + +"Of course. He--but it's a long story, Mr. Ware, and I have not the +time to tell it to you. Besides, there is one who can tell you all about +Anne and her father much better than I can. The Princess Karacsay. Do +you know her?" + +"I have seen the name somewhere." + +"Probably on a programme," said Mrs. Cairns composedly. "Oh, don't look +so astonished. The Princess is really a Hungarian aristocrat. She +quarrelled with her people, and came to England with very little money. +To keep herself alive she tried to become a governess. Afterwards, +having a beautiful voice, she became a concert singer. I hear she is +very popular." + +"How should she know about Anne--I mean Miss Denham?" + +"Because if there is any woman to whom Anne would go in her distress, it +would be the Princess. She met Anne here while she was a governess, and +the two became great friends. They were always together. I do not know +where Anne is, Mr. Ware. She did not come to me, nor has she written; +but if she is in England the Princess will know." + +"Do you think she would tell me?" asked Giles eagerly. + +"I really don't know. She is romantic, and if she learned that you loved +Anne she might be inclined to help you. But that would depend upon Anne +herself. How is she disposed towards you?" + +For answer Giles related the episode of the foreign letter, with the +drawing of the coin and the one word "Innocent." Mrs. Cairns listened +quietly, and nodded. + +"Evidently Anne values your good opinion. I think you had better tell +all this to the Princess." She hastily wrote a few lines. "This is her +address." + +"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" + +"And, Mr. Ware," added the old lady, laying a kind hand on his arm, "if +you hear about Anne, come and tell me. I hope with all my soul that you +will be able to save the poor child." + +"If human aid can prove her innocence, you can depend upon me," was +Ware's reply. And taking leave of Mrs. Cairns, he left the Institute +with his heart beating and his head in the air. + +Giles was glad that his good fortune had led him to meet this true +friend of the woman he loved. He was also glad that he had been so open +with her about his passion, else she might not have sent him to the +Princess Karacsay. As the name came into his mind he glanced down at the +paper, which he still held. The address of Anne's friend was "42, +Gilbert Mansions, Westminster." Giles resolved to lose no time in +looking her up. She would be able to tell him where Anne was, and also +might be able to explain the mystery of Anne's life in general, and her +conduct at Rickwell in particular. + +For there was some mystery about Miss Denham. Ware was quite certain on +that point. She had said that her father was dead, and circumstances +pointed to the fact that her father was alive and was the nameless man +who had appeared and disappeared so suddenly. Then there was the strange +episode of the anonymous letter, and the queer reference therein to the +Scarlet Cross. Also the fact that the yacht in which Anne had fled was +called _The Red Cross_. All these things hinted at a mystery, and such +might in some indirect way be connected with the death of Daisy Kent. +Anne had not killed her; but since she had aided the murderer to escape +she must have condoned the crime in some way. Ware shuddered as he +looked at the matter in this light. What if Anne knew something about +the matter after all? The next moment he put the thought from him with +anger. Anne was good and pure, and her hands were clean from the stain +of blood. Such a woman would not--could not commit a crime either +directly or indirectly. When he saw her he would ask for an explanation, +and once she opened her mouth all would be made plain. + +Arguing thus with himself, Giles wrote a letter to the Princess Karacsay +and asked for an interview. He mentioned that he had seen Mrs. Cairns +and that the old lady had furnished him with the address. Also, he said +that his wish in seeing the Princess was to ask for the whereabouts of +Miss Denham. Having despatched this note, Giles felt that he could do no +more until he received a reply. + +But he was too restless to remain quiet. It occurred to him that he +might look up Steel and learn what fresh discoveries had been made in +connection with the Rickwell crime. He went to New Scotland Yard and +asked for the detective, but learned to his surprise and vexation that +the man was out of town and was not expected back for a week. No one +could say where he had gone, so Giles had to satisfy himself with +leaving a card and promising to call again. + +The next day he received a note from the Princess Karacsay asking him to +come the next evening at nine o'clock. She said nothing about Anne, nor +did she volunteer any information. She simply appointed an hour and a +place for the interview and signed herself Olga Karacsay. Giles felt +that she had been intentionally curt, and wondered if she intended to +give him a civil reception. After some thought he decided that she meant +to be kind, although the note read so coldly. He would go, and perhaps +during the interview she might be persuaded to help him. After all, she +must know that he had been engaged to marry the dead girl, and +fancied--as Mrs. Cairns had done--that he wished to have Anne arrested. + +The following evening he arrayed himself with particular care and drove +in a hansom to Westminster. The cab stopped before a great pile of brick +buildings near the Abbey, and when Giles had dismissed it he entered a +large and well-lighted hall with a tesselated pavement. Here a porter +volunteered, on ascertaining his business, to conduct him to the door of +the Princess Karacsay's flat, which was on the first floor. + +Giles was admitted by a neat maid-servant, who showed him into a +picturesque drawing-room. A tall woman in evening dress was standing +beside the window in the twilight. Giles thought her figure was familiar +and recognized the turn of her head. He uttered a cry. + +"Anne," he said, stretching his arms. "Anne, my dearest!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +PRINCESS KARACSAY + + +Even as he spoke the room was flooded with the light of the electric +lamps. The woman by the window turned and came forward smiling. With a +feeling of bitter disappointment Giles recoiled. It was not Anne. He had +been deceived by a chance resemblance. + +"I can quite understand your mistake," said the Princess Karacsay. "It +is not the first time that I have been taken for my friend." + +Indeed, she was very like Anne, both in figure and face. She had the +same dark hair and dark eyes, the same oval face and rich coloring. But +her expression was different. She was more haughty than Miss Denham, and +there was less simplicity in her manner. Even as Ware looked at her the +likeness seemed to vanish, and he wondered that he should have made such +a mistake. But for the twilight, the turn of her head, and her height, +together with the way in which she carried herself, he would not have +been deceived. + +"One would take you for Miss Denham's sister," he said when seated. + +The Princess smiled oddly. "We are alike in many ways," she replied +quietly. "I look upon Miss Denham as my second self. You called me Anne +when you mistook me for her," she added, with a keen glance. + +"I have no right to do so, Princess, but----" He hesitated, not knowing +how to choose his words. She saw his perplexity and smiled. + +"I quite understand, Mr. Ware." + +"Anne--I mean Miss Denham--has told you about me?" + +"I have not seen her for months, Mr. Ware, not since that terrible event +which has made a fugitive of her." + +Giles was bitterly disappointed, and his face showed his feelings. From +what Mrs. Cairns had said he was certain that the Princess would be able +to help him, and here she confessed an ignorance of Anne's whereabouts. +Nevertheless Ware still hoped. He thought that not knowing his real +errand, she was feigning ignorance for the sake of her friend's safety. +"I am sorry she has not spoken to you about me," he remarked, "for then +you would know that I wish her well." + +"Oh, I know that. Anne--I may as well call her Anne to you, Mr. +Ware--wrote to me from Rickwell several times. She told me all about +you. But I have not seen her since the death of your fiancée. I have no +idea where she is now." + +"I thought--and Mrs. Cairns thought--that she would come to you in her +distress, or at least communicate her whereabouts." + +"She has done neither, and I do not know where to address a letter." + +"What is to be done?" said Giles half to himself and much distressed. + +Princess Karacsay rose and glanced at the clock with a laugh. "Oh, if we +talk, something may come of our putting our heads together," she said. +"Meantime we can make ourselves comfortable. Here are coffee and +cigarettes, Mr. Ware. Would you prefer a cigar?" + +"No, thank you, Princess. These look very good." + +"Both coffee and cigarettes are Turkish," said she, handing him a cup +and afterwards a cigarette. "I get them from a cousin of mine who is an +attaché at Constantinople. Come now." She lighted a cigarette for +herself and sat down on an amber divan near Ware's chair. "Let us talk +before my friend arrives." + +"I beg your pardon, Princess, I hope my coming----" + +"No, no," she explained hurriedly. "I asked my friend to meet you." + +"Indeed." Giles was much surprised. "I did not know we had a mutual +friend." + +The Princess nodded and blew a cloud of smoke. "At ten o'clock you shall +see him. I won't tell you who he is. A little surprise, Mr. Ware." + +Ware looked at her sharply, but could make nothing of the enigmatic +smile on her face. She was undeniably a very beautiful woman as she +lounged amongst the amber-tinted cushions, but in her dress and general +looks there was something barbaric. She wore a dinner dress of mingled +scarlet and black, and many chains of sequins which jingled with her +every movement. As Ware's eyes met her own she flashed a languorous look +at him, and a slow smile wreathed her full red lips. Giles could not +help admiring her, but he had a feeling that she was not altogether to +be trusted. It behove him to be wary in dealing with this superb +tigress. Yet, as another thought crossed his mind, he smiled +involuntarily. + +"Why do you smile, Mr. Ware?" asked the Princess. She spoke the English +language admirably, and with but a little foreign accent. + +"Pardon," replied Giles, still smiling, "but Mrs. Cairns told me that +at one time you aspired to become a governess. I can't imagine you +teaching children." + +"Ah, you have no imagination--no Englishman has. Children are fond of +me--very fond." She cast another look at his handsome face, and added +with emphasis, "I can make any one I choose fond of me." + +"I quite believe it, Princess. You have woman's imperial +sceptre--beauty." + +"A charming compliment," responded she, her mood changing, "but we are +not here to exchange compliments. So you love Anne?" + +"With all my heart and soul," he replied fervently. + +His hostess appeared rather disconcerted by this reply. "You are a +miracle of chivalry, my dear Mr. Ware," she said dryly. "But is it not +rather a large heart you have to love two women at the same time?" + +"I understand what you mean," answered Ware quietly, "but my engagement +to Miss Kent was purely a family arrangement. I loved Anne--I still love +her. All the same, I would have married Miss Kent had she not been +murdered." + +"You are very obedient, Mr. Ware." + +"And you very satirical, Princess. I could explain, but there is no need +for me to do so. I want to find Anne. Can you help me?" + +"Not at present, but I may be able to do so. Of course, you don't +believe that she killed your fiancée?" + +"Certainly not. I think the crime was committed by the man with whom she +fled." + +"A tall man with a red beard and hair and black eyes?" + +"Yes, yes. Do you know him? Who is he?" + +"I have had him described to me," responded the Princess calmly, "but I +know nothing about him." + +"Is he a friend of Anne's?" + +"That I don't know." + +She quietly selected another cigarette, lighted it, and looked with a +serene smile at her visitor. Giles was annoyed. "We don't seem to be +getting on with our business, Princess," he said roughly. + +"What is our business?" she demanded, looking at him through half-closed +eyes. Her scrutiny made Giles uncomfortable, and he shifted his seat as +he answered. + +"Mrs. Cairns said you could tell me about Anne." + +"So I can. What do you want to know, Mr. Ware?" + +"Who is she? Who was her father? Is he dead or alive? What do you know +about the Scarlet Cross, and----" He stopped, for the Princess had +opened her eyes to their fullest extent. + +"The Scarlet Cross. You know about that also?" she asked. + +"Of course I do. There was an anonymous letter----" + +"I have seen the letter, or at least a copy." + +"Indeed," said Ware, much astonished, "and an enamelled cross----" + +"I have seen the cross also." + +"It appears to me, Princess, that you know everything about the case." + +She glanced again at the clock, and smiled as she replied, "I am a +friend of Anne's, Mr. Ware. I daresay you would like to know who told me +all these things. Well, you shall be enlightened at ten o'clock. +Meantime I can tell you all I do know about Anne and her father." + +"You will speak freely?" he asked mistrustfully. + +"Absolutely. You--you--" she hesitated--"you love Anne." She gave him a +searching look. "Yes, I see you do. I can speak openly. Will you have +another cup of coffee? No! Another cigarette. Ah, there is the box. A +match. Now." + +"Now," said Giles eagerly, "what about Anne?" + +"What about myself first of all, Mr. Ware. I am a Hungarian. I +quarrelled with my people and ran away. Finding myself stranded in +London with very little money, I tried to get a post as a governess. I +went to Mrs. Cairns, and thus became acquainted with Anne. We became +great friends. She told me everything about herself. When I knew her +history we became greater friends than ever. I was a governess only for +a year. Then someone heard me sing, and----"--she shrugged her beautiful +shoulders--"but that is quite another story, Mr. Ware. I am a +concert-singer now, and it pays me excellently." + +"I am very pleased with your success, Princess. But Anne?" + +She flashed a rather annoyed look at him. "You are scarcely so +chivalrous as I thought, Mr. Ware," she said coldly. "No, say nothing; I +quite understand. Let us talk of Anne. I will tell you her history." She +re-lighted her cigarette, which had gone out, and continued, "Her father +was a gambler and a wanderer. He lived mostly on the Continent--Monte +Carlo for choice. Anne's mother"--here the Princess paused, and then +went on with an obvious effort--"I know nothing of Anne's mother, Mr. +Ware. She died when Anne was a child. Mr. Denham brought up his daughter +in a haphazard way." + +"Was his name really Denham?" + +"So Anne told me. I had no reason to think that it was otherwise. He was +a gentleman of good family, but an outcast from his people by reason of +his reckless folly. I also am an outcast," said she pleasantly, "but +merely because I am strong-minded. I am not foolish." + +"No, Princess," said Giles, looking keenly at her, "I should certainly +not call you foolish." + +"But I can be foolish on occasions," said she quickly, and flushed as +she glanced at him, "like all women. But Anne--I see we must get back to +Anne. Well, she, having better moral principles than her father, grew +wearied of their wandering life. She decided to become a governess. Mr. +Denham put her to school at Hampstead--a sister of Mrs. Cairns keeps the +school, and that is why Anne is so intimate with Mrs. Cairns--and when +her education was finished she took a situation in Italy. There she +remained some years. Afterwards she rejoined her father for a time. He +died at Florence--typhoid fever, I believe--and Anne found herself +alone. She returned to England, and assisted by Mrs. Cairns, took +various situations. She always returned to Mrs. Cairns when out of an +engagement. It was on one of these occasions that I met her. We have +been friends for a long time, Mr. Ware. Then Anne was engaged by Mrs. +Morley, and--and the rest you know. There is no more to be said." + +"Is that all?" said Giles, disappointed by this bald narrative. + +The Princess shrugged her shoulders, and throwing aside her cigarette, +leaned back with her hands behind her head. "What would you, Mr. Ware? +Anne is a good woman. Good women never have any history." + +"Can you tell me anything about the Scarlet Cross?" + +"Anne never spoke of such a thing to me. But my friend may be able to +tell you. Ah!"--the Princess raised her head as a ring came to the +door--"there is my friend. Before his time, too. But we have finished +our conversation, Mr. Ware." + +"For the present, yes." + +She looked at him suddenly. "But certainly," she said in her vivacious +way, "you must come and see me again. We will have much to talk of. You +love music. I will sing to you, and----" Here she broke off to greet a +new-comer, much to the relief of Giles, who was beginning to feel +uncomfortable. "How do you do, Mr. Steel?" + +With an exclamation Ware rose. It was indeed Steel who stood before him +looking as round and rosy and cheerful as ever. "You are surprised to +see me, sir," he said, with a twinkle. + +"I am very much surprised. I went to see you yesterday----" + +"And found that I was out of town. So I was, so I am supposed to be, but +the telegram of the Princess here told me that she expected you this +evening, so I left my country business and came up." + +"You see," said the Princess, sitting down again amongst her cushions, +"you see, Mr. Ware, I told you we had a mutual friend. Now you know how +I am so well acquainted with the case," and she laughed. + +"The Princess," explained Steel, seeing Giles' astonishment, "read all +about the case. Being a friend of Miss Denham's and seeing that I had +charge of the matter, she sent for me. We have talked over the case, and +I have received much assistance from Miss--I mean from this very clever +lady, the Princess Karacsay," and Steel bowed. + +"But," stammered Ware, still puzzled, "you believe Miss Denham to be +guilty. Surely the Princess will not----" + +"No, no!" came from the divan in the deep-toned voice of the woman. +"Anne is my friend. I would not help him to arrest her." + +"The fact is," said Steel easily, "I have changed my opinion, Mr. Ware, +and I think Miss Denham is innocent. The man who killed Miss Kent is +called Wilson." + +"Wilson. And who is Wilson, and why did he kill her?" + +"I don't know who Wilson is," replied Steel. "I am trying to find out. I +am not quite certain why he killed her, but I am beginning to suspect +that it was on account of this inherited money. I told you that, +Princess," he added, turning to the divan. + +"Yes, Mr. Steel. And I said then, I say now, I do not agree." + +"If you would be more explicit," said Ware, feeling helpless. + +Steel took no notice of him for the moment. "Then if it's not the money +I don't know what the motive can be." He turned to Ware. "See here, sir. +This Wilson, whomsoever he may be, lived with the mother of Asher's +office-boy--he was her lodger. The boy told him about the money coming +to Miss Kent. Afterwards the lad had a summons given him to serve on +Morley. Wilson offered to take it, and did so. He removed his effects +from Mrs. Benker's house--she's the mother of the lad--and went down to +Rickwell. You know what happened there. Now if he didn't kill Miss Kent +on account of the money, why did he ask the office-boy about the +matter?" + +Giles shook his head. "I can't say," he said, "no more than I can +explain why Miss Denham helped him to escape." + +"Well,"--Steel scratched his chin--"I have an idea about that. But you +must not be offended if I speak plainly, Mr. Ware." + +"I shall be offended if you speak evil of my friend Miss Denham." This +was from the Princess, who raised herself up with her eyes flashing +angrily. "I will not have it," she said. + +"Then am I to say nothing?" asked Steel ironically. + +"Nothing against Miss Denham," put in Giles. + +"You are both rather difficult to deal with," remarked Steel, with a +shrug. "However, I'll explain, and you can draw your own inferences. It +seems from what Mrs. Benker said that Mr. Wilson was mostly out all +night and in all day. Also he was frequently absent for a long time. He +likewise took much interest in Society newspapers and in the movements +of the aristocracy. He also wore on his chain an ornament--a +red-enamelled cross, in fact." + +"What!" cried Giles, with a start, and he noted that the Princess +started likewise, and that her face grew pale. + +"He wore a red-enamelled cross," repeated Steel imperturbably, "on his +watch-chain. Mrs. Benker had been in the service of the late Lady +Summersdale when the diamonds of that lady were stolen. She remembered +that a red-enamelled cross had been found in the safe whence the jewels +were taken. Wilson was amused at this. He said that the cross was the +emblem of a charitable society from which he received a weekly sum. +Well"--he hesitated and looked at his listeners--"that clue came to an +end. I lost sight of Wilson. I then went to look for _The Red +Cross_--the yacht, I mean!" + +"What has the yacht to do with Wilson?" asked Ware angrily. + +"If you remember, sir, I told you that Wilson was the man who served the +summons on Mr. Morley, and who, as I believed, killed Miss Kent. He +afterwards fled with Miss Denham and went on board the yacht. Is not +that the case, sir?" + +"So far as I can judge, it is," muttered Giles reluctantly. + +"Well, then," went on Steel triumphantly, while the Princess--as Giles +observed--listened intently, "I looked after that yacht. I could not +find her, but I am looking for her now. That is why I am in the country. +I came up this morning from Deal, and I go back there to-morrow. I find, +sir, that this yacht puts in at various places every now and then." + +"Most yachts do." + +"Yes, sir. But while most yachts are at anchor in a place does a +burglary invariably occur? No, sir, wait," for Giles had sprung to his +feet. "Lady Summersdale's place was on the seashore. Her diamonds were +stolen. At the time this yacht was at anchor in the bay. A red cross was +found in the safe. The boat is called by that name. Several times I find +that when the yacht has been at a certain place a burglary has occurred. +This man Wilson wears a red cross on his watch-chain. Now, sir, I +believe that he is one of a gang of burglars--that the cross is a sign. +This explains his interest in the Society papers. He wants to find out +where the best swag is to be found, and----" + +"But what has all this to do with my friend Anne?" cried the Princess. + +Steel shrugged his shoulders. "I say nothing," he replied. "You can draw +your own inferences." + +"Do you mean to say that Miss Denham----" + +"I say nothing," interrupted Steel, catching up his hat. "Mr. Ware, I am +at your service when you want me. Princess!" He bowed and went out. + +As the outer door closed Giles and his hostess looked at one another. +"The man's a foul liar," burst out Giles furiously. + +"Yes." The woman was very pale. "Still, my friend Anne once told +me----" + +"Told you what?" + +"What I will tell you if you come again," she said under her breath, and +suddenly left the room. She did not return. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +MRS. PARRY'S TEA + + +Six months had passed away since the death of Daisy. The grass was now +green above her grave. Where she had fallen there had she been buried +beside her father, and the villagers often talked of the tragedy, and +pointed out to strangers the spot where it had taken place. But she who +had killed the girl--they still considered Anne guilty--had never been +brought to justice. From the day she had fled on Ware's motor-car +nothing had been heard of her. + +No one troubled about the dead girl. Daisy had not been very popular +during her life, and now that she was gone her name was scarcely +mentioned. For a time Mrs. Morley had placed flowers on the green mound, +but after her return from Brighton had desisted. The grass grew long, +and the path beside the grave green. A tombstone of white marble had +been erected by Giles, and already that was becoming discolored. Daisy +and her resting-place were forgotten. The poor child might have been +dead a hundred years instead of six months. Only the tale of her death +remained as a fireside legend, to be amplified and improved upon as the +years went by. + +After that one sensation life went on in Rickwell very much as it had +always done. Morley and his wife returned to The Elms, and instead of +having a new governess the triplets went to school. Mrs. Morley never +spoke of Anne or Daisy, and seemed to grow no more cheerful than before +even in the perfect summer weather. She still looked pale and subdued, +and her eyes still had in their watery depths an anxious expression. +Everyone said that she was regretting the death of Daisy and the +wickedness of Anne; but others remarked that she had looked just as +haggard and worn before as after the tragedy. Mrs. Parry gave it as her +opinion that the poor lady had a secret sorrow, and tried by skilful +questioning to learn what it was. But either Mrs. Parry was not clever +enough or Mrs. Morley had no secret to reveal, for the scandal-monger +learned nothing. The only thing that Mrs. Morley said was that she +missed her girls. Whereupon Mrs. Parry told her that she ought to be +ashamed of herself, seeing that the three were getting a good education. +However, this did not seem to console Mrs. Morley much, for she wept +copiously in her usual fashion. + +The good old lady returned to her cottage very much disgusted. It was +rather a dull time for her, as she had heard no news for a long time. +Everyone was so well-behaved that there was no scandal going, and Mrs. +Parry began to think that she ought to pay a visit to town. Her cousin, +Mrs. McKail, had already gone back to New Zealand with a fearful opinion +of English Society, for Mrs. Parry had blackened the country just as +though she had been a pro-Boer. + +Then one day her little maid, who was called Jane, and had the sharpest +ears of any one in the village, brought in breakfast with the remark +that Mr. Ware had returned. Mrs. Parry sat up in bed, where she always +partook of the first meal of the day, and looked excited. + +"When did he arrive, Jane? How does he look? What does he say?" + +Jane, being experienced, answered these questions categorically. + +"He came last night, mum, with Trim, and looks a shadder of hisself, but +said as he was glad to be home again, and what was the news." + +"Ho!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose with a teaspoon, "wants to hear +the news, does he? I'll ask him to tea to-morrow--no, to-day. You can +take a note up to his place, Jane." + +"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who was friendly with Giles' housekeeper. + +"And don't let me hear that you've been gossiping with the servants, +Jane," snapped Mrs. Parry, who was unusually cross in the morning, and +looked an ogress without her wig. "I hate gossip. You have two ears and +one mouth, Jane; that means you should listen twice as much as you +speak." + +"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who had long since taken the measure of her +mistress's foot. Then she went to the door, and was recalled to be told +that the cook was to make a cake. She was going again, and had to return +for instructions about some particular tea. Then there was the silver to +be especially polished, and various other matters to be gone into, until +Jane's head was whirling and her feet ached. She went down to the +kitchen and told the cook that the old vinegar bottle was more fractious +than usual. If only Mrs. Parry had heard her! But she thought Jane was +afraid of her, whereas Jane was meek to her face and saucy behind her +back. The old lady heard all the gossip in the neighborhood, but she +never knew the remarks that were made in her own kitchen. + +However, it thus came about that Giles received a civil note from Mrs. +Parry, asking him to come to afternoon tea. His first thought was to +refuse, but he then reflected that if he wanted to learn all that had +taken place during his absence, Mrs. Parry was the very person who could +tell him. He knew she was an old cat, and had a dangerous tongue. Still, +she was much better than a newspaper, being, as her enemies said, more +spicy. He therefore accepted the invitation, and appeared in the little +parlor about five. He had been for a ride, and having put his horse up +at the inn, asked the old lady to excuse his dress. Mrs. Parry did so +with pleasure. + +Giles was a splendid figure of a man, and looked a picture in his trim +riding-dress. The old dame had an eye for a fine man, and cast an +approving glance at his shapely legs and slim figure. But she frowned +when her eyes rose to his face. It was thinner than she liked to see; +there was not the old brave light in his eyes, and his fair moustache +had lost the jaunty curl, which, to her romantic mind, had made him such +a gallant lover. + +Giles was one of the few persons Mrs. Parry did not abuse, for his good +looks and many courtesies had long since won her foolish old heart, +although she would never confess to it. But then, Mrs. Parry was softer +than she looked. + +"Who had been taking the heart out of you, Ware?" she asked in her +gentlemanly way, which Giles knew and had often laughed at. + +"No one," he answered gloomily, "unless you call Fate some one." + +"I call Anne Denham some one," she replied coolly, "so you haven't found +her yet, poor soul!" + +"No; I have looked everywhere. She has vanished like a bubble." + +"It is just as well. You couldn't possibly marry her and bring her back +to Rickwell as your wife." + +"Why not? She is innocent. You said yourself that she was." + +"And I believe it. I have stood up for her all through. All the same, +Ware, there would be a scandal if she came back as Mrs. Ware." + +"I don't care two straws for that," said Giles, flinging back his head. + +"No," she replied dryly, "I know that. You're an obstinate man, as any +one can see with half an eye. Well, I'm glad to see you again. Sit down +in the armchair yonder and tell me what you have been doing all these +months. No good, if your face is the index of your mind." + +Ware laughed, and sitting down managed to stow his long legs out of the +way--no easy matter in the little room. Then he accepted a cup of +excellent tea from Mrs. Parry and some of her celebrated cake. + +He did not reply immediately, as he did not want to tell her the truth. +She had too long a tongue to be told anything which it was necessary to +keep secret. He put her off as he best could with a general answer. + +"I have just been going to and fro." + +"Like Satan," sniffed Mrs. Parry. "He's your model, is he? So you have +been searching for Anne. Where?" + +"In Paris and in London. But I can't find her." + +"She doesn't want you to find her," replied the old lady. "If she did, +you would stand face to face with her soon enough." + +"That goes without the speaking," retorted Ware. "However, my adventures +would not amuse you, Mrs. Parry. Suppose you tell me what has been +going on in these parts?" + +"As if I knew anything of what was going on," said Mrs. Parry. + +Giles laughed. + +It was a fiction with Mrs. Parry that she never interfered with other +people's business, whereas there was not a pie within miles into which +she had not thrust her finger. But he knew how to start her tongue. + +"The Morleys, what about them?" + +"No change, Ware. The Tricolor has gone to school--I mean the three +children--although I can't get out of the habit of calling them by that +ridiculous name. Mrs. Morley is as dismal as ever, and seems to miss +Anne very much." + +"As well she might. Anne was a good friend to her. And Morley?" + +"He has found a new friend," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly, "a man called +Franklin." + +"George Franklin!" cried Ware, startled, for he had heard all about the +fortune from Steel. "He is the man who inherited the five thousand a +year that Powell left to Daisy. Steel, the detective, told me, and, now +I think of it, Morley told me himself when I was ill." + +"It's the same man, Ware. He has been here two months, and has taken the +Priory." + +"That's a cheerful place," said Giles. "Why, it has been standing empty +for three years." + +"I know. The last tenants left because they said it was haunted." + +"Rubbish! And by what?" + +"By a white lady. She wanders up and down the park, wringing her hands. +But this Franklin evidently does not believe in ghosts, for he has been +there these two months, and never a word from him." + +"What kind of a man is he?" + +"A tall man, with very black eyes, and a black beard. No," added Mrs. +Parry, correcting herself, "I am wrong. He had a beard when he first +came, and now has shaved it off." + +"Have you seen much of him?" + +"Hardly anything. Morley is the only person with whom he is intimate in +any degree. He hardly ever comes out, and when people call he is not at +home. Why the man should have five thousand a year I can't make out. He +does no good with it." + +"Any family? a wife?" + +"There is a daughter, I understand, but she is an invalid, and keeps to +her room or to the grounds. Weak in the head I should say, seeing how +secluded her father keeps her." + +"Have you seen her?" + +"Yes, I came on her unexpectedly one day--or rather one evening. A short +girl, with red hair and a freckled face. She looks a fool, and was +dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. I don't wonder he--I mean +Franklin--keeps her out of sight." + +"Humph!" said Ware, rather astonished by the extent of Mrs. Parry's +information, "did the servants tell you all this?" + +"There are no servants," retorted Mrs. Parry, with scorn. "The man is a +mean creature. You may not believe me, Ware, but he has only three +people to do the work of that huge house." + +"Then there are three servants?" + +"Some people might call them so," retorted Mrs. Parry, determined not to +give up her point, "but they are a queer lot--not at all like the +domestic I have been used to. An old man, who acts as a kind of butler; +a woman, his wife, who is the cook; and a brat of fifteen, the daughter +I expect, who does the general work. Oh, it's quite a family affair." + +"A queer household. Does this man intend to stop long?" + +"He has taken the Priory on a seven years' lease." + +"And Morley visits him?" + +"Yes, and he visits Morley. They are as thick as thieves. Perhaps they +may be thieves for all I know." + +"Does this man Franklin go about much?" + +"Not a great deal, but he occasionally takes a walk into the village. +Sometimes he comes to church, and I believe the rector has called. I +wish any one but him had taken the Priory. We want company in this dull +place. Will you call and see him?" + +"I ought to," replied Ware slowly, "seeing that I was engaged to Daisy, +who should have had the money. But from what you say I should not think +Franklin would care to see me, and certainly he does not seem to be a +desirable neighbor." + +"He's quite a mistake," snorted Mrs. Parry. "I tried to be friendly, but +he gave me to understand that he preferred his books to my company. He's +a great reader, I understand." + +Evidently the good lady was somewhat sore on the subject, for she +shortly changed it for another. First she began to talk of Daisy; +secondly, wonder who had killed her, and why; and thirdly, she made +mention of the grave. "There's something queer about that," she +remarked, rubbing her nose, a sure sign of perplexity. + +"How do you mean, queer?" + +"Well----" Mrs. Parry looked thoughtfully at her guest. Then, before +replying, she gave him permission to smoke. "I like the scent of a cigar +about the place," she said; "it reminds me of the Colonel. He was an +awful man to smoke. The one habit I could not break him of." + +Giles lighted a cigarette willingly enough, and repeated his question. +This time he got an answer that surprised him. "It's this way," said the +old lady, taking up her knitting, "for some time the grave was quite +neglected." + +"No, I gave orders that it should be looked after. I told Drake and my +gardener. He's a friend of the sexton's, and I thought there would be no +trouble." + +"There has been, then," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly. "The sexton and +your gardener quarrelled, and have not been on speaking terms for +months. Thomas, the sexton, won't let Williams do anything to the grave, +and out of spite won't touch it himself, so it went to rack and ruin. +The grass is long--or rather was long--and the flowers all gone to seed. +A sore wreck, Ware." + +"I am most annoyed. I'll see about it to-morrow." + +"There is no need. The grave is now as neat as a new pin. The grass is +clipped, and fresh flowers were planted a month ago. I never saw a grave +better kept. Quite a labor of love." + +"And who has done this? Mrs. Morley?" + +"Pish!" said the old dame pettishly. "As though that woman had the +gumption to do anything. Humph! No one knows who has done it." + +"What do you mean?" Ware looked puzzled. + +"What I say; I usually do. The grave has been put to rights. At first +few people noticed it, because few go into that corner; but one day some +imp of a choir boy saw the improvement, and told old Thomas. He came and +looked at it, and others came. No one knew who had put it to rights. +Then," continued Mrs. Parry impressively, "it was discovered that it was +done at night." + +"At night?" + +"Yes; but no one seems to know by whom or at what time. Every morning +some fresh improvement was noted. Some people watched, but saw no one +coming. Yet when the watching was dropped there was something fresh +done. It may be a brownie," added Mrs. Parry, with a sniff, "but it's a +mystery. Even I can't find out the truth." + +"It's very strange," said Ware thoughtfully. + +"It's worse; it's improper," cried Mrs. Parry in her sternest voice. "I +see no reason why such a thing should be done in the darkness of night. +Though to be sure," she continued, rubbing her nose, "we have had +moonlight lately." + +"I must see into this," said Ware, rising. + +"You'll find nothing. Everyone has watched, but to no purpose, my +friend. Now the idiots talk of ghosts, and what not." + +"What do you think yourself?" asked Giles. + +"Why, that some one who loved Daisy better than you did has taken pity +on her neglected grave, and----" + +"Don't!" he cried, wincing. "I did my best to make her happy. The +engagement was unfortunate." + +"The marriage would have been still more so. It is just as well the poor +girl died. No, no, I don't blame you. But Anne----" + +"Don't say a word against Anne," he interrupted quickly. Then, before +his hostess could reply, he took his leave. "I must be going now." + +Mrs. Parry was not at all pleased, but knowing how far she could go, +decided that she had reached the limit of his forbearance. With feminine +craft she smothered her resentment, and parted from him in the most +cordial manner. All the same, she still held to her opinion that Anne +was not the wife for her favorite. + +Giles went at once to the churchyard to view Daisy's grave. He found +everything in good order. The grass was shorn, the flowers were +blooming, and the white marble of the stone had been cleansed carefully. +Wondering who had performed this labor of love, he returned to get his +horse. At the gate of the churchyard a tall man passed him with bent +head. As he brushed past the young squire he raised it suddenly. Giles +saw a clean-shaven face, large black eyes, and a sallow complexion. He +stood aside to let him pass. + +"Rather a nice day," said Ware pleasantly. + +"Very," responded the man, and continued his walk. + +Giles knew very well that he was the new tenant of the Priory. It was in +his mind to speak to him, but on second thoughts he decided to do so on +a more propitious occasion. Standing at the gate, he looked thoughtfully +after the retiring figure. There was something familiar about it and +about the face of the man. His eyes especially aroused a vague +recollection in his mind, but he could not, as the saying goes, "put a +name to it." But while walking to the inn it suddenly flashed into his +brain that this was the man whom he had seen in church on that fatal New +Year's Eve. + +"It's the clerk," he said breathlessly. "He has shaved his beard. He is +Wilson, the man who fled with Anne, who murdered poor Daisy!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS + + +The more Giles thought about Franklin, the more he was certain that he +was the man for whom search was being made. To be sure there was no +distinguishing mark of identification; the evidence that he was one and +the same amounted to the facts that he had large black eyes, and that +his height and figure resembled the so-called Wilson. Moreover, although +other people in the village had seen the clerk, no one but Giles seemed +to recognize him. In fact, this recognition was rather due to an +instinct than to any tangible reason. But in his own mind he was +convinced. He recalled how the man had suddenly removed his scarf as +though he were stifling on that night. He remembered the wan face, the +dark, anxious face, and the rough red beard and hair. + +To be sure Franklin was dark-haired and sallow in complexion; also he +was clean-shaved, and even when not--according to Mrs. Parry--had worn a +full black beard. But the red hair and whiskers might have been assumed +as a disguise. Giles did not know very well how to verify his +suspicions. Then he determined to confide in Morley. Steel had told him +that the proprietor of The Elms was an ex-detective, and Giles thought +that for the sake of avenging Daisy's death he might be induced to take +up his old trade. With this idea he called at The Elms. + +Morley was delighted to see him and welcomed him in the most cheerful +manner. He and Giles were always good friends, and the only subject of +contention between them was the question of Anne's guilt. Morley still +believed that the governess had committed the crime and asked after her +at the outset of the interview. + +"Have you found her?" he asked, just as Mrs. Parry had done. + +Giles knew quite well of whom he was speaking. "No, I have not," he +answered; "and if I had I certainly should not tell you." + +"As you please," replied the little man complacently; "you will never +see the truth." + +"It is not the truth. But see here, Morley, what is the use of our +discussing this matter? You believe Miss Denham to be guilty. I am +certain that she is innocent. Let the difference between us rest there. +Still, if I could prove the innocence of Miss Denham----" + +"I should be more than delighted," responded Morley quickly, "and would +make all the amends in my power for my unjust suspicions. But you have +first to prove them unjust. Believe me, Ware, I admired Miss Denham as +much as my wife did, and thought much of her. I defended her from poor +Daisy's aspersions, and would have stood her friend all through but for +this last act of hers. Well! Well, don't get angry. I am willing to be +shown that I am wrong. Show me." + +Giles reflected for a moment, then went straight to the point. + +"I have been with Steel," he said abruptly, "and he tells me that you +have been in the detective line yourself." + +Morley nodded. "Quite so," he answered, "although I asked Steel to say +nothing about it. I am a private gentleman now, and I don't want my +former occupation to be known in Rickwell. A prejudice exists against +detectives, Ware. People don't like them, because every one has +something to conceal, and with a trained man he or she is afraid lest +some secret sin should come to light." + +"It may be so, although that is rather a cynical way of looking at the +matter. But you are really Joe Bart?" + +"Yes. And quite at your service. Only keep this quiet." + +"Certainly. I quite appreciate your reasons for wanting the matter kept +quiet. But see here, Mr. Morley--I shall call you so." + +"It will be better," replied the ex-detective cheerfully, "and I have a +sort of right to the name. It was my mother's." + +"Very good. Then as Morley why should you not exercise your old skill +and help me to find out who killed Daisy?" + +"I should be delighted, and what skill remains to me is at your service. +But I am rusty now, and cannot follow a trail with my old persistence or +talent. Besides, my mind is made up as to the guilt----" + +"Yes, yes," interposed Giles hastily, "you think so, but I don't agree +with you. Now listen to what I have to tell you, and I am sure you will +think that it was the man who killed Daisy." + +"But he had no motive." + +"Yes, he had. I'll tell it to you concisely." + +Morley looked surprised at Giles' insistence, but nodded without a word +and waited for an explanation. Giles related all that he had learned +about Wilson, and how Steel had connected him with the supposed clerk +who had served the summons on Morley. Then he proceeded to detail +Steel's belief that the so-called Wilson was a burglar, and mentioned +the fact of the yacht with the strange name. Morley listened in silence, +but interrupted the recital with a laugh, when the scarlet cross was +mentioned in connection with the robbery at Lady Summersdale's house. + +"Steel has found a mare's nest this time," he said coolly. "He knew +better than to come to me with such a cock and bull story, although he +has imposed very successfully on you and on that Hungarian Princess you +talk of. I had the Summersdale case in hand." + +"I know. Steel said that you carried it through successfully." + +Morley demurred. "I don't know if you can say that I was successful, +Ware. It was not one of my lucky cases. I certainly got back the jewels. +I found them in their London hiding-place, but I did not catch one of +the thieves. They all bolted." + +"In _The Red Cross_ yacht." + +"Oh, that's all rubbish," said Morley frankly; "there were a great many +yachts at Bexleigh on that occasion. I don't remember one called _The +Red Cross_. And even if one of that name was there, it does not say that +it is the same that was off Gravesend the other day." + +"Six months ago," corrected Giles gravely; "but how do you account for +the fact that wherever that yacht has been burglaries have taken place?" + +"I can't account for it, and Steel has yet to prove that there is any +connection between the yacht and the robberies. He thinks it a kind of +pirate ship evidently. Not a bad idea, though," added Morley musingly; +"the goods could be removed easily without suspicion on board a +good-looking yacht." + +"And that is what has been done." + +"It wasn't in the matter of Lady Summersdale's jewels," retorted the +ex-detective. "I found those in London, and have reason to believe that +they were taken there by train. Besides, there was no connection between +the yacht and that robbery." + +"Steel said that a scarlet cross was found in the safe, and----" + +"And," interrupted Morley, "there you have the long arm of coincidence, +Ware. That cross belonged to Lady Summersdale, and was one of the +trinkets left behind. If you want proof on this point, you have only to +ask Lady----no, I forgot, she is dead. However, I daresay her son or +daughter will be able to prove that the cross was hers." + +Giles was much disappointed by this explanation, which seemed clear +enough. And if any one should know the truth, it would be the man who +had taken charge of the case. Failing on this point, Giles shifted his +ground. + +"Well, Morley," he said, "I am not very anxious to prove this man Wilson +a burglar. He is a murderer, I am sure, and the greater crime swallows +up the lesser." + +"That sounds law," said Morley, lighting a cigar. + +"Well, Ware, I don't see how I can help you. This man Wilson, whether he +is innocent or guilty, has vanished; and, moreover, his connection, if +any, with the Summersdale robbery of ten years ago won't prove him +guilty of my poor ward's death." + +"I only mentioned that to show his connection with the yacht at +Gravesend. But as to this Wilson, I know where he is." + +Morley wheeled round with an eager light in his eyes. "The devil you do. +Where is he?" + +"At the Priory." + +"Is this a joke?" cried Morley angrily. "If so, it is a very poor one, +Ware. The man who lives at the Priory is my friend Franklin----" + +"He is also the man who was in the church on New Year's Eve--the man who +killed Daisy, as I truly believe." + +Giles went on to state what his reasons were for this belief. All at +once Morley started to his feet. "Ah! I know now why something about him +seemed to be familiar to me. What a fool I am! I believe you are right, +Ware." + +"What? That he is this man Wilson?" + +"I don't know what his former name was," replied Morley, with a shrug, +"but now you mention it I fancy he is the man who served the summons on +me." + +"You ought to know," said Ware dryly; "you saw him in this room, and in +a good light." + +"True enough, Ware; but all the time he kept his collar up and that +white scarf round his throat. His chin was quite buried in it. And then +he had a rough red--wig, shall we say? and a red beard. I didn't trouble +to ask him to make himself comfortable. All I wanted was to get him out +of the way. But I remember his black eyes. Franklin has eyes like that, +and sometimes I catch myself wondering where I have seen him before. He +tells me he has lived in Florence these six years and more. I fancied +that when I was a detective I might have seen him, but he insisted that +he had not been to London for years and years. He originally came from +the States. And I was once a detective! Good Lord, how I have lost my +old cleverness! But to be sure I have been idle these ten years." + +"Then you think Franklin is this man?" + +"I think so, but of course I can't be sure. Naturally he will deny that +he is, and I can't prove the matter myself. But I tell you what, Ware," +said Morley suddenly, "get that woman Wilson lodged with down, and see +if she will recognize Franklin as her former lodger. She, if any one, +will know him, and perhaps throw him off his guard." + +Ware rose. "A very good idea," he said. "I'll write to her at once. I am +certain this is the man, especially as he has inherited Daisy's money. +He killed her in order to get the fortune, and that was why he kept +asking Asher's office boy about money left to people." + +"Ah!" Morley looked thoughtful. "So that was the motive, you think?" + +"I am sure of it, and a quite strong enough motive for many people," +said Ware grimly. "If Mrs. Benker can verify this man, I'll have him +arrested. He will have to explain why he came here instead of the office +boy, and why he fled on that night." + +"Yes, yes!" cried Morley excitedly. "And he might perhaps explain why +the governess helped him to escape." + +"Ah!" Giles' face fell. "So he might; but if he dares to inculpate her +in this crime----" + +"Ware," said Morley, laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if I +were you I should do nothing rash. Every one thinks that Miss Denham is +guilty. If this Franklin is the man who fled with her, he will accuse +her to save himself. Certainly there is the motive of the money, but +that might be explained away." + +"I don't see how it can." + +"Nor I; still, there is always the chance. Again, he may take +alarm--always presuming he is the man--and fly. I tell you what, Ware, +you bring Mrs. Benker down, and take her into the grounds of the Priory. +I will arrange that Franklin, without suspecting her or us, shall meet +her, accidentally, at some place where we can hide. Then we can overhear +if he is the man or not." + +"He'll deny that he is." + +"Why should he? There is nothing, so far as he knows, that Mrs. Benker +can lay hold of. If he is the man he will admit his identity, if not, he +will explain who he is. Whereas if we show ourselves and show that we +suspect him, he will be on his guard. No, Ware; better let the woman +meet him by chance." + +"It's a good plan," replied Giles, shaking hands heartily with Morley. +"I am delighted that you should co-operate with me. We will yet prove +that Anne is innocent." + +"I hope so," cried his host, slapping Giles on the back. "Off with you, +Ware, to do your part. I'll attend to Franklin. But say no word of our +plan to any one. Upon my word," cried he jubilantly, "I feel just as +though I were in the profession again." And thus laughing and joking, he +sent his visitor away in the best of spirits. + +Delighted that he had some one to help him, Giles lost no time in +performing his part of the business. He sent a letter to Mrs. Benker, +asking her to come down for a couple of days. It was his intention to +invite Alexander also, as the boy would also be useful in identifying +Franklin as his mother's former lodger; but since leaving Asher's +Alexander had been taken up by Steel, who saw in him the makings of a +good detective. If Alexander learned anything he would certainly tell +his master, and then Steel would come down to interfere. Ware did not +want him to meddle with the matter at present. He wished to be sure of +his ground first, and then would ask the assistance of the detective to +have Franklin arrested. Of course, he had every confidence in Steel, but +for the above reason he determined to keep his present action quiet. +Also, Steel was on the south coast, hunting for evidence concerning _The +Red Cross_ yacht, and would not be pleased at being taken away to +follow what might prove to be a false trail. Ware therefore said nothing +to Mrs. Benker about what he desired to see her, but simply asked her to +come down on a visit. + +There was a prospect of his having another visitor, and one he did not +much wish to meet. This was the Princess Karacsay. Several times he had +called to see her, but she had always put off her promised explanation +on some plea or another. Instead of attending strictly to the business +which had brought them together, she made herself agreeable to +Giles--too agreeable he thought, for he had by this time got it into his +head that Olga Karacsay was in love with him. He was not a vain young +man, and tried to think that her attentions were merely friendly; but +she was so persistent in her invitations and--in the slang phrase--made +such running with him, that he grew rather nervous of her attentions. +Several times she had proposed to come on a visit to Rickwell, but +hitherto he had always managed to put her off. But her letters were +becoming very imperative, and he foresaw trouble. It was quite a relief +to Giles when the post arrived without a letter from this too persistent +and too charming lady. However, she did not trouble him on this especial +occasion, and he was thus enabled to give all his time to Mrs. Benker. + +That good lady duly arrived, looking more severe than ever and with +several new tales about the iniquities of Alexander. She expressed +herself greatly obliged to Giles for giving her a day in the country, +and got on very well with the old housekeeper. But when Ware told her +his reason for asking her, Mrs. Benker grew rather nervous, as she did +not think how she could support an interview, and, also, she wanted to +know what the interview was for. To some extent Giles had to take her +into his confidence, but he suppressed the fact that he suspected +Franklin of the crime. He merely stated that Steel--who had introduced +Giles to Mrs. Benker--had reason to believe that the so-called Wilson +was wanted by the police. All that Mrs. Benker had to do was to see if +Franklin was really her former lodger. After much talk and many +objections, she consented to do what was wanted. + +This was to wander in the park of the Priory and meet Franklin +accidentally near a ruined summer-house, near what was known as the +fish-ponds. Morley had arranged that Franklin should meet him there, and +was to be late, so as to afford Mrs. Benker an opportunity of speaking +to the man. Morley and Ware concealed themselves in the summer-house and +saw Mrs. Benker parading the grass. Shortly Franklin arrived, walking +slowly, and Mrs. Benker saluted him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TREASURE TROVE + + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said Mrs. Benker to the new-comer, "but I do +hope I'm not---- Why"--she changed her tone to one of extreme +surprise--"if it ain't Mr. Wilson!" + +The man did not move a muscle. Ware, who was watching, was disappointed. +At least he expected him to start, but the so-called Wilson was +absolutely calm, and his voice did not falter. + +"You are making a mistake; my name is Franklin." + +"It isn't his voice," muttered the landlady, still staring; "but his +eyes are the same." + +"May I ask you to go?" said Franklin. "You are trespassing." + +Mrs. Benker shook her rusty black bonnet. + +"You may change your hair from red to black," she declared, "and you may +shave off a ginger beard, but you can't alter your eyes. Mr. Wilson you +are, and that I'll swear to in a court of law before a judge and jury. +Let them say what they will about me being a liar." + +"Of what are you talking, woman?" + +"Of you, sir; and I hope I may mention that you were more respectful +when you boarded with me." + +"Boarded with you!" Franklin stared, and spoke in an astonished tone. +"Why, I never boarded with you in my life!" + +"Oh, Mr. Wilson, how can you? What about my little house in Lambeth, and +the dear boy--my son Alexander--you were so fond of?" + +"You are raving." + +"I'm as sane as you are," said the landlady, her color rising, "and a +deal more respectable, if all were known. Why you should deny me to my +face is more than I can make out, Mr. Wilson." + +"My name is not Wilson." + +"And I say it is, sir." + +Both the man and the woman eyed one another firmly. Then Franklin +motioned Mrs. Benker to a seat on a mossy bank. + +"We can talk better sitting," said he. "I should like an explanation of +this. You say that my name is Wilson, and that I boarded with you." + +"At Lambeth. I'll take my oath to it." + +"Had your boarder red hair and a red beard?" + +"Red as a tomato. But you can buy wigs and false beards. Eyes, as I say, +you cannot change." + +"Had this Wilson eyes like mine?" asked Frankly eagerly. + +"There ain't a scrap of difference, Mr. Wilson. Your eyes are the same +now as they were then." + +"One moment. Had this man you think me to be two teeth missing in his +lower jaw--two front teeth?" + +"He had. Not that his teeth were of the best." + +Franklin drew down his lip. + +"You will see that I have all my teeth." + +"H'm!" Mrs. Benker sniffed. "False teeth can be bought." + +"I fear you would find these teeth only too genuine," said the man +quietly. "But I quite understand your mistake." + +"My mistake?" Mrs. Benker shook her head vehemently. "I'm not the one to +make mistakes." + +"On this occasion you have done so; but the mistake is pardonable. +Mrs.--Mrs.--what is your name?" + +"Mrs. Benker, sir. And you know it." + +"Excuse me, I do not know it. The man who was your lodger, and whom you +accuse me of being, is my brother." + +"Your brother!" echoed the landlady, amazed. + +"Yes, and a bad lot he is. Never did a hand's turn in all his life. I +daresay while he was with you he kept the most irregular hours?" + +"He did--most irregular." + +"Out all night at times, and in all day? And again, out all day and in +for the night?" + +"You describe him exactly." Mrs. Benker peered into the clean-shaven +face in a puzzled manner. "Your hair is black, your voice is changed, +and only the eyes remain." + +"My brother and I have eyes exactly the same. I guessed your mistake +when you spoke. I assure you I am not my brother." + +"Well, sir," said the woman, beginning to think she had made a mistake +after all, "I will say your voice is not like his. It was low and soft, +while yours, if you'll excuse me mentioning it, is hard, and not at all +what I'd call a love-voice." + +Grim as Franklin was, he could not help laughing at this last remark. + +"I quite understand. You only confirm what I say. My brother has a +beautiful voice, Mrs. Benker; and much harm he has done with it amongst +your sex." + +"He never harmed me," said Mrs. Benker, bridling. "I am a respectable +woman and a widow with one son. But your brother----" + +"He's a blackguard," interrupted Franklin; "hand and glove with the very +worst people in London. You may be thankful he did not cut your throat +or steal your furniture." + +"Lord!" cried Mrs. Benker, astounded, "was he that dangerous?" + +"He is so dangerous that he ought to be shut up. And if I could lay +hands on him I'd get the police to shut him up. He's done no end of +mischief. Now I daresay he had a red cross dangling from his +watch-chain." + +"Yes, he had. What does it mean?" + +"I can't tell you; but I'd give a good deal to know. He has hinted to me +that it is the sign of some criminal fraternity with which he is +associated. I never could learn what the object of the cross is. He +always kept quiet on that subject. But I have not seen him for years, +and then only when I was on a flying visit from Italy." + +"Have you been to Italy, sir?" + +"I live there," said Franklin, "at Florence. I have lived there for over +ten years, with an occasional visit to London. If you still think that I +am my brother, I can bring witnesses to prove----" + +"Lord, sir, I don't want to prove nothing. Now I look at you and hear +your voice I do say as I made a mistake as I humbly beg your pardon for. +But you are so like Mr. Wilson----" + +"I know, and I forgive you. But why do you wish to find my brother? He +has been up to some rascality, I suppose?" + +"He has, though what it is I know no more than a babe. But they do say," +added Mrs. Benker, sinking her voice, "as the police want him." + +"I'm not at all astonished. He has placed himself within the reach of +the law a hundred times. If the police come to me, I'll tell them what I +have told you. No one would be more pleased than I to see Walter laid by +the heels." + +"Is his name Walter?" + +"Yes, Walter Franklin, although he chooses to call himself Wilson. My +name is George. He is a blackguard." + +"Oh, sir, your flesh and blood." + +"He's no brother of mine," said Franklin, rising, with a snarl. "I hate +the man. He had traded on his resemblance to me to get money and do all +manner of scoundrelly actions. That was why I went to Italy. It seems +that I did wisely, for if I could not prove that I have been abroad +these ten years, you would swear that I was Walter." + +"Oh, no, sir--really." Mrs. Benker rose also. + +"Nonsense. You swore that I was Walter when we first met. Take a good +look at me now, so that you may be sure that I am not he. I don't want +to have his rascalities placed on my shoulders." + +Mrs. Benker took a good look and sighed. "You're not him, but you're +very like. May I ask if you are twins, sir?" + +"No. Our eyes are the only things that we have in common. We got those +from our mother, who was an Italian. I take after my mother, and am +black, as you see me. My brother favored my father, who was as red as an +autumn sunset." + +"He was indeed red," sighed Mrs. Benker, wrapping her shawl round her; +"and now, sir, I hope you'll humbly forgive me for----" + +"That's all right, Mrs. Benker. I only explained myself at length +because I am so sick of having my brother's sins imputed on me. I hope +he paid your rent." + +"Oh, yes, sir, he did that regularly." + +"Indeed," sneered Franklin; "then he is more honest than I gave him +credit for being. Because if he had not paid you I should have done so. +You seem to be a decent woman and----" + +"A widow!" murmured Mrs. Benker, hoping that he would give her some +money. But this Mr. Franklin had no intention of doing. + +"You can go now," he said, pointing with his stick towards an ornamental +bridge; "that is the best way to the high-road. And, Mrs. Benker, if my +brother should return to you let me know." + +"And the police, sir," she faltered. + +"I'll tell the police myself," said the man, frowning. "Good day." + +Mrs. Benker, rather disappointed that she should have received no money, +and wishing that she had said Walter Franklin had not paid her rent, +crept off, a lugubrious figure, across the bridge. Franklin watched her +till she was out of sight, then took off his hat, exposing a high, +baldish head. His face was dark, and he began to mutter to himself. +Finally, he spoke articulately. + +"Am I never to be rid of that scamp?" he said, shaking his fist at the +sky. "I have lived in Italy--in exile, so that I should not be troubled +with his schemes and rascalities. I have buried myself here, with my +daughter and those three who are faithful to me, in order that he may +not find me out. And now I hear of him. That woman. She is a spy of his. +I believe she came here from him with a made-up story. Walter will come, +and then I'll have to buy him off. I shall be glad to do so. But to be +blackmailed by that reptile. No! I'll go back to Florence first." He +replaced his hat and began to dig his stick in the ground. "I wonder if +Morley would help me. He is a shrewd man. He might advise me how to deal +with this wretched brother of mine. If I could only trust him?" He +looked round. "I wonder where he is? He promised to meet me half an hour +ago." Here Franklin glanced at his watch. "I'll walk over to The Elms +and ask who this woman, Mrs. Benker, is. He may know." + +All this was delivered audibly and at intervals. Giles was not +astonished, as he knew from Mrs. Parry that the man was in the habit of +talking aloud to himself. But he was disappointed to receive such a +clear proof that Franklin was not the man who had eloped with Anne. Even +if he had been deceiving Mrs. Benker (which was not to be thought of), +he would scarcely have spoken in soliloquy as he did if he had not been +the man he asserted himself to be. Giles, saying nothing to his +companion, watched Franklin in silence until he was out of sight, and +then rose to stretch his long legs, Morley, with a groan, followed his +example. It was he who spoke first. + +"I am half dead with the cramp," said he, rubbing his stout leg, "just +like old times when I hid in a cupboard at Mother Meddlers, to hear +Black Bill give himself away over a burglary. Ay, and I nearly sneezed +that time, which would have cost me my life. I have been safe enough in +that summer-house--but the cramp--owch!" + +"It seems I have been mistaken," was all Giles could say. + +"So have I, so was Mrs. Benker. We are all in the same box. The man is +evidently very like his scamp of a brother." + +"No doubt, Morley. But he isn't the brother himself." + +"More's the pity, for Franklin's sake as well as our own. He seems to +hate his brother fairly and would be willing to give him up to the +law--if he's done anything." + +"Well," said Ware, beginning to walk, "this Walter Franklin--to give him +his real name--has committed murder. I am more convinced than ever that +he is the guilty person. But I don't see what he has to do with Anne. +Her father is certainly dead--died at Florence. Ha! Morley. Franklin +comes from Florence. He may know--he may have heard." + +Morley nodded. "You're quite right, Ware. I'll ask him about the matter. +Humph!" The ex-detective stopped for a moment. "This involuntary +confession clears George Franklin." + +"Yes. He is innocent enough." + +"Well, but he inherited the money," said Morley. "It's queer that his +brother, according to you, should have killed the girl who kept the +fortune from him." + +"It is strange. But it might be that Walter Franklin intended to play +the part of his brother and get the money, counting on the resemblance +between them." + +"That's true enough. Yet if George were in Italy and within hail, so to +speak, I don't see how that would have done. Why not come to The Elms +with me and speak to Franklin yourself? He will be waiting for me +there." + +"No," answered Ware after some thought, "he evidently intends to trust +you, and if I come he may hold his tongue. You draw him out, Morley, and +then you can tell me. Mrs. Benker----" + +"I'll say nothing about her. I am not supposed to know that she is a +visitor to Rickwell. He'll suspect our game if I chatter about her, +Ware. We must be cautious. This is a difficult skein to unravel." + +"It is that," assented Giles dolefully, "and we're no further on with it +than we were before." + +"Nonsense, man. We have found out Wilson's real name." + +"Well, that is something certainly, and his brother may be able to put +us on his track. If he asks about Mrs. Benker, say that she is a friend +of my housekeeper. You can say you heard it from your wife." + +"I'll say no more than is necessary," replied Morley cunningly. "I +learned in my detective days to keep a shut mouth. Well, I'll be off and +see what I can get out of him." + +When Morley departed at his fast little trot--he got over the ground +quickly for so small a man--Giles wandered about the Priory park. He +thought that he might meet with the daughter, and see what kind of a +person she was. If weak in the head, as Mrs. Parry declared her to be, +she might chatter about her Uncle Walter. Giles wished to find out all +he could about that scamp. He was beginning to feel afraid for Anne, and +to wonder in what way she was connected with such a blackguard. + +However, he saw nothing and turned his face homeward. Just as he was +leaving the park on the side near the cemetery he saw something +glittering in the grass. This he picked up, and was so amazed that he +could only stare at it dumb-founded. And his astonishment was little to +be wondered at. He held in his hand a half-sovereign with an amethyst, a +diamond, and a pearl set into the gold. It was the very ornament which +he had given Anne Denham on the night of the children's party at The +Elms--the coin of His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW + + +The discovery of the coin perplexed Giles. It was certainly the trinket +attached to the bangle which he had given Anne. And here he found it in +the grounds of the Priory. This would argue that she was in the +neighborhood, in the house it might be. She had never been to the Priory +when living at The Elms, certainly not after the New Year, when she +first became possessed of the coin. He decided, therefore, that at some +late period--within the last few days--she had been in the park, and +there had lost the coin. It would, indeed, be strange if this trifling +present which he had made her should be the means of tracing her to her +hiding-place. + +And that hiding-place was the Priory. Giles felt sure of this. If she +was in the neighborhood and walking about openly, she would be +discovered and arrested. Therefore she must be concealed in the house. +She had gone off with Walter Franklin, and here she was under the wing +of his brother George. The case grew more mysterious and perplexing as +time went on. Giles did not know which way to turn, or what advantage to +reap from this discovery. + +Certainly, if he could get into the Priory and search the house, he +might discover Anne. Or, it might be, that if he confided in Franklin +and told him of his love for Anne, the man might tell the truth and let +him have an interview. But the matter took some thinking out. He decided +to let it remain in abeyance at present. After kissing the coin--had it +not been Anne's?--he slipped it into his waistcoat-pocket and returned +home. + +Here a surprise, and not a very agreeable one, awaited him. He reached +his house just in time to dress for dinner, and found a letter, which +had been delivered by hand. It was from Olga Karacsay, and announced +that she and her mother were stopping at the village inn. She asked +Giles to come over that evening, as she wished to introduce him to the +elder Princess. Ware was vexed that this inopportune visit should have +taken place at the moment. He did not wish to be introduced to Olga's +mother, and had more to do than to chatter French to a foreign lady. +However, being naturally a most polite young gentleman, he could not +refuse the request, and after dinner proceeded to the village. + +Morris, the landlord of "The Merry Dancer"--which was the name of the +inn--was a burly man, and usually extremely self-important. On this +night he excelled himself, and looked as swollen as the frog in the +fable. That two Princesses should stay in his house was an honor which +overwhelmed him. To be sure, they were foreigners, which made a +difference; still, they had titles, and plenty of money, and for all +Morris knew--as he observed to his flustered wife--might be exiled +sovereigns. Morris received Giles in his best clothes, and bowed himself +to the ground. + +"Yes, Mr. Ware, their Highnesses are within--on the first floor, Mr. +Ware, having engaged a salon and two bedrooms." + +"I didn't know you had a salon, Morris!" said Giles, his eyes twinkling. + +"For the time being I call it such," replied the landlord grandly. "My +daughter is a French scholar, Mr. Ware, and called the sitting-room by +that name. Me and Mrs. Morris and Henrietta Morris wish to make their +Highnesses feel at home. Allow me to conduct you, sir, to the salon of +their Highnesses. The garkong is engaged with the dejune, along with the +femmie de chambers, who also waits." + +"You are quite a French scholar, Morris." + +"Henrietta Morris, my daughter--or I should say, mon filly--has +instructed me in the languidge, sir. This way to the salon, sir," and +Morris marshalled the way with the air of a courtier of Louis XIV. + +Giles entered the sitting-room, which was pretty and quaint but +extremely unpretentious, bubbling over with laughter. + +Olga came forward, and catching sight of his face, laughed also as she +shook hands with him. + +"I see you know the jest," she said. + +"Morris informed me of it as soon as I entered his door. Why have you +come down to this dull place, Princess?" + +"Ah, no"--she made a pretty gesture of annoyance--"you must to-night +call me Olga----" + +"I should not think of taking such a liberty," said Giles quickly. + +Olga pouted. "Then, Mademoiselle Olga," said she, "my mother you must +call the Princess Karacsay. Will you allow me, Mr. Ware, to present you +to my mother?" + +She led the young man forward, and he found himself bowing to a stout +lady, who at one time must have been beautiful, but in whom age had +destroyed a great amount of her good looks. She was darker than her +daughter, and had a languid, indolent air, which seemed to account for +her stoutness. Evidently she never took exercise. Her face was still +beautiful, and she had the most glorious pair of dark eyes. Her hair was +silvery, and contrasted strangely with her swart face. One would have +thought that she had African blood in her. She wore a yellow dress +trimmed with black lace, and many jewels twinkled on her neck and arms +and in her hair. Her tastes, like her appearance, were evidently +barbaric. In this cold, misty island she looked like some gorgeous +tropical bird astray. + +"I am glad to see you, Mr. Ware," she said in soft, languid tones, yet +with a kind of rough burr; "my daughter has often talked of you." Her +English was very good, and there was little trace of a foreign accent. +Yet the occasional lisp and the frequent roughness added a piquancy to +her tones. Even at her age--and she was considerably over fifty--she was +undeniably a fascinating woman: in her youth she must have been a +goddess both for looks and charm. Olga was regal and charming, but her +mother excelled her. Giles found himself becoming quite enchanted with +this Cleopatra of the West. + +"You have been long in England, Princess?" he asked. + +"But a week. I came to see Olga. She would have me come, although I +dislike travelling. But I am fond of Olga." + +"It is more than my father is," said Olga, with a shrug; "he would not +come. I suppose he thinks that I have disgraced him." + +"My dear child," reproved her mother, "you know what your father's +opinion is about this wild life you lead." + +"A very hard-working life," retorted her daughter; "singing is not +easy. For the rest, I assure you I am respectable." + +"It is not the life for a Karacsay, my dear. If you would only come back +to Vienna and marry the man your father----" + +"I choose for myself when I marry," flashed out Olga, with a glance at +the uncomfortable Giles. "Count Taroc can take another wife." + +The Princess, seeing that Giles found this conversation somewhat trying, +refrained from further remark. She shrugged her ample shoulders, and +sipped her coffee, which she complained was bad. "You do not know how to +make coffee here," she said, unfurling a fan, "and it is cold, this +England of yours." + +"Princess, to-night is warm!" expostulated Ware. + +"Nevertheless I have had a fire made up," she answered, pointing with +her fan to the end of the room; "the landlord was so surprised." + +"He no doubt considered it to be an eccentricity of Her Highness," said +Olga, with a laugh; "a cigarette, mother?" + +The Princess took one languidly, and moved her chair closer to the fire. +The night--to Giles--was quite hot, and he could scarcely bear the +stifling heat of the room. Windows and doors were closed, and the fire +flamed up fiercely. Also some pastiles had been burnt by Olga, and added +a heavy, sensuous scent to the atmosphere. Ware could not help comparing +the room to the Venusberg, and the women to the sirens of that unholy +haunt. Which of the two was Venus he did not take upon himself to +decide. + +"I am used to the tropics," explained the Princess, puffing blue clouds +of smoke. "I come from Jamaica; but I have been many years in Vienna, +and in that cold Hungary," she shivered. + +"Ah, now I see, Princess, why you speak English so well," said Giles, +and he might also have added that he now guessed why she was so Eastern +in appearance and so barbaric in her taste for crude, vivid colors. She +had negro blood in her veins he decided, and Olga also. This would +account for the fierce temperament of the latter. + +"I left Jamaica when I was twenty-two," explained the Princess, while +her daughter frowned. For some reason Olga did not seem to approve of +these confidences. "Prince Karacsay was travelling there. He came to my +father's plantation, and there he married me. I am sorry I did not marry +someone in Jamaica," she finished lazily. + +"My dear mother," broke in her daughter petulantly, "you have always +been happy in Vienna and at the Castle." + +"At the castle, yes. It was so quiet there. But Vienna, ach! It is too +gay, too troublesome." + +"You don't like noise and excitement, Princess?" + +She shook her imperial head with the gesture of an angry queen. + +"I like nothing but rest. To be in a hammock with a cigarette and to +hear the wind bend the palms, the surf break on the shores. It is my +heaven. But in Hungary--no palms, no surf. Ach!" She made a face. + +"You are different to Mademoiselle Olga here," said Ware, smiling. + +"Quite different," cried Olga, with a gay laugh. "But I am like my +father. He is a bold hunter and rider. Ah, if I had only been born a +man! I love the saddle and the gun. No wonder I got away from the dull +Society life of Vienna, where women are slaves." + +"I like being a slave, if rest is slavery," murmured her mother. + +"Would not your father let you ride and shoot, Mademoiselle Olga?" + +"Ah yes, in a measure. But he is an Austrian of the old school. He does +not believe in a woman being independent. My mother, who is obedient and +good, is the wife he loves." + +"The Prince has been very kind to me. He does not trouble me." + +"He wouldn't let the air blow too roughly on you, mother," said Olga, +with a scornful laugh. "He is a descendant of those Magyars who had +Circassian slaves, and adores them as playthings. I am different." + +"You are terribly _farouche_, Olga," sighed the elder woman. "Your +father has forgiven you, but he is still annoyed. I had the greatest +difficulty in getting his permission to come over here." + +"He doubtless thinks you will be able to bring me back to marry Count +Taroc," replied Olga composedly, "but I stay." She looked at Giles +again, as if he were the reason she thus decided. To change the +conversation he stood up. + +"I fear I fatigue you ladies," he said, looking very straight and +handsome. "You will wish to retire." + +"Certainly I retire," said the Princess. "But my daughter----" + +"I shall stop and talk with Mr. Ware." + +"Olga!" murmured her mother, rather shocked. + +"I fear I have to go," said Giles uneasily. + +"No. You must stop. I have to talk to you about Anne." + +"Who is this Anne?" asked the Princess, rising lazily. + +"No one you know, mother. A friend of Mr. Ware's. Now you must retire, +and Katinka shall make you comfortable." + +"You will not be long, Olga? If your father knew--" + +"My father will not know," broke in her daughter, leading the elder +woman to the door. "You will not tell him. Besides," (she shrugged), "we +women are free in England. What would shock my father is good form in +this delightful country." + +The Princess murmured something to Giles in a sleepy tone, and lounged +out of the room bulky but graceful. When she departed and the door was +closed, Olga threw open the windows. "Pah!" she said, throwing the +pastiles out of doors, "I cannot breathe in this atmosphere. And you, +Mr. Ware?" + +"I prefer untainted airs," he replied, accepting a cigarette. + +"The airs of the moors and of the mountains," she exclaimed, drawing +herself up and looking like a huntress in her free grace. "I also. I +love wide spaces and chill winds. If we were in the Carpathians, you and +I, how savage our life would be!" + +"An alluring picture, Princess." + +"I am not Princess at present. I am Olga!" + +"Mademoiselle Olga," he corrected. "And what about Anne?" + +She appeared annoyed by his persistence. "You think of nothing but that +woman," she cried impetuously. + +"Your friend, mademoiselle." + +"Ach! How stiffly you stay that! My friend! Oh, yes. I would do much for +Anne, but why should I do all?" + +"I do not understand, mademoiselle." + +With a strong effort she composed herself, and looked at him smiling. +"Is it so very difficult to understand?" she asked softly. + +"Very difficult," replied Ware stolidly. + +"None so blind as those who won't see," muttered Olga savagely. + +"Quite so, mademoiselle." He rose to go. "Will you permit me to retire?" + +"No! I have much to say to you. Please sit down." + +"If you will talk about Anne," he replied, still standing. "From what +you said at our first interview, she evidently knows something of the +Scarlet Cross, and----" + +"I don't know what she does know. She was always careful." + +"I thought she spoke freely to you." + +"Oh, as a woman always does speak to one of her own sex. With +reservations, Mr. Ware. Still, I could tell you something likely to +throw some light on the mystery." + +"If you only would." + +"It would not lead you to her hiding-place." + +"What if I knew it already, mademoiselle?" + +She stood before him, her hands clenched, her breathing coming and going +in quick, short gasps. "You can't know that." + +"But _you_ do," he said suddenly. + +"I may, or I may not," she replied quickly; "and if you know, why not +seek her out?" + +"I intend to try." + +"To try! Then you are not sure where she is?" said Olga eagerly. + +"Before I answer that, mademoiselle, I must know if you are my friend or +Anne's--enemy," and he looked at her straightly. + +"You have put the matter--the position in the right way. I am your +friend and Anne's--no, I am not her enemy. But I won't give her to you. +No, I won't. You must guess that I----" + +"Mademoiselle," he interrupted quickly, "spare yourself and me +unnecessary humiliation. You know that I love Anne, that I love no one +but her. I would give my life to find her to prove her innocence." + +"Even your life will not bring her to you or save her from the law. +Giles"--she held out her arms--"I love you." + +"The heat of the room is too much for you. I will go." + +"No!" She flung herself between him and the door. "Since I have said so +much, I must say all. Listen! I have been making inquiries. I know more +about the Scarlet Cross and Anne's connection with it than you think. +Her fate is in my hands. I can prove her innocence." + +"And you will--you will!" + +"On condition that you give her up." + +"I refuse to give her up," he cried angrily. + +"Then she will be punished for a crime she did not commit." + +"You know that she is innocent." + +"I can prove it, and I shall do so. You know my price." + +"Olga, do not speak like this. I would do much to save Anne----" + +"And you refuse to save her," she replied scornfully. + +"I refuse to give her up!" + +"Then I shall do so--to the police. I know where she is." + +"You do--that is why you are down here." + +"I did not come here for that, but to see you. To make my terms. I love +you, and if you will give her up, I shall save her----" + +"I can save her in spite of you," said Giles, walking hastily in the +door. "Your presence here confirms a fancy that I had. I can guess where +Anne is, and I'll save her." + +"You will bring her to the light of day and she will be arrested. I +alone can save her." + +"You will. Oh, Olga, be your better self, and----" + +"You know my price," she said between her teeth. + +"I can't pay it--I can't." + +"Then you must be content to see her ruined." + +"You are a devil!" + +"And you are most polite. No; I am a woman who loves you, and who is +determined to have you at any cost." + +"Can you really save Anne?" + +"I can." + +"Will you give me time to think?" + +A flash of joy crossed her face. "Then I am not so indifferent to you as +you would have me suppose," she said softly. + +"You are not so--no, no! I can't say it! Give me time! give me time!" He +opened the door. + +"Wait, wait!" she said, and closed it again. "I will give you two days. +Then I return to London. If I have your promise, Anne shall be set free +from this accusation. If you tamper in the meantime with her--for you +may know where she is--I'll have her arrested at once." + +"I will do nothing," he said in muffled tones. + +"Swear! swear!" She placed her hands on his shoulders. + +Giles stepped back to free himself. "I will swear nothing," he said in +icy tones. "I take my two days." So saying he opened the door, but not +quickly enough to prevent her kissing him. + +"You are mine! you are mine!" she exclaimed exultingly. "Let Anne have +her liberty, her good name. I have you. You are mine!--mine!" + +"On conditions," said Giles cruelly, and went away quickly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + +Giles left "The Merry Dancer" quite determined to deceive Olga if it +were possible. No faith should be kept with such a woman. She had power, +and she was using it unscrupulously for selfish ends. Moreover, come +what might, Giles could not bring himself to make her his wife. He loved +Anne too deeply for that. And then he began to ask himself if he were +not selfish also, seeing that he would not lose his own gratification to +save the woman he loved. Nevertheless, he could not contemplate giving +up Anne with equanimity, and set his wits to work in order to circumvent +the treacherous Olga. + +In the first place he now felt certain that Anne was in the +neighborhood, and, as he shrewdly suspected, in the Priory. The +discovery of the coin and the presence of Olga in the village made him +certain on this point. In some way or another she had got to know of +Anne's whereabouts, and had come here to make capital of her knowledge. +If he consented to surrender Anne and make Olga his wife, she would +probably assist Anne to escape, or else, as she asserted, clear her of +complicity in the crime. + +On the other hand, should he refuse, she would then tell the police +where the unfortunate governess was to be found. It might be that Anne +could save herself. But seeing that she had fled immediately after the +murder, it would be difficult for her to exonerate herself. Also, the +reason she had then to take the guilt upon her own shoulders might again +stand in the way of her now clearing her character. Nothing was left but +to marry Olga and so free Anne, or seek Anne himself. Ware determined to +adopt the latter course as the least repugnant to his feelings. + +But Olga was no mean antagonist. She loved Giles so much that she knew +perfectly well that he did not love her, and this knowledge taught her +to mistrust him. As her passion was so great she was content to take him +as a reluctant husband, in the belief that she, as his wife, would in +time wean him from his earlier love. But she was well aware that, even +to save Anne, he would not give in without a struggle. + +This being the case, she considered what he would do. It struck her that +he would see if he could get into the Priory, for from some words he had +let fall she was convinced that he thought Anne was concealed therein. +Olga had her own opinion about that; but she had to do with his actions +at present and not with her own thoughts. For this reason she determined +to watch him--to be in his company throughout the time of probation. + +Thus it happened that before Giles could arrange his plans the next +day--one of which entailed a neighborly visit to Franklin--Olga made her +appearance at his house, and expressed a desire to see his picture +gallery, of which she had heard much. Her mother, she said, was coming +over that afternoon to look at the house, which, as she had been told, +was a model of what an English country-house should be. + +Giles growled at this speech, being clever enough to see through the +artifices of Mademoiselle Olga. + +"The house is as old as the Tudors," he expostulated; "your mother +should look at a more modern one." + +"Oh, no," replied Olga sweetly. "I am sure she will be delighted with +this one; it is so picturesque." + +"I am afraid that I promised to pay a visit this afternoon." + +"Ah, you must put it off, Mr. Ware. When two ladies come to see you, you +really cannot leave them alone." + +"If the next day will do----" + +"I don't think it will. My mother and I leave the next day. She is due +in town to a reception at the Austrian Embassy." + +Ware made other excuses, but Olga would listen to none of them. She +stopped all the morning and looked at the pictures, but she never +referred to their conversation of the previous night. There was a tacit +understanding between them that it should remain in abeyance until the +time given for the reply of Giles was ended. Still, Ware could not +forget that burning kiss, and was awkward in consequence. + +Not so Olga. She was quite cool and self-possessed, and although alone +with him for close on two hours, did not show the least confusion. +Giles, much disgusted, called her in his own mind "unmaidenly." But she +was not that, for she behaved very discreetly. She was simply a woman +deeply in love who was bent on gaining her ends. Considering the depth +of her passion, she restrained herself very creditably when with the man +she loved. Giles now saw how it was that she had defied her family and +had taken her own way in life. + +"I won't stop to luncheon," she said, when he asked her; "but I and my +mother will come over at three o'clock." It was now close on two. "I am +sure we shall have a pleasant afternoon." + +Giles tried to smile, and succeeded very well, considering what his +feelings were at the moment. If he could only have behaved brutally, he +would have refused the honor of the proposed visit, but it is difficult +to be rude to a charming woman bent upon having her own way. Ware kicked +as a man will, but ended in accepting the inevitable. + +Olga returned to the inn, and found the Princess seated on the sofa +fanning herself violently. Mrs. Morris was in the room, fluttering +nervously as she laid the cloth for luncheon. Olga looked at her mother. +"Did you take your walk?" she asked. + +The Princess nodded. "I am very warm," she said. + +"What do you think now?" asked her daughter impatiently. + +"I think that you are a very clever woman, Olga," replied the Princess; +"but I am too hungry to talk just now. When I have eaten and am rested +we can speak." + +"But just one word. Am I right?" + +"Perfectly right." + +This conversation was conducted in French, and Mrs. Morris could make +nothing of it. Even if she had known the sense she would not have +understood what it meant. However, Olga and her mother reverted to +English for the benefit of the landlady, and chatted about their +proposed visit to Ware's mansion. After that came luncheon. Shortly +after three mother and daughter were with Giles. He received them with +composure, although he felt quite otherwise than composed. The Princess +pronounced him a charming young man. + +"And what a delightful place you have here!" she said, looking at the +quaint Tudor house, with its grey walls and mullion windows. "It is +like a fairy palace. The Castle"--she meant her husband's residence in +Styria--"is cruel-looking and wild." + +"It was built in the Middle Ages," said Olga. "I don't think any one was +particularly amiable then." + +"I would rather have stayed in Jamaica," sighed the Princess. "Why did I +ever leave it?" + +Olga, who always appeared annoyed when her mother reverted to her early +life, touched the elder woman's elbow. The Princess sighed again, and +held her peace. She had a fine temper of her own, but always felt that +it was an effort to use it. She therefore usually gave in to Olga. "It +saved trouble," she explained. + +But her good temper did not last all the afternoon, and ended in +disarranging Olga's plans. After a hearty afternoon tea on the lawn the +Princess said that she did not feel well, and wished to go home. Olga +demurred, but Giles, seeing the chance of escape, agreed that the +Princess really was unwell, and proposed to send them back to the inn in +his carriage. Princess Karacsay jumped at the offer. + +"It will save me walking," she declared fretfully, "and I have done so +much this morning." + +"Where did you go?" asked Giles, wondering that so indolent a woman +should exert herself on such a hot day. + +"To some woods round a place they call the Priory." + +"To the Priory!" he exclaimed, astonished. "Do you know Mr. Franklin?" + +"My mother said the woods round the Priory," explained Olga, with an +annoyed glance at the elder lady. "She did not enter." + +"No," said the Princess, "I did not enter; I do not know the man. Oh, my +dear Olga, do come back. I don't feel at all well." + +"I will order the carriage," said Giles, rising. + +"And you will come back with us?" + +"Really, you must excuse me, Mademoiselle Olga," he answered; "but even +a country squire has his work to do." + +And with that he hurried away. In half an hour he had the satisfaction +of seeing the carriage roll down his avenue with a very disappointed +young lady frowning at the broad back of the coachman. Then he set about +seeing what he could do to circumvent her. + +It was too late to call on Franklin, as it was nearly six o'clock. +Still, Ware thought he would reconnoitre in the woods. It was strange +that the elder Princess should have been there this morning, and he +wondered if she also knew of Anne's whereabouts. But this he decided was +impossible. She had only been a few days in England, and she would not +likely know anything about the governess. Still, it was odd that she +should have taken a walk in that particular direction, or that she +should have walked at all. Here was another mystery added to the one +which already perplexed him so greatly. + +However, time was too precious to be wasted in soliloquizing, so he went +off post-haste towards the woods round the Priory. Since he wished to +avoid observation, he chose by-paths, and took a rather circuitous +route. It was nearly seven when he found himself in the forest. The +summer evenings were then at their longest, and under the great trees +there was a soft, brooding twilight full of peace and pleasant woodland +sounds. Had he gone straight forward, he would have come on the great +house itself, centred in that fairy forest. But this was the last thing +he wished to do. He was not yet prepared to see Franklin. He looked here +and there to see if any human being was about, but unsuccessfully. Then +he took his way to the spot where he had found the coin of Edward VII. +To his surprise he saw a girl stooping and searching. At once he decided +that she was looking for the lost coin. But the girl was not Anne. + +Looking up suddenly she surveyed him with a startled air, and he saw her +face plainly in the quiet evening light. She had reddish hair, a +freckled face, and was dressed--as Mrs. Parry had said--in all the +colors of the rainbow. Giles guessed at once who she was, and bowed. + +"Good evening, Miss Franklin," he said, lifting his hat, "you seem to be +looking for something. Can I assist you?" + +The damsel looked at him sternly and scowled. "You're trespassing," she +said in rather a gruff voice. + +"I fear that I am," he answered, laughing; "but you'll forgive me if I +assist you in your search, won't you?" + +"Who are you?" questioned Miss Franklin, quite unmoved by this +politeness. "I never saw you before." + +"I have just returned from London. My name is Ware." + +"Ware!" echoed the girl eagerly. "Giles Ware?" + +"Yes. Do you know my name?" + +She took a good look at him, and seemed--he was vain enough to think +so--rather to soften towards him. "I have heard Mrs. Morley speak of +you," she declared bluntly. + +"Ah! You have not heard a lady speak of me?" + +Miss Franklin stared. "No, I never heard a lady talk of you," she +replied, with a giggle. "What lady?" + +"The lady who is stopping in your house." + +Her eyes became hard, and she assumed a stony expression. "There is no +lady in the house but myself." + +"Not a lady who lost what you are looking for?" + +This time she was thrown off her guard, and became as red as her hair. +She tried to carry off her confusion with rudeness. "I don't know what +you're talking of," she said, with a stamp and a frown! "you can just +clear away off our land, or I'll set the dogs on you." + +"I see. You keep dogs, do you? Bloodhounds probably?" + +"How do you know that?" asked Miss Franklin, staring. "Yes, we do keep +bloodhounds, and they will tear you to pieces if you don't go." + +"You seem to forget that this is a civilized country," said Giles +quietly. "If you set your dogs on me, I shall set the police on you." + +"The police!" She seemed startled, but recovered herself. "I don't care +for the police," she declared defiantly. + +"You might not, but Walter Franklin might." + +"Who is he? Never heard of him." + +"Never heard of your uncle?" said Giles, and then wondered how he could +let her know that he had heard it without confessing to the +eavesdropping. It suddenly occurred to him that Franklin had--he +supposed--on the previous day made a confidant of Morley. This +supposition he took advantage of. "Mr. Morley told me that your father +had mentioned his brother." + +The girl started and thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean Uncle Walter," +she said, after a pause. "Yes, but we never talk of him." + +This little speech did not ring quite true. It seemed as though the girl +wished to back up the saying of her father, whether she believed it or +not. "Is that why you pretended ignorance?" he asked. + +"That was why," replied Miss Franklin, with brazen assurance. + +She was lying. Giles felt certain of that, but he could not bring the +untruth home to her. He suddenly reverted to the main object of his +interview, which had to do with the possibility of Anne being in the +Priory. + +"What about that coin you are looking for?" + +"I am looking for no coin," she replied, quite prepared for him. "I lost +a brooch here. Have you found it?" + +"Yes," replied Giles, his eyes watchfully on her face. "It is an Edward +VII. coin in the form of a brooch." + +He thought Miss Franklin would contradict this, but she was perfectly +equal to the occasion. "You must have found it, since you know it so +well. Please give it to me." + +"I have left it at home," he answered, although it was lying in his +pocket-book, and that next his heart. "I will give it to you to-morrow +if you tell me from whom you got it." + +"I found it," she confessed, "in the churchyard." + +"Ah!" A sudden light flashed into the darkness of Ware's mind. "By the +grave of that poor girl who was murdered?" + +"I don't know of any murdered girl," retorted Miss Franklin, and looked +uneasy, as though she were conscious of making a mistake. + +"Yes you do, and you know the lady who cleans the stone and attends to +the grave. Don't deny the truth." + +Miss Franklin looked him up and down, and shrugged her clumsy shoulders. +"I don't know what you are talking about," she declared, and with that +turned on her heel. "Since you will not take yourself off like a +gentleman, I'll go myself"; and she went. + +"Don't set the bloodhounds on me," called out Giles. But she never +turned her head; simply went on with a steady step until she was lost in +the gloom of the wood. + +Giles waited for a time. He had an idea that she was watching. By-and-by +the feeling wore off, and knowing by this time that he was quite alone, +he also departed. + +He was beginning to doubt Franklin, for this girl had evidently +something to conceal. He was sure that Anne was being sheltered in the +house, and that it was Anne who cleaned the gravestone. Perhaps George +Franklin was giving her shelter since she had helped his rascal of a +brother to escape. Thus thinking, he went through the wood with the +intention of going home. A glance at his watch told him it was after +eight. + +Suddenly it occurred to him that it would be a good time to pay a visit +to the graveyard and see if anything new had been done to the grave. All +the people were within doors at this hour, and the churchyard would be +quiet. Having made up his mind, he walked in the direction of the church +and vaulted the low wall that divided that graveyard from the park. He +saw Daisy's grave. Bending over it a woman. She looked up with a +startled cry. It was Anne Denham. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PART OF THE TRUTH + + +For a moment the lovers stared at one another in the luminous twilight. +The meeting was so strange, the place where it took place so significant +of the trouble that had parted them, that both were overcome with +emotion. Anne was as white as the marble tombstone, and looked at him +with appealing eyes that beseeched him to go away. But having found her +Giles was determined not to lose her again, and was the first to find +his tongue. + +"Anne!" said he, and stepped towards her with open arms. + +His voice broke the spell which held her chained to the ill-omened spot, +and she turned to fly, only to find herself on his breast and his dear +voice sounding entreatingly in her ears. + +"Anne," he said in a hoarse whisper, "you will not leave me now?" + +After a brief struggle she surrendered herself. There was no danger of +any one coming to the churchyard at this hour, and since they had met so +unexpectedly, she--like the tender, sweet woman she was--snatched at the +blissful moment. "Giles," she murmured, and it was the first time he had +heard her lips frame his name. "Giles!" + +Again there was a silence between them, but one of pure joy and +transcendental happiness. Come what might, nothing could banish the +memory of that moment. They were heart to heart and each knew that the +other loved. There was no need of words. Giles felt that here was the +one woman for him; and Anne nestled in those beloved arms like a wild +bird sheltering from storm. + +But the storm which buffeted her wings would tear her from this refuge. +The passionate delight of that second of Eden passed like a shadow on +the sun dial. From heaven they dropped to earth, and parted once more by +a hand-breath, stared with haggard looks at one another. The revulsion +was so great that Anne could have wept; but her sorrow was so deep that +her eyes were dry. For the gift of the world she could not have wept at +that hour. + +But she no longer felt an inclination to fly. When she saw how worn and +thin her lover looked, she knew that he had been suffering as much as +she had, and a full tide of love swelled to her heart. She also had lost +much of her beauty, but she never thought of that. All she desired was +to comfort the man that loved her. She felt that an explanation was due +to him, and this she determined to give as far as she could without +incriminating others. + +Taking his hand in her own, she led him some little distance from the +grave of Daisy; and they seated themselves on a flat stone in the shadow +of the church, and a stone's throw from the park wall. Here they could +converse without being seen, and if any one came they could hear the +footsteps on the gravelled path, and so be warned. And throughout that +short interview Anne listened with strained attention for the coming +step. At the outset Giles noted her expectant look and put his arm +round her. + +"Dearest, do not fear," he said softly. "No one will come; and if any +one does I can save you." + +"No," she replied, turning her weary eyes on him. "I am under a ban. I +am a fugitive from the law. You cannot save me from that." + +"But you are innocent," he said vehemently. + +"Do you believe that I am, Giles?" + +"Do I believe it? Why should you ask me such a question? If you only +knew, Anne, I have never doubted you from the first. Never! never!" + +"I do know it," she said, throwing her arms round his neck. "I have +known all along how you believed in my innocence. Oh, Giles, my darling +Giles, how shall I be able to thank you for this trust?" + +"You can, Anne, by becoming my wife." + +"Would you marry me with this accusation hanging over me?" + +"I would make you my wife at this moment. I would stand beside you in +the dock holding your hand. What does it matter to me if all the foolish +world think you guilty? I know in my own heart that you are an innocent +woman." + +"Oh, Giles, Giles!" Then her tears burst forth. She could weep now, and +felt the better for that moment of joyful relief. He waited till she +grew more composed, and then began to talk of the future. + +"This can't go on for ever, Anne," said he decisively; "you must +proclaim your innocence." + +"I can't," she answered, with hanging head. + +"I understand. You wish to protect this man. Oh, do not look so +surprised. I mean with the man you fled with--the man Wilson." + +"I don't know any one called Wilson." + +"Anne!"--he looked at her keenly--"I implore you to tell me the truth. +Who is this man you fled with to Gravesend--with whom you went on board +the yacht?" + +"Is that known?" she asked in a terrified whisper. + +"Yes. A great deal is known." + +"Portia never told me that," she murmured to herself. + +"Who is Portia?" + +"She lives at the Priory, and----" + +"I see. She is the red-haired, freckle-faced girl--the daughter of Mr. +Franklin. Morley told me that. Portia! What a stately name for that +dreadful young person!" + +"But indeed, Giles, she is a good girl, and has been a kind friend to +me," explained Anne eagerly. "She told me all about you, and how you +believed in my innocence." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Giles, "then that was why she seemed so pleased to hear +my name. I met her in the park just now, Anne----" + +"You met her in the park?" Anne half rose to go. He drew her down. + +"Yes, dearest. But don't be alarmed. She will never think that we have +met. She was looking for this." And Giles took out the coin. + +Anne gave a cry of delighted surprise. "Oh," she said, taking it +eagerly, "I thought I had lost it forever. And you found it, Giles?" + +"I found it," he replied gravely. "It was that discovery which made me +believe that you were in the neighborhood. And then when Olga----" + +"Olga." Anne looked at him suddenly. "Do you know her?" + +"Very well. She is your friend." + +"My best friend. She loves me like a sister." + +Giles could have told her that the sisterly love was not to be trusted, +but she had so much trouble that he could not find it in his heart to +add to her worries. Besides, time was slipping by, and as yet he knew +nothing of the truth of the matter. + +"Tell me why you fled with that man," he asked. + +"Giles, I will tell you all," she replied earnestly, "but on your part +let me hear what is being done about the death of poor Daisy. It will +set my mind at rest. You see how I have taken care of her grave, dear. +Were I guilty would I do that?" + +"I never thought you guilty," he repeated impatiently. "How many times +have I to say that?" + +"As many as you can bring your mind to repeat," she replied. "It is +sweet to think that you love me so well, that you can refuse to believe +evil of me in the face of the evidence against me." + +"Anne, Anne, why did you fly?" + +"Tell me how the case stands against me and what you have discovered," +she asked in a composed voice, and with a visible effort to command her +feelings. "And I shall tell you all that I can." + +As time was precious Giles did not lose a moment. He plunged into the +story of all that had taken place, from his interview with Mrs. Parry to +the finding of the coin which had first given him his clue to the +whereabouts of Anne. Also he touched lightly upon the visit of Olga to +Rickwell, but was careful not to allude to her feelings towards him. +Since Anne believed the woman to be her friend, he wished her to remain +in that belief. He was not the one to add to her sorrows. And even when +she was cleared of the charge and became his wife Ware determined that +he would never speak of Olga's treachery. For her own sake he knew that +the Hungarian would be silent. + +Anne listened in silence to his recital, and when he ended drew a sigh +of relief. "It might have been worse," she said. + +"I don't see how it could be," replied Ware bluntly. "Morley will insist +that you are guilty, and Steel thinks so too. I must admit that he +wavers between you and this man you fled with. Come now, Anne, tell me +all." + +"I shall not have much time," she said hurriedly. "I dare not let Mr. +Franklin know that I have met you. If I am not back in the Priory soon, +he will send Portia to look for me." + +"You can tell me much in ten minutes. Who is the man?" + +"My father," she replied in a low voice. + +Giles could hardly speak for surprise. "But your father is dead?" + +"I thought he was," said Anne. "I have believed it these many months. +But when I saw him in Mr. Morley's library on that night I knew that he +still lived." + +"But I can't understand how you made such a mistake. Does Morley know?" + +She shook her head. "I managed to restrain myself. Mr. Morley knows +nothing. Afterwards I went to the church in the hope of meeting my +father. He was in church." + +"I saw him," said Giles; "but tell me how the mistake occurred." + +"My father lived in Florence, and----" + +"Is his name Walter Franklin?" + +"That is his real name; but he was known in Florence as Alfred Denham." + +"You spoke to Olga Karacsay about him under that name?" + +"Yes, because I did not know until lately that his name was Walter +Franklin. Nor did I know that George Franklin, who inherits Daisy's +money, was his brother." + +"So George Franklin is your uncle and Portia your cousin?" + +"Yes; but let me go on. My father lived in Florence. I was often away +from home, as I was engaged as a governess. I came to England and met +Olga at the Institute. I procured an engagement in London; it was the +one I had before Mrs. Morley engaged me. I received news that my father +was ill of typhoid fever. I hurried at once to Florence. He not only was +dead, but he was buried, so I was informed by Mark Dane." + +"Who is Mark Dane?" + +"He was my father's secretary." + +"One moment, Anne. Your uncle stated that he was the man who lived in +Florence, and that your father being a scamp lived in England. On +account of Walter George resided abroad." + +"That is quite true. But Walter--I may speak of my father so for the +sake of clearness--used to come sometimes to Florence. George never knew +that he was there, thinking that he was in London. I learned all this +lately. At the time my father and I lived in Florence I knew nothing of +the relationship between George and Walter. My father knew that if Daisy +died his brother would inherit the money, and he kept a watch on George +so as to see if he would come into the property. But I knew nothing of +this, neither did Mark, although he was deep in my father's confidence. +Well, as I say, my father was supposed to have died. I expect another +corpse was buried in his place. Mark no doubt agreed to the fraud, +whatever was the reason. But I have not seen Mark since immediately +after the death, and can't get an explanation. I saw him in Florence, +and he told me that my father was dead and buried. Since then I have not +seen him." + +"So you returned to England, thinking your father was dead?" + +"Certainly. He left me a little money. I went back to my situation. +Afterwards I came down here. On that New Year's Eve I entered the +library and saw my father speaking to Mr. Morley. I disguised my +feelings, as I was certain he did not wish to be recognized. But the +shock was so great that I nearly fainted. I went up to my room, and +afterwards to church to see my father. He was there, as you know. I saw +him pass a paper to Daisy. She went out ten minutes later; he followed. +I wished to see him, and I was curious to know why he had come to +Rickwell and had let me think he was dead. Shortly afterwards I went +outside. It was snowing fast. I could not see my father or Daisy. +Suddenly I came across my father. He was beside the grave of Mr. Kent. +Daisy was lying on the ground. He gasped out that she was dead, and +implored me to save him." + +"Do you think he killed her?" + +"No. Afterwards he denied that he did. But at the time I believed that +he was guilty. I saw that he would be arrested, and in a frenzy of alarm +I cast about for some means to save him. I remembered your motor-car was +waiting at the gates. I sent Trim away on an errand----" + +"I know, I know! You deceived him!" + +"To save my father," replied Anne quietly. "I got the car in this way +and went off with my father. He told me to go to Gravesend, where he had +a yacht waiting. Near Gravesend the car upset. We left it on the +roadside and walked to Tilbury. A boatman ferried us across the river, +and we went on board the yacht." + +"Did you know your father was the owner of the yacht?" + +"No, I did not. He said that it belonged to a friend. We departed in the +yacht and went to a French port, then on to Paris." + +"And it was from Paris that you sent me the drawing of the coin." + +"Yes; I knew that appearances were against me, and could not bear to +think that you should believe me guilty. I did not dare to send any +letter, but I knew you would recognize the drawing of the Edward VII. +coin, and so sent it as you saw." + +"How long did you stay in Paris?" + +"For some weeks. Then we went to Italy, to Florence." + +"Wasn't your father recognized?" + +"No; he had altered his appearance. He gave me no reason at first for +doing this, but afterwards told me that he was engaged in a political +conspiracy, something to do with the Anarchists." + +"Is the red cross the symbol of some society?" + +"I can't say. He refused to explain the mystery of the cross to me. I +admit fully, Giles, that I cannot understand my father. His ways are +strange, and he leads a most peculiar life. Afterwards George Franklin, +my uncle, came to England and inherited the property. My father sent me +to him with an explanation. My uncle refused to believe that I was +guilty, and gave me shelter in his house until such time as my character +could be cleared. I came over and have been hiding in the Priory ever +since. I was so sorry for poor Daisy and for her unexpected death that +I came to see after her grave. I found it neglected, and thus went to +clean it, as you see. Portia, my cousin, has been very good to me. I +have stayed in all day and have walked out in the evening. No one knows +that I am here. No one will ever know unless you tell." + +"I tell? Anne, what do you take me for? I will keep quiet until I can +clear your character, and make you my wife." + +"You must not see me again." + +"No," sighed Giles, "it will not be wise. But can't you tell me who +killed Daisy, and thus clear yourself?" + +Anne shook her head. + +"I wish I could. But my father declares that he came out to see the +girl, and found her already dead on the grave face downwards. She had +been killed during the time he waited behind. He saw that there was a +danger of his being accused of the crime, since he had asked her to +leave the church. Thus it was that he lost his presence of mind and +called on me to save him. I did so on the impulse of the moment, and +thus it all came about." + +"Where is your father now?" + +Anne thought for a moment. + +"I would tell you if I knew," she said seriously, "as I know you will +not betray him. But I don't know where he is. Since I have been here I +have not heard a word from him." + +"Your uncle?" + +"If my uncle knew, he would hand my father over to the police. He hates +him; but he is always kind to me." + +"Anne, I wonder if your uncle killed Daisy to inherit the money?" + +"No; he was in Italy at the time. I am sure of that." + +"Has your father any suspicion who killed Daisy?" + +"No. He says he has not." + +"Why did he ask her to leave the church? And how did he manage it?" + +"He wished to speak to her about George Franklin, who would inherit the +money if she died. I believe he intended to warn her that George was +dangerous, for he hates my uncle." + +"Did your father know that the money had been left at the time?" + +"No. It was only because he was on the spot that he wished to see Daisy. +He wrote on a scrap of paper that he wished to see her about the money, +and she came out." + +"She was always eager after that miserable money," said Ware sadly. "But +your father did know that Powell was dead at the time, Anne." And he +told her of his discoveries in connection with the office boy. "So you +see your father was in England masquerading as Wilson," he finished. + +"Yes," said Anne, with a shudder, "I see now. But he told me nothing of +this. Indeed, I can't understand my father at all." + +"Do you know the meaning of the Scarlet Cross?" + +"No; he refuses to tell me. He won't say why he pretended to be dead; +and in every way he is most mysterious. But I am fond of my father, +Giles, although I know he is not a good man. But he did not kill Daisy; +I am sure of that. And even at the time I thought he had done so I saved +him. After all he may be as bad as possible; but he is my father, and I +owe him a daughter's affection." + +Giles would have argued this, but at the moment Anne started to her +feet. She heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and without a word +to Giles she flew over the low wall and darted across the park. He was +too astonished by this sudden departure to say a word. He had lost her +again. But he knew where she was after all. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WHAT HAPPENED NEXT + + +Giles left the churchyard slowly, with his brain in a whirl. Anne had +departed in hot haste, taking shelter in her hiding-place, and he dare +not follow unless he wanted it to be discovered. He never knew who it +was, whose footsteps had startled her away. When she left him he +remained for quite ten minutes where he was, in a kind of dazed +condition. The footsteps were not heard now. So intent had he been upon +Anne's flight, and on the amazing things she had told him, that he had +not noticed when they ceased. Then it occurred to him that they had +retreated--just as though a person had been listening and had hastily +gone away. But of this he could not be sure. All he did know was that +when he rounded the corner there was not a soul in sight. And nothing +remained but to go home. + +Olga and her mother did not put in an appearance on this night, so Giles +had ample time to think over his meeting with Anne. He did not see how +he could help her, and the story she had related bewildered, instead of +enlightening him. After a time he rearranged the details, and concluded +that, in spite of all denial, her father was the guilty person, and the +crime had been committed for the sake of the Powell money. + +"Whether the Scarlet Cross indicates a political society or is the +symbol of a thieves' association," said Giles to himself, "I can't say +until Steel is more certain of his ground. But this Alfred Denham, or +Walter Franklin, or whatever he chooses to call himself, is evidently a +bad lot. He has sufficient love for his daughter to keep his iniquities +from her, and that is why Anne is so much in the dark. I quite believe +that she thinks her father innocent, and saved him on the spur of the +moment. But he is guilty for all that." + +And then Giles proceeded to work out the case as it presented itself to +him. Walter Franklin--as he found it most convenient to call him--was a +scoundrel who preyed on society, and who by some mischance had a pure +and good daughter like Anne. To keep her from knowing how bad he +was--and the man apparently valued her affection--he sent her to be a +governess. She believed in him, not knowing how he was plotting to get +the Powell money. + +Certainly Walter had resided in Florence under the name of Denham. Ware +quite believed this, and guessed that he did so in order to keep an eye +on his brother George, who was to inherit the Powell money. Probably he +knew beforehand that Powell was ill, and so had feigned death that he +might carry out his scheme without Anne's knowledge. That scheme was to +impersonate his brother; and Giles trembled to think of how he proposed +to get rid of George when the time was ripe. He must have intended to +murder him, for since he had slain Daisy with so little compunction, he +certainly would not stick at a second crime. + +However, thus Giles argued, the first step to secure the money was for +him to feign death and thus get rid of Anne. Then he came to London, and +as Wilson stopped with Mrs. Benker in order to spy on the Ashers +through Alexander. As soon as he knew for certain that Powell was dead +and that the money was coming to Daisy, he came down to Rickwell on the +errand of serving the summons, and then had lured the girl outside of +the church to kill her. But for Anne following him, he would have +disappeared into the night and no one would have been the wiser. + +But the appearance of his daughter in the library upset his plans. She +followed him into the church and came out to find him near the dead +body. He certainly made an excuse, but Giles believed that such was a +lie. If he had confessed to the crime, even Anne might not have stopped +with him. But here Giles remembered that at the time of the flight Anne +really believed that her father was guilty. At all events he had made +use of her to get away, and thus had reached the yacht at Gravesend. It +was waiting for him there, in order that he might fly after the crime +was committed. Perhaps he intended to walk to Tilbury, and crossing the +Thames get on board the yacht before the hue-and-cry was out. Anne +hampered his plans in some measure and then, by means of the stolen +motor-car, assisted them. Thus the man had got away, and by the murder +of the girl had opened the way to George inheriting the money. + +"They went to Paris," mused Giles, "then to Florence. I daresay this +Walter intended to send Anne away on some excuse and to murder his +brother in Florence. Then he could slip into the dead man's shoes, and +come to inherit--as George--the property of Powell. Probably George left +Florence before Walter arrived, and thus escaped death. He is safe so +far, but how long will he be safe?" + +Then a terrible thought occurred to Giles. He wondered if Walter had +placed his daughter at the Priory so as to have an opportunity of coming +to see his brother, and thus seizing his chance of killing him. Anne, +innocent as she was of the real meaning of these terrible schemes, might +be a decoy. If her father came, George would be murdered. Walter, who +was able to disguise himself with infernal ingenuity, might slip into +the dead man's shoes, and thus the money he had schemed for would come +to him. Evidently the last act of the tragedy was not yet played out. + +The more Giles puzzled over the matter, the more bewildered he became. +He could see--as he thought--what had been done, but he could not guess +how the last act was to be carried out. Yet Walter Franklin was hiding +somewhere waiting to pounce out on his unsuspecting brother, and the +second crime might involve Anne still deeper in the nefarious +transactions of her father. Finally Giles made up his mind to seek +George Franklin at the Priory and tell him what he thought. The man +should at least be put on his guard. It may be said that Ware fancied he +might be permitted to see Anne as a reward for his kind warning. + +Before calling on Franklin he went to see the foreign ladies. To his +surprise both had left by the early morning train. There was a note from +Olga, which informed him that her mother had insisted on returning to +town, finding the country cold and dull. The note added that +she--Olga--would be glad to see him at the Westminster flat as soon as +he could come to London, and ended with the remark that he had yet to +give his answer to her question. Giles was relieved when he read this. +Olga was gone, and the two days of probation were extended indefinitely. +He might find some way of releasing Anne before he need give this +dreadful answer. Again and again did he bless the selfishness of the +elder Princess, which had removed the obstacle of Olga from his path. + +Meanwhile he put her out of his mind and went on to the Priory. He +called in on the way to see Morley, but learned that the little man had +gone to town. Mrs. Morley looked more worn and haggard than ever, and +seemed about to say something as Giles was taking his leave. However, +she held her peace and merely informed him that she missed her children +dreadfully. "But I'm sure that is not what she meant to say," thought +Ware, as he departed. On looking back he saw her thin white face at the +window and concluded--as Mrs. Parry did--that the poor lady had +something on her mind. + +In due time he arrived at the Priory and was shown into a gloomy +drawing-room, where George Franklin received him. Giles apologized for +not having called before, and was graciously pardoned. + +"And, indeed, I should have called on you, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, +"but I am such a recluse that I rarely go out." + +"You call on Mr. Morley, I believe?" + +"Yes; he is a cheery man, and won't take no for an answer. I find that +his company does me good, but I prefer to be alone with my books." + +There were many books in the room and many loose papers on the desk, +which Giles saw were manuscripts. "I write sometimes," said Franklin, +smiling in his sour way. "It distracts my mind from worries. I am +writing a history of Florence during the age of the Renaissance." + +"A very interesting period," Giles assured him. + +"Yes; and my daughter Portia helps me a great deal. You have met her, +Mr. Ware. She told me." + +"Yes; we met in the park. She was looking for something, which I found; +but I gave it to--to----" Giles hesitated, for he was on dangerous +ground. "To another lady," he finished desperately, and waited for the +storm to break. + +To his surprise the man smiled. "You mean my niece Anne," said he in the +calmest way. + +"Yes; I do mean Miss Denham. But I did not know that--that----" + +"That I wished you to know she was under my roof. Is that it?" + +"Yes," stammered Giles, quite at sea. He did not expect this candor. + +Franklin rather enjoyed his confusion. "I did not intend to let you know +that she was here. It was her own request that you were kept in +ignorance. But since you met her----" + +"Did you hear of our meeting?" + +"Certainly. Anne told me of it directly she came back. Oh, I have heard +all about you, Mr. Ware. My niece confessed that you loved her, and from +Morley I heard that you defended her." + +"Did Morley know that Anne was here?" + +"Certainly not. At the outset of our acquaintance he informed me that he +believed her to be guilty. I resolved to say nothing, lest he might tell +the police." + +"Why did you not tell him that she was innocent?" asked Giles hotly. + +The man looked grave and smoothed his shaven chin--a habit with him when +perplexed. "Because I could not do so without telling an untruth," he +said coldly. + +Giles started to his feet, blazing with anger. "What!" he cried, "can +you sit there and tell me that your own niece killed that poor girl?" + +"I have reason to believe that she did," replied Franklin. + +"She told me she was innocent," began Ware. + +Franklin interrupted. "She loves you too well to say otherwise. But she +is--guilty." + +"I would not believe that if she told me herself." + +"Sit down, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, after a pause. "I'll explain +exactly how the confession came about." + +Giles took his seat again, and eyed his host pale but defiant. "It is no +use your saying anything against Anne. She is innocent." + +"Mr. Ware, I believed that when she first came to me. I hate my brother +because he is a bad man; but I liked his niece, and when she came to me +for shelter I took her in, notwithstanding the enormity of the crime +which she was accused of having committed." + +"It gained you your fortune," said Ware bitterly. + +"I would rather have been without a fortune gained at such a price," +answered Franklin coldly; "but I really believed Anne guiltless. She +defended her father, but I fancied, since she had helped him to escape, +that he had killed the poor girl." + +"And he did," cried Giles. "I am sure he did." + +"He had no motive." + +"Oh yes, to get the money--the five thousand a year." + +"You forget. By Miss Kent's death that came to me." + +"Your brother would have found means to get it. I believe he will find +means yet." + +"I don't understand you. Will you explain?" + +Franklin seemed fairly puzzled by Giles' remarks, so the young man set +forth the theory he had formed about the murder. At first Mr. Franklin +smiled satirically; but after a time his face became grave, and he +seemed agitated. When Giles ended he walked the room in a state of +subdued irritation. + +"What have I done to be so troubled with such a relative as Walter?" he +said aloud. "I believe you are right, Mr. Ware. He may attempt my life +to get the money; and as we are rather like one another in appearance he +may be able to pass himself off as me. Why, there was a woman here who +called herself Mrs. Benker. She insisted that I was called Wilson, under +which name she knew my brother Walter. So you must see how easily he +could impose on every one. I am dark and clean-shaven; he is red-haired +and bearded. But a razor and a pot of black dye would soon put that to +rights. Yes, he might attempt my murder. But do not let us saddle him +with a crime of which he is guiltless. Anne killed the girl. I assure +you this is the truth." + +"I don't believe it," cried Giles fiercely. + +"Nevertheless"--Franklin paused and then came forward swiftly to place a +sympathetic hand on the young man's shoulder--"I heard her say so +myself. She confessed to me that she had met you, and seemed much +agitated. Then she ran out of this room to another. Fearing she was ill, +I followed, and found her on her knees praying. She said aloud that she +had deceived you, stating that she could not bear to lose your love by +proclaiming herself a murderess." + +"No, no; I won't listen." Giles closed his ears. + +"Be a man, Mr. Ware. Anne is ill now. She confessed the truth to me, and +then fled to her bedroom. This morning she was very ill, as my daughter +Portia assured me. Portia is out of the house. If you will come with me, +you will hear the truth from Anne herself. She is so ill that she will +not try to deceive you now. But if she does confess, you must promise +not to give her up to the police. She is suffering agonies, poor child!" + +"I'll come at once," said Giles bravely, starting to his feet. And it +was brave of him, for he dreaded the truth. "If she confesses this, +I'll go away and never see her again. The police--ah, you needn't think +I would give her up to the police. But if she is guilty (and I can't +believe such a thing of her) I'll tear her out of my heart. But it's +impossible, impossible!" + +Franklin looked at him with a pitying smile as he hid his face in his +hands. Then he touched him on the shoulder and led the way along a +passage towards the back part of the house. At a door at the end he +paused. "The room is rather dark. You won't see her clearly," he said, +"but you will know her by her voice." + +"I would know her anyway," cried Giles fiercely, and tormented beyond +endurance. + +Franklin gave him another glance, as though asking him to brace himself +for the ordeal, and then opened the door. He showed small mercy in +announcing Ware's coming. "Anne, here is Mr. Ware come to see you. Tell +him the truth." + +The room was not very large, and was enveloped in a semi-gloom. The +blind was pulled down, and the curtains were drawn. The bed was near the +window, and on it lay Anne in a white dress. She was lying on the bed +with a rug thrown over her feet. When she heard the name of Giles she +uttered a cry. "Keep him away!" she said harshly. "Keep him away! Don't +let him come!" + +"Anne! Anne!" cried Giles, coming forward, his mouth dry, his hands +clenched. "Do not tell me that you killed Daisy." + +There was a groan and silence, but Anne--so far as he could see--buried +her face in the pillow. It was Franklin who spoke. "Anne, you must tell +the truth once and for all." + +"No, no," she cried, "Giles would despise me." + +"Anne," he cried in agony, "did you kill her?" + +"Yes," came the muffled voice from the bed. "I found her at the grave. +My father was not there. He had missed her in the darkness and the snow. +She taunted me. I had the stiletto, which I took from the library, and I +killed her. It was my father who saved me. Oh, go away, Giles, go away!" + +But Giles did not go. He rose to his feet and stepped towards the +window. In a second he had the blind up and the curtains drawn apart. +The light poured into the room to reveal--not Anne Denham, but the girl +Portia Franklin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON + + +It was indeed Portia. Seeing that she was discovered, she sprang from +the bed and faced Giles with a sullen, defiant look on her freckled +face. Still standing in the strong light which poured in through the +window, Ware looked at the girl satirically. + +"You are a very clever mimic, Miss Franklin," said he, "but you rather +forgot yourself in that last speech. Anne is of too sensitive a nature +to have explained herself with such a wealth of detail." + +"You were deceived at first," grumbled Portia, rocking herself. + +"Only for a moment," replied Giles. "And now I should like to know the +meaning of this masquerade?" + +"I also," cried Franklin, in his turn. He was staring at his daughter +with a look of profound amazement. "Where is Anne, you wretched girl?" + +"She has run away." + +"Run away!" exclaimed the men simultaneously. + +"Yes. After your finding out last night that she had killed Daisy Kent +she was afraid to stop. She knew that you hated her father, and thought +you might hand her over to the police. Last night she told me so, and +said she would run away. I love Anne, and I let her do as she liked. It +was I who let her out," ended Portia, defiantly. + +"Anne should not have so mistrusted me," cried Franklin, much perturbed. +"Surely I always protected her, and treated her well." + +"Ah, but you didn't know till last night that she was guilty." + +"No; but for all that----" began Franklin, only to break off. "Where has +she gone?" he demanded angrily. + +"I don't know. She had some money, and took a small black bag with her. +She said when she got settled she would write here and let me know where +she was, on condition that I did not tell you." + +"She has every reason to. Poor, miserable girl! to be an outcast, and +now to leave her only refuge," he sighed and shook his head. Giles all +the time had been watching Portia, whose face bore an expression of +obstinacy worthy of a mule. "Did this scheme for Anne's departure +include the masquerade you have indulged in?" + +"It is my own idea," she retorted defiantly. "Anne wished to get away +without my father knowing, so I stopped in her room and pretended to be +Anne. The servants were deceived, as I knew exactly how to imitate her +voice. I pulled down the blind, so that no one should see who I was. +Only you could have guessed the truth." + +"How is that?" + +"Because you love her." + +Giles thought this a strange speech for the heavy-looking girl to make. +"Is that an original remark on your part?" he asked. + +"No," she confessed candidly; "I suggested to Anne that I should pass +myself off as her, and so give her a longer time to get away. She said +that I might deceive the servants and my father, but that I could never +deceive you, because you loved her. But I had a good try," continued +Portia, nodding her red head triumphantly. "When my father spoke your +name at the door I thought I would try." + +"Well, you have done so only to fail," responded Ware coolly. "For the +moment I was deceived, but you forgot how to manage your voice, and, +moreover, your explanation was too elaborate. But how is it you dare to +confess, as Anne, that she killed the girl?" + +"Anne did kill Daisy Kent!" + +"She did not." + +"Yes, she did. She confessed as much to father last night, and to me +also. She asked me to tell you so, that you might forget all about her. +I was going over to your place this very day to tell, but when father +brought you in I thought I would pretend to be Anne and tell you in that +way." + +"Anne would have written, and----" + +"No, she wouldn't," said Portia, eagerly. "She began to write a letter +saying that she was guilty, but afterwards she thought it might fall +into the hands of the police, and tore it up. She told me to let you +know by word of mouth. All she asks of you is that you will forget that +she ever existed." + +"Let her tell me that with her own lips," said Giles, groaning. + +"Yes, Portia, tell Mr. Ware the place Anne has gone to." + +Portia eyed her father with some anger. "How can I tell when I don't +know? Anne never said where she was going. I let her out by the back +door just before dawn, and she went away. I know no more." + +"If she writes, you will let Mr. Ware know." + +"I shan't," retorted the girl. "Anne wants him to forget her." + +"That is impossible," said Giles, whose face was now haggard with the +anguish of the moment; "but you must be my friend, Portia, and tell me. +Think how I suffer!" + +"Think how she suffers, poor darling!" cried Portia, whose sympathies +were all with Anne. "Don't ask me any more. I shan't speak." + +And speak she would not, although Giles cajoled and Franklin stormed. +Whatever could be said of Portia, she was very loyal to the outcast. +There was nothing for it but for Ware to depart. And this he did. + +What was the best thing to be done Giles did not very well know. Anne +was lost again, and he did not know where to look for her. He could not +bring himself to believe that she was guilty, in spite of her confession +to Portia and Franklin. + +"It's that blackguard of a father of hers over again," he thought, as he +tramped moodily through the Priory park. "She is afraid lest his +brother--her uncle--should denounce him, and has taken the crime on her +own shoulders. Even though he is her father, she should not sacrifice so +much for him. But it is just noble of her to do so. Oh, my poor love, +shall I ever be able to shelter you from the storms of life?" + +There did not seem to be much chance of it at the present moment. +Mistrusting her uncle, she had vanished, and would let no one but Portia +know of her new hiding-place. And Portia, as Giles saw, was too devoted +to Anne to confess her whereabouts without permission. And how was such +permission to be obtained? Anne allowed her uncle to think her guilty in +order to save her unworthy father from his fraternal hatred. She had +asserted her innocence to Giles, but had apparently, through Portia, +tried to deceive him again, so that he might not follow her. "Poor +darling!" cries Giles, full of pity, "she wishes to put me out of her +life, and has fled to avoid incriminating her father. If she told me the +whole truth her father would be in danger, and she chooses to bear his +guilt herself. But why should she think I would betray the man? Bad as +he is, I should screen him for her dear sake. Oh"--Giles stopped and +looked up appealingly to the hot, blue sky--"if I only knew where she +was to be found, if I could only hold her in my arms, never, never would +I let her go, again! My poor Quixotic darling, shall I ever be worthy of +such nobility?" + +It was all very well apostrophizing the sky, but such heroics did not +help him in any practical way. He cast about in his own mind to consider +in which direction she had gone. The nearest railway station to London +was five miles away; but she would not leave the district thus openly, +for the stationmaster knew her well. She had frequently travelled from +that centre as Miss Denham, and he would be sure to recognize her, even +though she wore a veil. Anne, as Giles judged, would not risk such +recognition. + +Certainly there was another station ten miles distant, which was very +little used by the Rickwell people. She might have tramped that +distance, and have taken a ticket to London from there. But was it her +intention to go to London? Giles thought it highly probable that she +would. Anne, as he knew from Portia, had very little money, and it would +be necessary for her to seek out some friend. She would probably go to +Mrs. Cairns, for Mrs. Cairns believed her to be guiltless, and would +shelter her in the meantime. Later on a situation could be procured for +her abroad, and she could leave England under a feigned name. Giles +felt that this was the course Anne would adopt, and he determined to +follow the clue suggested by this theory. + +Having made up his mind to this course, Giles hurried home to pack a few +things and arrange for his immediate departure. Chance, or rather +Providence, led him past "Mrs. Parry's Eye" about five o'clock. Of +course, the good lady was behind the window spying on all and sundry, as +usual. She caught sight of Giles striding along the road with bent head +and a discouraged air. Wondering what was the matter and desperately +anxious to know, Mrs. Parry sent out Jane to intercept him and ask him +in. Giles declined to enter at first; but then it struck him that since +he was in search of information about Anne, Mrs. Parry might know +something. Her knowledge was so omniscient that, for all he knew, she +might have been aware all the time of Anne's presence at the Priory, but +held her tongue--which Mrs. Parry could do sometimes--out of pity for +the girl's fate. Giles went in resolved to pump Mrs. Parry without +mentioning what he knew of Anne. Supposing she was ignorant, he was not +going to be the one to reveal Anne's refuge. And if she did know, Ware +was certain that Mrs. Parry would tell him all, since she was aware how +deeply he loved the governess. Thus in another five minutes the young +man found himself seated in the big armchair opposite the old lady. She +was rather grim with him. + +"You have not been to see me for ever so long," said she, rubbing her +beaky nose. "Your Royal Princesses have taken up too much of your time, +I suppose. Oh, I know all about them." + +"I am sorry they did not stay for a few days," replied Giles in his most +amiable tone. "I wished to introduce them to you." + +"You mean present me to them," corrected the old dame, who was a +stickler for etiquette. "They are genuine Princesses, are they not?" + +"Oh, yes. But they are not royal. Princess Karacsay is the wife of a +Magyar noble. She is not an Austrian, however, as she came from Jamaica. +The younger, Princess Olga, is----" + +"Jamaica," interrupted Mrs. Parry! "Humph! That is where Anne Denham was +born. Queer this woman should come from the same island." + +"It's certainly odd," replied Giles. "But a mere coincidence." + +"Humph!" from Mrs. Parry. "Some folks make their own coincidences." + +"What do you mean, Mrs. Parry?" + +"Mean? Humph! I don't know if I should tell you." + +Giles was now on fire to learn her meaning. Evidently Mrs. Parry did +know something, and might be able to help him. But seeing that she was +slightly offended with him, it required some tact to get the necessary +information out of the old lady. Giles knew the best way to effect his +purpose was to feign indifference. Mrs. Parry was bursting to tell her +news, and that it would come out the sooner if he pretended that he did +not much care to hear it. + +"There is no reason why you should tell me," said he coolly. "I know all +about the Princess Karacsay. She and her daughter only came down here +for a rest." + +"Oh, they did, did they, Ware? Humph!" She rubbed her nose again, and +eyed him with a malignant pleasure. "Are you sure the elder Princess +didn't come down to see Franklin?" + +"She doesn't know him," said Giles, trying to be calm. "She took a walk +in the Priory woods. I suppose that is how the mistake----" + +"I don't make mistakes," retorted Mrs. Parry, with a snort. "I know a +new gardener who is employed at the Priory. He told Jane, who told me, +that Princess Karacsay, the mother, called on Franklin the other morning +and entered the house. She was with him for over an hour. He came to the +door to see her off. The gardener was attending to some shrubs near at +hand. He could not hear what they said to one another, but declares that +Franklin was as pale as a sheet." + +"Queer," thought Giles, remembering how the elder lady had denied all +knowledge of the man. However, he did not make this remark to Mrs. +Parry. "Well, there's nothing in that," said he aloud. "Franklin lived +in Italy for many years. He may have met the Princess there." + +"True enough." Mrs. Parry was rather discomfited. "There may be nothing +in it, and Franklin seems to be decent enough in his life, though a bit +of a recluse. I've nothing to say against the man." + +Giles thought that this was rather fortunate for Franklin, seeing that +Mrs. Parry's tongue was so dangerous. If she ever came to know of his +brother Walter, and of the relations between him and George, she would +be sure to make mischief. He thought it prudent to say nothing. The less +revealed to the good lady the better. However, this attitude did not +prevent Ware from trying to learn what Mrs. Parry had discovered with +regard to the two Princesses. She told him an interesting detail without +being urged. + +"Last night about nine I saw one of them out for a walk." + +"Princess Olga?" questioned Giles. + +Mrs. Parry nodded. "If she is the younger of the two, she is not a +bad-looking girl, Ware. She passed my window and went on to look at the +church. Rather a strange hour to look at a church." + +Giles started. It was about that hour that he had been talking to Anne, +and shortly afterwards she had heard the footsteps and had fled. He now +believed that Olga must have overheard a portion of the conversation. It +was her footsteps which they had heard retreating. At once he remembered +Olga's threat, that if he tampered with Anne in the meantime she would +have her arrested. This, then, was the reason why Olga had not come to +his house again, and why she and her mother had left so suddenly for +London. He wondered if the elder Princess knew about Anne, and was +assisting her daughter to get the poor girl into the hands of the law. +Giles turned pale. + +"What's the matter, Ware?" asked Mrs. Parry, sitting up. + +"Nothing," he stammered; "but this coincidence----" + +"Oh, I simply mean that as Princess Karacsay and Anne both came from +Jamaica, it was strange that they should go away to London together. +Don't you think so, too? There must be some connection." + +Giles started to his feet. "Anne," he said loudly, "do you know that +Anne is here?" + +"She was here," said Mrs. Parry, with a gratified chuckle; "but where +she has been hiding is more than I know. However, I am certain it was +Anne I saw this morning on the moor. She was veiled and dressed quietly; +but I knew her walk and the turn of her head." + +"You must be mistaken," said Giles, perplexed. + +"Indeed, I'm not. Trust one woman to know another, however she may +disguise herself. I tell you Anne Denham has been here in hiding. I +don't believe she left the neighborhood after all. I wonder who took +her in," muttered Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose as usual. "I must find +that out." + +"But what do you mean by saying Anne went to London with the----" + +"I can believe my own eyes and ears, I suppose," snapped the good lady. +"I was out at seven o'clock taking a walk. I always do get up early in +summer. That is how I keep my health. I have no patience with those who +lie in bed, and----" + +"But what did you see?" + +"Don't you be impatient, Ware. I want you to find Anne, as I believe she +is guiltless and has suffered a lot unjustly. While you have been on a +wild-goose chase she has been here all the time. If I had only known I +should have told you; but I didn't, worse luck." + +"I know you are my friend," said Giles, pressing her hand. "And you can +help me by saying where Anne has gone to." + +"Oh, my good man, you must find that out for yourself! I believe she has +gone to London with those Princesses of yours. At least that fool of a +Morris said they left his inn this morning early to go to London. They +drove to the Westbury Station. That is the one we hardly ever use down +here. The Barnham Station is the nearest." + +"Yes! yes! The Westbury is ten miles away. You go across the moor----" + +"My good Ware, have I lived all these years in this place without +knowing it as well as I know my own nose? Hold your tongue, or I'll tell +you nothing. The coachman who drove these Princesses of yours"--Mrs. +Parry always used this phrase disdainfully--"is a new man. Morris hired +him from Chelmsford, and he does not know Anne, luckily for her. If it +had been the old coachman she might have been in jail by this time. +Well, as I say, I was on the moor and saw the carriage coming along. I +didn't know that those Princesses were in it till one of them--the +younger--got out and stood by the roadside. I was close at hand, and +hidden by a gorse bush. She whistled. I tell you, Ware, she whistled. +What manners these foreigners have! Three times she whistled. Then some +one rose from behind another bush and walked quickly to the carriage. It +was Anne. Oh, don't tell me it wasn't," cried Mrs. Parry, vigorously +shaking her head. "I knew her walk and the turn of her head. Trust me +for knowing her amongst a thousand. Anne Denham it was and none other." + +"What happened then?" asked Giles anxiously. + +"Why, this Princess Olga embraced and kissed her. Does she know her?" + +"Yes. They have been friends for a long time." + +"Humph! and Princess Olga's mother comes from Jamaica, where Anne was +born," said Mrs. Parry. "Queer. There is some sort of a connection." + +"You are too suspicious, Mrs. Parry." + +"All the better. But I can see through a stone wall. Believe me, Ware, +that if there isn't some connection between those two, I am a +Dutchwoman. However, Anne got into the carriage and it drove away." + +Giles caught up his hat. "To London," he cried jubilantly. "I know where +Anne is to be found now." And to Mrs. Parry's dismay, he rushed out. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP + + +But Giles was not destined to go to London as quickly as he thought. He +rushed out of Mrs. Parry's cottage, leaving that good lady in a state of +frenzied curiosity, and walked rapidly through the village on the road +to his own house. On the way he dropped into "The Merry Dancer" to look +at an "A B C." Morris, still swelling with importance over his +illustrious guests, although these had now left, conducted him into the +deserted salon and gave him the guide. While Giles was looking up the +first train, Morley, hot and dusty and short of breath, rushed into the +room. + +"Upon my word, Ware, I think you must be deaf," he said, wiping his +perspiring forehead. "I've been running and calling after you for the +last five minutes." + +"I was buried in my own thoughts," replied Ware, turning the pages of +the guide rapidly, "wait a bit." + +"I see you are going to London, Ware. What's up?" + +By this time Giles noted the earliest train he could catch from Barnham +Station, and found he had over an hour to spare. He was not averse to +spending a portion of it in Morley's company, for he had much to tell +him of what had happened. And the advice of the ex-detective was +certain to be good. "I am following Anne," he said. + +"Miss Denham." Morley stared. "Then you know----" + +"Yes, I know; I met her last night by accident. And you have known all +the time." + +"Indeed, I know nothing," said the little man. "I was about to say that +you know where she is?" + +"Franklin did not tell you that she was with him, then?" + +"Miss Denham--with Franklin--at the Priory?" Morley looked stupefied. + +"She has been there all the time. I remember now. Franklin did not tell +you, because he knew that you would give her up to the police." + +"He told me nothing," said Morley slowly, "and if he had I should +certainly have given her up to the police. Does he think her innocent?" + +Giles shook his head gloomily. "He did, but circumstances have happened +which have led him to change his opinion. He believes now that she is +guilty. But he would never have told you." + +"Well, I suppose that is natural. After all she is his niece, and +although he hates his brother Walter, he must have some love for Anne, +or he would scarcely have taken her in. So she has gone away. Can you +tell me where she is to be found?" + +"Is it likely that I should?" + +Morley laughed in his cheery manner. "No," he replied bluntly, "for I +know she has gone to London, and that you are following her." + +"Quite so. But London is a large place. You will not find her." + +"I could if I followed you," said Morley promptly. + +"I should not let you do that." + +"Perhaps not. But if I chose I could circumvent you. All I have to do is +to wire your description to Scotland Yard and you would be shadowed by a +detective from the moment you left the Liverpool Street Station. But you +need not be afraid. I don't want to harm Miss Denham. If she crosses my +path I'll have her arrested, but I won't go hunting for her." + +"I don't trust you, Morley," said Ware quietly. + +"You ought to. I have put you on your guard against myself. If my +intentions were bad, I should not have told you. But my detective days +are over, and Miss Denham can go scot-free for me. But I'll tell you one +thing, Ware. She will never be your wife." + +"How can you prophesy that?" asked Giles sharply. + +"Because you will never be able to prove her innocence. I believe her to +be guilty myself, and if she is not, the task of removing the suspicion +is an impossible one. I have had many mysterious cases in my day, but +this is one of the most difficult." + +"I don't agree with you," said Ware promptly. "The case is perfectly +simple. Her blackguard of a father killed Daisy and afterwards intended +to kill his brother George and thus get possession of the money. Anne +saved him the first time, and to save him now from the hatred of George +she has taken his guilt on her own shoulders." + +"Who told you all this?" + +"It's my theory. And I'll prove the truth of it, Morley, by hunting +everywhere for Walter Franklin. When I find him I'll wring a confession +out of him." + +"I hope you will succeed," said Morley admiringly, "and you ought to for +your pluck. So far as I am concerned, I wash my hands of the whole +affair. You need not think I'll hunt down Miss Denham. Besides," added +Morley, nodding, "I am going away." + +"What!" Giles was astonished. "Are you leaving The Elms?" + +"In a month's time," replied the little man. "My wife's doing, not mine. +She has never got over a certain horror of the house since the murder of +that poor girl. I shall sell every stick of furniture and take Mrs. +Morley and the children to the United States. She wants to get away from +the old life and begin a new one. So do I. Rather a late beginning at my +age, eh, Ware?" + +"What about your finances?" + +"Oh, that's all right," said Morley, jubilantly. "I have settled +everything. An old aunt of mine has died and left me a couple of +thousand a year. I have paid every debt, and shall leave England without +leaving a single creditor behind me. Then Mrs. Morley has her own money. +We shall do very well in the States, Ware. I am thinking of living in +Washington. A very pleasant city, I hear." + +"I've never been there," replied Giles, making for the door, "but I am +glad to hear that your affairs are settled. There is no chance of +trouble with Asher now." + +Morley shook his head with a jolly laugh. "They won't send down another +Walter Franklin, if that is what you mean," said he. + +"They did not send him down. He came himself." + +"Yes. I only spoke generally. Well, I'll be sorry to go, for I have made +some pleasant friends in Rickwell--yourself amongst the number. But my +wife insists, so I must humor her. There's Franklin. I shall be sorry to +leave him." + +"Is he not going also?" + +Morley looked astonished. "No. Why should he go? He has the Priory on a +seven years' lease. Besides, he likes the place." + +"He might go to escape his brother." + +"I don't think Walter Franklin will dare to trouble George now. He is +innocent of actually committing this crime, but he certainly is an +accessory after the fact. He'll keep out of the way." + +"Let us hope so for the sake of George. Well, Morley, I must be off." + +Giles went home at top speed, and Morley remained at the inn to make +inquiries about the Hungarian Princesses. Although he was not now a +detective, yet Morley still preserved the instinct which made him ask +questions. He heard that the foreign ladies had driven to Westbury, and +afterwards strolled round to the stables to see the new coachman. He +learned from him about the strange lady who entered the carriage on the +moor. The man described her face, for it seemed that she had lifted her +veil for a moment when alighting at the station. Morley took all this +in, and walked home jubilantly. He knew that Anne was with the Princess +Karacsay. + +"If these were the old days," he said, "I'd wire to London to have the +house of those Hungarian women searched. I wonder what they have to do +with the matter? Humph! Anne killed Daisy. Is it worth while to try and +trace her?" + +This speech was made to Mrs. Morley, and the pale woman gave a decided +negative. "Let poor Anne go, Oliver," she said beseechingly; "I loved +her, and she had much good in her." + +"Still, I'm all on fire to follow up the clue," said Morley. + +"You promised to leave the detective business alone." + +"Quite right; so I did," he answered. "Well, I'll do what you wish, my +dear. Anne Denham can go free for me. I said the same thing to Ware, +although he won't believe me. But I should like to know what that +Princess Karacsay has to do with the matter." + +He worried all that evening, and finally went to see Franklin about the +matter. But he got scanty satisfaction from him. Franklin denied that +Anne had ever been in his house, and told Morley to mind his own +business. If the ex-detective's wife had not been present, and if this +conversation had not taken place in her presence, Franklin might have +been more easy to deal with. But the presence of a third party shut his +mouth. So Morley could do nothing, and made no attempt to do anything. + +Had Giles known of this it might have set his mind at rest, for he could +not get out of his head that he was being followed. At the Liverpool +station he alighted about ten o'clock, and looked everywhere in the +crowd to see if he was being observed. But his fears were vain, for he +could distinguish no one with any inquiring look on his face, or note +any person dogging his footsteps. He stepped into a cab and ordered the +man to drive to St. John's Wood. But at Baker Street he alighted and +dismissed the cab. He had only a hand-bag with him, and, carrying this, +he took the underground train to High Street, Kensington. When he +arrived there he drove in another cab to his old hotel, "The Guelph," +opposite the Park. When alone in his bedroom Giles smoked a complacent +pipe. "If any one did try to follow me," he said to himself, "he must +have missed me when I took the underground railway." + +It was close on half-past eleven when he ended his wanderings, too late +to call at the Westminster flat. But Giles thought that Olga would never +think he had traced her flight with Anne, and would not do anything +till the morrow, probably not before twelve o'clock. He was up early, +and went off to New Scotland Yard to see Steel. He did not intend to +tell him about Anne, thinking that the detective might arrest her if he +knew of her whereabouts. But he desired to know if Steel had discovered +anything in connection with the Scarlet Cross. Also, since Steel knew +Olga so well, he might be able to explain why she had come down with her +mother to Rickwell, and why the elder Princess had called on Franklin. +He half thought that Olga, keeping her promise, had brought Anne to +London to have her taken in charge by Steel. But on second thoughts he +fancied that Olga would keep Anne as a hostage, and not deliver her up +if he--Giles--agreed to become her husband. Thus thinking he went to see +Steel. + +The detective was within, and saw Giles at once. He looked very pleased +with himself, and saluted Ware with a triumphant smile. + +"Well, sir," he said, "I have found out an astonishing lot of things." + +"About the murder?" asked Ware apprehensively. + +"No." Steel's face fell. "That is still a mystery, and I expect will be +one until that woman--I mean that young lady--is found." + +"Do you mean Miss Denham?" demanded Ware stiffly. + +"Yes. Do you know where she is?" + +Giles shook his head. He was not going to betray Anne to her enemy, as +Steel in his detective capacity assuredly was. "I wish I did," he said. +"I have been at Rickwell trying to find out things. I'll tell you of my +discoveries later. Meantime----" + +"You want to hear about mine," cried the detective eagerly and full of +his subject. "Well, the murder can wait. I'll get to the bottom of +that, Mr. Ware. But I am now quite of your opinion. Miss Denham is +innocent. This man Wilson killed the girl." + +"I knew that Walter Franklin was guilty," cried Ware. + +"I said Wilson," was Steel's reply. + +"I forgot; you don't know about Wilson alias Franklin. I'll tell you +later. Go on, Steel. I'm all attention." + +"Oh! So his real name is Franklin. I never knew that," said Steel, +drawing his hand down his chin. "Well, Mr. Ware, I have been to all the +ports in the kingdom, and I have learned that wherever that yacht--she's +a steam yacht--_The Red Cross_ has been, burglaries have been committed. +At last I managed to lay my hand on a member of the gang, and made him +speak up." + +"What gang?" + +"A gang of burglars headed by the man I call Wilson and your +Franklin--the Scarlet Cross Society. They own that yacht, and steam from +port to port committing robberies. A splendid idea, and Wilson's own." + +Then he unfolded to the astonished Giles a long career of villany on the +part of the said Wilson. The young man shuddered as the vile category of +crime was unrolled. It was horrible that such a wretch as Walter +Franklin should be the father of Anne. But for all her parent's vices, +Giles never swerved from the determination to marry the girl. He was not +one of those who think that the sins of the father should be visited on +the child. + +"What is the name of the man who confessed all this?" asked Giles. + +"Mark Dane." + +Ware started. That was the name of the man Anne had mentioned as her +father's secretary. However, he said nothing, and when Steel requested +him to tell all he knew about Wilson, he related everything save that +he was Anne's father. Steel listened attentively, chin on hand. When +Giles finished he nodded. + +"I'll go down and see this brother," he remarked. "If he hates the man +whom we think committed the crime so much, he will be anxious to assist +us in securing him. I wonder why that governess helped Wilson, or rather +Walter Franklin, to escape? Of course, I believe that she is his +daughter. Now don't look so angry, Mr. Ware. If you remember, when I +talked with you at the Princess Karacsay's I said you could draw your +own inferences. That is what I meant." Here the detective stopped and +peered into Giles' face. "You don't appear to be so surprised as I +thought you would be." + +"Are you sure that Miss Denham is Wilson's daughter?" + +"No, I am not yet sure. But if I can make this Mark Dane speak further, +I'll be certain. He knows all about the matter. Unfortunately he is +gone. I caught him at Bournemouth, and after he told me a portion of the +truth he managed to get away. It's a long story how he fooled me. I'll +tell it to you another time. But the worst of it is," resumed Steel +dolefully, "that Dane will warn Wilson and he will get away. All the +same, now you have told me Wilson has a brother I may be able to find +out something in that quarter. The brother is all right?" + +"He is an honest man, if that is what you mean." + +"H'm!" said Steel sceptically. "I don't see how there can be any honest +member of the Franklin family." + +"Do you include Miss Denham?" asked Giles furiously. + +"Well, sir, she sails under false colors." + +"She can explain that." + +"I hope she will be able to when I catch her." + +"Steel, I won't stand this!" cried Ware, much agitated. + +The detective thought for a moment. "See here, sir," he remarked, "we +won't discuss this matter until I have caught Dane." + +"How do you hope to catch him?" + +"I have laid a trap for him at the Princess Karacsay's flat," said Steel +quietly. "Oh, don't look so astonished. This Dane was one of the +attendants at some concert where the Princess sang. He fell in love with +her, and has been bothering her with letters. I have arranged that he +shall call at the flat. I'll be waiting for him." + +"It's odd that the Princess should know about this man," said Ware. + +Steel looked at him queerly. "It is odd," he said; "and to my mind it is +more than a coincidence. Princess Olga is a clever woman. I have to be +very careful with her." + +"Do you mean to say that she knows anything?" asked Giles. + +"I am sure she does. I believe she could explain the whole business; but +I can't find out how she came to be connected with it. Well, Mr. Ware, I +must be off. When I see Dane and get the truth out of him, I'll see you +again. I hope, for your sake, that Miss Denham is not the daughter of +this man, but from a few words let drop by Dane I fear she is. At all +events, sir, you can set your mind at rest about her being guilty of +murder. She is innocent. The father did it." + +Giles departed, much comforted by this statement. He knew well enough +that Anne was the daughter of Wilson, alias Denham, alias Franklin, and +he shuddered again to think of his pure, good Anne being mixed up with a +man who was hand and glove with the criminal classes and a criminal +himself. However, he put this matter out of his mind for the moment, and +drove to the Westminster flat. If Anne was there, he determined to take +her away to a place of safety, and defy Steel and Walter Franklin to do +their worst. + +He went up the stairs, and was told that Mademoiselle Olga was not at +home. He was about to inquire after Anne, when the elder Princess, +looking pale and anxious, appeared at the door of the drawing-room. She +beckoned him in and shut the door. + +"Have you seen Olga?" she inquired. + +"No, Princess. Is she not with you?" + +"She is not," wailed the woman, throwing herself on the couch. "Late +last night she went out with Anne. A summons came--some letter--and Anne +had to go. Olga insisted on accompanying her. They said they would be +back at midnight; but they have not reappeared. I am distracted, Mr. +Ware. What shall I do? Where are they?" + +"Who was the letter from?" + +"I don't know. It was for Anne, and----" + +"You call Miss Denham Anne," said Giles abruptly; "and you brought her +here. What do you know of her?" + +"Everything," said the Princess, sitting up. "In spite of Olga I must +tell you the truth. Anne Denham is my daughter!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A STORY OF THE PAST + + +This communication was so extraordinary and unexpected that Giles +thought the Princess must be out of her mind. But although overcome with +emotion, she was sane enough, and seeing his astonishment repeated her +statement that Anne Denham was her daughter. The young man sat down to +collect his thoughts. + +"Do you mean to say that she is Mademoiselle Olga's sister?" + +"Her half-sister," corrected the Princess, sobbing. "I never thought I +should find her again, and like this. It's too dreadful!" And in strange +contrast to her usual indolent demeanor, she wrung her hands. + +Giles was still bewildered. "And you--were you the wife of Walter +Franklin?" he stammered helplessly. + +"There is no Walter Franklin," replied the woman, drying her eyes and +sitting up. "George Franklin is Anne's father. He was my husband." + +"But you are the wife of Prince Karacsay." + +"Certainly. I eloped with him from Kingstown in Jamaica, and George +divorced me. I afterwards married the Prince." + +"Then the man at the Priory is your first husband?" + +"No!" cried she vigorously. "He is not George Franklin." + +"He calls himself so," muttered Ware, quite puzzled. + +"Only to keep hold of the money left by Mr. Powell," explained the +Princess. "He is really Alfred Denham, who caused all the misery of my +married life with George." + +"Anne's father." + +"No. I tell you he is not Anne's father. George was the father of Anne. +He is dead. He died shortly after divorcing me." + +Giles felt his heart swell with gratitude to learn that Anne was not +connected with----Here he paused, more bewildered than ever. "I don't +quite understand, Princess," he said, trying to arrive in his own mind +at some solution of this complicated mystery. "Had not your husband a +brother called Walter?" + +"No. George was an only son." + +"Then did Alfred Denham have a brother of that name?" + +"No. Don't you understand, Mr. Ware. You have been deceived. Denham, who +calls himself by my husband's name pretends to be Anne's father, was the +man who went down to Rickwell." + +"The man whom Anne helped to escape." + +"Yes. Under the belief that he is her father, poor child." + +"Then there is no Walter Franklin. He is a myth?" The Princess nodded. + +"Invented to throw you off the scent." + +"And Denham, who calls himself George Franklin, really killed Daisy?" + +"I believe he did," declared the Princess fiercely. "That man is one of +the most wicked creatures born. He is capable of any crime." + +Ware said nothing. His brain refused to take in the explanation. That he +should have been so deceived seemed incredible, yet deceived he had +been. All this time he had been following a phantom, while the real +person was tricking him with masterly ingenuity. "But Anne told me +herself that she had an uncle called Walter," said he suddenly. + +"Of course! To save the man she believed to be her father." + +"Wait! Wait! I can't grasp it yet." Giles buried his face in his hands +and tried to think the matter out. + +The Princess went to the window and drew aside the curtain. "I see +nothing of Anne and Olga," she murmured. "Where can they have got to. +Oh, am I to lose her after all?" She paused and came back to the couch. +"Mr. Ware," she said, "I will tell you all my sad story, and then you +can judge what is best to be done." + +"That is best," said Giles, lifting up his worn face. "I am quite in the +dark so far. The thing seems to be incredible." + +"Truth is stranger than fiction," said the Princess quietly. "That is a +truism, but no other saying can apply to what I am about to tell you." + +"One moment, Princess. Who found out that Denham was masquerading as +your late husband?" + +"Olga found it out. I don't know how. She refuses to tell me." + +"And she asked you to come over to identify the man?" + +"Yes. That was why I went with her to Rickwell. I called on Denham, and +saw that he was not my husband." + +"I see!" murmured Giles, remembering what the gardener had told Mrs. +Parry about the pallor of the so-called Franklin when he came to the +door with his visitor. "I am beginning to gather some information out of +all this. But if you will tell me the whole story----" + +"At once, Mr. Ware. I want your advice and assistance. First you must +have some whiskey." + +"Not in the morning, thank you." + +"You must have it!" she replied, ringing the bell. "What I have said +already has upset you, and you will require all your courage to hear the +rest." + +"Anne," said Giles anxiously. + +"My poor child. I fear for her greatly. No! Don't ask me more. So long +as Olga is with her I hope that all will be well. Otherwise----" She +made a quick gesture to silence him, for the servant entered to receive +orders. + +So Giles was provided with some whiskey and water, which the Princess +made him drink at once. She had thrown off her languor, and was as quick +in her movements as he usually was himself. The discovery of Denham's +masquerade, the doubts about Anne's safety had roused her from her +indolence, and she had braced herself to act. A more wonderful +transformation Giles could scarcely have imagined. Shortly he was +ordered to smoke. The Princess lighted a cigarette herself, and began +abruptly to tell her tale. It was quite worthy of a melodramatic +novelist. + +"I was born in Jamaica," she said, speaking slowly and distinctly, so +that Giles should fully understand. "My father, Colonel Shaw, had +retired from the army. Having been stationed at Kingstown, he had +contracted a love for the island, and so stopped there. He went into the +interior and bought an estate. Shortly afterwards he married my mother. +She was a quadroon." + +Giles uttered an ejaculation. He remembered that Anne had stated she had +negro blood in her veins, and now saw why Princess Karacsay and her +daughter had such a love for barbaric coloring. Also he guessed that +Olga's fierce temperament was the outcome of her African blood. + +The Princess nodded. She quite understood his interruption. + +"You can see the negro in me," she said quietly. "In Jamaica that was +considered disgraceful, but in Vienna no one knows about the taint." + +"It is not a taint in England, Princess--or in the Old World." + +"No! Perhaps not. But then"--she waved her delicate hand +impatiently--"there is no need to discuss that, Mr. Ware. Let me proceed +with what I have to tell you. When I was eighteen I married George +Franklin. He was a young planter of good birth, and very handsome in +looks." + +"Anything like Denham?" asked Ware quickly. + +The Princess blew a contemptuous cloud of smoke. "Not in the least, Mr. +Ware. George was good-looking. What Denham is, you can see for yourself. +Denham was George's foster-brother," she explained. + +"And his evil genius," added Giles. "I am beginning to understand." + +The Princess flushed crimson, and her whole body trembled with passion. +"He ruined my life," she cried, trying to restrain her emotion. "If I +could see him hanged, I should be pleased. But such a death would fall +far short of the punishment he deserves." + +"Has Denham negro blood in him?" + +"Yes. He is a degree nearer the negro than I am. George was a native of +Jamaica, and very rich. When his mother died he was quite a baby, and +Denham's mother nursed him. Thus he became Denham's foster-brother, and +the two boys grew up together. Powell tried all he could to neutralize +the bad influence of Denham, but it was useless. George was quite under +Denham's thumb." + +"Powell! The man who left the money to Daisy? Was he in Jamaica?" + +The Princess nodded. "For a time," she said, "George was at an English +public school--Rugby, I fancy. He met Powell there, and the two became +much attached. There was also another boy called Kent." + +"Daisy's father?" + +"Yes. George, Powell, and Kent were inseparable. They were called the +Three Musketeers at school. Afterwards George lost sight of Kent, but +Powell came out to Jamaica to stop with George. That was before and +after my marriage. Denham was ruining my husband body and soul, and in +pocket. Powell tried to remonstrate with George, but it was no use. +Denham was the overseer, and George would not dismiss him. Then Powell +returned to England. Afterwards when he heard from me that George was +completely ruined, he wrote about the money." + +"Did he say he would leave the money to George?" + +"Not exactly that. He said that Kent was ruined also, and explained that +if he could make a fortune he would leave it equally divided between +George and Kent, as he did not intend to marry himself." + +"But he did not leave his money equally divided," said Giles. + +"No. But at that time Kent was not married, and Powell had not gone to +Australia to make his money. Whether he liked Kent better than George I +don't know, but, as you are aware, he left the money first to +Daisy--knowing that Kent was dead--and afterwards, should she die, to +George and his descendants." + +"Then the money which Denham holds as Franklin is rightfully Anne's?" + +"Yes. Now you are beginning to see. But don't be in too much of a hurry. +I want to tell you how my elopement came about." + +Ware nodded, and composed himself to listen. The Princess resumed. + +"I was happy at first with George. I really was in love with him, and +for two years we were devoted to one another. Anne was born, and she +drew us still closer together. Then Denham chose to fall in love with +me. I repelled him with scorn, but did not tell my husband, as I dreaded +lest George, who had a fiery temper, should kill the man. I simply kept +Denham at his distance. He vowed to be revenged, and gradually ruined +George. He made him neglect the plantation, and spend more money than he +could afford. He induced him to drink, and then George, who had not a +very strong will, began to run after other women. I was furious, and +told him about Denham. He was so besotted with the creature that he +refused to listen to me. Powell tried to stop George's downward course, +but without result. Then he was called back to England, and I was left +to battle against my enemy alone. My father and mother were both dead, +and I could do nothing. Denham constantly inflamed George against me. +Our house was like hell." + +Here she stopped to draw a long breath and control her emotion. Giles +pitied her profoundly, as he guessed how she had suffered. However, he +did not interrupt her, and she continued in a few moments. + +"Prince Karacsay came to the island. He was travelling for pleasure, and +in his own yacht. He fell in love with me. Seeing how miserable I was, +he implored me to fly with him. But I would not. I had lost much of my +love for George, who, under the bad influence of Denham, treated me so +cruelly. But there was my child--my little Anne--to consider. I declined +to fly. Our plantation was not far from the seashore. In a creek the +Prince had anchored his yacht. Denham was making my husband jealous, and +my life became unbearable. Oh!"--she threw up her arms--"not even the +years of peace that I have had can obliterate the memory of that +terrible time." And she wept. + +Still, Ware did not interrupt, thinking it best that she should not be +questioned too much. With a great effort she controlled herself, and +resumed her pitiful story. + +"One night," she went on in a low voice, "the climax came. The Prince +had been to dinner. He had to go, because George was so violent. Denham +had got my husband to drink, and his paroxysms of anger became terrible. +The Prince wanted to stop to protect me, but I asked him to go. It was a +rainy night, a violent thunderstorm was going on. I locked myself in the +nursery, to protect myself from the fury of George. He came to the door +and broke it down." She paused, and her voice leaped an octave. "George +turned me out into the rain." + +"Great God! Did he go that far?" + +She was on her feet by this time pacing the room. + +"He turned me out into the stormy night. I fled from his fury, drenched +with rain. At the gates of the gardens round the house I met with the +Prince. He had been hanging round the place fearful for my life. He +implored me to come on board the yacht and stop the night. I was almost +distracted with terror and anger. I went." She paused again. "From that +moment I was lost." + +"It was not your fault," Giles assured her. + +"No; it was not my husband's fault either, but the fault of that wicked +wretch Denham. He came the next morning, guessing where I had gone in my +distress. He brought a note from George, who bade me go with my lover, +the Prince. It was a lie. The Prince was no lover of mine then. I +demanded to see my child, but George refused. It was all Denham--Denham. +George was under the thumb of the wretch. The Prince behaved like an +honorable gentleman, and spoke up for me. But it was all of no use. +George was determined to have a divorce." + +"You mean Denham was determined to have one," corrected Giles. + +"Yes, yes. He was the one who ruined me. Then the Prince said he would +make me his wife as soon as the decree was pronounced. I agreed. What +else could I do? My child was refused to me. I was blamed by every one, +and the whole island was against me. I sailed for Europe in Prince +Karacsay's yacht. A few months later the decree was pronounced, and he +made me his wife. Since then I have been happy--that is as happy as I +could be, knowing that my child was lost." + +"Did you make inquiries about her?" + +"Some years later I did. Then I learned that George, with the child and +Denham, had sailed for Europe. The vessel was wrecked. The report said +that George Franklin and his child were saved. Denham's name was given +as one who was drowned. I rejoiced when I saw that punishment had +overtaken my enemy." + +"But Denham was not drowned." + +"No; it was George who met with that death. Denham, to get what little +money remained, took the name of George Franklin. I do not know how he +managed to deceive the people of the ship; but he must have done so in +some way, to get the false report put in the paper." + +"Did Denham not tell you when you unmasked him at Rickwell?" + +"He made some sort of explanation, but I think much of it was very +false." + +"How did you come to discover him?" + +"Olga did so. She knew a part of my story. That was why--as perhaps you +saw--she was always uneasy when I touched on Jamaica." + +"Yes; I remember that, Princess. Well, I must get Mademoiselle Olga to +tell me how she discovered all this. But on what terms did you leave +Denham?" + +"I told him that I would give him a month to make restitution to my +daughter Anne, and then if he did not I would inform the police." + +"Did he agree?" + +"No; the wretch defied me. He told me that Anne had murdered Daisy Kent +out of jealousy, and said that if I moved a finger against him he would +have her arrested." + +"He could not do that without harming himself." + +"I don't know," said the Princess wearily; "he is so clever that he +seems to do what he likes. I have taken no steps, because I wished to +get some advice as to how I should act under the circumstances. For this +reason I tell you." + +"I will do my best, Princess. But how was it Anne came with you?" + +"Olga managed that. She knew Anne was at the Priory. I don't know how. +Olga knows much. I wish she and Anne would come back again. I hope +nothing has happened." + +Even as she spoke the door opened, and Olga entered the room looking +haggard and worn out. "Anne!" cried her mother. "Where is Anne?" + +"Lost!" replied Olga, dropping exhausted into a chair, "lost!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OLGA'S EVIDENCE + + +Giles saw in the girl almost as great a change as that which had taken +place in her mother. Formerly haughty and self-possessed, she was now +quite exhausted and broken down. Her dress was muddy and wet and in +disorder. She had a grey face and red eyes. Huddled up in the chair, she +looked a pitiable object--the ruin of what was once a beautiful woman. + +"Anne lost?" cried the Princess, clutching at a chair to steady herself. +"Olga, what do you mean?" + +Olga did not answer. She closed her eyes and let her umbrella fall with +a crash. Giles saw that the girl was quite worn out. Hastily filling a +glass with undiluted whiskey, he held it to her lips, and made her drink +the whole of it. Shortly the ardent spirit did its work. She sat up and +began to talk in a stronger tone; but the excitement was artificial, and +would die away soon. Princess Karacsay saw this, and urged her daughter +to tell her story quickly before she collapsed, so that the police might +be sent in search of Anne. + +"The police will never find her," said Olga, with an effort. "She is +with Mark Dane. He has taken her away." + +"Dane?" echoed Giles. "Denham's secretary?" + +Olga looked at him with an inquiring air. "How much do you know?" she +asked, bracing herself up. + +"As much as your mother could tell me. I know that Anne is your +half-sister, and----" + +"Yes." Olga tried to rise, but sank back again. "She is my sister, my +dear sister, and I love her with all the strength of my nature." + +"Ah," said Ware sadly, "why did you not talk like that when last we met, +mademoiselle?" + +Olga passed her hand across her forehead. "I was mad, I think. But that +is all over. You need have no fear now, Mr. Ware. My passion for you has +spent itself." + +"Olga!" cried the Princess, scandalized, "you rave!" + +"No," answered her daughter; "I did last time Mr. Ware and I were +together, but now I talk sense. Did he not tell?" + +"I told nothing," interposed Giles quickly; "and you had better relate +when and where you left Anne, so that we can find her." + +"I'll do all in my power to save her and bring her back to you, Mr. +Ware. I was mad to talk and act as I did; but I have been punished by +the loss of Anne." + +"Olga!" cried the Princess in desperation, "for Heaven's sake speak +reasonably! Why did you go out with Anne last night?" + +"There was a note for Anne from Mark Dane, asking her to meet him near +the Abbey. She wanted to see him, as he vanished after the supposed +death of her father." + +"Of Alfred Denham," interrupted the Princess angrily; "I will not have +that man called Anne's father." + +"Of Denham," said Olga obediently. "Anne wished to learn why her father +had acted in so peculiar a way. She could not understand his behavior." + +"He is a scoundrel and Anne a saint," said the Princess bitterly. "No +wonder she could not understand him. She thinks he is a good man." + +"But surely she knows that he killed Daisy Kent," said Giles. + +"No," interposed Olga; "she denies that he did. I expect Denham has +managed to deceive her in some way." + +"Why did you not undeceive her, mademoiselle?" + +"It was not yet time," responded the girl quietly, "but my mother told +her a portion of the truth." + +"Yes. I said that she was my child and that Denham had been +impersonating her father, George Franklin." + +"Then she can't think Denham a good man now," said Giles. + +"I don't know," replied the Princess hopelessly. "He has such power over +her. He has been her father so-called for so long that she finds it +difficult to believe ill of him." + +"To learn the truth was why she insisted on seeing Dane," said the girl. +"Dane knew all about Denham, and Anne thought she would make him confess +what he knew." + +"And did he?" + +"That I can't say. I went out with Anne and we walked to the appointed +spot. Mark Dane was waiting for us." + +"Was he not astonished when he saw you?" + +"Why should he be astonished?" asked Olga, looking sharply at Ware. + +"Because I understand from Steel that he troubled you with letters." + +"You mean that Dane was in love with me. Yes. He was and is." + +"Olga," cried her mother again, "do behave yourself." + +"Oh, this is too serious to be a mere matter of behavior, mother. I have +made use of Dane's love to learn all about the society of the Scarlet +Cross, to which Franklin and Dane belong." + +"You can tell us that later," said the Princess impatiently. "I want to +know how you lost Anne." + +"Well, mother, Dane was astonished to see me. He was most respectful, +and said that he had a message for Anne from her father----" + +"From Denham." + +"Yes. Anne mentioned that Denham was not her father, that she had just +heard the truth, and Dane was amazed. He hardly knew what to say, but +ultimately stammered out some sort of denial. Anne did not give him time +to speak. She said that she would see Denham herself, and get to the +bottom of the imposture. Then she asked what message he had sent in the +character of her father. Dane refused to give it in my presence, so I +walked away for ten minutes and left them together. Oh, I was foolish, I +know," she added in reply to Ware's exclamation. "But I thought Mark +Dane was devoted to me, and would not play any tricks while I was about. +However, I did leave them alone. Anne was not in the least afraid, as +she always got on well with Dane and trusted him entirely. When I +returned in ten minutes, or it may be more, they were gone." + +"Gone!" echoed the Princess, much agitated. "Where?" + +"I don't know. I searched everywhere. I went round and round the Abbey. +I asked a policeman. They were nowhere to be found. I fancied that they +went across to Westminster Bridge, which they could easily do without my +seeing them. Anne must have gone of her own accord. She was decoyed by +Dane. I don't know why, no more than I know what inducement he held out +to lure her away. I searched for hours. Then I asked a policeman about +the matter. He told me to go to Scotland Yard. I went and inquired for +Steel. He had gone home. I have been walking the streets all night," +said Olga, with a haggard look. + +"Oh, great heavens!" moaned the Princess, wringing her hands; "what +would your father say if he heard?" + +"He will never know unless you tell him, mother. I can look after myself +easily. No one molested me. I had a cup of coffee at a stall this +morning, and went again to see Steel. He has gone out of town." + +"To Rickwell?" asked Giles eagerly; then he remembered. "I can't +understand. I called to see Steel at midday before I came here, and he +was then in his office." + +"Well, the official I spoke to about nine o'clock told me that he had +gone, leaving a message that he was going out of town, and would not be +back for a few days." + +"I wonder," began Giles, and then held his peace. It occurred to him +that Steel intended to remain until he caught Dane in the trap laid for +him in this very flat. The knowledge that the man had decoyed Anne away +on the previous night made Giles the more eager that he should be +caught. "You will see Anne yet, Princess," he said, for she was crying +bitterly. + +"Oh, I hope so--I hope so. But where is she?" + +"We must ask Dane that." + +"How are we to see Dane?" demanded Olga wonderingly. + +Ware explained the use made of Olga's name by Steel to trap the man. "I +expect Steel will call on you to-day to tell you this," he said +cheerfully. + +"I am not sorry, and yet I am," said Olga thoughtfully. "I know much +about Mark Dane, and want to save him from his bad companions. But I +hope Steel won't put him in gaol; that would ruin him entirely. Besides, +Steel promised not to have him arrested." + +"Promised you?" said Ware, astonished. + +"Yes. It was I who told him to look after Dane. I know much about this +matter." Then seeing Giles puzzled, she explained, "When I first met +Anne I saw that she was like myself in looks. That drew us together. You +see it yourself, do you not, Mr. Ware?" + +"Yes," replied Giles, "and I often wondered at it. Now, however, that I +know you are half-sisters, I wonder no longer." + +Princess Karacsay nodded her approval, and Olga continued. + +"When I learned that Anne's name was Denham I rather drew back from her. +She said that she was born in Jamaica, and, knowing what my mother had +said about Denham, I thought Anne was the daughter of my mother's enemy. +Afterwards I learned the truth through Dane." + +"How did you meet Dane?" + +"Well, I knew him by sight long before we spoke. He used to dog Anne and +myself. She never saw him. When I described his looks she thought he +might be her dead father's secretary--for she then believed her father, +Denham, alias Franklin, was dead. She wished to see him, but Dane always +kept out of her sight. Then when Anne went to Mrs. Morley he still +continued to dog me. He got to know a concert hall where I frequently +sang and hired himself there as an attendant. Then he took to sending me +love-letters. I was angry at first. Afterwards I wondered if he knew +anything about Denham, and thought he must if he really was the +secretary, as Anne said. I asked him to come here." + +"Olga," said the Princess, "you have behaved badly." + +"It has all turned out for the best," responded Olga wearily. She was +beginning to show signs of fatigue again, but still kept on with her +explanation in the most plucky manner. "Dane came. He is a handsome +young fellow and was well dressed. I led him on to talk about Anne. He +told me more than he should have done." + +"Told you what?" + +"That Denham had come in for money and was living at Rickwell. As I knew +from Anne about the Powell money, I put two and two together and +concluded that Denham was pretending to be Anne's father; that she was +really my half-sister; and that her pretended father had really murdered +Daisy Kent to get the money as Franklin." + +"But how did you know about this?" asked Giles. + +"Why," replied Olga, much surprised at his density, "I read the case in +the papers. I knew that Anne could not have killed Daisy, and having +settled in my own mind that she was not Denham's daughter, from her +resemblance to me, I decided that Franklin, who lived at the Priory and +had the money, was really my mother's enemy. I sent for my mother. She +came over, went down to Rickwell, and recognized Denham. That is all." + +"Wait a minute," said Giles quickly, "what about your telling Steel to +look after Dane?" + +"Well, Mr. Ware, it was this way," she answered. "When you came to me +and talked about the Scarlet Cross, I remembered that Dane had such a +one on his watch-chain." + +"The badge of the gang!" + +"Of course, but I did not know that until later. Then Steel came in, if +you remember, and hinted that the red cross was the symbol of such a +gang. Your talk of the cross being found in the church, and that you +thought it was dropped by the criminal set me thinking. I sent for Dane +again and tried to find out the truth. At first he refused, saying it +was as much as his life was worth to talk." + +"And I daresay he is right, mademoiselle. Denham would not stick at a +second murder. By the way, did you know he was Wilson?" + +"Only when Dane confessed. I gradually got him to be confidential to me, +promising that he would not get into trouble. He was so deeply in love +with me that he spoke out at last." + +"My dear Olga!" + +"Well, mother, I knew if I could get at the truth I could save Anne." + +The Princess nodded, well pleased. "I am glad you thought of your +sister." Olga flushed a deep red and her eyes sought those of Giles. "It +was not my sister I thought of, but of myself," she said in a low tone. +"You see, mother, I fancied that I might get something if I could prove +the innocence of Anne, for I----" + +"Is any explanation needed, mademoiselle?" said Giles uneasily. + +She paused for a moment and looked at him straightly. "No," she said at +length; "that is all over. I think no more explanation need be made. But +with regard to Dane. He told me that Denham had come to England to see +about the money left to Daisy Kent. He disguised himself as Wilson and +lodged at a Mrs. Benker's. Then he went down to Rickwell, and----" + +"And murdered Daisy," interposed Giles eagerly. + +"So I said, Mr. Ware; but Dane, who seems devoted in a way to Denham, +denies that he struck the blow." + +"Does he know who did?" + +"No. He says Denham doesn't know either." + +"Denham's a bigger scoundrel than you think," said Giles, recalling his +last conversation at the Priory. "He accuses Anne of murdering the +girl." + +"He'll have to prove it, then," said Olga coolly, while her mother +shrieked. "I'll be able to save Anne, never fear. However, Dane told me +that the red cross was the badge of a thieves' gang. Denham had a yacht +called _The Red Cross_, which goes from one port to another to take +stolen goods on board." + +"That's what Steel says." + +"Of course. Dane told him when he taxed him with it. The boy, for he is +just twenty-five, told me everything." + +"And you told Steel," said Ware, rather reproachfully. + +"I had to tell Steel, if I wished to save Anne," retorted Olga; "but I +asked him to do nothing to imperil the liberty of Mark Dane." + +"Did he promise that?" + +"Yes. Dane saw him in Bournemouth. I told him to call with a note, which +I gave him. Dane did not know why he was sent, and when he discovered +that Steel was a detective, he became afraid. I believe he told +something, but he afterwards ran away." + +"He doesn't trust you any longer perhaps," said the Princess. + +"From his attitude last night I think he does, although he was a trifle +reproachful. He will come if Steel has written a letter to call him here +in my name. Then I daresay he will be able to explain why he took Anne +away." + +"Will he do so?" + +"Ah! that is what we must find out." Olga paused, then continued. "I +wanted Steel to learn all he could from Dane about Denham, as I wish to +see that man arrested." + +"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," cried the Princess. + +"I thought of that. Denham tried to ruin your mother." + +"And he did--he did!" she said bitterly. + +"He tried, or rather he is trying, to ruin Anne also," said Olga. "For +these reasons I wish Steel to find evidence against him, so that he may +be arrested and made to confess his wickedness. Dane is the one who can +tell most about him, and I think Dane will, for since Denham got the +Powell money he had not behaved very well." + +While they were thus talking a knock came to the door. The servant +entered with a card, which she presented on a salver to her mistress. +Olga, who was thoroughly worn out, took it languidly, then suddenly +became excited. "He is here!" she said. "Mark Dane is here!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +MARK DANE + + +When Olga announced the name of her visitor, the Princess rose to leave +the room. She explained that she did not think it was in keeping with +the dignity of her position to meet every shady person who called, and +added that her daughter was not behaving in a way worthy of her name and +princely family. When she departed Olga looked inquiringly at Ware. He +swiftly interpreted her look. + +"I shall stop," he said promptly. "I am only too anxious to help you." + +Olga came forward and took his hand. "And you forgive me?" she asked. + +"There is nothing to forgive," he answered, shaking it heartily. "Let us +seek for Anne together. I daresay Dane will be able to tell us where she +is. I leave you to manage him." + +The girl nodded and touched the bell. Shortly the maid showed in a slim +young fellow of a somewhat effeminate type. He was clean-shaven and +wonderfully pale, with large dark eyes and curly black hair, worn rather +long. He was dressed in a grey suit and wore a red scarf tied loosely in +a bow. There was something foreign in his looks and dress. At the first +sight one would have taken him for an Italian, but when he spoke it was +apparent that he was an Englishman. + +"Princess!" he said effusively, when he entered. Then catching sight of +Giles in the background, he stopped short with a scared look. + +"This is a friend of mine, Mark," said Olga, coming forward. "He knows +all that there is to be known." + +"Oh! And you promised not to say a word," said Dane reproachfully. + +She shook her head. "I promised to save you from being arrested, and I +shall fulfil my promise. Why have you come here?" + +Dane fumbled in his pocket. "Your letter," he said, handing it to her. + +Olga took it, glanced at it, and finally passed it to Ware. + +"I did not write that letter," she said quietly. "Steel the detective +sent it, so as to bring you here. He wishes to resume the conversation +you left unfinished at Bournemouth." + +"It's a trap!" cried Dane violently, and swung round to the door. But +there was no chance of escape in that direction. He opened it to find +Steel standing without. The detective stepped into the room and locked +the door. + +"Now," he said, "we can have some conversation. Princess, I apologize +for having used your name unauthorized, but it was the only way to bring +this young man into my net." + +"Into a net!" said Dane, letting fall his soft hat. "You intend to have +me arrested!" His hand went round to the back of his waist. In a moment +Steel had flung himself forward, and after a short struggle disarmed +him. The knife that the detective had secured was an ugly-looking +weapon. + +"You are more Italian than the Italians," he said, slipping the knife +into his pocket; "but you are not a gentleman to frighten the lady." + +"I am not frightened," said Olga promptly; "but I am very tired. I shall +retire and leave you two gentlemen to deal with Mark." + +Dane sprang forward and caught her dress. He looked terrified. "Do not +leave me," he entreated. "You know that I love you, and that for your +sake I have betrayed a man who has done much for me. You promised to +help me." + +"I shall do so," she answered, returning to her seat. "I shall see that +you are not arrested, and----" + +"Pardon me, Princess, it may be necessary to----" + +"Mr. Steel, this man shall not be arrested," she said, stamping her +foot. + +"If I am," cried Dane resolutely, "I shall say nothing. Only to save +myself will I speak." + +Ware addressed a few hurried words to the detective, who nodded +reluctantly. It was Giles who spoke. "I promise that you shall not be +put in gaol, Dane," he said, "but you must tell the truth." + +"If I do so I am in danger of my life." + +"Then it is not gratitude that keeps you silent?" + +"Gratitude!" said Dane, flinging back his head, "what have I to be +grateful for? Mr. Franklin----" + +"You mean Denham," interposed Olga quickly. + +"Denham!" echoed Steel, "that is the father of the governess." + +"No," said Giles, "Anne's father is dead. This man Denham pretended to +play the part, and she has only lately been undeceived. Also, Mr. Steel, +you must know that there is no Walter Franklin. The man at the Priory +is the scoundrel you know as Wilson, the head of the Scarlet Cross +Society and the murderer of Miss Kent." + +"Not that last," interposed Dane, while Steel dropped into a seat +transfixed with astonishment. "Denham did not kill her. He does not know +who did. He told me so." + +"He would tell you anything to save himself," said Olga. + +"No," replied Dane, "he tells me all his secrets. At one time I should +have died before I revealed them, but Denham has treated me cruelly. I +owe him no gratitude. For years I slaved for him. I did all that a man +could do for his sake. What reward have I got? He has beaten me like a +dog. He has left me to starve. He has delivered me up to those members +of our society who hate me. Since he came in for this money----" + +"Wrongfully," put in Giles. + +"As you say, sir--wrongfully. But since he became George Franklin and a +wealthy man, he told me plainly that he washed his hands of me. He gave +me a small sum, and sent me to America, promising an annuity. It was not +paid. I wrote--I threatened. He laughed at me. So I have come back from +America to punish him." He turned to Olga and continued vehemently, "Do +you think that I would have told you what I did, Princess, had I not +hated the man? No. Not even for the love I bear you would I have done +that. You sent me to Mr. Steel at Bournemouth. I knew that he was a +detective, and went prepared to tell all about Denham's wickedness, even +although I incriminated myself." + +"But you did not do so," said Steel dryly; "you ran away." + +"And why? Because you mentioned that you suspected Miss Denham of a +crime. I held my tongue until I could see some chance of proving her +innocence. Had I told you all I knew then you would have had her +arrested, and let her know the shame of the man--her father." + +"He is not her father," said Olga again. + +"I know nothing about that," replied Dane, sitting down; "he always said +that he was her father, and I had no reason to believe otherwise. But I +am glad to hear that he is not. She is too good and pure to be the +daughter of such a man. I have known her for years. She is an angel. She +nursed me through an illness. I would do anything to prove my gratitude +for her sake. I held my hand from harming Denham because I thought he +was her father, and----" + +"You need do so no longer," cried Ware, whose face was bright when he +heard this praise of Anne; "she is the daughter of George Franklin, of +Jamaica. Denham assumed the name to get the Powell money." + +"Then," cried Dane, flinging wide his arms in a most dramatic manner, +"all I know you shall know. I turn King's evidence." + +"The best way to save your own skin," said Steel dryly; "you are an +Irishman, are you not?" + +Dane nodded. "Born in New York," said he. + +"Humph!" murmured Steel, but so low that only Giles heard him, "all the +better. You would betray your own mother if it suited you." + +Meanwhile Olga was speaking to the man. "The first thing you have to +confess," she said, "is about Miss Denham. Where is she?" + +"With Mr. Morley." + +Giles uttered an exclamation. "What has he got to do with her?" + +"I don't know. He came up to town yesterday evening." + +"About nine or ten?" asked Giles quickly. He remembered his feeling of +being watched at the Liverpool Street Station. + +"Yes," assented Dane, "he came up to see me. He said that he had a +message for Miss Denham from her father. Of course I thought then that +Denham was really her father. I asked Morley why he did not deliver the +message himself, for he knew that Miss Denham had come to town with the +Princess Karacsay." + +"How the deuce did he know that?" wondered Giles. + +"Well, you see, sir, Mr. Morley was a detective at one time, and he +always finds out what he desires." + +"True enough," put in Steel, "Joe Bart is very clever." + +"He appears to have been extremely so in this case," said Giles dryly. + +"Morley told me," continued Mark, "that Miss Denham knew he suspected +her of the murder, and she would not let him see her. If she knew he had +come to look her up that she would run away thinking he came to have her +arrested. He asked me to tell her to come to a rendezvous near the Abbey +without mentioning his name. I thought this was reasonable enough, and +wrote a letter." + +"And I went with Anne," said Olga. "Where did you go?" + +"When you left us I told her that Morley had a message from her father. +She said nothing to me denying the relationship, but she was afraid of +Morley. I told her that he had promised not to do her any harm. She was +still doubtful. Then Morley appeared. He had been close at hand, and he +explained that Denham was very ill. He wished to see Miss Denham and +make reparation for his wickedness. There was no time to be lost, +Morley said, and he asked her to come at once. She hesitated for a time, +and then went with Morley. She told me to wait till the Princess Olga +came back and tell her this." + +"Why did you not?" + +"Because Morley whispered that I was not to do so. I went away in +another direction." + +"Then why do you tell now?" asked Ware bluntly. + +"I wish to be revenged on Denham," said Dane fiercely. "He treated me +like a dog, and he shall be bitten by me. Curse him!" + +Olga walked to the door. "I shall go now," she said, seeing that Dane +was becoming excited and fearing a scene. "You can tell Mr. Steel and +Mr. Ware everything, Mark. When Denham is caught and Anne is free, you +shall come to Vienna with me. My father shall take you into his +service," and with this she held out her hand to him in a regal manner. +Dane kissed it as though it had been the hand of a queen, and when she +was out of the room, turned to the two men with a shining face. + +"I am ready to tell you everything," he said. + +"And betray those who have done you a kindness," muttered Steel. "You +would not be an Irish-American if you didn't. I know the type." + +Quite unaware of this uncomplimentary speech, Dane glanced into a near +mirror and ran his slim hand through his hair. He cast such a complacent +look at his reflection that Giles could not forbear a smile. The man was +a compound of treachery, courage, and vanity. He had some virtues and +not a few vices, and was one of those irresponsible creatures who +develop into Anarchists. But that the Scarlet Cross Society had +attracted his talents in the direction of a kind of coast piracy, he +would without doubt have been employed in blowing up kings or public +buildings. Giles thought with a grim smile that if Olga took this +creature to Austria, Prince Karacsay would have some work to keep him in +order. Dane was not the man to settle to a dull, respectable existence +or to earn his bread without a little excitement. A dangerous man, and +the more dangerous from his enormous vanity and utter want of moral +principle. + +Having made Steel promise not to arrest him, nor to make any use of his +revelations to endanger his own liberty, Dane cheerfully proceeded to +betray those he had sworn secrecy to. Wicked as was the gang, and evil +as was the purpose of its formation, Giles could not help feeling a +contempt for the traitor. There should be honor amongst thieves, thought +Ware. But Dane did not believe in the proverb, and explained himself +quite complacently. + +"I met Denham--as he usually called himself many years ago in Italy--at +Milan," said Dane; "he had a house there. His daughter--let us call Miss +Anne his daughter, although I am glad to hear she is not--lived with +him. She was then about fifteen and was at school at a convent. She and +I got on very well. I adored her for her beauty and kindness of heart. I +was starving for want of money, as my remittances had not arrived from +America. Denham took me in. I made myself useful, so there was no +charity about the matter." + +"Still, he took you in," suggested Giles, "that was kind." + +"A kindness to himself," retorted Dane. "I tell you, sir, Denham wanted +what he called a secretary and what I called a tool. He found such a one +in me. I don't deny that I did all his dirty work, but I had some +feeling of gratitude because he rescued me from starvation." + +"You contradict yourself, Dane." + +"No, sir, I do not," replied the man, with true Irish obstinacy, "but +I'm not here to argue about my conduct but to tell you facts." + +"Facts we wish to know," said Steel, taking out his note-book. + +"And facts I tell," cried Dane vehemently, then resumed in a calmer +tone. "Miss Anne was all day at school. Denham never let her know what a +devil he was. He was always kind to her. She thought him a good man. +Then thinking she might get to know too much, he sent her to a convent +for education and removed to Florence. There he called himself George +Franklin. He told me that he expected to get money by taking that name." + +"Then he admitted that he was not George Franklin," said Giles. + +"He never admitted anything. At one time he would say that his real name +was George Franklin, at another declare he was really Alfred Denham. But +he had so many names in the course of his career," added Dane, with a +shrug, "that one more or less did not matter. Besides, he was such a +liar that I never believed anything he said." + +"Not even about the Powell money?" + +"Oh, yes, I believed that. He was always swearing at some girl who stood +between him and the money. He mentioned her name once. I was with him in +England at the time, and set to work to find out. I learned all about +Miss Kent and her engagement to you, Mr. Ware." + +"And you know all about the Powell money?" + +"Yes. I got the truth out of Denham at last, but he never told Miss +Anne; nor did he ever mention Miss Kent's name in her presence; nor did +he ever say to me that Miss Anne was not his child. I never thought for +a moment she was Franklin's daughter. And for the matter of that," added +Dane carelessly, "I did not know if he was really Denham or Franklin +himself." + +"But Miss Anne knew nothing of all this?" asked Giles. + +"Absolutely nothing. After she went to the Milan convent, Denham would +not let her come back to him again. He was afraid lest she should learn +what he was and wished to preserve her good opinion. She went out as a +governess, and only rarely came home." + +"And how did Denham earn his living?" + +"Oh, he invented the Scarlet Cross Society. He bought a yacht, and +steamed to England from Genoa. For years we put in at different ports, +robbed houses and stowed the goods on board. Then we returned to Italy +and sold them." + +"A clever dodge," murmured Steel. "So that is why the goods were never +traced." + +"That is why," said Dane, with great coolness. "There was a Jew who took +a lot of what we brought. He sold them in the East. But it is too long a +story to tell at present. Denham sometimes went to England and sometimes +stopped in Florence. When he was away I stayed in his house as George +Franklin." + +"I see. He wished to prove an _alibi_." + +"That's it," said Dane. "He intended to get that money sometime, and +wished that when inquiries were made about George Franklin that it could +be proved he was in Florence all the time." + +"And then when Powell did die?" + +"Denham knew as soon as possible. He had a spy in Australia, and had a +cablegram sent to him. Then he arranged a pretended death to get rid of +Miss Anne. He did not want her to come into his new life. He treated her +well, however, for he left her money, and intended to give her an +income when he got the money. Another man was buried in place of Denham +and he went to England, where he reappeared as George Franklin to claim +the money." + +"As Wilson, you mean, to kill the girl who stood between him and the +fortune," said Steel, raising his eyes. + +Dane shook his head. "I know nothing of that," he said. "From the day +Denham left Florence my association with him has severed. I saw Miss +Anne, told her about the death of her father, and then went to America. +Denham did not pay me my annuity, and I came back to be revenged. I saw +him, but he denies having killed the girl. He says he does not know who +committed the murder. I have been earning my bread as I best can, +waiting for revenge." + +"But you had only to threaten to make all this public to make Denham +give you what you wished." + +"No." Dane looked uneasy. "The fact is he and some one else have a hold +over me. I need not tell you what it is, but I had to be silent." + +"But now that you speak he has still the hold." + +"Yes. But I intend to ruin myself in order to ruin him," cried Dane +fiercely, and rose to his feet. "Well, gentlemen, that is all I can tell +you at present. I shall go." + +To Giles' surprise, Steel made no objection. "You'll come and see me +again?" he said, opening the door for Dane. + +"Assuredly," replied that young gentleman, and departed. + +Giles looked amazed at this permission to depart being given by the +detective. "I should have thought it would be to your interest to keep +Dane here," he said. "He has not told us everything yet." + +"No," replied Steel, closing his book with a snap, "there is one very +interesting detail he has not told us. But the next time we meet I'll +get it out of him. Here," he touched the book, "there is enough to go on +with. I'll go down to the Priory and see the sick Mr. Denham." + +"I'll come also and see Anne," said Giles eagerly. "But Dane?" + +"He's all right. I have a couple of men waiting outside. He will be +followed everywhere. I'll be able to lay hands on him whenever I like. +Also I wish to see where he goes. He knows the various hiding-places of +this gang, and I want him to be tracked to one of them." + +"H'm! Don't you believe his story?" + +"Not altogether. He evidently hates Denham with all the virulent hatred +of a malicious character. He's a devil, that man Dane. I should not like +to incur his enmity. However, we'll make use of him, and then the +Princess can take him to Vienna to make trouble there, as he assuredly +will." + +"What is the especial detail you want to learn?" + +"I wish him to explain how he killed Daisy Kent." + +"He! Dane! Do you mean to say----?" + +"I mean to say that Dane is the murderer," said Steel triumphantly. +"That is the reason Denham and this other person (whoever he may be) +have a hold over him. If he ruins Denham, he does so at the cost of +being hanged." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A RAT IN A CORNER + + +The next day Giles returned to Rickwell with Steel. The detective could +not leave town before, as he had to procure a warrant for the arrest of +Alfred Denham, alias Wilson, alias George Franklin, and half a dozen +other names. The man was to be arrested for various robberies connected +with the gang of thieves, of which he was the head. Search was being +made by the police for _The Red Cross_ yacht, but evidently the gang had +taken alarm, for she had disappeared. It was Steel's opinion that she +was down Plymouth way, sailing round the Devonshire coast, and the +police in that county were on the lookout. + +"Once I can get that ship," explained Steel to Giles when in the train, +"and their claws will be cut. They have escaped for a long time, so +ingenious have their methods been. But I have accumulated a mass of +evidence, and have several names known to the police. Yes, and several +names of people not known. There are about twenty thieves, professional +and amateur, connected with this matter. It is a big affair. But I'll +get the yacht, and then Denham. That will be the means of laying bare +the whole swindle." + +"Which? Denham or the yacht?" + +"Each! both! If the police can seize the boat unexpectedly, some +incriminating papers are sure to be found on board. And if I can arrest +Denham, I'll soon get the truth out of him." + +"I don't believe he can tell the truth, even if forced to," said Ware +grimly. "You have no idea how that man has cheated me, Steel," and then +Giles related the eavesdropping of himself and Morley. + +"I don't know how Denham got to know," he continued, "but the tale he +told about the invented brother was his own history, and quite deceived +me and Morley. Also that soliloquy after Mrs. Benker departed was a +masterly conception. It would have cheated any one, let alone me. The +man was acting for the benefit of myself and Morley, and knew we were +listening. What a clever scoundrel!" + +"He's been a little too clever this time," replied Steel; then he began +to laugh, but refused to explain why he did so, save in a general way. + +"This is the queerest case I was ever in," he said, with a chuckle; "you +don't know how queer." + +"Well, you explain. I think you are keeping something from me." + +"I am," answered Steel readily. "Tit for tat, Mr. Ware. You did a little +business on your own account, and said nothing to me. I repay the +compliment." + +"I was afraid you would arrest Miss Denham." + +"You mean Miss Franklin. No, I should not have done that. My +investigations into this thieving case have shown me that she is +perfectly innocent. She knows nothing about Denham's rascalities, and +she certainly did not commit the murder." + +"Are you so sure that Dane is the culprit?" asked Giles. + +"Yes, I am sure. He was at Gravesend on board that yacht, and when the +so-called Wilson came by train from London, Dane rode over from Tilbury +on a motor-bicycle. They met on that night, and then I expect Denham +induced Dane to murder the girl. Afterwards Dane went back to Tilbury as +he came, and Denham induced his daughter to rescue him on your motor." + +"But why should he get Anne to do that?" + +"Because he saw that he had been wrong in forcing Dane to do what he +did. Dane was too hasty. He should have waited till Denham was a safe +distance away, and then have executed the deed. As it was I believe that +Denham came out to find the girl dead, and knowing he might be accused, +lost his head. Otherwise he certainly would not have betrayed himself to +Miss Anne. She, believing him to be her father, secured the car and +saved him. A very clever woman, Mr. Ware. I hope you will ask me to the +wedding." + +"How do you know it will ever take place?" asked Giles sadly. + +"Because I am sure we shall find Miss Anne in the Priory. I shall arrest +Denham, and you can place the lady in charge of some friend, or send her +up to her mother, the Princess Karacsay. By the way, how does she come +to be the mother?" + +"It's a long story. The Princess was married twice, first to George +Franklin, of Jamaica, and secondly to Prince Karacsay. But how do you +know that when Morley arrived with Anne that Denham did not take fright +and fly?" + +"I don't think Morley would let him do that. It is probable that Miss +Anne would tell him what she knew, and there would be quite enough +suspicion excited in Morley's mind to induce him to communicate with +me." + +"Has he done so?" + +"Well, no, he hasn't. But then, he's a detective also, you see, and his +professional jealousy, even although he has retired, may induce him to +engineer this business himself. But he shan't have the credit of it +after all my work," cried Steel vehemently. + +Then the detective began to turn over his notes, so as to prepare for +the coming interview with Denham. Giles gave himself up to his own +thoughts, and rejoiced that he would soon see Anne again. Her character +would be cleared, and then she would become his wife. Ware was much +relieved that Olga had overcome her foolish fancy for him, but he could +not be sure if her cure was permanent. When she excused herself, she was +weak and exhausted, and he dreaded lest when she recovered she should +begin to persecute him again. But after all, as he reflected, it really +did not much matter. The future of Anne was taken out of her hands, and +the Princess Karacsay would not permit Olga to play fast and loose with +Anne's happiness. + +Giles remembered how Olga had told him that Anne was at school at +Hampstead, but had not said a word about the convent at Milan. No doubt +Anne, when she first came to England, had gone for a few finishing +lessons to the Hampstead school, for there she had met Mrs. Cairns. +Still, Olga all the time had known much more of Anne's history than she +had chosen to tell. And if the Princess Karacsay had not been so candid, +Ware doubted very much if Olga would have confessed her relationship +with Anne. Yet on second thought he fancied he might be doing the +Hungarian sister wrong. In spite of her proposed treachery, she was +really fond of Anne, and perhaps would not have delivered her up to the +police. In fact, after she brought her mother over to unmask Denham, +and had thus made her aware of Anne's existence, she could not do that +without provoking her mother's undying enmity. On the whole, Olga was +something of a problem, and although Giles wished to think of her as +kindly as he could, he determined to see as little of her as was +possible after the marriage. He did not trust her. There was too much of +the untamed tigress about the girl. + +When the train arrived at Barnham, a trap ordered by Giles was waiting +to take them to Rickwell. On the platform Steel was met by a local +policeman who seemed to be much excited. "I have acted according to your +instructions, sir," he said, touching his helmet. + +"Well," said Steel sharply while Giles lingered to listen--for +everything the detective said was interesting to him; he still doubted +his intentions regarding Anne--"did Mr. Morley bring down Miss Denham?" + +"No, sir," was the unexpected answer. "Mr. Morley has not come back +since he went up to town two nights ago. He went by the nine train." + +"The same train as I went by," interposed Giles. + +"Are you sure?" said Steel, and Giles fancied he saw a smile play round +his rather full lips. + +"Yes, sir. Mr. Morley on the evening he went away called at the Priory +and had a quarrel with Mr. Franklin, sir. They came to blows, sir, and +Mr. Franklin's leg is broken." + +"Then he has not left Rickwell?" + +"No, sir. He's laid up with the broken leg and his daughter is nursing +him. He's awful bad, I've been told, sir, by Mrs. Parry." + +Giles could not help laughing at the introduction of the good lady's +name. She seemed to be mixed up with everything. He could not be sorry +for Denham, as he was only meeting with his deserts. "But Anne--where +can she be?" he asked Steel, as they stepped into the cart. + +"I wish I knew," said Steel gloomily. "I had an idea that Morley was +playing me false." + +"Do you think he is in league with Denham?" + +"I am sure of it. That is the portion of the case of which I have not +spoken to you. You'll hear what Denham says. Now that Morley has left +him in the lurch Denham will reveal Morley's connection with these +matters. But Morley has secured a hostage in the person of Miss Anne. He +has taken her away somewhere. His wife may know of his whereabouts. +After we have seen Denham we'll speak of her." + +"Since when have you had suspicions of Morley?" + +"Since I investigated this Scarlet Cross case. I have found one or two +of the gang who, like Dane, are willing to turn King's evidence to save +themselves. It was one of them called Scott who told me of Dane's coming +on the motor-bicycle to Rickwell. But later on you shall hear all. Let +me round off the case by arresting Denham." Here Steel scratched his +head and smiled ruefully. "But I fear the case will not be finished till +Morley is caught, and where am I to look for him? I wish I had had him +watched. He has been too clever for me. I might have known. As Joe Bart +he was one of the smartest detectives in London." + +After this speech Steel began to think, and as he seemed impatient of +interruption, Giles said nothing. In due time they arrived at the door +of the Priory. It was close on five o'clock. Steel rang the bell, and as +he did so a couple of policemen came round the corner for orders. Steel +told them to wait in the hall while he saw Denham. "I don't think he can +show fight with a broken leg," said Steel grimly. + +As he spoke the door opened. Portia with her freckled face swollen with +weeping appeared. She did not seem astonished at the sight of the men in +uniform. Perhaps she had seen them lurking in the neighborhood and knew +what to expect. + +"Come in," she said sullenly to Steel and his companion. "My father +expects you." + +"Who told him I was coming?" asked Steel. + +"I don't know," she answered, and led the way up the stairs. On the +landing she turned viciously. "If father had not broken his leg, you +would not have found us here," she declared. + +"I quite believe that," retorted Steel. + +"And you needn't have brought those beasts of men," continued the girl, +with a glance at the police in the hall. "We are all alone. Dowse and +his wife and daughter ran away whenever they heard there was trouble." + +"Oh, they are mixed up in this affair also." + +"I don't know. I shan't say anything, for I don't know nothing." + +She sullenly led the way through a long corridor and opened the door of +a sitting-room. Here on a sofa with a small table at his elbow lay +Denham. His leg was swathed in bandages, and he wore a loose +dressing-gown. As they entered he laid down a book and looked at them. +His face was worn, his hair was quite grey, but the brilliance of his +eyes were undimmed, and he spoke in a masterful manner. + +"Here you are, Steel," he said coolly. "Got the warrant?" + +"How do you know I have a warrant?" asked the other, taken aback. + +"I knew you would find out the truth the moment Mrs. Franklin, or +rather, I should say the Princess Karacsay, discovered me. She has told +you all and has put you on my track." + +"Dane put me on your track." + +"Dane? Well, I'm not surprised. He's a scoundrel. King's evidence, I +suppose? I'll defeat him, Steel. Take a seat and I'll tell you all about +myself." + +Very much surprised at this calmness the two men sat down. Denham waved +his daughter out of the room. She was unwilling to go, but a glance sent +her away. When she closed the door Denham turned to Giles. + +"When you marry Anne, Mr. Ware," said he, "ask her to look after my poor +daughter." + +"How do you know I shall ever marry Anne?" + +"Because you are a determined man. Men like you usually do get their own +way. You intend to marry Anne Franklin and you will. But Portia has been +good to Anne, and when I am in prison I hope Anne will take care of +her." + +"I'll see to that," said Giles. "I don't believe that the sins of the +father should be visited on the children. Do you know where Anne has got +to? She went away with Morley." + +At the sound of this name Denham's face grew black. "I wish I knew where +Morley is," he said vehemently. "I would give him up to the police with +pleasure. On the evening of the day Anne escaped he came here with his +wife. When she left he had a quarrel with me, saying I had done wrong in +letting Anne go. We fought, and he threw me down the stairs. My leg is +broken, and so I could not get away from the police. Well, I give myself +up. It is rather hard after I have done so much to get the money I +wanted." + +"Even to committing a murder," said Steel. + +"No," said Denham decisively; "I did not kill Daisy Kent. She was +murdered by--but I'll tell you that later. In the meantime, Mr. Ware, +tell me what the Princess told you, and I'll supply the details she +doubtless has omitted. Then Steel can follow with his tale." + +Giles had no hesitation in complying with this request. He narrated his +connection with Olga and the story told by her mother. Also he detailed +how he had confided in Morley, thinking him an honorable man. This was +the only time when Denham smiled, and he did smile derisively. However, +he did not interrupt, but when Giles was finished looked at Steel. That +gentleman gave a history of his doings and discoveries. He omitted all +mention of Morley. Denham noted this. + +"I see you have left something for me to tell," he said. "Well, as I am +like a rat in a corner, I must give in. The end has come, and I don't +know that I am sorry. I have had a very uneasy life of it since I left +Jamaica. And, as usual, it was a woman who ruined me." + +"Not the Princess Karacsay," said Giles quickly. + +"Yes. You heard her version of the story, now hear mine. She led me on, +she behaved badly, she----" + +"I don't believe you. I won't listen." + +"Very good. Then we will take up the story from the time I came to +Milan," replied Denham coolly. "Anne was with me, and I treated her +well. She never knew anything of my inner life, and always thought me a +good man. I rather prided myself in keeping her in that belief." + +"Dane said that you behaved very well," said Steel. + +Denham nodded ironically. "I am much obliged for the good opinion of +such a scoundrel," he said. "Well, you know how I treated Anne. When she +became a governess she left me to follow out my idea of making money. I +bought a yacht, and invented the Society of the Scarlet Cross. For a +time all went well. Then I was foolish enough when robbing the safe of +Lady Summersdale to drop a cross--a red cross. It was found by Bart--I +mean Morley, who was the detective." + +"You can call him Bart," said Giles. "Steel told me it was his name." + +"I prefer to call him Morley, since by that name I know him best," was +Denham's retort. "As I say, he discovered the red cross. He had charge +of the case, and he traced me by that ornament. He got to know of the +yacht and of the working of the gang. Instead of arresting us all, which +he could have done, he agreed to join us." + +"I thought so!" cried Steel, slapping his thigh. "I guessed this." + +"Did you offer him any inducement?" asked Giles. + +"Yes. At first he was bent on breaking up the gang and putting me in +jail. But I remembered how Walpole had said that every man had his +price. I ascertained Morley's. It was ease and comfort and plenty of +money to gamble with." + +"Did he gamble?" asked Ware, starting. + +"He ruined himself with gambling," replied Denham. "If it had not been +for his indulgence in that vice, he would not have joined our society, +Mr. Ware. However, he did. I told him of the Powell money, and said that +when I got it I would share it with him. Franklin was drowned; I had his +papers, and knew all about his life, and there was no difficulty in my +proving myself to be the man. I did so, and now have the money." + +"But the price of Daisy's death was----" + +"I'm coming to that," interrupted Denham impatiently. "Well, Morley +joined us. His professional information helped us to improve our +business. He made me give back Lady Summersdale's jewels, so that his +professional reputation might be preserved. He was highly complimented +on getting the swag back," added Denham, smiling ironically, "but the +thieves unfortunately escaped." + +"And he was hand in glove with the lot of you," said Steel, almost with +admiration. "I always said Joe Bart was clever." + +"He was too clever for me," said Denham, shifting his position, and +sighing with the pain of his leg. However, with iron resolution he +continued. "But I'll punish him yet. Well, to make a long story short, +Morley retired from the force and married a widow. She had money. He +spent all she had. He got his percentage from our society, and spent +that also. He was always gambling, and took runs up to town to lose his +money in a private hell he knew of. Afterwards he got into difficulties, +and began to yearn for the Powell money. It was because Daisy Kent was +to inherit it that he induced her father to appoint him her guardian." + +"And for that reason he settled in Rickwell." + +"Yes. Kent had known Mrs. Morley for many years, and it was she who was +the guardian. When he married Mrs. Morley our friend settled in +Rickwell, so that his wife might renew her friendship with Kent and get +the girl. It all came about as he designed, and Daisy Kent lived at The +Elms. Morley thought he would sell me, and when the girl got the money, +by using his influence to induce her to give it to him, I believe he was +capable of killing his wife and of marrying Daisy. But that scheme was +stopped by the fact that Daisy was engaged to you, Ware." + +"I am thankful that she was," said Giles, wiping his face. "What a devil +the man is!" + +"He is a clever man," replied Denham coolly, "but he was not +sufficiently clever to get the better of Daisy Kent. What she found +out, or how he treated her, I don't know; but she took a violent hatred +to him. He knew she would not give him the money when she got it, and +so----" + +"Stop!" cried Ware. "Do you mean to say Morley killed the girl?" + +"No. I wish I could say so. But he was in his house all the time. He is +innocent enough. I'll tell you about that later. At present let me go on +with the story. I heard by cable from Australia that Powell was dead, +and then I feigned death to get rid of Anne. I came to England, and, as +Wilson, heard about the will, and afterwards served the summons." + +"Why did you serve the summons?" + +"I simply wanted to see Morley without suspicion being excited. I saw +him in the library. He told me that he had ordered the yacht to anchor +off Gravesend and that Dane was coming to tell him when it was there. He +then asked me to kill Daisy Kent, saying I could get the fortune when +she was dead." + +Denham paused, and wiped his face. + +"I don't pretend to be a good man," he said, "but I declined to murder +the girl. While we were arguing Anne entered. When she saw me she nearly +fainted, as she thought I was dead. She recognized me." + +"Yes," put in Giles, "but she said she didn't speak to you." + +"But she did. Morley knew then that she was Franklin's daughter, and, if +Daisy died, the rightful owner of the money. I expect that is why he had +decoyed her away. Well, I made Anne agree to be silent, promising her an +explanation the next day. She left the room. I went away, and afterwards +to church. I wished to see Daisy and warn her against Morley. I passed a +note saying that I desired to see her about the money. She went out. I +followed shortly. It was snowing heavily when I got out. I heard a cry, +and rushed in its direction. It came from the grave of Kent. Daisy was +lying there dead. I saw a man dash away----" + +"Who was he?" asked Steel and Giles simultaneously. + +"I believe, from the glimpse I caught, he was Dane." + +"I thought so," said Steel triumphantly. + +"Yes, Dane killed the girl. I expect Morley put him up to it. I lost my +head. I knew that to save himself that Morley would accuse me. I rushed +forward. Anne came out. I hurriedly explained, and then----" + +"We know," interrupted Giles, "you bolted on my motor-car. Tell us how +you got the money." + +"Oh, I appeared as Franklin, and saw Asher. I produced my papers, and +was put into formal possession of the money. Morley insisted that I +should live down here, under his eye. I could not refuse. He has drained +me of nearly every penny. Then, when trouble began, he made use of his +position here to warn me of what was going on." + +"He made a fool of me," said Giles grimly. "I told him everything, and +you played that nice little comedy in the park." + +"With Mrs. Benker?" Denham smiled. "Yes; and the soliloquy was my own +idea. I knew that would impose on you." + +"Morley swindled me also," said Steel, with gloom. "Clever man!" + +"You said that before," remarked Denham dryly. "However, when Anne's +mother appeared I knew the game was up. She made me promise to send Anne +to her, so I had to let her go." + +"Why did you blame Anne for the murder?" + +"I wanted to stop your prying into matters which did not concern you," +snarled the man savagely. "It was you who started all this infernal +business. But it's all over. You can arrest me as soon as you like, +Steel, and if you can catch Morley I'll willingly stand in the dock +beside him." + +As he said this the door opened. There was a noise outside. Portia was +trying to keep some one back, but the man forced his way past her and +into the room. It was Trim, and he presented a letter to his master. +"Beg pardon, sir, but I heard you were here, and there's a letter came +this morning marked 'Immediate.' I wanted to start for town, but when I +heard you were here I came over, and this young woman's been trying to +keep me out, to say nothing of them police below." + +Giles opened the letter hastily. Something fell with a silvery ring on +the floor. Steel picked it up. "What's this?" he asked wonderingly--"a +coin with precious stones!" + +"Anne's Edward VII. half-sovereign," shouted Giles. "This is from her." +The letter, written in pencil, merely said, "Prisoner--yacht--Bilbao." + +"Steel," cried Giles, "Morley has taken her to Bilbao! We follow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A CATASTROPHE + + +About noon the next day Steel and Giles were on their way to Bilbao. +This prompt following of Morley was due to the fertile resource of Ware. +He remembered that a friend of his possessed a yacht which was at +present lying in Dover Harbor. The friend, Lord Kingsbridge, fortunately +happened to be in London, and Giles wired an appointment. With Steel he +went up to Town on that same night and drove at once to the Wanderers' +Club, where Kingsbridge was waiting for them. Giles explained the +situation, and secured the yacht at once. "The boat is quite ready to +start," said Kingsbridge. "All you have to do is to get steam up. I was +thinking of going on a cruise myself, and so had _The Firefly_ put in +order." + +"Why not come with us to Bilbao, my lord?" + +"Thank you, Mr. Steel, but I have to wait in town for a day or two, and +time is everything in this matter. If you take the first morning train +to Dover, you ought to be on your way to Spain in the afternoon. When +did this other boat start?" + +"Yesterday afternoon from Gravesend," said Giles. + +"Well, my yacht's a quick one, so I daresay you will be able to catch +this other one before she gets to her destination. You'll have bad +weather, I fear," said Kingsbridge; "there's a storm getting up." + +"I don't care if it blows the world out of the solar system," cried Ware +savagely; "I'm going to catch that man." + +"And the lady? Well, good luck to you, Ware." + +"Thank you, Kingsbridge. I shan't forget your kindness," replied the +young man, and departed with Steel in hot haste. + +Thus it happened that the two found themselves on board _The Firefly_ +steaming for Bilbao at top speed. The boat was two hundred tons, yacht +measurement, schooner-rigged fore and aft, with powerful engines and +twin screws. When all her furnaces were going she could smoke through +the water at surprising speed, and her captain having received +instructions from Kingsbridge, drove her south for all she was worth. He +was a pleasant young fellow called Calthorpe, and when he heard that the +trip was being made to rescue a lady took a personal interest in the +affair. He made up his mind to catch _The Red Cross_ before she reached +Bilbao. + +"Is she a fast boat?" he asked when _The Firefly_ cleared the Channel. + +"Nearly as fast as this craft," replied Mark Dane, who was at his elbow. +"She was built for speed." + +"H'm," said the captain; "it's stormy weather, and her speed will depend +a good deal on the way she is handled. I don't expect she'll do much in +the Bay." + +Evidently Calthorpe was not going to let his boat be beaten by an +outsider. He had never heard of _The Red Cross_, and believed _The +Firefly_ to be one of the smartest crafts afloat. The weather was dirty, +and when the gallant little boat lifted the Atlantic waves they were +running mountains high. But Calthorpe drove his vessel sheer through +them, and never slackened his speed for all their fury. And now it must +be explained how Dane came to be on board. The explanation may be given +in his own words to Giles. + +"When I left you in London, sir," he said, "I wondered where Morley had +taken Miss Anne. From what I knew I guessed that he would not carry her +to the Priory at Rickwell. It then struck me that he might use the +yacht. Since Steel took up the case she has changed her name and her +appearance, for Morley and Denham were both afraid lest she might be +found out. The gang of course know nothing of my intention to smash up +the organization, and I knew that I could get all information from one +of them. I sent a wire to this man--he's called Arden--and received +information that the boat was at Gravesend by Morley's orders, under the +name of _The Dark Horse_." + +"Rather a good name," said Ware, smiling. "Morley is something of a +humorist." + +"He's a devil!" said Dane fiercely. "I'll tell you my reason for saying +so later, sir. I went to Gravesend and found her lying in mid-stream. I +went on board and learned that Morley was away, but that the boat was to +sail shortly for some unknown destination." + +"Where was Morley?" + +"Up in town, sir, getting his money together to make tracks. I found +Miss Anne on board. She told me that Morley had suggested they should +get to Rickwell by the Gravesend line, and she, not thinking any harm of +him and anxious to see Denham and learn the truth about her dead father, +agreed. He took her down and drugged her in the train. As an invalid she +was taken on board _The Dark Horse_ and confined to her cabin. A hag +called Mrs. Johns attended to her. I know the old wretch. A regular bad +one; but devoted to Morley, who got her out of some trouble." + +"Why did you not rescue Miss Anne," said Giles, "and save us this +journey, Dane?" + +"I couldn't. Mrs. Johns allowed me to see Miss Anne, as she had no +reason to suspect me; but she kept guard at the door, and would not let +me out of her sight almost. If I had tried to take Miss Anne ashore, +she'd have brought the crew on me. They are all Morley's creatures. I +should simply have been poleaxed and dropped overboard, while the yacht +sailed away. No, sir. I told Miss Anne my difficulty, and asked her to +send a line to you at the Priory--where I knew you were--that you might +follow. She wrote three or four words----" + +"I know," interrupted Giles, "and enclosed the coin." + +"She did that, sir, so that you could be sure the message came from her. +I posted the letter. Then I went on shore and waited till Morley came +back. I learned from Miss Anne that the boat was going to Bilbao, and +when she started I came on to the Priory to ask if I could join in the +hunt for Miss Anne. Yes," cried Dane, shaking his fist, "and the hunt +after that devil Morley." + +"Why do you hate him so?" asked Giles, wondering at the man's fierceness +and ill-suppressed emotion. + +Dane thought for a moment, then answered, with his eyes on the deck, +"Morley killed my mother," he said in a low voice. "No, sir, not in the +way you think. He killed her by telling her what I was. She was a good +woman. She brought me up well, and did her best to make me a decent man. +I was well behaved till I went to Italy to study singing, and fell in +with Denham. He made me bad. Afterwards Morley made me worse. I have +thieved, I have--but what does the catalogue of my crimes matter to +you, sir? In a word, Denham and Morley ruined me. I hate them both, but +Morley worst of all. Do you think Denham will recover?" + +"From his broken leg? Of course he will, and then he will be taken to +jail at once. Steel left the warrant behind to be executed, in order +that he might come with me." + +"I hope Denham will get a long sentence, sir," said Dane savagely. "He +is a bad man. But Morley--nothing short of death will expiate his crime +so far as I am concerned. I wanted to reform, sir. Miss Anne was so good +to me that I saw how wicked was the life I was living. I wished to +reform and return to my mother. Morley heard of this. He followed me to +New York, where I was then. I had fled from the gang, saying I would +have nothing more to do with the thieving. Morley found me with my +mother. He told her what I was." Here Dane paused and sighed. "The blow +killed her." + +"She died of a broken heart, I suppose?" + +"Yes, of a broken heart. Then I went back with Morley to the old life +like a whipped dog. But I vowed revenge. I intend to have it now." And +he set his teeth determinedly. + +Giles was sorry for the young man. He appeared to have some good in him +when he felt the death of his mother, and the cause of it, so deeply. +But Ware could not help remembering that Dane had murdered Daisy Kent. +But for the fact that they relied on Dane to distinguish _The Red Cross_ +under her disguise, he would not have been allowed to come. But Steel +thought it was best to catch Morley first and then have Dane arrested +for the crime. He advised Giles to say nothing about it, lest it should +arouse the suspicions of Dane. But on board _The Firefly_ there was no +escape for the man, and after the previous conversation Giles began to +wonder if Dane really was guilty, despite the belief of Steel and the +evidence of Denham. He resolved to set his doubts at rest. + +"Dane," he said, after a pause, "you appear to have much good in you, +and the Princess Olga is anxious to save you from yourself. Since you +are helping us to break up this gang and catch Morley, who appears to be +the arch-criminal, I am willing to do what I can to save you from the +law. But there is another crime----" + +"What particular crime do you mean, sir?" asked Dane quietly. + +"The murder of Miss Kent." + +Dane started. "Do you believe that I had anything to do with that?" + +"Why not? You were at Rickwell on the night it was committed." + +"I was. I came over from the yacht at Gravesend to tell Morley she was +waiting his orders there, and to tell Denham also. He had appointed a +meeting there for me. I came on a motor-bicycle. What of that?" + +"A man called Scott told Steel that you were in Rickwell." + +"I admit it. I know Scott. He has turned King's evidence. It seems to +me, sir, that the whole lot of us will be pardoned if we are so anxious +to betray one another. But this crime----" + +"Denham says you killed the girl." + +Dane sprang to his feet with flashing eyes. "I swear by all that I hold +most holy that I did not touch the girl," he declared. "I never even set +eyes on her. Denham accuses me--yes, because I have told the truth about +him. I came on that night and saw Morley and him at the window of the +library in Morley's house. When I gave my message about the yacht I +returned to Tilbury, and then crossed to the boat. I never killed the +girl, by the memory of my mother!" + +"You seem to be speaking the truth," said Giles quickly. "Did you enter +the library? The girl was killed by a stiletto torn from the trophy of +arms near the desk." + +"I was not in the library. Morley would not allow me to enter. He and +Denham spoke to me on the terrace. When a noise was heard at the door--I +believe now it was Miss Anne who was entering--Morley gave me the tip to +get away." + +"Was the stiletto in its place?" + +"I don't know. I never noticed." + +"Do you think Morley killed the girl?" + +"Either he or Denham," replied Dane decisively; "and I think it was the +latter. When I heard of the crime being committed, I saw Mrs. Morley and +asked her if her husband was guilty. She denied it, saying that he was +in the library all the time. She came down and saw him." + +"She might do that to save her husband." + +Dane shook his head. "I don't think she was fond enough of him for that, +sir," he answered. "She was when he married her; but he treated her so +badly--as I was told by Denham--that she grew to hate him. He spent her +money, and behaved like the brute he is. For the sake of her children +she said nothing, but she was fond of Miss Kent, and I don't think she +would have defended him if a charge of killing the girl had been made." + +"Did Mrs. Morley know anything about the gang?" + +"No, she knew nothing. Morley always took good care to keep her in +ignorance. She knew no more of his secret life than Miss Anne did of +Denham's. Both men were very clever in concealing that which they did +not want to be known. But you believe that I am innocent of this +charge?" + +"Yes. You can face Denham when you return and ask him what are his +grounds for accusing you." + +"If ever I do come back," said Dane gloomily. And the conversation ended +for the time being. + +Dane made himself very useful on board, and Calthorpe took quite a fancy +to him. In addition to his other gifts he proved to be an excellent +sailor. It seems that he had run away from home, and had worked for some +years before the mast as a common seaman. He now wished to do what he +could on board _The Firefly_, and chummed with the crew. So great a +favorite did he become with Calthorpe that when he asked to be allowed +to steer, the favor was readily granted to him, and he proved very +proficient. Certainly Calthorpe did not know he was a suspected murderer +and had been a thief, and neither Steel nor Giles said anything about +this. Steel, indeed, still held to the belief that Dane was guilty; but +Ware laughed at him. + +"You said that Miss Anne was guilty," he declared; "then you believed +that Denham had struck the blow; now you are convinced that Dane is the +criminal. For my part I believe Denham to be guilty." + +"He may be," replied Steel, with a shrug. "I am so puzzled over this +case that I am prepared for any development. At all events, Denham is +being looked after. He can't escape me, whether he is merely a thief or +really the murderer we are in search of." + +When _The Firefly_ got into the Bay of Biscay the weather was worse than +ever. Giles was pleased, as Calthorpe told him that there was the better +chance of catching _The Dark Horse_ before she reached her port of +destination. Once on Spanish soil and Giles feared lest Morley should +carry Anne off to the mountains. He was such a scoundrel, and so clever, +that it might be possible he had confederates at Bilbao to help him to +carry out any scheme he might suggest. Giles wished to catch him before +he had time to formulate any new villainy. At all events, Morley would +never think that they had tracked him so speedily, or had followed so +rapidly. It was unlikely that he would use the yacht to the fullest +extent of her steaming powers. + +In the centre of the Bay _The Firefly_ was caught by the full force of +the storm. The wind and waves were terrific, but the gallant little boat +proved herself trustworthy. Under a sullen sky, over a dismal grey sea +she steamed, her decks streaming with water, and the ship herself +rolling terribly. + +Calthorpe did not slacken speed, and the boat responded splendidly to +his handling. A sharp lookout was kept by all on board for the yacht, as +Giles had offered a large reward for the first man who espied the boat. +But the difficulty was that none of the crew knew the looks of _The Dark +Horse_. However, they were to hail when they saw anything in the shape +of a yacht, and there were one or two false alarms. At length, when _The +Firefly_ was approaching the Spanish coast, Dane, who was on deck with a +glass, gave the alarm. It was a misty, grey day, with absence of sun and +wind. The ocean was heaving like masses of liquid pitch with an oily +look, and the yacht cut sheer through the terrific waves that threatened +to overwhelm her. Suddenly a wind rose, there was a blink of sunshine, +and about a mile away a bark was seen rolling in the trough of the sea. +"There she is!" roared Dane, and every one came on deck. + +"Are you sure?" cried Giles, taking the glass. + +"Perfectly sure," replied Dane, who was dangerously excited. "Captain, +let me handle the wheel as a reward." + +Calthorpe gave his assent, as he knew what a good steersman Dane was. He +then took his post beside Giles and Steel, who were admitted on to the +bridge, and thence directed the ship. Then _The Firefly_ made a bee-line +for the distant ship. + +Steel and Giles had less sense than they should have had; and Dane in +his joy at the sight of his prey quite forgot that with a good glass +Morley could recognize them all three. It was _The Red Cross_, alias +_The Dark Horse_, that was steaming leisurely southward, and doing her +best to battle with the strong seas that hammered her newly painted +sides. Thus Morley, who had never expected such promptitude, became +aware that his foes were at his heels. He saw the detective and Giles on +the bridge. But Dane he did not see, being in too much of a hurry after +his first glimpse of the danger to take further interest in those on +board _The Firefly_. The result of Morley's decision was that those on +the pursuing yacht saw clouds of smoke pouring out of the funnel, and +knew that the furnaces were being crammed to suffocation. There was a +shout of joy from _The Firefly's_ crew, for now the fun was beginning. + +"We'll see if she'll beat my boat," said Calthorpe on the bridge. + +It was very stormy, and black clouds were racing across a pallid sky. A +furious wind had blown the mists into shreds of vapor, and was ripping +white spume from the tops of the rearing waves. The vessel in flight +soared like a swallow, and slid down into mile-long valleys; but _The +Firefly_, having more powerful engines, tore straight through the walls +of water that threatened to block her way. She trembled with the +vibration of her screws, and in the stormy heaving of the water there +was great danger lest her propeller fans should snap. However, the +engineer stood with his hand on the throttle-valve, and stopped the +spinning of the screws when they emerged. + +Much the same tactics were being pursued on board _The Dark Horse_, save +that in addition the safety-valve was tied down. The engines worked at +furious speed, and the boat leaped like a hunted stag. But the hound on +its heels came closer and closer, and those on _The Dark Horse_ could +hear the roar of the delighted _Firefly_ crew. Morley ground his teeth, +and fed his furnaces again. Anne came on deck. + +"Go below!" he said, and swore at her. + +"I shall not," she retorted, and got away from him. + +He was not able to pursue, not being in position to leave his post +beside the captain. Besides, he thought it mattered very little whether +she was seen or not. Ware knew that she was on board, and, moreover, if +_The Dark Horse_ were overhauled, he would suffer most himself by the +capture. It would do him no good to throw Anne overboard, although he +felt much inclined to do so if only for revenge. + +Calthorpe could well be proud of his boat. She responded gallantly to +the strain put upon her, and tore like a mad thing through the waste of +waters. She swung 'longside of _The Dark Horse_, Dane steering with +flashing eyes and his long hair streaming in the wind. There was less +than a quarter of a mile separating the boats. Morley swerved to the +right. Dane followed. A pretty bit of steering on the part of both +vessels took place until the winds and waves took command. Then the +boats, out of hand, swung together, almost touching. Giles could see +Anne. She cried out and stretched her hands. + +Suddenly Dane turned the yacht in a circle. Calthorpe shouted to know, +with several adjectives, what he was up to. He would have stopped the +engines, which were working furiously, but that it was dangerous at the +moment. _The Firefly_ swung round, and then with the rush of a wounded +bull came straight at _The Dark Horse_. + +"Hell!" cried Calthorpe, "he's going to ram her." + +There was no time to stop the engines, or to reverse them. Those on _The +Dark Horse_ gave a yell of fear as the larger vessel bore down on their +slighter craft. Dane, fairly mad, shouted out abuse to Morley. Another +moment and the pursuing yacht struck the other midships, cutting her +almost to the waterline. All on board both ships were thrown down. _The +Firefly_ reeled back. Giles lifted his head to see Anne falling +overboard as _The Dark Horse_ lurched in the roaring waters. With a cry +of terror, he tore a lifebelt from its fastenings and threw himself +after her. + +After that he could only recollect that he was swimming for dear life +and for her, amongst those furious waves. Lifted on the crest of one he +saw her some distance away--a white figure against the black water. Then +he went sliding down into the liquid valley. How he reached her he did +not know; but after a terrific struggle he found her in his arms. He +managed to slip the lifebelt over her head, and kept her up with one arm +while he kept afloat with the other. She was insensible, but Giles +retained all his wits. He caught a glimpse of the ragged, injured bows +of _The Firefly_ high above him, and saw that Calthorpe was launching a +boat. In a few moments it came plunging towards him, and he was hauled +on board with Anne. Steel was in the boat, ashy pale. + +"Is our boat safe?" gasped Giles. + +"Yes. But _The Dark Horse_ is going down. Dane has gone overboard." + +Suddenly Steel shrieked, and Giles turned to where he pointed. In the +trough of the sea _The Dark Horse_ was plunging like a colt, rolling +like a drunken man. Giles saw Morley; near him Dane with a savage look +on his face. Morley, with terror in his eyes, tried to get away, but +Dane reached him, flung his arms round him, and with a wild shout both +men went down into the furiously bubbling witch-caldron, never to rise +again. + +The strain of the whole terrible business was too much for Giles Ware. +For the first and last time in his life he fainted. The last +recollection he had was of seeing the doomed vessel plunging downwards +and a cloud of white steam rising with a terrible roar from her +exploding boilers. After that, darkness and insensibility. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE END OF THE TROUBLE + + +Giles returned to Rickwell within a week, to find that great changes had +taken place in the place, even in that little while. After the +foundering of _The Dark Horse_, the other yacht had returned to England +forthwith. She had not been very badly damaged by Dane's mad act, +although her bows had been smashed. Calthorpe, indeed, had been on the +point of putting in to the nearest port to refit, but finding that _The +Firefly_ was still seaworthy he held on until he got back to Dover. + +Some of the crew of the lost ship had been picked up. As they were all +more or less connected with the Scarlet Cross Society, Steel took charge +of them and conducted them to London. Giles accompanied Anne to her +mother. The Princess Karacsay received her with open arms, and Olga with +many professions of gratitude. "You have undone all the harm I caused," +said Olga to Giles. + +"Oh, that's all right," he replied. "We are friends now?" + +"Friends, and nothing more than friends. I am returning to Vienna with +my mother, and have agreed to marry Count Taroc." + +Satisfied on this point, Giles went back to Rickwell, leaving Anne to +the society of the Princess. Almost as soon as he set foot in his home +he was informed of the news by Trim. + +"Mr. Franklin is dead," said Trim, with startling abruptness. + +"Dead!" echoed Ware astonished. "Was his broken leg the cause?" + +"No," replied the old man; "but yesterday he received a telegram, and +afterwards took a dose of poison. His daughter is coming here to see +you, sir. She heard you were to be here to-day." + +Giles wondered why Portia should come to see him, and also why Denham +should have committed suicide after receiving a telegram. Trim could not +tell him what the telegram was about, so Giles had to wait until the +girl chose to call and enlighten him. Perhaps she had a message for him +from the dead man concerning Anne. Meanwhile Trim went on to state that +Mrs. Morley was leaving Rickwell. + +"She has sold all her furniture and has let The Elms," said Trim. "I saw +Morris yesterday, and he tells me she is stopping at 'The Merry Dancer' +with her children." + +"Does she know of her husband's death?" asked Giles. + +"Death, sir. Is Mr. Morley dead?" + +"I forgot. You do not know. Yes, Trim. He went down in his yacht, _The +Dark Horse_, in the Bay of Biscay." + +"Poor woman!" said Trim, looking shocked; "she was so fond of him." + +Ware had his own opinion on this point, so made no remark. He turned +over the correspondence that had accumulated during his absence, and +found a letter from Mrs. Morley written a day or so previous. She said +therein that she wished to see him particularly, and that she would +call as soon as he returned. She had something most particular to tell +him. The word "particular" was underlined. Giles wondered if she +intended to tell him some of Morley's rascalities. But then he +remembered that, according to Dane, she knew nothing of the double life +which her husband had led. Anxious to hear what she had to say, he +despatched a note by Trim asking her to come to his house, and offering +to go to the inn, should she prefer their conversation to take place +there. When Trim departed, Giles proceeded to despatch such business +connected with his estates as was necessary. + +Hardly had he been an hour engaged in this way when Portia called to see +him. She had discarded her rainbow-colored garb, and was clothed in +funereal black. When she entered Giles' study he saw that her eyes were +red, and her face swollen with weeping. He felt extremely sorry for the +poor girl, and privately determined to look after her as Denham had +requested. Meantime he did his best to console Portia. + +"I am sorry to hear of your father's death," he said sympathetically. +Portia looked at him indignantly. + +"Why should you say that?" she demanded; "you were not his friend." + +"No. I certainly was not. All the same I cannot help regretting that a +man with such great gifts should have wasted them in the way he did, and +should have put an end to himself." + +"There was nothing else for him to do," said the girl mournfully. "He +was to be taken to gaol as soon as his leg was better. The police could +not move him immediately, or he would have been put in gaol long ago. +But he's dead now, and I'm glad. Whatever you may say of him, Mr. Ware, +he was my father, and good to me. Yes, and he was good to Anne also. +She'll tell you so." + +"I am sure he was," answered Giles gently. "Your father had his good +points, Portia. How much of his sad history do you know?" + +"I know he had his faults," she replied doggedly, "and that he was very +badly treated by that beast Morley. I'm glad Morley is dead." + +"How do you know he is?" asked Giles sharply. + +"Father got a telegram yesterday from Steel. Steel promised to let him +know if Morley was caught, as father hated him so. When the telegram +came saying that Morley was drowned, father said that he had nothing +left to live for, and that he was quite pleased to die. Then he sent me +out of the room and took poison. I came back in an hour," sobbed Portia, +"and found him dead. He looked so handsome as a corpse." + +Giles shivered at this morbid speech, but made no comment thereon. He +saw that Portia knew very little, and was determined in her own mind to +know no more. She had elevated her dead father to the rank of a hero, +and would not listen to a word against him. Ware thought there must have +been a great deal of good in Denham, despite his evil career, seeing +that he had gained the good will of both Portia and Anne. But he had no +time to talk further to Portia on these points, as a card was brought in +to him, and he learned that Mrs. Morley was waiting to see him. He said +a few final words to Portia. + +"How do you stand?" he asked. + +"Anne will look after me," she answered. "I don't suppose you'll be mean +enough to put her against me." + +"Why should I?" said Giles mildly. "I am only too glad to help you in +any way I can. But this money your father----" + +"That is all right. Father saw Mr. Asher, the lawyer, and has left his +money to Anne, every penny of it. I get nothing," cried Portia, with a +fresh burst of grief; "but I do hope Anne will help me. I'm sure I've +always been very good to her, even though she isn't my sister." + +"Did your father tell you she wasn't?" + +"Yes. He said she was an adopted child. Though why he should have left +her all, and me nothing----" + +Here Portia wept again. + +Ware saw that Denham had arranged with Asher that her father's money +should pass to Anne. No doubt he had told the lawyer the whole history +of the imposture, and Asher would now take steps to place Anne in +possession of her fortune. But Denham had deceived Portia, probably +because he wished the girl to think well of him after he was dead. Giles +resolved that he would not undeceive the girl. + +"I'll see that things are made easy for you," he said. "Are you still at +the Priory?" + +"There's nowhere else for me to go till I hear from Anne." + +"Anne is in town. I'll write to her, and we'll see what can be done." + +Portia rose to go, but she expressed no thanks for his kindness. "So you +are to marry Anne," she said. "Well, I hope you'll be good to her." + +"Don't you think I shall?" + +Portia, in spite of her grief, tossed her head. "I don't know," she +said; "all men are bad, except my father, who was very, very good," and +she looked defiantly at Giles as though challenging contradiction. + +But Ware was too sorry for the girl to make any harsh remark. He walked +with her to the outer door, and sent her away in a much more cheerful +mood. Then he returned to his study, and found Mrs. Morley already +seated near his desk. She looked ill and worn, but, in strange contrast +to her usual custom, wore a colored gown, and evidently had been trying +to dress herself as gaily as possible. She saw the surprised look on +Giles' face, and guessed its meaning. + +"Yes, Mr. Ware," she said, plucking at her dress, "you see I have my +holiday clothes on. Even though Oliver has left me, there is no need for +me to go into mourning. No. He has deserted me basely. I am determined +to show the world that I don't care." + +"Mrs. Morley, your husband is dead." + +"Dead!" She half started from her chair, but sat down again with a white +face. Then to Giles' horror she began to laugh. He knew that Morley had +been a bad husband to the woman before him, but that she should laugh on +hearing of his death, made him shiver. He hastily explained how Morley +had met with his fate, and Mrs. Morley not only laughed again, but +clapped her gloved hands. + +"Dead!" she said quite gleefully. "Ah! he was lucky to the last." + +Ware thought that the widow must be off her head to talk like this; but +Mrs. Morley was perfectly sane, and her exclamation was perfectly +natural, as he soon learned. She enlightened him in her next speech. + +"Don't you call a man lucky," she said quietly, "who died like my +husband in the clean waves of the sea, instead of being hanged as he +deserved?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the startled Giles. + +"Can't you guess?" She drew a paper out of her pocket. "I came here to +give you that, Mr. Ware. The confession of my wicked husband." + +"Confession?" + +"Yes. You will find it particularly interesting, Mr. Ware. It was my +miserable husband who murdered Daisy." + +"Never!" gasped Giles, rising aghast. "He was in the library all the +time. You told----" + +"I know what I told," she answered quickly. "I did so to save my name +from shame; for the sake of my children I lied. Oliver did not deserve +the mercy I showed him. Base to the last he deserted me. Now he is dead. +I am glad to hear it." She paused and laughed. "I shall not change my +dress, Mr. Ware." + +"Don't, Mrs. Morley," he said, with a shudder. + +"Not that name, if you please," she said, and noting her card on the +desk she tore it in two. Then opening her case she tore the other cards +and scattered them on the floor. "Mrs. Morley is no more. I am Mrs. +Warton. That is the name of my first husband--my true husband--the +father of my three children. Yes, Mr. Ware, I have sold my furniture, +and let The Elms. To-morrow I leave for the south of France with my +children. I land in France as Mrs. Warton, and the old life is gone for +ever. Can you blame me?" + +"From what I know of Morley I cannot," he stammered. "But what do you +know, Mrs. Mor--I mean Mrs. Warton?" + +"I know everything. Listen, Mr. Ware. When Oliver married me I was in +love with him. I thought he loved me for myself. But it was my money he +was after. Some time after our marriage I found that he was a gambler. +He lost all my money at cards. Fortunately there was a sum of a thousand +a year settled on me which he could not touch, nor was he able to touch +the money left to my children. All the rest (and there was a great deal) +he wheedled out of me and spent." + +"I wonder you did not put an end to him long ago. I mean I should have +thought you would separate from the scoundrel." + +Mrs. Morley sighed. "I loved him," she said in low tones. "It took me +many a long day to stamp that love out of my heart. I did all he wished +me to do. I took The Elms and obtained the guardianship of Daisy. I +never thought that he had any design in getting me to take her to live +with us. I was one of her father's oldest friends and loved the girl. +Morley managed the affair in such a manner that I did what he wished +without knowing I was being coerced." + +"Morley was a very clever man." + +"And a wicked man," said his widow, without emotion. "I can only think +of the way he behaved to me and mine. Daisy always hated him. I could +never get her to like him. I don't know what he said or did to her--he +always seemed to me to treat her with kindness--but she had an antipathy +to him. He thought when she got the Powell money he would do what he +liked with her and it. But when he saw she was hostile to him he +determined then on her murder." + +"You did not know that at the time?" said Giles breathlessly. + +"No. Certainly I did not, or I should have sent the girl away. I am only +talking by the light of recent events. When that man came to tell Morley +about the death of Powell he knew that Daisy would leave the house and +marry you as soon as she got the fortune. He tried to induce Denham when +he was in the library to kill Daisy, and took down the stiletto for that +purpose. Denham refused. Then there was a man called Dane, who came with +a message. Morley asked him likewise to kill the girl, and was likewise +refused. He saw there was nothing for it but to murder Daisy himself. In +a day or so it would have been too late, as she would hear about the +money and leave the house. Morley took the stiletto and went to the +church in the hope of killing her when she came out and was amidst the +crowd of people. He hoped to escape unobserved." + +"A rash idea!" observed Giles. + +"Oh, its safety lay in its rashness," said the widow coldly. "Well, it +happened that Denham lured Daisy out of the church and did not follow +for some time. Morley looking at the door saw her come out. She waited +for a moment and then walked to her father's grave. Morley followed and +killed her by stabbing her in the back as she knelt in the snow by the +grave. She fell forward with a cry. He would have repeated the blow but +that he saw Denham coming. He fled back to the house. I was in the +library when he arrived. He made some excuse, and I never thought +anything was wrong." + +"Had he the stiletto with him?" + +"I believe he had, but I did not see it. Afterwards he took the stiletto +back to the churchyard and pretended to find it, so that Anne might be +accused. Denham never suspected Morley of the crime. Why, I don't know, +as any one who knew what I have told you about his offers to Denham and +Dane must have guessed that Morley was guilty." + +"How did you learn all this?" asked Giles, glancing at the confession +which was in Morley's own handwriting. + +"At various times. I did not suspect him at first. But one thing led to +another and I watched him. I got at his papers and discovered all about +the Scarlet Cross, and----" + +"Wait, Mrs. Morley--I mean Warton. Did Morley write that anonymous +letter which accused Anne?" + +"Yes. He did so, in case it was necessary to kill Daisy. He hoped by +hinting beforehand that Anne would be accused. It was Anne's foolish +speech to Daisy, saying she would kill her, that gave him the idea. But +she meant nothing by it. It was only a few hot words. However, Morley +used them to his own end. Well, Mr. Ware, I found out about the thieving +gang, and then learned for the first time the kind of man I had married. +My love died out of my heart at once. I took to thinking how I could get +away from him. He used to mutter in his sleep, having an uneasy +conscience." + +"I should think he was too strong a man to have a conscience." + +"Well, he muttered in his sleep at all events. From what he said I +discovered that he had something to do with the death of Daisy. I +accused him, and told him that I knew all about his Scarlet Cross +wickedness. He denied the truth of this at first. Afterwards, little by +little, I got the truth out of him. I then made him write out that +confession and sign it, so that I could save Anne should she be caught. +I promised for the sake of my own name and my children not to use the +confession unless Anne was taken. That is why Morley ran away with Anne. +He fancied that she would continue to bear the blame, and also"--here +Mrs. Wharton hesitated and glanced at Giles--"I fancy that Oliver was in +love with Miss Denham." + +"The scoundrel!" cried Giles furiously. + +Mrs. Wharton--as she now called herself--laughed coldly and rose to +depart. "I don't think it matters much now," she said. "Anne was not +drowned also, was she?" + +"No," replied Ware, shuddering; "she is in London, and I hope shortly to +make her my wife." + +"I wish her all happiness," said Mrs. Wharton, without emotion. "I +always liked Anne, and for her sake I secured that confession. That, +when published, will vindicate her character. You need have no +hesitation in showing it to the police and in letting that detective +deal with it as he thinks fit. In a few days I shall be in France under +the name of Mrs. Wharton, and the past will be dead to me. Good-bye." +She held out her hand. + +"Good-bye," answered Giles, shaking it heartily. "I trust you will be +happy, Mrs. Wharton." + +"I shall be at peace, if nothing else," she replied, and so passed from +the room, and out of his life. + +Giles showed the confession to Steel, who was delighted that the real +culprit had at last been discovered. But he was sorely disappointed at +the suicide of Denham. "It spoils the case," he said. + +"You are going to bring the matter into court, then," said Giles. + +"Of course. I want some reward for my labor, Mr. Ware. I'll break up +that gang. I must publish this confession in order to save your future +wife from further blame. Not that it will matter much," he added, "for +Miss Denham--I should rather say Miss Franklin--has gone to Styria with +her mother and half-sister." + +"I know," answered Giles quietly. "I join them there in a week." + +"Well, Mr. Ware, I congratulate you, and I hope you'll have a good time. +You deserve it from the way in which you have worked over this case." + +"What about yourself, Steel?" + +"Oh, I'm all right. Dane, Morley, and Denham are dead, which is a pity, +as they are the chief villains of the play. Still, I'll contrive to +punish those others and get some kudos out of the business. And I must +thank you, Mr. Ware, for that reward." + +"It was Miss Anne's idea," replied Ware. "She will soon be put in +possession of her money, and asked me to give you the reward. It is half +from her and half from me." + +"And I believed her guilty," said Steel regretfully; "but I'll make +amends, Mr. Ware. I'll keep her name out of this business as much as I +can, consistently with the evidence." + +Steel was as good as his word. The thieves were tried, but Anne was not +mentioned in connection with their robberies. As regards the murder, the +confession of Morley was made public and every one knew that Anne was +guiltless. In fact, she was applauded for the way in which she had +helped her supposed father to escape. The papers called the whole +episode romantic, but the papers never knew the entire truth, nor that +Anne was the daughter of the Princess Karacsay. Not even Mrs. Parry +learned as much as she should have liked to learn. But what scraps of +information she did become possessed of, she wove into a thrilling story +which fully maintained her reputation as a scandal-monger. And she was +always Anne's friend, being particularly triumphant over the fact that +she had never believed her to be guilty. + +"And I hope," said Mrs. Parry generally, "that every one will believe +what I say in the future;" which every one afraid of her tongue +pretended to do. + +Giles and Anne were married from the castle of Prince Karacsay, in +Styria. The Prince took a great fancy to Anne Franklin, and learned the +truth about her parentage. But this was not made public. It was simply +supposed that she was a young English lady who was the intimate friend +of Princess Olga. But every one was surprised when the elder Princess at +the wedding threw over Anne's neck a magnificent necklace of uncut +emerald. "It belonged to your father's mother, dear," whispered the +Princess as she kissed the bride. + +Olga married Count Taroc, and settled down into the meekest of wives. +Giles and Anne heard of the marriage while on their honeymoon in Italy. +They had taken a villa at Sorrento and were seated out on the terrace +when the letter came, Anne expressed herself glad. + +"And you are pleased too, dear," she said to Giles. + +"Very pleased," he replied, with emphasis, whereat she laughed. + +"I know why you are pleased," she said, in answer to his look. "Olga +told me how deeply she was in love with you. But her cure was as quick +as her disease was virulent. She never would have harmed me, my dear. +Olga was always fond of me--and of you." + +Giles flushed and laughed. + +"Well, it's all over now," he said, "and I am glad she is married. But +let us talk about yourself. Are you happy after all your troubles, +dearest?" + +"Very happy, Giles. I regret nothing. Portia, thanks to you, is in a +good home. But my poor father----" + +"Don't call Denham that, Anne," he said, with a frown. + +She kissed it away. + +"He was always very good to me," she said. "I tried to save him, as you +know. I believed that he had killed Daisy by some mistake. But really, +Giles, I did not stop to think. I knew that my--I mean Denham--was in +danger of his life, and I could not rest until I had placed him in +safety." + +"And you defended him afterwards, Anne--that time we met in the +churchyard. You quite endorsed his story of the invented Walter +Franklin." + +"Don't reproach me, Giles. I had promised Denham to say what I did; and +not even for your dear sake could I break my word. He was a good man in +many ways; but, as you say yourself, it is all over. Let us forget him +and his tragic end." + +"And Morley's." + +Anne shivered. "He was the worst. Oh, what a terrible time I had on +board that boat, when I found he was deceiving me. I thought he was +taking me to Denham, and I wanted to see what he--I mean Denham--would +say to my mother's statement. I thought he might be able to show that he +was not so bad as she----" + +"Not another word," said Ware, taking her in his arms. "Let us leave the +old bad past alone, and live in the present. See"--he took a parcel out +of his pocket--"I have had this made for you." + +Anne opened the package, and found therein the coin of Edward VII. set +as a brooch and surrounded by brilliants. + +"Oh, how delightful!" she said, with a true woman's appreciation of +pretty things. + +"It is the dearest thing in the world to me, save you, Anne," he said. +"Twice that coin brought me to you. But for it I should never have been +by your side now." + +"No!" + +She kissed the coin again and fastened it at her throat, where it +glittered a pretty, odd ornament. + +"You waste your kisses," cried Giles, and took her to his breast. + + + + + +----------------------------------------------+ + |Transcriber's Note | + | | + |Inconsistencies in spelling have been retained| + |as in the original. | + +----------------------------------------------+ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII*** + + +******* This file should be named 26063-8.txt or 26063-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Coin of Edward VII</p> +<p> A Detective Story</p> +<p>Author: Fergus Hume</p> +<p>Release Date: July 15, 2008 [eBook #26063]<br /> +Most recently updated: May 12, 2010</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Annie McGuire,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 323px;"> +<img src="images/cover01.jpg" width="323" height="500" alt="Book Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_COIN_OF_EDWARD_VII" id="A_COIN_OF_EDWARD_VII"></a>A COIN OF EDWARD VII.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Popular_Novels_by_Fergus_Hume" id="Popular_Novels_by_Fergus_Hume"></a>Popular Novels by Fergus Hume</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET PASSAGE</h3> + +<p>The <i>Albany Evening Journal</i> says: "Fully as interesting as his former +books, and keeps one guessing to the end. The story begins with the +murder of an old lady, with no apparent cause for the crime, and in +unraveling the mystery the author is very clever in hiding the real +criminal. A pleasing romance runs through the book, which adds to the +interest."</p> + +<p class="center">12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25</p> + +<h3>THE YELLOW HOLLY</h3> + +<p><i>The Philadelphia Public Ledger</i> says: "'The Yellow Holly' outdoes any +of his earlier stories. It is one of those tales that the average reader +of fiction of this sort thinks he knows all about after he has read the +first few chapters. Those who have become admirers of Mr. Hume cannot +afford to miss 'The Yellow Holly.'"</p> + +<p class="center">12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25</p> + +<h3>A COIN OF EDWARD VII.</h3> + +<p><i>The Philadelphia Item</i> says: "This book is quite up to the level of the +high standard which Mr. Hume has set for himself in 'The Mystery of a +Hansom Cab' and 'The Rainbow Feather.' It is a brilliant, stirring +adventure, showing the author's prodigious inventiveness, his well of +imagination never running dry."</p> + +<p class="center">12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25</p> + +<h3>THE PAGAN'S CUP</h3> + +<p><i>The Nashville American</i> says: "The plot is intricate with mystery and +probability neatly dovetailed and the solution is a series of surprises +skillfully retarded to whet the interest of the reader. It is +excellently written and the denouement so skillfully concealed that +one's interest and curiosity are kept on edge till the very last. It +will certainly be a popular book with a very large class of readers."</p> + +<p class="center">12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25</p> + +<h3>THE MANDARIN'S FAN</h3> + +<p><i>The Nashville American</i> says: "The book is most attractive and +thoroughly novel in plot and construction. The mystery of the curious +fan, and its being the key to such wealth and power is decidedly +original and unique. Nearly every character in the book seems possible +of accusation. It is just the sort of plot in which Hume is at his best. +It is a complex tangle, full of splendid climaxes. Few authors have a +charm equal to that of Mr. Hume's mystery tales."</p> + +<p class="center">12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25</p> + +<h4>G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY</h4> + +<h4>PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 343px;"> +<img src="images/frontis01.jpg" width="343" height="500" alt=""HE SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN LYING FACE DOWNWARD ON THE +SNOW."—Page 45." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HE SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN LYING FACE DOWNWARD ON THE +SNOW."—Page 45.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>A COIN OF EDWARD VII.</h1> + +<h3>A DETECTIVE STORY</h3> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h2>FERGUS HUME</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF</h4> + +<h3>"THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB"; "THE PAGAN'S CUP";</h3> +<h3>"CLAUDE DUVAL OF 95"; "THE RAINBOW FEATHER," ETC.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h3>G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY</h3> +<h3>PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1903, by</span></h4> +<h4>G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'>CHAP.</td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Christmas Tree</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Anonymous Letter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Mysterious Visitor</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Churchyard</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Afterwards</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Case Against Anne</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Oliver Morley</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Irony of Fate</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Strange Discovery</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On a Fresh Trail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Princess Karacsay</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Parry's Tea</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Benker Reappears</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Treasure Trove</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Awkward Interview</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Unexpected Happens</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Part of the Truth</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What Happened Next</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Clue Leads to London</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Many a Slip 'Twixt Cup and Lip</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Story of the Past</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Olga's Evidence</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mark Dane</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Rat in a Corner</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Catastrophe</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The End of the Trouble</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">272</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE CHRISTMAS TREE</h3> + +<p>Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger—a +colonial cousin of the elder—was listening eagerly to gossip which +dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in +particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the +children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree, +provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too +interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention.</p> + +<p>"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue +and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none +of his own."</p> + +<p>"But those three pretty little girls?" said Mrs. McKail, who was fat, +fair, and considerably over forty.</p> + +<p>"Triplets," replied the other, sinking her voice. "The only case of +triplets I have met with, but not his children. No, Mrs. Morley was a +widow with triplets and money. Morley married her for the last, and had +to take the first as part of the bargain. I don't deny but what he does +his duty by the three."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. McKail's keen grey eyes wander to the fat, rosy little man who +laughingly struggled amidst a bevy of children, the triplets included. +"He seems fond of them," said she, nodding.</p> + +<p>"Seems!" emphasised Mrs. Parry shrewdly. "Ha! I don't trust the man. If +he were all he seems, would his wife's face wear that expression? No, +don't tell me."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morley was a tall, lean, serious woman, dressed in sober grey. She +certainly looked careworn, and appeared to participate in the +festivities more as a duty than for the sake of amusement. "He is said +to be a good husband," observed Mrs. McKail doubtfully. "Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of nothing where men are concerned. I wouldn't trust one of +them. Morley is attentive enough to his wife, and he adores the +triplets—so he says; but I go by his eye. Orgy is written in that eye. +It can pick out a pretty woman, my dear. Oh, his wife doesn't look sick +with anxiety for nothing!"</p> + +<p>"At any rate, he doesn't seem attentive to that pretty girl over +there—the one in black with the young man."</p> + +<p>"Girl! She's twenty-five if she's an hour. I believe she paints and puts +belladonna in her eyes. I wouldn't have her for my governess. No, she's +too artful, though I can't agree with you about her prettiness."</p> + +<p>"Is she the governess?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry nodded, and the ribbons on her cap curled like Medusa's +snakes. "For six months Mrs. Morley has put up with her. She teaches the +Tricolor goodness knows what."</p> + +<p>"The Tricolor?"</p> + +<p>"So we call the triplets. Don't you see one is dressed in red, another +in white, and the third in blue? Morley's idea, I believe. As though a +man had any right to interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> himself in such things. We call them +collectively the Tricolor, and Anne Denham is the governess. Pretty? No. +Artful? Yes. See how she is trying to fascinate Ware!"</p> + +<p>"That handsome young man with the fair moustache and——"</p> + +<p>"The same," interrupted Mrs. Parry, too eager to blacken character to +give her friend a chance of concluding her sentence. "Giles Ware, of +Kingshart—the head of one of our oldest Essex families. He came into +the estates two years ago, and has settled down into a country squire +after a wild life. But the old Adam is in him, my dear. Look at his +smile—and she doesn't seem to mind. Brazen creature!" And Mrs. Parry +shuddered virtuously.</p> + +<p>The other lady thought that Ware had a most fascinating smile, and was a +remarkably handsome young man of the fair Saxon type. He certainly +appeared to be much interested in the conversation of Miss Denham. But +what young man could resist so beautiful a woman? For in spite of Mrs. +Parry's disparagement Anne was a splendidly handsome brunette—"with a +temper," added Mrs. McKail mentally, as she eyed the well-suited couple.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry's tongue still raged like a prairie fire. "And she knows he's +engaged," she snorted. "Look at poor Daisy Kent out in the cold, while +that woman monopolizes Ware! Ugh!"</p> + +<p>"Is Miss Kent engaged to Mr. Ware?"</p> + +<p>"For three years they have been engaged—a family arrangement, I +understand. The late Kent and the late Ware," explained Mrs. Parry, who +always spoke thus politely of men, "were the greatest of friends, which +I can well understand, as each was an idiot. However, Ware died first +and left his estate to Giles. A few months later Kent died and made +Morley the guardian of his daughter Daisy, already contracted to be +married to Giles."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Does he love her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's fond of her in a way, and he is anxious to obey the last wish +of his father. But it seems to me that he is more in love with that +black cat."</p> + +<p>"Hush! You will be heard."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry snorted. "I hope so, and by the cat herself," she said +grimly. "I can't bear the woman. If I were Mrs. Morley I'd have her out +of the house in ten minutes. Turn her out in the snow to cool her hot +blood. What right has she to attract Ware and make him neglect that dear +angel over there? See, yonder is Daisy. There's a face, there's charm, +there's hair!" finished Mrs. Parry, quite unconscious that she was using +the latest London slang. "I call her a lovely creature."</p> + +<p>Mrs. McKail did not agree with her venomous cousin. Daisy was a +washed-out blonde with large blue eyes and a slack mouth. Under a hot +July sky and with a flush of color she would have indeed been pretty; +but the cold of winter and the neglect of Giles Ware shrivelled her up. +In spite of the warmth of the room, the gaiety of the scene, she looked +pinched and older than her years. But there was some sort of character +in her face, for Mrs. McKail caught her directing a glance full of +hatred at the governess. In spite of her ethereal prettiness, Daisy Kent +was a good hater. Mrs. McKail felt sure of that. "And she is much more +of the cat type than the other one is," thought the observant lady, too +wise to speak openly.</p> + +<p>However, Mrs. Parry still continued to destroy a character every time +she opened her mouth. She called the rector a Papist; hinted that the +doctor's wife was no better than she should be; announced that Morley +owed money to his tradesmen, that he had squandered his wife's fortune; +and finally wound up by saying that he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> spend Daisy Kent's money +when he got it. "If it ever does come to her," finished this amiable +person.</p> + +<p>"Did her father leave her money?" asked Mrs. McKail.</p> + +<p>"He!" snapped the other; "my dear, he was as poor as a church mouse, and +left Daisy only a hundred a year to live on. That is the one decent +thing about Morley. He did take Daisy in, and he does treat her well, +though to be sure she is a pretty girl, and, as I say, he has an eye."</p> + +<p>"Then where does the fortune come from?"</p> + +<p>"Kent was a half-brother who went out to America, and it is rumored that +he made a fortune, which he intends to leave to his niece—that's Daisy. +But I don't know all the details of this," added Mrs. Parry, rubbing her +beaky nose angrily; "I must find out somehow. But here, my dear, those +children are stripping the tree. Let us assist. We must give pleasure to +the little ones. I have had six of my own, all married," ended the good +lady irrelevantly.</p> + +<p>She might have added that her four sons and two daughters kept at a safe +distance from their respected parent. On occasions she did pay a visit +to one or the other, and usually created a disturbance. Yet this +spiteful, mischief-making woman read her Bible, thought herself a +Christian, and judged others as harshly as she judged herself leniently. +Mrs. McKail was stopping with her, therefore could not tell her what she +thought of her behavior; but she privately determined to cut short her +visit and get away from this disagreeable old creature. In the meantime +Mrs. Parry, smiling like the wicked fairy godmother with many teeth, +advanced to meddle with the Christmas tree and set the children by the +ears. She was a perfect Atê.</p> + +<p>Giles said as much to Miss Denham, and she nervously agreed with him as +though fearful lest her assent should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> reach the ears of Mrs. Parry. +"She has no love for me," whispered Anne. "I think you had better talk +to Daisy, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"I prefer to talk to you," said Giles coolly. "Daisy is like her name—a +sweet little English meadow flower—and I love her very dearly. But she +has never been out of England, and sometimes we are at a loss what to +talk about. Now you?"</p> + +<p>"I am a gipsy," interrupted Anne, lest he should say something too +complimentary; "a she-Ulysses, who has travelled far and wide. In spite +of your preference for my conversation, I wish I were Daisy."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" asked Ware eagerly. "Why?"</p> + +<p>Anne flushed and threw back her head proudly. She could not altogether +misunderstand his meaning or the expression of his eyes, but she strove +to turn the conversation with a laugh. "You ask too many questions, Mr. +Ware," she said coldly. "I think Daisy is one of the sweetest of girls, +and I envy her. To have a happy home, a kind guardian as Mr. Morley is, +and a——" She was about to mention Giles, but prudently suppressed the +remark.</p> + +<p>"Go on," he said quietly, folding his arms.</p> + +<p>She shook her head and bit her lip. "You keep me from my work. I must +attend to my duties. A poor governess, you know." With a laugh she +joined the band of children, who were besieging Morley.</p> + +<p>Giles remained where he was, his eyes fixed moodily on the ground. For +more than five months he had fought against an ever-growing passion for +the governess. He knew that he was in honor bound to marry Daisy, and +that she loved him dearly, yet his heart was with Anne Denham. Her +beauty, her brilliant conversation, her charm of manner, all appealed to +him strongly. And he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> had a shrewd suspicion that she was not altogether +indifferent to him, although she loyally strove to hide her true +feelings. Whenever he became tender, she ruthlessly laughed at him: she +talked constantly of Daisy and of her many charms, and on every occasion +strove to throw her into the company of Giles. She managed to do so on +this occasion, for Giles heard a rather pettish voice at his elbow, and +looked down to behold a flushed face. Daisy was angry, and looked the +prettier for her anger.</p> + +<p>"You have scarcely spoken to me all night," she said, taking his arm; "I +do think you are unkind."</p> + +<p>"My dear, you have been so busy with the children. And, indeed," he +added, with a grave smile, "you are scarcely more than a child yourself, +Daisy."</p> + +<p>"I am woman enough to feel neglect."</p> + +<p>"I apologize—on my knees, dearest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's easy saying so," pouted Daisy, "but you know Anne——"</p> + +<p>"What about Miss Denham?" asked Giles, outwardly calm.</p> + +<p>"You like her."</p> + +<p>"She is a very charming woman, but you are to be my wife. Jealous little +girl, can I not be ordinarily civil to Miss Denham without you getting +angry?"</p> + +<p>"You need not be so <i>very</i> civil."</p> + +<p>"I won't speak to her at all if you like," replied Ware, with a fine +assumption of carelessness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you only wouldn't," Daisy stopped—then continued passionately, +"I wish she would go away. I don't like her."</p> + +<p>"She is fond of you, Daisy."</p> + +<p>"Yes. And a cat is fond of a mouse. Mrs. Parry says——"</p> + +<p>"Don't quote that odious woman, child," interrupted Ware sharply. "She +has a bad word for everyone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, she doesn't like Anne."</p> + +<p>"Does she like anyone?" asked Giles coolly. "Come, Daisy, don't wrinkle +your face, and I'll take you out for a drive in my motor-car in a few +days."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow! to-morrow!" cried Daisy, her face wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>"No. I daren't do that on Christmas Day. What would the rector say? As +the lord of the manor I must set an example. On Boxing Day if you like."</p> + +<p>"We will go alone?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Who do you expect me to ask other than you?"</p> + +<p>"Anne," said Daisy spitefully, and before he could reply she also moved +away to join the children. Giles winced. He felt that he was in the +wrong and had given his little sweetheart some occasion for jealousy. He +resolved to mend his ways and shun the too fascinating society of the +enchantress. Shaking off his moody feeling, he came forward to assist +Morley. The host was a little man, and could not reach the gifts that +hung on the topmost boughs of the tree. Giles being tall and having a +long reach of arm, came to his aid.</p> + +<p>"That's right, that's right," gasped Morley, his round face red and +shining with his exertions, "the best gifts are up here."</p> + +<p>"As the best gifts of man are from heaven," put in Mrs. Parry, with her +usual tact.</p> + +<p>Morley laughed. "Quite so, quite so," he said, careful as was everyone +else not to offend the lady, "but on this occasion we can obtain the +best gifts. I and Ware and Mrs. Morley have contributed to the tree. The +children have their presents, now for the presents of the grown-ups."</p> + +<p>By this time the children were gorged with food and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> distracted by many +presents. They were seated everywhere, many on the floor, and the room +was a chaos of dolls, trumpets, toy-horses, and drums. The chatter of +the children and the noise of the instruments was fearful. But Morley +seemed to enjoy the riot, and even his wife's grave face relaxed when +she saw her three precious jewels rosy with pleasure. She drew Anne's +attention to them, and the governess smiled sympathetically. Miss Denham +was popular with everyone save Daisy in that happy home.</p> + +<p>Meantime Giles handed down the presents. Mrs. Morley received a chain +purse from her affectionate husband; Mrs. Parry a silver cream-jug, +which she immediately priced as cheap; Mrs. McKail laughed delightedly +over a cigarette-case, which she admitted revealed her favorite vice; +and the rector was made happy with a motor-bicycle.</p> + +<p>"It has been taken to your house this evening," explained Morley. "We +couldn't put that on the tree. Ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>"A muff-chain for Daisy," said Giles, presenting her with the packet, +"and I hope you will like it, dear."</p> + +<p>"Did you buy it?" she asked, sparkling and palpitating.</p> + +<p>"Of course. I bought presents both for you and Miss Denham. Here is +yours," he added, turning to the governess, who grew rosy, "a very +simple bangle. I wish it were more worthy of your acceptance," and he +handed it with a bow.</p> + +<p>Daisy, her heart filled with jealousy, glided away. Giles saw her face, +guessed her feeling, and followed. In a corner he caught her, and placed +something on her finger. "Our engagement ring," he whispered, and Daisy +once more smiled. Her lover smiled also. But his heart was heavy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>AN ANONYMOUS LETTER</h3> + +<p>After the riot of the evening came the silence of the night. The +children departed amidst the stormy laughter of Morley, and it was +Anne's task to see that the triplets were put comfortably to bed. She +sat in the nursery, and watched the washing and undressing and +hair-curling, and listened to their joyous chatter about the wonderful +presents and the wonderful pleasures of that day. Afterwards, when they +were safely tucked away, she went down to supper and received the +compliments of Morley on her capability in entertaining children. Mrs. +Morley also, and in a more genuine way, added her quota of praise.</p> + +<p>"You are my right hand, Miss Denham," she said, with a smile in her +weary blue eyes. "I don't know what I shall do without you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Denham is not going," said the master of the house.</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" smiled Anne. "I have always been a wanderer, and it may be +that I shall be called away suddenly."</p> + +<p>It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to ask by whom, but the hardening +of Anne's face and the flash of her dark eyes made him change his mind. +All the same he concluded that there was someone by whom she might be +summoned and guessed also that the obeying of the call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> would come as an +unwilling duty. Mrs. Morley saw nothing of this. She had not much brain +power, and what she had was devoted to considerations dealing with the +passing hour. At the present moment she could only think that it was +time for supper, and that all present were hungry and tired.</p> + +<p>Hungry Anne certainly was not, but she confessed to feeling weary. +Making some excuse she retired to her room, but not to sleep. When the +door was locked she put on her dressing-gown, shook down her long black +hair, and sat by the fire.</p> + +<p>Her thoughts were not pleasant. Filled with shame at the knowledge of +his treachery towards the woman he was engaged to marry, Giles had kept +close to Daisy's side during supper and afterwards. He strove to +interest himself in her somewhat childish chatter, and made her so happy +by his mere presence that her face was shining with smiles. Transfigured +by love and by gratified vanity, Daisy looked really pretty, and in her +heart was scornful of poor Anne thus left out in the cold. She concluded +that Giles loved her best after all, and did not see how he every now +and then stealthily glanced at the governess wearily striving to +interest herself in the breezy conversation of Morley or the domestic +chatter of his wife. In her heart Anne had felt a pang at this +desertion, although she knew that it was perfectly justifiable, and +unable to bear the sight of Daisy's brilliant face, she retired thus +early.</p> + +<p>She loved Giles. It was no use blinking the fact. She loved him with +every fibre of her nature, and with a passion far stronger than could be +felt for him by the golden-haired doll with the shallow eyes. For Giles +she would have lost the world, but she would not have him lose his for +her. And, after all, she had no right to creep like a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> serpent into the +Eden of silly, prattling Daisy. In her own puny way the child—for she +was little else—adored Giles, and as he was her affianced lover it +would be base to come between her and her god. But Anne knew in her +heart that Giles loved her best. If she did but lift her hand he would +leave all and follow her to the world's end. But lift her hand she would +not. It would be too cruel to break the butterfly Daisy on such a +painful wheel. Anne loved sufficiently to be large and generous in her +nature, and therefore broke her own heart to spare the breaking of +another woman's. Certainly Giles was as unhappy as she was; that was +patent in his looks and bearing. But he had forged his own chains, and +could not break them without dishonor. And come what may, Giles would +always love her best.</p> + +<p>Anne's meditations were disturbed by a knock at the door. Glancing at +the clock, she saw it was close on midnight, and wondering who wished to +see her at so late an hour, she opened the door. Daisy, in a blue +dressing-gown, with her golden hair loose and her face flushed, entered +the room. She skipped towards Anne with a happy laugh, and threw her +arms round her neck.</p> + +<p>"I could not sleep without telling you how happy I am," she said, and +with a look of triumph displayed the ring.</p> + +<p>Anne's heart beat violently at this visible sign of the barrier between +her and Giles. However, she was too clever a woman to betray her +emotion, and examined the ring with a forced smile.</p> + +<p>"Diamonds for your eyes, rubies for your lips," she said softly. "A very +pretty fancy."</p> + +<p>Daisy was annoyed. She would rather that Anne had betrayed herself by +some rude speech, or at least by a discomposed manner. To make her heart +ache Daisy had come, and from all she could see she had not +accomplished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> her aim. However, she still tried to wring some sign of +emotion from the expression or lips of the calm governess.</p> + +<p>"Giles promised me a ring over and over again," she said, her eyes fixed +on Anne. "We have been engaged for over six months. He asked me just +before you came, although it was always an understood thing. His father +and mine arranged the engagement, you know. I didn't like the idea at +first, as I wanted to make my own choice. Every girl should, I think. +Don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Anne forced herself to say, "but you love Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>Daisy nodded. "Very, very much," she assented emphatically. "I must have +loved him without knowing it, but I was only certain when he asked me to +marry him. How lucky it is he has to make me his wife!" she sighed. "If +he were not bound——" Here she stopped suddenly, and looked into the +other woman's eyes.</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" said Anne good-humoredly, and more composed than ever. +"Mr. Ware loves you dearly. You are the one woman he would choose for +his wife. There is no compulsion about his choice, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so?" demanded the girl feverishly. "I thought—it +was the ring, you know."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"He never would give me the ring, although I said it was ridiculous for +a girl to be engaged without one. He always made some excuse, and only +to-night—— But I have him safe now," she added, with a fierce +abruptness, "and I'll keep him."</p> + +<p>"Nobody wants to take him from you, dear."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so?" said Miss Kent again. "Then why did he delay +giving me the ring?"</p> + +<p>Anne knew well enough. After her first three meetings with Giles she had +seen the love light in his eyes, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> his reluctance to bind himself +irrevocably with the ring was due to a hope that something might happen +to permit his choosing for himself. But nothing had happened, the age of +miracles being past, and the vow to his dead father bound him. Therefore +on this very night he had locked his shackles and had thrown away the +key. Anne had made it plain to him that she could not, nor would she, +help him to play a dishonorable part. He had accepted his destiny, and +now Daisy asked why he had not accepted it before. Anne made a feeble +excuse, the best she could think of.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he did not see a ring pretty enough," she said.</p> + +<p>"It might be that," replied Daisy reflectively. "Giles has such good +taste. You did not show me what he gave you to-night."</p> + +<p>Miss Denham would rather not have shown it, but she had no excuse to +refuse a sight of the gift. Without a word she slipped the bangle from +her wrist—Daisy's jealous eyes noted that she had kept it on till +now—and handed it to the girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how sweet and pretty!" she cried, with artificial cordiality. "Just +a ring of gold with a coin attached. May I look?" And without waiting +for permission she ran to the lamp.</p> + +<p>The coin was a half-sovereign of Edward VII., with three stones—a +diamond, an amethyst, and a pearl—set in a triangle. A thin ring of +gold attached it to the bangle. Daisy was not ill pleased that the gift +was so simple. Her engagement ring was much more costly.</p> + +<p>"It's a cheap thing," she said contemptuously. "The coin is quite +common."</p> + +<p>"It will be rare some day," said Anne, slipping the bangle on her wrist. +"The name of the King is spelt on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> this one 'Edwardus,' whereas in the +Latin it should be 'Edvardus.' I believe the issue is to be called in. +Consequently coins of this sort will be rare some day. It was kind of +Mr. Ware to give it to me."</p> + +<p>Daisy paid no attention to this explanation. "An amethyst, a diamond, +and a pearl," she said. "Why did he have those three stones set in the +half-sovereign?"</p> + +<p>Anne turned away her face, for it was burning red. She knew very well +what the stones signified, but she was not going to tell this jealous +creature. Daisy's wits, however, were made keen by her secret anger, and +after a few moments of thought she jumped up, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>"I see it—the initials of your name. Amethyst stands for Anne and +Diamond for Denham."</p> + +<p>"It might be so," replied Miss Denham coldly.</p> + +<p>"It is so," said Daisy, her small face growing white and pinched. "But +what does the pearl mean? Ah, that you are a pearl!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Daisy. Go you to bed, and don't imagine things."</p> + +<p>"It is not imagination," cried the girl shrilly, "and you know that +well, Anne. What right have you to come and steal Giles from me?"</p> + +<p>"He is yours," said Anne sharply. "The ring——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, the ring. I have his promise to marry me, but you have his +heart. Don't I know. Give me that bangle." And she stretched out her +hand with a clutching gesture.</p> + +<p>"No," said Anne sternly, "I shall keep my present. Go to bed. You are +overtired. To-morrow you will be wiser."</p> + +<p>"I am wise now—too wise. You have made Giles love you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have not; I swear I have not," said Anne, beginning to lose her +composure.</p> + +<p>"You have, and you love him; I see it in your face. Who are you to come +into my life and spoil it?"</p> + +<p>"I am a governess. That is all you need to know."</p> + +<p>"You look like a governess," said Daisy, insultingly. "I believe you are +a bad woman, and came here to steal Giles from me."</p> + +<p>"Daisy!"—Anne rose to her feet and walked towards the door—"I have had +quite enough of your hysterical nonsense. If you came here to insult me +in this way, it is time you went. Mr. Ware and I were complete strangers +to one another when I came here."</p> + +<p>"Strangers! And what are you now?"</p> + +<p>"Friends—nothing more, nothing less."</p> + +<p>"So you say; and I daresay Giles would say the same thing did I ask +him."</p> + +<p>Anne's face grew white and set. She seized the foolish, hysterical +little creature by the wrist and shook her. "I'll tell you one thing," +she said softly, and her threat was the more terrible for the softness, +"I have black blood in my veins, for I was born at Martinique, and if +you talk to Giles about me, I'll—I'll—kill you. Go and pray to God +that you may be rid of this foolishness."</p> + +<p>Daisy, wide-eyed, pallid, and thoroughly frightened, fled whimpering, +and sought refuge in her own room. Anne closed the door, and locked it +so as to prevent a repetition of this unpleasant visit. Then she went to +open the window, for the air of the room seemed tainted by the presence +of Daisy. Flinging wide the casement, Anne leaned out into the bitter +air and looked at the wonderful white snow-world glittering in the thin, +chill moonlight. She drew several long breaths, and became more +composed. Sufficient, indeed, to wonder why she had behaved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> in so +melodramatic a fashion. It was not her custom to so far break through +the conventions of civilization. But the insults of Daisy had stirred in +her that wild negro blood to which she had referred. That this girl who +had all should grudge her the simple Christmas present made Anne +furious. Yet in spite of her righteous anger she could not help feeling +sorry for Daisy. And, after all, the girl's jealousy had some foundation +in truth. Anne had given her no cause, but she could not deny that she +loved Giles and that he loved her. To end an impossible situation there +was nothing for it but flight.</p> + +<p>Next day Anne quite determined to give Mrs. Morley notice, but when she +found that Daisy said nothing about her visit, she decided to remain +silent. Unless the girl made herself impossible, Anne did not see why +she should turn out of a good situation where she was earning excellent +wages. Daisy avoided her, and was coldly polite on such occasions as +they had to speak. Seeing this, Anne forbore to force her company upon +the unhappy girl and attended to her duties.</p> + +<p>These were sufficiently pleasant, for the three children adored her. +They were not clever, but extremely pretty and gentle in their manners. +Mrs. Morley often came to sit and sew in the schoolroom while Anne +taught. She was fond of the quiet, calm governess, and prattled to her +just as though she were a child herself of the perfections of Mr. Morley +and her unhappy early life. For the sake of the children she forbore to +mention the name of their father, who from her account had been a sad +rascal.</p> + +<p>Giles came sometimes to dine, but attended chiefly to Daisy. Anne was +content that this should be so, and her rival made the most of the small +triumph. Indeed, so attentive was Giles that Daisy came to believe she +had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> been wrong in suspecting he loved the governess. She made no +further reference to Anne, but when Miss Denham was present narrowly +watched her attitude and that of Ware. Needless to say she saw nothing +to awaken her suspicions, for both Giles and Anne were most careful to +hide their real feelings. So far the situation was endurable, but it +could not continue indefinitely. Anne made up her mind to leave.</p> + +<p>On the day before New Year she was wondering what excuse she could make +to get away when an incident happened which set her duty plainly before +her and did away with all necessity for an excuse. It occurred at +breakfast.</p> + +<p>The little man was fond of his meals, and enjoyed his breakfast more +than any other. He had the most wonderful arrangement for keeping the +dishes hot—a rather needless proceeding, as he was invariably punctual. +So were Mrs. Morley and Anne, for breakfast being at nine o'clock they +had no excuse for being late. Nevertheless, Daisy rarely contrived to be +in time, and Morley was much vexed by her persistent unpunctuality. On +this occasion she arrived late as usual, but more cheerful. She ever +greeted Anne with a certain amount of politeness.</p> + +<p>"There's a letter for you," said Morley, "but if you will take my advice +you will leave it until breakfast is over. I never read mine until after +a meal. Bad news is so apt to spoil one's appetite."</p> + +<p>"How do you know the news will be bad?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Most news is," replied Morley, with a shade on his usually merry face. +"Debts, duns, and difficulties!" and he looked ruefully at the pile of +letters by his plate. "I haven't examined my correspondence yet."</p> + +<p>Anne said nothing, as she was thinking of what arrangement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> she could +make to get away. Suddenly she and the others were startled by a cry +from Daisy. The girl had opened the letter and was staring at it with a +pale face. Anne half rose from her seat, but Mrs. Morley anticipated +her, and ran round to put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Daisy, what +is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"The—the—letter!" gasped Daisy, with chattering teeth. Then she cast a +look full of terror at the astonished Anne. "She will kill me," cried +the girl, and fell off the chair in a faint.</p> + +<p>Morley hastily snatched up the letter. It was unsigned, and apparently +written in an uneducated hand on common paper. He read it out hurriedly, +while Anne and Mrs. Morley stood amazed to hear its contents.</p> + +<p>"'Honored Miss,'" read Morley slowly, "'this is from a well-wisher to +say that you must not trust the governess, who will kill you, because of +G. W. and the Scarlet Cross.'"</p> + +<p>Anne uttered a cry and sank back into her chair white as the snow out of +doors. "The Scarlet Cross," she murmured, "again the Scarlet Cross."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR</h3> + +<p>Later in the day Mr. Morley called the three women into his library to +have a discussion regarding the strange letter and its stranger +accusation. Daisy had recovered from her faint, but was still pale and +obviously afraid of Anne. The governess appeared perfectly composed, but +her white face was as hard as granite. Both Morley and his wife were +much disturbed, as was natural, especially as at the moment Anne had +refused any explanation. Now Morley was bent on forcing her to speak out +and set Daisy's mind at rest. The state of the girl was pitiable.</p> + +<p>The library was a large square apartment, with three French windows +opening on to a terrace, whence steps led down to a garden laid out in +the stiff Dutch style. The room was sombre with oak and heavy red velvet +hangings, but rendered more cheerful by books, photographs, and +pictures. Morley was fond of reading, and during his ten years' +residence at The Elms had accumulated a large number of volumes. Between +the bookcases were trophies of arms, mediæval weapons and armor, and +barbaric spears from Africa and the South Seas, intermixed with bows and +clubs. The floor was of polished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> oak, with here and there a brilliantly +colored Persian praying-mat. The furniture was also of oak, and +cushioned in red Morocco leather. Altogether the library gave evidence +of a refined taste, and was a cross between a monkish cell and a +sybarite's bower.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Denham," said Morley, his merry face more than a trifle +serious, "what have you to say?"</p> + +<p>"There is nothing I can say," replied Anne, with composure, "the letter +has nothing to do with me."</p> + +<p>"My dear," put in Mrs. Morley, much distressed, "you cannot take up this +attitude. You know I am your friend, that I have always done my best for +you, and for my sake, if not for Daisy's, you must explain."</p> + +<p>"She won't—she won't," said Daisy, with an hysterical laugh.</p> + +<p>"I would if I could," replied Anne, talking firmly, "but the accusation +is ridiculous. Why should I threaten Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"Because you love Giles," burst out the girl furiously.</p> + +<p>"I do not love Mr. Ware. I said so the other night."</p> + +<p>"And you said more than that. You said that you would kill me."</p> + +<p>"Miss Denham," cried Morley, greatly shocked, "what is this?"</p> + +<p>"A foolish word spoken in a foolish moment," said Anne, realizing that +her position was becoming dangerous.</p> + +<p>"I think so too," said Mrs. Morley, defending her. "It so happened, Miss +Denham, that I overheard you make the speech to Daisy, and I told my +husband about it the next morning. We decided to say nothing, +thinking—as you say now—that it was simply a foolish speech. But this +letter"—she hesitated, then continued quickly, "you must explain this +letter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>Anne thought for a moment. "I can't explain it. Some enemy has written +it. You know all about me, Mrs. Morley. You read my credentials—you +inquired as to my former situations at the Governess Institute where you +engaged me. I have nothing to conceal in my life, and certainly I have +no idea of harming Daisy. She came to my room and talked nonsense, which +made me lose my temper. I said a foolish thing, I admit, but surely +knowing me as you do you will acquit me of meaning anything by a few +wild words uttered in a hurry and without thought."</p> + +<p>"Why did you make use of such an expression?" asked Morley.</p> + +<p>"Because I was carried out of myself. I have a strain of negro blood in +me, and at times say more than I mean."</p> + +<p>"And your negro blood will make you kill me," cried Daisy, with an +expression of terror. "I am doomed—doomed!"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool, child," said Morley roughly.</p> + +<p>"She is a trifle hysterical," explained Mrs. Morley, comforting the +girl, who was sobbing violently.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Morley," said Anne, rising, "I don't know who wrote that letter, or +why it should have been written. Mr. Ware and I are friends, nothing +more. I am not in love with him, nor is he in love with me. He has paid +me no more attention than you have yourself."</p> + +<p>"No, that is true enough," replied Morley, "and as Giles is engaged to +Daisy I don't think he is the man to pay marked attention to another +woman."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Giles is all right," cried Daisy angrily, "but she has tempted +him."</p> + +<p>"I deny that."</p> + +<p>"You can deny what you like. It is true, you know it is true."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Daisy! Daisy!" said Morley persuasively, whereupon she turned on him +like a little fury.</p> + +<p>"Don't you defend her. You hate me as much as she does. You are a——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said Mrs. Morley, very pale. "Hold your tongue, Daisy. My +husband has treated you in the kindest manner. When your father died you +were left penniless. He took you in, and both he and I have treated you +like our own child. Ungrateful girl, how can you speak so of those who +have befriended you?"</p> + +<p>"I do. I shall. You all hate me!" cried Daisy passionately. "I never +wanted your help. Giles would have married me long ago but for Mr. +Morley. I had no need to live on your charity. I have a hundred a year +of my own. You brought that horrid woman down to steal Giles from me, +and——"</p> + +<p>"Take her away, Elizabeth," said Morley sharply.</p> + +<p>"I'll go of my own accord," cried Daisy, retreating from Mrs. Morley; +"and I'll ask Giles to marry me at once, and take me from this horrid +house. You are a cruel and a wicked man, Mr. Morley, and I hate you—I +hate you! As for you"—she turned in a vixenish manner on Anne—"I hope +you will be put in gaol some day. If I die you will be hanged—hanged!" +And with a stamp of her foot she dashed out of the room, banging the +door.</p> + +<p>"Hysteria," said Morley, wiping his face, "we must have a doctor to see +her."</p> + +<p>"Miss Denham," said the wife, who was weeping at the cruel words of the +girl, "I ask you if Daisy has ever been treated harshly in my house?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear Mrs. Morley, she has always received the greatest kindness +both from you and your husband. She is not herself to-day—that cruel +letter has upset her. In a short time she will repent of her behavior."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If she speaks like this to Mrs. Parry, what will happen?" moaned the +poor woman, wringing her hands.</p> + +<p>"I'll have Mrs. Parry in court for libel if she says anything against +us," said Morley fiercely. "The girl is an hysterical idiot. To accuse +her best friends of—pshaw! it's not worth taking notice of. But this +letter, Miss Denham?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about it, Mr. Morley."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I wonder if Daisy wrote it herself."</p> + +<p>"Oliver!" cried Mrs. Morley in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Why not? Hysterical girls do queer things at times. I don't suppose +Mrs. Parry wrote it, old scandal-monger as she is. It is a strange +letter. That Scarlet Cross, for instance." He fixed an inquiring eye on +Anne.</p> + +<p>"That is the one thing that makes me think Daisy did not write the +letter. I fancied myself she might have done it in a moment of hysteria +and out of hatred of me, but she could not know anything of the Scarlet +Cross. No one in Rickwell could know of that."</p> + +<p>"The letter was posted in London—in the General Post Office."</p> + +<p>"But why should any one write such a letter about me," said Anne, +raising her hands to her forehead, "and the Scarlet Cross? It is very +strange."</p> + +<p>"What is the Scarlet Cross?" asked Mrs. Morley seriously.</p> + +<p>"I know no more than you do," replied Anne earnestly, "save that my +father sometimes received letters marked with a red cross and on his +watch-chain wore a gold cross enamelled with scarlet."</p> + +<p>"Did your father know what the cross meant?" asked Mrs. Morley.</p> + +<p>"He must have known, but he never explained the matter to me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps if you asked him now to——"</p> + +<p>"My father is dead," she said in a low voice; "he died a year ago in +Italy."</p> + +<p>"Then this mystery must remain a mystery," said Morley, with a shrug. +"Upon my word, I don't like all this. What is to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Put the letter into the hands of the police," suggested his wife.</p> + +<p>"No," said Morley decisively; "if the police heard the ravings of Daisy, +Heaven knows what they would think."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear, it is ridiculous," said Mrs. Morley indignantly. "We have +always treated Daisy like one of ourselves. We have nothing to conceal. +I am very angry at her."</p> + +<p>"You should rather pity her," said Anne gently, "for she is a prey to +nerves. However, the best thing to be done is for me to leave this +place. I shall go after the New Year."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know what the children will do without you," sighed +the lady; "they are so fond of you, and I never had any governess I got +on better with. What will you do?"</p> + +<p>"Get a situation somewhere else," said Anne cheerfully, "abroad if +possible; but I have become a bugbear to Daisy, and it is best that I +should go."</p> + +<p>"I think so too, Miss Denham, although both my wife and I are extremely +sorry to lose you."</p> + +<p>"You have been good friends to me," said Miss Denham simply, "and my +life here has been very pleasant; but it is best I should go," she +repeated, "and that letter, will you give me a copy, Mr. Morley?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, but for what reason?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to find out who wrote it, and why it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> written. It +will be a difficult matter, but I am curious to know who this enemy of +mine may be."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is an enemy?" asked Mrs. Morley.</p> + +<p>Anne nodded. "And an enemy that knows something about my father's life," +she said emphatically, "else why was mention made about the Scarlet +Cross? But I'll learn the truth somehow, even if I have to employ a +detective."</p> + +<p>"You had much better leave the matter alone and get another situation, +Miss Denham," said Morley sagely. "We will probably hear no more of +this, and when you go the matter will fade from Daisy's mind. I'll send +her away to the seaside for a week, and have the doctor to see her."</p> + +<p>"Dr. Tait shall see her at once," said Mrs. Morley, with more vigor than +was usual with her. "But about your going, Miss Denham, I am truly +sorry. You have been a good friend to me, and the dear children do you +credit. I hope we shall see you again."</p> + +<p>"When Daisy is married, not before," replied Anne firmly; "but I will +keep you advised of my address."</p> + +<p>After some further conversation on this point the two women left the +library. Daisy had shut herself in her room, and thither went Mrs. +Morley. She managed to sooth the girl, and gave her a sedative which +calmed her nerves. When Daisy woke from sleep somewhere about five she +expressed herself sorry for her foolish chatter, but still entertained a +dread and a hatred of Anne. The governess wisely kept out of the way and +made her preparations for departure. As yet the children were not told +that they were to lose her. Knowing what their lamentations would be +like, Mrs. Morley wisely determined to postpone that information till +the eleventh hour.</p> + +<p>There was to be a midnight service at the parish church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> in honor of the +New Year, and Anne determined to go. She wanted all the spiritual help +possible in her present state of perplexity. The unhappy love that +existed between her and Giles, the enmity of Daisy, the anxiety of the +anonymous letter—these things worried her not a little. She received +permission from Mrs. Morley to go to the midnight service.</p> + +<p>"But be careful Daisy does not see you," said she anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Is Daisy going also?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Giles is coming to take her in his motor-car."</p> + +<p>"I hope she will say nothing to him about the letter."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to that. She is much quieter and recognizes how foolish she +has been. It will be all right."</p> + +<p>Morley was much upset by the state of affairs. But a few days before and +life had been all plain sailing, now there was little else but trouble +and confusion. His ruddy face was pale, and he had a careworn +expression. For the most part of the day he remained in his library and +saw no one. Towards the evening he asked his wife not to bring the +triplets to the library as usual, as he had to see some one on business. +Who it was he refused to say, and Mrs. Morley, having no curiosity, did +not press the question.</p> + +<p>After dinner the visitor arrived—a tall man muffled in a great-coat +against the cold, and wearing a thick white scarf round his throat. He +was shown into the library and remained with Mr. Morley till after nine. +About that time Anne found occasion to go into the library in search of +a book. She had not heard the prohibition of Morley, and did not +hesitate to enter without knocking, supposing that no one was within.</p> + +<p>Meantime Daisy dressed herself very carefully in expectation of Ware's +arrival. He was to take her for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> ride in his motor before Church, and +then they were to go to the service together. There was plenty of snow +on the ground, but the nights were always bright with moonlight. Daisy +had a fancy for a moonlight ride, and Giles was willing to humor her. +She expected him about ten, and descended shortly after nine to watch +for him from the drawing-room window.</p> + +<p>Outside it was almost as light as day, and the white sheet of snow threw +back a reflection of the moonlight. Daisy gazed eagerly down the avenue, +where the leafless trees rocked in the cutting wind. Unexpectedly she +saw a tall man come round the corner of the house and walk swiftly down +the avenue. She knew from Mrs. Morley that there was a visitor in the +library, and wondered why he had elected to leave by the window, as he +must have done to come round the house in this way. Being curious, she +thought she would tell Mr. Morley of what she had seen, and went in +search of him.</p> + +<p>At the door of the library she had just laid her hand on the handle when +it suddenly opened, and Anne came out. Her face was white and drawn, her +eyes were filled with fear, and she passed the astonished girl in a +blind and stumbling fashion as though she did not see her. Daisy saw her +feebly ascend the stairs, clutching the banisters. Wondering at this, +Miss Kent entered the room. Morley was standing by the window—the +middle window—looking out. It was open. He started and turned when +Daisy entered, and she saw that he was perturbed also.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she asked, coming forward.</p> + +<p>"Nothing. What should be the matter?"</p> + +<p>Morley spoke shortly and not in a pleasant tone. "I thought that Anne, +that Miss Denham, looked ill," said Daisy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you think you had better leave Miss Denham alone, Daisy, seeing +the mischief you have caused? She has been weeping herself blind here."</p> + +<p>"Well, that letter——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that letter is rubbish!" interrupted Morley scornfully. "Miss +Denham is a simple, kind woman, and you should take no notice of +anonymous correspondence. However, she is going away to-morrow. I have +just paid her her wages."</p> + +<p>"I am glad she is going," said Miss Kent doggedly; "I am afraid of her. +You think she is an angel; I don't."</p> + +<p>"I don't think anything about her; but I do think you are a very +hysterical girl, and have caused a great deal of unnecessary trouble. +Miss Denham is not in love with Ware, and it is only your absurd +jealousy that would accuse her of such a thing. Besides, this morning +you behaved very badly to my wife and myself. You must go away for a +time till we can get over your ungrateful words and conduct."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," said Daisy humbly, "but it was Anne who disturbed me, +and that letter. I was afraid."</p> + +<p>"Then you admit that we have behaved well?"</p> + +<p>"You are my best friends."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. And now may I ask what you want?"</p> + +<p>"I came to tell you that I am going to church. I thought you were +engaged."</p> + +<p>"So I was; but my visitor is gone."</p> + +<p>"I know; he went out by that window. I saw him going down the avenue. +Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"A friend of mine. That is all you need to know. Did you think it was +some one who had to do with the anonymous letter?"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" Daisy seemed to be thoroughly ashamed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> of herself. "But you +must admit that the letter was strange."</p> + +<p>"So strange that you had better say nothing about it. Don't mention it +to Giles."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because I will find occasion to tell him myself. I at least will be +able to explain without showing jealousy of poor Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"I won't say anything," replied Daisy, with a toss of her head, "but you +are all mad about Anne Denham. I don't believe she is a good woman. What +is the matter with her now? She seems ill."</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake don't ask me any further questions," said Morley +irritably. "What with your conduct of this morning and other things with +which you have no concern I am worried out of my life."</p> + +<p>Daisy took the hint and walked away. When she got outside the library +she came to the conclusion that Morley's visitor was a bailiff, and that +was why he had been shown out by the window. Decidedly her guardian was +in a bad way financially speaking.</p> + +<p>"I shall marry Giles and get away from them all," said the grateful +Daisy. "They may be sold up, and my hundred a year will not keep me. +What a mercy that Giles is so rich and loves me! No, he does not love +me," she said vehemently to herself. "It is that woman. But he is +engaged to me, and I'll marry him if only to spite her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE CHURCHYARD</h3> + +<p>To Daisy that drive in the motor-car was like an exquisite dream. Her +frivolous, shallow soul was awed by the vast white waste gleaming +mysteriously in the moonlight as the car sped like a bird along the +silent roads. There was not a cloud in a sky that shone like tempered +steel; and amidst the frosty glitter of innumerable stars the hard moon +looked down on an enchanted world. With Giles' hand on the steering gear +and Daisy beside him wrapped in a buffalo rug, the machine flew over the +pearly whiteness with the skimming swiftness of the magic horse. For the +first time in her life Daisy felt what flying was like, and was content +to be silent.</p> + +<p>Giles was well pleased that the Great Mother should still her restless +tongue for the moment. He was doing his duty and the will of his dead +father, but his heart ached when he thought of the woman who should be +by his side. Oh that they two could undertake this magical journey +together, silent and alone in a silent and lonely world. He made no +inquiries for Anne, and Daisy said nothing. Only when the car was +humming along the homeward road to land them at the church did she open +her mouth. The awe had worn off, and she babbled as of old in the very +face of this white splendor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anne's going away," she said abruptly.</p> + +<p>For the life of him Giles could not help starting, but he managed to +control his voice and speak carelessly. "Ah, and how is that?" he asked, +busy with the wheel.</p> + +<p>"She is going to-morrow. I suppose she is tired of the dull life here."</p> + +<p>"I expect she is," replied Ware curtly.</p> + +<p>"Are you sorry?"</p> + +<p>Giles felt that she was pushing home the point and that it behooved him +to be extra careful. "Yes, I am sorry," he said frankly. "Miss Denham is +a most interesting woman."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean——"</p> + +<p>"It means nothing personal, Daisy," he broke in hastily; then to change +the subject, "I hope you have enjoyed the ride."</p> + +<p>"It is heavenly, Giles. How good of you to take me!"</p> + +<p>"My dear, I would do much more for you. When we are married we must tour +through England in this way."</p> + +<p>"You and I together. How delightful! That is if you will not get tired +of me."</p> + +<p>"I am not likely to get tired of such a charming little woman."</p> + +<p>Then he proceeded to pay her compliments, while his soul sickened at the +avidity with which she swallowed them. He asked himself if it would not +be better to put an end to this impossible state of things by telling +her he was in love with Anne. But when he glanced at the little fragile +figure beside him, and noted the delicacy and ethereal look in her face, +he felt that it would be brutal to destroy her dream of happiness at the +eleventh hour. Of himself he tried to think not at all. So far as he +could see there was no happiness for him. He would have to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> go through +life doing his duty. And Anne—he put the thought of her from him with a +shudder.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Giles? Are you cold?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"No; I expect a white hare is loping over my grave."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Don't talk of graves," said Daisy, with a nervous expression.</p> + +<p>"Not a cheerful subject, I confess," said Giles, smiling, "and here we +are in the very thick of them," he added, as the motor slowed down +before the lych-gate.</p> + +<p>Daisy looked at the innumerable tombstones which thrust themselves up +through the snow and shivered. "It's horrible, I think. Fancy being +buried there!"</p> + +<p>"A beautiful spot in summer. Do you remember what Keats said about one +being half in love with death to be buried in so sweet a place?"</p> + +<p>"Giles," she cried half hysterically, "don't talk like that. I may be +dead and buried before you know that a tragedy has occurred. The cards +say that I am to die young."</p> + +<p>"Why, Daisy, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>She made no reply. A memory of the anonymous letter and its threat came +home vividly to her as she stepped inside the churchyard. Who knew but +what within a few days she might be borne through that self-same gate in +her coffin? However, she had promised to say nothing about the letter, +and fearful lest she should let slip some remark to arouse the +suspicions of Giles, she flew up the path.</p> + +<p>Already the village folk were thronging to the midnight service. The +bells were ringing with a musical chime, and the painted windows of the +church glittered with rainbow hues. The organist was playing some +Christmas carol, and the waves of sound rolled out solemnly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> on the +still air. With salutation and curtsey the villagers passed by the young +squire. He waited to hand over his car to his servant, who came up at +the moment, breathless with haste. "Shall I wait for you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, take the car to the inn, and make yourself comfortable. In an hour +you can return."</p> + +<p>Nothing loth to get indoors and out of the bitter cold, the man drove +the machine, humming like a top, down the road. The sky was now clouding +over, and a wind was getting up. As Giles walked into the church he +thought there was every promise of a storm, and wondered that it should +labor up so rapidly considering the previous calm of the night. However, +he did not think further on the matter, but when within looked around +for Daisy. She was at the lower end of the church staring not at the +altar now glittering with candles, but at the figure of a woman some +distance away who was kneeling with her face hidden in her hands. With a +thrill Giles recognized Anne, and fearful lest Daisy should be jealous +did he remain in her vicinity, he made his way up to his own pew, which +was in the lady chapel near the altar. Here he took his seat and strove +to forget both the woman he loved and the woman he did not love. But it +was difficult for him to render his mind a blank on this subject.</p> + +<p>The organ had been silent for some time, but it now recommenced its +low-breathed music. Then the choir came slowly up the aisle singing +lustily a Christmas hymn. The vicar, severe and ascetic, followed, his +eyes bent on the ground. When the service commenced Giles tried to pay +attention, but found it almost impossible to prevent his thoughts +wandering towards the two women. He tried to see them, but pillars +intervened, and he could not catch a glimpse of either. But his gaze +fell on the tall figure of a man who was standing at the lower end of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +the church near the door. He was evidently a stranger, for his eyes +wandered inquisitively round the church. In a heavy great-coat and with +a white scarf round his throat, he was well protected against the cold. +Giles noted his thin face, his short red beard, and his large black +eyes. His age was probably something over fifty, and he looked ill, +worried, and worn. Wondering who he was and what brought him to such an +out-of-the-way place as Rickwell at such a time, Giles settled himself +comfortably in his seat to hear the sermon.</p> + +<p>The vicar was not a particularly original preacher. He discoursed +platitudes about the coming year and the duties it entailed on his +congregation. Owing to the length of the sermon and the lateness of the +hour, the people yawned and turned uneasily in their seats. But no one +ventured to leave the church, although the sermon lasted close on an +hour. It seemed as though the preacher would never leave off insisting +on the same things over and over again. He repeated himself twice and +thrice, and interspersed his common-place English with the lordly roll +of biblical texts. But for his position, Giles would have gone away. It +was long over the hour, and he knew that his servant would be waiting in +the cold. When he stood up for the concluding hymn he craned his head +round a pillar to see Daisy. She had vanished, and he thought that like +himself she had grown weary of the sermon, but more fortunate than he, +she had been able to slip away. Anne's place he could not see and did +not know whether she was absent or present.</p> + +<p>Giles wondered for one delicious moment if he could see her before she +left the church. Daisy, evidently wearied by the sermon, had gone home, +there was no one to spy upon him, and he might be able to have Anne all +to himself for a time. He could then ask her why she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> was going, and +perhaps force her to confess that she loved him. But even as he thought +his conscience rebuked him for his treachery to Daisy. He fortified +himself with good resolutions, and resolved not to leave his seat until +the congregation had dispersed. Thus he would not be tempted by the +sight of Anne.</p> + +<p>The benediction was given, the choir retired with a last musical "Amen," +and the worshippers departed. But Giles remained in his seat, kneeling +and with his face hidden. He was praying for a strength he sorely needed +to enable him to forget Anne and to remain faithful to the woman whom +his father had selected to be his wife. Not until the music of the organ +ceased and the verger came to extinguish the altar candles did Giles +venture to go. But by this time he thought Anne would surely be well on +her homeward way. He would return to his own place as fast as his motor +could take him, and thus would avoid temptation. At the present moment +he could not trust to his emotions.</p> + +<p>Outside the expected storm had come on, and snow was falling thickly +from a black sky. The light at the lych-gate twinkled feebly, and Giles +groped his way down the almost obliterated pathway quite alone, for +every one else had departed. He reached the gate quite expecting to find +his motor, but to his surprise it was not there. Not a soul was in +sight, and the snow was falling like meal.</p> + +<p>Giles fancied that his servant had dropped asleep in the inn or had +forgotten the appointed hour. In his heart he could not blame the man, +for the weather was arctic in its severity. However, he determined to +wend his way to the inn and reprove him for his negligence. Stepping out +of the gate he began to walk against the driving snow with bent head, +when he ran into the arms of a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> who was running hard. In the light +of the lamp over the gate he recognized him as Trim, his servant.</p> + +<p>"Beg pardon, sir, I could not get here any sooner. The car——" The man +stopped and stared round in amazement. "Why, sir, where's the machine?" +he asked, with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"In your charge, I suppose," replied Ware angrily. "Why were you not +here at the time I appointed?"</p> + +<p>"I was, begging your pardon, sir," said Trim hotly; "but the lady told +me you had gone to see Miss Kent back to The Elms and that you wanted to +see me. I left the car here in charge of the lady and ran all the way to +The Elms; but they tell me there that Miss Daisy hasn't arrived and that +nothing has been seen of you, sir."</p> + +<p>Ware listened to this explanation with surprise. "I sent no such +message," he said; "and this lady, who was she?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Denham, sir. She said she would look after the car till I +came back, and knowing as she was a friend of yours, sir, I thought it +was all right." Trim stared all round him. "She's taken the car away, I +see, sir."</p> + +<p>The matter puzzled Giles. He could not understand why Anne should have +behaved in such a manner, and still less could he understand why the car +should have disappeared. He knew well that she could drive a motor, for +he had taught her himself; but that she should thus take possession of +his property and get rid of his man in so sly a way perplexed and +annoyed him. He and Trim stood amidst the falling snow, staring at one +another, almost too surprised to speak.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard a loud cry of fear, and a moment afterward an +urchin—one of the choir lads—came tearing down the path as though +pursued by a legion of fiends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> Giles caught him by the collar as he ran +panting and white-faced past him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" he asked harshly. "Why did you cry out like that? +Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"To mother. Oh, let me go!" wailed the lad. "I see her lying on the +grave. I'm frightened. Mother! mother!"</p> + +<p>"Saw who lying on the grave?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. A lady. Her face is down in the snow, and she is +bleeding. I dropped the lantern mother gave me and scudded, sir. Do let +me go! I never did it!"</p> + +<p>"Did what?" Giles in his nervous agitation shook the boy.</p> + +<p>"Killed her! I didn't! She's lying on Mr. Kent's grave, and I don't know +who she is."</p> + +<p>He gave another cry for his mother and tried to get away, but Giles, +followed by Trim, led him up the path. "Take me to the grave," he said +in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"I won't!" yelped the lad, and tearing his jacket in his eagerness to +escape, he scampered past Trim and out of the gate like a frightened +hare. Giles stopped for a moment to wipe his perspiring forehead and +pass his tongue over his dry lips, then he made a sign to Trim to +follow, and walked rapidly in the direction of Mr. Kent's grave. He +dreaded what he should find there, and his heart beat like a +sledge-hammer.</p> + +<p>The grave was at the back of the church, and the choir boy had evidently +passed it when trying to take a short cut to his mother's cottage over +the hedge. The snow was falling so thickly and the night was so dark +that Giles wondered how the lad could have seen any one on the grave. +Then he remembered that the lad had spoken of a lantern. During a lull +in the wind he lighted a match, and by the blue glare he saw the lantern +almost at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> his feet, where the boy had dropped it in his precipitate +flight. Hastily picking this up, he lighted the candle with shaking +fingers and closed the glass. A moment later, and he was striding +towards the grave with the lantern casting a large circle of light +before him.</p> + +<p>In the ring of that pale illumination he saw the tall tombstone, and +beneath it the figure of a woman lying face downward on the snow. Trim +gave an exclamation of astonishment, but Giles set his mouth and +suppressed all signs of emotion. He wondered if the figure was that of +Anne or of Daisy, and whether the woman, whomsoever she was, was dead or +alive. Suddenly he started back with horror. From a wound under the left +shoulder-blade a crimson stream had welled forth, and the snow was +stained with a brilliant red. The staring eyes of the groom looked over +his shoulder as he turned the body face upwards. Then Giles uttered a +cry. Here was Daisy Kent lying dead—murdered—on her father's grave!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>AFTERWARDS</h3> + +<p>Never before had any event created such a sensation in the village of +Rickwell. From the choir boy and his mother the news quickly spread. +Also Giles had to call in the aid of the rector to have the body of the +unfortunate girl carried to The Elms. In a short time the churchyard was +filled with wondering people, and quite a cortege escorted the corpse. +It was like the rehearsal of a funeral procession.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morley had gone to bed, thinking the two girls might be reconciled +in church and come home together. Her husband, not so sanguine, had +remained in the library till after midnight, ready to play the part of +peace-maker should any fracas occur. He appeared in the hall when poor +dead Daisy was carried through the door, and stared in surprise at the +spectacle.</p> + +<p>"Great heavens!" he cried, coming forward, his ruddy face pale with +sudden emotion. "What is all this?"</p> + +<p>Giles took upon himself the office of spokesman, which the rector, +remembering that he had been engaged to the deceased, tacitly delegated +to him.</p> + +<p>"It's poor Daisy," he said hoarsely. "She has been—"</p> + +<p>"Murdered! No. Don't say murdered!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, we found her lying on her father's grave, dead; a knife-thrust +under the left shoulder-blade. She must have died almost +instantaneously."</p> + +<p>"Dead!" muttered Morley, ghastly white. And he approached to take the +handkerchief from the dead face. "Dead!" he repeated, replacing it. Then +he looked at the haggard face of Ware, at the silent group of men and +the startled women standing in the doorway, where the rector was keeping +them back.</p> + +<p>"Where is her murderess?" he asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Murderess!" repeated Giles angrily. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Mean? Why, that Miss Denham has done this, and——"</p> + +<p>"You are mad to say such a thing."</p> + +<p>"I'll tax her with it to her face. Where is she? Not at home, for I have +been waiting to see her."</p> + +<p>"She's run way on Mr. Ware's motor-car," volunteered Trim, only to be +clutched violently by his master.</p> + +<p>"Don't say that, you fool. You can't be sure of that, Mr. Morley," he +added, turning to the scared man. "Make no remark about this until we +can have a quiet talk about it."</p> + +<p>"But I say——"</p> + +<p>"You can say it to the police officer in the morning."</p> + +<p>"She'll have escaped by that time," whispered Trim to his master.</p> + +<p>Giles saw the danger of Anne—supposing her to be guilty, as the groom +thought her—and made up his mind at once.</p> + +<p>"Go home, Trim, and saddle a couple of horses. We'll follow the track of +the car, and when we find it——"</p> + +<p>"You'll never find it," put in Morley, who had been listening with all +his ears. "The falling snow must have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> obliterated any wheel-marks by +this time. When did this occur?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Giles coldly. "And instead of chattering there, +you had better have the—the—" he stammered, "the body taken into some +room and attended to. Poor Daisy," he sighed, "what an end to your +bright young life!"</p> + +<p>Here Mr. Drake, the rector, thought it necessary to assert himself, and +waved aside the throng.</p> + +<p>"All you men and women, go to your homes," he said. "Nothing can be done +to-night, and——"</p> + +<p>"The car might be followed," said a voice.</p> + +<p>"And the car will be followed," said Giles, pushing his way to the door. +"Come, Trim, we'll ride at once. Did no one see the car pass out of the +village?"</p> + +<p>No one had seen it, as most of the villagers had been inside the church +and the rest in their homes.</p> + +<p>There was some talk and suggestions, but Ware, with a nod to Morley, +took a hasty departure and disappeared into the stormy night.</p> + +<p>"He might track the car," said the rector.</p> + +<p>"He won't," replied Morley bitterly; "he'll lead Trim on a wrong scent. +He liked Miss Denham too well to let her drop into the hands of the +police."</p> + +<p>"Then you really think she did it?" asked Drake, horrified.</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly certain," was the reply. "Come into the library, and +I'll show you what evidence I have."</p> + +<p>Meantime the hall was cleared of the eager listeners, and all present +went to their homes less to sleep than to argue as to the guilt or +innocence of Anne. The body of the girl was taken to her bedroom, and +poor scared Mrs. Morley, roused from her bed to face this tragedy, did +all that was needful, assisted by two old women, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> remained behind to +offer their services. This was all that could be done till dawn, and +Mrs. Morley, thinking of the dead Daisy and the missing Anne, wept till +the first streaks of daylight. As yet her limited understanding could +not grasp the horror of the thing.</p> + +<p>Morley conducted Mr. Drake to the library. He related how his wife had +heard Anne threaten to kill Daisy, produced the anonymous letter, +detailed Daisy's accusation that the governess was in love with Ware, +and finally pointed out the damning fact of the flight. The rector was +quite convinced by this reasoning that Anne was guilty.</p> + +<p>"And now I come to think of it," he said, stroking his shaven chin, +"Miss Kent was in church."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so was Miss Denham; but I don't think they sat together, as they +were on the worst possible terms. Did you see Daisy?"</p> + +<p>Drake nodded. "She went out when I was half-way through my sermon. I +remember that I felt a little annoyed that she should leave when I was +doing my best to inculcate good habits for the year in my congregation. +She must have gone to pray at her father's grave, and there——" Drake +stopped with sudden terror in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"And there Miss Denham stabbed her. Ware said the wound was beneath the +left shoulder-blade. That looks as though Daisy was struck from behind. +I can see it all," cried Morley, with a shudder. "The poor child praying +by her father's grave, and the stealthy approach of that woman armed +with a——"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" interposed Drake, "there you are. We have not yet found the +weapon; and after all, Morley, the evidence is purely circumstantial. We +do not know for certain that Miss Denham is the guilty person."</p> + +<p>"Why did she fly, then?" demanded Morley fiercely. "If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> she were +innocent—if she had not left the church until the others did—she would +have returned, and now been in bed. But from what Trim says she fled on +Ware's motor-car."</p> + +<p>"Humph! She can't get far on that. Such a night, too."</p> + +<p>And the rector walked to the window to watch the still falling snow.</p> + +<p>Morley shook his head. "Miss Denham knows the country for miles and +miles, and Ware taught her how to drive the motor. I shouldn't be +surprised if she got away after all, in spite of the weather."</p> + +<p>Drake looked uneasy, and placed himself before the fire with a shiver. +He rather admired Miss Denham, and could not yet bring himself to +believe that she was guilty. Even if she were, he cherished a secret +hope that she might escape the police. It was terrible to think that one +woman should be dead, but it was more awful to look forward to the +trial, condemnation, and hanging of the other.</p> + +<p>"I blame Ware a good deal for this," continued Morley gloomily. "He +openly admired Miss Denham, and encouraged her to flirt with him. A rash +thing to do to one who has negro blood in her veins. I expect passion +carried her beyond herself."</p> + +<p>"How do you know she has negro blood?"</p> + +<p>"She said so herself."</p> + +<p>"Did you know that when you engaged her?"</p> + +<p>"I never engaged her at all, Drake. My wife did. I must say that Miss +Denham's credentials were good. She had been governess in an Italian +family, and ha!——" He stopped suddenly, and started up. "In Italy she +might have procured a stiletto. From the nature of the wound—which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> is +small and deep—I should think it was inflicted with such a weapon."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that the wound is small and deep?"</p> + +<p>"My wife told me when she came to the door that time. You did not hear +her. She says the wound is quite small. In that case it must be deep, or +the death would not have occurred so suddenly."</p> + +<p>Drake shook his head. "We don't know that it did occur suddenly."</p> + +<p>Morley contradicted this angrily. "If Daisy had not died at once she +would have had time to shriek, and the cry would have been heard in the +church."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it. The people were deeply interested in my sermon."</p> + +<p>The other man shrugged his shoulders. It was scarcely worth while +arguing this point with the rector. He relapsed into a brown study, +until roused to reply to a question asked by his guest.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen a stiletto?" asked Drake.</p> + +<p>"I have one here," replied Morley, running his eye along the wall; "one +that I got in Italy myself. It was said to have belonged to Lucrezia +Borgia. I wonder where it is."</p> + +<p>"Rather difficult to discover it amidst all these weapons, Mr. Morley. +Good heavens! what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>He might well ask. His host was clutching his arm in a vice-like hold, +and was pointing to a certain part of the wall whereon hung a pair of +ancient pistols, a crusader's shield, and an old helmet.</p> + +<p>"The stiletto was there. It is gone!" gasped Morley.</p> + +<p>"Impossible. Who can have taken it?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Denham! Miss Denham! Oh, and you believe her to be innocent!" +cried the other. "She came into this very room at nine o'clock, or a +little after. I was outside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> on the terrace seeing a visitor off. She +was alone in the room for a time. She must have taken the weapon."</p> + +<p>"No, no; why should she have?"</p> + +<p>"Because she intended to murder my poor Daisy. It was all arranged in +her black heart. Drake," he added solemnly, "I have done my best to +believe that woman innocent. I defended her against Daisy, and my wife +defended her also. We tried to believe that she had no ill intention, +and see—see what comes of it. She steals the stiletto, and kills the +child in the most brutal manner. I swear to hunt her down. I swear——!"</p> + +<p>The rector caught down the uplifted hand which Morley was raising to the +heavens. "Be yourself," he said sternly; "there is no need for a man to +call upon God to witness a blood-thirsty oath. If the woman is guilty, +let her be punished. But give her the benefit of the doubt. Appearances +are against her, I admit. All the same, she may be able to prove her +innocence."</p> + +<p>"You might as well talk to the wind as to me. She is a murderess; I'll +do my best to have her hanged."</p> + +<p>Morley spoke with such vehemence that Drake looked closely at him. He +wondered if the man had any grudge against Anne Denham that he spoke of +her with such bitterness. Certainly her crime was a terrible one, and +she deserved to be condemned. But it would only be fair that she should +be first tried. Morley, on the contrary, had already judged her, without +waiting to hear what she had to say in her own favor.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Morley, there is nothing more to be said," he remarked +coldly, for he disliked this melodrama; "we must wait till the police +come in the morning. Meanwhile I shall go to my home and get some +sleep."</p> + +<p>"I can't sleep with that in the house," replied Morley, abruptly rising; +"I'll go with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"To the churchyard—to the grave. I intend to look for the weapon. It +may have been left there—tossed aside by the assassin after the crime."</p> + +<p>"But the night is dark—the snow is falling. You will not be able to do +anything. Be advised, and——"</p> + +<p>"No. I'll come with you now. If I find nothing, it is all the better for +her. If I do——" He shook his hand again fiercely.</p> + +<p>Drake argued no longer, seeing that the man's brain was in such a state +that it was best to humor him. They went out together, but at the +church-gate Drake excused himself and retired to his home. He had no +wish to see Morley groping amongst the graves like a ghost. Pausing +until the little man disappeared into the gloom, the rector went to his +house, wondering at the sudden change in Morley's character. He had been +a light-hearted and rather frivolous creature; fond of gaiety and +overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Now he was fierce and +savage enough for a Caliban. "He must have loved that poor girl very +dearly," sighed Drake, "but I can't believe that such a charming woman +as Miss Denham committed so cruel a crime. There is some mystery about +this," and in this last speech he was right. There was a mystery about +the death, and a much deeper one than a shallow man like the rector +could fathom.</p> + +<p>All through the long night Mrs. Morley watched by the dead. She had +placed candles on either side of the bed, and laid a cross on the poor +child's breast. Drake was quite shocked when he saw this Papistical +arrangement. But it afterwards came out that Mrs. Morley had been +educated in a convent, and had imbibed certain notions of the Romish +ritual for the dead that, her memory reviving, made her act thus, in +spite of her openly confessed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> belief in the communion of the English +Church. While she was thus sitting and weeping, Morley looked in. He was +wild and haggard, but in his eyes glared a triumphant expression which +terrified his wife. She did not dare to move. He crossed the room, and +looked at the body. "You shall be avenged, my dear," he said solemnly, +and before Mrs. Morley could recover from her surprise and denounce this +ill-chosen moment for a visit, he wheeled round and disappeared.</p> + +<p>He did not retire either, no more did the servants, who were collected +in the kitchen steadying their nerves with tea. So it happened that when +Giles, weary, wet, and worn, rode up to the door in the morning on a +jaded beast, he was met by Morley.</p> + +<p>"Have you caught her?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>Giles dismounted and threw the reins to a groom. "No. Trim went one way +and I another. Where he is I don't know, but my horse gave in, and I +returned." He entered the house. "Where is the body?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Up in the room it occupied during life," said Morley; "but come into +the library, I have something to show you."</p> + +<p>Ware followed and sank wearily into a chair. He could scarcely keep his +eyes open. Nevertheless he started up wide awake when his host spoke. +"Miss Denham killed Daisy," said Morley. "She took a stiletto from the +wall yonder, and here it is." He produced it with a dramatic wave.</p> + +<p>"Where did you find it?"</p> + +<p>"Beside the grave—on the spot of the murder."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE CASE AGAINST ANNE</h3> + +<p>The contradictory qualities of Mrs. Parry's nature came out strongly in +connection with the Rickwell tragedy. When Miss Denham was prosperous +the old woman had nothing but bad to say of her, now that she was a +fugitive and generally credited with a crime, Mrs. Parry stood up for +her stoutly. She made herself acquainted with all details, and delivered +her verdict to Mrs. Morley, on whom she called for the express purpose +of giving her opinion.</p> + +<p>"I never liked the woman," she said impressively, "she was artful and +frivolous; and to gain admiration behaved in a brazen way of which I +thoroughly disapproved. All the same, I do not believe she killed the +girl."</p> + +<p>"But the evidence is strongly against her," expostulated Mrs. Morley.</p> + +<p>"And how many people have been hanged on evidence which has afterwards +been proved incorrect?" retorted Mrs. Parry. "I don't care how certain +they are of her guilt. In my opinion she is an innocent woman. I am glad +she has escaped."</p> + +<p>"I am not sorry myself," sighed the other. "I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> fond of Anne, for she +had many good points. But Mr. Steel says——"</p> + +<p>"Who is Mr. Steel?"</p> + +<p>"The detective who has charge of the case."</p> + +<p>"I thought the police from Chelmsford had it in hand."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mr. Morley sent for the police the morning after poor +Daisy's death. That is three days ago. To-morrow the inquest is to be +held. I suppose they will bring a verdict against poor Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose, "and my greengrocer is on the +jury. Much he knows about the matter. But this Steel creature. Where +does he come from?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Morley sent to London for him. He has a private inquiry office, I +believe."</p> + +<p>"No such thing," contradicted Mrs. Parry, "he is from Scotland Yard. A +genuine detective—none of your makeshifts."</p> + +<p>"I thought you knew nothing about him?"</p> + +<p>"Nor did I till this minute. But I now remember seeing his name in +connection with the theft of Lady Summersdale's diamonds. He caught the +thief in a very clever way. Steel—Martin Steel, I remember now. So he +has the case in hand. Humph! He won't accuse Anne Denham, you may be +sure of that. He's too clever."</p> + +<p>"But he is convinced of her guilt," said the other triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"Then the man's a fool. I'll see him myself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry did so the very next day after the inquest had been held and +the verdict given. She possessed a small, neat cottage on the outskirts +of Rickwell, standing some distance back from the high road. Seated at +her drawing-room window, she could see all those who came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> or went, and +thus kept a watch over the morals of the village. This window was called +"Mrs. Parry's eye," and everyone sneaked past it in constant dread of +the terrible old lady who looked through it. Beyond Mrs. Parry's cottage +were the houses of the gentry and the church; therefore she knew that +Steel would pass her house on the way to The Elms, where he would +doubtless go to report himself to Morley. To be sure Morley was to be at +the inquest, but Mrs. Parry took no account of that. He and the +detective would certainly return to The Elms to compare notes.</p> + +<p>Also there was another chance. Steel might go on to see Ware at his +place, which was a mile beyond the village. Giles had caught a cold +after his midnight ride and search for the missing motor, and since then +had been confined to his bed. His deposition had been taken down in +writing, for the benefit of the jury, as he could not be present +himself. Since he was deeply interested in the matter, Steel would +probably go and tell him about the inquest. Mrs. Parry therefore posted +herself at the window about twelve and waited for the detective.</p> + +<p>At half-past twelve she saw him come along, having on the previous day +made herself acquainted with his personality. He was a dapper pert +little man, neat in his dress, and suave in his manners. Not at all like +the detective of fiction as known to Mrs. Parry. There was no solemnity +or hint of mystery about Mr. Steel. He would pass unnoticed in a crowd, +and no one would take him for a bloodhound of the law. He did not even +possess the indispensable eagle eye, nor did he utter opinions with the +air of an oracle. In fact, when Mrs. Parry captured him and lured him +into her parlor, she was exceedingly disappointed with his appearance. +"No one would even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> take you for a detective," said she brusquely, +whereat Steel laughed cheerily.</p> + +<p>"All the better for me, ma'am. Folk speak more freely when they don't +know my business. But you will excuse me," he added, glancing at his +watch, "I am in a hurry. You say you know something about this matter?"</p> + +<p>It was on this pretence that Mrs. Parry had got him into her house, else +he would not have wasted his time on her. She had therefore to make good +her words, but had not the slightest chance of doing so.</p> + +<p>"I know that Anne Denham is innocent," was all that she could say, but +said it with the air of one who settles a difficult matter once and for +all.</p> + +<p>"On what grounds, ma'am?"</p> + +<p>"On no grounds, save those of my own common sense."</p> + +<p>"You have no evidence to——?"</p> + +<p>"I have the evidence of my own eyes. You haven't seen the woman. I have. +She is not the kind of person who would act so."</p> + +<p>"The jury take a different view," said Steel dryly. "They have brought +in a verdict of wilful murder against her."</p> + +<p>"Fools! But what can you expect from a parcel of tradesmen? I wish to +hear on what grounds they made such idiots of themselves."</p> + +<p>Steel was somewhat taken aback by this coolness. "You must really excuse +me," said he, rising, "but I have to see Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"All in good time, Steel," said the old lady coolly. "You might do worse +than spend an hour with me. There is precious little going on in this +parish I don't know of. I might be able to help you in your search."</p> + +<p>"After this woman?" Steel shook his head. "I don't think so. I expect +she has escaped to foreign parts."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I know all about that. I made Trim tell me. You know Trim, of +course. He was a groom once."</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a groom now?"</p> + +<p>"Well"—Mrs. Parry rubbed her nose—"you might call him an engineer. +When Ware started a motor-car Trim refused to let anyone else attend to +his young master but himself. He was the servant of old Ware, and thinks +it is his duty to look after the son—not but what it's needed," added +Mrs. Parry spitefully; "but Trim learned how to work the car, and so he +is what you might call an engineer."</p> + +<p>"All very interesting ma'am, but I have an appointment."</p> + +<p>"It will keep," replied Mrs. Parry suavely. "You had better wait, Steel. +I have something to show you."</p> + +<p>"In connection with the case?"</p> + +<p>"In connection with Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"What is it? Show it to me."</p> + +<p>"All in good time, Steel. I must first know what you think of the +matter."</p> + +<p>"I think that this woman is guilty."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you do, do you. Humph! And I thought you clever. How easily one can +be deceived! However, you can sit down and tell me your grounds for this +preposterous belief."</p> + +<p>Steel hesitated. In all his career—and it had been a varied one—he had +never met before with anyone like this determined old dame. She took +possession of him in the calmest way, and was evidently bent upon +pumping him dry before he left the house. As a rule Steel was not a man +to be pumped, but after some reflection he concluded that it was just as +well to use a sprat to catch a mackerel. In plain English, he +determined, with reservations, to gratify Mrs. Parry's curiosity, so +that he might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> get a sight of what she had to show him. If he were +reticent, she would show him nothing; whereas if he told her all about +the evidence at the inquest—and that was public property—she would +certainly open her mind to him. Moreover, Steel knew the value of having +a gossip like Mrs. Parry to aid him in gaining knowledge of the +neighborhood. Finally, he saw that she was a shrewd, matter-of-fact old +person, and for the sake of making his work easy it would be as well to +conciliate her. He therefore sat down with a cheerful air, and prepared +himself for an interesting conversation.</p> + +<p>"I shall be perfectly candid with you," said he, taking out his notes. +"These are the memoranda I made at the inquest."</p> + +<p>"Humph! You have a bad memory I see. I," said Mrs. Parry, with emphasis, +"I carry all I know in my head. Go on."</p> + +<p>Steel detailed the facts of the case. He related the threat of Anne +against Daisy overheard by Mrs. Morley; read out a copy of the anonymous +letter; emphasized the presence of Anne in the library for the few +minutes Morley was absent, when she would have had time to secure the +stiletto; and explained how Morley had found the very weapon near the +scene of the crime. Then he continued to relate what took place in +church during the midnight service.</p> + +<p>"Martha James," said he, "was sitting not far from Miss Kent. The corner +was rather dark——"</p> + +<p>"The whole church is badly lighted," interrupted Mrs. Parry. "I never +could bear smelly kerosene lamps."</p> + +<p>"The corner was dark," resumed Steel patiently, "and Martha, as she +says, having a headache, was rather inattentive to the sermon. She saw a +man near the door—a tall man, with a great-coat and a white scarf. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +couldn't see his face plainly. He slipped along the wall during the +sermon, when the attention of everyone was fixed on the preacher, +and—as Martha saw—slipped a scrap of paper into the hand of Miss Kent. +She started, and bending towards a near lamp, read the paper."</p> + +<p>"Did anyone else see her read it?"</p> + +<p>"No. She placed the paper in her prayer-book, and so contrived to read +it without exciting suspicion. Martha saw the action, because she was +well placed for observation."</p> + +<p>"And couldn't mind her own business. I know Martha James. Go on."</p> + +<p>"After a few minutes Miss Kent seemed to grow faint, and slipped out of +the church. Another witness—Samuel Gibbs—says that as she brushed past +him she murmured that she felt unwell. However, she went out."</p> + +<p>"And the tall man also?"</p> + +<p>"No. He remained for another ten minutes. Martha James watched him, +because she could not think why he did not follow Miss Kent after giving +her the paper."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Martha thought of something bad," sniffed Mrs. Parry; "no +doubt she believed that the two had arranged to meet. So the tall man +went out ten minutes afterwards. What about Anne?"</p> + +<p>"She was a few pews behind, and apparently inattentive, but a small girl +called Cissy Jinks——"</p> + +<p>"A most precocious child," interpolated the lady.</p> + +<p>"She is smart," admitted Steel. "Well, she declares that Miss Denham was +watching the tall man all the time. Whether she saw him give the paper +to Miss Kent no one seems to know; I think myself she must have done so, +if she was as watchful as Cissy Jinks declares. Moreover, she followed +the tall man when he went out."</p> + +<p>"Immediately?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Five minutes afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Then it was a quarter of an hour before she followed Daisy. Humph! +Didn't Trim see them come out of the church?"</p> + +<p>"The groom? No, he was at the lych-gate with the car, and the snow was +falling fast; besides, the night was so dark that he could see nothing. +The first intimation he had of Miss Denham was when she came through the +lych-gate to tell him that his master was with Miss Kent on the way to +The Elms and wished to see him. Trim followed, and left her in charge of +the car. When he was gone she went off, leaving the body of the girl +behind her. The case is dead against her."</p> + +<p>"As you make it out, it certainly is," said Mrs. Parry scathingly. "But +what about the tall man—what became of him?"</p> + +<p>"He has vanished, and no one seems to know anything about him."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" said the old lady, with satisfaction; "well, I can enlighten you +on that point. He was the man who called to see Mr. Morley, and who left +just before Anne entered the library."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure Morley said nothing about that?"</p> + +<p>"Morley can hold his tongue when necessary," said the old lady dryly. +"Yes, that was the man. The footman at The Elms told me that Mr. +Morley's visitor wore a great-coat and a white scarf."</p> + +<p>"The same dress," murmured Steel, "and the man was afterwards in church. +He passed a note and went out apparently to see Miss Kent. I must +question Mr. Morley about him. I wonder if he went away in the motor +also."</p> + +<p>"Of course he did," replied Mrs. Parry calmly. "Anne was watching him, +according to Cissy Jinks, and she followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> him five minutes later. It +would seem that she knew him, and after he killed Daisy helped him to +escape."</p> + +<p>"What do you say," asked Steel, wrinkling his brows, "that this man +killed Miss Kent?"</p> + +<p>"The evidence is nearly as strong against him as against Anne. He was in +the library also and might have obtained the stiletto. It was he who +lured Daisy out of the church. He was five minutes absent before Anne +followed—quite long enough for him to kill the poor girl."</p> + +<p>"It sounds feasible, I admit," said the detective thoughtfully; "but +even if this is true, it incriminates Miss Anne. She helped him to +escape, according to your theory. She must, therefore, have known about +the murder, and that makes her an accessory after the fact. In any case +she should be arrested."</p> + +<p>"But not hanged," insisted Mrs. Parry. "I am sure she did not kill the +girl. As for the man, she had a strong reason to get him out of the way, +but that does not say she knew of the crime."</p> + +<p>"I don't see what other reason she could have had," said Steel. "I +daresay you are right, and that this stranger did go with Miss Denham on +the car. What a pity no one saw them!"</p> + +<p>"Did no one see the car?"</p> + +<p>"No, it was found overturned in a hedge, near Tilbury."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Mrs. Parry, not liking to have her omniscience +questioned; "Trim told me. He came on the car by chance. It was quite +cold—the furnace was extinguished. It must have been abandoned for some +time when he came across it. I wonder where the pair went then."</p> + +<p>"You seem certain that the stranger was with Miss Denham."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I am quite satisfied on that point. Tilbury—ha! they were making +for Tilbury. Did you inquire there?"</p> + +<p>Steel nodded. "I could find no trace of them. No one saw them, or rather +her, for I asked only after Miss Denham. It is my opinion that they must +have got on board some ship, and have escaped to foreign parts. I could +not learn of any ship having left that night, though. Well, that is all +the evidence, Mrs. Parry, and you can see for yourself that the case +against Miss Denham is almost conclusive."</p> + +<p>"All the same, I believe she is innocent," insisted the old lady; "it +was the man who committed the crime. Ask Morley about him."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he knows anything?"</p> + +<p>"Not of the murder; but he must know the man's name. And now as you have +been so frank with me I'll show you what I promised. Do you remember the +anonymous letter and the reference to the Scarlet Cross?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Miss Denham said that her father—who is now dead—wore a +red-enamelled cross on his watch-chain."</p> + +<p>"I know. Mrs. Morley told me so. Now see here." Mrs. Parry opened her +left hand, which for some time she had kept clenched. In her palm lay a +small gold cross enamelled red.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get that?" asked Steel, astounded.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Bates, the pew-opener, found it in the church and brought it to +me. It was found near the spot where the stranger stood."</p> + +<p>"What?" Steel started to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you are beginning to see now!" said the old lady. "Yes, Steel, you +may well look. Anne is innocent. On the evidence of this cross I believe +that her father is not dead. He was the stranger; he killed Daisy, and +because he was her father Anne aided him to escape."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>OLIVER MORLEY</h3> + +<p>In due time the body of Daisy Kent was buried. Her remains were laid by +those of her father in the very churchyard about which she had +complained to Giles a short time before the tragedy of her death. Ware +being still ill, did not attend the funeral, but a large concourse of +people from all parts of the county followed the coffin to the grave.</p> + +<p>Morley was the chief mourner, and looked haggard, as was natural. Poor +Mrs. Morley remained at home and wept. She did little else but weep in +those days, poor soul!</p> + +<p>When Mr. Drake had finished the service, and the grave was filled up, +the crowd dispersed. There was a great deal of talk about the untimely +death of the girl and the chances of her murderess being caught. +Everyone believed that Anne was guilty; but as Steel had kept his own +counsel and Mrs. Parry held her tongue, no mention was made of the tall +man.</p> + +<p>The chatter of Cissy Jinks and Martha Gibbs certainly seemed to +inculpate him in the matter, but only the villagers talked of this +especial point. It never reached the ears of the reporters, and did not +get into the papers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> But the journals gave a good deal of space to the +affair, and hinted that it was what the French call "un crime +passional." Still, no paper was daring enough to hint at Giles and his +presumed connection with the tragedy. It was merely stated that he had +been engaged to the deceased girl, and felt her death so deeply, as was +natural, that he had taken to his bed. Of course, this was an +embellishment of facts, as Ware was simply laid up with an attack of +pneumonia. But for the benefit of the public the journalists ascribed it +to romantic and undying love. Giles, who was a matter-of-fact young +Englishman, did not see these descriptions, or he would have been much +disgusted at the sickly sentimentality.</p> + +<p>Meantime no news was heard of Anne. It was not known that the tall +stranger had been with her, for several people had seen the car passing +on its way to Tilbury. It was a lucky thought that had made Trim take +that particular direction, and merely by chance that he had stumbled on +the motor overthrown in a hedge. Evidently an accident had occurred, but +no one was near at the time, as it took place some little distance from +Tilbury and in a lonely part. But it was conjectured that the two +occupants had proceeded on foot to Tilbury. A boatman was found who +related that he had taken a lady and gentleman across to Gravesend, and +that the gentleman walked a trifle lame. They landed on the Gravesend +shore, and here the boatman lost sight of them. It was the lady who paid +his fare, and he said that she appeared to be quite calm. He did not see +the face of the man, but described that of Anne and her dress also. +There was no doubt but what she was the fugitive.</p> + +<p>However, here the trail ended. Once in Gravesend, and all trace of the +pair was lost. Steel made inquiries everywhere, but without success. The +two might have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> got away in a ship, but this he could not learn. The +night was foggy and dark, and no ship had gone out of the river, +according to the boatmen. Steel could discover nothing, and resolved to +throw up the case. But at the eleventh hour he stumbled on a clue, and +followed it up. The result of his inquiries made him return at once to +Rickwell, where he sought out Mr. Morley.</p> + +<p>The little man had sent his wife and family away from The Elms, as the +atmosphere of the house was melancholy in the extreme. Mrs. Morley, not +averse to more cheerful surroundings, elected to go to Brighton with the +triplets, and took two servants with her. Morley remained behind with a +reduced staff, and promised to join her later. He desired to wait until +he could see the detective. His wish was speedily gratified, for three +days after the departure of his wife Steel made his appearance. Morley +received him in the library.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, sir?" said the detective, as they shook hands. "I am +glad to see that you are looking better."</p> + +<p>"I am getting over the shock," replied the other, "now that the poor +child is buried; there is no use mourning further. I have sent my wife +and family to Brighton and propose to follow myself in a day or so."</p> + +<p>"I am lucky to have caught you, then?"</p> + +<p>"What? Have you found any clue?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. It is connected with the Scarlet Cross."</p> + +<p>Morley, who was warming his hands over the fire, looked round eagerly, +and his eyes flashed.</p> + +<p>"I thought there was something in that reference. You remember the +letter, Steel?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And I showed it to Mrs. Parry."</p> + +<p>"To that meddlesome old woman. Why?"</p> + +<p>"It's too long a matter to go into. But it was just as well I did. She +gave me this little ornament."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Morley turned over the enamelled cross and examined it carefully. +"Humph! It is the kind of thing Miss Denham said was worn by her dead +father."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Well, Mr. Morley, either the father is dead as she told you +and that cross was worn by a stranger, or the man who called to see you +here was the father."</p> + +<p>"How do you make that out? What do you mean?" said Morley, and his face +exhibited genuine amazement.</p> + +<p>For answer Steel related what Mrs. Parry had told him about the +discovery of the cross, and how she had put two and two together.</p> + +<p>"And now, sir, you must see that in some way this stranger is connected +with the crime. He called to see you. May I ask what you know of him?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely nothing," replied the other emphatically. "Wait! I must show +you something." He rose and went to his desk. "Of course, I am telling +you my private business," he added, opening a drawer, "so don't please +speak about it."</p> + +<p>"If it has nothing to do with the murder I won't; but if——"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! that is all right, I know as much about these things as you do. +However, we can talk of that later. Meantime cast your eye over that," +and he placed a document on the table.</p> + +<p>"A judgment summons for five hundred pounds," said Steel, with a +whistle. "Did he serve this?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Morley, returning to his seat with a gloomy face. "You +will see that it is dated three days before he came to me. I have outrun +the constable, and have the greatest difficulty in keeping my head above +water. This man—I don't know his name—said that he came from those +solicitors——"</p> + +<p>"'Asher, Son, and Asher,'" read out the detective.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Morley nodded. "Of twenty-two, St. Audrey's Inn. A firm of sharpers I +call them. The money has certainly been owing a long time, but I offered +to pay off the sum by degrees. They refused, and insist upon immediate +payment. If they would only wait until the war is over, my South African +shares would go up and there would be a chance of settling the matter. +But they will not wait. I expect a bankruptcy notice next."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry for you, Mr. Morley, and of course, I shall not betray +the confidence you have placed in me; but the point is, what is the name +of the man who served this?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I never asked him his name. He entered by the front door +and served this here. I sent him out by the window, so that the servants +should not see him again. He had the look of a sheriff's officer, and +one can't be too careful here. I believe Mrs. Parry pays my servants to +tell her what goes on in my house. I didn't want her to learn about this +summons."</p> + +<p>"I can easily understand that," replied the detective; "and I see now +why you let the man out by the window. You left the room with him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I didn't say anything much at the inquest beyond that he was a +visitor, and I was relieved when I found that no questions were asked. +But I walked with him to the end of the terrace and saw him go down the +avenue. Then I returned to this room, and found Miss Denham waiting by +the desk. I asked her what she wanted. She asked for her wages, as she +was leaving the next day. I had no ready money, and promised to see to +it before she departed. Then she went out, and shortly afterwards Miss +Kent came in to say she had seen the man go down the avenue. She asked +me who he was, and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> was rather short with her, poor creature!" and +Morley sighed.</p> + +<p>"I wonder why the man went to church."</p> + +<p>"I can't say that; but I can guess that when he knew who Daisy was he +wanted to speak to her."</p> + +<p>"What about?" asked Steel eagerly.</p> + +<p>"About me and the summons. You see, Steel, there is a half-uncle of +Daisy Kent's who went to Australia. He said that if he made his fortune +he would leave the money to her. Whether he is dead or alive I don't +know, but certainly she did not get any money left to her. Powell's +solicitors are Asher, Son, and Asher——"</p> + +<p>"Powell? I thought the uncle would be called Kent, unless, of course, he +was uncle by the mother's side."</p> + +<p>"I said half-uncle," said Morley dryly. "Powell is his name—William +Powell—and his solicitors are those who issued that judgment summons. I +expect the clerk wanted to tell Daisy about my position and warn her +against lending me money. As though I should have asked the girl for +sixpence!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see why this clerk should warn Miss Kent."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Daisy had a hundred a year, and they pay it to her. As +she might one day be an heiress, I suppose they think it as well to keep +an eye on her. This man could not have known that Daisy was in church, +and may have just gone there to kill time. But when he saw her and knew +who she was, I daresay he wrote that note asking her to come outside and +be told all about me."</p> + +<p>"It might be so. Was the note found?"</p> + +<p>"Not to my knowledge. But you should know, being a detective."</p> + +<p>"I'm not omniscient," replied Steel good-humoredly; "it is only in +novels that you get the perfect person who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> never makes a mistake. Well, +to resume. I don't see why the clerk should have killed Miss Kent."</p> + +<p>"He did not kill her," insisted Morley. "I was in the room with him from +the time he entered by the door to the time he left by that middle +window. He had no chance of stealing the stiletto. Now Miss Denham had, +for she was in the room alone for a few moments."</p> + +<p>"But why should she have taken the clerk with her on the car? If she +killed the girl her object must have been to escape herself?"</p> + +<p>"I can't explain. Perhaps this clerk saw the crime and hoped to make +money out of it. Had he given the alarm he wouldn't have gained any +reward. So I suppose he mounted the car with her, so that she should not +escape him."</p> + +<p>"A wild theory."</p> + +<p>"It's the only one I can think of," responded Morley; "but if you want +to know more of this man go up to Asher, Son, and Asher. I daresay they +will be able to give you his history."</p> + +<p>"And the Scarlet Cross?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about that. I did not even notice if the man had such a +cross on his chain. In fact," added Morley frankly, "he was too shabby +and poverty-stricken to have a chain. I think Anne Denham killed Daisy; +you think this man did, and——"</p> + +<p>"Pardon," protested Steel. "I have not yet made up my mind. But the two +fled together, and there must be some reason for that."</p> + +<p>"If so, it will be found in the past history of both, or either. You +know where to look for the man. I can get from my wife the address of +the Governesses' Institute where she engaged Miss Denham. That is all I +can do, unless I take up the case myself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Steel looked up with a laugh. He was copying the address of the +solicitors from the summons, but could not help pausing to reply to this +egotistical remark. "Why, Mr. Morley, what do you know of such work?" he +asked, bantering.</p> + +<p>"Much more than you would give me credit for. Did you ever hear of—by +the way, this is another of my secrets I am telling you, so please don't +repeat it."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to say that you were in the profession?"</p> + +<p>"I am. You may have heard of Joe Bart."</p> + +<p>"I should think so," said Steel quickly. "He had a splendid reputation, +and was much thought of. But he retired before I came to London. I was +in the country police for a long time. But"—he started up—"you don't +mean to say that——"</p> + +<p>"That I am Joe Bart?" interrupted Morley, not ill-pleased. "Yes, I do. I +retired over ten years ago, more fool I. You see, Steel, I grew wearied +of thief-catching, and as I had a chance of marrying a widow with money, +I took the offer and retired. But"—he looked at the summons—"the game +wasn't worth the candle. I have had nothing but trouble. Still, I am +devoted to my wife and her children."</p> + +<p>"And you have forgotten your former glory," said Steel enthusiastically; +"surely not. That Hatton Garden jewel robbery, the man with the red coat +who committed the Lichfield murder, and——"</p> + +<p>"I remember them all," said Morley, with gentle melancholy. "I have a +full report of all the cases I was engaged in yonder"—he nodded to a +distant shelf. "Sometimes I take those volumes down and think what an +ass I was to retire."</p> + +<p>"But see here, Mr. Morley. You are hard up; you want money. I am sure +they would be glad to have you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> back at the Yard. Why not recommence +your detective life with searching out this case?"</p> + +<p>Morley, late Joe Bart, shook his head. "There is no difficulty about +this case to tempt me," he said. "Anne Denham killed the girl. But I +must say I should like to find out about this clerk, and why he went off +with her. Still, it is useless for me to become a detective again. In +the first place my wife would not like it, and in the second I have lost +my keen scent. I am rusty—I am laid on the shelf. No, no, Steel, you +look after this matter yourself. Any advice I can give you I shall, but +don't tempt the old dog out of his kennel."</p> + +<p>Steel looked admiringly at his host. Bart had been a celebrated +detective in his day, although not one of the best. Still, he had made a +reputation on two or three cases, which entitled him to respect. "I +should be proud to work with you, Mr. Morley."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Morley, rather pleased, "we'll see. At present I must +put my wits to work to get money to prevent my being made a bankrupt. +Now don't give me away, Steel."</p> + +<p>"I'll say nothing. I suppose your wife knows that you were——"</p> + +<p>"Of course. But she made me promise to give it up. Therefore you see I +can't take up the life again. But my advice to you—if you care to take +it—is to look after the governess, and leave the clerk alone. She is +guilty; he is not."</p> + +<p>"I'll look after both," said Steel firmly, "after both Mr.—Bart."</p> + +<p>Morley laughed. "Report to me all you do," he said, and this Steel +willingly promised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE IRONY OF FATE</h3> + +<p>Giles was slowly recovering from his illness, but as yet was unable to +leave his room. It was now over a month since the death of Daisy, and +during that time all matters connected therewith had been reported to +the invalid. Thus he knew of the funeral, of the verdict of the jury, +and of the search that was being made for Anne. Trim, who nursed his +young master—and he would not allow any one else to do so—day by day, +related all that was taking place. The man himself quite believed that +Miss Denham was guilty, but he did not offer this opinion to Ware, +knowing how keenly Giles felt the untoward tragedy.</p> + +<p>The young squire could not bring himself to believe that Anne was +guilty. Appearances were against her, and he could not conceive what +excuse she could make for her flight with the lawyer's clerk. If she +were innocent, she had gone the best way to work up a feasible case +against her. But Giles was so deeply in love with her that the blacker +became her character in the mouths of the general public, the more +persistently he held to the belief that it was whiter than snow. Had he +been able he would have followed her, in order to persuade her to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +return and face the worst with a frank story of the events of that +terrible night. But he was chained to his bed, and even had he been +sufficiently well, he could not have traced her whereabouts. Steel had +called to explain his doings, but not even he could guess where Anne was +to be found. And Giles rejoiced that this should be so.</p> + +<p>"What's the news this morning, Trim?" he asked languidly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Morley has come to see you, sir. He is waiting below."</p> + +<p>"I thought he had gone to Brighton with his wife and family?"</p> + +<p>"He did go some days back," assented Trim, "but he returned, sir—so he +says—especially to see you."</p> + +<p>"How very good of him! Ask him to come up."</p> + +<p>"Are you strong enough, Master Giles?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you old tyrant. I hope to be up and about in a week."</p> + +<p>Trim shook his grey head. He was rather a pessimist, and did not believe +in too sudden recoveries, insisting that such did not last.</p> + +<p>"You'll have a relapse, sir, and be worse than ever."</p> + +<p>Ware laughed, knowing Trim's ways, and motioned him out of the room. +When the old servant left, grumbling that his master should be +disturbed, Giles began to wonder what had brought Morley back from +Brighton. Perhaps he had come to speak of Daisy and her untimely end; +but he had already, on a previous occasion, said all that was to be said +about that matter. Ware sincerely mourned Daisy, for in a way he had +been fond of her. Still, he could not but confess that a marriage +between them would have been a mistake, and that drastic as was the +cutting of the Gordian knot, it relieved him from an impossible +position. His love for Anne would always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> have stood between himself and +the unfortunate girl, and her jealousy would have ruined both their +lives. Certainly he saw no chance of making Anne his wife, seeing that +she was a fugitive and accused of a terrible crime. Nevertheless, since +he had not to marry Daisy, the situation was less difficult. But Ware, +his heart aching for the woman he loved, found cold comfort in this +reasoning.</p> + +<p>Morley entered, looking ruddy and cheerful, quite his old self, in fact. +Evidently the sea air and the change had assuaged his grief to a +considerable extent, and Giles could not help remarking cynically on his +quick recovery. "I thought you were fond of Daisy," he said +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I was, and so was my wife," answered Morley, taking a seat beside the +bed. "But what's done can't be undone, and I have been trying to get +over my sorrow. But in spite of my looks, Ware, I have my bad moments. +And you?"</p> + +<p>"I sincerely mourn for the poor girl. It is terrible that she should be +cut off so suddenly. But I am just as sorry for Miss Denham, if not more +sorry. It is those who are left behind that suffer most, Morley."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the little man thoughtfully, "then you <i>did</i> love Miss +Denham?"</p> + +<p>"Morley"—Giles started up on his elbow—"what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I am simply repeating what Daisy said."</p> + +<p>"She had a monomania on the subject," said Ware uneasily. "I never gave +her any cause for jealousy."</p> + +<p>"Would you have married her had she lived?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Ware coldly. "I promised my father that the daughter +of his old friend should be my wife."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you would have acted honorably," said Morley gravely, "but it +is just as well that you did not marry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> the girl. I think she had some +reason to be jealous of Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>Ware groaned. "I tried my best to——" He broke off with a frown. "This +is my private business, Morley. You have no right to pry into these +things."</p> + +<p>Morley shrugged his shoulders. "As you please. I shall say no more. But +I don't expect you'll see Miss Denham again."</p> + +<p>"I don't expect I shall. Please leave her name out of this +conversation."</p> + +<p>"For the moment I am agreeable to do so. But as I believe her to be +guilty, I must ask you a question or two."</p> + +<p>"I shall answer no questions," responded Giles violently. "Miss Denham +is innocent."</p> + +<p>"Then why did she fly?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. If I can only find her, I shall ask her to come back and +face the worst. She can explain."</p> + +<p>"She will have to when she is caught. How do you propose to find her, +Ware?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Wait till I am on my feet again."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Morley cheerfully, "I'll give you a clue—the Scarlet +Cross."</p> + +<p>"Rubbish! There's nothing in that in spite of the anonymous letter. What +do you know about the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Only what Steel told me. He found a boatman at Gravesend who declared +that on the day of the crime—Steel gave him the date—a small steam +yacht was lying in the river off the town. It was called <i>The Red +Cross</i>. The next morning it was gone. The night was foggy, and no one +saw it leave its moorings. It simply vanished. What do you make of that, +Ware?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. What has this yacht to do with Miss Denham?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can't you see? The anonymous letter referred to a Scarlet Cross. Such +an ornament was picked up in the church, and the boat was called——"</p> + +<p>"<i>The Red Cross</i>—not <i>The Scarlet Cross</i>," interrupted Ware.</p> + +<p>"Only a difference of shade," said Morley ironically. "But I am certain +that Miss Denham with her companion went on board that yacht. I can't +think how else they escaped."</p> + +<p>"Why should this lawyer's clerk have gone on board?"</p> + +<p>"That's what Steel is trying to find out. I expect he will make +inquiries of Asher, Son, and Asher's office. But the name of the yacht, +the fact that Miss Denham made for Gravesend, where it was lying, and +its appearance and disappearance within twenty-four hours during which +the crime was committed shows me that she fled and that she is guilty."</p> + +<p>Ware restrained himself with a violent effort. "Oh," he said ironically, +"then you believe that Miss Denham arranged that the yacht should be at +Gravesend, ready for her flight, after the death of Daisy."</p> + +<p>"It looks like that," assented Morley. "I believe myself that the crime +was premeditated."</p> + +<p>"And was the fact of my car being at the church gate premeditated?" +asked Ware angrily.</p> + +<p>"Why not? Miss Denham knew that your car was coming for you after the +service."</p> + +<p>"Morley, I admit that things look black, but she is not guilty."</p> + +<p>"Humph! You love her."</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>"As you will. Let us say no more on the subject. I wish to tell you why +I came."</p> + +<p>"It is sure to be a more disagreeable subject," retorted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> Giles; then +felt compunction for the rude speech. "I beg your pardon, Morley, I am a +perfect bear. But this illness has made me peevish, and the events of +the last few weeks have rendered my brain irritable. Forgive my bad +temper."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right, Ware," replied his visitor heartily. "I can +always make allowances for invalids. You'll be your old self again +shortly."</p> + +<p>"I shall never be myself again," replied Giles gloomily.</p> + +<p>It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to make some fresh reference to +Anne. But he knew that such a remark would only exasperate the invalid; +and, moreover, Giles looked so ill and worried that Morley generously +refrained from adding to his troubles. "Let us come to business," he +said, taking some papers out of his breast coat-pocket. "Since you were +engaged to Daisy I thought it right that you should be made aware of a +communication I have received from Asher, Son, and Asher."</p> + +<p>"About the summons you told me of?" asked Ware wearily. He did not take +much interest in Morley's affairs.</p> + +<p>"No. I have managed to compromise that. The solicitors have accepted +payment in instalments. In this instance they write to me officially as +Daisy's guardian. She has come into five thousand a year, Ware."</p> + +<p>Giles opened his eyes and sat up in bed excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that her half-uncle Powell is dead?"</p> + +<p>Morley nodded. "Very ironical, isn't it?" he said. "She was always +talking and hoping for the money, and now when it comes she is unable to +enjoy it. What tricks Fate plays us to be sure!"</p> + +<p>"Poor girl!" sighed Giles; "how often have we discussed the prospect of +her being an heiress! I always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> told her that I had enough for both, but +she hankered after having money in her own right."</p> + +<p>"Look at the papers," said Morley, handing them to the young man, "and +you will see that Powell died over four months ago in Sydney. His +solicitors arranged about the estate in the colony of New South Wales, +and then communicated with Asher as Powell had advised them before he +died. There is a copy of the will there."</p> + +<p>"So I see. But tell me the chief points in it. I feel too tired to wade +through all this legal matter."</p> + +<p>"Well, the money was left to Daisy, and failing her it goes to a man +called George Franklin."</p> + +<p>"H'm! He has come in for his kingdom very speedily, thanks to the death +of poor Daisy. Who is he?"</p> + +<p>Morley glanced at a letter. "He was the brother-in-law of Mr. +Powell—married Powell's sister who is dead. I don't know if there is +any family. Asher's firm doesn't know the whereabouts of Franklin, but +they are advertising for him. The five thousand a year goes to him +without reservation."</p> + +<p>"Why did they tell you all this?"</p> + +<p>"I really can't say, unless it is because I was Daisy's legal guardian. +I wish she had come in for this money, Ware, for I do not say but what I +shouldn't have been glad of a trifle. And if Daisy had lived she would +have paid me something. Certainly as I did what I did do out of sheer +friendship with her father, I have no right to demand anything, but when +Franklin hears of my circumstances I hope he will lend me some money to +get me out of my difficulties."</p> + +<p>"It all depends upon the kind of man he turns out to be. But I always +thought, Morley, that it was your wife to whom Kent left his daughter. +She was an old friend of his."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Quite so; but Kent appointed me guardian, as Mrs. Morley refused to be +legally bound. I am sure I did my duty," added the little man, with +sudden heat.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you did. You behaved like a father to her, and I am sorry she +did not live to repay you." Giles thought for a moment or so, then +added, "I was engaged to Daisy, and I am rich. Let me help you, Morley."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks. It is good of you to suggest such a thing, but I am a very +independent man. If this Franklin will do anything, I don't mind +accepting a thousand from him; otherwise—no, Ware."</p> + +<p>Giles admired the bluff way in which Morley said this. He knew well that +for a long time Morley and his wife had done all they could for Daisy +Kent, and that both of them deserved great praise. He suggested that +Mrs. Morley might be induced——</p> + +<p>"No," interrupted his visitor, "my wife wants nothing. She has her own +money, and ample means."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you ask for her help?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Ware, I married Mrs. Morley because I loved her, and not for +her money. All her property is settled on herself, and I have not +touched one shilling of it. She would willingly help me, but I have +refused."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that rather quixotic on your part?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," responded Morley, with some dryness; "but it is my nature. +However, I see that I am tiring you. I only came to tell you of this +irony of fate, whereby Daisy inherited a fortune too late to benefit by +it. I must go now. My wife expects me back in Brighton to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"When do you return to The Elms?"</p> + +<p>"In a month. And what are your movements?"</p> + +<p>Ware thought for a few minutes before he answered. At length he spoke +seriously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Morley, I know you are prejudiced against Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"I think she is guilty, if that is what you mean, Ware."</p> + +<p>"And I say that she is innocent. I intend to devote myself to finding +her and to clearing up this mystery."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish you good luck," said Morley, moving towards the door; "but +don't tell me when you find Miss Denham. If I come across her I'll have +her arrested."</p> + +<p>"That's plain enough. Well, since you are her declared enemy, I shall +keep my own counsel." He raised himself on his elbow. "But I tell you, +Morley, that I shall find her. I shall prove her innocence, and I shall +make her my wife."</p> + +<p>Morley opened the door.</p> + +<p>"The age of miracles is past," he said. "When you are more yourself, you +will be wiser. Good-bye, and a speedy recovery."</p> + +<p>As the visitor departed Trim entered with the letters. He was not at all +pleased to find Giles so flushed, and refused to hand over the +correspondence. Only when Ware began to grow seriously angry did Trim +give way. He went grumbling out of the room as Giles opened his letters. +The first two were from friends in town asking after his health; the +third had a French stamp and the Paris postmark. Ware opened it +listlessly. He then uttered an exclamation. On a sheet of thin foreign +paper was the drawing in pencil of a half-sovereign of Edward VII., and +thereon three circles placed in a triangle, marked respectively "A," +"D," and "P." Below, in a handwriting he knew only too well, was written +the one word "Innocent."</p> + +<p>"Anne, Anne!" cried Ware, passionately kissing the letter, "as though I +needed you to tell me that!"</p> + +<p>And it was not till an hour later that he suddenly remembered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> what a +narrow escape he had had from putting Morley on the track of Anne +Denham. Had Morley seen that letter——?</p> + +<p>"Paris," murmured Giles, "I'll go there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE DISCOVERY</h3> + +<p>The offices of Asher, Son, and Asher were situated in a dark, narrow +street in the City, which led down to the river. In former days the +place might have been respectable, and then the original Asher had set +up his official tent in the neighborhood; but civilization had moved +westward, and Terry Street was looked on askance by fashionable +solicitors. Nevertheless the firm of Asher continued to dwell in the +dingy office, where their progenitors had slaved for close on a hundred +years. It was quite good enough, thought the present head of the firm, +for such well-known lawyers.</p> + +<p>The firm did a good old-fashioned business, eminently respectable and +safe. None of the three partners was a sharper, as Morley asserted; but +as the firm had issued a judgment summons against the master of The +Elms, he could scarcely be expected to think well of them. Old Mr. Asher +rarely came to the office, preferring his country house and melon beds, +and the business was conducted by the son and the other Asher, who was a +cousin. Both these gentlemen were over forty, and in spite of a modern +education were decidedly old-fashioned. There was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> something in the +musty air of the Terry Street office that petrified them into old men +before their due time. The three clerks who sat in the outer rooms were +also elderly, and the sole youthful creature about the place was the +office boy, a red-haired imp who answered to the name of Alexander. His +surname was Benker, but was not thought sufficiently dignified for use +in so sedate a place of business.</p> + +<p>With some difficulty Steel found this musty haunt of the legal Muse, and +sent up his name to the senior partner with a request for an interview. +Alexander, whistling between his teeth, led him into a frowzy apartment +lined with books and tin boxes, and furnished with a green baize-covered +table heaped with legal papers, three chairs, and a mahogany sofa of the +Early Victorian period. Mr. Asher, the son, might have belonged to the +same epoch, in spite of his age, so rusty and smug did he look. His face +was clean-shaven with the exception of side-whiskers; his hair was thin +on the top and sparse on the sides, and he was dressed in a suit of +solemn black, with a satin tie to match. In fact, he was the typical +lawyer of melodrama, and Steel was surprised to find so ancient a +survival in these modern days. But when they began to talk Asher proved +to be quite able to hold his own, and was not at all fossilized in +brain, whatever he might be in appearance. He knew not only the name of +Steel, but all about the case and Steel's connection therewith. He +referred in feeling terms to Daisy's death.</p> + +<p>"A very charming girl, Mr. Steel," said the young-old lawyer. "On +several occasions she has been here to draw her little income. It is sad +that she should have met with her death at the hands of a jealous woman +at the very time she was about to enjoy a legacy of five thousand a +year."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" cried Steel, who had heard nothing of this.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Mr. Morley never informed you of the fact."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, he didn't; but then, I have not seen him for over a week. I +believe he is at Brighton with his wife. Who left this money to the late +Miss Kent?"</p> + +<p>"A relative of hers who died lately in Australia."</p> + +<p>"And failing her who inherits?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Asher reflected. "I don't know that you have any right to ask that +question," he said, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," replied the detective. "Miss Kent was murdered. I fancied +that the money might have something to do with the commission of the +crime."</p> + +<p>"No, Mr. Steel. I read the evidence given at the inquest. Jealousy was +the motive of the crime, and Miss Denham is guilty."</p> + +<p>"I am somewhat of that way of thinking myself, Mr. Asher. And on the +face of it there is no other way of accounting for the murder. +Nevertheless it is just as well to look at the matter from all sides. +The crime may be connected with the question of this fortune. You may as +well tell me what I wish to know. I'll keep my mouth closed."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to accuse our client of the crime?" asked Asher dryly. "I +fear you will waste your time if you do. Since you look at the matter in +this way, I don't mind speaking about what after all is not your +business."</p> + +<p>"That is as it may be," returned Steel enigmatically.</p> + +<p>Asher passed this remark over. "Failing Miss Kent, the five thousand a +year goes to George Franklin, a brother-in-law of the testator. We +lately received a letter from him, informing us that he intended to +claim the money."</p> + +<p>"How did he know that he would inherit?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We advertised for him. He is quite unaware of the death of Miss Kent, +and I daresay thinks Mr. Powell left the fortune to him direct."</p> + +<p>"You can't be certain of his ignorance. However, let us give him the +benefit of the doubt. Where did he write from?"</p> + +<p>"From Florence, in Italy, where he has lived for four years. He will be +in London next week, and if you want to see him——"</p> + +<p>"I'll think of it," interrupted Steel. "There may be no need to trouble +Mr. Franklin. At present I am searching for this clerk of yours, who +went off with Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>The lawyer raised his eyebrows with manifest surprise. "A clerk of ours, +Mr. Steel? I don't quite follow you."</p> + +<p>"I refer to the man who served a judgment summons on Mr. Morley."</p> + +<p>"A boy served that," explained Asher. "The boy who showed you in."</p> + +<p>Steel stared hard at the solicitor, trying to understand why he had made +such a statement. "But that is absurd," he remarked. "I know that +nothing was said at the inquest about the matter, as Mr. Morley did not +wish it to be known that he was in such difficulties. But a tall man, +with a reddish beard, dressed in a great-coat, with a white scarf, +served the summons. Afterwards he went to the midnight service in the +parish church, and lured Miss Kent outside by means of a note, which we +cannot find. From what I have gathered this man went with Miss Denham in +Mr. Ware's motor-car. He fled with her, and I fancy he must be either +the assassin or an accessory after the fact."</p> + +<p>Asher heard all this with extreme surprise. When Steel concluded he +touched the bell. Alexander responded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> with his usual cheerful and +impudent air. His master addressed him with some severity. "What about +that summons which was served by you on Mr. Morley, of Rickwell?" he +demanded.</p> + +<p>The lad grew crimson to his ears, and looked at the floor much +embarrassed. "I served it all right, sir," he mumbled.</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> served it," struck in Steel, with emphasis. "That is quite +untrue. A tall man with a red beard served it."</p> + +<p>"Alexander, tell the truth. What does this mean?"</p> + +<p>The boy began to sob, and drew his coat-sleeve across his eye with a +snuffle. "I thought it was all right," he said, "or I should not have +given it to him."</p> + +<p>"The summons! You gave it to someone to serve?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. To Mr. Wilson, mother's lodger."</p> + +<p>"Is he tall? Has he a pale face and a red beard?" asked Steel.</p> + +<p>"He has, sir. He's been with mother six months, and was always kind. +When I got the summons he said that he was going into the country, and +would serve it on Mr. Morley."</p> + +<p>"Alexander," said Asher in an awful tone, "I gave you money for your +railway fare to go to Rickwell. What have you done with that money, +wretched boy?"</p> + +<p>"I went to the Hippodrome with another boy," wept Alexander. "I thought +as I'd take the holiday, as you'd think I was in the country. Please, +sir, I'm very sorry, but I thought Mr. Wilson was all right."</p> + +<p>"Did Mr. Wilson come back to say that all was right?" demanded Steel +sharply.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he didn't. Mother and I ain't set eyes on him since he went +away to serve the summons. I was afraid to tell you, sir," he added to +his master, "'cause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> I knew I'd done wrong. But I hope you won't be hard +on me, sir."</p> + +<p>"Alexander," said Mr. Asher, "you have disgraced a most respectable +office, and can no longer continue in it. You have spent money, you have +wasted time, both given to you for a certain purpose. For the sake of +your mother, who is a hard-working woman, I shall not take any legal +steps. But from this day you cease to be in our employment. Your wages +for the week shall be confiscated, since you have made free with my +money. At five to-day, Alexander, you leave this place forever."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir—please, sir—I didn't——"</p> + +<p>"Alexander, I have spoken. You can depart."</p> + +<p>With a howl the boy went out of the room, and sat weeping in the outer +office for at least ten minutes. He was wondering what he should say to +his mother, for she was a terrible woman, with a short temper and a hard +hand. His fellow-clerks demanded what was the matter, but Alexander had +sense enough to keep his own counsel. All he said was that the governor +had discharged him, and then he wept afresh.</p> + +<p>While thus employed Steel made his appearance. He had been discussing +the matter with Asher, and had proposed a course of action in connection +with the delinquent to which Asher agreed. He advanced to the weeping +Alexander and lifted him from his seat by the collar.</p> + +<p>"Come, young man," said he, "take me home to your mother at once."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lor'," cried Alexander, "she'll give me beans!"</p> + +<p>"You deserve the worst beating she can give you," said Steel severely, +while the clerks grinned. "However, you must come with me. Where do you +live?"</p> + +<p>"Warder Street, Lambeth," snuffled Alexander, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> urged by the hand on +his collar, went out of the office with the detective.</p> + +<p>"We'll take a hansom," said Steel, and shortly was ensconced in one with +the miserable Alexander.</p> + +<p>As a rule a ride in a hansom would have been a joy to Master Benker, but +he was too much afraid of the meeting with his mother to take any +pleasure in the treat. However, he relied on the promise of the +detective that he would sooth the maternal ire, and managed to reply +fairly well to the questions Steel asked. These referred to Mr. Wilson.</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" demanded the detective.</p> + +<p>"Mother's lodger," replied Alexander; "he's been with her six months, +and mother thought a deal of him. He was kind to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Was he well off?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. He paid his rent regular, but he wore shabby clothes, and +was always out. I only saw him at night when I came home from the +office."</p> + +<p>"Did he ask you many questions about the office?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. He said he wished me to get on—that I was a smart boy, and a +credit to my mother."</p> + +<p>"So you are," answered Steel genially. "I'm sure she'll give you a proof +of her approval to-day. Now don't cry, boy." Steel shook Alexander, and +then demanded suddenly, "You copy all the letters, do you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," answered Master Benker, wondering why this was asked.</p> + +<p>"And you read them sometimes?"</p> + +<p>"Nearly always. I like to know what's going on. Mr. Wilson said I should +make myself acquainted with everything."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he did," muttered Steel ironically. "Did you read any letter +saying that Miss Kent had inherited a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> fortune? Miss Daisy Kent, who +lived with Mr. Morley at Rickwell?"</p> + +<p>Alexander thought for a moment. "Yes, I did. It was a letter to some +lawyers in Sydney."</p> + +<p>"Did you tell Mr. Wilson about it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. He was always talking about people coming in for money, and I +said that a girl called Miss Kent had come in for five thousand a year."</p> + +<p>"I thought so. When did you tell Mr. Wilson this?"</p> + +<p>"Three days after Christmas."</p> + +<p>"Before he offered to serve the summons?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I hadn't got the summons then," said Alexander. "Mr. Asher gave it +to me the day before New Year. I said I was going into the country to +Rickwell, for Mr. Wilson asked me what I was making myself smart for. He +said he'd take the summons, and that I could go to the Hippodrome with +Jim Tyler."</p> + +<p>"Which you did on your employer's money. You are a smart lad, Alexander. +What did your mother say?"</p> + +<p>"Mother was out when I came home with the summons, and after Mr. Wilson +said he'd take it I didn't say anything to her."</p> + +<p>"Then she thought that on the day before the New Year you were at the +office as usual?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," snuffled Master Benker, "she did. Oh, Lor'!" as the cab stopped +before a tidy house in a quiet street, "here we are."</p> + +<p>"And there is your mother," said the detective cheerfully, as a severe +face appeared at the white-curtained window.</p> + +<p>Alexander wept afresh as Steel paid the cabman, and positively howled +when the door opened and his mother—a lean woman in a black dress, with +a widow's cap—appeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> He would have run away but that Steel again +had a hand on his collar.</p> + +<p>"Alexander," cried his mother harshly, "what have you been doing?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very dreadful, ma'am," interposed Steel. "It will be all right. +Let me in, and I'll speak for my young friend."</p> + +<p>"And who may you be, sir?" demanded Mrs. Benker, bristling.</p> + +<p>"A personal friend of Mr. Asher's."</p> + +<p>On hearing this dreaded name Mrs. Benker softened, and welcomed Steel +into a neat parlor, where he seated himself in a horsehair mahogany +chair of the most slippery description and related what had happened. +Alexander stood by and wept all the time. He wept more when his mother +spoke.</p> + +<p>"I expected it," she said in quiet despair; "that boy is the bane of my +life. I'll speak to you shortly, Alexander. Go to your room and retire +to bed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother! mother!" cried Master Benker, writhing at the prospect of a +thorough whipping.</p> + +<p>"Go to your room, Alexander, and make ready," repeated the widow, with a +glare, and the boy retired slowly, wriggling and snuffling. When his +sobs died away and an upstairs door was heard to close with a bang, Mrs. +Benker addressed herself to Steel.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will induce Mr. Asher to overlook this," she said, clasping +a pair of lean, mittened hands; "I am so poor."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best," responded Steel; "that is, if you will give me some +information about your late lodger, Mr. Wilson."</p> + +<p>"Why should I do that?" asked Mrs. Benker suspiciously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Because Mr. Asher wishes to know all about him. You see, your son +allowed Mr. Wilson to serve this summons, and it is necessary that Mr. +Asher should learn where he is."</p> + +<p>"That's only fair; but I don't know. Mr. Wilson has not returned here +since he left on the day before New Year."</p> + +<p>"Did he leave any luggage behind him?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he didn't." Mrs. Benker paused, then continued, "I'll tell you +exactly how it occurred, if Mr. Asher will make some allowance for the +wickedness of that wretched boy of mine."</p> + +<p>"I'll see what can be done, and use my influence with Mr. Asher."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said the widow gratefully. "Well, sir, I was absent +all the last day of the year, as I was seeing a married daughter of mine +in Marylebone. Mr. Wilson was in the house when I left at ten in the +morning, but said nothing about going away. When I returned at six in +the evening I found that he was gone bag and baggage, and that he had +left his rent on the table. Also a note saying that he was suddenly +called away and would not return."</p> + +<p>"Have you the note?" asked Steel, thinking it just as well to have some +specimen of Wilson's handwriting.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benker shook her head. "I burnt it," she replied; "it was only +written in pencil and not worth keeping. I must say that Mr. Wilson +always behaved like a gentleman, although I saw little of him. He was +queer in his habits."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean—'queer'?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I hardly ever saw him in the daytime, and when I did he +usually kept his blinds down in his room, as he suffered from weak eyes. +Even when he saw Alexander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> in the evening he would hardly have any +light. Then sometimes he would lie in bed all the day, and be out all +the night. At other times he would stay at home the whole of the +twenty-four hours. But he always paid his rent regularly, and gave +little trouble over his food. Yes," added Mrs. Benker, smoothing her +apron, "Mr. Wilson was always a gentleman. I will say that."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" thought Steel, taking all this in eagerly. "A queer kind of +gentleman," he added aloud. "Did you know anything else about him, Mrs. +Benker?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir." She drew herself up primly. "I never pry—never."</p> + +<p>"Did any one call to see Mr. Wilson?"</p> + +<p>"No one. All the time he was here not one person called."</p> + +<p>"Did he receive any letters?"</p> + +<p>"No. Not one letter arrived."</p> + +<p>"Queer," murmured Steel. "What newspaper did he take?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Morning Post</i>. Also he took the <i>World</i>, <i>Truth</i>, <i>Modern +Society</i>, and <i>M. A. P.</i> He was fond of the fashionable intelligence."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he was, was he? Would you have called him a gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"He always paid his rent duly," hesitated Mrs. Benker, "so far he was a +perfect gentleman. But I have lived as a lady's maid in the best +families, sir, and I don't think Mr. Wilson was what you or I would call +an aristocrat."</p> + +<p>"I see. So you were a lady's maid once. In what families?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benker was not at all averse to relating her better days, and did +so with pride. "I was with the Countess of Flint, with Mrs. Harwitch, +and with Lady Susan Summersdale."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ha!" said Steel, starting. He remembered that Morley had been concerned +with Lady Summersdale about the robbery of her jewels. "Did you tell Mr. +Wilson this?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. We had long talks about aristocratic families."</p> + +<p>She repeated several tales she had told Wilson, and Steel asked her many +questions. When he took his leave he asked a leading one: "Did Mr. +Wilson wear a red cross as an ornament?"</p> + +<p>"On his watch-chain he did," said Mrs. Benker, and Steel departed very +satisfied with his day's work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>ON A FRESH TRAIL</h3> + +<p>If Giles Ware had not been desperately in love and desperately anxious +to find Anne Denham, he would scarcely have gone to Paris on such a +wild-goose chase. The postmark on the letter showed that she was, or she +had been, in the French capital; but to find her in that immense city +was like looking for a haystack in a league-long desert. However, Ware +had an idea—foolish enough—that some instinct would guide him to her +side, and, therefore, as soon as he recovered sufficiently to travel he +crossed the Channel with Trim. He left Rickwell about three weeks after +his interview with Morley. Time enough, as he well knew, for Anne to +change her place of residence. But he trusted to luck.</p> + +<p>For quite a fortnight he explored the city, accompanied by the faithful +old servant. Trim had sharp eyes, and would be certain to recognize Anne +if she came within eyesight. But in spite of their vigilance and +observation, the two saw no one even distantly resembling Anne. +Certainly if Giles had gone to the authorities, who take note of all who +come and go, he might have been more successful. But knowing that Anne +was wanted by the English police, he did not dare to adopt this method. +He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> was forced to rely entirely on himself, and his search resulted in +nothing.</p> + +<p>"It ain't no good, Master Giles," said Trim for at least the tenth time; +"we've lost the scent somehow. Better go back to London. I don't want +you to be ill over here, sir, with nothing but foreign doctors to look +after you."</p> + +<p>"I shan't leave Paris until I am certain that she is not in the place," +declared Ware resolutely.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I don't know how much more certain you wants to be. We've +tramped them bullyvardes and Chamy Elizas till our feet are near +dropping off. You're looking a shadow, Master Giles, if you'll excuse an +old man as nursed you when you were a baby. She ain't here. Now I +shouldn't be surprised if she were in London," said Trim wisely.</p> + +<p>"What, in the very jaws of the lion? Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but is it, sir? I always heard it said by them as knows that the +jaws of the lion is the very last place any one expects to find them." +Trim did not state what "them" he meant. "If she went back to Rickwell +she would be safe, especially if she laid up in some cottage and called +herself a widder."</p> + +<p>"Trim, you've been reading detective novels!"</p> + +<p>"Not me, sir; I ain't got no time. But about this going back——"</p> + +<p>"We'll go back to-morrow, Trim," said Ware, with sudden resolution. And +Trim joyfully departed to pack.</p> + +<p>It just struck Giles that after all Trim might be right, and that having +thrown the police off the scent by going abroad in the yacht, Anne might +return to London. She might be there now, living in some quiet suburb, +while the police were wasting their time corresponding with the French +authorities. Moreover, Ware thought it would be just as well to learn +what Steel was doing. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> charge of the case and might have struck +the trail. In that case Giles wanted to know, for he could then avert +any possible danger from Anne. And finally he reflected that he might +learn something about Anne's friends from the people at the Governesses' +Institute where Mrs. Morley had engaged her. If she returned to London +it was not impossible that she might have gone to hide in the house of +some friend. Any one who knew Anne could be certain that she was not +guilty of the crime she was accused of, and would assuredly aid her to +escape the unjust law. So thought Giles in his ardor; but he quite +forgot that every one was not in love with Anne, and would scarcely help +her unless they were fully convinced of her innocence, and perhaps not +even then. Most people have a holy horror of the law, and are not +anxious to help those in danger of the long arm of justice.</p> + +<p>However, Giles reasoned as above and forthwith left Paris for London. He +took up his quarters in the Guelph Hotel, opposite the Park, and began +his search for Anne again. Luckily he had obtained from Mrs. Morley the +number of the Institute, which was in South Kensington, and the day +after his arrival walked there to make inquiries. It was a very forlorn +hope, but Ware saw no other chance of achieving his desire.</p> + +<p>The Institute was a tall red-brick house, with green blinds and a prim, +tidy look. He was shown into a prim parlor and interviewed by a prim old +lady, who wore spectacles and had a pencil stuffed in the bosom of her +black gown. However, she was less prim than she looked, and had a +cheerful old ruddy face with a twinkling pair of kindly eyes. In her +heart Mrs. Cairns admired this handsome young man who spoke so politely, +and was more willing to afford him the desired information than if he +had been elderly and ugly. Old as she was, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> good lady was a true +daughter of Eve, and her natural liking for the opposite sex had not +been crushed out of her by years of education. Nevertheless when she +heard the name of Anne she threw up her hands in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Why do you come here to ask about that unfortunate girl?" she demanded, +and looked severely at Giles. Before he could reply she glanced again at +his card, which she held in her fingers, and started. "Giles Ware," she +read, drawing a quick breath. "Are you——"</p> + +<p>"I was engaged to the young lady who was killed," said Ware, surprised.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cairns' rosy face became a deep red. "And you doubtless wish to +avenge her death by finding Miss Denham?"</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I wish to save Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"What! do you not believe her guilty?"</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Cairns, I do not. Every one says she killed the girl, but I am +certain that she is an innocent woman. I come to ask you if you can tell +me where she is."</p> + +<p>"Why do you come to me?" Mrs. Cairns went to see that the door was +closed before she asked this question.</p> + +<p>"I thought you might know of her whereabouts."</p> + +<p>"Why should I?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I admit that there is no reason why you should—at least, I +thought so before I came here."</p> + +<p>"And now?" She bent forward eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Now I think that if she had come to you for refuge she would get help +from you. I can see that you also believe her guiltless."</p> + +<p>"I do," said Mrs. Cairns in a low voice. "I have known Anne for years +and I am certain that she is not the woman to do a thing like this. She +would not harm a fly."</p> + +<p>"Then you can help me. You know where she is?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cairns looked at his flushed face, at the light in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> his eyes. In +her shrewd way she guessed the secret of this eagerness. "Then you love +her," she said under her breath. "You love Anne."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say that?" asked Giles, taken aback. He was not prepared to +find that she could read him so easily.</p> + +<p>"I remember," said Mrs. Cairns to herself, but loud enough for him to +hear, "there was a Society paper said something about jealousy being the +motive of the crime, and——"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that such a statement was in the papers?" asked Ware +angrily, and with a flash of his blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"It was in none of the big daily papers, Mr. Ware. They offered no +explanation. But some Society reporter went down to Rickwell; to gather +scandal from the servants, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Off from Mrs. Parry," muttered Giles; then aloud, "Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Well, this man or woman—most probably it was a woman—made up a very +pretty tale, which was printed in <i>The Firefly</i>."</p> + +<p>"A scandalous paper," said Ware, annoyed. "What did it say?"</p> + +<p>"That you were in love with Anne, that you were engaged to Miss Kent, +and that to gain you as her husband Anne killed the girl."</p> + +<p>"It's a foul lie. I'll horsewhip the editor and make him put in an +apology."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Ware," said the old lady dryly. +"Better let sleeping dogs lie. I don't believe the whole story +myself—only part of it."</p> + +<p>"What part, Mrs. Cairns?"</p> + +<p>"That part which says you love Anne. I can see it in your face."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I can trust you——"</p> + +<p>"Certainly you can. Anne is like my own child. I believe her guiltless +of this terrible crime, and I would do anything to see her righted. She +did not kill the girl."</p> + +<p>"No, I believe the girl was killed by a nameless man who came to +Rickwell from some firm of solicitors. I don't know why he murdered the +poor child, no more than I can understand why Anne should have helped +him to escape."</p> + +<p>"You call her Anne," said Mrs. Cairns softly.</p> + +<p>Giles flushed through the tan of his strong face.</p> + +<p>"I have no right to do so," he said. "She never gave me permission. Mrs. +Cairns, I assure you that there was no understanding between Miss Denham +and myself. I was engaged by my father to Miss Kent, and we were to be +married. I fell in love with Miss Denham, and I have reason to believe +that she returned my love."</p> + +<p>"She told you so?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! She and I never said words like that to one another. We were +friends; nothing more. Miss Kent chose to be jealous of a trifling gift +I gave Miss Denham at Christmas, and there was trouble. Then came an +anonymous letter, saying that Anne wished to kill Daisy."</p> + +<p>"A letter, and said that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cairns in surprise. "But I +can't understand it at all. Anne had no enemies, so far as I know. No +one could hate so sweet a girl. Her father——"</p> + +<p>"Did you know her father?" asked Ware quickly.</p> + +<p>"No; but she often spoke of him. She was fond of her father, although he +seems to have been a wandering Bohemian. He died at Florence."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he really did die."</p> + +<p>"Of course. He—but it's a long story, Mr. Ware, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> I have not the +time to tell it to you. Besides, there is one who can tell you all about +Anne and her father much better than I can. The Princess Karacsay. Do +you know her?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen the name somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Probably on a programme," said Mrs. Cairns composedly. "Oh, don't look +so astonished. The Princess is really a Hungarian aristocrat. She +quarrelled with her people, and came to England with very little money. +To keep herself alive she tried to become a governess. Afterwards, +having a beautiful voice, she became a concert singer. I hear she is +very popular."</p> + +<p>"How should she know about Anne—I mean Miss Denham?"</p> + +<p>"Because if there is any woman to whom Anne would go in her distress, it +would be the Princess. She met Anne here while she was a governess, and +the two became great friends. They were always together. I do not know +where Anne is, Mr. Ware. She did not come to me, nor has she written; +but if she is in England the Princess will know."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she would tell me?" asked Giles eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I really don't know. She is romantic, and if she learned that you loved +Anne she might be inclined to help you. But that would depend upon Anne +herself. How is she disposed towards you?"</p> + +<p>For answer Giles related the episode of the foreign letter, with the +drawing of the coin and the one word "Innocent." Mrs. Cairns listened +quietly, and nodded.</p> + +<p>"Evidently Anne values your good opinion. I think you had better tell +all this to the Princess." She hastily wrote a few lines. "This is her +address."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you! Thank you!"</p> + +<p>"And, Mr. Ware," added the old lady, laying a kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> hand on his arm, "if +you hear about Anne, come and tell me. I hope with all my soul that you +will be able to save the poor child."</p> + +<p>"If human aid can prove her innocence, you can depend upon me," was +Ware's reply. And taking leave of Mrs. Cairns, he left the Institute +with his heart beating and his head in the air.</p> + +<p>Giles was glad that his good fortune had led him to meet this true +friend of the woman he loved. He was also glad that he had been so open +with her about his passion, else she might not have sent him to the +Princess Karacsay. As the name came into his mind he glanced down at the +paper, which he still held. The address of Anne's friend was "42, +Gilbert Mansions, Westminster." Giles resolved to lose no time in +looking her up. She would be able to tell him where Anne was, and also +might be able to explain the mystery of Anne's life in general, and her +conduct at Rickwell in particular.</p> + +<p>For there was some mystery about Miss Denham. Ware was quite certain on +that point. She had said that her father was dead, and circumstances +pointed to the fact that her father was alive and was the nameless man +who had appeared and disappeared so suddenly. Then there was the strange +episode of the anonymous letter, and the queer reference therein to the +Scarlet Cross. Also the fact that the yacht in which Anne had fled was +called <i>The Red Cross</i>. All these things hinted at a mystery, and such +might in some indirect way be connected with the death of Daisy Kent. +Anne had not killed her; but since she had aided the murderer to escape +she must have condoned the crime in some way. Ware shuddered as he +looked at the matter in this light. What if Anne knew something about +the matter after all? The next moment he put the thought from him with +anger. Anne<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> was good and pure, and her hands were clean from the stain +of blood. Such a woman would not—could not commit a crime either +directly or indirectly. When he saw her he would ask for an explanation, +and once she opened her mouth all would be made plain.</p> + +<p>Arguing thus with himself, Giles wrote a letter to the Princess Karacsay +and asked for an interview. He mentioned that he had seen Mrs. Cairns +and that the old lady had furnished him with the address. Also, he said +that his wish in seeing the Princess was to ask for the whereabouts of +Miss Denham. Having despatched this note, Giles felt that he could do no +more until he received a reply.</p> + +<p>But he was too restless to remain quiet. It occurred to him that he +might look up Steel and learn what fresh discoveries had been made in +connection with the Rickwell crime. He went to New Scotland Yard and +asked for the detective, but learned to his surprise and vexation that +the man was out of town and was not expected back for a week. No one +could say where he had gone, so Giles had to satisfy himself with +leaving a card and promising to call again.</p> + +<p>The next day he received a note from the Princess Karacsay asking him to +come the next evening at nine o'clock. She said nothing about Anne, nor +did she volunteer any information. She simply appointed an hour and a +place for the interview and signed herself Olga Karacsay. Giles felt +that she had been intentionally curt, and wondered if she intended to +give him a civil reception. After some thought he decided that she meant +to be kind, although the note read so coldly. He would go, and perhaps +during the interview she might be persuaded to help him. After all, she +must know that he had been engaged to marry the dead girl, and +fancied—as Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Cairns had done—that he wished to have Anne arrested.</p> + +<p>The following evening he arrayed himself with particular care and drove +in a hansom to Westminster. The cab stopped before a great pile of brick +buildings near the Abbey, and when Giles had dismissed it he entered a +large and well-lighted hall with a tesselated pavement. Here a porter +volunteered, on ascertaining his business, to conduct him to the door of +the Princess Karacsay's flat, which was on the first floor.</p> + +<p>Giles was admitted by a neat maid-servant, who showed him into a +picturesque drawing-room. A tall woman in evening dress was standing +beside the window in the twilight. Giles thought her figure was familiar +and recognized the turn of her head. He uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>"Anne," he said, stretching his arms. "Anne, my dearest!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>PRINCESS KARACSAY</h3> + +<p>Even as he spoke the room was flooded with the light of the electric +lamps. The woman by the window turned and came forward smiling. With a +feeling of bitter disappointment Giles recoiled. It was not Anne. He had +been deceived by a chance resemblance.</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand your mistake," said the Princess Karacsay. "It +is not the first time that I have been taken for my friend."</p> + +<p>Indeed, she was very like Anne, both in figure and face. She had the +same dark hair and dark eyes, the same oval face and rich coloring. But +her expression was different. She was more haughty than Miss Denham, and +there was less simplicity in her manner. Even as Ware looked at her the +likeness seemed to vanish, and he wondered that he should have made such +a mistake. But for the twilight, the turn of her head, and her height, +together with the way in which she carried herself, he would not have +been deceived.</p> + +<p>"One would take you for Miss Denham's sister," he said when seated.</p> + +<p>The Princess smiled oddly. "We are alike in many ways," she replied +quietly. "I look upon Miss Denham<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> as my second self. You called me Anne +when you mistook me for her," she added, with a keen glance.</p> + +<p>"I have no right to do so, Princess, but——" He hesitated, not knowing +how to choose his words. She saw his perplexity and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I quite understand, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"Anne—I mean Miss Denham—has told you about me?"</p> + +<p>"I have not seen her for months, Mr. Ware, not since that terrible event +which has made a fugitive of her."</p> + +<p>Giles was bitterly disappointed, and his face showed his feelings. From +what Mrs. Cairns had said he was certain that the Princess would be able +to help him, and here she confessed an ignorance of Anne's whereabouts. +Nevertheless Ware still hoped. He thought that not knowing his real +errand, she was feigning ignorance for the sake of her friend's safety. +"I am sorry she has not spoken to you about me," he remarked, "for then +you would know that I wish her well."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know that. Anne—I may as well call her Anne to you, Mr. +Ware—wrote to me from Rickwell several times. She told me all about +you. But I have not seen her since the death of your fiancée. I have no +idea where she is now."</p> + +<p>"I thought—and Mrs. Cairns thought—that she would come to you in her +distress, or at least communicate her whereabouts."</p> + +<p>"She has done neither, and I do not know where to address a letter."</p> + +<p>"What is to be done?" said Giles half to himself and much distressed.</p> + +<p>Princess Karacsay rose and glanced at the clock with a laugh. "Oh, if we +talk, something may come of our putting our heads together," she said. +"Meantime we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> can make ourselves comfortable. Here are coffee and +cigarettes, Mr. Ware. Would you prefer a cigar?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, Princess. These look very good."</p> + +<p>"Both coffee and cigarettes are Turkish," said she, handing him a cup +and afterwards a cigarette. "I get them from a cousin of mine who is an +attaché at Constantinople. Come now." She lighted a cigarette for +herself and sat down on an amber divan near Ware's chair. "Let us talk +before my friend arrives."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Princess, I hope my coming——"</p> + +<p>"No, no," she explained hurriedly. "I asked my friend to meet you."</p> + +<p>"Indeed." Giles was much surprised. "I did not know we had a mutual +friend."</p> + +<p>The Princess nodded and blew a cloud of smoke. "At ten o'clock you shall +see him. I won't tell you who he is. A little surprise, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>Ware looked at her sharply, but could make nothing of the enigmatic +smile on her face. She was undeniably a very beautiful woman as she +lounged amongst the amber-tinted cushions, but in her dress and general +looks there was something barbaric. She wore a dinner dress of mingled +scarlet and black, and many chains of sequins which jingled with her +every movement. As Ware's eyes met her own she flashed a languorous look +at him, and a slow smile wreathed her full red lips. Giles could not +help admiring her, but he had a feeling that she was not altogether to +be trusted. It behove him to be wary in dealing with this superb +tigress. Yet, as another thought crossed his mind, he smiled +involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"Why do you smile, Mr. Ware?" asked the Princess. She spoke the English +language admirably, and with but a little foreign accent.</p> + +<p>"Pardon," replied Giles, still smiling, "but Mrs. Cairns<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> told me that +at one time you aspired to become a governess. I can't imagine you +teaching children."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you have no imagination—no Englishman has. Children are fond of +me—very fond." She cast another look at his handsome face, and added +with emphasis, "I can make any one I choose fond of me."</p> + +<p>"I quite believe it, Princess. You have woman's imperial +sceptre—beauty."</p> + +<p>"A charming compliment," responded she, her mood changing, "but we are +not here to exchange compliments. So you love Anne?"</p> + +<p>"With all my heart and soul," he replied fervently.</p> + +<p>His hostess appeared rather disconcerted by this reply. "You are a +miracle of chivalry, my dear Mr. Ware," she said dryly. "But is it not +rather a large heart you have to love two women at the same time?"</p> + +<p>"I understand what you mean," answered Ware quietly, "but my engagement +to Miss Kent was purely a family arrangement. I loved Anne—I still love +her. All the same, I would have married Miss Kent had she not been +murdered."</p> + +<p>"You are very obedient, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"And you very satirical, Princess. I could explain, but there is no need +for me to do so. I want to find Anne. Can you help me?"</p> + +<p>"Not at present, but I may be able to do so. Of course, you don't +believe that she killed your fiancée?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. I think the crime was committed by the man with whom she +fled."</p> + +<p>"A tall man with a red beard and hair and black eyes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes. Do you know him? Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"I have had him described to me," responded the Princess calmly, "but I +know nothing about him."</p> + +<p>"Is he a friend of Anne's?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That I don't know."</p> + +<p>She quietly selected another cigarette, lighted it, and looked with a +serene smile at her visitor. Giles was annoyed. "We don't seem to be +getting on with our business, Princess," he said roughly.</p> + +<p>"What is our business?" she demanded, looking at him through half-closed +eyes. Her scrutiny made Giles uncomfortable, and he shifted his seat as +he answered.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Cairns said you could tell me about Anne."</p> + +<p>"So I can. What do you want to know, Mr. Ware?"</p> + +<p>"Who is she? Who was her father? Is he dead or alive? What do you know +about the Scarlet Cross, and——" He stopped, for the Princess had +opened her eyes to their fullest extent.</p> + +<p>"The Scarlet Cross. You know about that also?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do. There was an anonymous letter——"</p> + +<p>"I have seen the letter, or at least a copy."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Ware, much astonished, "and an enamelled cross——"</p> + +<p>"I have seen the cross also."</p> + +<p>"It appears to me, Princess, that you know everything about the case."</p> + +<p>She glanced again at the clock, and smiled as she replied, "I am a +friend of Anne's, Mr. Ware. I daresay you would like to know who told me +all these things. Well, you shall be enlightened at ten o'clock. +Meantime I can tell you all I do know about Anne and her father."</p> + +<p>"You will speak freely?" he asked mistrustfully.</p> + +<p>"Absolutely. You—you—" she hesitated—"you love Anne." She gave him a +searching look. "Yes, I see you do. I can speak openly. Will you have +another cup of coffee? No! Another cigarette. Ah, there is the box. A +match. Now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now," said Giles eagerly, "what about Anne?"</p> + +<p>"What about myself first of all, Mr. Ware. I am a Hungarian. I +quarrelled with my people and ran away. Finding myself stranded in +London with very little money, I tried to get a post as a governess. I +went to Mrs. Cairns, and thus became acquainted with Anne. We became +great friends. She told me everything about herself. When I knew her +history we became greater friends than ever. I was a governess only for +a year. Then someone heard me sing, and——"—she shrugged her beautiful +shoulders—"but that is quite another story, Mr. Ware. I am a +concert-singer now, and it pays me excellently."</p> + +<p>"I am very pleased with your success, Princess. But Anne?"</p> + +<p>She flashed a rather annoyed look at him. "You are scarcely so +chivalrous as I thought, Mr. Ware," she said coldly. "No, say nothing; I +quite understand. Let us talk of Anne. I will tell you her history." She +re-lighted her cigarette, which had gone out, and continued, "Her father +was a gambler and a wanderer. He lived mostly on the Continent—Monte +Carlo for choice. Anne's mother"—here the Princess paused, and then +went on with an obvious effort—"I know nothing of Anne's mother, Mr. +Ware. She died when Anne was a child. Mr. Denham brought up his daughter +in a haphazard way."</p> + +<p>"Was his name really Denham?"</p> + +<p>"So Anne told me. I had no reason to think that it was otherwise. He was +a gentleman of good family, but an outcast from his people by reason of +his reckless folly. I also am an outcast," said she pleasantly, "but +merely because I am strong-minded. I am not foolish."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, Princess," said Giles, looking keenly at her, "I should certainly +not call you foolish."</p> + +<p>"But I can be foolish on occasions," said she quickly, and flushed as +she glanced at him, "like all women. But Anne—I see we must get back to +Anne. Well, she, having better moral principles than her father, grew +wearied of their wandering life. She decided to become a governess. Mr. +Denham put her to school at Hampstead—a sister of Mrs. Cairns keeps the +school, and that is why Anne is so intimate with Mrs. Cairns—and when +her education was finished she took a situation in Italy. There she +remained some years. Afterwards she rejoined her father for a time. He +died at Florence—typhoid fever, I believe—and Anne found herself +alone. She returned to England, and assisted by Mrs. Cairns, took +various situations. She always returned to Mrs. Cairns when out of an +engagement. It was on one of these occasions that I met her. We have +been friends for a long time, Mr. Ware. Then Anne was engaged by Mrs. +Morley, and—and the rest you know. There is no more to be said."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" said Giles, disappointed by this bald narrative.</p> + +<p>The Princess shrugged her shoulders, and throwing aside her cigarette, +leaned back with her hands behind her head. "What would you, Mr. Ware? +Anne is a good woman. Good women never have any history."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me anything about the Scarlet Cross?"</p> + +<p>"Anne never spoke of such a thing to me. But my friend may be able to +tell you. Ah!"—the Princess raised her head as a ring came to the +door—"there is my friend. Before his time, too. But we have finished +our conversation, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"For the present, yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>She looked at him suddenly. "But certainly," she said in her vivacious +way, "you must come and see me again. We will have much to talk of. You +love music. I will sing to you, and——" Here she broke off to greet a +new-comer, much to the relief of Giles, who was beginning to feel +uncomfortable. "How do you do, Mr. Steel?"</p> + +<p>With an exclamation Ware rose. It was indeed Steel who stood before him +looking as round and rosy and cheerful as ever. "You are surprised to +see me, sir," he said, with a twinkle.</p> + +<p>"I am very much surprised. I went to see you yesterday——"</p> + +<p>"And found that I was out of town. So I was, so I am supposed to be, but +the telegram of the Princess here told me that she expected you this +evening, so I left my country business and came up."</p> + +<p>"You see," said the Princess, sitting down again amongst her cushions, +"you see, Mr. Ware, I told you we had a mutual friend. Now you know how +I am so well acquainted with the case," and she laughed.</p> + +<p>"The Princess," explained Steel, seeing Giles' astonishment, "read all +about the case. Being a friend of Miss Denham's and seeing that I had +charge of the matter, she sent for me. We have talked over the case, and +I have received much assistance from Miss—I mean from this very clever +lady, the Princess Karacsay," and Steel bowed.</p> + +<p>"But," stammered Ware, still puzzled, "you believe Miss Denham to be +guilty. Surely the Princess will not——"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" came from the divan in the deep-toned voice of the woman. +"Anne is my friend. I would not help him to arrest her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The fact is," said Steel easily, "I have changed my opinion, Mr. Ware, +and I think Miss Denham is innocent. The man who killed Miss Kent is +called Wilson."</p> + +<p>"Wilson. And who is Wilson, and why did he kill her?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know who Wilson is," replied Steel. "I am trying to find out. I +am not quite certain why he killed her, but I am beginning to suspect +that it was on account of this inherited money. I told you that, +Princess," he added, turning to the divan.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Steel. And I said then, I say now, I do not agree."</p> + +<p>"If you would be more explicit," said Ware, feeling helpless.</p> + +<p>Steel took no notice of him for the moment. "Then if it's not the money +I don't know what the motive can be." He turned to Ware. "See here, sir. +This Wilson, whomsoever he may be, lived with the mother of Asher's +office-boy—he was her lodger. The boy told him about the money coming +to Miss Kent. Afterwards the lad had a summons given him to serve on +Morley. Wilson offered to take it, and did so. He removed his effects +from Mrs. Benker's house—she's the mother of the lad—and went down to +Rickwell. You know what happened there. Now if he didn't kill Miss Kent +on account of the money, why did he ask the office-boy about the +matter?"</p> + +<p>Giles shook his head. "I can't say," he said, "no more than I can +explain why Miss Denham helped him to escape."</p> + +<p>"Well,"—Steel scratched his chin—"I have an idea about that. But you +must not be offended if I speak plainly, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"I shall be offended if you speak evil of my friend Miss Denham." This +was from the Princess, who raised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> herself up with her eyes flashing +angrily. "I will not have it," she said.</p> + +<p>"Then am I to say nothing?" asked Steel ironically.</p> + +<p>"Nothing against Miss Denham," put in Giles.</p> + +<p>"You are both rather difficult to deal with," remarked Steel, with a +shrug. "However, I'll explain, and you can draw your own inferences. It +seems from what Mrs. Benker said that Mr. Wilson was mostly out all +night and in all day. Also he was frequently absent for a long time. He +likewise took much interest in Society newspapers and in the movements +of the aristocracy. He also wore on his chain an ornament—a +red-enamelled cross, in fact."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Giles, with a start, and he noted that the Princess +started likewise, and that her face grew pale.</p> + +<p>"He wore a red-enamelled cross," repeated Steel imperturbably, "on his +watch-chain. Mrs. Benker had been in the service of the late Lady +Summersdale when the diamonds of that lady were stolen. She remembered +that a red-enamelled cross had been found in the safe whence the jewels +were taken. Wilson was amused at this. He said that the cross was the +emblem of a charitable society from which he received a weekly sum. +Well"—he hesitated and looked at his listeners—"that clue came to an +end. I lost sight of Wilson. I then went to look for <i>The Red +Cross</i>—the yacht, I mean!"</p> + +<p>"What has the yacht to do with Wilson?" asked Ware angrily.</p> + +<p>"If you remember, sir, I told you that Wilson was the man who served the +summons on Mr. Morley, and who, as I believed, killed Miss Kent. He +afterwards fled with Miss Denham and went on board the yacht. Is not +that the case, sir?"</p> + +<p>"So far as I can judge, it is," muttered Giles reluctantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, then," went on Steel triumphantly, while the Princess—as Giles +observed—listened intently, "I looked after that yacht. I could not +find her, but I am looking for her now. That is why I am in the country. +I came up this morning from Deal, and I go back there to-morrow. I find, +sir, that this yacht puts in at various places every now and then."</p> + +<p>"Most yachts do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. But while most yachts are at anchor in a place does a +burglary invariably occur? No, sir, wait," for Giles had sprung to his +feet. "Lady Summersdale's place was on the seashore. Her diamonds were +stolen. At the time this yacht was at anchor in the bay. A red cross was +found in the safe. The boat is called by that name. Several times I find +that when the yacht has been at a certain place a burglary has occurred. +This man Wilson wears a red cross on his watch-chain. Now, sir, I +believe that he is one of a gang of burglars—that the cross is a sign. +This explains his interest in the Society papers. He wants to find out +where the best swag is to be found, and——"</p> + +<p>"But what has all this to do with my friend Anne?" cried the Princess.</p> + +<p>Steel shrugged his shoulders. "I say nothing," he replied. "You can draw +your own inferences."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that Miss Denham——"</p> + +<p>"I say nothing," interrupted Steel, catching up his hat. "Mr. Ware, I am +at your service when you want me. Princess!" He bowed and went out.</p> + +<p>As the outer door closed Giles and his hostess looked at one another. +"The man's a foul liar," burst out Giles furiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes." The woman was very pale. "Still, my friend Anne once told +me——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Told you what?"</p> + +<p>"What I will tell you if you come again," she said under her breath, and +suddenly left the room. She did not return.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>MRS. PARRY'S TEA</h3> + +<p>Six months had passed away since the death of Daisy. The grass was now +green above her grave. Where she had fallen there had she been buried +beside her father, and the villagers often talked of the tragedy, and +pointed out to strangers the spot where it had taken place. But she who +had killed the girl—they still considered Anne guilty—had never been +brought to justice. From the day she had fled on Ware's motor-car +nothing had been heard of her.</p> + +<p>No one troubled about the dead girl. Daisy had not been very popular +during her life, and now that she was gone her name was scarcely +mentioned. For a time Mrs. Morley had placed flowers on the green mound, +but after her return from Brighton had desisted. The grass grew long, +and the path beside the grave green. A tombstone of white marble had +been erected by Giles, and already that was becoming discolored. Daisy +and her resting-place were forgotten. The poor child might have been +dead a hundred years instead of six months. Only the tale of her death +remained as a fireside legend, to be amplified and improved upon as the +years went by.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>After that one sensation life went on in Rickwell very much as it had +always done. Morley and his wife returned to The Elms, and instead of +having a new governess the triplets went to school. Mrs. Morley never +spoke of Anne or Daisy, and seemed to grow no more cheerful than before +even in the perfect summer weather. She still looked pale and subdued, +and her eyes still had in their watery depths an anxious expression. +Everyone said that she was regretting the death of Daisy and the +wickedness of Anne; but others remarked that she had looked just as +haggard and worn before as after the tragedy. Mrs. Parry gave it as her +opinion that the poor lady had a secret sorrow, and tried by skilful +questioning to learn what it was. But either Mrs. Parry was not clever +enough or Mrs. Morley had no secret to reveal, for the scandalmonger +learned nothing. The only thing that Mrs. Morley said was that she +missed her girls. Whereupon Mrs. Parry told her that she ought to be +ashamed of herself, seeing that the three were getting a good education. +However, this did not seem to console Mrs. Morley much, for she wept +copiously in her usual fashion.</p> + +<p>The good old lady returned to her cottage very much disgusted. It was +rather a dull time for her, as she had heard no news for a long time. +Everyone was so well-behaved that there was no scandal going, and Mrs. +Parry began to think that she ought to pay a visit to town. Her cousin, +Mrs. McKail, had already gone back to New Zealand with a fearful opinion +of English Society, for Mrs. Parry had blackened the country just as +though she had been a pro-Boer.</p> + +<p>Then one day her little maid, who was called Jane, and had the sharpest +ears of any one in the village, brought in breakfast with the remark +that Mr. Ware had returned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> Mrs. Parry sat up in bed, where she always +partook of the first meal of the day, and looked excited.</p> + +<p>"When did he arrive, Jane? How does he look? What does he say?"</p> + +<p>Jane, being experienced, answered these questions categorically.</p> + +<p>"He came last night, mum, with Trim, and looks a shadder of hisself, but +said as he was glad to be home again, and what was the news."</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose with a teaspoon, "wants to hear +the news, does he? I'll ask him to tea to-morrow—no, to-day. You can +take a note up to his place, Jane."</p> + +<p>"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who was friendly with Giles' housekeeper.</p> + +<p>"And don't let me hear that you've been gossiping with the servants, +Jane," snapped Mrs. Parry, who was unusually cross in the morning, and +looked an ogress without her wig. "I hate gossip. You have two ears and +one mouth, Jane; that means you should listen twice as much as you +speak."</p> + +<p>"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who had long since taken the measure of her +mistress's foot. Then she went to the door, and was recalled to be told +that the cook was to make a cake. She was going again, and had to return +for instructions about some particular tea. Then there was the silver to +be especially polished, and various other matters to be gone into, until +Jane's head was whirling and her feet ached. She went down to the +kitchen and told the cook that the old vinegar bottle was more fractious +than usual. If only Mrs. Parry had heard her! But she thought Jane was +afraid of her, whereas Jane was meek to her face and saucy behind her +back. The old lady heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> all the gossip in the neighborhood, but she +never knew the remarks that were made in her own kitchen.</p> + +<p>However, it thus came about that Giles received a civil note from Mrs. +Parry, asking him to come to afternoon tea. His first thought was to +refuse, but he then reflected that if he wanted to learn all that had +taken place during his absence, Mrs. Parry was the very person who could +tell him. He knew she was an old cat, and had a dangerous tongue. Still, +she was much better than a newspaper, being, as her enemies said, more +spicy. He therefore accepted the invitation, and appeared in the little +parlor about five. He had been for a ride, and having put his horse up +at the inn, asked the old lady to excuse his dress. Mrs. Parry did so +with pleasure.</p> + +<p>Giles was a splendid figure of a man, and looked a picture in his trim +riding-dress. The old dame had an eye for a fine man, and cast an +approving glance at his shapely legs and slim figure. But she frowned +when her eyes rose to his face. It was thinner than she liked to see; +there was not the old brave light in his eyes, and his fair moustache +had lost the jaunty curl, which, to her romantic mind, had made him such +a gallant lover.</p> + +<p>Giles was one of the few persons Mrs. Parry did not abuse, for his good +looks and many courtesies had long since won her foolish old heart, +although she would never confess to it. But then, Mrs. Parry was softer +than she looked.</p> + +<p>"Who had been taking the heart out of you, Ware?" she asked in her +gentlemanly way, which Giles knew and had often laughed at.</p> + +<p>"No one," he answered gloomily, "unless you call Fate some one."</p> + +<p>"I call Anne Denham some one," she replied coolly, "so you haven't found +her yet, poor soul!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No; I have looked everywhere. She has vanished like a bubble."</p> + +<p>"It is just as well. You couldn't possibly marry her and bring her back +to Rickwell as your wife."</p> + +<p>"Why not? She is innocent. You said yourself that she was."</p> + +<p>"And I believe it. I have stood up for her all through. All the same, +Ware, there would be a scandal if she came back as Mrs. Ware."</p> + +<p>"I don't care two straws for that," said Giles, flinging back his head.</p> + +<p>"No," she replied dryly, "I know that. You're an obstinate man, as any +one can see with half an eye. Well, I'm glad to see you again. Sit down +in the armchair yonder and tell me what you have been doing all these +months. No good, if your face is the index of your mind."</p> + +<p>Ware laughed, and sitting down managed to stow his long legs out of the +way—no easy matter in the little room. Then he accepted a cup of +excellent tea from Mrs. Parry and some of her celebrated cake.</p> + +<p>He did not reply immediately, as he did not want to tell her the truth. +She had too long a tongue to be told anything which it was necessary to +keep secret. He put her off as he best could with a general answer.</p> + +<p>"I have just been going to and fro."</p> + +<p>"Like Satan," sniffed Mrs. Parry. "He's your model, is he? So you have +been searching for Anne. Where?"</p> + +<p>"In Paris and in London. But I can't find her."</p> + +<p>"She doesn't want you to find her," replied the old lady. "If she did, +you would stand face to face with her soon enough."</p> + +<p>"That goes without the speaking," retorted Ware. "However, my adventures +would not amuse you, Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> Parry. Suppose you tell me what has been +going on in these parts?"</p> + +<p>"As if I knew anything of what was going on," said Mrs. Parry.</p> + +<p>Giles laughed.</p> + +<p>It was a fiction with Mrs. Parry that she never interfered with other +people's business, whereas there was not a pie within miles into which +she had not thrust her finger. But he knew how to start her tongue.</p> + +<p>"The Morleys, what about them?"</p> + +<p>"No change, Ware. The Tricolor has gone to school—I mean the three +children—although I can't get out of the habit of calling them by that +ridiculous name. Mrs. Morley is as dismal as ever, and seems to miss +Anne very much."</p> + +<p>"As well she might. Anne was a good friend to her. And Morley?"</p> + +<p>"He has found a new friend," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly, "a man called +Franklin."</p> + +<p>"George Franklin!" cried Ware, startled, for he had heard all about the +fortune from Steel. "He is the man who inherited the five thousand a +year that Powell left to Daisy. Steel, the detective, told me, and, now +I think of it, Morley told me himself when I was ill."</p> + +<p>"It's the same man, Ware. He has been here two months, and has taken the +Priory."</p> + +<p>"That's a cheerful place," said Giles. "Why, it has been standing empty +for three years."</p> + +<p>"I know. The last tenants left because they said it was haunted."</p> + +<p>"Rubbish! And by what?"</p> + +<p>"By a white lady. She wanders up and down the park, wringing her hands. +But this Franklin evidently does not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> believe in ghosts, for he has been +there these two months, and never a word from him."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a man is he?"</p> + +<p>"A tall man, with very black eyes, and a black beard. No," added Mrs. +Parry, correcting herself, "I am wrong. He had a beard when he first +came, and now has shaved it off."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen much of him?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly anything. Morley is the only person with whom he is intimate in +any degree. He hardly ever comes out, and when people call he is not at +home. Why the man should have five thousand a year I can't make out. He +does no good with it."</p> + +<p>"Any family? a wife?"</p> + +<p>"There is a daughter, I understand, but she is an invalid, and keeps to +her room or to the grounds. Weak in the head I should say, seeing how +secluded her father keeps her."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I came on her unexpectedly one day—or rather one evening. A short +girl, with red hair and a freckled face. She looks a fool, and was +dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. I don't wonder he—I mean +Franklin—keeps her out of sight."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Ware, rather astonished by the extent of Mrs. Parry's +information, "did the servants tell you all this?"</p> + +<p>"There are no servants," retorted Mrs. Parry, with scorn. "The man is a +mean creature. You may not believe me, Ware, but he has only three +people to do the work of that huge house."</p> + +<p>"Then there are three servants?"</p> + +<p>"Some people might call them so," retorted Mrs. Parry, determined not to +give up her point, "but they are a queer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> lot—not at all like the +domestic I have been used to. An old man, who acts as a kind of butler; +a woman, his wife, who is the cook; and a brat of fifteen, the daughter +I expect, who does the general work. Oh, it's quite a family affair."</p> + +<p>"A queer household. Does this man intend to stop long?"</p> + +<p>"He has taken the Priory on a seven years' lease."</p> + +<p>"And Morley visits him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and he visits Morley. They are as thick as thieves. Perhaps they +may be thieves for all I know."</p> + +<p>"Does this man Franklin go about much?"</p> + +<p>"Not a great deal, but he occasionally takes a walk into the village. +Sometimes he comes to church, and I believe the rector has called. I +wish any one but him had taken the Priory. We want company in this dull +place. Will you call and see him?"</p> + +<p>"I ought to," replied Ware slowly, "seeing that I was engaged to Daisy, +who should have had the money. But from what you say I should not think +Franklin would care to see me, and certainly he does not seem to be a +desirable neighbor."</p> + +<p>"He's quite a mistake," snorted Mrs. Parry. "I tried to be friendly, but +he gave me to understand that he preferred his books to my company. He's +a great reader, I understand."</p> + +<p>Evidently the good lady was somewhat sore on the subject, for she +shortly changed it for another. First she began to talk of Daisy; +secondly, wonder who had killed her, and why; and thirdly, she made +mention of the grave. "There's something queer about that," she +remarked, rubbing her nose, a sure sign of perplexity.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean, queer?"</p> + +<p>"Well——" Mrs. Parry looked thoughtfully at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> guest. Then, before +replying, she gave him permission to smoke. "I like the scent of a cigar +about the place," she said; "it reminds me of the Colonel. He was an +awful man to smoke. The one habit I could not break him of."</p> + +<p>Giles lighted a cigarette willingly enough, and repeated his question. +This time he got an answer that surprised him. "It's this way," said the +old lady, taking up her knitting, "for some time the grave was quite +neglected."</p> + +<p>"No, I gave orders that it should be looked after. I told Drake and my +gardener. He's a friend of the sexton's, and I thought there would be no +trouble."</p> + +<p>"There has been, then," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly. "The sexton and +your gardener quarrelled, and have not been on speaking terms for +months. Thomas, the sexton, won't let Williams do anything to the grave, +and out of spite won't touch it himself, so it went to rack and ruin. +The grass is long—or rather was long—and the flowers all gone to seed. +A sore wreck, Ware."</p> + +<p>"I am most annoyed. I'll see about it to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"There is no need. The grave is now as neat as a new pin. The grass is +clipped, and fresh flowers were planted a month ago. I never saw a grave +better kept. Quite a labor of love."</p> + +<p>"And who has done this? Mrs. Morley?"</p> + +<p>"Pish!" said the old dame pettishly. "As though that woman had the +gumption to do anything. Humph! No one knows who has done it."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Ware looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"What I say; I usually do. The grave has been put to rights. At first +few people noticed it, because few go into that corner; but one day some +imp of a choir boy saw the improvement, and told old Thomas. He came and +looked at it, and others came. No one knew who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> had put it to rights. +Then," continued Mrs. Parry impressively, "it was discovered that it was +done at night."</p> + +<p>"At night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but no one seems to know by whom or at what time. Every morning +some fresh improvement was noted. Some people watched, but saw no one +coming. Yet when the watching was dropped there was something fresh +done. It may be a brownie," added Mrs. Parry, with a sniff, "but it's a +mystery. Even I can't find out the truth."</p> + +<p>"It's very strange," said Ware thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"It's worse; it's improper," cried Mrs. Parry in her sternest voice. "I +see no reason why such a thing should be done in the darkness of night. +Though to be sure," she continued, rubbing her nose, "we have had +moonlight lately."</p> + +<p>"I must see into this," said Ware, rising.</p> + +<p>"You'll find nothing. Everyone has watched, but to no purpose, my +friend. Now the idiots talk of ghosts, and what not."</p> + +<p>"What do you think yourself?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Why, that some one who loved Daisy better than you did has taken pity +on her neglected grave, and——"</p> + +<p>"Don't!" he cried, wincing. "I did my best to make her happy. The +engagement was unfortunate."</p> + +<p>"The marriage would have been still more so. It is just as well the poor +girl died. No, no, I don't blame you. But Anne——"</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word against Anne," he interrupted quickly. Then, before +his hostess could reply, he took his leave. "I must be going now."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry was not at all pleased, but knowing how far she could go, +decided that she had reached the limit of his forbearance. With feminine +craft she smothered her resentment, and parted from him in the most +cordial manner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> All the same, she still held to her opinion that Anne +was not the wife for her favorite.</p> + +<p>Giles went at once to the churchyard to view Daisy's grave. He found +everything in good order. The grass was shorn, the flowers were +blooming, and the white marble of the stone had been cleansed carefully. +Wondering who had performed this labor of love, he returned to get his +horse. At the gate of the churchyard a tall man passed him with bent +head. As he brushed past the young squire he raised it suddenly. Giles +saw a clean-shaven face, large black eyes, and a sallow complexion. He +stood aside to let him pass.</p> + +<p>"Rather a nice day," said Ware pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Very," responded the man, and continued his walk.</p> + +<p>Giles knew very well that he was the new tenant of the Priory. It was in +his mind to speak to him, but on second thoughts he decided to do so on +a more propitious occasion. Standing at the gate, he looked thoughtfully +after the retiring figure. There was something familiar about it and +about the face of the man. His eyes especially aroused a vague +recollection in his mind, but he could not, as the saying goes, "put a +name to it." But while walking to the inn it suddenly flashed into his +brain that this was the man whom he had seen in church on that fatal New +Year's Eve.</p> + +<p>"It's the clerk," he said breathlessly. "He has shaved his beard. He is +Wilson, the man who fled with Anne, who murdered poor Daisy!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS</h3> + +<p>The more Giles thought about Franklin, the more he was certain that he +was the man for whom search was being made. To be sure there was no +distinguishing mark of identification; the evidence that he was one and +the same amounted to the facts that he had large black eyes, and that +his height and figure resembled the so-called Wilson. Moreover, although +other people in the village had seen the clerk, no one but Giles seemed +to recognize him. In fact, this recognition was rather due to an +instinct than to any tangible reason. But in his own mind he was +convinced. He recalled how the man had suddenly removed his scarf as +though he were stifling on that night. He remembered the wan face, the +dark, anxious face, and the rough red beard and hair.</p> + +<p>To be sure Franklin was dark-haired and sallow in complexion; also he +was clean-shaved, and even when not—according to Mrs. Parry—had worn a +full black beard. But the red hair and whiskers might have been assumed +as a disguise. Giles did not know very well how to verify his +suspicions. Then he determined to confide in Morley. Steel had told him +that the proprietor of The Elms was an ex-detective, and Giles thought +that for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> sake of avenging Daisy's death he might be induced to take +up his old trade. With this idea he called at The Elms.</p> + +<p>Morley was delighted to see him and welcomed him in the most cheerful +manner. He and Giles were always good friends, and the only subject of +contention between them was the question of Anne's guilt. Morley still +believed that the governess had committed the crime and asked after her +at the outset of the interview.</p> + +<p>"Have you found her?" he asked, just as Mrs. Parry had done.</p> + +<p>Giles knew quite well of whom he was speaking. "No, I have not," he +answered; "and if I had I certainly should not tell you."</p> + +<p>"As you please," replied the little man complacently; "you will never +see the truth."</p> + +<p>"It is not the truth. But see here, Morley, what is the use of our +discussing this matter? You believe Miss Denham to be guilty. I am +certain that she is innocent. Let the difference between us rest there. +Still, if I could prove the innocence of Miss Denham——"</p> + +<p>"I should be more than delighted," responded Morley quickly, "and would +make all the amends in my power for my unjust suspicions. But you have +first to prove them unjust. Believe me, Ware, I admired Miss Denham as +much as my wife did, and thought much of her. I defended her from poor +Daisy's aspersions, and would have stood her friend all through but for +this last act of hers. Well! Well, don't get angry. I am willing to be +shown that I am wrong. Show me."</p> + +<p>Giles reflected for a moment, then went straight to the point.</p> + +<p>"I have been with Steel," he said abruptly, "and he tells me that you +have been in the detective line yourself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Morley nodded. "Quite so," he answered, "although I asked Steel to say +nothing about it. I am a private gentleman now, and I don't want my +former occupation to be known in Rickwell. A prejudice exists against +detectives, Ware. People don't like them, because every one has +something to conceal, and with a trained man he or she is afraid lest +some secret sin should come to light."</p> + +<p>"It may be so, although that is rather a cynical way of looking at the +matter. But you are really Joe Bart?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And quite at your service. Only keep this quiet."</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I quite appreciate your reasons for wanting the matter kept +quiet. But see here, Mr. Morley—I shall call you so."</p> + +<p>"It will be better," replied the ex-detective cheerfully, "and I have a +sort of right to the name. It was my mother's."</p> + +<p>"Very good. Then as Morley why should you not exercise your old skill +and help me to find out who killed Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted, and what skill remains to me is at your service. +But I am rusty now, and cannot follow a trail with my old persistence or +talent. Besides, my mind is made up as to the guilt——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," interposed Giles hastily, "you think so, but I don't agree +with you. Now listen to what I have to tell you, and I am sure you will +think that it was the man who killed Daisy."</p> + +<p>"But he had no motive."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he had. I'll tell it to you concisely."</p> + +<p>Morley looked surprised at Giles' insistence, but nodded without a word +and waited for an explanation. Giles related all that he had learned +about Wilson, and how Steel had connected him with the supposed clerk +who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> served the summons on Morley. Then he proceeded to detail +Steel's belief that the so-called Wilson was a burglar, and mentioned +the fact of the yacht with the strange name. Morley listened in silence, +but interrupted the recital with a laugh, when the scarlet cross was +mentioned in connection with the robbery at Lady Summersdale's house.</p> + +<p>"Steel has found a mare's nest this time," he said coolly. "He knew +better than to come to me with such a cock and bull story, although he +has imposed very successfully on you and on that Hungarian Princess you +talk of. I had the Summersdale case in hand."</p> + +<p>"I know. Steel said that you carried it through successfully."</p> + +<p>Morley demurred. "I don't know if you can say that I was successful, +Ware. It was not one of my lucky cases. I certainly got back the jewels. +I found them in their London hiding-place, but I did not catch one of +the thieves. They all bolted."</p> + +<p>"In <i>The Red Cross</i> yacht."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all rubbish," said Morley frankly; "there were a great many +yachts at Bexleigh on that occasion. I don't remember one called <i>The +Red Cross</i>. And even if one of that name was there, it does not say that +it is the same that was off Gravesend the other day."</p> + +<p>"Six months ago," corrected Giles gravely; "but how do you account for +the fact that wherever that yacht has been burglaries have taken place?"</p> + +<p>"I can't account for it, and Steel has yet to prove that there is any +connection between the yacht and the robberies. He thinks it a kind of +pirate ship evidently. Not a bad idea, though," added Morley musingly; +"the goods could be removed easily without suspicion on board a +good-looking yacht."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And that is what has been done."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't in the matter of Lady Summersdale's jewels," retorted the +ex-detective. "I found those in London, and have reason to believe that +they were taken there by train. Besides, there was no connection between +the yacht and that robbery."</p> + +<p>"Steel said that a scarlet cross was found in the safe, and——"</p> + +<p>"And," interrupted Morley, "there you have the long arm of coincidence, +Ware. That cross belonged to Lady Summersdale, and was one of the +trinkets left behind. If you want proof on this point, you have only to +ask Lady——no, I forgot, she is dead. However, I daresay her son or +daughter will be able to prove that the cross was hers."</p> + +<p>Giles was much disappointed by this explanation, which seemed clear +enough. And if any one should know the truth, it would be the man who +had taken charge of the case. Failing on this point, Giles shifted his +ground.</p> + +<p>"Well, Morley," he said, "I am not very anxious to prove this man Wilson +a burglar. He is a murderer, I am sure, and the greater crime swallows +up the lesser."</p> + +<p>"That sounds law," said Morley, lighting a cigar.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ware, I don't see how I can help you. This man Wilson, whether he +is innocent or guilty, has vanished; and, moreover, his connection, if +any, with the Summersdale robbery of ten years ago won't prove him +guilty of my poor ward's death."</p> + +<p>"I only mentioned that to show his connection with the yacht at +Gravesend. But as to this Wilson, I know where he is."</p> + +<p>Morley wheeled round with an eager light in his eyes. "The devil you do. +Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"At the Priory."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is this a joke?" cried Morley angrily. "If so, it is a very poor one, +Ware. The man who lives at the Priory is my friend Franklin——"</p> + +<p>"He is also the man who was in the church on New Year's Eve—the man who +killed Daisy, as I truly believe."</p> + +<p>Giles went on to state what his reasons were for this belief. All at +once Morley started to his feet. "Ah! I know now why something about him +seemed to be familiar to me. What a fool I am! I believe you are right, +Ware."</p> + +<p>"What? That he is this man Wilson?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what his former name was," replied Morley, with a shrug, +"but now you mention it I fancy he is the man who served the summons on +me."</p> + +<p>"You ought to know," said Ware dryly; "you saw him in this room, and in +a good light."</p> + +<p>"True enough, Ware; but all the time he kept his collar up and that +white scarf round his throat. His chin was quite buried in it. And then +he had a rough red—wig, shall we say? and a red beard. I didn't trouble +to ask him to make himself comfortable. All I wanted was to get him out +of the way. But I remember his black eyes. Franklin has eyes like that, +and sometimes I catch myself wondering where I have seen him before. He +tells me he has lived in Florence these six years and more. I fancied +that when I was a detective I might have seen him, but he insisted that +he had not been to London for years and years. He originally came from +the States. And I was once a detective! Good Lord, how I have lost my +old cleverness! But to be sure I have been idle these ten years."</p> + +<p>"Then you think Franklin is this man?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, but of course I can't be sure. Naturally he will deny that +he is, and I can't prove the matter myself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> But I tell you what, Ware," +said Morley suddenly, "get that woman Wilson lodged with down, and see +if she will recognize Franklin as her former lodger. She, if any one, +will know him, and perhaps throw him off his guard."</p> + +<p>Ware rose. "A very good idea," he said. "I'll write to her at once. I am +certain this is the man, especially as he has inherited Daisy's money. +He killed her in order to get the fortune, and that was why he kept +asking Asher's office boy about money left to people."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" Morley looked thoughtful. "So that was the motive, you think?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it, and a quite strong enough motive for many people," +said Ware grimly. "If Mrs. Benker can verify this man, I'll have him +arrested. He will have to explain why he came here instead of the office +boy, and why he fled on that night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" cried Morley excitedly. "And he might perhaps explain why +the governess helped him to escape."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" Giles' face fell. "So he might; but if he dares to inculpate her +in this crime——"</p> + +<p>"Ware," said Morley, laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if I +were you I should do nothing rash. Every one thinks that Miss Denham is +guilty. If this Franklin is the man who fled with her, he will accuse +her to save himself. Certainly there is the motive of the money, but +that might be explained away."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it can."</p> + +<p>"Nor I; still, there is always the chance. Again, he may take +alarm—always presuming he is the man—and fly. I tell you what, Ware, +you bring Mrs. Benker down, and take her into the grounds of the Priory. +I will arrange that Franklin, without suspecting her or us, shall meet +her, accidentally, at some place where we can hide. Then we can overhear +if he is the man or not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He'll deny that he is."</p> + +<p>"Why should he? There is nothing, so far as he knows, that Mrs. Benker +can lay hold of. If he is the man he will admit his identity, if not, he +will explain who he is. Whereas if we show ourselves and show that we +suspect him, he will be on his guard. No, Ware; better let the woman +meet him by chance."</p> + +<p>"It's a good plan," replied Giles, shaking hands heartily with Morley. +"I am delighted that you should co-operate with me. We will yet prove +that Anne is innocent."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," cried his host, slapping Giles on the back. "Off with you, +Ware, to do your part. I'll attend to Franklin. But say no word of our +plan to any one. Upon my word," cried he jubilantly, "I feel just as +though I were in the profession again." And thus laughing and joking, he +sent his visitor away in the best of spirits.</p> + +<p>Delighted that he had some one to help him, Giles lost no time in +performing his part of the business. He sent a letter to Mrs. Benker, +asking her to come down for a couple of days. It was his intention to +invite Alexander also, as the boy would also be useful in identifying +Franklin as his mother's former lodger; but since leaving Asher's +Alexander had been taken up by Steel, who saw in him the makings of a +good detective. If Alexander learned anything he would certainly tell +his master, and then Steel would come down to interfere. Ware did not +want him to meddle with the matter at present. He wished to be sure of +his ground first, and then would ask the assistance of the detective to +have Franklin arrested. Of course, he had every confidence in Steel, but +for the above reason he determined to keep his present action quiet. +Also, Steel was on the south coast, hunting for evidence concerning <i>The +Red Cross</i> yacht, and would not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> be pleased at being taken away to +follow what might prove to be a false trail. Ware therefore said nothing +to Mrs. Benker about what he desired to see her, but simply asked her to +come down on a visit.</p> + +<p>There was a prospect of his having another visitor, and one he did not +much wish to meet. This was the Princess Karacsay. Several times he had +called to see her, but she had always put off her promised explanation +on some plea or another. Instead of attending strictly to the business +which had brought them together, she made herself agreeable to +Giles—too agreeable he thought, for he had by this time got it into his +head that Olga Karacsay was in love with him. He was not a vain young +man, and tried to think that her attentions were merely friendly; but +she was so persistent in her invitations and—in the slang phrase—made +such running with him, that he grew rather nervous of her attentions. +Several times she had proposed to come on a visit to Rickwell, but +hitherto he had always managed to put her off. But her letters were +becoming very imperative, and he foresaw trouble. It was quite a relief +to Giles when the post arrived without a letter from this too persistent +and too charming lady. However, she did not trouble him on this especial +occasion, and he was thus enabled to give all his time to Mrs. Benker.</p> + +<p>That good lady duly arrived, looking more severe than ever and with +several new tales about the iniquities of Alexander. She expressed +herself greatly obliged to Giles for giving her a day in the country, +and got on very well with the old housekeeper. But when Ware told her +his reason for asking her, Mrs. Benker grew rather nervous, as she did +not think how she could support an interview, and, also, she wanted to +know what the interview was for. To some extent Giles had to take her +into his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> confidence, but he suppressed the fact that he suspected +Franklin of the crime. He merely stated that Steel—who had introduced +Giles to Mrs. Benker—had reason to believe that the so-called Wilson +was wanted by the police. All that Mrs. Benker had to do was to see if +Franklin was really her former lodger. After much talk and many +objections, she consented to do what was wanted.</p> + +<p>This was to wander in the park of the Priory and meet Franklin +accidentally near a ruined summer-house, near what was known as the +fish-ponds. Morley had arranged that Franklin should meet him there, and +was to be late, so as to afford Mrs. Benker an opportunity of speaking +to the man. Morley and Ware concealed themselves in the summer-house and +saw Mrs. Benker parading the grass. Shortly Franklin arrived, walking +slowly, and Mrs. Benker saluted him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>TREASURE TROVE</h3> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," said Mrs. Benker to the new-comer, "but I do +hope I'm not—— Why"—she changed her tone to one of extreme +surprise—"if it ain't Mr. Wilson!"</p> + +<p>The man did not move a muscle. Ware, who was watching, was disappointed. +At least he expected him to start, but the so-called Wilson was +absolutely calm, and his voice did not falter.</p> + +<p>"You are making a mistake; my name is Franklin."</p> + +<p>"It isn't his voice," muttered the landlady, still staring; "but his +eyes are the same."</p> + +<p>"May I ask you to go?" said Franklin. "You are trespassing."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benker shook her rusty black bonnet.</p> + +<p>"You may change your hair from red to black," she declared, "and you may +shave off a ginger beard, but you can't alter your eyes. Mr. Wilson you +are, and that I'll swear to in a court of law before a judge and jury. +Let them say what they will about me being a liar."</p> + +<p>"Of what are you talking, woman?"</p> + +<p>"Of you, sir; and I hope I may mention that you were more respectful +when you boarded with me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Boarded with you!" Franklin stared, and spoke in an astonished tone. +"Why, I never boarded with you in my life!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Wilson, how can you? What about my little house in Lambeth, and +the dear boy—my son Alexander—you were so fond of?"</p> + +<p>"You are raving."</p> + +<p>"I'm as sane as you are," said the landlady, her color rising, "and a +deal more respectable, if all were known. Why you should deny me to my +face is more than I can make out, Mr. Wilson."</p> + +<p>"My name is not Wilson."</p> + +<p>"And I say it is, sir."</p> + +<p>Both the man and the woman eyed one another firmly. Then Franklin +motioned Mrs. Benker to a seat on a mossy bank.</p> + +<p>"We can talk better sitting," said he. "I should like an explanation of +this. You say that my name is Wilson, and that I boarded with you."</p> + +<p>"At Lambeth. I'll take my oath to it."</p> + +<p>"Had your boarder red hair and a red beard?"</p> + +<p>"Red as a tomato. But you can buy wigs and false beards. Eyes, as I say, +you cannot change."</p> + +<p>"Had this Wilson eyes like mine?" asked Frankly eagerly.</p> + +<p>"There ain't a scrap of difference, Mr. Wilson. Your eyes are the same +now as they were then."</p> + +<p>"One moment. Had this man you think me to be two teeth missing in his +lower jaw—two front teeth?"</p> + +<p>"He had. Not that his teeth were of the best."</p> + +<p>Franklin drew down his lip.</p> + +<p>"You will see that I have all my teeth."</p> + +<p>"H'm!" Mrs. Benker sniffed. "False teeth can be bought."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear you would find these teeth only too genuine," said the man +quietly. "But I quite understand your mistake."</p> + +<p>"My mistake?" Mrs. Benker shook her head vehemently. "I'm not the one to +make mistakes."</p> + +<p>"On this occasion you have done so; but the mistake is pardonable. +Mrs.—Mrs.—what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Benker, sir. And you know it."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, I do not know it. The man who was your lodger, and whom you +accuse me of being, is my brother."</p> + +<p>"Your brother!" echoed the landlady, amazed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and a bad lot he is. Never did a hand's turn in all his life. I +daresay while he was with you he kept the most irregular hours?"</p> + +<p>"He did—most irregular."</p> + +<p>"Out all night at times, and in all day? And again, out all day and in +for the night?"</p> + +<p>"You describe him exactly." Mrs. Benker peered into the clean-shaven +face in a puzzled manner. "Your hair is black, your voice is changed, +and only the eyes remain."</p> + +<p>"My brother and I have eyes exactly the same. I guessed your mistake +when you spoke. I assure you I am not my brother."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said the woman, beginning to think she had made a mistake +after all, "I will say your voice is not like his. It was low and soft, +while yours, if you'll excuse me mentioning it, is hard, and not at all +what I'd call a love-voice."</p> + +<p>Grim as Franklin was, he could not help laughing at this last remark.</p> + +<p>"I quite understand. You only confirm what I say. My brother has a +beautiful voice, Mrs. Benker; and much harm he has done with it amongst +your sex."</p> + +<p>"He never harmed me," said Mrs. Benker, bridling. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> am a respectable +woman and a widow with one son. But your brother——"</p> + +<p>"He's a blackguard," interrupted Franklin; "hand and glove with the very +worst people in London. You may be thankful he did not cut your throat +or steal your furniture."</p> + +<p>"Lord!" cried Mrs. Benker, astounded, "was he that dangerous?"</p> + +<p>"He is so dangerous that he ought to be shut up. And if I could lay +hands on him I'd get the police to shut him up. He's done no end of +mischief. Now I daresay he had a red cross dangling from his +watch-chain."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he had. What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you; but I'd give a good deal to know. He has hinted to me +that it is the sign of some criminal fraternity with which he is +associated. I never could learn what the object of the cross is. He +always kept quiet on that subject. But I have not seen him for years, +and then only when I was on a flying visit from Italy."</p> + +<p>"Have you been to Italy, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I live there," said Franklin, "at Florence. I have lived there for over +ten years, with an occasional visit to London. If you still think that I +am my brother, I can bring witnesses to prove——"</p> + +<p>"Lord, sir, I don't want to prove nothing. Now I look at you and hear +your voice I do say as I made a mistake as I humbly beg your pardon for. +But you are so like Mr. Wilson——"</p> + +<p>"I know, and I forgive you. But why do you wish to find my brother? He +has been up to some rascality, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"He has, though what it is I know no more than a babe. But they do say," +added Mrs. Benker, sinking her voice, "as the police want him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm not at all astonished. He has placed himself within the reach of +the law a hundred times. If the police come to me, I'll tell them what I +have told you. No one would be more pleased than I to see Walter laid by +the heels."</p> + +<p>"Is his name Walter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Walter Franklin, although he chooses to call himself Wilson. My +name is George. He is a blackguard."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, your flesh and blood."</p> + +<p>"He's no brother of mine," said Franklin, rising, with a snarl. "I hate +the man. He had traded on his resemblance to me to get money and do all +manner of scoundrelly actions. That was why I went to Italy. It seems +that I did wisely, for if I could not prove that I have been abroad +these ten years, you would swear that I was Walter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir—really." Mrs. Benker rose also.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. You swore that I was Walter when we first met. Take a good +look at me now, so that you may be sure that I am not he. I don't want +to have his rascalities placed on my shoulders."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benker took a good look and sighed. "You're not him, but you're +very like. May I ask if you are twins, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No. Our eyes are the only things that we have in common. We got those +from our mother, who was an Italian. I take after my mother, and am +black, as you see me. My brother favored my father, who was as red as an +autumn sunset."</p> + +<p>"He was indeed red," sighed Mrs. Benker, wrapping her shawl round her; +"and now, sir, I hope you'll humbly forgive me for——"</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Mrs. Benker. I only explained myself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> at length +because I am so sick of having my brother's sins imputed on me. I hope +he paid your rent."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir, he did that regularly."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," sneered Franklin; "then he is more honest than I gave him +credit for being. Because if he had not paid you I should have done so. +You seem to be a decent woman and——"</p> + +<p>"A widow!" murmured Mrs. Benker, hoping that he would give her some +money. But this Mr. Franklin had no intention of doing.</p> + +<p>"You can go now," he said, pointing with his stick towards an ornamental +bridge; "that is the best way to the high-road. And, Mrs. Benker, if my +brother should return to you let me know."</p> + +<p>"And the police, sir," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell the police myself," said the man, frowning. "Good day."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Benker, rather disappointed that she should have received no money, +and wishing that she had said Walter Franklin had not paid her rent, +crept off, a lugubrious figure, across the bridge. Franklin watched her +till she was out of sight, then took off his hat, exposing a high, +baldish head. His face was dark, and he began to mutter to himself. +Finally, he spoke articulately.</p> + +<p>"Am I never to be rid of that scamp?" he said, shaking his fist at the +sky. "I have lived in Italy—in exile, so that I should not be troubled +with his schemes and rascalities. I have buried myself here, with my +daughter and those three who are faithful to me, in order that he may +not find me out. And now I hear of him. That woman. She is a spy of his. +I believe she came here from him with a made-up story. Walter will come, +and then I'll have to buy him off. I shall be glad to do so. But to be +blackmailed by that reptile. No! I'll go back to Florence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> first." He +replaced his hat and began to dig his stick in the ground. "I wonder if +Morley would help me. He is a shrewd man. He might advise me how to deal +with this wretched brother of mine. If I could only trust him?" He +looked round. "I wonder where he is? He promised to meet me half an hour +ago." Here Franklin glanced at his watch. "I'll walk over to The Elms +and ask who this woman, Mrs. Benker, is. He may know."</p> + +<p>All this was delivered audibly and at intervals. Giles was not +astonished, as he knew from Mrs. Parry that the man was in the habit of +talking aloud to himself. But he was disappointed to receive such a +clear proof that Franklin was not the man who had eloped with Anne. Even +if he had been deceiving Mrs. Benker (which was not to be thought of), +he would scarcely have spoken in soliloquy as he did if he had not been +the man he asserted himself to be. Giles, saying nothing to his +companion, watched Franklin in silence until he was out of sight, and +then rose to stretch his long legs, Morley, with a groan, followed his +example. It was he who spoke first.</p> + +<p>"I am half dead with the cramp," said he, rubbing his stout leg, "just +like old times when I hid in a cupboard at Mother Meddlers, to hear +Black Bill give himself away over a burglary. Ay, and I nearly sneezed +that time, which would have cost me my life. I have been safe enough in +that summer-house—but the cramp—owch!"</p> + +<p>"It seems I have been mistaken," was all Giles could say.</p> + +<p>"So have I, so was Mrs. Benker. We are all in the same box. The man is +evidently very like his scamp of a brother."</p> + +<p>"No doubt, Morley. But he isn't the brother himself."</p> + +<p>"More's the pity, for Franklin's sake as well as our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> own. He seems to +hate his brother fairly and would be willing to give him up to the +law—if he's done anything."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ware, beginning to walk, "this Walter Franklin—to give him +his real name—has committed murder. I am more convinced than ever that +he is the guilty person. But I don't see what he has to do with Anne. +Her father is certainly dead—died at Florence. Ha! Morley. Franklin +comes from Florence. He may know—he may have heard."</p> + +<p>Morley nodded. "You're quite right, Ware. I'll ask him about the matter. +Humph!" The ex-detective stopped for a moment. "This involuntary +confession clears George Franklin."</p> + +<p>"Yes. He is innocent enough."</p> + +<p>"Well, but he inherited the money," said Morley. "It's queer that his +brother, according to you, should have killed the girl who kept the +fortune from him."</p> + +<p>"It is strange. But it might be that Walter Franklin intended to play +the part of his brother and get the money, counting on the resemblance +between them."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough. Yet if George were in Italy and within hail, so to +speak, I don't see how that would have done. Why not come to The Elms +with me and speak to Franklin yourself? He will be waiting for me +there."</p> + +<p>"No," answered Ware after some thought, "he evidently intends to trust +you, and if I come he may hold his tongue. You draw him out, Morley, and +then you can tell me. Mrs. Benker——"</p> + +<p>"I'll say nothing about her. I am not supposed to know that she is a +visitor to Rickwell. He'll suspect our game if I chatter about her, +Ware. We must be cautious. This is a difficult skein to unravel."</p> + +<p>"It is that," assented Giles dolefully, "and we're no further on with it +than we were before."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nonsense, man. We have found out Wilson's real name."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is something certainly, and his brother may be able to put +us on his track. If he asks about Mrs. Benker, say that she is a friend +of my housekeeper. You can say you heard it from your wife."</p> + +<p>"I'll say no more than is necessary," replied Morley cunningly. "I +learned in my detective days to keep a shut mouth. Well, I'll be off and +see what I can get out of him."</p> + +<p>When Morley departed at his fast little trot—he got over the ground +quickly for so small a man—Giles wandered about the Priory park. He +thought that he might meet with the daughter, and see what kind of a +person she was. If weak in the head, as Mrs. Parry declared her to be, +she might chatter about her Uncle Walter. Giles wished to find out all +he could about that scamp. He was beginning to feel afraid for Anne, and +to wonder in what way she was connected with such a blackguard.</p> + +<p>However, he saw nothing and turned his face homeward. Just as he was +leaving the park on the side near the cemetery he saw something +glittering in the grass. This he picked up, and was so amazed that he +could only stare at it dumb-founded. And his astonishment was little to +be wondered at. He held in his hand a half-sovereign with an amethyst, a +diamond, and a pearl set into the gold. It was the very ornament which +he had given Anne Denham on the night of the children's party at The +Elms—the coin of His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW</h3> + +<p>The discovery of the coin perplexed Giles. It was certainly the trinket +attached to the bangle which he had given Anne. And here he found it in +the grounds of the Priory. This would argue that she was in the +neighborhood, in the house it might be. She had never been to the Priory +when living at The Elms, certainly not after the New Year, when she +first became possessed of the coin. He decided, therefore, that at some +late period—within the last few days—she had been in the park, and +there had lost the coin. It would, indeed, be strange if this trifling +present which he had made her should be the means of tracing her to her +hiding-place.</p> + +<p>And that hiding-place was the Priory. Giles felt sure of this. If she +was in the neighborhood and walking about openly, she would be +discovered and arrested. Therefore she must be concealed in the house. +She had gone off with Walter Franklin, and here she was under the wing +of his brother George. The case grew more mysterious and perplexing as +time went on. Giles did not know which way to turn, or what advantage to +reap from this discovery.</p> + +<p>Certainly, if he could get into the Priory and search<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> the house, he +might discover Anne. Or, it might be, that if he confided in Franklin +and told him of his love for Anne, the man might tell the truth and let +him have an interview. But the matter took some thinking out. He decided +to let it remain in abeyance at present. After kissing the coin—had it +not been Anne's?—he slipped it into his waistcoat-pocket and returned +home.</p> + +<p>Here a surprise, and not a very agreeable one, awaited him. He reached +his house just in time to dress for dinner, and found a letter, which +had been delivered by hand. It was from Olga Karacsay, and announced +that she and her mother were stopping at the village inn. She asked +Giles to come over that evening, as she wished to introduce him to the +elder Princess. Ware was vexed that this inopportune visit should have +taken place at the moment. He did not wish to be introduced to Olga's +mother, and had more to do than to chatter French to a foreign lady. +However, being naturally a most polite young gentleman, he could not +refuse the request, and after dinner proceeded to the village.</p> + +<p>Morris, the landlord of "The Merry Dancer"—which was the name of the +inn—was a burly man, and usually extremely self-important. On this +night he excelled himself, and looked as swollen as the frog in the +fable. That two Princesses should stay in his house was an honor which +overwhelmed him. To be sure, they were foreigners, which made a +difference; still, they had titles, and plenty of money, and for all +Morris knew—as he observed to his flustered wife—might be exiled +sovereigns. Morris received Giles in his best clothes, and bowed himself +to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Ware, their Highnesses are within—on the first floor, Mr. +Ware, having engaged a salon and two bedrooms."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I didn't know you had a salon, Morris!" said Giles, his eyes twinkling.</p> + +<p>"For the time being I call it such," replied the landlord grandly. "My +daughter is a French scholar, Mr. Ware, and called the sitting-room by +that name. Me and Mrs. Morris and Henrietta Morris wish to make their +Highnesses feel at home. Allow me to conduct you, sir, to the salon of +their Highnesses. The garkong is engaged with the dejune, along with the +femmie de chambers, who also waits."</p> + +<p>"You are quite a French scholar, Morris."</p> + +<p>"Henrietta Morris, my daughter—or I should say, mon filly—has +instructed me in the languidge, sir. This way to the salon, sir," and +Morris marshalled the way with the air of a courtier of Louis XIV.</p> + +<p>Giles entered the sitting-room, which was pretty and quaint but +extremely unpretentious, bubbling over with laughter.</p> + +<p>Olga came forward, and catching sight of his face, laughed also as she +shook hands with him.</p> + +<p>"I see you know the jest," she said.</p> + +<p>"Morris informed me of it as soon as I entered his door. Why have you +come down to this dull place, Princess?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no"—she made a pretty gesture of annoyance—"you must to-night +call me Olga——"</p> + +<p>"I should not think of taking such a liberty," said Giles quickly.</p> + +<p>Olga pouted. "Then, Mademoiselle Olga," said she, "my mother you must +call the Princess Karacsay. Will you allow me, Mr. Ware, to present you +to my mother?"</p> + +<p>She led the young man forward, and he found himself bowing to a stout +lady, who at one time must have been beautiful, but in whom age had +destroyed a great amount<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> of her good looks. She was darker than her +daughter, and had a languid, indolent air, which seemed to account for +her stoutness. Evidently she never took exercise. Her face was still +beautiful, and she had the most glorious pair of dark eyes. Her hair was +silvery, and contrasted strangely with her swart face. One would have +thought that she had African blood in her. She wore a yellow dress +trimmed with black lace, and many jewels twinkled on her neck and arms +and in her hair. Her tastes, like her appearance, were evidently +barbaric. In this cold, misty island she looked like some gorgeous +tropical bird astray.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you, Mr. Ware," she said in soft, languid tones, yet +with a kind of rough burr; "my daughter has often talked of you." Her +English was very good, and there was little trace of a foreign accent. +Yet the occasional lisp and the frequent roughness added a piquancy to +her tones. Even at her age—and she was considerably over fifty—she was +undeniably a fascinating woman: in her youth she must have been a +goddess both for looks and charm. Olga was regal and charming, but her +mother excelled her. Giles found himself becoming quite enchanted with +this Cleopatra of the West.</p> + +<p>"You have been long in England, Princess?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"But a week. I came to see Olga. She would have me come, although I +dislike travelling. But I am fond of Olga."</p> + +<p>"It is more than my father is," said Olga, with a shrug; "he would not +come. I suppose he thinks that I have disgraced him."</p> + +<p>"My dear child," reproved her mother, "you know what your father's +opinion is about this wild life you lead."</p> + +<p>"A very hard-working life," retorted her daughter;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> "singing is not +easy. For the rest, I assure you I am respectable."</p> + +<p>"It is not the life for a Karacsay, my dear. If you would only come back +to Vienna and marry the man your father——"</p> + +<p>"I choose for myself when I marry," flashed out Olga, with a glance at +the uncomfortable Giles. "Count Taroc can take another wife."</p> + +<p>The Princess, seeing that Giles found this conversation somewhat trying, +refrained from further remark. She shrugged her ample shoulders, and +sipped her coffee, which she complained was bad. "You do not know how to +make coffee here," she said, unfurling a fan, "and it is cold, this +England of yours."</p> + +<p>"Princess, to-night is warm!" expostulated Ware.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless I have had a fire made up," she answered, pointing with +her fan to the end of the room; "the landlord was so surprised."</p> + +<p>"He no doubt considered it to be an eccentricity of Her Highness," said +Olga, with a laugh; "a cigarette, mother?"</p> + +<p>The Princess took one languidly, and moved her chair closer to the fire. +The night—to Giles—was quite hot, and he could scarcely bear the +stifling heat of the room. Windows and doors were closed, and the fire +flamed up fiercely. Also some pastiles had been burnt by Olga, and added +a heavy, sensuous scent to the atmosphere. Ware could not help comparing +the room to the Venusberg, and the women to the sirens of that unholy +haunt. Which of the two was Venus he did not take upon himself to +decide.</p> + +<p>"I am used to the tropics," explained the Princess, puffing blue clouds +of smoke. "I come from Jamaica;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> but I have been many years in Vienna, +and in that cold Hungary," she shivered.</p> + +<p>"Ah, now I see, Princess, why you speak English so well," said Giles, +and he might also have added that he now guessed why she was so Eastern +in appearance and so barbaric in her taste for crude, vivid colors. She +had negro blood in her veins he decided, and Olga also. This would +account for the fierce temperament of the latter.</p> + +<p>"I left Jamaica when I was twenty-two," explained the Princess, while +her daughter frowned. For some reason Olga did not seem to approve of +these confidences. "Prince Karacsay was travelling there. He came to my +father's plantation, and there he married me. I am sorry I did not marry +someone in Jamaica," she finished lazily.</p> + +<p>"My dear mother," broke in her daughter petulantly, "you have always +been happy in Vienna and at the Castle."</p> + +<p>"At the castle, yes. It was so quiet there. But Vienna, ach! It is too +gay, too troublesome."</p> + +<p>"You don't like noise and excitement, Princess?"</p> + +<p>She shook her imperial head with the gesture of an angry queen.</p> + +<p>"I like nothing but rest. To be in a hammock with a cigarette and to +hear the wind bend the palms, the surf break on the shores. It is my +heaven. But in Hungary—no palms, no surf. Ach!" She made a face.</p> + +<p>"You are different to Mademoiselle Olga here," said Ware, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Quite different," cried Olga, with a gay laugh. "But I am like my +father. He is a bold hunter and rider. Ah, if I had only been born a +man! I love the saddle and the gun. No wonder I got away from the dull +Society life of Vienna, where women are slaves."</p> + +<p>"I like being a slave, if rest is slavery," murmured her mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Would not your father let you ride and shoot, Mademoiselle Olga?"</p> + +<p>"Ah yes, in a measure. But he is an Austrian of the old school. He does +not believe in a woman being independent. My mother, who is obedient and +good, is the wife he loves."</p> + +<p>"The Prince has been very kind to me. He does not trouble me."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't let the air blow too roughly on you, mother," said Olga, +with a scornful laugh. "He is a descendant of those Magyars who had +Circassian slaves, and adores them as playthings. I am different."</p> + +<p>"You are terribly <i>farouche</i>, Olga," sighed the elder woman. "Your +father has forgiven you, but he is still annoyed. I had the greatest +difficulty in getting his permission to come over here."</p> + +<p>"He doubtless thinks you will be able to bring me back to marry Count +Taroc," replied Olga composedly, "but I stay." She looked at Giles +again, as if he were the reason she thus decided. To change the +conversation he stood up.</p> + +<p>"I fear I fatigue you ladies," he said, looking very straight and +handsome. "You will wish to retire."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I retire," said the Princess. "But my daughter——"</p> + +<p>"I shall stop and talk with Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"Olga!" murmured her mother, rather shocked.</p> + +<p>"I fear I have to go," said Giles uneasily.</p> + +<p>"No. You must stop. I have to talk to you about Anne."</p> + +<p>"Who is this Anne?" asked the Princess, rising lazily.</p> + +<p>"No one you know, mother. A friend of Mr. Ware's. Now you must retire, +and Katinka shall make you comfortable."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will not be long, Olga? If your father knew—"</p> + +<p>"My father will not know," broke in her daughter, leading the elder +woman to the door. "You will not tell him. Besides," (she shrugged), "we +women are free in England. What would shock my father is good form in +this delightful country."</p> + +<p>The Princess murmured something to Giles in a sleepy tone, and lounged +out of the room bulky but graceful. When she departed and the door was +closed, Olga threw open the windows. "Pah!" she said, throwing the +pastiles out of doors, "I cannot breathe in this atmosphere. And you, +Mr. Ware?"</p> + +<p>"I prefer untainted airs," he replied, accepting a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"The airs of the moors and of the mountains," she exclaimed, drawing +herself up and looking like a huntress in her free grace. "I also. I +love wide spaces and chill winds. If we were in the Carpathians, you and +I, how savage our life would be!"</p> + +<p>"An alluring picture, Princess."</p> + +<p>"I am not Princess at present. I am Olga!"</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle Olga," he corrected. "And what about Anne?"</p> + +<p>She appeared annoyed by his persistence. "You think of nothing but that +woman," she cried impetuously.</p> + +<p>"Your friend, mademoiselle."</p> + +<p>"Ach! How stiffly you stay that! My friend! Oh, yes. I would do much for +Anne, but why should I do all?"</p> + +<p>"I do not understand, mademoiselle."</p> + +<p>With a strong effort she composed herself, and looked at him smiling. +"Is it so very difficult to understand?" she asked softly.</p> + +<p>"Very difficult," replied Ware stolidly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"None so blind as those who won't see," muttered Olga savagely.</p> + +<p>"Quite so, mademoiselle." He rose to go. "Will you permit me to retire?"</p> + +<p>"No! I have much to say to you. Please sit down."</p> + +<p>"If you will talk about Anne," he replied, still standing. "From what +you said at our first interview, she evidently knows something of the +Scarlet Cross, and——"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what she does know. She was always careful."</p> + +<p>"I thought she spoke freely to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as a woman always does speak to one of her own sex. With +reservations, Mr. Ware. Still, I could tell you something likely to +throw some light on the mystery."</p> + +<p>"If you only would."</p> + +<p>"It would not lead you to her hiding-place."</p> + +<p>"What if I knew it already, mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p>She stood before him, her hands clenched, her breathing coming and going +in quick, short gasps. "You can't know that."</p> + +<p>"But <i>you</i> do," he said suddenly.</p> + +<p>"I may, or I may not," she replied quickly; "and if you know, why not +seek her out?"</p> + +<p>"I intend to try."</p> + +<p>"To try! Then you are not sure where she is?" said Olga eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Before I answer that, mademoiselle, I must know if you are my friend or +Anne's—enemy," and he looked at her straightly.</p> + +<p>"You have put the matter—the position in the right way. I am your +friend and Anne's—no, I am not her enemy. But I won't give her to you. +No, I won't. You must guess that I——"</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle," he interrupted quickly, "spare yourself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> and me +unnecessary humiliation. You know that I love Anne, that I love no one +but her. I would give my life to find her to prove her innocence."</p> + +<p>"Even your life will not bring her to you or save her from the law. +Giles"—she held out her arms—"I love you."</p> + +<p>"The heat of the room is too much for you. I will go."</p> + +<p>"No!" She flung herself between him and the door. "Since I have said so +much, I must say all. Listen! I have been making inquiries. I know more +about the Scarlet Cross and Anne's connection with it than you think. +Her fate is in my hands. I can prove her innocence."</p> + +<p>"And you will—you will!"</p> + +<p>"On condition that you give her up."</p> + +<p>"I refuse to give her up," he cried angrily.</p> + +<p>"Then she will be punished for a crime she did not commit."</p> + +<p>"You know that she is innocent."</p> + +<p>"I can prove it, and I shall do so. You know my price."</p> + +<p>"Olga, do not speak like this. I would do much to save Anne——"</p> + +<p>"And you refuse to save her," she replied scornfully.</p> + +<p>"I refuse to give her up!"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall do so—to the police. I know where she is."</p> + +<p>"You do—that is why you are down here."</p> + +<p>"I did not come here for that, but to see you. To make my terms. I love +you, and if you will give her up, I shall save her——"</p> + +<p>"I can save her in spite of you," said Giles, walking hastily in the +door. "Your presence here confirms a fancy that I had. I can guess where +Anne is, and I'll save her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You will bring her to the light of day and she will be arrested. I +alone can save her."</p> + +<p>"You will. Oh, Olga, be your better self, and——"</p> + +<p>"You know my price," she said between her teeth.</p> + +<p>"I can't pay it—I can't."</p> + +<p>"Then you must be content to see her ruined."</p> + +<p>"You are a devil!"</p> + +<p>"And you are most polite. No; I am a woman who loves you, and who is +determined to have you at any cost."</p> + +<p>"Can you really save Anne?"</p> + +<p>"I can."</p> + +<p>"Will you give me time to think?"</p> + +<p>A flash of joy crossed her face. "Then I am not so indifferent to you as +you would have me suppose," she said softly.</p> + +<p>"You are not so—no, no! I can't say it! Give me time! give me time!" He +opened the door.</p> + +<p>"Wait, wait!" she said, and closed it again. "I will give you two days. +Then I return to London. If I have your promise, Anne shall be set free +from this accusation. If you tamper in the meantime with her—for you +may know where she is—I'll have her arrested at once."</p> + +<p>"I will do nothing," he said in muffled tones.</p> + +<p>"Swear! swear!" She placed her hands on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Giles stepped back to free himself. "I will swear nothing," he said in +icy tones. "I take my two days." So saying he opened the door, but not +quickly enough to prevent her kissing him.</p> + +<p>"You are mine! you are mine!" she exclaimed exultingly. "Let Anne have +her liberty, her good name. I have you. You are mine!—mine!"</p> + +<p>"On conditions," said Giles cruelly, and went away quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS</h3> + +<p>Giles left "The Merry Dancer" quite determined to deceive Olga if it +were possible. No faith should be kept with such a woman. She had power, +and she was using it unscrupulously for selfish ends. Moreover, come +what might, Giles could not bring himself to make her his wife. He loved +Anne too deeply for that. And then he began to ask himself if he were +not selfish also, seeing that he would not lose his own gratification to +save the woman he loved. Nevertheless, he could not contemplate giving +up Anne with equanimity, and set his wits to work in order to circumvent +the treacherous Olga.</p> + +<p>In the first place he now felt certain that Anne was in the +neighborhood, and, as he shrewdly suspected, in the Priory. The +discovery of the coin and the presence of Olga in the village made him +certain on this point. In some way or another she had got to know of +Anne's whereabouts, and had come here to make capital of her knowledge. +If he consented to surrender Anne and make Olga his wife, she would +probably assist Anne to escape, or else, as she asserted, clear her of +complicity in the crime.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, should he refuse, she would then tell the police +where the unfortunate governess was to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> be found. It might be that Anne +could save herself. But seeing that she had fled immediately after the +murder, it would be difficult for her to exonerate herself. Also, the +reason she had then to take the guilt upon her own shoulders might again +stand in the way of her now clearing her character. Nothing was left but +to marry Olga and so free Anne, or seek Anne himself. Ware determined to +adopt the latter course as the least repugnant to his feelings.</p> + +<p>But Olga was no mean antagonist. She loved Giles so much that she knew +perfectly well that he did not love her, and this knowledge taught her +to mistrust him. As her passion was so great she was content to take him +as a reluctant husband, in the belief that she, as his wife, would in +time wean him from his earlier love. But she was well aware that, even +to save Anne, he would not give in without a struggle.</p> + +<p>This being the case, she considered what he would do. It struck her that +he would see if he could get into the Priory, for from some words he had +let fall she was convinced that he thought Anne was concealed therein. +Olga had her own opinion about that; but she had to do with his actions +at present and not with her own thoughts. For this reason she determined +to watch him—to be in his company throughout the time of probation.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that before Giles could arrange his plans the next +day—one of which entailed a neighborly visit to Franklin—Olga made her +appearance at his house, and expressed a desire to see his picture +gallery, of which she had heard much. Her mother, she said, was coming +over that afternoon to look at the house, which, as she had been told, +was a model of what an English country-house should be.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Giles growled at this speech, being clever enough to see through the +artifices of Mademoiselle Olga.</p> + +<p>"The house is as old as the Tudors," he expostulated; "your mother +should look at a more modern one."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," replied Olga sweetly. "I am sure she will be delighted with +this one; it is so picturesque."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that I promised to pay a visit this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you must put it off, Mr. Ware. When two ladies come to see you, you +really cannot leave them alone."</p> + +<p>"If the next day will do——"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it will. My mother and I leave the next day. She is due +in town to a reception at the Austrian Embassy."</p> + +<p>Ware made other excuses, but Olga would listen to none of them. She +stopped all the morning and looked at the pictures, but she never +referred to their conversation of the previous night. There was a tacit +understanding between them that it should remain in abeyance until the +time given for the reply of Giles was ended. Still, Ware could not +forget that burning kiss, and was awkward in consequence.</p> + +<p>Not so Olga. She was quite cool and self-possessed, and although alone +with him for close on two hours, did not show the least confusion. +Giles, much disgusted, called her in his own mind "unmaidenly." But she +was not that, for she behaved very discreetly. She was simply a woman +deeply in love who was bent on gaining her ends. Considering the depth +of her passion, she restrained herself very creditably when with the man +she loved. Giles now saw how it was that she had defied her family and +had taken her own way in life.</p> + +<p>"I won't stop to luncheon," she said, when he asked her; "but I and my +mother will come over at three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> o'clock." It was now close on two. "I am +sure we shall have a pleasant afternoon."</p> + +<p>Giles tried to smile, and succeeded very well, considering what his +feelings were at the moment. If he could only have behaved brutally, he +would have refused the honor of the proposed visit, but it is difficult +to be rude to a charming woman bent upon having her own way. Ware kicked +as a man will, but ended in accepting the inevitable.</p> + +<p>Olga returned to the inn, and found the Princess seated on the sofa +fanning herself violently. Mrs. Morris was in the room, fluttering +nervously as she laid the cloth for luncheon. Olga looked at her mother. +"Did you take your walk?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The Princess nodded. "I am very warm," she said.</p> + +<p>"What do you think now?" asked her daughter impatiently.</p> + +<p>"I think that you are a very clever woman, Olga," replied the Princess; +"but I am too hungry to talk just now. When I have eaten and am rested +we can speak."</p> + +<p>"But just one word. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly right."</p> + +<p>This conversation was conducted in French, and Mrs. Morris could make +nothing of it. Even if she had known the sense she would not have +understood what it meant. However, Olga and her mother reverted to +English for the benefit of the landlady, and chatted about their +proposed visit to Ware's mansion. After that came luncheon. Shortly +after three mother and daughter were with Giles. He received them with +composure, although he felt quite otherwise than composed. The Princess +pronounced him a charming young man.</p> + +<p>"And what a delightful place you have here!" she said, looking at the +quaint Tudor house, with its grey walls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> and mullion windows. "It is +like a fairy palace. The Castle"—she meant her husband's residence in +Styria—"is cruel-looking and wild."</p> + +<p>"It was built in the Middle Ages," said Olga. "I don't think any one was +particularly amiable then."</p> + +<p>"I would rather have stayed in Jamaica," sighed the Princess. "Why did I +ever leave it?"</p> + +<p>Olga, who always appeared annoyed when her mother reverted to her early +life, touched the elder woman's elbow. The Princess sighed again, and +held her peace. She had a fine temper of her own, but always felt that +it was an effort to use it. She therefore usually gave in to Olga. "It +saved trouble," she explained.</p> + +<p>But her good temper did not last all the afternoon, and ended in +disarranging Olga's plans. After a hearty afternoon tea on the lawn the +Princess said that she did not feel well, and wished to go home. Olga +demurred, but Giles, seeing the chance of escape, agreed that the +Princess really was unwell, and proposed to send them back to the inn in +his carriage. Princess Karacsay jumped at the offer.</p> + +<p>"It will save me walking," she declared fretfully, "and I have done so +much this morning."</p> + +<p>"Where did you go?" asked Giles, wondering that so indolent a woman +should exert herself on such a hot day.</p> + +<p>"To some woods round a place they call the Priory."</p> + +<p>"To the Priory!" he exclaimed, astonished. "Do you know Mr. Franklin?"</p> + +<p>"My mother said the woods round the Priory," explained Olga, with an +annoyed glance at the elder lady. "She did not enter."</p> + +<p>"No," said the Princess, "I did not enter; I do not know the man. Oh, my +dear Olga, do come back. I don't feel at all well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will order the carriage," said Giles, rising.</p> + +<p>"And you will come back with us?"</p> + +<p>"Really, you must excuse me, Mademoiselle Olga," he answered; "but even +a country squire has his work to do."</p> + +<p>And with that he hurried away. In half an hour he had the satisfaction +of seeing the carriage roll down his avenue with a very disappointed +young lady frowning at the broad back of the coachman. Then he set about +seeing what he could do to circumvent her.</p> + +<p>It was too late to call on Franklin, as it was nearly six o'clock. +Still, Ware thought he would reconnoitre in the woods. It was strange +that the elder Princess should have been there this morning, and he +wondered if she also knew of Anne's whereabouts. But this he decided was +impossible. She had only been a few days in England, and she would not +likely know anything about the governess. Still, it was odd that she +should have taken a walk in that particular direction, or that she +should have walked at all. Here was another mystery added to the one +which already perplexed him so greatly.</p> + +<p>However, time was too precious to be wasted in soliloquizing, so he went +off post-haste towards the woods round the Priory. Since he wished to +avoid observation, he chose by-paths, and took a rather circuitous +route. It was nearly seven when he found himself in the forest. The +summer evenings were then at their longest, and under the great trees +there was a soft, brooding twilight full of peace and pleasant woodland +sounds. Had he gone straight forward, he would have come on the great +house itself, centred in that fairy forest. But this was the last thing +he wished to do. He was not yet prepared to see Franklin. He looked here +and there to see if any human being was about, but unsuccessfully. Then +he took his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> way to the spot where he had found the coin of Edward VII. +To his surprise he saw a girl stooping and searching. At once he decided +that she was looking for the lost coin. But the girl was not Anne.</p> + +<p>Looking up suddenly she surveyed him with a startled air, and he saw her +face plainly in the quiet evening light. She had reddish hair, a +freckled face, and was dressed—as Mrs. Parry had said—in all the +colors of the rainbow. Giles guessed at once who she was, and bowed.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Miss Franklin," he said, lifting his hat, "you seem to be +looking for something. Can I assist you?"</p> + +<p>The damsel looked at him sternly and scowled. "You're trespassing," she +said in rather a gruff voice.</p> + +<p>"I fear that I am," he answered, laughing; "but you'll forgive me if I +assist you in your search, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" questioned Miss Franklin, quite unmoved by this +politeness. "I never saw you before."</p> + +<p>"I have just returned from London. My name is Ware."</p> + +<p>"Ware!" echoed the girl eagerly. "Giles Ware?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do you know my name?"</p> + +<p>She took a good look at him, and seemed—he was vain enough to think +so—rather to soften towards him. "I have heard Mrs. Morley speak of +you," she declared bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! You have not heard a lady speak of me?"</p> + +<p>Miss Franklin stared. "No, I never heard a lady talk of you," she +replied, with a giggle. "What lady?"</p> + +<p>"The lady who is stopping in your house."</p> + +<p>Her eyes became hard, and she assumed a stony expression. "There is no +lady in the house but myself."</p> + +<p>"Not a lady who lost what you are looking for?"</p> + +<p>This time she was thrown off her guard, and became<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> as red as her hair. +She tried to carry off her confusion with rudeness. "I don't know what +you're talking of," she said, with a stamp and a frown! "you can just +clear away off our land, or I'll set the dogs on you."</p> + +<p>"I see. You keep dogs, do you? Bloodhounds probably?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know that?" asked Miss Franklin, staring. "Yes, we do keep +bloodhounds, and they will tear you to pieces if you don't go."</p> + +<p>"You seem to forget that this is a civilized country," said Giles +quietly. "If you set your dogs on me, I shall set the police on you."</p> + +<p>"The police!" She seemed startled, but recovered herself. "I don't care +for the police," she declared defiantly.</p> + +<p>"You might not, but Walter Franklin might."</p> + +<p>"Who is he? Never heard of him."</p> + +<p>"Never heard of your uncle?" said Giles, and then wondered how he could +let her know that he had heard it without confessing to the +eavesdropping. It suddenly occurred to him that Franklin had—he +supposed—on the previous day made a confidant of Morley. This +supposition he took advantage of. "Mr. Morley told me that your father +had mentioned his brother."</p> + +<p>The girl started and thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean Uncle Walter," +she said, after a pause. "Yes, but we never talk of him."</p> + +<p>This little speech did not ring quite true. It seemed as though the girl +wished to back up the saying of her father, whether she believed it or +not. "Is that why you pretended ignorance?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That was why," replied Miss Franklin, with brazen assurance.</p> + +<p>She was lying. Giles felt certain of that, but he could not bring the +untruth home to her. He suddenly reverted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> to the main object of his +interview, which had to do with the possibility of Anne being in the +Priory.</p> + +<p>"What about that coin you are looking for?"</p> + +<p>"I am looking for no coin," she replied, quite prepared for him. "I lost +a brooch here. Have you found it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Giles, his eyes watchfully on her face. "It is an Edward +VII. coin in the form of a brooch."</p> + +<p>He thought Miss Franklin would contradict this, but she was perfectly +equal to the occasion. "You must have found it, since you know it so +well. Please give it to me."</p> + +<p>"I have left it at home," he answered, although it was lying in his +pocket-book, and that next his heart. "I will give it to you to-morrow +if you tell me from whom you got it."</p> + +<p>"I found it," she confessed, "in the churchyard."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" A sudden light flashed into the darkness of Ware's mind. "By the +grave of that poor girl who was murdered?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know of any murdered girl," retorted Miss Franklin, and looked +uneasy, as though she were conscious of making a mistake.</p> + +<p>"Yes you do, and you know the lady who cleans the stone and attends to +the grave. Don't deny the truth."</p> + +<p>Miss Franklin looked him up and down, and shrugged her clumsy shoulders. +"I don't know what you are talking about," she declared, and with that +turned on her heel. "Since you will not take yourself off like a +gentleman, I'll go myself"; and she went.</p> + +<p>"Don't set the bloodhounds on me," called out Giles. But she never +turned her head; simply went on with a steady step until she was lost in +the gloom of the wood.</p> + +<p>Giles waited for a time. He had an idea that she was watching. By-and-by +the feeling wore off, and knowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> by this time that he was quite alone, +he also departed.</p> + +<p>He was beginning to doubt Franklin, for this girl had evidently +something to conceal. He was sure that Anne was being sheltered in the +house, and that it was Anne who cleaned the gravestone. Perhaps George +Franklin was giving her shelter since she had helped his rascal of a +brother to escape. Thus thinking, he went through the wood with the +intention of going home. A glance at his watch told him it was after +eight.</p> + +<p>Suddenly it occurred to him that it would be a good time to pay a visit +to the graveyard and see if anything new had been done to the grave. All +the people were within doors at this hour, and the churchyard would be +quiet. Having made up his mind, he walked in the direction of the church +and vaulted the low wall that divided that graveyard from the park. He +saw Daisy's grave. Bending over it a woman. She looked up with a +startled cry. It was Anne Denham.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>PART OF THE TRUTH</h3> + +<p>For a moment the lovers stared at one another in the luminous twilight. +The meeting was so strange, the place where it took place so significant +of the trouble that had parted them, that both were overcome with +emotion. Anne was as white as the marble tombstone, and looked at him +with appealing eyes that beseeched him to go away. But having found her +Giles was determined not to lose her again, and was the first to find +his tongue.</p> + +<p>"Anne!" said he, and stepped towards her with open arms.</p> + +<p>His voice broke the spell which held her chained to the ill-omened spot, +and she turned to fly, only to find herself on his breast and his dear +voice sounding entreatingly in her ears.</p> + +<p>"Anne," he said in a hoarse whisper, "you will not leave me now?"</p> + +<p>After a brief struggle she surrendered herself. There was no danger of +any one coming to the churchyard at this hour, and since they had met so +unexpectedly, she—like the tender, sweet woman she was—snatched at the +blissful moment. "Giles," she murmured, and it was the first time he had +heard her lips frame his name. "Giles!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again there was a silence between them, but one of pure joy and +transcendental happiness. Come what might, nothing could banish the +memory of that moment. They were heart to heart and each knew that the +other loved. There was no need of words. Giles felt that here was the +one woman for him; and Anne nestled in those beloved arms like a wild +bird sheltering from storm.</p> + +<p>But the storm which buffeted her wings would tear her from this refuge. +The passionate delight of that second of Eden passed like a shadow on +the sun dial. From heaven they dropped to earth, and parted once more by +a hand-breath, stared with haggard looks at one another. The revulsion +was so great that Anne could have wept; but her sorrow was so deep that +her eyes were dry. For the gift of the world she could not have wept at +that hour.</p> + +<p>But she no longer felt an inclination to fly. When she saw how worn and +thin her lover looked, she knew that he had been suffering as much as +she had, and a full tide of love swelled to her heart. She also had lost +much of her beauty, but she never thought of that. All she desired was +to comfort the man that loved her. She felt that an explanation was due +to him, and this she determined to give as far as she could without +incriminating others.</p> + +<p>Taking his hand in her own, she led him some little distance from the +grave of Daisy; and they seated themselves on a flat stone in the shadow +of the church, and a stone's throw from the park wall. Here they could +converse without being seen, and if any one came they could hear the +footsteps on the gravelled path, and so be warned. And throughout that +short interview Anne listened with strained attention for the coming +step. At the outset<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> Giles noted her expectant look and put his arm +round her.</p> + +<p>"Dearest, do not fear," he said softly. "No one will come; and if any +one does I can save you."</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, turning her weary eyes on him. "I am under a ban. I +am a fugitive from the law. You cannot save me from that."</p> + +<p>"But you are innocent," he said vehemently.</p> + +<p>"Do you believe that I am, Giles?"</p> + +<p>"Do I believe it? Why should you ask me such a question? If you only +knew, Anne, I have never doubted you from the first. Never! never!"</p> + +<p>"I do know it," she said, throwing her arms round his neck. "I have +known all along how you believed in my innocence. Oh, Giles, my darling +Giles, how shall I be able to thank you for this trust?"</p> + +<p>"You can, Anne, by becoming my wife."</p> + +<p>"Would you marry me with this accusation hanging over me?"</p> + +<p>"I would make you my wife at this moment. I would stand beside you in +the dock holding your hand. What does it matter to me if all the foolish +world think you guilty? I know in my own heart that you are an innocent +woman."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Giles, Giles!" Then her tears burst forth. She could weep now, and +felt the better for that moment of joyful relief. He waited till she +grew more composed, and then began to talk of the future.</p> + +<p>"This can't go on for ever, Anne," said he decisively; "you must +proclaim your innocence."</p> + +<p>"I can't," she answered, with hanging head.</p> + +<p>"I understand. You wish to protect this man. Oh, do not look so +surprised. I mean with the man you fled with—the man Wilson."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know any one called Wilson."</p> + +<p>"Anne!"—he looked at her keenly—"I implore you to tell me the truth. +Who is this man you fled with to Gravesend—with whom you went on board +the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"Is that known?" she asked in a terrified whisper.</p> + +<p>"Yes. A great deal is known."</p> + +<p>"Portia never told me that," she murmured to herself.</p> + +<p>"Who is Portia?"</p> + +<p>"She lives at the Priory, and——"</p> + +<p>"I see. She is the red-haired, freckle-faced girl—the daughter of Mr. +Franklin. Morley told me that. Portia! What a stately name for that +dreadful young person!"</p> + +<p>"But indeed, Giles, she is a good girl, and has been a kind friend to +me," explained Anne eagerly. "She told me all about you, and how you +believed in my innocence."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Giles, "then that was why she seemed so pleased to hear +my name. I met her in the park just now, Anne——"</p> + +<p>"You met her in the park?" Anne half rose to go. He drew her down.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dearest. But don't be alarmed. She will never think that we have +met. She was looking for this." And Giles took out the coin.</p> + +<p>Anne gave a cry of delighted surprise. "Oh," she said, taking it +eagerly, "I thought I had lost it forever. And you found it, Giles?"</p> + +<p>"I found it," he replied gravely. "It was that discovery which made me +believe that you were in the neighborhood. And then when Olga——"</p> + +<p>"Olga." Anne looked at him suddenly. "Do you know her?"</p> + +<p>"Very well. She is your friend."</p> + +<p>"My best friend. She loves me like a sister."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Giles could have told her that the sisterly love was not to be trusted, +but she had so much trouble that he could not find it in his heart to +add to her worries. Besides, time was slipping by, and as yet he knew +nothing of the truth of the matter.</p> + +<p>"Tell me why you fled with that man," he asked.</p> + +<p>"Giles, I will tell you all," she replied earnestly, "but on your part +let me hear what is being done about the death of poor Daisy. It will +set my mind at rest. You see how I have taken care of her grave, dear. +Were I guilty would I do that?"</p> + +<p>"I never thought you guilty," he repeated impatiently. "How many times +have I to say that?"</p> + +<p>"As many as you can bring your mind to repeat," she replied. "It is +sweet to think that you love me so well, that you can refuse to believe +evil of me in the face of the evidence against me."</p> + +<p>"Anne, Anne, why did you fly?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me how the case stands against me and what you have discovered," +she asked in a composed voice, and with a visible effort to command her +feelings. "And I shall tell you all that I can."</p> + +<p>As time was precious Giles did not lose a moment. He plunged into the +story of all that had taken place, from his interview with Mrs. Parry to +the finding of the coin which had first given him his clue to the +whereabouts of Anne. Also he touched lightly upon the visit of Olga to +Rickwell, but was careful not to allude to her feelings towards him. +Since Anne believed the woman to be her friend, he wished her to remain +in that belief. He was not the one to add to her sorrows. And even when +she was cleared of the charge and became his wife Ware determined that +he would never speak of Olga's treachery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> For her own sake he knew that +the Hungarian would be silent.</p> + +<p>Anne listened in silence to his recital, and when he ended drew a sigh +of relief. "It might have been worse," she said.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it could be," replied Ware bluntly. "Morley will insist +that you are guilty, and Steel thinks so too. I must admit that he +wavers between you and this man you fled with. Come now, Anne, tell me +all."</p> + +<p>"I shall not have much time," she said hurriedly. "I dare not let Mr. +Franklin know that I have met you. If I am not back in the Priory soon, +he will send Portia to look for me."</p> + +<p>"You can tell me much in ten minutes. Who is the man?"</p> + +<p>"My father," she replied in a low voice.</p> + +<p>Giles could hardly speak for surprise. "But your father is dead?"</p> + +<p>"I thought he was," said Anne. "I have believed it these many months. +But when I saw him in Mr. Morley's library on that night I knew that he +still lived."</p> + +<p>"But I can't understand how you made such a mistake. Does Morley know?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "I managed to restrain myself. Mr. Morley knows +nothing. Afterwards I went to the church in the hope of meeting my +father. He was in church."</p> + +<p>"I saw him," said Giles; "but tell me how the mistake occurred."</p> + +<p>"My father lived in Florence, and——"</p> + +<p>"Is his name Walter Franklin?"</p> + +<p>"That is his real name; but he was known in Florence as Alfred Denham."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You spoke to Olga Karacsay about him under that name?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, because I did not know until lately that his name was Walter +Franklin. Nor did I know that George Franklin, who inherits Daisy's +money, was his brother."</p> + +<p>"So George Franklin is your uncle and Portia your cousin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but let me go on. My father lived in Florence. I was often away +from home, as I was engaged as a governess. I came to England and met +Olga at the Institute. I procured an engagement in London; it was the +one I had before Mrs. Morley engaged me. I received news that my father +was ill of typhoid fever. I hurried at once to Florence. He not only was +dead, but he was buried, so I was informed by Mark Dane."</p> + +<p>"Who is Mark Dane?"</p> + +<p>"He was my father's secretary."</p> + +<p>"One moment, Anne. Your uncle stated that he was the man who lived in +Florence, and that your father being a scamp lived in England. On +account of Walter George resided abroad."</p> + +<p>"That is quite true. But Walter—I may speak of my father so for the +sake of clearness—used to come sometimes to Florence. George never knew +that he was there, thinking that he was in London. I learned all this +lately. At the time my father and I lived in Florence I knew nothing of +the relationship between George and Walter. My father knew that if Daisy +died his brother would inherit the money, and he kept a watch on George +so as to see if he would come into the property. But I knew nothing of +this, neither did Mark, although he was deep in my father's confidence. +Well, as I say, my father was supposed to have died. I expect another +corpse was buried in his place. Mark no doubt agreed to the fraud,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +whatever was the reason. But I have not seen Mark since immediately +after the death, and can't get an explanation. I saw him in Florence, +and he told me that my father was dead and buried. Since then I have not +seen him."</p> + +<p>"So you returned to England, thinking your father was dead?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. He left me a little money. I went back to my situation. +Afterwards I came down here. On that New Year's Eve I entered the +library and saw my father speaking to Mr. Morley. I disguised my +feelings, as I was certain he did not wish to be recognized. But the +shock was so great that I nearly fainted. I went up to my room, and +afterwards to church to see my father. He was there, as you know. I saw +him pass a paper to Daisy. She went out ten minutes later; he followed. +I wished to see him, and I was curious to know why he had come to +Rickwell and had let me think he was dead. Shortly afterwards I went +outside. It was snowing fast. I could not see my father or Daisy. +Suddenly I came across my father. He was beside the grave of Mr. Kent. +Daisy was lying on the ground. He gasped out that she was dead, and +implored me to save him."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he killed her?"</p> + +<p>"No. Afterwards he denied that he did. But at the time I believed that +he was guilty. I saw that he would be arrested, and in a frenzy of alarm +I cast about for some means to save him. I remembered your motor-car was +waiting at the gates. I sent Trim away on an errand——"</p> + +<p>"I know, I know! You deceived him!"</p> + +<p>"To save my father," replied Anne quietly. "I got the car in this way +and went off with my father. He told me to go to Gravesend, where he had +a yacht waiting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> Near Gravesend the car upset. We left it on the +roadside and walked to Tilbury. A boatman ferried us across the river, +and we went on board the yacht."</p> + +<p>"Did you know your father was the owner of the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not. He said that it belonged to a friend. We departed in the +yacht and went to a French port, then on to Paris."</p> + +<p>"And it was from Paris that you sent me the drawing of the coin."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I knew that appearances were against me, and could not bear to +think that you should believe me guilty. I did not dare to send any +letter, but I knew you would recognize the drawing of the Edward VII. +coin, and so sent it as you saw."</p> + +<p>"How long did you stay in Paris?"</p> + +<p>"For some weeks. Then we went to Italy, to Florence."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't your father recognized?"</p> + +<p>"No; he had altered his appearance. He gave me no reason at first for +doing this, but afterwards told me that he was engaged in a political +conspiracy, something to do with the Anarchists."</p> + +<p>"Is the red cross the symbol of some society?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say. He refused to explain the mystery of the cross to me. I +admit fully, Giles, that I cannot understand my father. His ways are +strange, and he leads a most peculiar life. Afterwards George Franklin, +my uncle, came to England and inherited the property. My father sent me +to him with an explanation. My uncle refused to believe that I was +guilty, and gave me shelter in his house until such time as my character +could be cleared. I came over and have been hiding in the Priory ever +since. I was so sorry for poor Daisy and for her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> unexpected death that +I came to see after her grave. I found it neglected, and thus went to +clean it, as you see. Portia, my cousin, has been very good to me. I +have stayed in all day and have walked out in the evening. No one knows +that I am here. No one will ever know unless you tell."</p> + +<p>"I tell? Anne, what do you take me for? I will keep quiet until I can +clear your character, and make you my wife."</p> + +<p>"You must not see me again."</p> + +<p>"No," sighed Giles, "it will not be wise. But can't you tell me who +killed Daisy, and thus clear yourself?"</p> + +<p>Anne shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could. But my father declares that he came out to see the +girl, and found her already dead on the grave face downwards. She had +been killed during the time he waited behind. He saw that there was a +danger of his being accused of the crime, since he had asked her to +leave the church. Thus it was that he lost his presence of mind and +called on me to save him. I did so on the impulse of the moment, and +thus it all came about."</p> + +<p>"Where is your father now?"</p> + +<p>Anne thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I would tell you if I knew," she said seriously, "as I know you will +not betray him. But I don't know where he is. Since I have been here I +have not heard a word from him."</p> + +<p>"Your uncle?"</p> + +<p>"If my uncle knew, he would hand my father over to the police. He hates +him; but he is always kind to me."</p> + +<p>"Anne, I wonder if your uncle killed Daisy to inherit the money?"</p> + +<p>"No; he was in Italy at the time. I am sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Has your father any suspicion who killed Daisy?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No. He says he has not."</p> + +<p>"Why did he ask her to leave the church? And how did he manage it?"</p> + +<p>"He wished to speak to her about George Franklin, who would inherit the +money if she died. I believe he intended to warn her that George was +dangerous, for he hates my uncle."</p> + +<p>"Did your father know that the money had been left at the time?"</p> + +<p>"No. It was only because he was on the spot that he wished to see Daisy. +He wrote on a scrap of paper that he wished to see her about the money, +and she came out."</p> + +<p>"She was always eager after that miserable money," said Ware sadly. "But +your father did know that Powell was dead at the time, Anne." And he +told her of his discoveries in connection with the office boy. "So you +see your father was in England masquerading as Wilson," he finished.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Anne, with a shudder, "I see now. But he told me nothing of +this. Indeed, I can't understand my father at all."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the meaning of the Scarlet Cross?"</p> + +<p>"No; he refuses to tell me. He won't say why he pretended to be dead; +and in every way he is most mysterious. But I am fond of my father, +Giles, although I know he is not a good man. But he did not kill Daisy; +I am sure of that. And even at the time I thought he had done so I saved +him. After all he may be as bad as possible; but he is my father, and I +owe him a daughter's affection."</p> + +<p>Giles would have argued this, but at the moment Anne started to her +feet. She heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and without a word +to Giles she flew over the low wall and darted across the park. He was +too astonished by this sudden departure to say a word. He had lost her +again. But he knew where she was after all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>WHAT HAPPENED NEXT</h3> + +<p>Giles left the churchyard slowly, with his brain in a whirl. Anne had +departed in hot haste, taking shelter in her hiding-place, and he dare +not follow unless he wanted it to be discovered. He never knew who it +was, whose footsteps had startled her away. When she left him he +remained for quite ten minutes where he was, in a kind of dazed +condition. The footsteps were not heard now. So intent had he been upon +Anne's flight, and on the amazing things she had told him, that he had +not noticed when they ceased. Then it occurred to him that they had +retreated—just as though a person had been listening and had hastily +gone away. But of this he could not be sure. All he did know was that +when he rounded the corner there was not a soul in sight. And nothing +remained but to go home.</p> + +<p>Olga and her mother did not put in an appearance on this night, so Giles +had ample time to think over his meeting with Anne. He did not see how +he could help her, and the story she had related bewildered, instead of +enlightening him. After a time he rearranged the details, and concluded +that, in spite of all denial, her father was the guilty person, and the +crime had been committed for the sake of the Powell money.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whether the Scarlet Cross indicates a political society or is the +symbol of a thieves' association," said Giles to himself, "I can't say +until Steel is more certain of his ground. But this Alfred Denham, or +Walter Franklin, or whatever he chooses to call himself, is evidently a +bad lot. He has sufficient love for his daughter to keep his iniquities +from her, and that is why Anne is so much in the dark. I quite believe +that she thinks her father innocent, and saved him on the spur of the +moment. But he is guilty for all that."</p> + +<p>And then Giles proceeded to work out the case as it presented itself to +him. Walter Franklin—as he found it most convenient to call him—was a +scoundrel who preyed on society, and who by some mischance had a pure +and good daughter like Anne. To keep her from knowing how bad he +was—and the man apparently valued her affection—he sent her to be a +governess. She believed in him, not knowing how he was plotting to get +the Powell money.</p> + +<p>Certainly Walter had resided in Florence under the name of Denham. Ware +quite believed this, and guessed that he did so in order to keep an eye +on his brother George, who was to inherit the Powell money. Probably he +knew beforehand that Powell was ill, and so had feigned death that he +might carry out his scheme without Anne's knowledge. That scheme was to +impersonate his brother; and Giles trembled to think of how he proposed +to get rid of George when the time was ripe. He must have intended to +murder him, for since he had slain Daisy with so little compunction, he +certainly would not stick at a second crime.</p> + +<p>However, thus Giles argued, the first step to secure the money was for +him to feign death and thus get rid of Anne. Then he came to London, and +as Wilson<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> stopped with Mrs. Benker in order to spy on the Ashers +through Alexander. As soon as he knew for certain that Powell was dead +and that the money was coming to Daisy, he came down to Rickwell on the +errand of serving the summons, and then had lured the girl outside of +the church to kill her. But for Anne following him, he would have +disappeared into the night and no one would have been the wiser.</p> + +<p>But the appearance of his daughter in the library upset his plans. She +followed him into the church and came out to find him near the dead +body. He certainly made an excuse, but Giles believed that such was a +lie. If he had confessed to the crime, even Anne might not have stopped +with him. But here Giles remembered that at the time of the flight Anne +really believed that her father was guilty. At all events he had made +use of her to get away, and thus had reached the yacht at Gravesend. It +was waiting for him there, in order that he might fly after the crime +was committed. Perhaps he intended to walk to Tilbury, and crossing the +Thames get on board the yacht before the hue-and-cry was out. Anne +hampered his plans in some measure and then, by means of the stolen +motor-car, assisted them. Thus the man had got away, and by the murder +of the girl had opened the way to George inheriting the money.</p> + +<p>"They went to Paris," mused Giles, "then to Florence. I daresay this +Walter intended to send Anne away on some excuse and to murder his +brother in Florence. Then he could slip into the dead man's shoes, and +come to inherit—as George—the property of Powell. Probably George left +Florence before Walter arrived, and thus escaped death. He is safe so +far, but how long will he be safe?"</p> + +<p>Then a terrible thought occurred to Giles. He wondered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> if Walter had +placed his daughter at the Priory so as to have an opportunity of coming +to see his brother, and thus seizing his chance of killing him. Anne, +innocent as she was of the real meaning of these terrible schemes, might +be a decoy. If her father came, George would be murdered. Walter, who +was able to disguise himself with infernal ingenuity, might slip into +the dead man's shoes, and thus the money he had schemed for would come +to him. Evidently the last act of the tragedy was not yet played out.</p> + +<p>The more Giles puzzled over the matter, the more bewildered he became. +He could see—as he thought—what had been done, but he could not guess +how the last act was to be carried out. Yet Walter Franklin was hiding +somewhere waiting to pounce out on his unsuspecting brother, and the +second crime might involve Anne still deeper in the nefarious +transactions of her father. Finally Giles made up his mind to seek +George Franklin at the Priory and tell him what he thought. The man +should at least be put on his guard. It may be said that Ware fancied he +might be permitted to see Anne as a reward for his kind warning.</p> + +<p>Before calling on Franklin he went to see the foreign ladies. To his +surprise both had left by the early morning train. There was a note from +Olga, which informed him that her mother had insisted on returning to +town, finding the country cold and dull. The note added that +she—Olga—would be glad to see him at the Westminster flat as soon as +he could come to London, and ended with the remark that he had yet to +give his answer to her question. Giles was relieved when he read this. +Olga was gone, and the two days of probation were extended indefinitely. +He might find some way of releasing Anne before he need give this +dreadful answer. Again and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> again did he bless the selfishness of the +elder Princess, which had removed the obstacle of Olga from his path.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile he put her out of his mind and went on to the Priory. He +called in on the way to see Morley, but learned that the little man had +gone to town. Mrs. Morley looked more worn and haggard than ever, and +seemed about to say something as Giles was taking his leave. However, +she held her peace and merely informed him that she missed her children +dreadfully. "But I'm sure that is not what she meant to say," thought +Ware, as he departed. On looking back he saw her thin white face at the +window and concluded—as Mrs. Parry did—that the poor lady had +something on her mind.</p> + +<p>In due time he arrived at the Priory and was shown into a gloomy +drawing-room, where George Franklin received him. Giles apologized for +not having called before, and was graciously pardoned.</p> + +<p>"And, indeed, I should have called on you, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, +"but I am such a recluse that I rarely go out."</p> + +<p>"You call on Mr. Morley, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is a cheery man, and won't take no for an answer. I find that +his company does me good, but I prefer to be alone with my books."</p> + +<p>There were many books in the room and many loose papers on the desk, +which Giles saw were manuscripts. "I write sometimes," said Franklin, +smiling in his sour way. "It distracts my mind from worries. I am +writing a history of Florence during the age of the Renaissance."</p> + +<p>"A very interesting period," Giles assured him.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and my daughter Portia helps me a great deal. You have met her, +Mr. Ware. She told me."</p> + +<p>"Yes; we met in the park. She was looking for something, which I found; +but I gave it to—to——" Giles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> hesitated, for he was on dangerous +ground. "To another lady," he finished desperately, and waited for the +storm to break.</p> + +<p>To his surprise the man smiled. "You mean my niece Anne," said he in the +calmest way.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I do mean Miss Denham. But I did not know that—that——"</p> + +<p>"That I wished you to know she was under my roof. Is that it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," stammered Giles, quite at sea. He did not expect this candor.</p> + +<p>Franklin rather enjoyed his confusion. "I did not intend to let you know +that she was here. It was her own request that you were kept in +ignorance. But since you met her——"</p> + +<p>"Did you hear of our meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Anne told me of it directly she came back. Oh, I have heard +all about you, Mr. Ware. My niece confessed that you loved her, and from +Morley I heard that you defended her."</p> + +<p>"Did Morley know that Anne was here?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. At the outset of our acquaintance he informed me that he +believed her to be guilty. I resolved to say nothing, lest he might tell +the police."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not tell him that she was innocent?" asked Giles hotly.</p> + +<p>The man looked grave and smoothed his shaven chin—a habit with him when +perplexed. "Because I could not do so without telling an untruth," he +said coldly.</p> + +<p>Giles started to his feet, blazing with anger. "What!" he cried, "can +you sit there and tell me that your own niece killed that poor girl?"</p> + +<p>"I have reason to believe that she did," replied Franklin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She told me she was innocent," began Ware.</p> + +<p>Franklin interrupted. "She loves you too well to say otherwise. But she +is—guilty."</p> + +<p>"I would not believe that if she told me herself."</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, after a pause. "I'll explain +exactly how the confession came about."</p> + +<p>Giles took his seat again, and eyed his host pale but defiant. "It is no +use your saying anything against Anne. She is innocent."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ware, I believed that when she first came to me. I hate my brother +because he is a bad man; but I liked his niece, and when she came to me +for shelter I took her in, notwithstanding the enormity of the crime +which she was accused of having committed."</p> + +<p>"It gained you your fortune," said Ware bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I would rather have been without a fortune gained at such a price," +answered Franklin coldly; "but I really believed Anne guiltless. She +defended her father, but I fancied, since she had helped him to escape, +that he had killed the poor girl."</p> + +<p>"And he did," cried Giles. "I am sure he did."</p> + +<p>"He had no motive."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, to get the money—the five thousand a year."</p> + +<p>"You forget. By Miss Kent's death that came to me."</p> + +<p>"Your brother would have found means to get it. I believe he will find +means yet."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you. Will you explain?"</p> + +<p>Franklin seemed fairly puzzled by Giles' remarks, so the young man set +forth the theory he had formed about the murder. At first Mr. Franklin +smiled satirically; but after a time his face became grave, and he +seemed agitated. When Giles ended he walked the room in a state of +subdued irritation.</p> + +<p>"What have I done to be so troubled with such a relative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> as Walter?" he +said aloud. "I believe you are right, Mr. Ware. He may attempt my life +to get the money; and as we are rather like one another in appearance he +may be able to pass himself off as me. Why, there was a woman here who +called herself Mrs. Benker. She insisted that I was called Wilson, under +which name she knew my brother Walter. So you must see how easily he +could impose on every one. I am dark and clean-shaven; he is red-haired +and bearded. But a razor and a pot of black dye would soon put that to +rights. Yes, he might attempt my murder. But do not let us saddle him +with a crime of which he is guiltless. Anne killed the girl. I assure +you this is the truth."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," cried Giles fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless"—Franklin paused and then came forward swiftly to place a +sympathetic hand on the young man's shoulder—"I heard her say so +myself. She confessed to me that she had met you, and seemed much +agitated. Then she ran out of this room to another. Fearing she was ill, +I followed, and found her on her knees praying. She said aloud that she +had deceived you, stating that she could not bear to lose your love by +proclaiming herself a murderess."</p> + +<p>"No, no; I won't listen." Giles closed his ears.</p> + +<p>"Be a man, Mr. Ware. Anne is ill now. She confessed the truth to me, and +then fled to her bedroom. This morning she was very ill, as my daughter +Portia assured me. Portia is out of the house. If you will come with me, +you will hear the truth from Anne herself. She is so ill that she will +not try to deceive you now. But if she does confess, you must promise +not to give her up to the police. She is suffering agonies, poor child!"</p> + +<p>"I'll come at once," said Giles bravely, starting to his feet. And it +was brave of him, for he dreaded the truth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> "If she confesses this, +I'll go away and never see her again. The police—ah, you needn't think +I would give her up to the police. But if she is guilty (and I can't +believe such a thing of her) I'll tear her out of my heart. But it's +impossible, impossible!"</p> + +<p>Franklin looked at him with a pitying smile as he hid his face in his +hands. Then he touched him on the shoulder and led the way along a +passage towards the back part of the house. At a door at the end he +paused. "The room is rather dark. You won't see her clearly," he said, +"but you will know her by her voice."</p> + +<p>"I would know her anyway," cried Giles fiercely, and tormented beyond +endurance.</p> + +<p>Franklin gave him another glance, as though asking him to brace himself +for the ordeal, and then opened the door. He showed small mercy in +announcing Ware's coming. "Anne, here is Mr. Ware come to see you. Tell +him the truth."</p> + +<p>The room was not very large, and was enveloped in a semi-gloom. The +blind was pulled down, and the curtains were drawn. The bed was near the +window, and on it lay Anne in a white dress. She was lying on the bed +with a rug thrown over her feet. When she heard the name of Giles she +uttered a cry. "Keep him away!" she said harshly. "Keep him away! Don't +let him come!"</p> + +<p>"Anne! Anne!" cried Giles, coming forward, his mouth dry, his hands +clenched. "Do not tell me that you killed Daisy."</p> + +<p>There was a groan and silence, but Anne—so far as he could see—buried +her face in the pillow. It was Franklin who spoke. "Anne, you must tell +the truth once and for all."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she cried, "Giles would despise me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anne," he cried in agony, "did you kill her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," came the muffled voice from the bed. "I found her at the grave. +My father was not there. He had missed her in the darkness and the snow. +She taunted me. I had the stiletto, which I took from the library, and I +killed her. It was my father who saved me. Oh, go away, Giles, go away!"</p> + +<p>But Giles did not go. He rose to his feet and stepped towards the +window. In a second he had the blind up and the curtains drawn apart. +The light poured into the room to reveal—not Anne Denham, but the girl +Portia Franklin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON</h3> + +<p>It was indeed Portia. Seeing that she was discovered, she sprang from +the bed and faced Giles with a sullen, defiant look on her freckled +face. Still standing in the strong light which poured in through the +window, Ware looked at the girl satirically.</p> + +<p>"You are a very clever mimic, Miss Franklin," said he, "but you rather +forgot yourself in that last speech. Anne is of too sensitive a nature +to have explained herself with such a wealth of detail."</p> + +<p>"You were deceived at first," grumbled Portia, rocking herself.</p> + +<p>"Only for a moment," replied Giles. "And now I should like to know the +meaning of this masquerade?"</p> + +<p>"I also," cried Franklin, in his turn. He was staring at his daughter +with a look of profound amazement. "Where is Anne, you wretched girl?"</p> + +<p>"She has run away."</p> + +<p>"Run away!" exclaimed the men simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"Yes. After your finding out last night that she had killed Daisy Kent +she was afraid to stop. She knew that you hated her father, and thought +you might hand her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> over to the police. Last night she told me so, and +said she would run away. I love Anne, and I let her do as she liked. It +was I who let her out," ended Portia, defiantly.</p> + +<p>"Anne should not have so mistrusted me," cried Franklin, much perturbed. +"Surely I always protected her, and treated her well."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you didn't know till last night that she was guilty."</p> + +<p>"No; but for all that——" began Franklin, only to break off. "Where has +she gone?" he demanded angrily.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. She had some money, and took a small black bag with her. +She said when she got settled she would write here and let me know where +she was, on condition that I did not tell you."</p> + +<p>"She has every reason to. Poor, miserable girl! to be an outcast, and +now to leave her only refuge," he sighed and shook his head. Giles all +the time had been watching Portia, whose face bore an expression of +obstinacy worthy of a mule. "Did this scheme for Anne's departure +include the masquerade you have indulged in?"</p> + +<p>"It is my own idea," she retorted defiantly. "Anne wished to get away +without my father knowing, so I stopped in her room and pretended to be +Anne. The servants were deceived, as I knew exactly how to imitate her +voice. I pulled down the blind, so that no one should see who I was. +Only you could have guessed the truth."</p> + +<p>"How is that?"</p> + +<p>"Because you love her."</p> + +<p>Giles thought this a strange speech for the heavy-looking girl to make. +"Is that an original remark on your part?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No," she confessed candidly; "I suggested to Anne that I should pass +myself off as her, and so give her a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> longer time to get away. She said +that I might deceive the servants and my father, but that I could never +deceive you, because you loved her. But I had a good try," continued +Portia, nodding her red head triumphantly. "When my father spoke your +name at the door I thought I would try."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have done so only to fail," responded Ware coolly. "For the +moment I was deceived, but you forgot how to manage your voice, and, +moreover, your explanation was too elaborate. But how is it you dare to +confess, as Anne, that she killed the girl?"</p> + +<p>"Anne did kill Daisy Kent!"</p> + +<p>"She did not."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she did. She confessed as much to father last night, and to me +also. She asked me to tell you so, that you might forget all about her. +I was going over to your place this very day to tell, but when father +brought you in I thought I would pretend to be Anne and tell you in that +way."</p> + +<p>"Anne would have written, and——"</p> + +<p>"No, she wouldn't," said Portia, eagerly. "She began to write a letter +saying that she was guilty, but afterwards she thought it might fall +into the hands of the police, and tore it up. She told me to let you +know by word of mouth. All she asks of you is that you will forget that +she ever existed."</p> + +<p>"Let her tell me that with her own lips," said Giles, groaning.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Portia, tell Mr. Ware the place Anne has gone to."</p> + +<p>Portia eyed her father with some anger. "How can I tell when I don't +know? Anne never said where she was going. I let her out by the back +door just before dawn, and she went away. I know no more."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If she writes, you will let Mr. Ware know."</p> + +<p>"I shan't," retorted the girl. "Anne wants him to forget her."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible," said Giles, whose face was now haggard with the +anguish of the moment; "but you must be my friend, Portia, and tell me. +Think how I suffer!"</p> + +<p>"Think how she suffers, poor darling!" cried Portia, whose sympathies +were all with Anne. "Don't ask me any more. I shan't speak."</p> + +<p>And speak she would not, although Giles cajoled and Franklin stormed. +Whatever could be said of Portia, she was very loyal to the outcast. +There was nothing for it but for Ware to depart. And this he did.</p> + +<p>What was the best thing to be done Giles did not very well know. Anne +was lost again, and he did not know where to look for her. He could not +bring himself to believe that she was guilty, in spite of her confession +to Portia and Franklin.</p> + +<p>"It's that blackguard of a father of hers over again," he thought, as he +tramped moodily through the Priory park. "She is afraid lest his +brother—her uncle—should denounce him, and has taken the crime on her +own shoulders. Even though he is her father, she should not sacrifice so +much for him. But it is just noble of her to do so. Oh, my poor love, +shall I ever be able to shelter you from the storms of life?"</p> + +<p>There did not seem to be much chance of it at the present moment. +Mistrusting her uncle, she had vanished, and would let no one but Portia +know of her new hiding-place. And Portia, as Giles saw, was too devoted +to Anne to confess her whereabouts without permission. And how was such +permission to be obtained? Anne allowed her uncle to think her guilty in +order to save her unworthy father from his fraternal hatred. She had +asserted her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> innocence to Giles, but had apparently, through Portia, +tried to deceive him again, so that he might not follow her. "Poor +darling!" cries Giles, full of pity, "she wishes to put me out of her +life, and has fled to avoid incriminating her father. If she told me the +whole truth her father would be in danger, and she chooses to bear his +guilt herself. But why should she think I would betray the man? Bad as +he is, I should screen him for her dear sake. Oh"—Giles stopped and +looked up appealingly to the hot, blue sky—"if I only knew where she +was to be found, if I could only hold her in my arms, never, never would +I let her go, again! My poor Quixotic darling, shall I ever be worthy of +such nobility?"</p> + +<p>It was all very well apostrophizing the sky, but such heroics did not +help him in any practical way. He cast about in his own mind to consider +in which direction she had gone. The nearest railway station to London +was five miles away; but she would not leave the district thus openly, +for the stationmaster knew her well. She had frequently travelled from +that centre as Miss Denham, and he would be sure to recognize her, even +though she wore a veil. Anne, as Giles judged, would not risk such +recognition.</p> + +<p>Certainly there was another station ten miles distant, which was very +little used by the Rickwell people. She might have tramped that +distance, and have taken a ticket to London from there. But was it her +intention to go to London? Giles thought it highly probable that she +would. Anne, as he knew from Portia, had very little money, and it would +be necessary for her to seek out some friend. She would probably go to +Mrs. Cairns, for Mrs. Cairns believed her to be guiltless, and would +shelter her in the meantime. Later on a situation could be procured for +her abroad, and she could leave England under a feigned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> name. Giles +felt that this was the course Anne would adopt, and he determined to +follow the clue suggested by this theory.</p> + +<p>Having made up his mind to this course, Giles hurried home to pack a few +things and arrange for his immediate departure. Chance, or rather +Providence, led him past "Mrs. Parry's Eye" about five o'clock. Of +course, the good lady was behind the window spying on all and sundry, as +usual. She caught sight of Giles striding along the road with bent head +and a discouraged air. Wondering what was the matter and desperately +anxious to know, Mrs. Parry sent out Jane to intercept him and ask him +in. Giles declined to enter at first; but then it struck him that since +he was in search of information about Anne, Mrs. Parry might know +something. Her knowledge was so omniscient that, for all he knew, she +might have been aware all the time of Anne's presence at the Priory, but +held her tongue—which Mrs. Parry could do sometimes—out of pity for +the girl's fate. Giles went in resolved to pump Mrs. Parry without +mentioning what he knew of Anne. Supposing she was ignorant, he was not +going to be the one to reveal Anne's refuge. And if she did know, Ware +was certain that Mrs. Parry would tell him all, since she was aware how +deeply he loved the governess. Thus in another five minutes the young +man found himself seated in the big armchair opposite the old lady. She +was rather grim with him.</p> + +<p>"You have not been to see me for ever so long," said she, rubbing her +beaky nose. "Your Royal Princesses have taken up too much of your time, +I suppose. Oh, I know all about them."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry they did not stay for a few days," replied Giles in his most +amiable tone. "I wished to introduce them to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You mean present me to them," corrected the old dame, who was a +stickler for etiquette. "They are genuine Princesses, are they not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. But they are not royal. Princess Karacsay is the wife of a +Magyar noble. She is not an Austrian, however, as she came from Jamaica. +The younger, Princess Olga, is——"</p> + +<p>"Jamaica," interrupted Mrs. Parry! "Humph! That is where Anne Denham was +born. Queer this woman should come from the same island."</p> + +<p>"It's certainly odd," replied Giles. "But a mere coincidence."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" from Mrs. Parry. "Some folks make their own coincidences."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Mrs. Parry?"</p> + +<p>"Mean? Humph! I don't know if I should tell you."</p> + +<p>Giles was now on fire to learn her meaning. Evidently Mrs. Parry did +know something, and might be able to help him. But seeing that she was +slightly offended with him, it required some tact to get the necessary +information out of the old lady. Giles knew the best way to effect his +purpose was to feign indifference. Mrs. Parry was bursting to tell her +news, and that it would come out the sooner if he pretended that he did +not much care to hear it.</p> + +<p>"There is no reason why you should tell me," said he coolly. "I know all +about the Princess Karacsay. She and her daughter only came down here +for a rest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they did, did they, Ware? Humph!" She rubbed her nose again, and +eyed him with a malignant pleasure. "Are you sure the elder Princess +didn't come down to see Franklin?"</p> + +<p>"She doesn't know him," said Giles, trying to be calm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> "She took a walk +in the Priory woods. I suppose that is how the mistake——"</p> + +<p>"I don't make mistakes," retorted Mrs. Parry, with a snort. "I know a +new gardener who is employed at the Priory. He told Jane, who told me, +that Princess Karacsay, the mother, called on Franklin the other morning +and entered the house. She was with him for over an hour. He came to the +door to see her off. The gardener was attending to some shrubs near at +hand. He could not hear what they said to one another, but declares that +Franklin was as pale as a sheet."</p> + +<p>"Queer," thought Giles, remembering how the elder lady had denied all +knowledge of the man. However, he did not make this remark to Mrs. +Parry. "Well, there's nothing in that," said he aloud. "Franklin lived +in Italy for many years. He may have met the Princess there."</p> + +<p>"True enough." Mrs. Parry was rather discomfited. "There may be nothing +in it, and Franklin seems to be decent enough in his life, though a bit +of a recluse. I've nothing to say against the man."</p> + +<p>Giles thought that this was rather fortunate for Franklin, seeing that +Mrs. Parry's tongue was so dangerous. If she ever came to know of his +brother Walter, and of the relations between him and George, she would +be sure to make mischief. He thought it prudent to say nothing. The less +revealed to the good lady the better. However, this attitude did not +prevent Ware from trying to learn what Mrs. Parry had discovered with +regard to the two Princesses. She told him an interesting detail without +being urged.</p> + +<p>"Last night about nine I saw one of them out for a walk."</p> + +<p>"Princess Olga?" questioned Giles.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parry nodded. "If she is the younger of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> two, she is not a +bad-looking girl, Ware. She passed my window and went on to look at the +church. Rather a strange hour to look at a church."</p> + +<p>Giles started. It was about that hour that he had been talking to Anne, +and shortly afterwards she had heard the footsteps and had fled. He now +believed that Olga must have overheard a portion of the conversation. It +was her footsteps which they had heard retreating. At once he remembered +Olga's threat, that if he tampered with Anne in the meantime she would +have her arrested. This, then, was the reason why Olga had not come to +his house again, and why she and her mother had left so suddenly for +London. He wondered if the elder Princess knew about Anne, and was +assisting her daughter to get the poor girl into the hands of the law. +Giles turned pale.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Ware?" asked Mrs. Parry, sitting up.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," he stammered; "but this coincidence——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I simply mean that as Princess Karacsay and Anne both came from +Jamaica, it was strange that they should go away to London together. +Don't you think so, too? There must be some connection."</p> + +<p>Giles started to his feet. "Anne," he said loudly, "do you know that +Anne is here?"</p> + +<p>"She was here," said Mrs. Parry, with a gratified chuckle; "but where +she has been hiding is more than I know. However, I am certain it was +Anne I saw this morning on the moor. She was veiled and dressed quietly; +but I knew her walk and the turn of her head."</p> + +<p>"You must be mistaken," said Giles, perplexed.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I'm not. Trust one woman to know another, however she may +disguise herself. I tell you Anne Denham has been here in hiding. I +don't believe she left the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> neighborhood after all. I wonder who took +her in," muttered Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose as usual. "I must find +that out."</p> + +<p>"But what do you mean by saying Anne went to London with the——"</p> + +<p>"I can believe my own eyes and ears, I suppose," snapped the good lady. +"I was out at seven o'clock taking a walk. I always do get up early in +summer. That is how I keep my health. I have no patience with those who +lie in bed, and——"</p> + +<p>"But what did you see?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you be impatient, Ware. I want you to find Anne, as I believe she +is guiltless and has suffered a lot unjustly. While you have been on a +wild-goose chase she has been here all the time. If I had only known I +should have told you; but I didn't, worse luck."</p> + +<p>"I know you are my friend," said Giles, pressing her hand. "And you can +help me by saying where Anne has gone to."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my good man, you must find that out for yourself! I believe she has +gone to London with those Princesses of yours. At least that fool of a +Morris said they left his inn this morning early to go to London. They +drove to the Westbury Station. That is the one we hardly ever use down +here. The Barnham Station is the nearest."</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes! The Westbury is ten miles away. You go across the moor——"</p> + +<p>"My good Ware, have I lived all these years in this place without +knowing it as well as I know my own nose? Hold your tongue, or I'll tell +you nothing. The coachman who drove these Princesses of yours"—Mrs. +Parry always used this phrase disdainfully—"is a new man. Morris hired +him from Chelmsford, and he does not know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> Anne, luckily for her. If it +had been the old coachman she might have been in jail by this time. +Well, as I say, I was on the moor and saw the carriage coming along. I +didn't know that those Princesses were in it till one of them—the +younger—got out and stood by the roadside. I was close at hand, and +hidden by a gorse bush. She whistled. I tell you, Ware, she whistled. +What manners these foreigners have! Three times she whistled. Then some +one rose from behind another bush and walked quickly to the carriage. It +was Anne. Oh, don't tell me it wasn't," cried Mrs. Parry, vigorously +shaking her head. "I knew her walk and the turn of her head. Trust me +for knowing her amongst a thousand. Anne Denham it was and none other."</p> + +<p>"What happened then?" asked Giles anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Why, this Princess Olga embraced and kissed her. Does she know her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They have been friends for a long time."</p> + +<p>"Humph! and Princess Olga's mother comes from Jamaica, where Anne was +born," said Mrs. Parry. "Queer. There is some sort of a connection."</p> + +<p>"You are too suspicious, Mrs. Parry."</p> + +<p>"All the better. But I can see through a stone wall. Believe me, Ware, +that if there isn't some connection between those two, I am a +Dutchwoman. However, Anne got into the carriage and it drove away."</p> + +<p>Giles caught up his hat. "To London," he cried jubilantly. "I know where +Anne is to be found now." And to Mrs. Parry's dismay, he rushed out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP</h3> + +<p>But Giles was not destined to go to London as quickly as he thought. He +rushed out of Mrs. Parry's cottage, leaving that good lady in a state of +frenzied curiosity, and walked rapidly through the village on the road +to his own house. On the way he dropped into "The Merry Dancer" to look +at an "A B C." Morris, still swelling with importance over his +illustrious guests, although these had now left, conducted him into the +deserted salon and gave him the guide. While Giles was looking up the +first train, Morley, hot and dusty and short of breath, rushed into the +room.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Ware, I think you must be deaf," he said, wiping his +perspiring forehead. "I've been running and calling after you for the +last five minutes."</p> + +<p>"I was buried in my own thoughts," replied Ware, turning the pages of +the guide rapidly, "wait a bit."</p> + +<p>"I see you are going to London, Ware. What's up?"</p> + +<p>By this time Giles noted the earliest train he could catch from Barnham +Station, and found he had over an hour to spare. He was not averse to +spending a portion of it in Morley's company, for he had much to tell +him of what had happened. And the advice of the ex-detective<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> was +certain to be good. "I am following Anne," he said.</p> + +<p>"Miss Denham." Morley stared. "Then you know——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; I met her last night by accident. And you have known all +the time."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I know nothing," said the little man. "I was about to say that +you know where she is?"</p> + +<p>"Franklin did not tell you that she was with him, then?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Denham—with Franklin—at the Priory?" Morley looked stupefied.</p> + +<p>"She has been there all the time. I remember now. Franklin did not tell +you, because he knew that you would give her up to the police."</p> + +<p>"He told me nothing," said Morley slowly, "and if he had I should +certainly have given her up to the police. Does he think her innocent?"</p> + +<p>Giles shook his head gloomily. "He did, but circumstances have happened +which have led him to change his opinion. He believes now that she is +guilty. But he would never have told you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose that is natural. After all she is his niece, and +although he hates his brother Walter, he must have some love for Anne, +or he would scarcely have taken her in. So she has gone away. Can you +tell me where she is to be found?"</p> + +<p>"Is it likely that I should?"</p> + +<p>Morley laughed in his cheery manner. "No," he replied bluntly, "for I +know she has gone to London, and that you are following her."</p> + +<p>"Quite so. But London is a large place. You will not find her."</p> + +<p>"I could if I followed you," said Morley promptly.</p> + +<p>"I should not let you do that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps not. But if I chose I could circumvent you. All I have to do is +to wire your description to Scotland Yard and you would be shadowed by a +detective from the moment you left the Liverpool Street Station. But you +need not be afraid. I don't want to harm Miss Denham. If she crosses my +path I'll have her arrested, but I won't go hunting for her."</p> + +<p>"I don't trust you, Morley," said Ware quietly.</p> + +<p>"You ought to. I have put you on your guard against myself. If my +intentions were bad, I should not have told you. But my detective days +are over, and Miss Denham can go scot-free for me. But I'll tell you one +thing, Ware. She will never be your wife."</p> + +<p>"How can you prophesy that?" asked Giles sharply.</p> + +<p>"Because you will never be able to prove her innocence. I believe her to +be guilty myself, and if she is not, the task of removing the suspicion +is an impossible one. I have had many mysterious cases in my day, but +this is one of the most difficult."</p> + +<p>"I don't agree with you," said Ware promptly. "The case is perfectly +simple. Her blackguard of a father killed Daisy and afterwards intended +to kill his brother George and thus get possession of the money. Anne +saved him the first time, and to save him now from the hatred of George +she has taken his guilt on her own shoulders."</p> + +<p>"Who told you all this?"</p> + +<p>"It's my theory. And I'll prove the truth of it, Morley, by hunting +everywhere for Walter Franklin. When I find him I'll wring a confession +out of him."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will succeed," said Morley admiringly, "and you ought to for +your pluck. So far as I am concerned, I wash my hands of the whole +affair. You need<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> not think I'll hunt down Miss Denham. Besides," added +Morley, nodding, "I am going away."</p> + +<p>"What!" Giles was astonished. "Are you leaving The Elms?"</p> + +<p>"In a month's time," replied the little man. "My wife's doing, not mine. +She has never got over a certain horror of the house since the murder of +that poor girl. I shall sell every stick of furniture and take Mrs. +Morley and the children to the United States. She wants to get away from +the old life and begin a new one. So do I. Rather a late beginning at my +age, eh, Ware?"</p> + +<p>"What about your finances?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," said Morley, jubilantly. "I have settled +everything. An old aunt of mine has died and left me a couple of +thousand a year. I have paid every debt, and shall leave England without +leaving a single creditor behind me. Then Mrs. Morley has her own money. +We shall do very well in the States, Ware. I am thinking of living in +Washington. A very pleasant city, I hear."</p> + +<p>"I've never been there," replied Giles, making for the door, "but I am +glad to hear that your affairs are settled. There is no chance of +trouble with Asher now."</p> + +<p>Morley shook his head with a jolly laugh. "They won't send down another +Walter Franklin, if that is what you mean," said he.</p> + +<p>"They did not send him down. He came himself."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I only spoke generally. Well, I'll be sorry to go, for I have made +some pleasant friends in Rickwell—yourself amongst the number. But my +wife insists, so I must humor her. There's Franklin. I shall be sorry to +leave him."</p> + +<p>"Is he not going also?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>Morley looked astonished. "No. Why should he go? He has the Priory on a +seven years' lease. Besides, he likes the place."</p> + +<p>"He might go to escape his brother."</p> + +<p>"I don't think Walter Franklin will dare to trouble George now. He is +innocent of actually committing this crime, but he certainly is an +accessory after the fact. He'll keep out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Let us hope so for the sake of George. Well, Morley, I must be off."</p> + +<p>Giles went home at top speed, and Morley remained at the inn to make +inquiries about the Hungarian Princesses. Although he was not now a +detective, yet Morley still preserved the instinct which made him ask +questions. He heard that the foreign ladies had driven to Westbury, and +afterwards strolled round to the stables to see the new coachman. He +learned from him about the strange lady who entered the carriage on the +moor. The man described her face, for it seemed that she had lifted her +veil for a moment when alighting at the station. Morley took all this +in, and walked home jubilantly. He knew that Anne was with the Princess +Karacsay.</p> + +<p>"If these were the old days," he said, "I'd wire to London to have the +house of those Hungarian women searched. I wonder what they have to do +with the matter? Humph! Anne killed Daisy. Is it worth while to try and +trace her?"</p> + +<p>This speech was made to Mrs. Morley, and the pale woman gave a decided +negative. "Let poor Anne go, Oliver," she said beseechingly; "I loved +her, and she had much good in her."</p> + +<p>"Still, I'm all on fire to follow up the clue," said Morley.</p> + +<p>"You promised to leave the detective business alone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Quite right; so I did," he answered. "Well, I'll do what you wish, my +dear. Anne Denham can go free for me. I said the same thing to Ware, +although he won't believe me. But I should like to know what that +Princess Karacsay has to do with the matter."</p> + +<p>He worried all that evening, and finally went to see Franklin about the +matter. But he got scanty satisfaction from him. Franklin denied that +Anne had ever been in his house, and told Morley to mind his own +business. If the ex-detective's wife had not been present, and if this +conversation had not taken place in her presence, Franklin might have +been more easy to deal with. But the presence of a third party shut his +mouth. So Morley could do nothing, and made no attempt to do anything.</p> + +<p>Had Giles known of this it might have set his mind at rest, for he could +not get out of his head that he was being followed. At the Liverpool +station he alighted about ten o'clock, and looked everywhere in the +crowd to see if he was being observed. But his fears were vain, for he +could distinguish no one with any inquiring look on his face, or note +any person dogging his footsteps. He stepped into a cab and ordered the +man to drive to St. John's Wood. But at Baker Street he alighted and +dismissed the cab. He had only a hand-bag with him, and, carrying this, +he took the underground train to High Street, Kensington. When he +arrived there he drove in another cab to his old hotel, "The Guelph," +opposite the Park. When alone in his bedroom Giles smoked a complacent +pipe. "If any one did try to follow me," he said to himself, "he must +have missed me when I took the underground railway."</p> + +<p>It was close on half-past eleven when he ended his wanderings, too late +to call at the Westminster flat. But Giles thought that Olga would never +think he had traced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> her flight with Anne, and would not do anything +till the morrow, probably not before twelve o'clock. He was up early, +and went off to New Scotland Yard to see Steel. He did not intend to +tell him about Anne, thinking that the detective might arrest her if he +knew of her whereabouts. But he desired to know if Steel had discovered +anything in connection with the Scarlet Cross. Also, since Steel knew +Olga so well, he might be able to explain why she had come down with her +mother to Rickwell, and why the elder Princess had called on Franklin. +He half thought that Olga, keeping her promise, had brought Anne to +London to have her taken in charge by Steel. But on second thoughts he +fancied that Olga would keep Anne as a hostage, and not deliver her up +if he—Giles—agreed to become her husband. Thus thinking he went to see +Steel.</p> + +<p>The detective was within, and saw Giles at once. He looked very pleased +with himself, and saluted Ware with a triumphant smile.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," he said, "I have found out an astonishing lot of things."</p> + +<p>"About the murder?" asked Ware apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"No." Steel's face fell. "That is still a mystery, and I expect will be +one until that woman—I mean that young lady—is found."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Miss Denham?" demanded Ware stiffly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do you know where she is?"</p> + +<p>Giles shook his head. He was not going to betray Anne to her enemy, as +Steel in his detective capacity assuredly was. "I wish I did," he said. +"I have been at Rickwell trying to find out things. I'll tell you of my +discoveries later. Meantime——"</p> + +<p>"You want to hear about mine," cried the detective eagerly and full of +his subject. "Well, the murder can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> wait. I'll get to the bottom of +that, Mr. Ware. But I am now quite of your opinion. Miss Denham is +innocent. This man Wilson killed the girl."</p> + +<p>"I knew that Walter Franklin was guilty," cried Ware.</p> + +<p>"I said Wilson," was Steel's reply.</p> + +<p>"I forgot; you don't know about Wilson alias Franklin. I'll tell you +later. Go on, Steel. I'm all attention."</p> + +<p>"Oh! So his real name is Franklin. I never knew that," said Steel, +drawing his hand down his chin. "Well, Mr. Ware, I have been to all the +ports in the kingdom, and I have learned that wherever that yacht—she's +a steam yacht—<i>The Red Cross</i> has been, burglaries have been committed. +At last I managed to lay my hand on a member of the gang, and made him +speak up."</p> + +<p>"What gang?"</p> + +<p>"A gang of burglars headed by the man I call Wilson and your +Franklin—the Scarlet Cross Society. They own that yacht, and steam from +port to port committing robberies. A splendid idea, and Wilson's own."</p> + +<p>Then he unfolded to the astonished Giles a long career of villany on the +part of the said Wilson. The young man shuddered as the vile category of +crime was unrolled. It was horrible that such a wretch as Walter +Franklin should be the father of Anne. But for all her parent's vices, +Giles never swerved from the determination to marry the girl. He was not +one of those who think that the sins of the father should be visited on +the child.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of the man who confessed all this?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Mark Dane."</p> + +<p>Ware started. That was the name of the man Anne had mentioned as her +father's secretary. However, he said nothing, and when Steel requested +him to tell all he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> knew about Wilson, he related everything save that +he was Anne's father. Steel listened attentively, chin on hand. When +Giles finished he nodded.</p> + +<p>"I'll go down and see this brother," he remarked. "If he hates the man +whom we think committed the crime so much, he will be anxious to assist +us in securing him. I wonder why that governess helped Wilson, or rather +Walter Franklin, to escape? Of course, I believe that she is his +daughter. Now don't look so angry, Mr. Ware. If you remember, when I +talked with you at the Princess Karacsay's I said you could draw your +own inferences. That is what I meant." Here the detective stopped and +peered into Giles' face. "You don't appear to be so surprised as I +thought you would be."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure that Miss Denham is Wilson's daughter?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am not yet sure. But if I can make this Mark Dane speak further, +I'll be certain. He knows all about the matter. Unfortunately he is +gone. I caught him at Bournemouth, and after he told me a portion of the +truth he managed to get away. It's a long story how he fooled me. I'll +tell it to you another time. But the worst of it is," resumed Steel +dolefully, "that Dane will warn Wilson and he will get away. All the +same, now you have told me Wilson has a brother I may be able to find +out something in that quarter. The brother is all right?"</p> + +<p>"He is an honest man, if that is what you mean."</p> + +<p>"H'm!" said Steel sceptically. "I don't see how there can be any honest +member of the Franklin family."</p> + +<p>"Do you include Miss Denham?" asked Giles furiously.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, she sails under false colors."</p> + +<p>"She can explain that."</p> + +<p>"I hope she will be able to when I catch her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Steel, I won't stand this!" cried Ware, much agitated.</p> + +<p>The detective thought for a moment. "See here, sir," he remarked, "we +won't discuss this matter until I have caught Dane."</p> + +<p>"How do you hope to catch him?"</p> + +<p>"I have laid a trap for him at the Princess Karacsay's flat," said Steel +quietly. "Oh, don't look so astonished. This Dane was one of the +attendants at some concert where the Princess sang. He fell in love with +her, and has been bothering her with letters. I have arranged that he +shall call at the flat. I'll be waiting for him."</p> + +<p>"It's odd that the Princess should know about this man," said Ware.</p> + +<p>Steel looked at him queerly. "It is odd," he said; "and to my mind it is +more than a coincidence. Princess Olga is a clever woman. I have to be +very careful with her."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that she knows anything?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"I am sure she does. I believe she could explain the whole business; but +I can't find out how she came to be connected with it. Well, Mr. Ware, I +must be off. When I see Dane and get the truth out of him, I'll see you +again. I hope, for your sake, that Miss Denham is not the daughter of +this man, but from a few words let drop by Dane I fear she is. At all +events, sir, you can set your mind at rest about her being guilty of +murder. She is innocent. The father did it."</p> + +<p>Giles departed, much comforted by this statement. He knew well enough +that Anne was the daughter of Wilson, alias Denham, alias Franklin, and +he shuddered again to think of his pure, good Anne being mixed up with a +man who was hand and glove with the criminal classes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> and a criminal +himself. However, he put this matter out of his mind for the moment, and +drove to the Westminster flat. If Anne was there, he determined to take +her away to a place of safety, and defy Steel and Walter Franklin to do +their worst.</p> + +<p>He went up the stairs, and was told that Mademoiselle Olga was not at +home. He was about to inquire after Anne, when the elder Princess, +looking pale and anxious, appeared at the door of the drawing-room. She +beckoned him in and shut the door.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Olga?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"No, Princess. Is she not with you?"</p> + +<p>"She is not," wailed the woman, throwing herself on the couch. "Late +last night she went out with Anne. A summons came—some letter—and Anne +had to go. Olga insisted on accompanying her. They said they would be +back at midnight; but they have not reappeared. I am distracted, Mr. +Ware. What shall I do? Where are they?"</p> + +<p>"Who was the letter from?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. It was for Anne, and——"</p> + +<p>"You call Miss Denham Anne," said Giles abruptly; "and you brought her +here. What do you know of her?"</p> + +<p>"Everything," said the Princess, sitting up. "In spite of Olga I must +tell you the truth. Anne Denham is my daughter!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>A STORY OF THE PAST</h3> + +<p>This communication was so extraordinary and unexpected that Giles +thought the Princess must be out of her mind. But although overcome with +emotion, she was sane enough, and seeing his astonishment repeated her +statement that Anne Denham was her daughter. The young man sat down to +collect his thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that she is Mademoiselle Olga's sister?"</p> + +<p>"Her half-sister," corrected the Princess, sobbing. "I never thought I +should find her again, and like this. It's too dreadful!" And in strange +contrast to her usual indolent demeanor, she wrung her hands.</p> + +<p>Giles was still bewildered. "And you—were you the wife of Walter +Franklin?" he stammered helplessly.</p> + +<p>"There is no Walter Franklin," replied the woman, drying her eyes and +sitting up. "George Franklin is Anne's father. He was my husband."</p> + +<p>"But you are the wife of Prince Karacsay."</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I eloped with him from Kingstown in Jamaica, and George +divorced me. I afterwards married the Prince."</p> + +<p>"Then the man at the Priory is your first husband?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No!" cried she vigorously. "He is not George Franklin."</p> + +<p>"He calls himself so," muttered Ware, quite puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Only to keep hold of the money left by Mr. Powell," explained the +Princess. "He is really Alfred Denham, who caused all the misery of my +married life with George."</p> + +<p>"Anne's father."</p> + +<p>"No. I tell you he is not Anne's father. George was the father of Anne. +He is dead. He died shortly after divorcing me."</p> + +<p>Giles felt his heart swell with gratitude to learn that Anne was not +connected with——Here he paused, more bewildered than ever. "I don't +quite understand, Princess," he said, trying to arrive in his own mind +at some solution of this complicated mystery. "Had not your husband a +brother called Walter?"</p> + +<p>"No. George was an only son."</p> + +<p>"Then did Alfred Denham have a brother of that name?"</p> + +<p>"No. Don't you understand, Mr. Ware. You have been deceived. Denham, who +calls himself by my husband's name pretends to be Anne's father, was the +man who went down to Rickwell."</p> + +<p>"The man whom Anne helped to escape."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Under the belief that he is her father, poor child."</p> + +<p>"Then there is no Walter Franklin. He is a myth?" The Princess nodded.</p> + +<p>"Invented to throw you off the scent."</p> + +<p>"And Denham, who calls himself George Franklin, really killed Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"I believe he did," declared the Princess fiercely. "That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> man is one of +the most wicked creatures born. He is capable of any crime."</p> + +<p>Ware said nothing. His brain refused to take in the explanation. That he +should have been so deceived seemed incredible, yet deceived he had +been. All this time he had been following a phantom, while the real +person was tricking him with masterly ingenuity. "But Anne told me +herself that she had an uncle called Walter," said he suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Of course! To save the man she believed to be her father."</p> + +<p>"Wait! Wait! I can't grasp it yet." Giles buried his face in his hands +and tried to think the matter out.</p> + +<p>The Princess went to the window and drew aside the curtain. "I see +nothing of Anne and Olga," she murmured. "Where can they have got to. +Oh, am I to lose her after all?" She paused and came back to the couch. +"Mr. Ware," she said, "I will tell you all my sad story, and then you +can judge what is best to be done."</p> + +<p>"That is best," said Giles, lifting up his worn face. "I am quite in the +dark so far. The thing seems to be incredible."</p> + +<p>"Truth is stranger than fiction," said the Princess quietly. "That is a +truism, but no other saying can apply to what I am about to tell you."</p> + +<p>"One moment, Princess. Who found out that Denham was masquerading as +your late husband?"</p> + +<p>"Olga found it out. I don't know how. She refuses to tell me."</p> + +<p>"And she asked you to come over to identify the man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. That was why I went with her to Rickwell. I called on Denham, and +saw that he was not my husband."</p> + +<p>"I see!" murmured Giles, remembering what the gardener had told Mrs. +Parry about the pallor of the so-called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> Franklin when he came to the +door with his visitor. "I am beginning to gather some information out of +all this. But if you will tell me the whole story——"</p> + +<p>"At once, Mr. Ware. I want your advice and assistance. First you must +have some whiskey."</p> + +<p>"Not in the morning, thank you."</p> + +<p>"You must have it!" she replied, ringing the bell. "What I have said +already has upset you, and you will require all your courage to hear the +rest."</p> + +<p>"Anne," said Giles anxiously.</p> + +<p>"My poor child. I fear for her greatly. No! Don't ask me more. So long +as Olga is with her I hope that all will be well. Otherwise——" She +made a quick gesture to silence him, for the servant entered to receive +orders.</p> + +<p>So Giles was provided with some whiskey and water, which the Princess +made him drink at once. She had thrown off her languor, and was as quick +in her movements as he usually was himself. The discovery of Denham's +masquerade, the doubts about Anne's safety had roused her from her +indolence, and she had braced herself to act. A more wonderful +transformation Giles could scarcely have imagined. Shortly he was +ordered to smoke. The Princess lighted a cigarette herself, and began +abruptly to tell her tale. It was quite worthy of a melodramatic +novelist.</p> + +<p>"I was born in Jamaica," she said, speaking slowly and distinctly, so +that Giles should fully understand. "My father, Colonel Shaw, had +retired from the army. Having been stationed at Kingstown, he had +contracted a love for the island, and so stopped there. He went into the +interior and bought an estate. Shortly afterwards he married my mother. +She was a quadroon."</p> + +<p>Giles uttered an ejaculation. He remembered that Anne had stated she had +negro blood in her veins, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> now saw why Princess Karacsay and her +daughter had such a love for barbaric coloring. Also he guessed that +Olga's fierce temperament was the outcome of her African blood.</p> + +<p>The Princess nodded. She quite understood his interruption.</p> + +<p>"You can see the negro in me," she said quietly. "In Jamaica that was +considered disgraceful, but in Vienna no one knows about the taint."</p> + +<p>"It is not a taint in England, Princess—or in the Old World."</p> + +<p>"No! Perhaps not. But then"—she waved her delicate hand +impatiently—"there is no need to discuss that, Mr. Ware. Let me proceed +with what I have to tell you. When I was eighteen I married George +Franklin. He was a young planter of good birth, and very handsome in +looks."</p> + +<p>"Anything like Denham?" asked Ware quickly.</p> + +<p>The Princess blew a contemptuous cloud of smoke. "Not in the least, Mr. +Ware. George was good-looking. What Denham is, you can see for yourself. +Denham was George's foster-brother," she explained.</p> + +<p>"And his evil genius," added Giles. "I am beginning to understand."</p> + +<p>The Princess flushed crimson, and her whole body trembled with passion. +"He ruined my life," she cried, trying to restrain her emotion. "If I +could see him hanged, I should be pleased. But such a death would fall +far short of the punishment he deserves."</p> + +<p>"Has Denham negro blood in him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He is a degree nearer the negro than I am. George was a native of +Jamaica, and very rich. When his mother died he was quite a baby, and +Denham's mother nursed him. Thus he became Denham's foster-brother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> and +the two boys grew up together. Powell tried all he could to neutralize +the bad influence of Denham, but it was useless. George was quite under +Denham's thumb."</p> + +<p>"Powell! The man who left the money to Daisy? Was he in Jamaica?"</p> + +<p>The Princess nodded. "For a time," she said, "George was at an English +public school—Rugby, I fancy. He met Powell there, and the two became +much attached. There was also another boy called Kent."</p> + +<p>"Daisy's father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. George, Powell, and Kent were inseparable. They were called the +Three Musketeers at school. Afterwards George lost sight of Kent, but +Powell came out to Jamaica to stop with George. That was before and +after my marriage. Denham was ruining my husband body and soul, and in +pocket. Powell tried to remonstrate with George, but it was no use. +Denham was the overseer, and George would not dismiss him. Then Powell +returned to England. Afterwards when he heard from me that George was +completely ruined, he wrote about the money."</p> + +<p>"Did he say he would leave the money to George?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly that. He said that Kent was ruined also, and explained that +if he could make a fortune he would leave it equally divided between +George and Kent, as he did not intend to marry himself."</p> + +<p>"But he did not leave his money equally divided," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"No. But at that time Kent was not married, and Powell had not gone to +Australia to make his money. Whether he liked Kent better than George I +don't know, but, as you are aware, he left the money first to +Daisy—knowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> that Kent was dead—and afterwards, should she die, to +George and his descendants."</p> + +<p>"Then the money which Denham holds as Franklin is rightfully Anne's?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Now you are beginning to see. But don't be in too much of a hurry. +I want to tell you how my elopement came about."</p> + +<p>Ware nodded, and composed himself to listen. The Princess resumed.</p> + +<p>"I was happy at first with George. I really was in love with him, and +for two years we were devoted to one another. Anne was born, and she +drew us still closer together. Then Denham chose to fall in love with +me. I repelled him with scorn, but did not tell my husband, as I dreaded +lest George, who had a fiery temper, should kill the man. I simply kept +Denham at his distance. He vowed to be revenged, and gradually ruined +George. He made him neglect the plantation, and spend more money than he +could afford. He induced him to drink, and then George, who had not a +very strong will, began to run after other women. I was furious, and +told him about Denham. He was so besotted with the creature that he +refused to listen to me. Powell tried to stop George's downward course, +but without result. Then he was called back to England, and I was left +to battle against my enemy alone. My father and mother were both dead, +and I could do nothing. Denham constantly inflamed George against me. +Our house was like hell."</p> + +<p>Here she stopped to draw a long breath and control her emotion. Giles +pitied her profoundly, as he guessed how she had suffered. However, he +did not interrupt her, and she continued in a few moments.</p> + +<p>"Prince Karacsay came to the island. He was travelling for pleasure, and +in his own yacht. He fell in love<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> with me. Seeing how miserable I was, +he implored me to fly with him. But I would not. I had lost much of my +love for George, who, under the bad influence of Denham, treated me so +cruelly. But there was my child—my little Anne—to consider. I declined +to fly. Our plantation was not far from the seashore. In a creek the +Prince had anchored his yacht. Denham was making my husband jealous, and +my life became unbearable. Oh!"—she threw up her arms—"not even the +years of peace that I have had can obliterate the memory of that +terrible time." And she wept.</p> + +<p>Still, Ware did not interrupt, thinking it best that she should not be +questioned too much. With a great effort she controlled herself, and +resumed her pitiful story.</p> + +<p>"One night," she went on in a low voice, "the climax came. The Prince +had been to dinner. He had to go, because George was so violent. Denham +had got my husband to drink, and his paroxysms of anger became terrible. +The Prince wanted to stop to protect me, but I asked him to go. It was a +rainy night, a violent thunderstorm was going on. I locked myself in the +nursery, to protect myself from the fury of George. He came to the door +and broke it down." She paused, and her voice leaped an octave. "George +turned me out into the rain."</p> + +<p>"Great God! Did he go that far?"</p> + +<p>She was on her feet by this time pacing the room.</p> + +<p>"He turned me out into the stormy night. I fled from his fury, drenched +with rain. At the gates of the gardens round the house I met with the +Prince. He had been hanging round the place fearful for my life. He +implored me to come on board the yacht and stop the night. I was almost +distracted with terror and anger. I went." She paused again. "From that +moment I was lost."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was not your fault," Giles assured her.</p> + +<p>"No; it was not my husband's fault either, but the fault of that wicked +wretch Denham. He came the next morning, guessing where I had gone in my +distress. He brought a note from George, who bade me go with my lover, +the Prince. It was a lie. The Prince was no lover of mine then. I +demanded to see my child, but George refused. It was all Denham—Denham. +George was under the thumb of the wretch. The Prince behaved like an +honorable gentleman, and spoke up for me. But it was all of no use. +George was determined to have a divorce."</p> + +<p>"You mean Denham was determined to have one," corrected Giles.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes. He was the one who ruined me. Then the Prince said he would +make me his wife as soon as the decree was pronounced. I agreed. What +else could I do? My child was refused to me. I was blamed by every one, +and the whole island was against me. I sailed for Europe in Prince +Karacsay's yacht. A few months later the decree was pronounced, and he +made me his wife. Since then I have been happy—that is as happy as I +could be, knowing that my child was lost."</p> + +<p>"Did you make inquiries about her?"</p> + +<p>"Some years later I did. Then I learned that George, with the child and +Denham, had sailed for Europe. The vessel was wrecked. The report said +that George Franklin and his child were saved. Denham's name was given +as one who was drowned. I rejoiced when I saw that punishment had +overtaken my enemy."</p> + +<p>"But Denham was not drowned."</p> + +<p>"No; it was George who met with that death. Denham, to get what little +money remained, took the name of George Franklin. I do not know how he +managed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> to deceive the people of the ship; but he must have done so in +some way, to get the false report put in the paper."</p> + +<p>"Did Denham not tell you when you unmasked him at Rickwell?"</p> + +<p>"He made some sort of explanation, but I think much of it was very +false."</p> + +<p>"How did you come to discover him?"</p> + +<p>"Olga did so. She knew a part of my story. That was why—as perhaps you +saw—she was always uneasy when I touched on Jamaica."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I remember that, Princess. Well, I must get Mademoiselle Olga to +tell me how she discovered all this. But on what terms did you leave +Denham?"</p> + +<p>"I told him that I would give him a month to make restitution to my +daughter Anne, and then if he did not I would inform the police."</p> + +<p>"Did he agree?"</p> + +<p>"No; the wretch defied me. He told me that Anne had murdered Daisy Kent +out of jealousy, and said that if I moved a finger against him he would +have her arrested."</p> + +<p>"He could not do that without harming himself."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said the Princess wearily; "he is so clever that he +seems to do what he likes. I have taken no steps, because I wished to +get some advice as to how I should act under the circumstances. For this +reason I tell you."</p> + +<p>"I will do my best, Princess. But how was it Anne came with you?"</p> + +<p>"Olga managed that. She knew Anne was at the Priory. I don't know how. +Olga knows much. I wish she and Anne would come back again. I hope +nothing has happened."</p> + +<p>Even as she spoke the door opened, and Olga entered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> the room looking +haggard and worn out. "Anne!" cried her mother. "Where is Anne?"</p> + +<p>"Lost!" replied Olga, dropping exhausted into a chair, "lost!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>OLGA'S EVIDENCE</h3> + +<p>Giles saw in the girl almost as great a change as that which had taken +place in her mother. Formerly haughty and self-possessed, she was now +quite exhausted and broken down. Her dress was muddy and wet and in +disorder. She had a grey face and red eyes. Huddled up in the chair, she +looked a pitiable object—the ruin of what was once a beautiful woman.</p> + +<p>"Anne lost?" cried the Princess, clutching at a chair to steady herself. +"Olga, what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>Olga did not answer. She closed her eyes and let her umbrella fall with +a crash. Giles saw that the girl was quite worn out. Hastily filling a +glass with undiluted whiskey, he held it to her lips, and made her drink +the whole of it. Shortly the ardent spirit did its work. She sat up and +began to talk in a stronger tone; but the excitement was artificial, and +would die away soon. Princess Karacsay saw this, and urged her daughter +to tell her story quickly before she collapsed, so that the police might +be sent in search of Anne.</p> + +<p>"The police will never find her," said Olga, with an effort. "She is +with Mark Dane. He has taken her away."</p> + +<p>"Dane?" echoed Giles. "Denham's secretary?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>Olga looked at him with an inquiring air. "How much do you know?" she +asked, bracing herself up.</p> + +<p>"As much as your mother could tell me. I know that Anne is your +half-sister, and——"</p> + +<p>"Yes." Olga tried to rise, but sank back again. "She is my sister, my +dear sister, and I love her with all the strength of my nature."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Ware sadly, "why did you not talk like that when last we met, +mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p>Olga passed her hand across her forehead. "I was mad, I think. But that +is all over. You need have no fear now, Mr. Ware. My passion for you has +spent itself."</p> + +<p>"Olga!" cried the Princess, scandalized, "you rave!"</p> + +<p>"No," answered her daughter; "I did last time Mr. Ware and I were +together, but now I talk sense. Did he not tell?"</p> + +<p>"I told nothing," interposed Giles quickly; "and you had better relate +when and where you left Anne, so that we can find her."</p> + +<p>"I'll do all in my power to save her and bring her back to you, Mr. +Ware. I was mad to talk and act as I did; but I have been punished by +the loss of Anne."</p> + +<p>"Olga!" cried the Princess in desperation, "for Heaven's sake speak +reasonably! Why did you go out with Anne last night?"</p> + +<p>"There was a note for Anne from Mark Dane, asking her to meet him near +the Abbey. She wanted to see him, as he vanished after the supposed +death of her father."</p> + +<p>"Of Alfred Denham," interrupted the Princess angrily; "I will not have +that man called Anne's father."</p> + +<p>"Of Denham," said Olga obediently. "Anne wished to learn why her father +had acted in so peculiar a way. She could not understand his behavior."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He is a scoundrel and Anne a saint," said the Princess bitterly. "No +wonder she could not understand him. She thinks he is a good man."</p> + +<p>"But surely she knows that he killed Daisy Kent," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"No," interposed Olga; "she denies that he did. I expect Denham has +managed to deceive her in some way."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not undeceive her, mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p>"It was not yet time," responded the girl quietly, "but my mother told +her a portion of the truth."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I said that she was my child and that Denham had been +impersonating her father, George Franklin."</p> + +<p>"Then she can't think Denham a good man now," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the Princess hopelessly. "He has such power over +her. He has been her father so-called for so long that she finds it +difficult to believe ill of him."</p> + +<p>"To learn the truth was why she insisted on seeing Dane," said the girl. +"Dane knew all about Denham, and Anne thought she would make him confess +what he knew."</p> + +<p>"And did he?"</p> + +<p>"That I can't say. I went out with Anne and we walked to the appointed +spot. Mark Dane was waiting for us."</p> + +<p>"Was he not astonished when he saw you?"</p> + +<p>"Why should he be astonished?" asked Olga, looking sharply at Ware.</p> + +<p>"Because I understand from Steel that he troubled you with letters."</p> + +<p>"You mean that Dane was in love with me. Yes. He was and is."</p> + +<p>"Olga," cried her mother again, "do behave yourself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, this is too serious to be a mere matter of behavior, mother. I have +made use of Dane's love to learn all about the society of the Scarlet +Cross, to which Franklin and Dane belong."</p> + +<p>"You can tell us that later," said the Princess impatiently. "I want to +know how you lost Anne."</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, Dane was astonished to see me. He was most respectful, +and said that he had a message for Anne from her father——"</p> + +<p>"From Denham."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Anne mentioned that Denham was not her father, that she had just +heard the truth, and Dane was amazed. He hardly knew what to say, but +ultimately stammered out some sort of denial. Anne did not give him time +to speak. She said that she would see Denham herself, and get to the +bottom of the imposture. Then she asked what message he had sent in the +character of her father. Dane refused to give it in my presence, so I +walked away for ten minutes and left them together. Oh, I was foolish, I +know," she added in reply to Ware's exclamation. "But I thought Mark +Dane was devoted to me, and would not play any tricks while I was about. +However, I did leave them alone. Anne was not in the least afraid, as +she always got on well with Dane and trusted him entirely. When I +returned in ten minutes, or it may be more, they were gone."</p> + +<p>"Gone!" echoed the Princess, much agitated. "Where?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I searched everywhere. I went round and round the Abbey. +I asked a policeman. They were nowhere to be found. I fancied that they +went across to Westminster Bridge, which they could easily do without my +seeing them. Anne must have gone of her own accord. She was decoyed by +Dane. I don't know why,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> no more than I know what inducement he held out +to lure her away. I searched for hours. Then I asked a policeman about +the matter. He told me to go to Scotland Yard. I went and inquired for +Steel. He had gone home. I have been walking the streets all night," +said Olga, with a haggard look.</p> + +<p>"Oh, great heavens!" moaned the Princess, wringing her hands; "what +would your father say if he heard?"</p> + +<p>"He will never know unless you tell him, mother. I can look after myself +easily. No one molested me. I had a cup of coffee at a stall this +morning, and went again to see Steel. He has gone out of town."</p> + +<p>"To Rickwell?" asked Giles eagerly; then he remembered. "I can't +understand. I called to see Steel at midday before I came here, and he +was then in his office."</p> + +<p>"Well, the official I spoke to about nine o'clock told me that he had +gone, leaving a message that he was going out of town, and would not be +back for a few days."</p> + +<p>"I wonder," began Giles, and then held his peace. It occurred to him +that Steel intended to remain until he caught Dane in the trap laid for +him in this very flat. The knowledge that the man had decoyed Anne away +on the previous night made Giles the more eager that he should be +caught. "You will see Anne yet, Princess," he said, for she was crying +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope so—I hope so. But where is she?"</p> + +<p>"We must ask Dane that."</p> + +<p>"How are we to see Dane?" demanded Olga wonderingly.</p> + +<p>Ware explained the use made of Olga's name by Steel to trap the man. "I +expect Steel will call on you to-day to tell you this," he said +cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"I am not sorry, and yet I am," said Olga thoughtfully. "I know much +about Mark Dane, and want to save him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> from his bad companions. But I +hope Steel won't put him in gaol; that would ruin him entirely. Besides, +Steel promised not to have him arrested."</p> + +<p>"Promised you?" said Ware, astonished.</p> + +<p>"Yes. It was I who told him to look after Dane. I know much about this +matter." Then seeing Giles puzzled, she explained, "When I first met +Anne I saw that she was like myself in looks. That drew us together. You +see it yourself, do you not, Mr. Ware?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Giles, "and I often wondered at it. Now, however, that I +know you are half-sisters, I wonder no longer."</p> + +<p>Princess Karacsay nodded her approval, and Olga continued.</p> + +<p>"When I learned that Anne's name was Denham I rather drew back from her. +She said that she was born in Jamaica, and, knowing what my mother had +said about Denham, I thought Anne was the daughter of my mother's enemy. +Afterwards I learned the truth through Dane."</p> + +<p>"How did you meet Dane?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I knew him by sight long before we spoke. He used to dog Anne and +myself. She never saw him. When I described his looks she thought he +might be her dead father's secretary—for she then believed her father, +Denham, alias Franklin, was dead. She wished to see him, but Dane always +kept out of her sight. Then when Anne went to Mrs. Morley he still +continued to dog me. He got to know a concert hall where I frequently +sang and hired himself there as an attendant. Then he took to sending me +love-letters. I was angry at first. Afterwards I wondered if he knew +anything about Denham, and thought he must if he really was the +secretary, as Anne said. I asked him to come here."</p> + +<p>"Olga," said the Princess, "you have behaved badly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It has all turned out for the best," responded Olga wearily. She was +beginning to show signs of fatigue again, but still kept on with her +explanation in the most plucky manner. "Dane came. He is a handsome +young fellow and was well dressed. I led him on to talk about Anne. He +told me more than he should have done."</p> + +<p>"Told you what?"</p> + +<p>"That Denham had come in for money and was living at Rickwell. As I knew +from Anne about the Powell money, I put two and two together and +concluded that Denham was pretending to be Anne's father; that she was +really my half-sister; and that her pretended father had really murdered +Daisy Kent to get the money as Franklin."</p> + +<p>"But how did you know about this?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Why," replied Olga, much surprised at his density, "I read the case in +the papers. I knew that Anne could not have killed Daisy, and having +settled in my own mind that she was not Denham's daughter, from her +resemblance to me, I decided that Franklin, who lived at the Priory and +had the money, was really my mother's enemy. I sent for my mother. She +came over, went down to Rickwell, and recognized Denham. That is all."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Giles quickly, "what about your telling Steel to +look after Dane?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Ware, it was this way," she answered. "When you came to me +and talked about the Scarlet Cross, I remembered that Dane had such a +one on his watch-chain."</p> + +<p>"The badge of the gang!"</p> + +<p>"Of course, but I did not know that until later. Then Steel came in, if +you remember, and hinted that the red cross was the symbol of such a +gang. Your talk of the cross being found in the church, and that you +thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> it was dropped by the criminal set me thinking. I sent for Dane +again and tried to find out the truth. At first he refused, saying it +was as much as his life was worth to talk."</p> + +<p>"And I daresay he is right, mademoiselle. Denham would not stick at a +second murder. By the way, did you know he was Wilson?"</p> + +<p>"Only when Dane confessed. I gradually got him to be confidential to me, +promising that he would not get into trouble. He was so deeply in love +with me that he spoke out at last."</p> + +<p>"My dear Olga!"</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, I knew if I could get at the truth I could save Anne."</p> + +<p>The Princess nodded, well pleased. "I am glad you thought of your +sister." Olga flushed a deep red and her eyes sought those of Giles. "It +was not my sister I thought of, but of myself," she said in a low tone. +"You see, mother, I fancied that I might get something if I could prove +the innocence of Anne, for I——"</p> + +<p>"Is any explanation needed, mademoiselle?" said Giles uneasily.</p> + +<p>She paused for a moment and looked at him straightly. "No," she said at +length; "that is all over. I think no more explanation need be made. But +with regard to Dane. He told me that Denham had come to England to see +about the money left to Daisy Kent. He disguised himself as Wilson and +lodged at a Mrs. Benker's. Then he went down to Rickwell, and——"</p> + +<p>"And murdered Daisy," interposed Giles eagerly.</p> + +<p>"So I said, Mr. Ware; but Dane, who seems devoted in a way to Denham, +denies that he struck the blow."</p> + +<p>"Does he know who did?"</p> + +<p>"No. He says Denham doesn't know either."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Denham's a bigger scoundrel than you think," said Giles, recalling his +last conversation at the Priory. "He accuses Anne of murdering the +girl."</p> + +<p>"He'll have to prove it, then," said Olga coolly, while her mother +shrieked. "I'll be able to save Anne, never fear. However, Dane told me +that the red cross was the badge of a thieves' gang. Denham had a yacht +called <i>The Red Cross</i>, which goes from one port to another to take +stolen goods on board."</p> + +<p>"That's what Steel says."</p> + +<p>"Of course. Dane told him when he taxed him with it. The boy, for he is +just twenty-five, told me everything."</p> + +<p>"And you told Steel," said Ware, rather reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I had to tell Steel, if I wished to save Anne," retorted Olga; "but I +asked him to do nothing to imperil the liberty of Mark Dane."</p> + +<p>"Did he promise that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Dane saw him in Bournemouth. I told him to call with a note, which +I gave him. Dane did not know why he was sent, and when he discovered +that Steel was a detective, he became afraid. I believe he told +something, but he afterwards ran away."</p> + +<p>"He doesn't trust you any longer perhaps," said the Princess.</p> + +<p>"From his attitude last night I think he does, although he was a trifle +reproachful. He will come if Steel has written a letter to call him here +in my name. Then I daresay he will be able to explain why he took Anne +away."</p> + +<p>"Will he do so?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is what we must find out." Olga paused, then continued. "I +wanted Steel to learn all he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> from Dane about Denham, as I wish to +see that man arrested."</p> + +<p>"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," cried the Princess.</p> + +<p>"I thought of that. Denham tried to ruin your mother."</p> + +<p>"And he did—he did!" she said bitterly.</p> + +<p>"He tried, or rather he is trying, to ruin Anne also," said Olga. "For +these reasons I wish Steel to find evidence against him, so that he may +be arrested and made to confess his wickedness. Dane is the one who can +tell most about him, and I think Dane will, for since Denham got the +Powell money he had not behaved very well."</p> + +<p>While they were thus talking a knock came to the door. The servant +entered with a card, which she presented on a salver to her mistress. +Olga, who was thoroughly worn out, took it languidly, then suddenly +became excited. "He is here!" she said. "Mark Dane is here!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>MARK DANE</h3> + +<p>When Olga announced the name of her visitor, the Princess rose to leave +the room. She explained that she did not think it was in keeping with +the dignity of her position to meet every shady person who called, and +added that her daughter was not behaving in a way worthy of her name and +princely family. When she departed Olga looked inquiringly at Ware. He +swiftly interpreted her look.</p> + +<p>"I shall stop," he said promptly. "I am only too anxious to help you."</p> + +<p>Olga came forward and took his hand. "And you forgive me?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to forgive," he answered, shaking it heartily. "Let us +seek for Anne together. I daresay Dane will be able to tell us where she +is. I leave you to manage him."</p> + +<p>The girl nodded and touched the bell. Shortly the maid showed in a slim +young fellow of a somewhat effeminate type. He was clean-shaven and +wonderfully pale, with large dark eyes and curly black hair, worn rather +long. He was dressed in a grey suit and wore a red scarf tied loosely in +a bow. There was something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> foreign in his looks and dress. At the first +sight one would have taken him for an Italian, but when he spoke it was +apparent that he was an Englishman.</p> + +<p>"Princess!" he said effusively, when he entered. Then catching sight of +Giles in the background, he stopped short with a scared look.</p> + +<p>"This is a friend of mine, Mark," said Olga, coming forward. "He knows +all that there is to be known."</p> + +<p>"Oh! And you promised not to say a word," said Dane reproachfully.</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "I promised to save you from being arrested, and I +shall fulfil my promise. Why have you come here?"</p> + +<p>Dane fumbled in his pocket. "Your letter," he said, handing it to her.</p> + +<p>Olga took it, glanced at it, and finally passed it to Ware.</p> + +<p>"I did not write that letter," she said quietly. "Steel the detective +sent it, so as to bring you here. He wishes to resume the conversation +you left unfinished at Bournemouth."</p> + +<p>"It's a trap!" cried Dane violently, and swung round to the door. But +there was no chance of escape in that direction. He opened it to find +Steel standing without. The detective stepped into the room and locked +the door.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "we can have some conversation. Princess, I apologize +for having used your name unauthorized, but it was the only way to bring +this young man into my net."</p> + +<p>"Into a net!" said Dane, letting fall his soft hat. "You intend to have +me arrested!" His hand went round to the back of his waist. In a moment +Steel had flung himself forward, and after a short struggle disarmed +him. The knife that the detective had secured was an ugly-looking +weapon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are more Italian than the Italians," he said, slipping the knife +into his pocket; "but you are not a gentleman to frighten the lady."</p> + +<p>"I am not frightened," said Olga promptly; "but I am very tired. I shall +retire and leave you two gentlemen to deal with Mark."</p> + +<p>Dane sprang forward and caught her dress. He looked terrified. "Do not +leave me," he entreated. "You know that I love you, and that for your +sake I have betrayed a man who has done much for me. You promised to +help me."</p> + +<p>"I shall do so," she answered, returning to her seat. "I shall see that +you are not arrested, and——"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Princess, it may be necessary to——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Steel, this man shall not be arrested," she said, stamping her +foot.</p> + +<p>"If I am," cried Dane resolutely, "I shall say nothing. Only to save +myself will I speak."</p> + +<p>Ware addressed a few hurried words to the detective, who nodded +reluctantly. It was Giles who spoke. "I promise that you shall not be +put in gaol, Dane," he said, "but you must tell the truth."</p> + +<p>"If I do so I am in danger of my life."</p> + +<p>"Then it is not gratitude that keeps you silent?"</p> + +<p>"Gratitude!" said Dane, flinging back his head, "what have I to be +grateful for? Mr. Franklin——"</p> + +<p>"You mean Denham," interposed Olga quickly.</p> + +<p>"Denham!" echoed Steel, "that is the father of the governess."</p> + +<p>"No," said Giles, "Anne's father is dead. This man Denham pretended to +play the part, and she has only lately been undeceived. Also, Mr. Steel, +you must know that there is no Walter Franklin. The man at the Priory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +is the scoundrel you know as Wilson, the head of the Scarlet Cross +Society and the murderer of Miss Kent."</p> + +<p>"Not that last," interposed Dane, while Steel dropped into a seat +transfixed with astonishment. "Denham did not kill her. He does not know +who did. He told me so."</p> + +<p>"He would tell you anything to save himself," said Olga.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Dane, "he tells me all his secrets. At one time I should +have died before I revealed them, but Denham has treated me cruelly. I +owe him no gratitude. For years I slaved for him. I did all that a man +could do for his sake. What reward have I got? He has beaten me like a +dog. He has left me to starve. He has delivered me up to those members +of our society who hate me. Since he came in for this money——"</p> + +<p>"Wrongfully," put in Giles.</p> + +<p>"As you say, sir—wrongfully. But since he became George Franklin and a +wealthy man, he told me plainly that he washed his hands of me. He gave +me a small sum, and sent me to America, promising an annuity. It was not +paid. I wrote—I threatened. He laughed at me. So I have come back from +America to punish him." He turned to Olga and continued vehemently, "Do +you think that I would have told you what I did, Princess, had I not +hated the man? No. Not even for the love I bear you would I have done +that. You sent me to Mr. Steel at Bournemouth. I knew that he was a +detective, and went prepared to tell all about Denham's wickedness, even +although I incriminated myself."</p> + +<p>"But you did not do so," said Steel dryly; "you ran away."</p> + +<p>"And why? Because you mentioned that you suspected Miss Denham of a +crime. I held my tongue until I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> could see some chance of proving her +innocence. Had I told you all I knew then you would have had her +arrested, and let her know the shame of the man—her father."</p> + +<p>"He is not her father," said Olga again.</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about that," replied Dane, sitting down; "he always said +that he was her father, and I had no reason to believe otherwise. But I +am glad to hear that he is not. She is too good and pure to be the +daughter of such a man. I have known her for years. She is an angel. She +nursed me through an illness. I would do anything to prove my gratitude +for her sake. I held my hand from harming Denham because I thought he +was her father, and——"</p> + +<p>"You need do so no longer," cried Ware, whose face was bright when he +heard this praise of Anne; "she is the daughter of George Franklin, of +Jamaica. Denham assumed the name to get the Powell money."</p> + +<p>"Then," cried Dane, flinging wide his arms in a most dramatic manner, +"all I know you shall know. I turn King's evidence."</p> + +<p>"The best way to save your own skin," said Steel dryly; "you are an +Irishman, are you not?"</p> + +<p>Dane nodded. "Born in New York," said he.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" murmured Steel, but so low that only Giles heard him, "all the +better. You would betray your own mother if it suited you."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Olga was speaking to the man. "The first thing you have to +confess," she said, "is about Miss Denham. Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"With Mr. Morley."</p> + +<p>Giles uttered an exclamation. "What has he got to do with her?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know. He came up to town yesterday evening."</p> + +<p>"About nine or ten?" asked Giles quickly. He remembered his feeling of +being watched at the Liverpool Street Station.</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented Dane, "he came up to see me. He said that he had a +message for Miss Denham from her father. Of course I thought then that +Denham was really her father. I asked Morley why he did not deliver the +message himself, for he knew that Miss Denham had come to town with the +Princess Karacsay."</p> + +<p>"How the deuce did he know that?" wondered Giles.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, sir, Mr. Morley was a detective at one time, and he +always finds out what he desires."</p> + +<p>"True enough," put in Steel, "Joe Bart is very clever."</p> + +<p>"He appears to have been extremely so in this case," said Giles dryly.</p> + +<p>"Morley told me," continued Mark, "that Miss Denham knew he suspected +her of the murder, and she would not let him see her. If she knew he had +come to look her up that she would run away thinking he came to have her +arrested. He asked me to tell her to come to a rendezvous near the Abbey +without mentioning his name. I thought this was reasonable enough, and +wrote a letter."</p> + +<p>"And I went with Anne," said Olga. "Where did you go?"</p> + +<p>"When you left us I told her that Morley had a message from her father. +She said nothing to me denying the relationship, but she was afraid of +Morley. I told her that he had promised not to do her any harm. She was +still doubtful. Then Morley appeared. He had been close at hand, and he +explained that Denham was very ill. He wished to see Miss Denham and +make reparation for his wickedness. There was no time to be lost,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +Morley said, and he asked her to come at once. She hesitated for a time, +and then went with Morley. She told me to wait till the Princess Olga +came back and tell her this."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not?"</p> + +<p>"Because Morley whispered that I was not to do so. I went away in +another direction."</p> + +<p>"Then why do you tell now?" asked Ware bluntly.</p> + +<p>"I wish to be revenged on Denham," said Dane fiercely. "He treated me +like a dog, and he shall be bitten by me. Curse him!"</p> + +<p>Olga walked to the door. "I shall go now," she said, seeing that Dane +was becoming excited and fearing a scene. "You can tell Mr. Steel and +Mr. Ware everything, Mark. When Denham is caught and Anne is free, you +shall come to Vienna with me. My father shall take you into his +service," and with this she held out her hand to him in a regal manner. +Dane kissed it as though it had been the hand of a queen, and when she +was out of the room, turned to the two men with a shining face.</p> + +<p>"I am ready to tell you everything," he said.</p> + +<p>"And betray those who have done you a kindness," muttered Steel. "You +would not be an Irish-American if you didn't. I know the type."</p> + +<p>Quite unaware of this uncomplimentary speech, Dane glanced into a near +mirror and ran his slim hand through his hair. He cast such a complacent +look at his reflection that Giles could not forbear a smile. The man was +a compound of treachery, courage, and vanity. He had some virtues and +not a few vices, and was one of those irresponsible creatures who +develop into Anarchists. But that the Scarlet Cross Society had +attracted his talents in the direction of a kind of coast piracy, he +would without doubt have been employed in blowing up kings or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> public +buildings. Giles thought with a grim smile that if Olga took this +creature to Austria, Prince Karacsay would have some work to keep him in +order. Dane was not the man to settle to a dull, respectable existence +or to earn his bread without a little excitement. A dangerous man, and +the more dangerous from his enormous vanity and utter want of moral +principle.</p> + +<p>Having made Steel promise not to arrest him, nor to make any use of his +revelations to endanger his own liberty, Dane cheerfully proceeded to +betray those he had sworn secrecy to. Wicked as was the gang, and evil +as was the purpose of its formation, Giles could not help feeling a +contempt for the traitor. There should be honor amongst thieves, thought +Ware. But Dane did not believe in the proverb, and explained himself +quite complacently.</p> + +<p>"I met Denham—as he usually called himself many years ago in Italy—at +Milan," said Dane; "he had a house there. His daughter—let us call Miss +Anne his daughter, although I am glad to hear she is not—lived with +him. She was then about fifteen and was at school at a convent. She and +I got on very well. I adored her for her beauty and kindness of heart. I +was starving for want of money, as my remittances had not arrived from +America. Denham took me in. I made myself useful, so there was no +charity about the matter."</p> + +<p>"Still, he took you in," suggested Giles, "that was kind."</p> + +<p>"A kindness to himself," retorted Dane. "I tell you, sir, Denham wanted +what he called a secretary and what I called a tool. He found such a one +in me. I don't deny that I did all his dirty work, but I had some +feeling of gratitude because he rescued me from starvation."</p> + +<p>"You contradict yourself, Dane."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir, I do not," replied the man, with true Irish obstinacy, "but +I'm not here to argue about my conduct but to tell you facts."</p> + +<p>"Facts we wish to know," said Steel, taking out his note-book.</p> + +<p>"And facts I tell," cried Dane vehemently, then resumed in a calmer +tone. "Miss Anne was all day at school. Denham never let her know what a +devil he was. He was always kind to her. She thought him a good man. +Then thinking she might get to know too much, he sent her to a convent +for education and removed to Florence. There he called himself George +Franklin. He told me that he expected to get money by taking that name."</p> + +<p>"Then he admitted that he was not George Franklin," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"He never admitted anything. At one time he would say that his real name +was George Franklin, at another declare he was really Alfred Denham. But +he had so many names in the course of his career," added Dane, with a +shrug, "that one more or less did not matter. Besides, he was such a +liar that I never believed anything he said."</p> + +<p>"Not even about the Powell money?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I believed that. He was always swearing at some girl who stood +between him and the money. He mentioned her name once. I was with him in +England at the time, and set to work to find out. I learned all about +Miss Kent and her engagement to you, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"And you know all about the Powell money?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I got the truth out of Denham at last, but he never told Miss +Anne; nor did he ever mention Miss Kent's name in her presence; nor did +he ever say to me that Miss Anne was not his child. I never thought for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +a moment she was Franklin's daughter. And for the matter of that," added +Dane carelessly, "I did not know if he was really Denham or Franklin +himself."</p> + +<p>"But Miss Anne knew nothing of all this?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Absolutely nothing. After she went to the Milan convent, Denham would +not let her come back to him again. He was afraid lest she should learn +what he was and wished to preserve her good opinion. She went out as a +governess, and only rarely came home."</p> + +<p>"And how did Denham earn his living?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he invented the Scarlet Cross Society. He bought a yacht, and +steamed to England from Genoa. For years we put in at different ports, +robbed houses and stowed the goods on board. Then we returned to Italy +and sold them."</p> + +<p>"A clever dodge," murmured Steel. "So that is why the goods were never +traced."</p> + +<p>"That is why," said Dane, with great coolness. "There was a Jew who took +a lot of what we brought. He sold them in the East. But it is too long a +story to tell at present. Denham sometimes went to England and sometimes +stopped in Florence. When he was away I stayed in his house as George +Franklin."</p> + +<p>"I see. He wished to prove an <i>alibi</i>."</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Dane. "He intended to get that money sometime, and +wished that when inquiries were made about George Franklin that it could +be proved he was in Florence all the time."</p> + +<p>"And then when Powell did die?"</p> + +<p>"Denham knew as soon as possible. He had a spy in Australia, and had a +cablegram sent to him. Then he arranged a pretended death to get rid of +Miss Anne. He did not want her to come into his new life. He treated her +well, however, for he left her money, and intended<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> to give her an +income when he got the money. Another man was buried in place of Denham +and he went to England, where he reappeared as George Franklin to claim +the money."</p> + +<p>"As Wilson, you mean, to kill the girl who stood between him and the +fortune," said Steel, raising his eyes.</p> + +<p>Dane shook his head. "I know nothing of that," he said. "From the day +Denham left Florence my association with him has severed. I saw Miss +Anne, told her about the death of her father, and then went to America. +Denham did not pay me my annuity, and I came back to be revenged. I saw +him, but he denies having killed the girl. He says he does not know who +committed the murder. I have been earning my bread as I best can, +waiting for revenge."</p> + +<p>"But you had only to threaten to make all this public to make Denham +give you what you wished."</p> + +<p>"No." Dane looked uneasy. "The fact is he and some one else have a hold +over me. I need not tell you what it is, but I had to be silent."</p> + +<p>"But now that you speak he has still the hold."</p> + +<p>"Yes. But I intend to ruin myself in order to ruin him," cried Dane +fiercely, and rose to his feet. "Well, gentlemen, that is all I can tell +you at present. I shall go."</p> + +<p>To Giles' surprise, Steel made no objection. "You'll come and see me +again?" he said, opening the door for Dane.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly," replied that young gentleman, and departed.</p> + +<p>Giles looked amazed at this permission to depart being given by the +detective. "I should have thought it would be to your interest to keep +Dane here," he said. "He has not told us everything yet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," replied Steel, closing his book with a snap, "there is one very +interesting detail he has not told us. But the next time we meet I'll +get it out of him. Here," he touched the book, "there is enough to go on +with. I'll go down to the Priory and see the sick Mr. Denham."</p> + +<p>"I'll come also and see Anne," said Giles eagerly. "But Dane?"</p> + +<p>"He's all right. I have a couple of men waiting outside. He will be +followed everywhere. I'll be able to lay hands on him whenever I like. +Also I wish to see where he goes. He knows the various hiding-places of +this gang, and I want him to be tracked to one of them."</p> + +<p>"H'm! Don't you believe his story?"</p> + +<p>"Not altogether. He evidently hates Denham with all the virulent hatred +of a malicious character. He's a devil, that man Dane. I should not like +to incur his enmity. However, we'll make use of him, and then the +Princess can take him to Vienna to make trouble there, as he assuredly +will."</p> + +<p>"What is the especial detail you want to learn?"</p> + +<p>"I wish him to explain how he killed Daisy Kent."</p> + +<p>"He! Dane! Do you mean to say——?"</p> + +<p>"I mean to say that Dane is the murderer," said Steel triumphantly. +"That is the reason Denham and this other person (whoever he may be) +have a hold over him. If he ruins Denham, he does so at the cost of +being hanged."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>A RAT IN A CORNER</h3> + +<p>The next day Giles returned to Rickwell with Steel. The detective could +not leave town before, as he had to procure a warrant for the arrest of +Alfred Denham, alias Wilson, alias George Franklin, and half a dozen +other names. The man was to be arrested for various robberies connected +with the gang of thieves, of which he was the head. Search was being +made by the police for <i>The Red Cross</i> yacht, but evidently the gang had +taken alarm, for she had disappeared. It was Steel's opinion that she +was down Plymouth way, sailing round the Devonshire coast, and the +police in that county were on the lookout.</p> + +<p>"Once I can get that ship," explained Steel to Giles when in the train, +"and their claws will be cut. They have escaped for a long time, so +ingenious have their methods been. But I have accumulated a mass of +evidence, and have several names known to the police. Yes, and several +names of people not known. There are about twenty thieves, professional +and amateur, connected with this matter. It is a big affair. But I'll +get the yacht, and then Denham. That will be the means of laying bare +the whole swindle."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Which? Denham or the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"Each! both! If the police can seize the boat unexpectedly, some +incriminating papers are sure to be found on board. And if I can arrest +Denham, I'll soon get the truth out of him."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he can tell the truth, even if forced to," said Ware +grimly. "You have no idea how that man has cheated me, Steel," and then +Giles related the eavesdropping of himself and Morley.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how Denham got to know," he continued, "but the tale he +told about the invented brother was his own history, and quite deceived +me and Morley. Also that soliloquy after Mrs. Benker departed was a +masterly conception. It would have cheated any one, let alone me. The +man was acting for the benefit of myself and Morley, and knew we were +listening. What a clever scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>"He's been a little too clever this time," replied Steel; then he began +to laugh, but refused to explain why he did so, save in a general way.</p> + +<p>"This is the queerest case I was ever in," he said, with a chuckle; "you +don't know how queer."</p> + +<p>"Well, you explain. I think you are keeping something from me."</p> + +<p>"I am," answered Steel readily. "Tit for tat, Mr. Ware. You did a little +business on your own account, and said nothing to me. I repay the +compliment."</p> + +<p>"I was afraid you would arrest Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"You mean Miss Franklin. No, I should not have done that. My +investigations into this thieving case have shown me that she is +perfectly innocent. She knows nothing about Denham's rascalities, and +she certainly did not commit the murder."</p> + +<p>"Are you so sure that Dane is the culprit?" asked Giles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I am sure. He was at Gravesend on board that yacht, and when the +so-called Wilson came by train from London, Dane rode over from Tilbury +on a motor-bicycle. They met on that night, and then I expect Denham +induced Dane to murder the girl. Afterwards Dane went back to Tilbury as +he came, and Denham induced his daughter to rescue him on your motor."</p> + +<p>"But why should he get Anne to do that?"</p> + +<p>"Because he saw that he had been wrong in forcing Dane to do what he +did. Dane was too hasty. He should have waited till Denham was a safe +distance away, and then have executed the deed. As it was I believe that +Denham came out to find the girl dead, and knowing he might be accused, +lost his head. Otherwise he certainly would not have betrayed himself to +Miss Anne. She, believing him to be her father, secured the car and +saved him. A very clever woman, Mr. Ware. I hope you will ask me to the +wedding."</p> + +<p>"How do you know it will ever take place?" asked Giles sadly.</p> + +<p>"Because I am sure we shall find Miss Anne in the Priory. I shall arrest +Denham, and you can place the lady in charge of some friend, or send her +up to her mother, the Princess Karacsay. By the way, how does she come +to be the mother?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story. The Princess was married twice, first to George +Franklin, of Jamaica, and secondly to Prince Karacsay. But how do you +know that when Morley arrived with Anne that Denham did not take fright +and fly?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think Morley would let him do that. It is probable that Miss +Anne would tell him what she knew, and there would be quite enough +suspicion excited in Morley's mind to induce him to communicate with +me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Has he done so?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, he hasn't. But then, he's a detective also, you see, and his +professional jealousy, even although he has retired, may induce him to +engineer this business himself. But he shan't have the credit of it +after all my work," cried Steel vehemently.</p> + +<p>Then the detective began to turn over his notes, so as to prepare for +the coming interview with Denham. Giles gave himself up to his own +thoughts, and rejoiced that he would soon see Anne again. Her character +would be cleared, and then she would become his wife. Ware was much +relieved that Olga had overcome her foolish fancy for him, but he could +not be sure if her cure was permanent. When she excused herself, she was +weak and exhausted, and he dreaded lest when she recovered she should +begin to persecute him again. But after all, as he reflected, it really +did not much matter. The future of Anne was taken out of her hands, and +the Princess Karacsay would not permit Olga to play fast and loose with +Anne's happiness.</p> + +<p>Giles remembered how Olga had told him that Anne was at school at +Hampstead, but had not said a word about the convent at Milan. No doubt +Anne, when she first came to England, had gone for a few finishing +lessons to the Hampstead school, for there she had met Mrs. Cairns. +Still, Olga all the time had known much more of Anne's history than she +had chosen to tell. And if the Princess Karacsay had not been so candid, +Ware doubted very much if Olga would have confessed her relationship +with Anne. Yet on second thought he fancied he might be doing the +Hungarian sister wrong. In spite of her proposed treachery, she was +really fond of Anne, and perhaps would not have delivered her up to the +police. In fact, after she brought her mother over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> to unmask Denham, +and had thus made her aware of Anne's existence, she could not do that +without provoking her mother's undying enmity. On the whole, Olga was +something of a problem, and although Giles wished to think of her as +kindly as he could, he determined to see as little of her as was +possible after the marriage. He did not trust her. There was too much of +the untamed tigress about the girl.</p> + +<p>When the train arrived at Barnham, a trap ordered by Giles was waiting +to take them to Rickwell. On the platform Steel was met by a local +policeman who seemed to be much excited. "I have acted according to your +instructions, sir," he said, touching his helmet.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Steel sharply while Giles lingered to listen—for +everything the detective said was interesting to him; he still doubted +his intentions regarding Anne—"did Mr. Morley bring down Miss Denham?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," was the unexpected answer. "Mr. Morley has not come back +since he went up to town two nights ago. He went by the nine train."</p> + +<p>"The same train as I went by," interposed Giles.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" said Steel, and Giles fancied he saw a smile play round +his rather full lips.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Mr. Morley on the evening he went away called at the Priory +and had a quarrel with Mr. Franklin, sir. They came to blows, sir, and +Mr. Franklin's leg is broken."</p> + +<p>"Then he has not left Rickwell?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. He's laid up with the broken leg and his daughter is nursing +him. He's awful bad, I've been told, sir, by Mrs. Parry."</p> + +<p>Giles could not help laughing at the introduction of the good lady's +name. She seemed to be mixed up with everything. He could not be sorry +for Denham, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> was only meeting with his deserts. "But Anne—where +can she be?" he asked Steel, as they stepped into the cart.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew," said Steel gloomily. "I had an idea that Morley was +playing me false."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he is in league with Denham?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it. That is the portion of the case of which I have not +spoken to you. You'll hear what Denham says. Now that Morley has left +him in the lurch Denham will reveal Morley's connection with these +matters. But Morley has secured a hostage in the person of Miss Anne. He +has taken her away somewhere. His wife may know of his whereabouts. +After we have seen Denham we'll speak of her."</p> + +<p>"Since when have you had suspicions of Morley?"</p> + +<p>"Since I investigated this Scarlet Cross case. I have found one or two +of the gang who, like Dane, are willing to turn King's evidence to save +themselves. It was one of them called Scott who told me of Dane's coming +on the motor-bicycle to Rickwell. But later on you shall hear all. Let +me round off the case by arresting Denham." Here Steel scratched his +head and smiled ruefully. "But I fear the case will not be finished till +Morley is caught, and where am I to look for him? I wish I had had him +watched. He has been too clever for me. I might have known. As Joe Bart +he was one of the smartest detectives in London."</p> + +<p>After this speech Steel began to think, and as he seemed impatient of +interruption, Giles said nothing. In due time they arrived at the door +of the Priory. It was close on five o'clock. Steel rang the bell, and as +he did so a couple of policemen came round the corner for orders. Steel +told them to wait in the hall while he saw Denham. "I don't think he can +show fight with a broken leg," said Steel grimly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<p>As he spoke the door opened. Portia with her freckled face swollen with +weeping appeared. She did not seem astonished at the sight of the men in +uniform. Perhaps she had seen them lurking in the neighborhood and knew +what to expect.</p> + +<p>"Come in," she said sullenly to Steel and his companion. "My father +expects you."</p> + +<p>"Who told him I was coming?" asked Steel.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered, and led the way up the stairs. On the +landing she turned viciously. "If father had not broken his leg, you +would not have found us here," she declared.</p> + +<p>"I quite believe that," retorted Steel.</p> + +<p>"And you needn't have brought those beasts of men," continued the girl, +with a glance at the police in the hall. "We are all alone. Dowse and +his wife and daughter ran away whenever they heard there was trouble."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they are mixed up in this affair also."</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I shan't say anything, for I don't know nothing."</p> + +<p>She sullenly led the way through a long corridor and opened the door of +a sitting-room. Here on a sofa with a small table at his elbow lay +Denham. His leg was swathed in bandages, and he wore a loose +dressing-gown. As they entered he laid down a book and looked at them. +His face was worn, his hair was quite grey, but the brilliance of his +eyes were undimmed, and he spoke in a masterful manner.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, Steel," he said coolly. "Got the warrant?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know I have a warrant?" asked the other, taken aback.</p> + +<p>"I knew you would find out the truth the moment Mrs. Franklin, or +rather, I should say the Princess Karacsay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> discovered me. She has told +you all and has put you on my track."</p> + +<p>"Dane put me on your track."</p> + +<p>"Dane? Well, I'm not surprised. He's a scoundrel. King's evidence, I +suppose? I'll defeat him, Steel. Take a seat and I'll tell you all about +myself."</p> + +<p>Very much surprised at this calmness the two men sat down. Denham waved +his daughter out of the room. She was unwilling to go, but a glance sent +her away. When she closed the door Denham turned to Giles.</p> + +<p>"When you marry Anne, Mr. Ware," said he, "ask her to look after my poor +daughter."</p> + +<p>"How do you know I shall ever marry Anne?"</p> + +<p>"Because you are a determined man. Men like you usually do get their own +way. You intend to marry Anne Franklin and you will. But Portia has been +good to Anne, and when I am in prison I hope Anne will take care of +her."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to that," said Giles. "I don't believe that the sins of the +father should be visited on the children. Do you know where Anne has got +to? She went away with Morley."</p> + +<p>At the sound of this name Denham's face grew black. "I wish I knew where +Morley is," he said vehemently. "I would give him up to the police with +pleasure. On the evening of the day Anne escaped he came here with his +wife. When she left he had a quarrel with me, saying I had done wrong in +letting Anne go. We fought, and he threw me down the stairs. My leg is +broken, and so I could not get away from the police. Well, I give myself +up. It is rather hard after I have done so much to get the money I +wanted."</p> + +<p>"Even to committing a murder," said Steel.</p> + +<p>"No," said Denham decisively; "I did not kill Daisy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> Kent. She was +murdered by—but I'll tell you that later. In the meantime, Mr. Ware, +tell me what the Princess told you, and I'll supply the details she +doubtless has omitted. Then Steel can follow with his tale."</p> + +<p>Giles had no hesitation in complying with this request. He narrated his +connection with Olga and the story told by her mother. Also he detailed +how he had confided in Morley, thinking him an honorable man. This was +the only time when Denham smiled, and he did smile derisively. However, +he did not interrupt, but when Giles was finished looked at Steel. That +gentleman gave a history of his doings and discoveries. He omitted all +mention of Morley. Denham noted this.</p> + +<p>"I see you have left something for me to tell," he said. "Well, as I am +like a rat in a corner, I must give in. The end has come, and I don't +know that I am sorry. I have had a very uneasy life of it since I left +Jamaica. And, as usual, it was a woman who ruined me."</p> + +<p>"Not the Princess Karacsay," said Giles quickly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You heard her version of the story, now hear mine. She led me on, +she behaved badly, she——"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you. I won't listen."</p> + +<p>"Very good. Then we will take up the story from the time I came to +Milan," replied Denham coolly. "Anne was with me, and I treated her +well. She never knew anything of my inner life, and always thought me a +good man. I rather prided myself in keeping her in that belief."</p> + +<p>"Dane said that you behaved very well," said Steel.</p> + +<p>Denham nodded ironically. "I am much obliged for the good opinion of +such a scoundrel," he said. "Well, you know how I treated Anne. When she +became a governess she left me to follow out my idea of making money. I +bought a yacht, and invented the Society of the Scarlet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> Cross. For a +time all went well. Then I was foolish enough when robbing the safe of +Lady Summersdale to drop a cross—a red cross. It was found by Bart—I +mean Morley, who was the detective."</p> + +<p>"You can call him Bart," said Giles. "Steel told me it was his name."</p> + +<p>"I prefer to call him Morley, since by that name I know him best," was +Denham's retort. "As I say, he discovered the red cross. He had charge +of the case, and he traced me by that ornament. He got to know of the +yacht and of the working of the gang. Instead of arresting us all, which +he could have done, he agreed to join us."</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" cried Steel, slapping his thigh. "I guessed this."</p> + +<p>"Did you offer him any inducement?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Yes. At first he was bent on breaking up the gang and putting me in +jail. But I remembered how Walpole had said that every man had his +price. I ascertained Morley's. It was ease and comfort and plenty of +money to gamble with."</p> + +<p>"Did he gamble?" asked Ware, starting.</p> + +<p>"He ruined himself with gambling," replied Denham. "If it had not been +for his indulgence in that vice, he would not have joined our society, +Mr. Ware. However, he did. I told him of the Powell money, and said that +when I got it I would share it with him. Franklin was drowned; I had his +papers, and knew all about his life, and there was no difficulty in my +proving myself to be the man. I did so, and now have the money."</p> + +<p>"But the price of Daisy's death was——"</p> + +<p>"I'm coming to that," interrupted Denham impatiently. "Well, Morley +joined us. His professional information helped us to improve our +business. He made me give back Lady Summersdale's jewels, so that his +professional<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> reputation might be preserved. He was highly complimented +on getting the swag back," added Denham, smiling ironically, "but the +thieves unfortunately escaped."</p> + +<p>"And he was hand in glove with the lot of you," said Steel, almost with +admiration. "I always said Joe Bart was clever."</p> + +<p>"He was too clever for me," said Denham, shifting his position, and +sighing with the pain of his leg. However, with iron resolution he +continued. "But I'll punish him yet. Well, to make a long story short, +Morley retired from the force and married a widow. She had money. He +spent all she had. He got his percentage from our society, and spent +that also. He was always gambling, and took runs up to town to lose his +money in a private hell he knew of. Afterwards he got into difficulties, +and began to yearn for the Powell money. It was because Daisy Kent was +to inherit it that he induced her father to appoint him her guardian."</p> + +<p>"And for that reason he settled in Rickwell."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Kent had known Mrs. Morley for many years, and it was she who was +the guardian. When he married Mrs. Morley our friend settled in +Rickwell, so that his wife might renew her friendship with Kent and get +the girl. It all came about as he designed, and Daisy Kent lived at The +Elms. Morley thought he would sell me, and when the girl got the money, +by using his influence to induce her to give it to him, I believe he was +capable of killing his wife and of marrying Daisy. But that scheme was +stopped by the fact that Daisy was engaged to you, Ware."</p> + +<p>"I am thankful that she was," said Giles, wiping his face. "What a devil +the man is!"</p> + +<p>"He is a clever man," replied Denham coolly, "but he was not +sufficiently clever to get the better of Daisy Kent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> What she found +out, or how he treated her, I don't know; but she took a violent hatred +to him. He knew she would not give him the money when she got it, and +so——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Ware. "Do you mean to say Morley killed the girl?"</p> + +<p>"No. I wish I could say so. But he was in his house all the time. He is +innocent enough. I'll tell you about that later. At present let me go on +with the story. I heard by cable from Australia that Powell was dead, +and then I feigned death to get rid of Anne. I came to England, and, as +Wilson, heard about the will, and afterwards served the summons."</p> + +<p>"Why did you serve the summons?"</p> + +<p>"I simply wanted to see Morley without suspicion being excited. I saw +him in the library. He told me that he had ordered the yacht to anchor +off Gravesend and that Dane was coming to tell him when it was there. He +then asked me to kill Daisy Kent, saying I could get the fortune when +she was dead."</p> + +<p>Denham paused, and wiped his face.</p> + +<p>"I don't pretend to be a good man," he said, "but I declined to murder +the girl. While we were arguing Anne entered. When she saw me she nearly +fainted, as she thought I was dead. She recognized me."</p> + +<p>"Yes," put in Giles, "but she said she didn't speak to you."</p> + +<p>"But she did. Morley knew then that she was Franklin's daughter, and, if +Daisy died, the rightful owner of the money. I expect that is why he had +decoyed her away. Well, I made Anne agree to be silent, promising her an +explanation the next day. She left the room. I went away, and afterwards +to church. I wished to see Daisy and warn her against Morley. I passed a +note saying that I desired to see her about the money. She went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> out. I +followed shortly. It was snowing heavily when I got out. I heard a cry, +and rushed in its direction. It came from the grave of Kent. Daisy was +lying there dead. I saw a man dash away——"</p> + +<p>"Who was he?" asked Steel and Giles simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"I believe, from the glimpse I caught, he was Dane."</p> + +<p>"I thought so," said Steel triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dane killed the girl. I expect Morley put him up to it. I lost my +head. I knew that to save himself that Morley would accuse me. I rushed +forward. Anne came out. I hurriedly explained, and then——"</p> + +<p>"We know," interrupted Giles, "you bolted on my motor-car. Tell us how +you got the money."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I appeared as Franklin, and saw Asher. I produced my papers, and +was put into formal possession of the money. Morley insisted that I +should live down here, under his eye. I could not refuse. He has drained +me of nearly every penny. Then, when trouble began, he made use of his +position here to warn me of what was going on."</p> + +<p>"He made a fool of me," said Giles grimly. "I told him everything, and +you played that nice little comedy in the park."</p> + +<p>"With Mrs. Benker?" Denham smiled. "Yes; and the soliloquy was my own +idea. I knew that would impose on you."</p> + +<p>"Morley swindled me also," said Steel, with gloom. "Clever man!"</p> + +<p>"You said that before," remarked Denham dryly. "However, when Anne's +mother appeared I knew the game was up. She made me promise to send Anne +to her, so I had to let her go."</p> + +<p>"Why did you blame Anne for the murder?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to stop your prying into matters which did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> not concern you," +snarled the man savagely. "It was you who started all this infernal +business. But it's all over. You can arrest me as soon as you like, +Steel, and if you can catch Morley I'll willingly stand in the dock +beside him."</p> + +<p>As he said this the door opened. There was a noise outside. Portia was +trying to keep some one back, but the man forced his way past her and +into the room. It was Trim, and he presented a letter to his master. +"Beg pardon, sir, but I heard you were here, and there's a letter came +this morning marked 'Immediate.' I wanted to start for town, but when I +heard you were here I came over, and this young woman's been trying to +keep me out, to say nothing of them police below."</p> + +<p>Giles opened the letter hastily. Something fell with a silvery ring on +the floor. Steel picked it up. "What's this?" he asked wonderingly—"a +coin with precious stones!"</p> + +<p>"Anne's Edward VII. half-sovereign," shouted Giles. "This is from her." +The letter, written in pencil, merely said, "Prisoner—yacht—Bilbao."</p> + +<p>"Steel," cried Giles, "Morley has taken her to Bilbao! We follow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>A CATASTROPHE</h3> + +<p>About noon the next day Steel and Giles were on their way to Bilbao. +This prompt following of Morley was due to the fertile resource of Ware. +He remembered that a friend of his possessed a yacht which was at +present lying in Dover Harbor. The friend, Lord Kingsbridge, fortunately +happened to be in London, and Giles wired an appointment. With Steel he +went up to Town on that same night and drove at once to the Wanderers' +Club, where Kingsbridge was waiting for them. Giles explained the +situation, and secured the yacht at once. "The boat is quite ready to +start," said Kingsbridge. "All you have to do is to get steam up. I was +thinking of going on a cruise myself, and so had <i>The Firefly</i> put in +order."</p> + +<p>"Why not come with us to Bilbao, my lord?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Steel, but I have to wait in town for a day or two, and +time is everything in this matter. If you take the first morning train +to Dover, you ought to be on your way to Spain in the afternoon. When +did this other boat start?"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday afternoon from Gravesend," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"Well, my yacht's a quick one, so I daresay you will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> able to catch +this other one before she gets to her destination. You'll have bad +weather, I fear," said Kingsbridge; "there's a storm getting up."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if it blows the world out of the solar system," cried Ware +savagely; "I'm going to catch that man."</p> + +<p>"And the lady? Well, good luck to you, Ware."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Kingsbridge. I shan't forget your kindness," replied the +young man, and departed with Steel in hot haste.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that the two found themselves on board <i>The Firefly</i> +steaming for Bilbao at top speed. The boat was two hundred tons, yacht +measurement, schooner-rigged fore and aft, with powerful engines and +twin screws. When all her furnaces were going she could smoke through +the water at surprising speed, and her captain having received +instructions from Kingsbridge, drove her south for all she was worth. He +was a pleasant young fellow called Calthorpe, and when he heard that the +trip was being made to rescue a lady took a personal interest in the +affair. He made up his mind to catch <i>The Red Cross</i> before she reached +Bilbao.</p> + +<p>"Is she a fast boat?" he asked when <i>The Firefly</i> cleared the Channel.</p> + +<p>"Nearly as fast as this craft," replied Mark Dane, who was at his elbow. +"She was built for speed."</p> + +<p>"H'm," said the captain; "it's stormy weather, and her speed will depend +a good deal on the way she is handled. I don't expect she'll do much in +the Bay."</p> + +<p>Evidently Calthorpe was not going to let his boat be beaten by an +outsider. He had never heard of <i>The Red Cross</i>, and believed <i>The +Firefly</i> to be one of the smartest crafts afloat. The weather was dirty, +and when the gallant little boat lifted the Atlantic waves they were +running<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> mountains high. But Calthorpe drove his vessel sheer through +them, and never slackened his speed for all their fury. And now it must +be explained how Dane came to be on board. The explanation may be given +in his own words to Giles.</p> + +<p>"When I left you in London, sir," he said, "I wondered where Morley had +taken Miss Anne. From what I knew I guessed that he would not carry her +to the Priory at Rickwell. It then struck me that he might use the +yacht. Since Steel took up the case she has changed her name and her +appearance, for Morley and Denham were both afraid lest she might be +found out. The gang of course know nothing of my intention to smash up +the organization, and I knew that I could get all information from one +of them. I sent a wire to this man—he's called Arden—and received +information that the boat was at Gravesend by Morley's orders, under the +name of <i>The Dark Horse</i>."</p> + +<p>"Rather a good name," said Ware, smiling. "Morley is something of a +humorist."</p> + +<p>"He's a devil!" said Dane fiercely. "I'll tell you my reason for saying +so later, sir. I went to Gravesend and found her lying in mid-stream. I +went on board and learned that Morley was away, but that the boat was to +sail shortly for some unknown destination."</p> + +<p>"Where was Morley?"</p> + +<p>"Up in town, sir, getting his money together to make tracks. I found +Miss Anne on board. She told me that Morley had suggested they should +get to Rickwell by the Gravesend line, and she, not thinking any harm of +him and anxious to see Denham and learn the truth about her dead father, +agreed. He took her down and drugged her in the train. As an invalid she +was taken on board <i>The Dark Horse</i> and confined to her cabin. A hag +called Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> Johns attended to her. I know the old wretch. A regular bad +one; but devoted to Morley, who got her out of some trouble."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not rescue Miss Anne," said Giles, "and save us this +journey, Dane?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't. Mrs. Johns allowed me to see Miss Anne, as she had no +reason to suspect me; but she kept guard at the door, and would not let +me out of her sight almost. If I had tried to take Miss Anne ashore, +she'd have brought the crew on me. They are all Morley's creatures. I +should simply have been poleaxed and dropped overboard, while the yacht +sailed away. No, sir. I told Miss Anne my difficulty, and asked her to +send a line to you at the Priory—where I knew you were—that you might +follow. She wrote three or four words——"</p> + +<p>"I know," interrupted Giles, "and enclosed the coin."</p> + +<p>"She did that, sir, so that you could be sure the message came from her. +I posted the letter. Then I went on shore and waited till Morley came +back. I learned from Miss Anne that the boat was going to Bilbao, and +when she started I came on to the Priory to ask if I could join in the +hunt for Miss Anne. Yes," cried Dane, shaking his fist, "and the hunt +after that devil Morley."</p> + +<p>"Why do you hate him so?" asked Giles, wondering at the man's fierceness +and ill-suppressed emotion.</p> + +<p>Dane thought for a moment, then answered, with his eyes on the deck, +"Morley killed my mother," he said in a low voice. "No, sir, not in the +way you think. He killed her by telling her what I was. She was a good +woman. She brought me up well, and did her best to make me a decent man. +I was well behaved till I went to Italy to study singing, and fell in +with Denham. He made me bad. Afterwards Morley made me worse. I have +thieved, I have—but what does the catalogue of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> crimes matter to +you, sir? In a word, Denham and Morley ruined me. I hate them both, but +Morley worst of all. Do you think Denham will recover?"</p> + +<p>"From his broken leg? Of course he will, and then he will be taken to +jail at once. Steel left the warrant behind to be executed, in order +that he might come with me."</p> + +<p>"I hope Denham will get a long sentence, sir," said Dane savagely. "He +is a bad man. But Morley—nothing short of death will expiate his crime +so far as I am concerned. I wanted to reform, sir. Miss Anne was so good +to me that I saw how wicked was the life I was living. I wished to +reform and return to my mother. Morley heard of this. He followed me to +New York, where I was then. I had fled from the gang, saying I would +have nothing more to do with the thieving. Morley found me with my +mother. He told her what I was." Here Dane paused and sighed. "The blow +killed her."</p> + +<p>"She died of a broken heart, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of a broken heart. Then I went back with Morley to the old life +like a whipped dog. But I vowed revenge. I intend to have it now." And +he set his teeth determinedly.</p> + +<p>Giles was sorry for the young man. He appeared to have some good in him +when he felt the death of his mother, and the cause of it, so deeply. +But Ware could not help remembering that Dane had murdered Daisy Kent. +But for the fact that they relied on Dane to distinguish <i>The Red Cross</i> +under her disguise, he would not have been allowed to come. But Steel +thought it was best to catch Morley first and then have Dane arrested +for the crime. He advised Giles to say nothing about it, lest it should +arouse the suspicions of Dane. But on board <i>The Firefly</i> there was no +escape for the man, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> after the previous conversation Giles began to +wonder if Dane really was guilty, despite the belief of Steel and the +evidence of Denham. He resolved to set his doubts at rest.</p> + +<p>"Dane," he said, after a pause, "you appear to have much good in you, +and the Princess Olga is anxious to save you from yourself. Since you +are helping us to break up this gang and catch Morley, who appears to be +the arch-criminal, I am willing to do what I can to save you from the +law. But there is another crime——"</p> + +<p>"What particular crime do you mean, sir?" asked Dane quietly.</p> + +<p>"The murder of Miss Kent."</p> + +<p>Dane started. "Do you believe that I had anything to do with that?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? You were at Rickwell on the night it was committed."</p> + +<p>"I was. I came over from the yacht at Gravesend to tell Morley she was +waiting his orders there, and to tell Denham also. He had appointed a +meeting there for me. I came on a motor-bicycle. What of that?"</p> + +<p>"A man called Scott told Steel that you were in Rickwell."</p> + +<p>"I admit it. I know Scott. He has turned King's evidence. It seems to +me, sir, that the whole lot of us will be pardoned if we are so anxious +to betray one another. But this crime——"</p> + +<p>"Denham says you killed the girl."</p> + +<p>Dane sprang to his feet with flashing eyes. "I swear by all that I hold +most holy that I did not touch the girl," he declared. "I never even set +eyes on her. Denham accuses me—yes, because I have told the truth about +him. I came on that night and saw Morley and him at the window of the +library in Morley's house. When I gave my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> message about the yacht I +returned to Tilbury, and then crossed to the boat. I never killed the +girl, by the memory of my mother!"</p> + +<p>"You seem to be speaking the truth," said Giles quickly. "Did you enter +the library? The girl was killed by a stiletto torn from the trophy of +arms near the desk."</p> + +<p>"I was not in the library. Morley would not allow me to enter. He and +Denham spoke to me on the terrace. When a noise was heard at the door—I +believe now it was Miss Anne who was entering—Morley gave me the tip to +get away."</p> + +<p>"Was the stiletto in its place?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I never noticed."</p> + +<p>"Do you think Morley killed the girl?"</p> + +<p>"Either he or Denham," replied Dane decisively; "and I think it was the +latter. When I heard of the crime being committed, I saw Mrs. Morley and +asked her if her husband was guilty. She denied it, saying that he was +in the library all the time. She came down and saw him."</p> + +<p>"She might do that to save her husband."</p> + +<p>Dane shook his head. "I don't think she was fond enough of him for that, +sir," he answered. "She was when he married her; but he treated her so +badly—as I was told by Denham—that she grew to hate him. He spent her +money, and behaved like the brute he is. For the sake of her children +she said nothing, but she was fond of Miss Kent, and I don't think she +would have defended him if a charge of killing the girl had been made."</p> + +<p>"Did Mrs. Morley know anything about the gang?"</p> + +<p>"No, she knew nothing. Morley always took good care to keep her in +ignorance. She knew no more of his secret life than Miss Anne did of +Denham's. Both men were very clever in concealing that which they did +not want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> to be known. But you believe that I am innocent of this +charge?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. You can face Denham when you return and ask him what are his +grounds for accusing you."</p> + +<p>"If ever I do come back," said Dane gloomily. And the conversation ended +for the time being.</p> + +<p>Dane made himself very useful on board, and Calthorpe took quite a fancy +to him. In addition to his other gifts he proved to be an excellent +sailor. It seems that he had run away from home, and had worked for some +years before the mast as a common seaman. He now wished to do what he +could on board <i>The Firefly</i>, and chummed with the crew. So great a +favorite did he become with Calthorpe that when he asked to be allowed +to steer, the favor was readily granted to him, and he proved very +proficient. Certainly Calthorpe did not know he was a suspected murderer +and had been a thief, and neither Steel nor Giles said anything about +this. Steel, indeed, still held to the belief that Dane was guilty; but +Ware laughed at him.</p> + +<p>"You said that Miss Anne was guilty," he declared; "then you believed +that Denham had struck the blow; now you are convinced that Dane is the +criminal. For my part I believe Denham to be guilty."</p> + +<p>"He may be," replied Steel, with a shrug. "I am so puzzled over this +case that I am prepared for any development. At all events, Denham is +being looked after. He can't escape me, whether he is merely a thief or +really the murderer we are in search of."</p> + +<p>When <i>The Firefly</i> got into the Bay of Biscay the weather was worse than +ever. Giles was pleased, as Calthorpe told him that there was the better +chance of catching <i>The Dark Horse</i> before she reached her port of +destination. Once on Spanish soil and Giles feared lest Morley should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +carry Anne off to the mountains. He was such a scoundrel, and so clever, +that it might be possible he had confederates at Bilbao to help him to +carry out any scheme he might suggest. Giles wished to catch him before +he had time to formulate any new villainy. At all events, Morley would +never think that they had tracked him so speedily, or had followed so +rapidly. It was unlikely that he would use the yacht to the fullest +extent of her steaming powers.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the Bay <i>The Firefly</i> was caught by the full force of +the storm. The wind and waves were terrific, but the gallant little boat +proved herself trustworthy. Under a sullen sky, over a dismal grey sea +she steamed, her decks streaming with water, and the ship herself +rolling terribly.</p> + +<p>Calthorpe did not slacken speed, and the boat responded splendidly to +his handling. A sharp lookout was kept by all on board for the yacht, as +Giles had offered a large reward for the first man who espied the boat. +But the difficulty was that none of the crew knew the looks of <i>The Dark +Horse</i>. However, they were to hail when they saw anything in the shape +of a yacht, and there were one or two false alarms. At length, when <i>The +Firefly</i> was approaching the Spanish coast, Dane, who was on deck with a +glass, gave the alarm. It was a misty, grey day, with absence of sun and +wind. The ocean was heaving like masses of liquid pitch with an oily +look, and the yacht cut sheer through the terrific waves that threatened +to overwhelm her. Suddenly a wind rose, there was a blink of sunshine, +and about a mile away a bark was seen rolling in the trough of the sea. +"There she is!" roared Dane, and every one came on deck.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" cried Giles, taking the glass.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly sure," replied Dane, who was dangerously excited. "Captain, +let me handle the wheel as a reward."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>Calthorpe gave his assent, as he knew what a good steersman Dane was. He +then took his post beside Giles and Steel, who were admitted on to the +bridge, and thence directed the ship. Then <i>The Firefly</i> made a bee-line +for the distant ship.</p> + +<p>Steel and Giles had less sense than they should have had; and Dane in +his joy at the sight of his prey quite forgot that with a good glass +Morley could recognize them all three. It was <i>The Red Cross</i>, alias +<i>The Dark Horse</i>, that was steaming leisurely southward, and doing her +best to battle with the strong seas that hammered her newly painted +sides. Thus Morley, who had never expected such promptitude, became +aware that his foes were at his heels. He saw the detective and Giles on +the bridge. But Dane he did not see, being in too much of a hurry after +his first glimpse of the danger to take further interest in those on +board <i>The Firefly</i>. The result of Morley's decision was that those on +the pursuing yacht saw clouds of smoke pouring out of the funnel, and +knew that the furnaces were being crammed to suffocation. There was a +shout of joy from <i>The Firefly's</i> crew, for now the fun was beginning.</p> + +<p>"We'll see if she'll beat my boat," said Calthorpe on the bridge.</p> + +<p>It was very stormy, and black clouds were racing across a pallid sky. A +furious wind had blown the mists into shreds of vapor, and was ripping +white spume from the tops of the rearing waves. The vessel in flight +soared like a swallow, and slid down into mile-long valleys; but <i>The +Firefly</i>, having more powerful engines, tore straight through the walls +of water that threatened to block her way. She trembled with the +vibration of her screws, and in the stormy heaving of the water there +was great danger lest her propeller fans should snap. However, the +engineer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> stood with his hand on the throttle-valve, and stopped the +spinning of the screws when they emerged.</p> + +<p>Much the same tactics were being pursued on board <i>The Dark Horse</i>, save +that in addition the safety-valve was tied down. The engines worked at +furious speed, and the boat leaped like a hunted stag. But the hound on +its heels came closer and closer, and those on <i>The Dark Horse</i> could +hear the roar of the delighted <i>Firefly</i> crew. Morley ground his teeth, +and fed his furnaces again. Anne came on deck.</p> + +<p>"Go below!" he said, and swore at her.</p> + +<p>"I shall not," she retorted, and got away from him.</p> + +<p>He was not able to pursue, not being in position to leave his post +beside the captain. Besides, he thought it mattered very little whether +she was seen or not. Ware knew that she was on board, and, moreover, if +<i>The Dark Horse</i> were overhauled, he would suffer most himself by the +capture. It would do him no good to throw Anne overboard, although he +felt much inclined to do so if only for revenge.</p> + +<p>Calthorpe could well be proud of his boat. She responded gallantly to +the strain put upon her, and tore like a mad thing through the waste of +waters. She swung 'longside of <i>The Dark Horse</i>, Dane steering with +flashing eyes and his long hair streaming in the wind. There was less +than a quarter of a mile separating the boats. Morley swerved to the +right. Dane followed. A pretty bit of steering on the part of both +vessels took place until the winds and waves took command. Then the +boats, out of hand, swung together, almost touching. Giles could see +Anne. She cried out and stretched her hands.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Dane turned the yacht in a circle. Calthorpe shouted to know, +with several adjectives, what he was up to. He would have stopped the +engines, which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> working furiously, but that it was dangerous at the +moment. <i>The Firefly</i> swung round, and then with the rush of a wounded +bull came straight at <i>The Dark Horse</i>.</p> + +<p>"Hell!" cried Calthorpe, "he's going to ram her."</p> + +<p>There was no time to stop the engines, or to reverse them. Those on <i>The +Dark Horse</i> gave a yell of fear as the larger vessel bore down on their +slighter craft. Dane, fairly mad, shouted out abuse to Morley. Another +moment and the pursuing yacht struck the other midships, cutting her +almost to the waterline. All on board both ships were thrown down. <i>The +Firefly</i> reeled back. Giles lifted his head to see Anne falling +overboard as <i>The Dark Horse</i> lurched in the roaring waters. With a cry +of terror, he tore a lifebelt from its fastenings and threw himself +after her.</p> + +<p>After that he could only recollect that he was swimming for dear life +and for her, amongst those furious waves. Lifted on the crest of one he +saw her some distance away—a white figure against the black water. Then +he went sliding down into the liquid valley. How he reached her he did +not know; but after a terrific struggle he found her in his arms. He +managed to slip the lifebelt over her head, and kept her up with one arm +while he kept afloat with the other. She was insensible, but Giles +retained all his wits. He caught a glimpse of the ragged, injured bows +of <i>The Firefly</i> high above him, and saw that Calthorpe was launching a +boat. In a few moments it came plunging towards him, and he was hauled +on board with Anne. Steel was in the boat, ashy pale.</p> + +<p>"Is our boat safe?" gasped Giles.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But <i>The Dark Horse</i> is going down. Dane has gone overboard."</p> + +<p>Suddenly Steel shrieked, and Giles turned to where he pointed. In the +trough of the sea <i>The Dark Horse</i> was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> plunging like a colt, rolling +like a drunken man. Giles saw Morley; near him Dane with a savage look +on his face. Morley, with terror in his eyes, tried to get away, but +Dane reached him, flung his arms round him, and with a wild shout both +men went down into the furiously bubbling witch-caldron, never to rise +again.</p> + +<p>The strain of the whole terrible business was too much for Giles Ware. +For the first and last time in his life he fainted. The last +recollection he had was of seeing the doomed vessel plunging downwards +and a cloud of white steam rising with a terrible roar from her +exploding boilers. After that, darkness and insensibility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE END OF THE TROUBLE</h3> + +<p>Giles returned to Rickwell within a week, to find that great changes had +taken place in the place, even in that little while. After the +foundering of <i>The Dark Horse</i>, the other yacht had returned to England +forthwith. She had not been very badly damaged by Dane's mad act, +although her bows had been smashed. Calthorpe, indeed, had been on the +point of putting in to the nearest port to refit, but finding that <i>The +Firefly</i> was still seaworthy he held on until he got back to Dover.</p> + +<p>Some of the crew of the lost ship had been picked up. As they were all +more or less connected with the Scarlet Cross Society, Steel took charge +of them and conducted them to London. Giles accompanied Anne to her +mother. The Princess Karacsay received her with open arms, and Olga with +many professions of gratitude. "You have undone all the harm I caused," +said Olga to Giles.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," he replied. "We are friends now?"</p> + +<p>"Friends, and nothing more than friends. I am returning to Vienna with +my mother, and have agreed to marry Count Taroc."</p> + +<p>Satisfied on this point, Giles went back to Rickwell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> leaving Anne to +the society of the Princess. Almost as soon as he set foot in his home +he was informed of the news by Trim.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Franklin is dead," said Trim, with startling abruptness.</p> + +<p>"Dead!" echoed Ware astonished. "Was his broken leg the cause?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the old man; "but yesterday he received a telegram, and +afterwards took a dose of poison. His daughter is coming here to see +you, sir. She heard you were to be here to-day."</p> + +<p>Giles wondered why Portia should come to see him, and also why Denham +should have committed suicide after receiving a telegram. Trim could not +tell him what the telegram was about, so Giles had to wait until the +girl chose to call and enlighten him. Perhaps she had a message for him +from the dead man concerning Anne. Meanwhile Trim went on to state that +Mrs. Morley was leaving Rickwell.</p> + +<p>"She has sold all her furniture and has let The Elms," said Trim. "I saw +Morris yesterday, and he tells me she is stopping at 'The Merry Dancer' +with her children."</p> + +<p>"Does she know of her husband's death?" asked Giles.</p> + +<p>"Death, sir. Is Mr. Morley dead?"</p> + +<p>"I forgot. You do not know. Yes, Trim. He went down in his yacht, <i>The +Dark Horse</i>, in the Bay of Biscay."</p> + +<p>"Poor woman!" said Trim, looking shocked; "she was so fond of him."</p> + +<p>Ware had his own opinion on this point, so made no remark. He turned +over the correspondence that had accumulated during his absence, and +found a letter from Mrs. Morley written a day or so previous. She said +therein that she wished to see him particularly, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> she would +call as soon as he returned. She had something most particular to tell +him. The word "particular" was underlined. Giles wondered if she +intended to tell him some of Morley's rascalities. But then he +remembered that, according to Dane, she knew nothing of the double life +which her husband had led. Anxious to hear what she had to say, he +despatched a note by Trim asking her to come to his house, and offering +to go to the inn, should she prefer their conversation to take place +there. When Trim departed, Giles proceeded to despatch such business +connected with his estates as was necessary.</p> + +<p>Hardly had he been an hour engaged in this way when Portia called to see +him. She had discarded her rainbow-colored garb, and was clothed in +funereal black. When she entered Giles' study he saw that her eyes were +red, and her face swollen with weeping. He felt extremely sorry for the +poor girl, and privately determined to look after her as Denham had +requested. Meantime he did his best to console Portia.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear of your father's death," he said sympathetically. +Portia looked at him indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Why should you say that?" she demanded; "you were not his friend."</p> + +<p>"No. I certainly was not. All the same I cannot help regretting that a +man with such great gifts should have wasted them in the way he did, and +should have put an end to himself."</p> + +<p>"There was nothing else for him to do," said the girl mournfully. "He +was to be taken to gaol as soon as his leg was better. The police could +not move him immediately, or he would have been put in gaol long ago. +But he's dead now, and I'm glad. Whatever you may say of him, Mr. Ware, +he was my father, and good to me. Yes, and he was good to Anne also. +She'll tell you so."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sure he was," answered Giles gently. "Your father had his good +points, Portia. How much of his sad history do you know?"</p> + +<p>"I know he had his faults," she replied doggedly, "and that he was very +badly treated by that beast Morley. I'm glad Morley is dead."</p> + +<p>"How do you know he is?" asked Giles sharply.</p> + +<p>"Father got a telegram yesterday from Steel. Steel promised to let him +know if Morley was caught, as father hated him so. When the telegram +came saying that Morley was drowned, father said that he had nothing +left to live for, and that he was quite pleased to die. Then he sent me +out of the room and took poison. I came back in an hour," sobbed Portia, +"and found him dead. He looked so handsome as a corpse."</p> + +<p>Giles shivered at this morbid speech, but made no comment thereon. He +saw that Portia knew very little, and was determined in her own mind to +know no more. She had elevated her dead father to the rank of a hero, +and would not listen to a word against him. Ware thought there must have +been a great deal of good in Denham, despite his evil career, seeing +that he had gained the good will of both Portia and Anne. But he had no +time to talk further to Portia on these points, as a card was brought in +to him, and he learned that Mrs. Morley was waiting to see him. He said +a few final words to Portia.</p> + +<p>"How do you stand?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Anne will look after me," she answered. "I don't suppose you'll be mean +enough to put her against me."</p> + +<p>"Why should I?" said Giles mildly. "I am only too glad to help you in +any way I can. But this money your father——"</p> + +<p>"That is all right. Father saw Mr. Asher, the lawyer, and has left his +money to Anne, every penny of it. I get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> nothing," cried Portia, with a +fresh burst of grief; "but I do hope Anne will help me. I'm sure I've +always been very good to her, even though she isn't my sister."</p> + +<p>"Did your father tell you she wasn't?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He said she was an adopted child. Though why he should have left +her all, and me nothing——"</p> + +<p>Here Portia wept again.</p> + +<p>Ware saw that Denham had arranged with Asher that her father's money +should pass to Anne. No doubt he had told the lawyer the whole history +of the imposture, and Asher would now take steps to place Anne in +possession of her fortune. But Denham had deceived Portia, probably +because he wished the girl to think well of him after he was dead. Giles +resolved that he would not undeceive the girl.</p> + +<p>"I'll see that things are made easy for you," he said. "Are you still at +the Priory?"</p> + +<p>"There's nowhere else for me to go till I hear from Anne."</p> + +<p>"Anne is in town. I'll write to her, and we'll see what can be done."</p> + +<p>Portia rose to go, but she expressed no thanks for his kindness. "So you +are to marry Anne," she said. "Well, I hope you'll be good to her."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think I shall?"</p> + +<p>Portia, in spite of her grief, tossed her head. "I don't know," she +said; "all men are bad, except my father, who was very, very good," and +she looked defiantly at Giles as though challenging contradiction.</p> + +<p>But Ware was too sorry for the girl to make any harsh remark. He walked +with her to the outer door, and sent her away in a much more cheerful +mood. Then he returned to his study, and found Mrs. Morley already +seated near his desk. She looked ill and worn, but, in strange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> contrast +to her usual custom, wore a colored gown, and evidently had been trying +to dress herself as gaily as possible. She saw the surprised look on +Giles' face, and guessed its meaning.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Ware," she said, plucking at her dress, "you see I have my +holiday clothes on. Even though Oliver has left me, there is no need for +me to go into mourning. No. He has deserted me basely. I am determined +to show the world that I don't care."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Morley, your husband is dead."</p> + +<p>"Dead!" She half started from her chair, but sat down again with a white +face. Then to Giles' horror she began to laugh. He knew that Morley had +been a bad husband to the woman before him, but that she should laugh on +hearing of his death, made him shiver. He hastily explained how Morley +had met with his fate, and Mrs. Morley not only laughed again, but +clapped her gloved hands.</p> + +<p>"Dead!" she said quite gleefully. "Ah! he was lucky to the last."</p> + +<p>Ware thought that the widow must be off her head to talk like this; but +Mrs. Morley was perfectly sane, and her exclamation was perfectly +natural, as he soon learned. She enlightened him in her next speech.</p> + +<p>"Don't you call a man lucky," she said quietly, "who died like my +husband in the clean waves of the sea, instead of being hanged as he +deserved?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the startled Giles.</p> + +<p>"Can't you guess?" She drew a paper out of her pocket. "I came here to +give you that, Mr. Ware. The confession of my wicked husband."</p> + +<p>"Confession?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. You will find it particularly interesting, Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> Ware. It was my +miserable husband who murdered Daisy."</p> + +<p>"Never!" gasped Giles, rising aghast. "He was in the library all the +time. You told——"</p> + +<p>"I know what I told," she answered quickly. "I did so to save my name +from shame; for the sake of my children I lied. Oliver did not deserve +the mercy I showed him. Base to the last he deserted me. Now he is dead. +I am glad to hear it." She paused and laughed. "I shall not change my +dress, Mr. Ware."</p> + +<p>"Don't, Mrs. Morley," he said, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"Not that name, if you please," she said, and noting her card on the +desk she tore it in two. Then opening her case she tore the other cards +and scattered them on the floor. "Mrs. Morley is no more. I am Mrs. +Warton. That is the name of my first husband—my true husband—the +father of my three children. Yes, Mr. Ware, I have sold my furniture, +and let The Elms. To-morrow I leave for the south of France with my +children. I land in France as Mrs. Warton, and the old life is gone for +ever. Can you blame me?"</p> + +<p>"From what I know of Morley I cannot," he stammered. "But what do you +know, Mrs. Mor—I mean Mrs. Warton?"</p> + +<p>"I know everything. Listen, Mr. Ware. When Oliver married me I was in +love with him. I thought he loved me for myself. But it was my money he +was after. Some time after our marriage I found that he was a gambler. +He lost all my money at cards. Fortunately there was a sum of a thousand +a year settled on me which he could not touch, nor was he able to touch +the money left to my children. All the rest (and there was a great deal) +he wheedled out of me and spent."</p> + +<p>"I wonder you did not put an end to him long ago. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> mean I should have +thought you would separate from the scoundrel."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morley sighed. "I loved him," she said in low tones. "It took me +many a long day to stamp that love out of my heart. I did all he wished +me to do. I took The Elms and obtained the guardianship of Daisy. I +never thought that he had any design in getting me to take her to live +with us. I was one of her father's oldest friends and loved the girl. +Morley managed the affair in such a manner that I did what he wished +without knowing I was being coerced."</p> + +<p>"Morley was a very clever man."</p> + +<p>"And a wicked man," said his widow, without emotion. "I can only think +of the way he behaved to me and mine. Daisy always hated him. I could +never get her to like him. I don't know what he said or did to her—he +always seemed to me to treat her with kindness—but she had an antipathy +to him. He thought when she got the Powell money he would do what he +liked with her and it. But when he saw she was hostile to him he +determined then on her murder."</p> + +<p>"You did not know that at the time?" said Giles breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"No. Certainly I did not, or I should have sent the girl away. I am only +talking by the light of recent events. When that man came to tell Morley +about the death of Powell he knew that Daisy would leave the house and +marry you as soon as she got the fortune. He tried to induce Denham when +he was in the library to kill Daisy, and took down the stiletto for that +purpose. Denham refused. Then there was a man called Dane, who came with +a message. Morley asked him likewise to kill the girl, and was likewise +refused. He saw there was nothing for it but to murder Daisy himself. In +a day or so it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> have been too late, as she would hear about the +money and leave the house. Morley took the stiletto and went to the +church in the hope of killing her when she came out and was amidst the +crowd of people. He hoped to escape unobserved."</p> + +<p>"A rash idea!" observed Giles.</p> + +<p>"Oh, its safety lay in its rashness," said the widow coldly. "Well, it +happened that Denham lured Daisy out of the church and did not follow +for some time. Morley looking at the door saw her come out. She waited +for a moment and then walked to her father's grave. Morley followed and +killed her by stabbing her in the back as she knelt in the snow by the +grave. She fell forward with a cry. He would have repeated the blow but +that he saw Denham coming. He fled back to the house. I was in the +library when he arrived. He made some excuse, and I never thought +anything was wrong."</p> + +<p>"Had he the stiletto with him?"</p> + +<p>"I believe he had, but I did not see it. Afterwards he took the stiletto +back to the churchyard and pretended to find it, so that Anne might be +accused. Denham never suspected Morley of the crime. Why, I don't know, +as any one who knew what I have told you about his offers to Denham and +Dane must have guessed that Morley was guilty."</p> + +<p>"How did you learn all this?" asked Giles, glancing at the confession +which was in Morley's own handwriting.</p> + +<p>"At various times. I did not suspect him at first. But one thing led to +another and I watched him. I got at his papers and discovered all about +the Scarlet Cross, and——"</p> + +<p>"Wait, Mrs. Morley—I mean Warton. Did Morley write that anonymous +letter which accused Anne?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He did so, in case it was necessary to kill Daisy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> He hoped by +hinting beforehand that Anne would be accused. It was Anne's foolish +speech to Daisy, saying she would kill her, that gave him the idea. But +she meant nothing by it. It was only a few hot words. However, Morley +used them to his own end. Well, Mr. Ware, I found out about the thieving +gang, and then learned for the first time the kind of man I had married. +My love died out of my heart at once. I took to thinking how I could get +away from him. He used to mutter in his sleep, having an uneasy +conscience."</p> + +<p>"I should think he was too strong a man to have a conscience."</p> + +<p>"Well, he muttered in his sleep at all events. From what he said I +discovered that he had something to do with the death of Daisy. I +accused him, and told him that I knew all about his Scarlet Cross +wickedness. He denied the truth of this at first. Afterwards, little by +little, I got the truth out of him. I then made him write out that +confession and sign it, so that I could save Anne should she be caught. +I promised for the sake of my own name and my children not to use the +confession unless Anne was taken. That is why Morley ran away with Anne. +He fancied that she would continue to bear the blame, and also"—here +Mrs. Wharton hesitated and glanced at Giles—"I fancy that Oliver was in +love with Miss Denham."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel!" cried Giles furiously.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wharton—as she now called herself—laughed coldly and rose to +depart. "I don't think it matters much now," she said. "Anne was not +drowned also, was she?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Ware, shuddering; "she is in London, and I hope shortly to +make her my wife."</p> + +<p>"I wish her all happiness," said Mrs. Wharton, without emotion. "I +always liked Anne, and for her sake I secured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> that confession. That, +when published, will vindicate her character. You need have no +hesitation in showing it to the police and in letting that detective +deal with it as he thinks fit. In a few days I shall be in France under +the name of Mrs. Wharton, and the past will be dead to me. Good-bye." +She held out her hand.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," answered Giles, shaking it heartily. "I trust you will be +happy, Mrs. Wharton."</p> + +<p>"I shall be at peace, if nothing else," she replied, and so passed from +the room, and out of his life.</p> + +<p>Giles showed the confession to Steel, who was delighted that the real +culprit had at last been discovered. But he was sorely disappointed at +the suicide of Denham. "It spoils the case," he said.</p> + +<p>"You are going to bring the matter into court, then," said Giles.</p> + +<p>"Of course. I want some reward for my labor, Mr. Ware. I'll break up +that gang. I must publish this confession in order to save your future +wife from further blame. Not that it will matter much," he added, "for +Miss Denham—I should rather say Miss Franklin—has gone to Styria with +her mother and half-sister."</p> + +<p>"I know," answered Giles quietly. "I join them there in a week."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Ware, I congratulate you, and I hope you'll have a good time. +You deserve it from the way in which you have worked over this case."</p> + +<p>"What about yourself, Steel?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right. Dane, Morley, and Denham are dead, which is a pity, +as they are the chief villains of the play. Still, I'll contrive to +punish those others and get some kudos out of the business. And I must +thank you, Mr. Ware, for that reward."</p> + +<p>"It was Miss Anne's idea," replied Ware. "She will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> soon be put in +possession of her money, and asked me to give you the reward. It is half +from her and half from me."</p> + +<p>"And I believed her guilty," said Steel regretfully; "but I'll make +amends, Mr. Ware. I'll keep her name out of this business as much as I +can, consistently with the evidence."</p> + +<p>Steel was as good as his word. The thieves were tried, but Anne was not +mentioned in connection with their robberies. As regards the murder, the +confession of Morley was made public and every one knew that Anne was +guiltless. In fact, she was applauded for the way in which she had +helped her supposed father to escape. The papers called the whole +episode romantic, but the papers never knew the entire truth, nor that +Anne was the daughter of the Princess Karacsay. Not even Mrs. Parry +learned as much as she should have liked to learn. But what scraps of +information she did become possessed of, she wove into a thrilling story +which fully maintained her reputation as a scandal-monger. And she was +always Anne's friend, being particularly triumphant over the fact that +she had never believed her to be guilty.</p> + +<p>"And I hope," said Mrs. Parry generally, "that every one will believe +what I say in the future;" which every one afraid of her tongue +pretended to do.</p> + +<p>Giles and Anne were married from the castle of Prince Karacsay, in +Styria. The Prince took a great fancy to Anne Franklin, and learned the +truth about her parentage. But this was not made public. It was simply +supposed that she was a young English lady who was the intimate friend +of Princess Olga. But every one was surprised when the elder Princess at +the wedding threw over Anne's neck a magnificent necklace of uncut +emerald.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> "It belonged to your father's mother, dear," whispered the +Princess as she kissed the bride.</p> + +<p>Olga married Count Taroc, and settled down into the meekest of wives. +Giles and Anne heard of the marriage while on their honeymoon in Italy. +They had taken a villa at Sorrento and were seated out on the terrace +when the letter came, Anne expressed herself glad.</p> + +<p>"And you are pleased too, dear," she said to Giles.</p> + +<p>"Very pleased," he replied, with emphasis, whereat she laughed.</p> + +<p>"I know why you are pleased," she said, in answer to his look. "Olga +told me how deeply she was in love with you. But her cure was as quick +as her disease was virulent. She never would have harmed me, my dear. +Olga was always fond of me—and of you."</p> + +<p>Giles flushed and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's all over now," he said, "and I am glad she is married. But +let us talk about yourself. Are you happy after all your troubles, +dearest?"</p> + +<p>"Very happy, Giles. I regret nothing. Portia, thanks to you, is in a +good home. But my poor father——"</p> + +<p>"Don't call Denham that, Anne," he said, with a frown.</p> + +<p>She kissed it away.</p> + +<p>"He was always very good to me," she said. "I tried to save him, as you +know. I believed that he had killed Daisy by some mistake. But really, +Giles, I did not stop to think. I knew that my—I mean Denham—was in +danger of his life, and I could not rest until I had placed him in +safety."</p> + +<p>"And you defended him afterwards, Anne—that time we met in the +churchyard. You quite endorsed his story of the invented Walter +Franklin."</p> + +<p>"Don't reproach me, Giles. I had promised Denham to say what I did; and +not even for your dear sake could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> I break my word. He was a good man in +many ways; but, as you say yourself, it is all over. Let us forget him +and his tragic end."</p> + +<p>"And Morley's."</p> + +<p>Anne shivered. "He was the worst. Oh, what a terrible time I had on +board that boat, when I found he was deceiving me. I thought he was +taking me to Denham, and I wanted to see what he—I mean Denham—would +say to my mother's statement. I thought he might be able to show that he +was not so bad as she——"</p> + +<p>"Not another word," said Ware, taking her in his arms. "Let us leave the +old bad past alone, and live in the present. See"—he took a parcel out +of his pocket—"I have had this made for you."</p> + +<p>Anne opened the package, and found therein the coin of Edward VII. set +as a brooch and surrounded by brilliants.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how delightful!" she said, with a true woman's appreciation of +pretty things.</p> + +<p>"It is the dearest thing in the world to me, save you, Anne," he said. +"Twice that coin brought me to you. But for it I should never have been +by your side now."</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>She kissed the coin again and fastened it at her throat, where it +glittered a pretty, odd ornament.</p> + +<p>"You waste your kisses," cried Giles, and took her to his breast.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="tnbox"> +<p class="center"><strong>Transcriber's Note</strong></p> + +<p class="center">Inconsistencies in spelling have been retained as in the original.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 26063-h.txt or 26063-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/6/26063</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/26063-h/images/cover01.jpg b/26063-h/images/cover01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ee45a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/26063-h/images/cover01.jpg diff --git a/26063-h/images/frontis01.jpg b/26063-h/images/frontis01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e5c35a --- /dev/null +++ b/26063-h/images/frontis01.jpg diff --git a/26063.txt b/26063.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb6d217 --- /dev/null +++ b/26063.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10049 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Coin of Edward VII, by Fergus Hume + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Coin of Edward VII + A Detective Story + + +Author: Fergus Hume + + + +Release Date: July 15, 2008 [eBook #26063] +Most recently updated: May 12, 2010 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Annie McGuire, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 26063-h.htm or 26063-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063/26063-h/26063-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063/26063-h.zip) + + + + + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +by + +FERGUS HUME + + * * * * * * + +Popular Novels by Fergus Hume + + +THE SECRET PASSAGE + +The _Albany Evening Journal_ says: "Fully as interesting as his former +books, and keeps one guessing to the end. The story begins with the +murder of an old lady, with no apparent cause for the crime, and in +unraveling the mystery the author is very clever in hiding the real +criminal. A pleasing romance runs through the book, which adds to the +interest." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE YELLOW HOLLY + +_The Philadelphia Public Ledger_ says: "'The Yellow Holly' outdoes any +of his earlier stories. It is one of those tales that the average reader +of fiction of this sort thinks he knows all about after he has read the +first few chapters. Those who have become admirers of Mr. Hume cannot +afford to miss 'The Yellow Holly.'" 12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +_The Philadelphia Item_ says: "This book is quite up to the level of the +high standard which Mr. Hume has set for himself in 'The Mystery of a +Hansom Cab' and 'The Rainbow Feather.' It is a brilliant, stirring +adventure, showing the author's prodigious inventiveness, his well of +imagination never running dry." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE PAGAN'S CUP + +_The Nashville American_ says: "The plot is intricate with mystery and +probability neatly dovetailed and the solution is a series of surprises +skillfully retarded to whet the interest of the reader. It is +excellently written and the denouement so skillfully concealed that +one's interest and curiosity are kept on edge till the very last. It +will certainly be a popular book with a very large class of readers." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +THE MANDARIN'S FAN + +_The Nashville American_ says: "The book is most attractive and +thoroughly novel in plot and construction. The mystery of the curious +fan, and its being the key to such wealth and power is decidedly +original and unique. Nearly every character in the book seems possible +of accusation. It is just the sort of plot in which Hume is at his best. +It is a complex tangle, full of splendid climaxes. Few authors have a +charm equal to that of Mr. Hume's mystery tales." + +12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25 + + +G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + * * * * * * + +[Illustration: "HE SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN LYING FACE DOWNWARD ON THE +SNOW."--_Page 45._] + +A COIN OF EDWARD VII. + +A Detective Story + +by + +FERGUS HUME + +Author of +"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab"; "The Pagan's Cup"; +"Claude Duval of 95"; "The Rainbow Feather," Etc. + + + + + + + +G. W. Dillingham Company +Publishers New York + +Copyright, 1903, By +G. W. Dillingham Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAP. PAGE + + I. THE CHRISTMAS TREE 7 + + II. AN ANONYMOUS LETTER 16 + + III. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR 26 + + IV. THE CHURCHYARD 37 + + V. AFTERWARDS 46 + + VI. THE CASE AGAINST ANNE 55 + + VII. OLIVER MORLEY 65 + + VIII. THE IRONY OF FATE 74 + + IX. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 84 + + X. ON A FRESH TRAIL 96 + + XI. PRINCESS KARACSAY 106 + + XII. MRS. PARRY'S TEA 118 + + XIII. MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS 129 + + XIV. TREASURE TROVE 139 + + XV. AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW 148 + + XVI. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 159 + + XVII. PART OF THE TRUTH 169 + + XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 180 + + XIX. THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON 190 + + XX. MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP 201 + + XXI. A STORY OF THE PAST 212 + + XXII. OLGA'S EVIDENCE 223 + + XXIII. MARK DANE 233 + + XXIV. A RAT IN A CORNER 245 + + XXV. A CATASTROPHE 259 + + XXVI. THE END OF THE TROUBLE 272 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + +Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger--a +colonial cousin of the elder--was listening eagerly to gossip which +dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in +particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the +children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree, +provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too +interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention. + +"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue +and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none +of his own." + +"But those three pretty little girls?" said Mrs. McKail, who was fat, +fair, and considerably over forty. + +"Triplets," replied the other, sinking her voice. "The only case of +triplets I have met with, but not his children. No, Mrs. Morley was a +widow with triplets and money. Morley married her for the last, and had +to take the first as part of the bargain. I don't deny but what he does +his duty by the three." + +Mrs. McKail's keen grey eyes wander to the fat, rosy little man who +laughingly struggled amidst a bevy of children, the triplets included. +"He seems fond of them," said she, nodding. + +"Seems!" emphasised Mrs. Parry shrewdly. "Ha! I don't trust the man. If +he were all he seems, would his wife's face wear that expression? No, +don't tell me." + +Mrs. Morley was a tall, lean, serious woman, dressed in sober grey. She +certainly looked careworn, and appeared to participate in the +festivities more as a duty than for the sake of amusement. "He is said +to be a good husband," observed Mrs. McKail doubtfully. "Are you sure?" + +"I'm sure of nothing where men are concerned. I wouldn't trust one of +them. Morley is attentive enough to his wife, and he adores the +triplets--so he says; but I go by his eye. Orgy is written in that eye. +It can pick out a pretty woman, my dear. Oh, his wife doesn't look sick +with anxiety for nothing!" + +"At any rate, he doesn't seem attentive to that pretty girl over +there--the one in black with the young man." + +"Girl! She's twenty-five if she's an hour. I believe she paints and puts +belladonna in her eyes. I wouldn't have her for my governess. No, she's +too artful, though I can't agree with you about her prettiness." + +"Is she the governess?" + +Mrs. Parry nodded, and the ribbons on her cap curled like Medusa's +snakes. "For six months Mrs. Morley has put up with her. She teaches the +Tricolor goodness knows what." + +"The Tricolor?" + +"So we call the triplets. Don't you see one is dressed in red, another +in white, and the third in blue? Morley's idea, I believe. As though a +man had any right to interest himself in such things. We call them +collectively the Tricolor, and Anne Denham is the governess. Pretty? No. +Artful? Yes. See how she is trying to fascinate Ware!" + +"That handsome young man with the fair moustache and----" + +"The same," interrupted Mrs. Parry, too eager to blacken character to +give her friend a chance of concluding her sentence. "Giles Ware, of +Kingshart--the head of one of our oldest Essex families. He came into +the estates two years ago, and has settled down into a country squire +after a wild life. But the old Adam is in him, my dear. Look at his +smile--and she doesn't seem to mind. Brazen creature!" And Mrs. Parry +shuddered virtuously. + +The other lady thought that Ware had a most fascinating smile, and was a +remarkably handsome young man of the fair Saxon type. He certainly +appeared to be much interested in the conversation of Miss Denham. But +what young man could resist so beautiful a woman? For in spite of Mrs. +Parry's disparagement Anne was a splendidly handsome brunette--"with a +temper," added Mrs. McKail mentally, as she eyed the well-suited couple. + +Mrs. Parry's tongue still raged like a prairie fire. "And she knows he's +engaged," she snorted. "Look at poor Daisy Kent out in the cold, while +that woman monopolizes Ware! Ugh!" + +"Is Miss Kent engaged to Mr. Ware?" + +"For three years they have been engaged--a family arrangement, I +understand. The late Kent and the late Ware," explained Mrs. Parry, who +always spoke thus politely of men, "were the greatest of friends, which +I can well understand, as each was an idiot. However, Ware died first +and left his estate to Giles. A few months later Kent died and made +Morley the guardian of his daughter Daisy, already contracted to be +married to Giles." + +"Does he love her?" + +"Oh, he's fond of her in a way, and he is anxious to obey the last wish +of his father. But it seems to me that he is more in love with that +black cat." + +"Hush! You will be heard." + +Mrs. Parry snorted. "I hope so, and by the cat herself," she said +grimly. "I can't bear the woman. If I were Mrs. Morley I'd have her out +of the house in ten minutes. Turn her out in the snow to cool her hot +blood. What right has she to attract Ware and make him neglect that dear +angel over there? See, yonder is Daisy. There's a face, there's charm, +there's hair!" finished Mrs. Parry, quite unconscious that she was using +the latest London slang. "I call her a lovely creature." + +Mrs. McKail did not agree with her venomous cousin. Daisy was a +washed-out blonde with large blue eyes and a slack mouth. Under a hot +July sky and with a flush of color she would have indeed been pretty; +but the cold of winter and the neglect of Giles Ware shrivelled her up. +In spite of the warmth of the room, the gaiety of the scene, she looked +pinched and older than her years. But there was some sort of character +in her face, for Mrs. McKail caught her directing a glance full of +hatred at the governess. In spite of her ethereal prettiness, Daisy Kent +was a good hater. Mrs. McKail felt sure of that. "And she is much more +of the cat type than the other one is," thought the observant lady, too +wise to speak openly. + +However, Mrs. Parry still continued to destroy a character every time +she opened her mouth. She called the rector a Papist; hinted that the +doctor's wife was no better than she should be; announced that Morley +owed money to his tradesmen, that he had squandered his wife's fortune; +and finally wound up by saying that he would spend Daisy Kent's money +when he got it. "If it ever does come to her," finished this amiable +person. + +"Did her father leave her money?" asked Mrs. McKail. + +"He!" snapped the other; "my dear, he was as poor as a church mouse, and +left Daisy only a hundred a year to live on. That is the one decent +thing about Morley. He did take Daisy in, and he does treat her well, +though to be sure she is a pretty girl, and, as I say, he has an eye." + +"Then where does the fortune come from?" + +"Kent was a half-brother who went out to America, and it is rumored that +he made a fortune, which he intends to leave to his niece--that's Daisy. +But I don't know all the details of this," added Mrs. Parry, rubbing her +beaky nose angrily; "I must find out somehow. But here, my dear, those +children are stripping the tree. Let us assist. We must give pleasure to +the little ones. I have had six of my own, all married," ended the good +lady irrelevantly. + +She might have added that her four sons and two daughters kept at a safe +distance from their respected parent. On occasions she did pay a visit +to one or the other, and usually created a disturbance. Yet this +spiteful, mischief-making woman read her Bible, thought herself a +Christian, and judged others as harshly as she judged herself leniently. +Mrs. McKail was stopping with her, therefore could not tell her what she +thought of her behavior; but she privately determined to cut short her +visit and get away from this disagreeable old creature. In the meantime +Mrs. Parry, smiling like the wicked fairy godmother with many teeth, +advanced to meddle with the Christmas tree and set the children by the +ears. She was a perfect Ate. + +Giles said as much to Miss Denham, and she nervously agreed with him as +though fearful lest her assent should reach the ears of Mrs. Parry. +"She has no love for me," whispered Anne. "I think you had better talk +to Daisy, Mr. Ware." + +"I prefer to talk to you," said Giles coolly. "Daisy is like her name--a +sweet little English meadow flower--and I love her very dearly. But she +has never been out of England, and sometimes we are at a loss what to +talk about. Now you?" + +"I am a gipsy," interrupted Anne, lest he should say something too +complimentary; "a she-Ulysses, who has travelled far and wide. In spite +of your preference for my conversation, I wish I were Daisy." + +"Do you?" asked Ware eagerly. "Why?" + +Anne flushed and threw back her head proudly. She could not altogether +misunderstand his meaning or the expression of his eyes, but she strove +to turn the conversation with a laugh. "You ask too many questions, Mr. +Ware," she said coldly. "I think Daisy is one of the sweetest of girls, +and I envy her. To have a happy home, a kind guardian as Mr. Morley is, +and a----" She was about to mention Giles, but prudently suppressed the +remark. + +"Go on," he said quietly, folding his arms. + +She shook her head and bit her lip. "You keep me from my work. I must +attend to my duties. A poor governess, you know." With a laugh she +joined the band of children, who were besieging Morley. + +Giles remained where he was, his eyes fixed moodily on the ground. For +more than five months he had fought against an ever-growing passion for +the governess. He knew that he was in honor bound to marry Daisy, and +that she loved him dearly, yet his heart was with Anne Denham. Her +beauty, her brilliant conversation, her charm of manner, all appealed to +him strongly. And he had a shrewd suspicion that she was not altogether +indifferent to him, although she loyally strove to hide her true +feelings. Whenever he became tender, she ruthlessly laughed at him: she +talked constantly of Daisy and of her many charms, and on every occasion +strove to throw her into the company of Giles. She managed to do so on +this occasion, for Giles heard a rather pettish voice at his elbow, and +looked down to behold a flushed face. Daisy was angry, and looked the +prettier for her anger. + +"You have scarcely spoken to me all night," she said, taking his arm; "I +do think you are unkind." + +"My dear, you have been so busy with the children. And, indeed," he +added, with a grave smile, "you are scarcely more than a child yourself, +Daisy." + +"I am woman enough to feel neglect." + +"I apologize--on my knees, dearest." + +"Oh, it's easy saying so," pouted Daisy, "but you know Anne----" + +"What about Miss Denham?" asked Giles, outwardly calm. + +"You like her." + +"She is a very charming woman, but you are to be my wife. Jealous little +girl, can I not be ordinarily civil to Miss Denham without you getting +angry?" + +"You need not be so _very_ civil." + +"I won't speak to her at all if you like," replied Ware, with a fine +assumption of carelessness. + +"Oh, if you only wouldn't," Daisy stopped--then continued passionately, +"I wish she would go away. I don't like her." + +"She is fond of you, Daisy." + +"Yes. And a cat is fond of a mouse. Mrs. Parry says----" + +"Don't quote that odious woman, child," interrupted Ware sharply. "She +has a bad word for everyone." + +"Well, she doesn't like Anne." + +"Does she like anyone?" asked Giles coolly. "Come, Daisy, don't wrinkle +your face, and I'll take you out for a drive in my motor-car in a few +days." + +"To-morrow! to-morrow!" cried Daisy, her face wreathed in smiles. + +"No. I daren't do that on Christmas Day. What would the rector say? As +the lord of the manor I must set an example. On Boxing Day if you like." + +"We will go alone?" + +"Certainly. Who do you expect me to ask other than you?" + +"Anne," said Daisy spitefully, and before he could reply she also moved +away to join the children. Giles winced. He felt that he was in the +wrong and had given his little sweetheart some occasion for jealousy. He +resolved to mend his ways and shun the too fascinating society of the +enchantress. Shaking off his moody feeling, he came forward to assist +Morley. The host was a little man, and could not reach the gifts that +hung on the topmost boughs of the tree. Giles being tall and having a +long reach of arm, came to his aid. + +"That's right, that's right," gasped Morley, his round face red and +shining with his exertions, "the best gifts are up here." + +"As the best gifts of man are from heaven," put in Mrs. Parry, with her +usual tact. + +Morley laughed. "Quite so, quite so," he said, careful as was everyone +else not to offend the lady, "but on this occasion we can obtain the +best gifts. I and Ware and Mrs. Morley have contributed to the tree. The +children have their presents, now for the presents of the grown-ups." + +By this time the children were gorged with food and distracted by many +presents. They were seated everywhere, many on the floor, and the room +was a chaos of dolls, trumpets, toy-horses, and drums. The chatter of +the children and the noise of the instruments was fearful. But Morley +seemed to enjoy the riot, and even his wife's grave face relaxed when +she saw her three precious jewels rosy with pleasure. She drew Anne's +attention to them, and the governess smiled sympathetically. Miss Denham +was popular with everyone save Daisy in that happy home. + +Meantime Giles handed down the presents. Mrs. Morley received a chain +purse from her affectionate husband; Mrs. Parry a silver cream-jug, +which she immediately priced as cheap; Mrs. McKail laughed delightedly +over a cigarette-case, which she admitted revealed her favorite vice; +and the rector was made happy with a motor-bicycle. + +"It has been taken to your house this evening," explained Morley. "We +couldn't put that on the tree. Ha! ha!" + +"A muff-chain for Daisy," said Giles, presenting her with the packet, +"and I hope you will like it, dear." + +"Did you buy it?" she asked, sparkling and palpitating. + +"Of course. I bought presents both for you and Miss Denham. Here is +yours," he added, turning to the governess, who grew rosy, "a very +simple bangle. I wish it were more worthy of your acceptance," and he +handed it with a bow. + +Daisy, her heart filled with jealousy, glided away. Giles saw her face, +guessed her feeling, and followed. In a corner he caught her, and placed +something on her finger. "Our engagement ring," he whispered, and Daisy +once more smiled. Her lover smiled also. But his heart was heavy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +AN ANONYMOUS LETTER + + +After the riot of the evening came the silence of the night. The +children departed amidst the stormy laughter of Morley, and it was +Anne's task to see that the triplets were put comfortably to bed. She +sat in the nursery, and watched the washing and undressing and +hair-curling, and listened to their joyous chatter about the wonderful +presents and the wonderful pleasures of that day. Afterwards, when they +were safely tucked away, she went down to supper and received the +compliments of Morley on her capability in entertaining children. Mrs. +Morley also, and in a more genuine way, added her quota of praise. + +"You are my right hand, Miss Denham," she said, with a smile in her +weary blue eyes. "I don't know what I shall do without you." + +"Oh, Miss Denham is not going," said the master of the house. + +"Who knows?" smiled Anne. "I have always been a wanderer, and it may be +that I shall be called away suddenly." + +It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to ask by whom, but the hardening +of Anne's face and the flash of her dark eyes made him change his mind. +All the same he concluded that there was someone by whom she might be +summoned and guessed also that the obeying of the call would come as an +unwilling duty. Mrs. Morley saw nothing of this. She had not much brain +power, and what she had was devoted to considerations dealing with the +passing hour. At the present moment she could only think that it was +time for supper, and that all present were hungry and tired. + +Hungry Anne certainly was not, but she confessed to feeling weary. +Making some excuse she retired to her room, but not to sleep. When the +door was locked she put on her dressing-gown, shook down her long black +hair, and sat by the fire. + +Her thoughts were not pleasant. Filled with shame at the knowledge of +his treachery towards the woman he was engaged to marry, Giles had kept +close to Daisy's side during supper and afterwards. He strove to +interest himself in her somewhat childish chatter, and made her so happy +by his mere presence that her face was shining with smiles. Transfigured +by love and by gratified vanity, Daisy looked really pretty, and in her +heart was scornful of poor Anne thus left out in the cold. She concluded +that Giles loved her best after all, and did not see how he every now +and then stealthily glanced at the governess wearily striving to +interest herself in the breezy conversation of Morley or the domestic +chatter of his wife. In her heart Anne had felt a pang at this +desertion, although she knew that it was perfectly justifiable, and +unable to bear the sight of Daisy's brilliant face, she retired thus +early. + +She loved Giles. It was no use blinking the fact. She loved him with +every fibre of her nature, and with a passion far stronger than could be +felt for him by the golden-haired doll with the shallow eyes. For Giles +she would have lost the world, but she would not have him lose his for +her. And, after all, she had no right to creep like a serpent into the +Eden of silly, prattling Daisy. In her own puny way the child--for she +was little else--adored Giles, and as he was her affianced lover it +would be base to come between her and her god. But Anne knew in her +heart that Giles loved her best. If she did but lift her hand he would +leave all and follow her to the world's end. But lift her hand she would +not. It would be too cruel to break the butterfly Daisy on such a +painful wheel. Anne loved sufficiently to be large and generous in her +nature, and therefore broke her own heart to spare the breaking of +another woman's. Certainly Giles was as unhappy as she was; that was +patent in his looks and bearing. But he had forged his own chains, and +could not break them without dishonor. And come what may, Giles would +always love her best. + +Anne's meditations were disturbed by a knock at the door. Glancing at +the clock, she saw it was close on midnight, and wondering who wished to +see her at so late an hour, she opened the door. Daisy, in a blue +dressing-gown, with her golden hair loose and her face flushed, entered +the room. She skipped towards Anne with a happy laugh, and threw her +arms round her neck. + +"I could not sleep without telling you how happy I am," she said, and +with a look of triumph displayed the ring. + +Anne's heart beat violently at this visible sign of the barrier between +her and Giles. However, she was too clever a woman to betray her +emotion, and examined the ring with a forced smile. + +"Diamonds for your eyes, rubies for your lips," she said softly. "A very +pretty fancy." + +Daisy was annoyed. She would rather that Anne had betrayed herself by +some rude speech, or at least by a discomposed manner. To make her heart +ache Daisy had come, and from all she could see she had not +accomplished her aim. However, she still tried to wring some sign of +emotion from the expression or lips of the calm governess. + +"Giles promised me a ring over and over again," she said, her eyes fixed +on Anne. "We have been engaged for over six months. He asked me just +before you came, although it was always an understood thing. His father +and mine arranged the engagement, you know. I didn't like the idea at +first, as I wanted to make my own choice. Every girl should, I think. +Don't you?" + +"Certainly," Anne forced herself to say, "but you love Mr. Ware." + +Daisy nodded. "Very, very much," she assented emphatically. "I must have +loved him without knowing it, but I was only certain when he asked me to +marry him. How lucky it is he has to make me his wife!" she sighed. "If +he were not bound----" Here she stopped suddenly, and looked into the +other woman's eyes. + +"What nonsense!" said Anne good-humoredly, and more composed than ever. +"Mr. Ware loves you dearly. You are the one woman he would choose for +his wife. There is no compulsion about his choice, my dear." + +"Do you really think so?" demanded the girl feverishly. "I thought--it +was the ring, you know." + +"What do you mean, Daisy?" + +"He never would give me the ring, although I said it was ridiculous for +a girl to be engaged without one. He always made some excuse, and only +to-night---- But I have him safe now," she added, with a fierce +abruptness, "and I'll keep him." + +"Nobody wants to take him from you, dear." + +"Do you really think so?" said Miss Kent again. "Then why did he delay +giving me the ring?" + +Anne knew well enough. After her first three meetings with Giles she had +seen the love light in his eyes, and his reluctance to bind himself +irrevocably with the ring was due to a hope that something might happen +to permit his choosing for himself. But nothing had happened, the age of +miracles being past, and the vow to his dead father bound him. Therefore +on this very night he had locked his shackles and had thrown away the +key. Anne had made it plain to him that she could not, nor would she, +help him to play a dishonorable part. He had accepted his destiny, and +now Daisy asked why he had not accepted it before. Anne made a feeble +excuse, the best she could think of. + +"Perhaps he did not see a ring pretty enough," she said. + +"It might be that," replied Daisy reflectively. "Giles has such good +taste. You did not show me what he gave you to-night." + +Miss Denham would rather not have shown it, but she had no excuse to +refuse a sight of the gift. Without a word she slipped the bangle from +her wrist--Daisy's jealous eyes noted that she had kept it on till +now--and handed it to the girl. + +"Oh, how sweet and pretty!" she cried, with artificial cordiality. "Just +a ring of gold with a coin attached. May I look?" And without waiting +for permission she ran to the lamp. + +The coin was a half-sovereign of Edward VII., with three stones--a +diamond, an amethyst, and a pearl--set in a triangle. A thin ring of +gold attached it to the bangle. Daisy was not ill pleased that the gift +was so simple. Her engagement ring was much more costly. + +"It's a cheap thing," she said contemptuously. "The coin is quite +common." + +"It will be rare some day," said Anne, slipping the bangle on her wrist. +"The name of the King is spelt on this one 'Edwardus,' whereas in the +Latin it should be 'Edvardus.' I believe the issue is to be called in. +Consequently coins of this sort will be rare some day. It was kind of +Mr. Ware to give it to me." + +Daisy paid no attention to this explanation. "An amethyst, a diamond, +and a pearl," she said. "Why did he have those three stones set in the +half-sovereign?" + +Anne turned away her face, for it was burning red. She knew very well +what the stones signified, but she was not going to tell this jealous +creature. Daisy's wits, however, were made keen by her secret anger, and +after a few moments of thought she jumped up, clapping her hands. + +"I see it--the initials of your name. Amethyst stands for Anne and +Diamond for Denham." + +"It might be so," replied Miss Denham coldly. + +"It is so," said Daisy, her small face growing white and pinched. "But +what does the pearl mean? Ah, that you are a pearl!" + +"Nonsense, Daisy. Go you to bed, and don't imagine things." + +"It is not imagination," cried the girl shrilly, "and you know that +well, Anne. What right have you to come and steal Giles from me?" + +"He is yours," said Anne sharply. "The ring----" + +"Oh, yes, the ring. I have his promise to marry me, but you have his +heart. Don't I know. Give me that bangle." And she stretched out her +hand with a clutching gesture. + +"No," said Anne sternly, "I shall keep my present. Go to bed. You are +overtired. To-morrow you will be wiser." + +"I am wise now--too wise. You have made Giles love you." + +"I have not; I swear I have not," said Anne, beginning to lose her +composure. + +"You have, and you love him; I see it in your face. Who are you to come +into my life and spoil it?" + +"I am a governess. That is all you need to know." + +"You look like a governess," said Daisy, insultingly. "I believe you are +a bad woman, and came here to steal Giles from me." + +"Daisy!"--Anne rose to her feet and walked towards the door--"I have had +quite enough of your hysterical nonsense. If you came here to insult me +in this way, it is time you went. Mr. Ware and I were complete strangers +to one another when I came here." + +"Strangers! And what are you now?" + +"Friends--nothing more, nothing less." + +"So you say; and I daresay Giles would say the same thing did I ask +him." + +Anne's face grew white and set. She seized the foolish, hysterical +little creature by the wrist and shook her. "I'll tell you one thing," +she said softly, and her threat was the more terrible for the softness, +"I have black blood in my veins, for I was born at Martinique, and if +you talk to Giles about me, I'll--I'll--kill you. Go and pray to God +that you may be rid of this foolishness." + +Daisy, wide-eyed, pallid, and thoroughly frightened, fled whimpering, +and sought refuge in her own room. Anne closed the door, and locked it +so as to prevent a repetition of this unpleasant visit. Then she went to +open the window, for the air of the room seemed tainted by the presence +of Daisy. Flinging wide the casement, Anne leaned out into the bitter +air and looked at the wonderful white snow-world glittering in the thin, +chill moonlight. She drew several long breaths, and became more +composed. Sufficient, indeed, to wonder why she had behaved in so +melodramatic a fashion. It was not her custom to so far break through +the conventions of civilization. But the insults of Daisy had stirred in +her that wild negro blood to which she had referred. That this girl who +had all should grudge her the simple Christmas present made Anne +furious. Yet in spite of her righteous anger she could not help feeling +sorry for Daisy. And, after all, the girl's jealousy had some foundation +in truth. Anne had given her no cause, but she could not deny that she +loved Giles and that he loved her. To end an impossible situation there +was nothing for it but flight. + +Next day Anne quite determined to give Mrs. Morley notice, but when she +found that Daisy said nothing about her visit, she decided to remain +silent. Unless the girl made herself impossible, Anne did not see why +she should turn out of a good situation where she was earning excellent +wages. Daisy avoided her, and was coldly polite on such occasions as +they had to speak. Seeing this, Anne forbore to force her company upon +the unhappy girl and attended to her duties. + +These were sufficiently pleasant, for the three children adored her. +They were not clever, but extremely pretty and gentle in their manners. +Mrs. Morley often came to sit and sew in the schoolroom while Anne +taught. She was fond of the quiet, calm governess, and prattled to her +just as though she were a child herself of the perfections of Mr. Morley +and her unhappy early life. For the sake of the children she forbore to +mention the name of their father, who from her account had been a sad +rascal. + +Giles came sometimes to dine, but attended chiefly to Daisy. Anne was +content that this should be so, and her rival made the most of the small +triumph. Indeed, so attentive was Giles that Daisy came to believe she +had been wrong in suspecting he loved the governess. She made no +further reference to Anne, but when Miss Denham was present narrowly +watched her attitude and that of Ware. Needless to say she saw nothing +to awaken her suspicions, for both Giles and Anne were most careful to +hide their real feelings. So far the situation was endurable, but it +could not continue indefinitely. Anne made up her mind to leave. + +On the day before New Year she was wondering what excuse she could make +to get away when an incident happened which set her duty plainly before +her and did away with all necessity for an excuse. It occurred at +breakfast. + +The little man was fond of his meals, and enjoyed his breakfast more +than any other. He had the most wonderful arrangement for keeping the +dishes hot--a rather needless proceeding, as he was invariably punctual. +So were Mrs. Morley and Anne, for breakfast being at nine o'clock they +had no excuse for being late. Nevertheless, Daisy rarely contrived to be +in time, and Morley was much vexed by her persistent unpunctuality. On +this occasion she arrived late as usual, but more cheerful. She ever +greeted Anne with a certain amount of politeness. + +"There's a letter for you," said Morley, "but if you will take my advice +you will leave it until breakfast is over. I never read mine until after +a meal. Bad news is so apt to spoil one's appetite." + +"How do you know the news will be bad?" asked Daisy. + +"Most news is," replied Morley, with a shade on his usually merry face. +"Debts, duns, and difficulties!" and he looked ruefully at the pile of +letters by his plate. "I haven't examined my correspondence yet." + +Anne said nothing, as she was thinking of what arrangement she could +make to get away. Suddenly she and the others were startled by a cry +from Daisy. The girl had opened the letter and was staring at it with a +pale face. Anne half rose from her seat, but Mrs. Morley anticipated +her, and ran round to put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Daisy, what +is the matter?" + +"The--the--letter!" gasped Daisy, with chattering teeth. Then she cast a +look full of terror at the astonished Anne. "She will kill me," cried +the girl, and fell off the chair in a faint. + +Morley hastily snatched up the letter. It was unsigned, and apparently +written in an uneducated hand on common paper. He read it out hurriedly, +while Anne and Mrs. Morley stood amazed to hear its contents. + +"'Honored Miss,'" read Morley slowly, "'this is from a well-wisher to +say that you must not trust the governess, who will kill you, because of +G. W. and the Scarlet Cross.'" + +Anne uttered a cry and sank back into her chair white as the snow out of +doors. "The Scarlet Cross," she murmured, "again the Scarlet Cross." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR + + +Later in the day Mr. Morley called the three women into his library to +have a discussion regarding the strange letter and its stranger +accusation. Daisy had recovered from her faint, but was still pale and +obviously afraid of Anne. The governess appeared perfectly composed, but +her white face was as hard as granite. Both Morley and his wife were +much disturbed, as was natural, especially as at the moment Anne had +refused any explanation. Now Morley was bent on forcing her to speak out +and set Daisy's mind at rest. The state of the girl was pitiable. + +The library was a large square apartment, with three French windows +opening on to a terrace, whence steps led down to a garden laid out in +the stiff Dutch style. The room was sombre with oak and heavy red velvet +hangings, but rendered more cheerful by books, photographs, and +pictures. Morley was fond of reading, and during his ten years' +residence at The Elms had accumulated a large number of volumes. Between +the bookcases were trophies of arms, mediaeval weapons and armor, and +barbaric spears from Africa and the South Seas, intermixed with bows and +clubs. The floor was of polished oak, with here and there a brilliantly +colored Persian praying-mat. The furniture was also of oak, and +cushioned in red Morocco leather. Altogether the library gave evidence +of a refined taste, and was a cross between a monkish cell and a +sybarite's bower. + +"Well, Miss Denham," said Morley, his merry face more than a trifle +serious, "what have you to say?" + +"There is nothing I can say," replied Anne, with composure, "the letter +has nothing to do with me." + +"My dear," put in Mrs. Morley, much distressed, "you cannot take up this +attitude. You know I am your friend, that I have always done my best for +you, and for my sake, if not for Daisy's, you must explain." + +"She won't--she won't," said Daisy, with an hysterical laugh. + +"I would if I could," replied Anne, talking firmly, "but the accusation +is ridiculous. Why should I threaten Daisy?" + +"Because you love Giles," burst out the girl furiously. + +"I do not love Mr. Ware. I said so the other night." + +"And you said more than that. You said that you would kill me." + +"Miss Denham," cried Morley, greatly shocked, "what is this?" + +"A foolish word spoken in a foolish moment," said Anne, realizing that +her position was becoming dangerous. + +"I think so too," said Mrs. Morley, defending her. "It so happened, Miss +Denham, that I overheard you make the speech to Daisy, and I told my +husband about it the next morning. We decided to say nothing, +thinking--as you say now--that it was simply a foolish speech. But this +letter"--she hesitated, then continued quickly, "you must explain this +letter." + +Anne thought for a moment. "I can't explain it. Some enemy has written +it. You know all about me, Mrs. Morley. You read my credentials--you +inquired as to my former situations at the Governess Institute where you +engaged me. I have nothing to conceal in my life, and certainly I have +no idea of harming Daisy. She came to my room and talked nonsense, which +made me lose my temper. I said a foolish thing, I admit, but surely +knowing me as you do you will acquit me of meaning anything by a few +wild words uttered in a hurry and without thought." + +"Why did you make use of such an expression?" asked Morley. + +"Because I was carried out of myself. I have a strain of negro blood in +me, and at times say more than I mean." + +"And your negro blood will make you kill me," cried Daisy, with an +expression of terror. "I am doomed--doomed!" + +"Don't be a fool, child," said Morley roughly. + +"She is a trifle hysterical," explained Mrs. Morley, comforting the +girl, who was sobbing violently. + +"Mr. Morley," said Anne, rising, "I don't know who wrote that letter, or +why it should have been written. Mr. Ware and I are friends, nothing +more. I am not in love with him, nor is he in love with me. He has paid +me no more attention than you have yourself." + +"No, that is true enough," replied Morley, "and as Giles is engaged to +Daisy I don't think he is the man to pay marked attention to another +woman." + +"Ah! Giles is all right," cried Daisy angrily, "but she has tempted +him." + +"I deny that." + +"You can deny what you like. It is true, you know it is true." + +"Daisy! Daisy!" said Morley persuasively, whereupon she turned on him +like a little fury. + +"Don't you defend her. You hate me as much as she does. You are a----" + +"Stop!" said Mrs. Morley, very pale. "Hold your tongue, Daisy. My +husband has treated you in the kindest manner. When your father died you +were left penniless. He took you in, and both he and I have treated you +like our own child. Ungrateful girl, how can you speak so of those who +have befriended you?" + +"I do. I shall. You all hate me!" cried Daisy passionately. "I never +wanted your help. Giles would have married me long ago but for Mr. +Morley. I had no need to live on your charity. I have a hundred a year +of my own. You brought that horrid woman down to steal Giles from me, +and----" + +"Take her away, Elizabeth," said Morley sharply. + +"I'll go of my own accord," cried Daisy, retreating from Mrs. Morley; +"and I'll ask Giles to marry me at once, and take me from this horrid +house. You are a cruel and a wicked man, Mr. Morley, and I hate you--I +hate you! As for you"--she turned in a vixenish manner on Anne--"I hope +you will be put in gaol some day. If I die you will be hanged--hanged!" +And with a stamp of her foot she dashed out of the room, banging the +door. + +"Hysteria," said Morley, wiping his face, "we must have a doctor to see +her." + +"Miss Denham," said the wife, who was weeping at the cruel words of the +girl, "I ask you if Daisy has ever been treated harshly in my house?" + +"No, dear Mrs. Morley, she has always received the greatest kindness +both from you and your husband. She is not herself to-day--that cruel +letter has upset her. In a short time she will repent of her behavior." + +"If she speaks like this to Mrs. Parry, what will happen?" moaned the +poor woman, wringing her hands. + +"I'll have Mrs. Parry in court for libel if she says anything against +us," said Morley fiercely. "The girl is an hysterical idiot. To accuse +her best friends of--pshaw! it's not worth taking notice of. But this +letter, Miss Denham?" + +"I know nothing about it, Mr. Morley." + +"Humph! I wonder if Daisy wrote it herself." + +"Oliver!" cried Mrs. Morley in amazement. + +"Why not? Hysterical girls do queer things at times. I don't suppose +Mrs. Parry wrote it, old scandal-monger as she is. It is a strange +letter. That Scarlet Cross, for instance." He fixed an inquiring eye on +Anne. + +"That is the one thing that makes me think Daisy did not write the +letter. I fancied myself she might have done it in a moment of hysteria +and out of hatred of me, but she could not know anything of the Scarlet +Cross. No one in Rickwell could know of that." + +"The letter was posted in London--in the General Post Office." + +"But why should any one write such a letter about me," said Anne, +raising her hands to her forehead, "and the Scarlet Cross? It is very +strange." + +"What is the Scarlet Cross?" asked Mrs. Morley seriously. + +"I know no more than you do," replied Anne earnestly, "save that my +father sometimes received letters marked with a red cross and on his +watch-chain wore a gold cross enamelled with scarlet." + +"Did your father know what the cross meant?" asked Mrs. Morley. + +"He must have known, but he never explained the matter to me." + +"Perhaps if you asked him now to----" + +"My father is dead," she said in a low voice; "he died a year ago in +Italy." + +"Then this mystery must remain a mystery," said Morley, with a shrug. +"Upon my word, I don't like all this. What is to be done?" + +"Put the letter into the hands of the police," suggested his wife. + +"No," said Morley decisively; "if the police heard the ravings of Daisy, +Heaven knows what they would think." + +"But, my dear, it is ridiculous," said Mrs. Morley indignantly. "We have +always treated Daisy like one of ourselves. We have nothing to conceal. +I am very angry at her." + +"You should rather pity her," said Anne gently, "for she is a prey to +nerves. However, the best thing to be done is for me to leave this +place. I shall go after the New Year." + +"I'm sure I don't know what the children will do without you," sighed +the lady; "they are so fond of you, and I never had any governess I got +on better with. What will you do?" + +"Get a situation somewhere else," said Anne cheerfully, "abroad if +possible; but I have become a bugbear to Daisy, and it is best that I +should go." + +"I think so too, Miss Denham, although both my wife and I are extremely +sorry to lose you." + +"You have been good friends to me," said Miss Denham simply, "and my +life here has been very pleasant; but it is best I should go," she +repeated, "and that letter, will you give me a copy, Mr. Morley?" + +"Certainly, but for what reason?" + +"I should like to find out who wrote it, and why it was written. It +will be a difficult matter, but I am curious to know who this enemy of +mine may be." + +"Do you think it is an enemy?" asked Mrs. Morley. + +Anne nodded. "And an enemy that knows something about my father's life," +she said emphatically, "else why was mention made about the Scarlet +Cross? But I'll learn the truth somehow, even if I have to employ a +detective." + +"You had much better leave the matter alone and get another situation, +Miss Denham," said Morley sagely. "We will probably hear no more of +this, and when you go the matter will fade from Daisy's mind. I'll send +her away to the seaside for a week, and have the doctor to see her." + +"Dr. Tait shall see her at once," said Mrs. Morley, with more vigor than +was usual with her. "But about your going, Miss Denham, I am truly +sorry. You have been a good friend to me, and the dear children do you +credit. I hope we shall see you again." + +"When Daisy is married, not before," replied Anne firmly; "but I will +keep you advised of my address." + +After some further conversation on this point the two women left the +library. Daisy had shut herself in her room, and thither went Mrs. +Morley. She managed to sooth the girl, and gave her a sedative which +calmed her nerves. When Daisy woke from sleep somewhere about five she +expressed herself sorry for her foolish chatter, but still entertained a +dread and a hatred of Anne. The governess wisely kept out of the way and +made her preparations for departure. As yet the children were not told +that they were to lose her. Knowing what their lamentations would be +like, Mrs. Morley wisely determined to postpone that information till +the eleventh hour. + +There was to be a midnight service at the parish church in honor of the +New Year, and Anne determined to go. She wanted all the spiritual help +possible in her present state of perplexity. The unhappy love that +existed between her and Giles, the enmity of Daisy, the anxiety of the +anonymous letter--these things worried her not a little. She received +permission from Mrs. Morley to go to the midnight service. + +"But be careful Daisy does not see you," said she anxiously. + +"Is Daisy going also?" + +"Yes. Giles is coming to take her in his motor-car." + +"I hope she will say nothing to him about the letter." + +"I'll see to that. She is much quieter and recognizes how foolish she +has been. It will be all right." + +Morley was much upset by the state of affairs. But a few days before and +life had been all plain sailing, now there was little else but trouble +and confusion. His ruddy face was pale, and he had a careworn +expression. For the most part of the day he remained in his library and +saw no one. Towards the evening he asked his wife not to bring the +triplets to the library as usual, as he had to see some one on business. +Who it was he refused to say, and Mrs. Morley, having no curiosity, did +not press the question. + +After dinner the visitor arrived--a tall man muffled in a great-coat +against the cold, and wearing a thick white scarf round his throat. He +was shown into the library and remained with Mr. Morley till after nine. +About that time Anne found occasion to go into the library in search of +a book. She had not heard the prohibition of Morley, and did not +hesitate to enter without knocking, supposing that no one was within. + +Meantime Daisy dressed herself very carefully in expectation of Ware's +arrival. He was to take her for a ride in his motor before Church, and +then they were to go to the service together. There was plenty of snow +on the ground, but the nights were always bright with moonlight. Daisy +had a fancy for a moonlight ride, and Giles was willing to humor her. +She expected him about ten, and descended shortly after nine to watch +for him from the drawing-room window. + +Outside it was almost as light as day, and the white sheet of snow threw +back a reflection of the moonlight. Daisy gazed eagerly down the avenue, +where the leafless trees rocked in the cutting wind. Unexpectedly she +saw a tall man come round the corner of the house and walk swiftly down +the avenue. She knew from Mrs. Morley that there was a visitor in the +library, and wondered why he had elected to leave by the window, as he +must have done to come round the house in this way. Being curious, she +thought she would tell Mr. Morley of what she had seen, and went in +search of him. + +At the door of the library she had just laid her hand on the handle when +it suddenly opened, and Anne came out. Her face was white and drawn, her +eyes were filled with fear, and she passed the astonished girl in a +blind and stumbling fashion as though she did not see her. Daisy saw her +feebly ascend the stairs, clutching the banisters. Wondering at this, +Miss Kent entered the room. Morley was standing by the window--the +middle window--looking out. It was open. He started and turned when +Daisy entered, and she saw that he was perturbed also. + +"What is the matter?" she asked, coming forward. + +"Nothing. What should be the matter?" + +Morley spoke shortly and not in a pleasant tone. "I thought that Anne, +that Miss Denham, looked ill," said Daisy. + +"Don't you think you had better leave Miss Denham alone, Daisy, seeing +the mischief you have caused? She has been weeping herself blind here." + +"Well, that letter----" + +"Oh, that letter is rubbish!" interrupted Morley scornfully. "Miss +Denham is a simple, kind woman, and you should take no notice of +anonymous correspondence. However, she is going away to-morrow. I have +just paid her her wages." + +"I am glad she is going," said Miss Kent doggedly; "I am afraid of her. +You think she is an angel; I don't." + +"I don't think anything about her; but I do think you are a very +hysterical girl, and have caused a great deal of unnecessary trouble. +Miss Denham is not in love with Ware, and it is only your absurd +jealousy that would accuse her of such a thing. Besides, this morning +you behaved very badly to my wife and myself. You must go away for a +time till we can get over your ungrateful words and conduct." + +"I am very sorry," said Daisy humbly, "but it was Anne who disturbed me, +and that letter. I was afraid." + +"Then you admit that we have behaved well?" + +"You are my best friends." + +"Thank you. And now may I ask what you want?" + +"I came to tell you that I am going to church. I thought you were +engaged." + +"So I was; but my visitor is gone." + +"I know; he went out by that window. I saw him going down the avenue. +Who is he?" + +"A friend of mine. That is all you need to know. Did you think it was +some one who had to do with the anonymous letter?" + +"No, no!" Daisy seemed to be thoroughly ashamed of herself. "But you +must admit that the letter was strange." + +"So strange that you had better say nothing about it. Don't mention it +to Giles." + +"Why not?" + +"Because I will find occasion to tell him myself. I at least will be +able to explain without showing jealousy of poor Miss Denham." + +"I won't say anything," replied Daisy, with a toss of her head, "but you +are all mad about Anne Denham. I don't believe she is a good woman. What +is the matter with her now? She seems ill." + +"For Heaven's sake don't ask me any further questions," said Morley +irritably. "What with your conduct of this morning and other things with +which you have no concern I am worried out of my life." + +Daisy took the hint and walked away. When she got outside the library +she came to the conclusion that Morley's visitor was a bailiff, and that +was why he had been shown out by the window. Decidedly her guardian was +in a bad way financially speaking. + +"I shall marry Giles and get away from them all," said the grateful +Daisy. "They may be sold up, and my hundred a year will not keep me. +What a mercy that Giles is so rich and loves me! No, he does not love +me," she said vehemently to herself. "It is that woman. But he is +engaged to me, and I'll marry him if only to spite her." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CHURCHYARD + + +To Daisy that drive in the motor-car was like an exquisite dream. Her +frivolous, shallow soul was awed by the vast white waste gleaming +mysteriously in the moonlight as the car sped like a bird along the +silent roads. There was not a cloud in a sky that shone like tempered +steel; and amidst the frosty glitter of innumerable stars the hard moon +looked down on an enchanted world. With Giles' hand on the steering gear +and Daisy beside him wrapped in a buffalo rug, the machine flew over the +pearly whiteness with the skimming swiftness of the magic horse. For the +first time in her life Daisy felt what flying was like, and was content +to be silent. + +Giles was well pleased that the Great Mother should still her restless +tongue for the moment. He was doing his duty and the will of his dead +father, but his heart ached when he thought of the woman who should be +by his side. Oh that they two could undertake this magical journey +together, silent and alone in a silent and lonely world. He made no +inquiries for Anne, and Daisy said nothing. Only when the car was +humming along the homeward road to land them at the church did she open +her mouth. The awe had worn off, and she babbled as of old in the very +face of this white splendor. + +"Anne's going away," she said abruptly. + +For the life of him Giles could not help starting, but he managed to +control his voice and speak carelessly. "Ah, and how is that?" he asked, +busy with the wheel. + +"She is going to-morrow. I suppose she is tired of the dull life here." + +"I expect she is," replied Ware curtly. + +"Are you sorry?" + +Giles felt that she was pushing home the point and that it behooved him +to be extra careful. "Yes, I am sorry," he said frankly. "Miss Denham is +a most interesting woman." + +"Does that mean----" + +"It means nothing personal, Daisy," he broke in hastily; then to change +the subject, "I hope you have enjoyed the ride." + +"It is heavenly, Giles. How good of you to take me!" + +"My dear, I would do much more for you. When we are married we must tour +through England in this way." + +"You and I together. How delightful! That is if you will not get tired +of me." + +"I am not likely to get tired of such a charming little woman." + +Then he proceeded to pay her compliments, while his soul sickened at the +avidity with which she swallowed them. He asked himself if it would not +be better to put an end to this impossible state of things by telling +her he was in love with Anne. But when he glanced at the little fragile +figure beside him, and noted the delicacy and ethereal look in her face, +he felt that it would be brutal to destroy her dream of happiness at the +eleventh hour. Of himself he tried to think not at all. So far as he +could see there was no happiness for him. He would have to go through +life doing his duty. And Anne--he put the thought of her from him with a +shudder. + +"What is the matter, Giles? Are you cold?" asked Daisy. + +"No; I expect a white hare is loping over my grave." + +"Ugh! Don't talk of graves," said Daisy, with a nervous expression. + +"Not a cheerful subject, I confess," said Giles, smiling, "and here we +are in the very thick of them," he added, as the motor slowed down +before the lych-gate. + +Daisy looked at the innumerable tombstones which thrust themselves up +through the snow and shivered. "It's horrible, I think. Fancy being +buried there!" + +"A beautiful spot in summer. Do you remember what Keats said about one +being half in love with death to be buried in so sweet a place?" + +"Giles," she cried half hysterically, "don't talk like that. I may be +dead and buried before you know that a tragedy has occurred. The cards +say that I am to die young." + +"Why, Daisy, what is the matter?" + +She made no reply. A memory of the anonymous letter and its threat came +home vividly to her as she stepped inside the churchyard. Who knew but +what within a few days she might be borne through that self-same gate in +her coffin? However, she had promised to say nothing about the letter, +and fearful lest she should let slip some remark to arouse the +suspicions of Giles, she flew up the path. + +Already the village folk were thronging to the midnight service. The +bells were ringing with a musical chime, and the painted windows of the +church glittered with rainbow hues. The organist was playing some +Christmas carol, and the waves of sound rolled out solemnly on the +still air. With salutation and curtsey the villagers passed by the young +squire. He waited to hand over his car to his servant, who came up at +the moment, breathless with haste. "Shall I wait for you, sir?" + +"No, take the car to the inn, and make yourself comfortable. In an hour +you can return." + +Nothing loth to get indoors and out of the bitter cold, the man drove +the machine, humming like a top, down the road. The sky was now clouding +over, and a wind was getting up. As Giles walked into the church he +thought there was every promise of a storm, and wondered that it should +labor up so rapidly considering the previous calm of the night. However, +he did not think further on the matter, but when within looked around +for Daisy. She was at the lower end of the church staring not at the +altar now glittering with candles, but at the figure of a woman some +distance away who was kneeling with her face hidden in her hands. With a +thrill Giles recognized Anne, and fearful lest Daisy should be jealous +did he remain in her vicinity, he made his way up to his own pew, which +was in the lady chapel near the altar. Here he took his seat and strove +to forget both the woman he loved and the woman he did not love. But it +was difficult for him to render his mind a blank on this subject. + +The organ had been silent for some time, but it now recommenced its +low-breathed music. Then the choir came slowly up the aisle singing +lustily a Christmas hymn. The vicar, severe and ascetic, followed, his +eyes bent on the ground. When the service commenced Giles tried to pay +attention, but found it almost impossible to prevent his thoughts +wandering towards the two women. He tried to see them, but pillars +intervened, and he could not catch a glimpse of either. But his gaze +fell on the tall figure of a man who was standing at the lower end of +the church near the door. He was evidently a stranger, for his eyes +wandered inquisitively round the church. In a heavy great-coat and with +a white scarf round his throat, he was well protected against the cold. +Giles noted his thin face, his short red beard, and his large black +eyes. His age was probably something over fifty, and he looked ill, +worried, and worn. Wondering who he was and what brought him to such an +out-of-the-way place as Rickwell at such a time, Giles settled himself +comfortably in his seat to hear the sermon. + +The vicar was not a particularly original preacher. He discoursed +platitudes about the coming year and the duties it entailed on his +congregation. Owing to the length of the sermon and the lateness of the +hour, the people yawned and turned uneasily in their seats. But no one +ventured to leave the church, although the sermon lasted close on an +hour. It seemed as though the preacher would never leave off insisting +on the same things over and over again. He repeated himself twice and +thrice, and interspersed his common-place English with the lordly roll +of biblical texts. But for his position, Giles would have gone away. It +was long over the hour, and he knew that his servant would be waiting in +the cold. When he stood up for the concluding hymn he craned his head +round a pillar to see Daisy. She had vanished, and he thought that like +himself she had grown weary of the sermon, but more fortunate than he, +she had been able to slip away. Anne's place he could not see and did +not know whether she was absent or present. + +Giles wondered for one delicious moment if he could see her before she +left the church. Daisy, evidently wearied by the sermon, had gone home, +there was no one to spy upon him, and he might be able to have Anne all +to himself for a time. He could then ask her why she was going, and +perhaps force her to confess that she loved him. But even as he thought +his conscience rebuked him for his treachery to Daisy. He fortified +himself with good resolutions, and resolved not to leave his seat until +the congregation had dispersed. Thus he would not be tempted by the +sight of Anne. + +The benediction was given, the choir retired with a last musical "Amen," +and the worshippers departed. But Giles remained in his seat, kneeling +and with his face hidden. He was praying for a strength he sorely needed +to enable him to forget Anne and to remain faithful to the woman whom +his father had selected to be his wife. Not until the music of the organ +ceased and the verger came to extinguish the altar candles did Giles +venture to go. But by this time he thought Anne would surely be well on +her homeward way. He would return to his own place as fast as his motor +could take him, and thus would avoid temptation. At the present moment +he could not trust to his emotions. + +Outside the expected storm had come on, and snow was falling thickly +from a black sky. The light at the lych-gate twinkled feebly, and Giles +groped his way down the almost obliterated pathway quite alone, for +every one else had departed. He reached the gate quite expecting to find +his motor, but to his surprise it was not there. Not a soul was in +sight, and the snow was falling like meal. + +Giles fancied that his servant had dropped asleep in the inn or had +forgotten the appointed hour. In his heart he could not blame the man, +for the weather was arctic in its severity. However, he determined to +wend his way to the inn and reprove him for his negligence. Stepping out +of the gate he began to walk against the driving snow with bent head, +when he ran into the arms of a man who was running hard. In the light +of the lamp over the gate he recognized him as Trim, his servant. + +"Beg pardon, sir, I could not get here any sooner. The car----" The man +stopped and stared round in amazement. "Why, sir, where's the machine?" +he asked, with astonishment. + +"In your charge, I suppose," replied Ware angrily. "Why were you not +here at the time I appointed?" + +"I was, begging your pardon, sir," said Trim hotly; "but the lady told +me you had gone to see Miss Kent back to The Elms and that you wanted to +see me. I left the car here in charge of the lady and ran all the way to +The Elms; but they tell me there that Miss Daisy hasn't arrived and that +nothing has been seen of you, sir." + +Ware listened to this explanation with surprise. "I sent no such +message," he said; "and this lady, who was she?" + +"Why, Miss Denham, sir. She said she would look after the car till I +came back, and knowing as she was a friend of yours, sir, I thought it +was all right." Trim stared all round him. "She's taken the car away, I +see, sir." + +The matter puzzled Giles. He could not understand why Anne should have +behaved in such a manner, and still less could he understand why the car +should have disappeared. He knew well that she could drive a motor, for +he had taught her himself; but that she should thus take possession of +his property and get rid of his man in so sly a way perplexed and +annoyed him. He and Trim stood amidst the falling snow, staring at one +another, almost too surprised to speak. + +Suddenly they heard a loud cry of fear, and a moment afterward an +urchin--one of the choir lads--came tearing down the path as though +pursued by a legion of fiends. Giles caught him by the collar as he ran +panting and white-faced past him. + +"What's the matter?" he asked harshly. "Why did you cry out like that? +Where are you going?" + +"To mother. Oh, let me go!" wailed the lad. "I see her lying on the +grave. I'm frightened. Mother! mother!" + +"Saw who lying on the grave?" + +"I don't know. A lady. Her face is down in the snow, and she is +bleeding. I dropped the lantern mother gave me and scudded, sir. Do let +me go! I never did it!" + +"Did what?" Giles in his nervous agitation shook the boy. + +"Killed her! I didn't! She's lying on Mr. Kent's grave, and I don't know +who she is." + +He gave another cry for his mother and tried to get away, but Giles, +followed by Trim, led him up the path. "Take me to the grave," he said +in a low voice. + +"I won't!" yelped the lad, and tearing his jacket in his eagerness to +escape, he scampered past Trim and out of the gate like a frightened +hare. Giles stopped for a moment to wipe his perspiring forehead and +pass his tongue over his dry lips, then he made a sign to Trim to +follow, and walked rapidly in the direction of Mr. Kent's grave. He +dreaded what he should find there, and his heart beat like a +sledge-hammer. + +The grave was at the back of the church, and the choir boy had evidently +passed it when trying to take a short cut to his mother's cottage over +the hedge. The snow was falling so thickly and the night was so dark +that Giles wondered how the lad could have seen any one on the grave. +Then he remembered that the lad had spoken of a lantern. During a lull +in the wind he lighted a match, and by the blue glare he saw the lantern +almost at his feet, where the boy had dropped it in his precipitate +flight. Hastily picking this up, he lighted the candle with shaking +fingers and closed the glass. A moment later, and he was striding +towards the grave with the lantern casting a large circle of light +before him. + +In the ring of that pale illumination he saw the tall tombstone, and +beneath it the figure of a woman lying face downward on the snow. Trim +gave an exclamation of astonishment, but Giles set his mouth and +suppressed all signs of emotion. He wondered if the figure was that of +Anne or of Daisy, and whether the woman, whomsoever she was, was dead or +alive. Suddenly he started back with horror. From a wound under the left +shoulder-blade a crimson stream had welled forth, and the snow was +stained with a brilliant red. The staring eyes of the groom looked over +his shoulder as he turned the body face upwards. Then Giles uttered a +cry. Here was Daisy Kent lying dead--murdered--on her father's grave! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AFTERWARDS + + +Never before had any event created such a sensation in the village of +Rickwell. From the choir boy and his mother the news quickly spread. +Also Giles had to call in the aid of the rector to have the body of the +unfortunate girl carried to The Elms. In a short time the churchyard was +filled with wondering people, and quite a cortege escorted the corpse. +It was like the rehearsal of a funeral procession. + +Mrs. Morley had gone to bed, thinking the two girls might be reconciled +in church and come home together. Her husband, not so sanguine, had +remained in the library till after midnight, ready to play the part of +peace-maker should any fracas occur. He appeared in the hall when poor +dead Daisy was carried through the door, and stared in surprise at the +spectacle. + +"Great heavens!" he cried, coming forward, his ruddy face pale with +sudden emotion. "What is all this?" + +Giles took upon himself the office of spokesman, which the rector, +remembering that he had been engaged to the deceased, tacitly delegated +to him. + +"It's poor Daisy," he said hoarsely. "She has been--" + +"Murdered! No. Don't say murdered!" + +"Yes, we found her lying on her father's grave, dead; a knife-thrust +under the left shoulder-blade. She must have died almost +instantaneously." + +"Dead!" muttered Morley, ghastly white. And he approached to take the +handkerchief from the dead face. "Dead!" he repeated, replacing it. Then +he looked at the haggard face of Ware, at the silent group of men and +the startled women standing in the doorway, where the rector was keeping +them back. + +"Where is her murderess?" he asked sharply. + +"Murderess!" repeated Giles angrily. "What do you mean?" + +"Mean? Why, that Miss Denham has done this, and----" + +"You are mad to say such a thing." + +"I'll tax her with it to her face. Where is she? Not at home, for I have +been waiting to see her." + +"She's run way on Mr. Ware's motor-car," volunteered Trim, only to be +clutched violently by his master. + +"Don't say that, you fool. You can't be sure of that, Mr. Morley," he +added, turning to the scared man. "Make no remark about this until we +can have a quiet talk about it." + +"But I say----" + +"You can say it to the police officer in the morning." + +"She'll have escaped by that time," whispered Trim to his master. + +Giles saw the danger of Anne--supposing her to be guilty, as the groom +thought her--and made up his mind at once. + +"Go home, Trim, and saddle a couple of horses. We'll follow the track of +the car, and when we find it----" + +"You'll never find it," put in Morley, who had been listening with all +his ears. "The falling snow must have obliterated any wheel-marks by +this time. When did this occur?" + +"I don't know," replied Giles coldly. "And instead of chattering there, +you had better have the--the--" he stammered, "the body taken into some +room and attended to. Poor Daisy," he sighed, "what an end to your +bright young life!" + +Here Mr. Drake, the rector, thought it necessary to assert himself, and +waved aside the throng. + +"All you men and women, go to your homes," he said. "Nothing can be done +to-night, and----" + +"The car might be followed," said a voice. + +"And the car will be followed," said Giles, pushing his way to the door. +"Come, Trim, we'll ride at once. Did no one see the car pass out of the +village?" + +No one had seen it, as most of the villagers had been inside the church +and the rest in their homes. + +There was some talk and suggestions, but Ware, with a nod to Morley, +took a hasty departure and disappeared into the stormy night. + +"He might track the car," said the rector. + +"He won't," replied Morley bitterly; "he'll lead Trim on a wrong scent. +He liked Miss Denham too well to let her drop into the hands of the +police." + +"Then you really think she did it?" asked Drake, horrified. + +"I am perfectly certain," was the reply. "Come into the library, and +I'll show you what evidence I have." + +Meantime the hall was cleared of the eager listeners, and all present +went to their homes less to sleep than to argue as to the guilt or +innocence of Anne. The body of the girl was taken to her bedroom, and +poor scared Mrs. Morley, roused from her bed to face this tragedy, did +all that was needful, assisted by two old women, who remained behind to +offer their services. This was all that could be done till dawn, and +Mrs. Morley, thinking of the dead Daisy and the missing Anne, wept till +the first streaks of daylight. As yet her limited understanding could +not grasp the horror of the thing. + +Morley conducted Mr. Drake to the library. He related how his wife had +heard Anne threaten to kill Daisy, produced the anonymous letter, +detailed Daisy's accusation that the governess was in love with Ware, +and finally pointed out the damning fact of the flight. The rector was +quite convinced by this reasoning that Anne was guilty. + +"And now I come to think of it," he said, stroking his shaven chin, +"Miss Kent was in church." + +"Yes, so was Miss Denham; but I don't think they sat together, as they +were on the worst possible terms. Did you see Daisy?" + +Drake nodded. "She went out when I was half-way through my sermon. I +remember that I felt a little annoyed that she should leave when I was +doing my best to inculcate good habits for the year in my congregation. +She must have gone to pray at her father's grave, and there----" Drake +stopped with sudden terror in his eyes. + +"And there Miss Denham stabbed her. Ware said the wound was beneath the +left shoulder-blade. That looks as though Daisy was struck from behind. +I can see it all," cried Morley, with a shudder. "The poor child praying +by her father's grave, and the stealthy approach of that woman armed +with a----" + +"Ah!" interposed Drake, "there you are. We have not yet found the +weapon; and after all, Morley, the evidence is purely circumstantial. We +do not know for certain that Miss Denham is the guilty person." + +"Why did she fly, then?" demanded Morley fiercely. "If she were +innocent--if she had not left the church until the others did--she would +have returned, and now been in bed. But from what Trim says she fled on +Ware's motor-car." + +"Humph! She can't get far on that. Such a night, too." + +And the rector walked to the window to watch the still falling snow. + +Morley shook his head. "Miss Denham knows the country for miles and +miles, and Ware taught her how to drive the motor. I shouldn't be +surprised if she got away after all, in spite of the weather." + +Drake looked uneasy, and placed himself before the fire with a shiver. +He rather admired Miss Denham, and could not yet bring himself to +believe that she was guilty. Even if she were, he cherished a secret +hope that she might escape the police. It was terrible to think that one +woman should be dead, but it was more awful to look forward to the +trial, condemnation, and hanging of the other. + +"I blame Ware a good deal for this," continued Morley gloomily. "He +openly admired Miss Denham, and encouraged her to flirt with him. A rash +thing to do to one who has negro blood in her veins. I expect passion +carried her beyond herself." + +"How do you know she has negro blood?" + +"She said so herself." + +"Did you know that when you engaged her?" + +"I never engaged her at all, Drake. My wife did. I must say that Miss +Denham's credentials were good. She had been governess in an Italian +family, and ha!----" He stopped suddenly, and started up. "In Italy she +might have procured a stiletto. From the nature of the wound--which is +small and deep--I should think it was inflicted with such a weapon." + +"How do you know that the wound is small and deep?" + +"My wife told me when she came to the door that time. You did not hear +her. She says the wound is quite small. In that case it must be deep, or +the death would not have occurred so suddenly." + +Drake shook his head. "We don't know that it did occur suddenly." + +Morley contradicted this angrily. "If Daisy had not died at once she +would have had time to shriek, and the cry would have been heard in the +church." + +"I doubt it. The people were deeply interested in my sermon." + +The other man shrugged his shoulders. It was scarcely worth while +arguing this point with the rector. He relapsed into a brown study, +until roused to reply to a question asked by his guest. + +"Have you ever seen a stiletto?" asked Drake. + +"I have one here," replied Morley, running his eye along the wall; "one +that I got in Italy myself. It was said to have belonged to Lucrezia +Borgia. I wonder where it is." + +"Rather difficult to discover it amidst all these weapons, Mr. Morley. +Good heavens! what is the matter?" + +He might well ask. His host was clutching his arm in a vice-like hold, +and was pointing to a certain part of the wall whereon hung a pair of +ancient pistols, a crusader's shield, and an old helmet. + +"The stiletto was there. It is gone!" gasped Morley. + +"Impossible. Who can have taken it?" + +"Miss Denham! Miss Denham! Oh, and you believe her to be innocent!" +cried the other. "She came into this very room at nine o'clock, or a +little after. I was outside on the terrace seeing a visitor off. She +was alone in the room for a time. She must have taken the weapon." + +"No, no; why should she have?" + +"Because she intended to murder my poor Daisy. It was all arranged in +her black heart. Drake," he added solemnly, "I have done my best to +believe that woman innocent. I defended her against Daisy, and my wife +defended her also. We tried to believe that she had no ill intention, +and see--see what comes of it. She steals the stiletto, and kills the +child in the most brutal manner. I swear to hunt her down. I swear----!" + +The rector caught down the uplifted hand which Morley was raising to the +heavens. "Be yourself," he said sternly; "there is no need for a man to +call upon God to witness a blood-thirsty oath. If the woman is guilty, +let her be punished. But give her the benefit of the doubt. Appearances +are against her, I admit. All the same, she may be able to prove her +innocence." + +"You might as well talk to the wind as to me. She is a murderess; I'll +do my best to have her hanged." + +Morley spoke with such vehemence that Drake looked closely at him. He +wondered if the man had any grudge against Anne Denham that he spoke of +her with such bitterness. Certainly her crime was a terrible one, and +she deserved to be condemned. But it would only be fair that she should +be first tried. Morley, on the contrary, had already judged her, without +waiting to hear what she had to say in her own favor. + +"Well, Mr. Morley, there is nothing more to be said," he remarked +coldly, for he disliked this melodrama; "we must wait till the police +come in the morning. Meanwhile I shall go to my home and get some +sleep." + +"I can't sleep with that in the house," replied Morley, abruptly rising; +"I'll go with you." + +"Where?" + +"To the churchyard--to the grave. I intend to look for the weapon. It +may have been left there--tossed aside by the assassin after the crime." + +"But the night is dark--the snow is falling. You will not be able to do +anything. Be advised, and----" + +"No. I'll come with you now. If I find nothing, it is all the better for +her. If I do----" He shook his hand again fiercely. + +Drake argued no longer, seeing that the man's brain was in such a state +that it was best to humor him. They went out together, but at the +church-gate Drake excused himself and retired to his home. He had no +wish to see Morley groping amongst the graves like a ghost. Pausing +until the little man disappeared into the gloom, the rector went to his +house, wondering at the sudden change in Morley's character. He had been +a light-hearted and rather frivolous creature; fond of gaiety and +overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Now he was fierce and +savage enough for a Caliban. "He must have loved that poor girl very +dearly," sighed Drake, "but I can't believe that such a charming woman +as Miss Denham committed so cruel a crime. There is some mystery about +this," and in this last speech he was right. There was a mystery about +the death, and a much deeper one than a shallow man like the rector +could fathom. + +All through the long night Mrs. Morley watched by the dead. She had +placed candles on either side of the bed, and laid a cross on the poor +child's breast. Drake was quite shocked when he saw this Papistical +arrangement. But it afterwards came out that Mrs. Morley had been +educated in a convent, and had imbibed certain notions of the Romish +ritual for the dead that, her memory reviving, made her act thus, in +spite of her openly confessed belief in the communion of the English +Church. While she was thus sitting and weeping, Morley looked in. He was +wild and haggard, but in his eyes glared a triumphant expression which +terrified his wife. She did not dare to move. He crossed the room, and +looked at the body. "You shall be avenged, my dear," he said solemnly, +and before Mrs. Morley could recover from her surprise and denounce this +ill-chosen moment for a visit, he wheeled round and disappeared. + +He did not retire either, no more did the servants, who were collected +in the kitchen steadying their nerves with tea. So it happened that when +Giles, weary, wet, and worn, rode up to the door in the morning on a +jaded beast, he was met by Morley. + +"Have you caught her?" asked the man. + +Giles dismounted and threw the reins to a groom. "No. Trim went one way +and I another. Where he is I don't know, but my horse gave in, and I +returned." He entered the house. "Where is the body?" he asked. + +"Up in the room it occupied during life," said Morley; "but come into +the library, I have something to show you." + +Ware followed and sank wearily into a chair. He could scarcely keep his +eyes open. Nevertheless he started up wide awake when his host spoke. +"Miss Denham killed Daisy," said Morley. "She took a stiletto from the +wall yonder, and here it is." He produced it with a dramatic wave. + +"Where did you find it?" + +"Beside the grave--on the spot of the murder." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE CASE AGAINST ANNE + + +The contradictory qualities of Mrs. Parry's nature came out strongly in +connection with the Rickwell tragedy. When Miss Denham was prosperous +the old woman had nothing but bad to say of her, now that she was a +fugitive and generally credited with a crime, Mrs. Parry stood up for +her stoutly. She made herself acquainted with all details, and delivered +her verdict to Mrs. Morley, on whom she called for the express purpose +of giving her opinion. + +"I never liked the woman," she said impressively, "she was artful and +frivolous; and to gain admiration behaved in a brazen way of which I +thoroughly disapproved. All the same, I do not believe she killed the +girl." + +"But the evidence is strongly against her," expostulated Mrs. Morley. + +"And how many people have been hanged on evidence which has afterwards +been proved incorrect?" retorted Mrs. Parry. "I don't care how certain +they are of her guilt. In my opinion she is an innocent woman. I am glad +she has escaped." + +"I am not sorry myself," sighed the other. "I was fond of Anne, for she +had many good points. But Mr. Steel says----" + +"Who is Mr. Steel?" + +"The detective who has charge of the case." + +"I thought the police from Chelmsford had it in hand." + +"Of course, Mr. Morley sent for the police the morning after poor +Daisy's death. That is three days ago. To-morrow the inquest is to be +held. I suppose they will bring a verdict against poor Miss Denham." + +"Ha!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose, "and my greengrocer is on the +jury. Much he knows about the matter. But this Steel creature. Where +does he come from?" + +"Mr. Morley sent to London for him. He has a private inquiry office, I +believe." + +"No such thing," contradicted Mrs. Parry, "he is from Scotland Yard. A +genuine detective--none of your makeshifts." + +"I thought you knew nothing about him?" + +"Nor did I till this minute. But I now remember seeing his name in +connection with the theft of Lady Summersdale's diamonds. He caught the +thief in a very clever way. Steel--Martin Steel, I remember now. So he +has the case in hand. Humph! He won't accuse Anne Denham, you may be +sure of that. He's too clever." + +"But he is convinced of her guilt," said the other triumphantly. + +"Then the man's a fool. I'll see him myself." + +Mrs. Parry did so the very next day after the inquest had been held and +the verdict given. She possessed a small, neat cottage on the outskirts +of Rickwell, standing some distance back from the high road. Seated at +her drawing-room window, she could see all those who came or went, and +thus kept a watch over the morals of the village. This window was called +"Mrs. Parry's eye," and everyone sneaked past it in constant dread of +the terrible old lady who looked through it. Beyond Mrs. Parry's cottage +were the houses of the gentry and the church; therefore she knew that +Steel would pass her house on the way to The Elms, where he would +doubtless go to report himself to Morley. To be sure Morley was to be at +the inquest, but Mrs. Parry took no account of that. He and the +detective would certainly return to The Elms to compare notes. + +Also there was another chance. Steel might go on to see Ware at his +place, which was a mile beyond the village. Giles had caught a cold +after his midnight ride and search for the missing motor, and since then +had been confined to his bed. His deposition had been taken down in +writing, for the benefit of the jury, as he could not be present +himself. Since he was deeply interested in the matter, Steel would +probably go and tell him about the inquest. Mrs. Parry therefore posted +herself at the window about twelve and waited for the detective. + +At half-past twelve she saw him come along, having on the previous day +made herself acquainted with his personality. He was a dapper pert +little man, neat in his dress, and suave in his manners. Not at all like +the detective of fiction as known to Mrs. Parry. There was no solemnity +or hint of mystery about Mr. Steel. He would pass unnoticed in a crowd, +and no one would take him for a bloodhound of the law. He did not even +possess the indispensable eagle eye, nor did he utter opinions with the +air of an oracle. In fact, when Mrs. Parry captured him and lured him +into her parlor, she was exceedingly disappointed with his appearance. +"No one would even take you for a detective," said she brusquely, +whereat Steel laughed cheerily. + +"All the better for me, ma'am. Folk speak more freely when they don't +know my business. But you will excuse me," he added, glancing at his +watch, "I am in a hurry. You say you know something about this matter?" + +It was on this pretence that Mrs. Parry had got him into her house, else +he would not have wasted his time on her. She had therefore to make good +her words, but had not the slightest chance of doing so. + +"I know that Anne Denham is innocent," was all that she could say, but +said it with the air of one who settles a difficult matter once and for +all. + +"On what grounds, ma'am?" + +"On no grounds, save those of my own common sense." + +"You have no evidence to----?" + +"I have the evidence of my own eyes. You haven't seen the woman. I have. +She is not the kind of person who would act so." + +"The jury take a different view," said Steel dryly. "They have brought +in a verdict of wilful murder against her." + +"Fools! But what can you expect from a parcel of tradesmen? I wish to +hear on what grounds they made such idiots of themselves." + +Steel was somewhat taken aback by this coolness. "You must really excuse +me," said he, rising, "but I have to see Mr. Ware." + +"All in good time, Steel," said the old lady coolly. "You might do worse +than spend an hour with me. There is precious little going on in this +parish I don't know of. I might be able to help you in your search." + +"After this woman?" Steel shook his head. "I don't think so. I expect +she has escaped to foreign parts." + +"Oh, I know all about that. I made Trim tell me. You know Trim, of +course. He was a groom once." + +"Isn't he a groom now?" + +"Well"--Mrs. Parry rubbed her nose--"you might call him an engineer. +When Ware started a motor-car Trim refused to let anyone else attend to +his young master but himself. He was the servant of old Ware, and thinks +it is his duty to look after the son--not but what it's needed," added +Mrs. Parry spitefully; "but Trim learned how to work the car, and so he +is what you might call an engineer." + +"All very interesting ma'am, but I have an appointment." + +"It will keep," replied Mrs. Parry suavely. "You had better wait, Steel. +I have something to show you." + +"In connection with the case?" + +"In connection with Miss Denham." + +"What is it? Show it to me." + +"All in good time, Steel. I must first know what you think of the +matter." + +"I think that this woman is guilty." + +"Oh, you do, do you. Humph! And I thought you clever. How easily one can +be deceived! However, you can sit down and tell me your grounds for this +preposterous belief." + +Steel hesitated. In all his career--and it had been a varied one--he had +never met before with anyone like this determined old dame. She took +possession of him in the calmest way, and was evidently bent upon +pumping him dry before he left the house. As a rule Steel was not a man +to be pumped, but after some reflection he concluded that it was just as +well to use a sprat to catch a mackerel. In plain English, he +determined, with reservations, to gratify Mrs. Parry's curiosity, so +that he might get a sight of what she had to show him. If he were +reticent, she would show him nothing; whereas if he told her all about +the evidence at the inquest--and that was public property--she would +certainly open her mind to him. Moreover, Steel knew the value of having +a gossip like Mrs. Parry to aid him in gaining knowledge of the +neighborhood. Finally, he saw that she was a shrewd, matter-of-fact old +person, and for the sake of making his work easy it would be as well to +conciliate her. He therefore sat down with a cheerful air, and prepared +himself for an interesting conversation. + +"I shall be perfectly candid with you," said he, taking out his notes. +"These are the memoranda I made at the inquest." + +"Humph! You have a bad memory I see. I," said Mrs. Parry, with emphasis, +"I carry all I know in my head. Go on." + +Steel detailed the facts of the case. He related the threat of Anne +against Daisy overheard by Mrs. Morley; read out a copy of the anonymous +letter; emphasized the presence of Anne in the library for the few +minutes Morley was absent, when she would have had time to secure the +stiletto; and explained how Morley had found the very weapon near the +scene of the crime. Then he continued to relate what took place in +church during the midnight service. + +"Martha James," said he, "was sitting not far from Miss Kent. The corner +was rather dark----" + +"The whole church is badly lighted," interrupted Mrs. Parry. "I never +could bear smelly kerosene lamps." + +"The corner was dark," resumed Steel patiently, "and Martha, as she +says, having a headache, was rather inattentive to the sermon. She saw a +man near the door--a tall man, with a great-coat and a white scarf. She +couldn't see his face plainly. He slipped along the wall during the +sermon, when the attention of everyone was fixed on the preacher, +and--as Martha saw--slipped a scrap of paper into the hand of Miss Kent. +She started, and bending towards a near lamp, read the paper." + +"Did anyone else see her read it?" + +"No. She placed the paper in her prayer-book, and so contrived to read +it without exciting suspicion. Martha saw the action, because she was +well placed for observation." + +"And couldn't mind her own business. I know Martha James. Go on." + +"After a few minutes Miss Kent seemed to grow faint, and slipped out of +the church. Another witness--Samuel Gibbs--says that as she brushed past +him she murmured that she felt unwell. However, she went out." + +"And the tall man also?" + +"No. He remained for another ten minutes. Martha James watched him, +because she could not think why he did not follow Miss Kent after giving +her the paper." + +"Of course, Martha thought of something bad," sniffed Mrs. Parry; "no +doubt she believed that the two had arranged to meet. So the tall man +went out ten minutes afterwards. What about Anne?" + +"She was a few pews behind, and apparently inattentive, but a small girl +called Cissy Jinks----" + +"A most precocious child," interpolated the lady. + +"She is smart," admitted Steel. "Well, she declares that Miss Denham was +watching the tall man all the time. Whether she saw him give the paper +to Miss Kent no one seems to know; I think myself she must have done so, +if she was as watchful as Cissy Jinks declares. Moreover, she followed +the tall man when he went out." + +"Immediately?" + +"Five minutes afterwards." + +"Ha! Then it was a quarter of an hour before she followed Daisy. Humph! +Didn't Trim see them come out of the church?" + +"The groom? No, he was at the lych-gate with the car, and the snow was +falling fast; besides, the night was so dark that he could see nothing. +The first intimation he had of Miss Denham was when she came through the +lych-gate to tell him that his master was with Miss Kent on the way to +The Elms and wished to see him. Trim followed, and left her in charge of +the car. When he was gone she went off, leaving the body of the girl +behind her. The case is dead against her." + +"As you make it out, it certainly is," said Mrs. Parry scathingly. "But +what about the tall man--what became of him?" + +"He has vanished, and no one seems to know anything about him." + +"Ha!" said the old lady, with satisfaction; "well, I can enlighten you +on that point. He was the man who called to see Mr. Morley, and who left +just before Anne entered the library." + +"Are you sure Morley said nothing about that?" + +"Morley can hold his tongue when necessary," said the old lady dryly. +"Yes, that was the man. The footman at The Elms told me that Mr. +Morley's visitor wore a great-coat and a white scarf." + +"The same dress," murmured Steel, "and the man was afterwards in church. +He passed a note and went out apparently to see Miss Kent. I must +question Mr. Morley about him. I wonder if he went away in the motor +also." + +"Of course he did," replied Mrs. Parry calmly. "Anne was watching him, +according to Cissy Jinks, and she followed him five minutes later. It +would seem that she knew him, and after he killed Daisy helped him to +escape." + +"What do you say," asked Steel, wrinkling his brows, "that this man +killed Miss Kent?" + +"The evidence is nearly as strong against him as against Anne. He was in +the library also and might have obtained the stiletto. It was he who +lured Daisy out of the church. He was five minutes absent before Anne +followed--quite long enough for him to kill the poor girl." + +"It sounds feasible, I admit," said the detective thoughtfully; "but +even if this is true, it incriminates Miss Anne. She helped him to +escape, according to your theory. She must, therefore, have known about +the murder, and that makes her an accessory after the fact. In any case +she should be arrested." + +"But not hanged," insisted Mrs. Parry. "I am sure she did not kill the +girl. As for the man, she had a strong reason to get him out of the way, +but that does not say she knew of the crime." + +"I don't see what other reason she could have had," said Steel. "I +daresay you are right, and that this stranger did go with Miss Denham on +the car. What a pity no one saw them!" + +"Did no one see the car?" + +"No, it was found overturned in a hedge, near Tilbury." + +"I know," said Mrs. Parry, not liking to have her omniscience +questioned; "Trim told me. He came on the car by chance. It was quite +cold--the furnace was extinguished. It must have been abandoned for some +time when he came across it. I wonder where the pair went then." + +"You seem certain that the stranger was with Miss Denham." + +"Yes, I am quite satisfied on that point. Tilbury--ha! they were making +for Tilbury. Did you inquire there?" + +Steel nodded. "I could find no trace of them. No one saw them, or rather +her, for I asked only after Miss Denham. It is my opinion that they must +have got on board some ship, and have escaped to foreign parts. I could +not learn of any ship having left that night, though. Well, that is all +the evidence, Mrs. Parry, and you can see for yourself that the case +against Miss Denham is almost conclusive." + +"All the same, I believe she is innocent," insisted the old lady; "it +was the man who committed the crime. Ask Morley about him." + +"Do you think he knows anything?" + +"Not of the murder; but he must know the man's name. And now as you have +been so frank with me I'll show you what I promised. Do you remember the +anonymous letter and the reference to the Scarlet Cross?" + +"Yes. Miss Denham said that her father--who is now dead--wore a +red-enamelled cross on his watch-chain." + +"I know. Mrs. Morley told me so. Now see here." Mrs. Parry opened her +left hand, which for some time she had kept clenched. In her palm lay a +small gold cross enamelled red. + +"Where did you get that?" asked Steel, astounded. + +"Mrs. Bates, the pew-opener, found it in the church and brought it to +me. It was found near the spot where the stranger stood." + +"What?" Steel started to his feet. + +"Ah, you are beginning to see now!" said the old lady. "Yes, Steel, you +may well look. Anne is innocent. On the evidence of this cross I believe +that her father is not dead. He was the stranger; he killed Daisy, and +because he was her father Anne aided him to escape." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OLIVER MORLEY + + +In due time the body of Daisy Kent was buried. Her remains were laid by +those of her father in the very churchyard about which she had +complained to Giles a short time before the tragedy of her death. Ware +being still ill, did not attend the funeral, but a large concourse of +people from all parts of the county followed the coffin to the grave. + +Morley was the chief mourner, and looked haggard, as was natural. Poor +Mrs. Morley remained at home and wept. She did little else but weep in +those days, poor soul! + +When Mr. Drake had finished the service, and the grave was filled up, +the crowd dispersed. There was a great deal of talk about the untimely +death of the girl and the chances of her murderess being caught. +Everyone believed that Anne was guilty; but as Steel had kept his own +counsel and Mrs. Parry held her tongue, no mention was made of the tall +man. + +The chatter of Cissy Jinks and Martha Gibbs certainly seemed to +inculpate him in the matter, but only the villagers talked of this +especial point. It never reached the ears of the reporters, and did not +get into the papers. But the journals gave a good deal of space to the +affair, and hinted that it was what the French call "un crime +passional." Still, no paper was daring enough to hint at Giles and his +presumed connection with the tragedy. It was merely stated that he had +been engaged to the deceased girl, and felt her death so deeply, as was +natural, that he had taken to his bed. Of course, this was an +embellishment of facts, as Ware was simply laid up with an attack of +pneumonia. But for the benefit of the public the journalists ascribed it +to romantic and undying love. Giles, who was a matter-of-fact young +Englishman, did not see these descriptions, or he would have been much +disgusted at the sickly sentimentality. + +Meantime no news was heard of Anne. It was not known that the tall +stranger had been with her, for several people had seen the car passing +on its way to Tilbury. It was a lucky thought that had made Trim take +that particular direction, and merely by chance that he had stumbled on +the motor overthrown in a hedge. Evidently an accident had occurred, but +no one was near at the time, as it took place some little distance from +Tilbury and in a lonely part. But it was conjectured that the two +occupants had proceeded on foot to Tilbury. A boatman was found who +related that he had taken a lady and gentleman across to Gravesend, and +that the gentleman walked a trifle lame. They landed on the Gravesend +shore, and here the boatman lost sight of them. It was the lady who paid +his fare, and he said that she appeared to be quite calm. He did not see +the face of the man, but described that of Anne and her dress also. +There was no doubt but what she was the fugitive. + +However, here the trail ended. Once in Gravesend, and all trace of the +pair was lost. Steel made inquiries everywhere, but without success. The +two might have got away in a ship, but this he could not learn. The +night was foggy and dark, and no ship had gone out of the river, +according to the boatmen. Steel could discover nothing, and resolved to +throw up the case. But at the eleventh hour he stumbled on a clue, and +followed it up. The result of his inquiries made him return at once to +Rickwell, where he sought out Mr. Morley. + +The little man had sent his wife and family away from The Elms, as the +atmosphere of the house was melancholy in the extreme. Mrs. Morley, not +averse to more cheerful surroundings, elected to go to Brighton with the +triplets, and took two servants with her. Morley remained behind with a +reduced staff, and promised to join her later. He desired to wait until +he could see the detective. His wish was speedily gratified, for three +days after the departure of his wife Steel made his appearance. Morley +received him in the library. + +"How do you do, sir?" said the detective, as they shook hands. "I am +glad to see that you are looking better." + +"I am getting over the shock," replied the other, "now that the poor +child is buried; there is no use mourning further. I have sent my wife +and family to Brighton and propose to follow myself in a day or so." + +"I am lucky to have caught you, then?" + +"What? Have you found any clue?" + +"I think so. It is connected with the Scarlet Cross." + +Morley, who was warming his hands over the fire, looked round eagerly, +and his eyes flashed. + +"I thought there was something in that reference. You remember the +letter, Steel?" + +"Yes. And I showed it to Mrs. Parry." + +"To that meddlesome old woman. Why?" + +"It's too long a matter to go into. But it was just as well I did. She +gave me this little ornament." + +Morley turned over the enamelled cross and examined it carefully. +"Humph! It is the kind of thing Miss Denham said was worn by her dead +father." + +"Exactly. Well, Mr. Morley, either the father is dead as she told you +and that cross was worn by a stranger, or the man who called to see you +here was the father." + +"How do you make that out? What do you mean?" said Morley, and his face +exhibited genuine amazement. + +For answer Steel related what Mrs. Parry had told him about the +discovery of the cross, and how she had put two and two together. + +"And now, sir, you must see that in some way this stranger is connected +with the crime. He called to see you. May I ask what you know of him?" + +"Absolutely nothing," replied the other emphatically. "Wait! I must show +you something." He rose and went to his desk. "Of course, I am telling +you my private business," he added, opening a drawer, "so don't please +speak about it." + +"If it has nothing to do with the murder I won't; but if----" + +"Pshaw! that is all right, I know as much about these things as you do. +However, we can talk of that later. Meantime cast your eye over that," +and he placed a document on the table. + +"A judgment summons for five hundred pounds," said Steel, with a +whistle. "Did he serve this?" + +"Yes," replied Morley, returning to his seat with a gloomy face. "You +will see that it is dated three days before he came to me. I have outrun +the constable, and have the greatest difficulty in keeping my head above +water. This man--I don't know his name--said that he came from those +solicitors----" + +"'Asher, Son, and Asher,'" read out the detective. + +Morley nodded. "Of twenty-two, St. Audrey's Inn. A firm of sharpers I +call them. The money has certainly been owing a long time, but I offered +to pay off the sum by degrees. They refused, and insist upon immediate +payment. If they would only wait until the war is over, my South African +shares would go up and there would be a chance of settling the matter. +But they will not wait. I expect a bankruptcy notice next." + +"I am very sorry for you, Mr. Morley, and of course, I shall not betray +the confidence you have placed in me; but the point is, what is the name +of the man who served this?" + +"I don't know; I never asked him his name. He entered by the front door +and served this here. I sent him out by the window, so that the servants +should not see him again. He had the look of a sheriff's officer, and +one can't be too careful here. I believe Mrs. Parry pays my servants to +tell her what goes on in my house. I didn't want her to learn about this +summons." + +"I can easily understand that," replied the detective; "and I see now +why you let the man out by the window. You left the room with him?" + +"Yes. I didn't say anything much at the inquest beyond that he was a +visitor, and I was relieved when I found that no questions were asked. +But I walked with him to the end of the terrace and saw him go down the +avenue. Then I returned to this room, and found Miss Denham waiting by +the desk. I asked her what she wanted. She asked for her wages, as she +was leaving the next day. I had no ready money, and promised to see to +it before she departed. Then she went out, and shortly afterwards Miss +Kent came in to say she had seen the man go down the avenue. She asked +me who he was, and I was rather short with her, poor creature!" and +Morley sighed. + +"I wonder why the man went to church." + +"I can't say that; but I can guess that when he knew who Daisy was he +wanted to speak to her." + +"What about?" asked Steel eagerly. + +"About me and the summons. You see, Steel, there is a half-uncle of +Daisy Kent's who went to Australia. He said that if he made his fortune +he would leave the money to her. Whether he is dead or alive I don't +know, but certainly she did not get any money left to her. Powell's +solicitors are Asher, Son, and Asher----" + +"Powell? I thought the uncle would be called Kent, unless, of course, he +was uncle by the mother's side." + +"I said half-uncle," said Morley dryly. "Powell is his name--William +Powell--and his solicitors are those who issued that judgment summons. I +expect the clerk wanted to tell Daisy about my position and warn her +against lending me money. As though I should have asked the girl for +sixpence!" + +"I don't see why this clerk should warn Miss Kent." + +"Well, you see, Daisy had a hundred a year, and they pay it to her. As +she might one day be an heiress, I suppose they think it as well to keep +an eye on her. This man could not have known that Daisy was in church, +and may have just gone there to kill time. But when he saw her and knew +who she was, I daresay he wrote that note asking her to come outside and +be told all about me." + +"It might be so. Was the note found?" + +"Not to my knowledge. But you should know, being a detective." + +"I'm not omniscient," replied Steel good-humoredly; "it is only in +novels that you get the perfect person who never makes a mistake. Well, +to resume. I don't see why the clerk should have killed Miss Kent." + +"He did not kill her," insisted Morley. "I was in the room with him from +the time he entered by the door to the time he left by that middle +window. He had no chance of stealing the stiletto. Now Miss Denham had, +for she was in the room alone for a few moments." + +"But why should she have taken the clerk with her on the car? If she +killed the girl her object must have been to escape herself?" + +"I can't explain. Perhaps this clerk saw the crime and hoped to make +money out of it. Had he given the alarm he wouldn't have gained any +reward. So I suppose he mounted the car with her, so that she should not +escape him." + +"A wild theory." + +"It's the only one I can think of," responded Morley; "but if you want +to know more of this man go up to Asher, Son, and Asher. I daresay they +will be able to give you his history." + +"And the Scarlet Cross?" + +"I know nothing about that. I did not even notice if the man had such a +cross on his chain. In fact," added Morley frankly, "he was too shabby +and poverty-stricken to have a chain. I think Anne Denham killed Daisy; +you think this man did, and----" + +"Pardon," protested Steel. "I have not yet made up my mind. But the two +fled together, and there must be some reason for that." + +"If so, it will be found in the past history of both, or either. You +know where to look for the man. I can get from my wife the address of +the Governesses' Institute where she engaged Miss Denham. That is all I +can do, unless I take up the case myself." + +Steel looked up with a laugh. He was copying the address of the +solicitors from the summons, but could not help pausing to reply to this +egotistical remark. "Why, Mr. Morley, what do you know of such work?" he +asked, bantering. + +"Much more than you would give me credit for. Did you ever hear of--by +the way, this is another of my secrets I am telling you, so please don't +repeat it." + +"Are you going to say that you were in the profession?" + +"I am. You may have heard of Joe Bart." + +"I should think so," said Steel quickly. "He had a splendid reputation, +and was much thought of. But he retired before I came to London. I was +in the country police for a long time. But"--he started up--"you don't +mean to say that----" + +"That I am Joe Bart?" interrupted Morley, not ill-pleased. "Yes, I do. I +retired over ten years ago, more fool I. You see, Steel, I grew wearied +of thief-catching, and as I had a chance of marrying a widow with money, +I took the offer and retired. But"--he looked at the summons--"the game +wasn't worth the candle. I have had nothing but trouble. Still, I am +devoted to my wife and her children." + +"And you have forgotten your former glory," said Steel enthusiastically; +"surely not. That Hatton Garden jewel robbery, the man with the red coat +who committed the Lichfield murder, and----" + +"I remember them all," said Morley, with gentle melancholy. "I have a +full report of all the cases I was engaged in yonder"--he nodded to a +distant shelf. "Sometimes I take those volumes down and think what an +ass I was to retire." + +"But see here, Mr. Morley. You are hard up; you want money. I am sure +they would be glad to have you back at the Yard. Why not recommence +your detective life with searching out this case?" + +Morley, late Joe Bart, shook his head. "There is no difficulty about +this case to tempt me," he said. "Anne Denham killed the girl. But I +must say I should like to find out about this clerk, and why he went off +with her. Still, it is useless for me to become a detective again. In +the first place my wife would not like it, and in the second I have lost +my keen scent. I am rusty--I am laid on the shelf. No, no, Steel, you +look after this matter yourself. Any advice I can give you I shall, but +don't tempt the old dog out of his kennel." + +Steel looked admiringly at his host. Bart had been a celebrated +detective in his day, although not one of the best. Still, he had made a +reputation on two or three cases, which entitled him to respect. "I +should be proud to work with you, Mr. Morley." + +"Well, well," said Morley, rather pleased, "we'll see. At present I must +put my wits to work to get money to prevent my being made a bankrupt. +Now don't give me away, Steel." + +"I'll say nothing. I suppose your wife knows that you were----" + +"Of course. But she made me promise to give it up. Therefore you see I +can't take up the life again. But my advice to you--if you care to take +it--is to look after the governess, and leave the clerk alone. She is +guilty; he is not." + +"I'll look after both," said Steel firmly, "after both Mr.--Bart." + +Morley laughed. "Report to me all you do," he said, and this Steel +willingly promised. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE IRONY OF FATE + + +Giles was slowly recovering from his illness, but as yet was unable to +leave his room. It was now over a month since the death of Daisy, and +during that time all matters connected therewith had been reported to +the invalid. Thus he knew of the funeral, of the verdict of the jury, +and of the search that was being made for Anne. Trim, who nursed his +young master--and he would not allow any one else to do so--day by day, +related all that was taking place. The man himself quite believed that +Miss Denham was guilty, but he did not offer this opinion to Ware, +knowing how keenly Giles felt the untoward tragedy. + +The young squire could not bring himself to believe that Anne was +guilty. Appearances were against her, and he could not conceive what +excuse she could make for her flight with the lawyer's clerk. If she +were innocent, she had gone the best way to work up a feasible case +against her. But Giles was so deeply in love with her that the blacker +became her character in the mouths of the general public, the more +persistently he held to the belief that it was whiter than snow. Had he +been able he would have followed her, in order to persuade her to +return and face the worst with a frank story of the events of that +terrible night. But he was chained to his bed, and even had he been +sufficiently well, he could not have traced her whereabouts. Steel had +called to explain his doings, but not even he could guess where Anne was +to be found. And Giles rejoiced that this should be so. + +"What's the news this morning, Trim?" he asked languidly. + +"Mr. Morley has come to see you, sir. He is waiting below." + +"I thought he had gone to Brighton with his wife and family?" + +"He did go some days back," assented Trim, "but he returned, sir--so he +says--especially to see you." + +"How very good of him! Ask him to come up." + +"Are you strong enough, Master Giles?" + +"Yes, you old tyrant. I hope to be up and about in a week." + +Trim shook his grey head. He was rather a pessimist, and did not believe +in too sudden recoveries, insisting that such did not last. + +"You'll have a relapse, sir, and be worse than ever." + +Ware laughed, knowing Trim's ways, and motioned him out of the room. +When the old servant left, grumbling that his master should be +disturbed, Giles began to wonder what had brought Morley back from +Brighton. Perhaps he had come to speak of Daisy and her untimely end; +but he had already, on a previous occasion, said all that was to be said +about that matter. Ware sincerely mourned Daisy, for in a way he had +been fond of her. Still, he could not but confess that a marriage +between them would have been a mistake, and that drastic as was the +cutting of the Gordian knot, it relieved him from an impossible +position. His love for Anne would always have stood between himself and +the unfortunate girl, and her jealousy would have ruined both their +lives. Certainly he saw no chance of making Anne his wife, seeing that +she was a fugitive and accused of a terrible crime. Nevertheless, since +he had not to marry Daisy, the situation was less difficult. But Ware, +his heart aching for the woman he loved, found cold comfort in this +reasoning. + +Morley entered, looking ruddy and cheerful, quite his old self, in fact. +Evidently the sea air and the change had assuaged his grief to a +considerable extent, and Giles could not help remarking cynically on his +quick recovery. "I thought you were fond of Daisy," he said +reproachfully. + +"I was, and so was my wife," answered Morley, taking a seat beside the +bed. "But what's done can't be undone, and I have been trying to get +over my sorrow. But in spite of my looks, Ware, I have my bad moments. +And you?" + +"I sincerely mourn for the poor girl. It is terrible that she should be +cut off so suddenly. But I am just as sorry for Miss Denham, if not more +sorry. It is those who are left behind that suffer most, Morley." + +"Humph!" said the little man thoughtfully, "then you _did_ love Miss +Denham?" + +"Morley"--Giles started up on his elbow--"what do you mean?" + +"I am simply repeating what Daisy said." + +"She had a monomania on the subject," said Ware uneasily. "I never gave +her any cause for jealousy." + +"Would you have married her had she lived?" + +"Certainly," said Ware coldly. "I promised my father that the daughter +of his old friend should be my wife." + +"I am sure you would have acted honorably," said Morley gravely, "but it +is just as well that you did not marry the girl. I think she had some +reason to be jealous of Miss Denham." + +Ware groaned. "I tried my best to----" He broke off with a frown. "This +is my private business, Morley. You have no right to pry into these +things." + +Morley shrugged his shoulders. "As you please. I shall say no more. But +I don't expect you'll see Miss Denham again." + +"I don't expect I shall. Please leave her name out of this +conversation." + +"For the moment I am agreeable to do so. But as I believe her to be +guilty, I must ask you a question or two." + +"I shall answer no questions," responded Giles violently. "Miss Denham +is innocent." + +"Then why did she fly?" + +"I don't know. If I can only find her, I shall ask her to come back and +face the worst. She can explain." + +"She will have to when she is caught. How do you propose to find her, +Ware?" + +"I don't know. Wait till I am on my feet again." + +"Well," said Morley cheerfully, "I'll give you a clue--the Scarlet +Cross." + +"Rubbish! There's nothing in that in spite of the anonymous letter. What +do you know about the matter?" + +"Only what Steel told me. He found a boatman at Gravesend who declared +that on the day of the crime--Steel gave him the date--a small steam +yacht was lying in the river off the town. It was called _The Red +Cross_. The next morning it was gone. The night was foggy, and no one +saw it leave its moorings. It simply vanished. What do you make of that, +Ware?" + +"Nothing at all. What has this yacht to do with Miss Denham?" + +"Can't you see? The anonymous letter referred to a Scarlet Cross. Such +an ornament was picked up in the church, and the boat was called----" + +"_The Red Cross_--not _The Scarlet Cross_," interrupted Ware. + +"Only a difference of shade," said Morley ironically. "But I am certain +that Miss Denham with her companion went on board that yacht. I can't +think how else they escaped." + +"Why should this lawyer's clerk have gone on board?" + +"That's what Steel is trying to find out. I expect he will make +inquiries of Asher, Son, and Asher's office. But the name of the yacht, +the fact that Miss Denham made for Gravesend, where it was lying, and +its appearance and disappearance within twenty-four hours during which +the crime was committed shows me that she fled and that she is guilty." + +Ware restrained himself with a violent effort. "Oh," he said ironically, +"then you believe that Miss Denham arranged that the yacht should be at +Gravesend, ready for her flight, after the death of Daisy." + +"It looks like that," assented Morley. "I believe myself that the crime +was premeditated." + +"And was the fact of my car being at the church gate premeditated?" +asked Ware angrily. + +"Why not? Miss Denham knew that your car was coming for you after the +service." + +"Morley, I admit that things look black, but she is not guilty." + +"Humph! You love her." + +"That has nothing to do with it." + +"As you will. Let us say no more on the subject. I wish to tell you why +I came." + +"It is sure to be a more disagreeable subject," retorted Giles; then +felt compunction for the rude speech. "I beg your pardon, Morley, I am a +perfect bear. But this illness has made me peevish, and the events of +the last few weeks have rendered my brain irritable. Forgive my bad +temper." + +"Oh, that's all right, Ware," replied his visitor heartily. "I can +always make allowances for invalids. You'll be your old self again +shortly." + +"I shall never be myself again," replied Giles gloomily. + +It was on the tip of Morley's tongue to make some fresh reference to +Anne. But he knew that such a remark would only exasperate the invalid; +and, moreover, Giles looked so ill and worried that Morley generously +refrained from adding to his troubles. "Let us come to business," he +said, taking some papers out of his breast coat-pocket. "Since you were +engaged to Daisy I thought it right that you should be made aware of a +communication I have received from Asher, Son, and Asher." + +"About the summons you told me of?" asked Ware wearily. He did not take +much interest in Morley's affairs. + +"No. I have managed to compromise that. The solicitors have accepted +payment in instalments. In this instance they write to me officially as +Daisy's guardian. She has come into five thousand a year, Ware." + +Giles opened his eyes and sat up in bed excitedly. + +"Do you mean to say that her half-uncle Powell is dead?" + +Morley nodded. "Very ironical, isn't it?" he said. "She was always +talking and hoping for the money, and now when it comes she is unable to +enjoy it. What tricks Fate plays us to be sure!" + +"Poor girl!" sighed Giles; "how often have we discussed the prospect of +her being an heiress! I always told her that I had enough for both, but +she hankered after having money in her own right." + +"Look at the papers," said Morley, handing them to the young man, "and +you will see that Powell died over four months ago in Sydney. His +solicitors arranged about the estate in the colony of New South Wales, +and then communicated with Asher as Powell had advised them before he +died. There is a copy of the will there." + +"So I see. But tell me the chief points in it. I feel too tired to wade +through all this legal matter." + +"Well, the money was left to Daisy, and failing her it goes to a man +called George Franklin." + +"H'm! He has come in for his kingdom very speedily, thanks to the death +of poor Daisy. Who is he?" + +Morley glanced at a letter. "He was the brother-in-law of Mr. +Powell--married Powell's sister who is dead. I don't know if there is +any family. Asher's firm doesn't know the whereabouts of Franklin, but +they are advertising for him. The five thousand a year goes to him +without reservation." + +"Why did they tell you all this?" + +"I really can't say, unless it is because I was Daisy's legal guardian. +I wish she had come in for this money, Ware, for I do not say but what I +shouldn't have been glad of a trifle. And if Daisy had lived she would +have paid me something. Certainly as I did what I did do out of sheer +friendship with her father, I have no right to demand anything, but when +Franklin hears of my circumstances I hope he will lend me some money to +get me out of my difficulties." + +"It all depends upon the kind of man he turns out to be. But I always +thought, Morley, that it was your wife to whom Kent left his daughter. +She was an old friend of his." + +"Quite so; but Kent appointed me guardian, as Mrs. Morley refused to be +legally bound. I am sure I did my duty," added the little man, with +sudden heat. + +"I am sure you did. You behaved like a father to her, and I am sorry she +did not live to repay you." Giles thought for a moment or so, then +added, "I was engaged to Daisy, and I am rich. Let me help you, Morley." + +"No, thanks. It is good of you to suggest such a thing, but I am a very +independent man. If this Franklin will do anything, I don't mind +accepting a thousand from him; otherwise--no, Ware." + +Giles admired the bluff way in which Morley said this. He knew well that +for a long time Morley and his wife had done all they could for Daisy +Kent, and that both of them deserved great praise. He suggested that +Mrs. Morley might be induced---- + +"No," interrupted his visitor, "my wife wants nothing. She has her own +money, and ample means." + +"Then why don't you ask for her help?" + +"My dear Ware, I married Mrs. Morley because I loved her, and not for +her money. All her property is settled on herself, and I have not +touched one shilling of it. She would willingly help me, but I have +refused." + +"Isn't that rather quixotic on your part?" + +"Perhaps," responded Morley, with some dryness; "but it is my nature. +However, I see that I am tiring you. I only came to tell you of this +irony of fate, whereby Daisy inherited a fortune too late to benefit by +it. I must go now. My wife expects me back in Brighton to-morrow." + +"When do you return to The Elms?" + +"In a month. And what are your movements?" + +Ware thought for a few minutes before he answered. At length he spoke +seriously. + +"Morley, I know you are prejudiced against Miss Denham." + +"I think she is guilty, if that is what you mean, Ware." + +"And I say that she is innocent. I intend to devote myself to finding +her and to clearing up this mystery." + +"Well, I wish you good luck," said Morley, moving towards the door; "but +don't tell me when you find Miss Denham. If I come across her I'll have +her arrested." + +"That's plain enough. Well, since you are her declared enemy, I shall +keep my own counsel." He raised himself on his elbow. "But I tell you, +Morley, that I shall find her. I shall prove her innocence, and I shall +make her my wife." + +Morley opened the door. + +"The age of miracles is past," he said. "When you are more yourself, you +will be wiser. Good-bye, and a speedy recovery." + +As the visitor departed Trim entered with the letters. He was not at all +pleased to find Giles so flushed, and refused to hand over the +correspondence. Only when Ware began to grow seriously angry did Trim +give way. He went grumbling out of the room as Giles opened his letters. +The first two were from friends in town asking after his health; the +third had a French stamp and the Paris postmark. Ware opened it +listlessly. He then uttered an exclamation. On a sheet of thin foreign +paper was the drawing in pencil of a half-sovereign of Edward VII., and +thereon three circles placed in a triangle, marked respectively "A," +"D," and "P." Below, in a handwriting he knew only too well, was written +the one word "Innocent." + +"Anne, Anne!" cried Ware, passionately kissing the letter, "as though I +needed you to tell me that!" + +And it was not till an hour later that he suddenly remembered what a +narrow escape he had had from putting Morley on the track of Anne +Denham. Had Morley seen that letter----? + +"Paris," murmured Giles, "I'll go there." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A STRANGE DISCOVERY + + +The offices of Asher, Son, and Asher were situated in a dark, narrow +street in the City, which led down to the river. In former days the +place might have been respectable, and then the original Asher had set +up his official tent in the neighborhood; but civilization had moved +westward, and Terry Street was looked on askance by fashionable +solicitors. Nevertheless the firm of Asher continued to dwell in the +dingy office, where their progenitors had slaved for close on a hundred +years. It was quite good enough, thought the present head of the firm, +for such well-known lawyers. + +The firm did a good old-fashioned business, eminently respectable and +safe. None of the three partners was a sharper, as Morley asserted; but +as the firm had issued a judgment summons against the master of The +Elms, he could scarcely be expected to think well of them. Old Mr. Asher +rarely came to the office, preferring his country house and melon beds, +and the business was conducted by the son and the other Asher, who was a +cousin. Both these gentlemen were over forty, and in spite of a modern +education were decidedly old-fashioned. There was something in the +musty air of the Terry Street office that petrified them into old men +before their due time. The three clerks who sat in the outer rooms were +also elderly, and the sole youthful creature about the place was the +office boy, a red-haired imp who answered to the name of Alexander. His +surname was Benker, but was not thought sufficiently dignified for use +in so sedate a place of business. + +With some difficulty Steel found this musty haunt of the legal Muse, and +sent up his name to the senior partner with a request for an interview. +Alexander, whistling between his teeth, led him into a frowzy apartment +lined with books and tin boxes, and furnished with a green baize-covered +table heaped with legal papers, three chairs, and a mahogany sofa of the +Early Victorian period. Mr. Asher, the son, might have belonged to the +same epoch, in spite of his age, so rusty and smug did he look. His face +was clean-shaven with the exception of side-whiskers; his hair was thin +on the top and sparse on the sides, and he was dressed in a suit of +solemn black, with a satin tie to match. In fact, he was the typical +lawyer of melodrama, and Steel was surprised to find so ancient a +survival in these modern days. But when they began to talk Asher proved +to be quite able to hold his own, and was not at all fossilized in +brain, whatever he might be in appearance. He knew not only the name of +Steel, but all about the case and Steel's connection therewith. He +referred in feeling terms to Daisy's death. + +"A very charming girl, Mr. Steel," said the young-old lawyer. "On +several occasions she has been here to draw her little income. It is sad +that she should have met with her death at the hands of a jealous woman +at the very time she was about to enjoy a legacy of five thousand a +year." + +"You don't say so!" cried Steel, who had heard nothing of this. + +"Ah! Mr. Morley never informed you of the fact." + +"Well, no, he didn't; but then, I have not seen him for over a week. I +believe he is at Brighton with his wife. Who left this money to the late +Miss Kent?" + +"A relative of hers who died lately in Australia." + +"And failing her who inherits?" + +Mr. Asher reflected. "I don't know that you have any right to ask that +question," he said, after a pause. + +"Pardon me," replied the detective. "Miss Kent was murdered. I fancied +that the money might have something to do with the commission of the +crime." + +"No, Mr. Steel. I read the evidence given at the inquest. Jealousy was +the motive of the crime, and Miss Denham is guilty." + +"I am somewhat of that way of thinking myself, Mr. Asher. And on the +face of it there is no other way of accounting for the murder. +Nevertheless it is just as well to look at the matter from all sides. +The crime may be connected with the question of this fortune. You may as +well tell me what I wish to know. I'll keep my mouth closed." + +"Are you going to accuse our client of the crime?" asked Asher dryly. "I +fear you will waste your time if you do. Since you look at the matter in +this way, I don't mind speaking about what after all is not your +business." + +"That is as it may be," returned Steel enigmatically. + +Asher passed this remark over. "Failing Miss Kent, the five thousand a +year goes to George Franklin, a brother-in-law of the testator. We +lately received a letter from him, informing us that he intended to +claim the money." + +"How did he know that he would inherit?" + +"We advertised for him. He is quite unaware of the death of Miss Kent, +and I daresay thinks Mr. Powell left the fortune to him direct." + +"You can't be certain of his ignorance. However, let us give him the +benefit of the doubt. Where did he write from?" + +"From Florence, in Italy, where he has lived for four years. He will be +in London next week, and if you want to see him----" + +"I'll think of it," interrupted Steel. "There may be no need to trouble +Mr. Franklin. At present I am searching for this clerk of yours, who +went off with Miss Denham." + +The lawyer raised his eyebrows with manifest surprise. "A clerk of ours, +Mr. Steel? I don't quite follow you." + +"I refer to the man who served a judgment summons on Mr. Morley." + +"A boy served that," explained Asher. "The boy who showed you in." + +Steel stared hard at the solicitor, trying to understand why he had made +such a statement. "But that is absurd," he remarked. "I know that +nothing was said at the inquest about the matter, as Mr. Morley did not +wish it to be known that he was in such difficulties. But a tall man, +with a reddish beard, dressed in a great-coat, with a white scarf, +served the summons. Afterwards he went to the midnight service in the +parish church, and lured Miss Kent outside by means of a note, which we +cannot find. From what I have gathered this man went with Miss Denham in +Mr. Ware's motor-car. He fled with her, and I fancy he must be either +the assassin or an accessory after the fact." + +Asher heard all this with extreme surprise. When Steel concluded he +touched the bell. Alexander responded with his usual cheerful and +impudent air. His master addressed him with some severity. "What about +that summons which was served by you on Mr. Morley, of Rickwell?" he +demanded. + +The lad grew crimson to his ears, and looked at the floor much +embarrassed. "I served it all right, sir," he mumbled. + +"_You_ served it," struck in Steel, with emphasis. "That is quite +untrue. A tall man with a red beard served it." + +"Alexander, tell the truth. What does this mean?" + +The boy began to sob, and drew his coat-sleeve across his eye with a +snuffle. "I thought it was all right," he said, "or I should not have +given it to him." + +"The summons! You gave it to someone to serve?" + +"Yes, sir. To Mr. Wilson, mother's lodger." + +"Is he tall? Has he a pale face and a red beard?" asked Steel. + +"He has, sir. He's been with mother six months, and was always kind. +When I got the summons he said that he was going into the country, and +would serve it on Mr. Morley." + +"Alexander," said Asher in an awful tone, "I gave you money for your +railway fare to go to Rickwell. What have you done with that money, +wretched boy?" + +"I went to the Hippodrome with another boy," wept Alexander. "I thought +as I'd take the holiday, as you'd think I was in the country. Please, +sir, I'm very sorry, but I thought Mr. Wilson was all right." + +"Did Mr. Wilson come back to say that all was right?" demanded Steel +sharply. + +"No, sir, he didn't. Mother and I ain't set eyes on him since he went +away to serve the summons. I was afraid to tell you, sir," he added to +his master, "'cause I knew I'd done wrong. But I hope you won't be hard +on me, sir." + +"Alexander," said Mr. Asher, "you have disgraced a most respectable +office, and can no longer continue in it. You have spent money, you have +wasted time, both given to you for a certain purpose. For the sake of +your mother, who is a hard-working woman, I shall not take any legal +steps. But from this day you cease to be in our employment. Your wages +for the week shall be confiscated, since you have made free with my +money. At five to-day, Alexander, you leave this place forever." + +"Oh, sir--please, sir--I didn't----" + +"Alexander, I have spoken. You can depart." + +With a howl the boy went out of the room, and sat weeping in the outer +office for at least ten minutes. He was wondering what he should say to +his mother, for she was a terrible woman, with a short temper and a hard +hand. His fellow-clerks demanded what was the matter, but Alexander had +sense enough to keep his own counsel. All he said was that the governor +had discharged him, and then he wept afresh. + +While thus employed Steel made his appearance. He had been discussing +the matter with Asher, and had proposed a course of action in connection +with the delinquent to which Asher agreed. He advanced to the weeping +Alexander and lifted him from his seat by the collar. + +"Come, young man," said he, "take me home to your mother at once." + +"Oh, Lor'," cried Alexander, "she'll give me beans!" + +"You deserve the worst beating she can give you," said Steel severely, +while the clerks grinned. "However, you must come with me. Where do you +live?" + +"Warder Street, Lambeth," snuffled Alexander, and urged by the hand on +his collar, went out of the office with the detective. + +"We'll take a hansom," said Steel, and shortly was ensconced in one with +the miserable Alexander. + +As a rule a ride in a hansom would have been a joy to Master Benker, but +he was too much afraid of the meeting with his mother to take any +pleasure in the treat. However, he relied on the promise of the +detective that he would sooth the maternal ire, and managed to reply +fairly well to the questions Steel asked. These referred to Mr. Wilson. + +"Who is he?" demanded the detective. + +"Mother's lodger," replied Alexander; "he's been with her six months, +and mother thought a deal of him. He was kind to me." + +"Ah! Was he well off?" + +"I don't know. He paid his rent regular, but he wore shabby clothes, and +was always out. I only saw him at night when I came home from the +office." + +"Did he ask you many questions about the office?" + +"Oh, yes. He said he wished me to get on--that I was a smart boy, and a +credit to my mother." + +"So you are," answered Steel genially. "I'm sure she'll give you a proof +of her approval to-day. Now don't cry, boy." Steel shook Alexander, and +then demanded suddenly, "You copy all the letters, do you not?" + +"Yes, I do," answered Master Benker, wondering why this was asked. + +"And you read them sometimes?" + +"Nearly always. I like to know what's going on. Mr. Wilson said I should +make myself acquainted with everything." + +"I'm sure he did," muttered Steel ironically. "Did you read any letter +saying that Miss Kent had inherited a fortune? Miss Daisy Kent, who +lived with Mr. Morley at Rickwell?" + +Alexander thought for a moment. "Yes, I did. It was a letter to some +lawyers in Sydney." + +"Did you tell Mr. Wilson about it?" + +"Yes, sir. He was always talking about people coming in for money, and I +said that a girl called Miss Kent had come in for five thousand a year." + +"I thought so. When did you tell Mr. Wilson this?" + +"Three days after Christmas." + +"Before he offered to serve the summons?" + +"Why, I hadn't got the summons then," said Alexander. "Mr. Asher gave it +to me the day before New Year. I said I was going into the country to +Rickwell, for Mr. Wilson asked me what I was making myself smart for. He +said he'd take the summons, and that I could go to the Hippodrome with +Jim Tyler." + +"Which you did on your employer's money. You are a smart lad, Alexander. +What did your mother say?" + +"Mother was out when I came home with the summons, and after Mr. Wilson +said he'd take it I didn't say anything to her." + +"Then she thought that on the day before the New Year you were at the +office as usual?" + +"Yes," snuffled Master Benker, "she did. Oh, Lor'!" as the cab stopped +before a tidy house in a quiet street, "here we are." + +"And there is your mother," said the detective cheerfully, as a severe +face appeared at the white-curtained window. + +Alexander wept afresh as Steel paid the cabman, and positively howled +when the door opened and his mother--a lean woman in a black dress, with +a widow's cap--appeared. He would have run away but that Steel again +had a hand on his collar. + +"Alexander," cried his mother harshly, "what have you been doing?" + +"Nothing very dreadful, ma'am," interposed Steel. "It will be all right. +Let me in, and I'll speak for my young friend." + +"And who may you be, sir?" demanded Mrs. Benker, bristling. + +"A personal friend of Mr. Asher's." + +On hearing this dreaded name Mrs. Benker softened, and welcomed Steel +into a neat parlor, where he seated himself in a horsehair mahogany +chair of the most slippery description and related what had happened. +Alexander stood by and wept all the time. He wept more when his mother +spoke. + +"I expected it," she said in quiet despair; "that boy is the bane of my +life. I'll speak to you shortly, Alexander. Go to your room and retire +to bed." + +"Oh, mother! mother!" cried Master Benker, writhing at the prospect of a +thorough whipping. + +"Go to your room, Alexander, and make ready," repeated the widow, with a +glare, and the boy retired slowly, wriggling and snuffling. When his +sobs died away and an upstairs door was heard to close with a bang, Mrs. +Benker addressed herself to Steel. + +"I hope you will induce Mr. Asher to overlook this," she said, clasping +a pair of lean, mittened hands; "I am so poor." + +"I'll do my best," responded Steel; "that is, if you will give me some +information about your late lodger, Mr. Wilson." + +"Why should I do that?" asked Mrs. Benker suspiciously. + +"Because Mr. Asher wishes to know all about him. You see, your son +allowed Mr. Wilson to serve this summons, and it is necessary that Mr. +Asher should learn where he is." + +"That's only fair; but I don't know. Mr. Wilson has not returned here +since he left on the day before New Year." + +"Did he leave any luggage behind him?" + +"No, sir, he didn't." Mrs. Benker paused, then continued, "I'll tell you +exactly how it occurred, if Mr. Asher will make some allowance for the +wickedness of that wretched boy of mine." + +"I'll see what can be done, and use my influence with Mr. Asher." + +"Thank you, sir," said the widow gratefully. "Well, sir, I was absent +all the last day of the year, as I was seeing a married daughter of mine +in Marylebone. Mr. Wilson was in the house when I left at ten in the +morning, but said nothing about going away. When I returned at six in +the evening I found that he was gone bag and baggage, and that he had +left his rent on the table. Also a note saying that he was suddenly +called away and would not return." + +"Have you the note?" asked Steel, thinking it just as well to have some +specimen of Wilson's handwriting. + +Mrs. Benker shook her head. "I burnt it," she replied; "it was only +written in pencil and not worth keeping. I must say that Mr. Wilson +always behaved like a gentleman, although I saw little of him. He was +queer in his habits." + +"How do you mean--'queer'?" + +"Well, sir, I hardly ever saw him in the daytime, and when I did he +usually kept his blinds down in his room, as he suffered from weak eyes. +Even when he saw Alexander in the evening he would hardly have any +light. Then sometimes he would lie in bed all the day, and be out all +the night. At other times he would stay at home the whole of the +twenty-four hours. But he always paid his rent regularly, and gave +little trouble over his food. Yes," added Mrs. Benker, smoothing her +apron, "Mr. Wilson was always a gentleman. I will say that." + +"Humph!" thought Steel, taking all this in eagerly. "A queer kind of +gentleman," he added aloud. "Did you know anything else about him, Mrs. +Benker?" + +"No, sir." She drew herself up primly. "I never pry--never." + +"Did any one call to see Mr. Wilson?" + +"No one. All the time he was here not one person called." + +"Did he receive any letters?" + +"No. Not one letter arrived." + +"Queer," murmured Steel. "What newspaper did he take?" + +"The _Morning Post_. Also he took the _World_, _Truth_, _Modern +Society_, and _M. A. P._ He was fond of the fashionable intelligence." + +"Oh, he was, was he? Would you have called him a gentleman?" + +"He always paid his rent duly," hesitated Mrs. Benker, "so far he was a +perfect gentleman. But I have lived as a lady's maid in the best +families, sir, and I don't think Mr. Wilson was what you or I would call +an aristocrat." + +"I see. So you were a lady's maid once. In what families?" + +Mrs. Benker was not at all averse to relating her better days, and did +so with pride. "I was with the Countess of Flint, with Mrs. Harwitch, +and with Lady Susan Summersdale." + +"Ha!" said Steel, starting. He remembered that Morley had been concerned +with Lady Summersdale about the robbery of her jewels. "Did you tell Mr. +Wilson this?" he asked. + +"Oh, yes. We had long talks about aristocratic families." + +She repeated several tales she had told Wilson, and Steel asked her many +questions. When he took his leave he asked a leading one: "Did Mr. +Wilson wear a red cross as an ornament?" + +"On his watch-chain he did," said Mrs. Benker, and Steel departed very +satisfied with his day's work. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +ON A FRESH TRAIL + + +If Giles Ware had not been desperately in love and desperately anxious +to find Anne Denham, he would scarcely have gone to Paris on such a +wild-goose chase. The postmark on the letter showed that she was, or she +had been, in the French capital; but to find her in that immense city +was like looking for a haystack in a league-long desert. However, Ware +had an idea--foolish enough--that some instinct would guide him to her +side, and, therefore, as soon as he recovered sufficiently to travel he +crossed the Channel with Trim. He left Rickwell about three weeks after +his interview with Morley. Time enough, as he well knew, for Anne to +change her place of residence. But he trusted to luck. + +For quite a fortnight he explored the city, accompanied by the faithful +old servant. Trim had sharp eyes, and would be certain to recognize Anne +if she came within eyesight. But in spite of their vigilance and +observation, the two saw no one even distantly resembling Anne. +Certainly if Giles had gone to the authorities, who take note of all who +come and go, he might have been more successful. But knowing that Anne +was wanted by the English police, he did not dare to adopt this method. +He was forced to rely entirely on himself, and his search resulted in +nothing. + +"It ain't no good, Master Giles," said Trim for at least the tenth time; +"we've lost the scent somehow. Better go back to London. I don't want +you to be ill over here, sir, with nothing but foreign doctors to look +after you." + +"I shan't leave Paris until I am certain that she is not in the place," +declared Ware resolutely. + +"Well, sir, I don't know how much more certain you wants to be. We've +tramped them bullyvardes and Chamy Elizas till our feet are near +dropping off. You're looking a shadow, Master Giles, if you'll excuse an +old man as nursed you when you were a baby. She ain't here. Now I +shouldn't be surprised if she were in London," said Trim wisely. + +"What, in the very jaws of the lion? Nonsense!" + +"Oh, but is it, sir? I always heard it said by them as knows that the +jaws of the lion is the very last place any one expects to find them." +Trim did not state what "them" he meant. "If she went back to Rickwell +she would be safe, especially if she laid up in some cottage and called +herself a widder." + +"Trim, you've been reading detective novels!" + +"Not me, sir; I ain't got no time. But about this going back----" + +"We'll go back to-morrow, Trim," said Ware, with sudden resolution. And +Trim joyfully departed to pack. + +It just struck Giles that after all Trim might be right, and that having +thrown the police off the scent by going abroad in the yacht, Anne might +return to London. She might be there now, living in some quiet suburb, +while the police were wasting their time corresponding with the French +authorities. Moreover, Ware thought it would be just as well to learn +what Steel was doing. He had charge of the case and might have struck +the trail. In that case Giles wanted to know, for he could then avert +any possible danger from Anne. And finally he reflected that he might +learn something about Anne's friends from the people at the Governesses' +Institute where Mrs. Morley had engaged her. If she returned to London +it was not impossible that she might have gone to hide in the house of +some friend. Any one who knew Anne could be certain that she was not +guilty of the crime she was accused of, and would assuredly aid her to +escape the unjust law. So thought Giles in his ardor; but he quite +forgot that every one was not in love with Anne, and would scarcely help +her unless they were fully convinced of her innocence, and perhaps not +even then. Most people have a holy horror of the law, and are not +anxious to help those in danger of the long arm of justice. + +However, Giles reasoned as above and forthwith left Paris for London. He +took up his quarters in the Guelph Hotel, opposite the Park, and began +his search for Anne again. Luckily he had obtained from Mrs. Morley the +number of the Institute, which was in South Kensington, and the day +after his arrival walked there to make inquiries. It was a very forlorn +hope, but Ware saw no other chance of achieving his desire. + +The Institute was a tall red-brick house, with green blinds and a prim, +tidy look. He was shown into a prim parlor and interviewed by a prim old +lady, who wore spectacles and had a pencil stuffed in the bosom of her +black gown. However, she was less prim than she looked, and had a +cheerful old ruddy face with a twinkling pair of kindly eyes. In her +heart Mrs. Cairns admired this handsome young man who spoke so politely, +and was more willing to afford him the desired information than if he +had been elderly and ugly. Old as she was, the good lady was a true +daughter of Eve, and her natural liking for the opposite sex had not +been crushed out of her by years of education. Nevertheless when she +heard the name of Anne she threw up her hands in dismay. + +"Why do you come here to ask about that unfortunate girl?" she demanded, +and looked severely at Giles. Before he could reply she glanced again at +his card, which she held in her fingers, and started. "Giles Ware," she +read, drawing a quick breath. "Are you----" + +"I was engaged to the young lady who was killed," said Ware, surprised. + +Mrs. Cairns' rosy face became a deep red. "And you doubtless wish to +avenge her death by finding Miss Denham?" + +"On the contrary, I wish to save Miss Denham." + +"What! do you not believe her guilty?" + +"No, Mrs. Cairns, I do not. Every one says she killed the girl, but I am +certain that she is an innocent woman. I come to ask you if you can tell +me where she is." + +"Why do you come to me?" Mrs. Cairns went to see that the door was +closed before she asked this question. + +"I thought you might know of her whereabouts." + +"Why should I?" + +"Well, I admit that there is no reason why you should--at least, I +thought so before I came here." + +"And now?" She bent forward eagerly. + +"Now I think that if she had come to you for refuge she would get help +from you. I can see that you also believe her guiltless." + +"I do," said Mrs. Cairns in a low voice. "I have known Anne for years +and I am certain that she is not the woman to do a thing like this. She +would not harm a fly." + +"Then you can help me. You know where she is?" + +Mrs. Cairns looked at his flushed face, at the light in his eyes. In +her shrewd way she guessed the secret of this eagerness. "Then you love +her," she said under her breath. "You love Anne." + +"Why do you say that?" asked Giles, taken aback. He was not prepared to +find that she could read him so easily. + +"I remember," said Mrs. Cairns to herself, but loud enough for him to +hear, "there was a Society paper said something about jealousy being the +motive of the crime, and----" + +"Do you mean to say that such a statement was in the papers?" asked Ware +angrily, and with a flash of his blue eyes. + +"It was in none of the big daily papers, Mr. Ware. They offered no +explanation. But some Society reporter went down to Rickwell; to gather +scandal from the servants, I suppose." + +"Off from Mrs. Parry," muttered Giles; then aloud, "Yes?" + +"Well, this man or woman--most probably it was a woman--made up a very +pretty tale, which was printed in _The Firefly_." + +"A scandalous paper," said Ware, annoyed. "What did it say?" + +"That you were in love with Anne, that you were engaged to Miss Kent, +and that to gain you as her husband Anne killed the girl." + +"It's a foul lie. I'll horsewhip the editor and make him put in an +apology." + +"I shouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Ware," said the old lady dryly. +"Better let sleeping dogs lie. I don't believe the whole story +myself--only part of it." + +"What part, Mrs. Cairns?" + +"That part which says you love Anne. I can see it in your face." + +"If I can trust you----" + +"Certainly you can. Anne is like my own child. I believe her guiltless +of this terrible crime, and I would do anything to see her righted. She +did not kill the girl." + +"No, I believe the girl was killed by a nameless man who came to +Rickwell from some firm of solicitors. I don't know why he murdered the +poor child, no more than I can understand why Anne should have helped +him to escape." + +"You call her Anne," said Mrs. Cairns softly. + +Giles flushed through the tan of his strong face. + +"I have no right to do so," he said. "She never gave me permission. Mrs. +Cairns, I assure you that there was no understanding between Miss Denham +and myself. I was engaged by my father to Miss Kent, and we were to be +married. I fell in love with Miss Denham, and I have reason to believe +that she returned my love." + +"She told you so?" + +"No, no! She and I never said words like that to one another. We were +friends; nothing more. Miss Kent chose to be jealous of a trifling gift +I gave Miss Denham at Christmas, and there was trouble. Then came an +anonymous letter, saying that Anne wished to kill Daisy." + +"A letter, and said that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cairns in surprise. "But I +can't understand it at all. Anne had no enemies, so far as I know. No +one could hate so sweet a girl. Her father----" + +"Did you know her father?" asked Ware quickly. + +"No; but she often spoke of him. She was fond of her father, although he +seems to have been a wandering Bohemian. He died at Florence." + +"I wonder if he really did die." + +"Of course. He--but it's a long story, Mr. Ware, and I have not the +time to tell it to you. Besides, there is one who can tell you all about +Anne and her father much better than I can. The Princess Karacsay. Do +you know her?" + +"I have seen the name somewhere." + +"Probably on a programme," said Mrs. Cairns composedly. "Oh, don't look +so astonished. The Princess is really a Hungarian aristocrat. She +quarrelled with her people, and came to England with very little money. +To keep herself alive she tried to become a governess. Afterwards, +having a beautiful voice, she became a concert singer. I hear she is +very popular." + +"How should she know about Anne--I mean Miss Denham?" + +"Because if there is any woman to whom Anne would go in her distress, it +would be the Princess. She met Anne here while she was a governess, and +the two became great friends. They were always together. I do not know +where Anne is, Mr. Ware. She did not come to me, nor has she written; +but if she is in England the Princess will know." + +"Do you think she would tell me?" asked Giles eagerly. + +"I really don't know. She is romantic, and if she learned that you loved +Anne she might be inclined to help you. But that would depend upon Anne +herself. How is she disposed towards you?" + +For answer Giles related the episode of the foreign letter, with the +drawing of the coin and the one word "Innocent." Mrs. Cairns listened +quietly, and nodded. + +"Evidently Anne values your good opinion. I think you had better tell +all this to the Princess." She hastily wrote a few lines. "This is her +address." + +"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" + +"And, Mr. Ware," added the old lady, laying a kind hand on his arm, "if +you hear about Anne, come and tell me. I hope with all my soul that you +will be able to save the poor child." + +"If human aid can prove her innocence, you can depend upon me," was +Ware's reply. And taking leave of Mrs. Cairns, he left the Institute +with his heart beating and his head in the air. + +Giles was glad that his good fortune had led him to meet this true +friend of the woman he loved. He was also glad that he had been so open +with her about his passion, else she might not have sent him to the +Princess Karacsay. As the name came into his mind he glanced down at the +paper, which he still held. The address of Anne's friend was "42, +Gilbert Mansions, Westminster." Giles resolved to lose no time in +looking her up. She would be able to tell him where Anne was, and also +might be able to explain the mystery of Anne's life in general, and her +conduct at Rickwell in particular. + +For there was some mystery about Miss Denham. Ware was quite certain on +that point. She had said that her father was dead, and circumstances +pointed to the fact that her father was alive and was the nameless man +who had appeared and disappeared so suddenly. Then there was the strange +episode of the anonymous letter, and the queer reference therein to the +Scarlet Cross. Also the fact that the yacht in which Anne had fled was +called _The Red Cross_. All these things hinted at a mystery, and such +might in some indirect way be connected with the death of Daisy Kent. +Anne had not killed her; but since she had aided the murderer to escape +she must have condoned the crime in some way. Ware shuddered as he +looked at the matter in this light. What if Anne knew something about +the matter after all? The next moment he put the thought from him with +anger. Anne was good and pure, and her hands were clean from the stain +of blood. Such a woman would not--could not commit a crime either +directly or indirectly. When he saw her he would ask for an explanation, +and once she opened her mouth all would be made plain. + +Arguing thus with himself, Giles wrote a letter to the Princess Karacsay +and asked for an interview. He mentioned that he had seen Mrs. Cairns +and that the old lady had furnished him with the address. Also, he said +that his wish in seeing the Princess was to ask for the whereabouts of +Miss Denham. Having despatched this note, Giles felt that he could do no +more until he received a reply. + +But he was too restless to remain quiet. It occurred to him that he +might look up Steel and learn what fresh discoveries had been made in +connection with the Rickwell crime. He went to New Scotland Yard and +asked for the detective, but learned to his surprise and vexation that +the man was out of town and was not expected back for a week. No one +could say where he had gone, so Giles had to satisfy himself with +leaving a card and promising to call again. + +The next day he received a note from the Princess Karacsay asking him to +come the next evening at nine o'clock. She said nothing about Anne, nor +did she volunteer any information. She simply appointed an hour and a +place for the interview and signed herself Olga Karacsay. Giles felt +that she had been intentionally curt, and wondered if she intended to +give him a civil reception. After some thought he decided that she meant +to be kind, although the note read so coldly. He would go, and perhaps +during the interview she might be persuaded to help him. After all, she +must know that he had been engaged to marry the dead girl, and +fancied--as Mrs. Cairns had done--that he wished to have Anne arrested. + +The following evening he arrayed himself with particular care and drove +in a hansom to Westminster. The cab stopped before a great pile of brick +buildings near the Abbey, and when Giles had dismissed it he entered a +large and well-lighted hall with a tesselated pavement. Here a porter +volunteered, on ascertaining his business, to conduct him to the door of +the Princess Karacsay's flat, which was on the first floor. + +Giles was admitted by a neat maid-servant, who showed him into a +picturesque drawing-room. A tall woman in evening dress was standing +beside the window in the twilight. Giles thought her figure was familiar +and recognized the turn of her head. He uttered a cry. + +"Anne," he said, stretching his arms. "Anne, my dearest!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +PRINCESS KARACSAY + + +Even as he spoke the room was flooded with the light of the electric +lamps. The woman by the window turned and came forward smiling. With a +feeling of bitter disappointment Giles recoiled. It was not Anne. He had +been deceived by a chance resemblance. + +"I can quite understand your mistake," said the Princess Karacsay. "It +is not the first time that I have been taken for my friend." + +Indeed, she was very like Anne, both in figure and face. She had the +same dark hair and dark eyes, the same oval face and rich coloring. But +her expression was different. She was more haughty than Miss Denham, and +there was less simplicity in her manner. Even as Ware looked at her the +likeness seemed to vanish, and he wondered that he should have made such +a mistake. But for the twilight, the turn of her head, and her height, +together with the way in which she carried herself, he would not have +been deceived. + +"One would take you for Miss Denham's sister," he said when seated. + +The Princess smiled oddly. "We are alike in many ways," she replied +quietly. "I look upon Miss Denham as my second self. You called me Anne +when you mistook me for her," she added, with a keen glance. + +"I have no right to do so, Princess, but----" He hesitated, not knowing +how to choose his words. She saw his perplexity and smiled. + +"I quite understand, Mr. Ware." + +"Anne--I mean Miss Denham--has told you about me?" + +"I have not seen her for months, Mr. Ware, not since that terrible event +which has made a fugitive of her." + +Giles was bitterly disappointed, and his face showed his feelings. From +what Mrs. Cairns had said he was certain that the Princess would be able +to help him, and here she confessed an ignorance of Anne's whereabouts. +Nevertheless Ware still hoped. He thought that not knowing his real +errand, she was feigning ignorance for the sake of her friend's safety. +"I am sorry she has not spoken to you about me," he remarked, "for then +you would know that I wish her well." + +"Oh, I know that. Anne--I may as well call her Anne to you, Mr. +Ware--wrote to me from Rickwell several times. She told me all about +you. But I have not seen her since the death of your fiancee. I have no +idea where she is now." + +"I thought--and Mrs. Cairns thought--that she would come to you in her +distress, or at least communicate her whereabouts." + +"She has done neither, and I do not know where to address a letter." + +"What is to be done?" said Giles half to himself and much distressed. + +Princess Karacsay rose and glanced at the clock with a laugh. "Oh, if we +talk, something may come of our putting our heads together," she said. +"Meantime we can make ourselves comfortable. Here are coffee and +cigarettes, Mr. Ware. Would you prefer a cigar?" + +"No, thank you, Princess. These look very good." + +"Both coffee and cigarettes are Turkish," said she, handing him a cup +and afterwards a cigarette. "I get them from a cousin of mine who is an +attache at Constantinople. Come now." She lighted a cigarette for +herself and sat down on an amber divan near Ware's chair. "Let us talk +before my friend arrives." + +"I beg your pardon, Princess, I hope my coming----" + +"No, no," she explained hurriedly. "I asked my friend to meet you." + +"Indeed." Giles was much surprised. "I did not know we had a mutual +friend." + +The Princess nodded and blew a cloud of smoke. "At ten o'clock you shall +see him. I won't tell you who he is. A little surprise, Mr. Ware." + +Ware looked at her sharply, but could make nothing of the enigmatic +smile on her face. She was undeniably a very beautiful woman as she +lounged amongst the amber-tinted cushions, but in her dress and general +looks there was something barbaric. She wore a dinner dress of mingled +scarlet and black, and many chains of sequins which jingled with her +every movement. As Ware's eyes met her own she flashed a languorous look +at him, and a slow smile wreathed her full red lips. Giles could not +help admiring her, but he had a feeling that she was not altogether to +be trusted. It behove him to be wary in dealing with this superb +tigress. Yet, as another thought crossed his mind, he smiled +involuntarily. + +"Why do you smile, Mr. Ware?" asked the Princess. She spoke the English +language admirably, and with but a little foreign accent. + +"Pardon," replied Giles, still smiling, "but Mrs. Cairns told me that +at one time you aspired to become a governess. I can't imagine you +teaching children." + +"Ah, you have no imagination--no Englishman has. Children are fond of +me--very fond." She cast another look at his handsome face, and added +with emphasis, "I can make any one I choose fond of me." + +"I quite believe it, Princess. You have woman's imperial +sceptre--beauty." + +"A charming compliment," responded she, her mood changing, "but we are +not here to exchange compliments. So you love Anne?" + +"With all my heart and soul," he replied fervently. + +His hostess appeared rather disconcerted by this reply. "You are a +miracle of chivalry, my dear Mr. Ware," she said dryly. "But is it not +rather a large heart you have to love two women at the same time?" + +"I understand what you mean," answered Ware quietly, "but my engagement +to Miss Kent was purely a family arrangement. I loved Anne--I still love +her. All the same, I would have married Miss Kent had she not been +murdered." + +"You are very obedient, Mr. Ware." + +"And you very satirical, Princess. I could explain, but there is no need +for me to do so. I want to find Anne. Can you help me?" + +"Not at present, but I may be able to do so. Of course, you don't +believe that she killed your fiancee?" + +"Certainly not. I think the crime was committed by the man with whom she +fled." + +"A tall man with a red beard and hair and black eyes?" + +"Yes, yes. Do you know him? Who is he?" + +"I have had him described to me," responded the Princess calmly, "but I +know nothing about him." + +"Is he a friend of Anne's?" + +"That I don't know." + +She quietly selected another cigarette, lighted it, and looked with a +serene smile at her visitor. Giles was annoyed. "We don't seem to be +getting on with our business, Princess," he said roughly. + +"What is our business?" she demanded, looking at him through half-closed +eyes. Her scrutiny made Giles uncomfortable, and he shifted his seat as +he answered. + +"Mrs. Cairns said you could tell me about Anne." + +"So I can. What do you want to know, Mr. Ware?" + +"Who is she? Who was her father? Is he dead or alive? What do you know +about the Scarlet Cross, and----" He stopped, for the Princess had +opened her eyes to their fullest extent. + +"The Scarlet Cross. You know about that also?" she asked. + +"Of course I do. There was an anonymous letter----" + +"I have seen the letter, or at least a copy." + +"Indeed," said Ware, much astonished, "and an enamelled cross----" + +"I have seen the cross also." + +"It appears to me, Princess, that you know everything about the case." + +She glanced again at the clock, and smiled as she replied, "I am a +friend of Anne's, Mr. Ware. I daresay you would like to know who told me +all these things. Well, you shall be enlightened at ten o'clock. +Meantime I can tell you all I do know about Anne and her father." + +"You will speak freely?" he asked mistrustfully. + +"Absolutely. You--you--" she hesitated--"you love Anne." She gave him a +searching look. "Yes, I see you do. I can speak openly. Will you have +another cup of coffee? No! Another cigarette. Ah, there is the box. A +match. Now." + +"Now," said Giles eagerly, "what about Anne?" + +"What about myself first of all, Mr. Ware. I am a Hungarian. I +quarrelled with my people and ran away. Finding myself stranded in +London with very little money, I tried to get a post as a governess. I +went to Mrs. Cairns, and thus became acquainted with Anne. We became +great friends. She told me everything about herself. When I knew her +history we became greater friends than ever. I was a governess only for +a year. Then someone heard me sing, and----"--she shrugged her beautiful +shoulders--"but that is quite another story, Mr. Ware. I am a +concert-singer now, and it pays me excellently." + +"I am very pleased with your success, Princess. But Anne?" + +She flashed a rather annoyed look at him. "You are scarcely so +chivalrous as I thought, Mr. Ware," she said coldly. "No, say nothing; I +quite understand. Let us talk of Anne. I will tell you her history." She +re-lighted her cigarette, which had gone out, and continued, "Her father +was a gambler and a wanderer. He lived mostly on the Continent--Monte +Carlo for choice. Anne's mother"--here the Princess paused, and then +went on with an obvious effort--"I know nothing of Anne's mother, Mr. +Ware. She died when Anne was a child. Mr. Denham brought up his daughter +in a haphazard way." + +"Was his name really Denham?" + +"So Anne told me. I had no reason to think that it was otherwise. He was +a gentleman of good family, but an outcast from his people by reason of +his reckless folly. I also am an outcast," said she pleasantly, "but +merely because I am strong-minded. I am not foolish." + +"No, Princess," said Giles, looking keenly at her, "I should certainly +not call you foolish." + +"But I can be foolish on occasions," said she quickly, and flushed as +she glanced at him, "like all women. But Anne--I see we must get back to +Anne. Well, she, having better moral principles than her father, grew +wearied of their wandering life. She decided to become a governess. Mr. +Denham put her to school at Hampstead--a sister of Mrs. Cairns keeps the +school, and that is why Anne is so intimate with Mrs. Cairns--and when +her education was finished she took a situation in Italy. There she +remained some years. Afterwards she rejoined her father for a time. He +died at Florence--typhoid fever, I believe--and Anne found herself +alone. She returned to England, and assisted by Mrs. Cairns, took +various situations. She always returned to Mrs. Cairns when out of an +engagement. It was on one of these occasions that I met her. We have +been friends for a long time, Mr. Ware. Then Anne was engaged by Mrs. +Morley, and--and the rest you know. There is no more to be said." + +"Is that all?" said Giles, disappointed by this bald narrative. + +The Princess shrugged her shoulders, and throwing aside her cigarette, +leaned back with her hands behind her head. "What would you, Mr. Ware? +Anne is a good woman. Good women never have any history." + +"Can you tell me anything about the Scarlet Cross?" + +"Anne never spoke of such a thing to me. But my friend may be able to +tell you. Ah!"--the Princess raised her head as a ring came to the +door--"there is my friend. Before his time, too. But we have finished +our conversation, Mr. Ware." + +"For the present, yes." + +She looked at him suddenly. "But certainly," she said in her vivacious +way, "you must come and see me again. We will have much to talk of. You +love music. I will sing to you, and----" Here she broke off to greet a +new-comer, much to the relief of Giles, who was beginning to feel +uncomfortable. "How do you do, Mr. Steel?" + +With an exclamation Ware rose. It was indeed Steel who stood before him +looking as round and rosy and cheerful as ever. "You are surprised to +see me, sir," he said, with a twinkle. + +"I am very much surprised. I went to see you yesterday----" + +"And found that I was out of town. So I was, so I am supposed to be, but +the telegram of the Princess here told me that she expected you this +evening, so I left my country business and came up." + +"You see," said the Princess, sitting down again amongst her cushions, +"you see, Mr. Ware, I told you we had a mutual friend. Now you know how +I am so well acquainted with the case," and she laughed. + +"The Princess," explained Steel, seeing Giles' astonishment, "read all +about the case. Being a friend of Miss Denham's and seeing that I had +charge of the matter, she sent for me. We have talked over the case, and +I have received much assistance from Miss--I mean from this very clever +lady, the Princess Karacsay," and Steel bowed. + +"But," stammered Ware, still puzzled, "you believe Miss Denham to be +guilty. Surely the Princess will not----" + +"No, no!" came from the divan in the deep-toned voice of the woman. +"Anne is my friend. I would not help him to arrest her." + +"The fact is," said Steel easily, "I have changed my opinion, Mr. Ware, +and I think Miss Denham is innocent. The man who killed Miss Kent is +called Wilson." + +"Wilson. And who is Wilson, and why did he kill her?" + +"I don't know who Wilson is," replied Steel. "I am trying to find out. I +am not quite certain why he killed her, but I am beginning to suspect +that it was on account of this inherited money. I told you that, +Princess," he added, turning to the divan. + +"Yes, Mr. Steel. And I said then, I say now, I do not agree." + +"If you would be more explicit," said Ware, feeling helpless. + +Steel took no notice of him for the moment. "Then if it's not the money +I don't know what the motive can be." He turned to Ware. "See here, sir. +This Wilson, whomsoever he may be, lived with the mother of Asher's +office-boy--he was her lodger. The boy told him about the money coming +to Miss Kent. Afterwards the lad had a summons given him to serve on +Morley. Wilson offered to take it, and did so. He removed his effects +from Mrs. Benker's house--she's the mother of the lad--and went down to +Rickwell. You know what happened there. Now if he didn't kill Miss Kent +on account of the money, why did he ask the office-boy about the +matter?" + +Giles shook his head. "I can't say," he said, "no more than I can +explain why Miss Denham helped him to escape." + +"Well,"--Steel scratched his chin--"I have an idea about that. But you +must not be offended if I speak plainly, Mr. Ware." + +"I shall be offended if you speak evil of my friend Miss Denham." This +was from the Princess, who raised herself up with her eyes flashing +angrily. "I will not have it," she said. + +"Then am I to say nothing?" asked Steel ironically. + +"Nothing against Miss Denham," put in Giles. + +"You are both rather difficult to deal with," remarked Steel, with a +shrug. "However, I'll explain, and you can draw your own inferences. It +seems from what Mrs. Benker said that Mr. Wilson was mostly out all +night and in all day. Also he was frequently absent for a long time. He +likewise took much interest in Society newspapers and in the movements +of the aristocracy. He also wore on his chain an ornament--a +red-enamelled cross, in fact." + +"What!" cried Giles, with a start, and he noted that the Princess +started likewise, and that her face grew pale. + +"He wore a red-enamelled cross," repeated Steel imperturbably, "on his +watch-chain. Mrs. Benker had been in the service of the late Lady +Summersdale when the diamonds of that lady were stolen. She remembered +that a red-enamelled cross had been found in the safe whence the jewels +were taken. Wilson was amused at this. He said that the cross was the +emblem of a charitable society from which he received a weekly sum. +Well"--he hesitated and looked at his listeners--"that clue came to an +end. I lost sight of Wilson. I then went to look for _The Red +Cross_--the yacht, I mean!" + +"What has the yacht to do with Wilson?" asked Ware angrily. + +"If you remember, sir, I told you that Wilson was the man who served the +summons on Mr. Morley, and who, as I believed, killed Miss Kent. He +afterwards fled with Miss Denham and went on board the yacht. Is not +that the case, sir?" + +"So far as I can judge, it is," muttered Giles reluctantly. + +"Well, then," went on Steel triumphantly, while the Princess--as Giles +observed--listened intently, "I looked after that yacht. I could not +find her, but I am looking for her now. That is why I am in the country. +I came up this morning from Deal, and I go back there to-morrow. I find, +sir, that this yacht puts in at various places every now and then." + +"Most yachts do." + +"Yes, sir. But while most yachts are at anchor in a place does a +burglary invariably occur? No, sir, wait," for Giles had sprung to his +feet. "Lady Summersdale's place was on the seashore. Her diamonds were +stolen. At the time this yacht was at anchor in the bay. A red cross was +found in the safe. The boat is called by that name. Several times I find +that when the yacht has been at a certain place a burglary has occurred. +This man Wilson wears a red cross on his watch-chain. Now, sir, I +believe that he is one of a gang of burglars--that the cross is a sign. +This explains his interest in the Society papers. He wants to find out +where the best swag is to be found, and----" + +"But what has all this to do with my friend Anne?" cried the Princess. + +Steel shrugged his shoulders. "I say nothing," he replied. "You can draw +your own inferences." + +"Do you mean to say that Miss Denham----" + +"I say nothing," interrupted Steel, catching up his hat. "Mr. Ware, I am +at your service when you want me. Princess!" He bowed and went out. + +As the outer door closed Giles and his hostess looked at one another. +"The man's a foul liar," burst out Giles furiously. + +"Yes." The woman was very pale. "Still, my friend Anne once told +me----" + +"Told you what?" + +"What I will tell you if you come again," she said under her breath, and +suddenly left the room. She did not return. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +MRS. PARRY'S TEA + + +Six months had passed away since the death of Daisy. The grass was now +green above her grave. Where she had fallen there had she been buried +beside her father, and the villagers often talked of the tragedy, and +pointed out to strangers the spot where it had taken place. But she who +had killed the girl--they still considered Anne guilty--had never been +brought to justice. From the day she had fled on Ware's motor-car +nothing had been heard of her. + +No one troubled about the dead girl. Daisy had not been very popular +during her life, and now that she was gone her name was scarcely +mentioned. For a time Mrs. Morley had placed flowers on the green mound, +but after her return from Brighton had desisted. The grass grew long, +and the path beside the grave green. A tombstone of white marble had +been erected by Giles, and already that was becoming discolored. Daisy +and her resting-place were forgotten. The poor child might have been +dead a hundred years instead of six months. Only the tale of her death +remained as a fireside legend, to be amplified and improved upon as the +years went by. + +After that one sensation life went on in Rickwell very much as it had +always done. Morley and his wife returned to The Elms, and instead of +having a new governess the triplets went to school. Mrs. Morley never +spoke of Anne or Daisy, and seemed to grow no more cheerful than before +even in the perfect summer weather. She still looked pale and subdued, +and her eyes still had in their watery depths an anxious expression. +Everyone said that she was regretting the death of Daisy and the +wickedness of Anne; but others remarked that she had looked just as +haggard and worn before as after the tragedy. Mrs. Parry gave it as her +opinion that the poor lady had a secret sorrow, and tried by skilful +questioning to learn what it was. But either Mrs. Parry was not clever +enough or Mrs. Morley had no secret to reveal, for the scandal-monger +learned nothing. The only thing that Mrs. Morley said was that she +missed her girls. Whereupon Mrs. Parry told her that she ought to be +ashamed of herself, seeing that the three were getting a good education. +However, this did not seem to console Mrs. Morley much, for she wept +copiously in her usual fashion. + +The good old lady returned to her cottage very much disgusted. It was +rather a dull time for her, as she had heard no news for a long time. +Everyone was so well-behaved that there was no scandal going, and Mrs. +Parry began to think that she ought to pay a visit to town. Her cousin, +Mrs. McKail, had already gone back to New Zealand with a fearful opinion +of English Society, for Mrs. Parry had blackened the country just as +though she had been a pro-Boer. + +Then one day her little maid, who was called Jane, and had the sharpest +ears of any one in the village, brought in breakfast with the remark +that Mr. Ware had returned. Mrs. Parry sat up in bed, where she always +partook of the first meal of the day, and looked excited. + +"When did he arrive, Jane? How does he look? What does he say?" + +Jane, being experienced, answered these questions categorically. + +"He came last night, mum, with Trim, and looks a shadder of hisself, but +said as he was glad to be home again, and what was the news." + +"Ho!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose with a teaspoon, "wants to hear +the news, does he? I'll ask him to tea to-morrow--no, to-day. You can +take a note up to his place, Jane." + +"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who was friendly with Giles' housekeeper. + +"And don't let me hear that you've been gossiping with the servants, +Jane," snapped Mrs. Parry, who was unusually cross in the morning, and +looked an ogress without her wig. "I hate gossip. You have two ears and +one mouth, Jane; that means you should listen twice as much as you +speak." + +"Yes, mum," replied Jane, who had long since taken the measure of her +mistress's foot. Then she went to the door, and was recalled to be told +that the cook was to make a cake. She was going again, and had to return +for instructions about some particular tea. Then there was the silver to +be especially polished, and various other matters to be gone into, until +Jane's head was whirling and her feet ached. She went down to the +kitchen and told the cook that the old vinegar bottle was more fractious +than usual. If only Mrs. Parry had heard her! But she thought Jane was +afraid of her, whereas Jane was meek to her face and saucy behind her +back. The old lady heard all the gossip in the neighborhood, but she +never knew the remarks that were made in her own kitchen. + +However, it thus came about that Giles received a civil note from Mrs. +Parry, asking him to come to afternoon tea. His first thought was to +refuse, but he then reflected that if he wanted to learn all that had +taken place during his absence, Mrs. Parry was the very person who could +tell him. He knew she was an old cat, and had a dangerous tongue. Still, +she was much better than a newspaper, being, as her enemies said, more +spicy. He therefore accepted the invitation, and appeared in the little +parlor about five. He had been for a ride, and having put his horse up +at the inn, asked the old lady to excuse his dress. Mrs. Parry did so +with pleasure. + +Giles was a splendid figure of a man, and looked a picture in his trim +riding-dress. The old dame had an eye for a fine man, and cast an +approving glance at his shapely legs and slim figure. But she frowned +when her eyes rose to his face. It was thinner than she liked to see; +there was not the old brave light in his eyes, and his fair moustache +had lost the jaunty curl, which, to her romantic mind, had made him such +a gallant lover. + +Giles was one of the few persons Mrs. Parry did not abuse, for his good +looks and many courtesies had long since won her foolish old heart, +although she would never confess to it. But then, Mrs. Parry was softer +than she looked. + +"Who had been taking the heart out of you, Ware?" she asked in her +gentlemanly way, which Giles knew and had often laughed at. + +"No one," he answered gloomily, "unless you call Fate some one." + +"I call Anne Denham some one," she replied coolly, "so you haven't found +her yet, poor soul!" + +"No; I have looked everywhere. She has vanished like a bubble." + +"It is just as well. You couldn't possibly marry her and bring her back +to Rickwell as your wife." + +"Why not? She is innocent. You said yourself that she was." + +"And I believe it. I have stood up for her all through. All the same, +Ware, there would be a scandal if she came back as Mrs. Ware." + +"I don't care two straws for that," said Giles, flinging back his head. + +"No," she replied dryly, "I know that. You're an obstinate man, as any +one can see with half an eye. Well, I'm glad to see you again. Sit down +in the armchair yonder and tell me what you have been doing all these +months. No good, if your face is the index of your mind." + +Ware laughed, and sitting down managed to stow his long legs out of the +way--no easy matter in the little room. Then he accepted a cup of +excellent tea from Mrs. Parry and some of her celebrated cake. + +He did not reply immediately, as he did not want to tell her the truth. +She had too long a tongue to be told anything which it was necessary to +keep secret. He put her off as he best could with a general answer. + +"I have just been going to and fro." + +"Like Satan," sniffed Mrs. Parry. "He's your model, is he? So you have +been searching for Anne. Where?" + +"In Paris and in London. But I can't find her." + +"She doesn't want you to find her," replied the old lady. "If she did, +you would stand face to face with her soon enough." + +"That goes without the speaking," retorted Ware. "However, my adventures +would not amuse you, Mrs. Parry. Suppose you tell me what has been +going on in these parts?" + +"As if I knew anything of what was going on," said Mrs. Parry. + +Giles laughed. + +It was a fiction with Mrs. Parry that she never interfered with other +people's business, whereas there was not a pie within miles into which +she had not thrust her finger. But he knew how to start her tongue. + +"The Morleys, what about them?" + +"No change, Ware. The Tricolor has gone to school--I mean the three +children--although I can't get out of the habit of calling them by that +ridiculous name. Mrs. Morley is as dismal as ever, and seems to miss +Anne very much." + +"As well she might. Anne was a good friend to her. And Morley?" + +"He has found a new friend," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly, "a man called +Franklin." + +"George Franklin!" cried Ware, startled, for he had heard all about the +fortune from Steel. "He is the man who inherited the five thousand a +year that Powell left to Daisy. Steel, the detective, told me, and, now +I think of it, Morley told me himself when I was ill." + +"It's the same man, Ware. He has been here two months, and has taken the +Priory." + +"That's a cheerful place," said Giles. "Why, it has been standing empty +for three years." + +"I know. The last tenants left because they said it was haunted." + +"Rubbish! And by what?" + +"By a white lady. She wanders up and down the park, wringing her hands. +But this Franklin evidently does not believe in ghosts, for he has been +there these two months, and never a word from him." + +"What kind of a man is he?" + +"A tall man, with very black eyes, and a black beard. No," added Mrs. +Parry, correcting herself, "I am wrong. He had a beard when he first +came, and now has shaved it off." + +"Have you seen much of him?" + +"Hardly anything. Morley is the only person with whom he is intimate in +any degree. He hardly ever comes out, and when people call he is not at +home. Why the man should have five thousand a year I can't make out. He +does no good with it." + +"Any family? a wife?" + +"There is a daughter, I understand, but she is an invalid, and keeps to +her room or to the grounds. Weak in the head I should say, seeing how +secluded her father keeps her." + +"Have you seen her?" + +"Yes, I came on her unexpectedly one day--or rather one evening. A short +girl, with red hair and a freckled face. She looks a fool, and was +dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. I don't wonder he--I mean +Franklin--keeps her out of sight." + +"Humph!" said Ware, rather astonished by the extent of Mrs. Parry's +information, "did the servants tell you all this?" + +"There are no servants," retorted Mrs. Parry, with scorn. "The man is a +mean creature. You may not believe me, Ware, but he has only three +people to do the work of that huge house." + +"Then there are three servants?" + +"Some people might call them so," retorted Mrs. Parry, determined not to +give up her point, "but they are a queer lot--not at all like the +domestic I have been used to. An old man, who acts as a kind of butler; +a woman, his wife, who is the cook; and a brat of fifteen, the daughter +I expect, who does the general work. Oh, it's quite a family affair." + +"A queer household. Does this man intend to stop long?" + +"He has taken the Priory on a seven years' lease." + +"And Morley visits him?" + +"Yes, and he visits Morley. They are as thick as thieves. Perhaps they +may be thieves for all I know." + +"Does this man Franklin go about much?" + +"Not a great deal, but he occasionally takes a walk into the village. +Sometimes he comes to church, and I believe the rector has called. I +wish any one but him had taken the Priory. We want company in this dull +place. Will you call and see him?" + +"I ought to," replied Ware slowly, "seeing that I was engaged to Daisy, +who should have had the money. But from what you say I should not think +Franklin would care to see me, and certainly he does not seem to be a +desirable neighbor." + +"He's quite a mistake," snorted Mrs. Parry. "I tried to be friendly, but +he gave me to understand that he preferred his books to my company. He's +a great reader, I understand." + +Evidently the good lady was somewhat sore on the subject, for she +shortly changed it for another. First she began to talk of Daisy; +secondly, wonder who had killed her, and why; and thirdly, she made +mention of the grave. "There's something queer about that," she +remarked, rubbing her nose, a sure sign of perplexity. + +"How do you mean, queer?" + +"Well----" Mrs. Parry looked thoughtfully at her guest. Then, before +replying, she gave him permission to smoke. "I like the scent of a cigar +about the place," she said; "it reminds me of the Colonel. He was an +awful man to smoke. The one habit I could not break him of." + +Giles lighted a cigarette willingly enough, and repeated his question. +This time he got an answer that surprised him. "It's this way," said the +old lady, taking up her knitting, "for some time the grave was quite +neglected." + +"No, I gave orders that it should be looked after. I told Drake and my +gardener. He's a friend of the sexton's, and I thought there would be no +trouble." + +"There has been, then," said Mrs. Parry triumphantly. "The sexton and +your gardener quarrelled, and have not been on speaking terms for +months. Thomas, the sexton, won't let Williams do anything to the grave, +and out of spite won't touch it himself, so it went to rack and ruin. +The grass is long--or rather was long--and the flowers all gone to seed. +A sore wreck, Ware." + +"I am most annoyed. I'll see about it to-morrow." + +"There is no need. The grave is now as neat as a new pin. The grass is +clipped, and fresh flowers were planted a month ago. I never saw a grave +better kept. Quite a labor of love." + +"And who has done this? Mrs. Morley?" + +"Pish!" said the old dame pettishly. "As though that woman had the +gumption to do anything. Humph! No one knows who has done it." + +"What do you mean?" Ware looked puzzled. + +"What I say; I usually do. The grave has been put to rights. At first +few people noticed it, because few go into that corner; but one day some +imp of a choir boy saw the improvement, and told old Thomas. He came and +looked at it, and others came. No one knew who had put it to rights. +Then," continued Mrs. Parry impressively, "it was discovered that it was +done at night." + +"At night?" + +"Yes; but no one seems to know by whom or at what time. Every morning +some fresh improvement was noted. Some people watched, but saw no one +coming. Yet when the watching was dropped there was something fresh +done. It may be a brownie," added Mrs. Parry, with a sniff, "but it's a +mystery. Even I can't find out the truth." + +"It's very strange," said Ware thoughtfully. + +"It's worse; it's improper," cried Mrs. Parry in her sternest voice. "I +see no reason why such a thing should be done in the darkness of night. +Though to be sure," she continued, rubbing her nose, "we have had +moonlight lately." + +"I must see into this," said Ware, rising. + +"You'll find nothing. Everyone has watched, but to no purpose, my +friend. Now the idiots talk of ghosts, and what not." + +"What do you think yourself?" asked Giles. + +"Why, that some one who loved Daisy better than you did has taken pity +on her neglected grave, and----" + +"Don't!" he cried, wincing. "I did my best to make her happy. The +engagement was unfortunate." + +"The marriage would have been still more so. It is just as well the poor +girl died. No, no, I don't blame you. But Anne----" + +"Don't say a word against Anne," he interrupted quickly. Then, before +his hostess could reply, he took his leave. "I must be going now." + +Mrs. Parry was not at all pleased, but knowing how far she could go, +decided that she had reached the limit of his forbearance. With feminine +craft she smothered her resentment, and parted from him in the most +cordial manner. All the same, she still held to her opinion that Anne +was not the wife for her favorite. + +Giles went at once to the churchyard to view Daisy's grave. He found +everything in good order. The grass was shorn, the flowers were +blooming, and the white marble of the stone had been cleansed carefully. +Wondering who had performed this labor of love, he returned to get his +horse. At the gate of the churchyard a tall man passed him with bent +head. As he brushed past the young squire he raised it suddenly. Giles +saw a clean-shaven face, large black eyes, and a sallow complexion. He +stood aside to let him pass. + +"Rather a nice day," said Ware pleasantly. + +"Very," responded the man, and continued his walk. + +Giles knew very well that he was the new tenant of the Priory. It was in +his mind to speak to him, but on second thoughts he decided to do so on +a more propitious occasion. Standing at the gate, he looked thoughtfully +after the retiring figure. There was something familiar about it and +about the face of the man. His eyes especially aroused a vague +recollection in his mind, but he could not, as the saying goes, "put a +name to it." But while walking to the inn it suddenly flashed into his +brain that this was the man whom he had seen in church on that fatal New +Year's Eve. + +"It's the clerk," he said breathlessly. "He has shaved his beard. He is +Wilson, the man who fled with Anne, who murdered poor Daisy!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS + + +The more Giles thought about Franklin, the more he was certain that he +was the man for whom search was being made. To be sure there was no +distinguishing mark of identification; the evidence that he was one and +the same amounted to the facts that he had large black eyes, and that +his height and figure resembled the so-called Wilson. Moreover, although +other people in the village had seen the clerk, no one but Giles seemed +to recognize him. In fact, this recognition was rather due to an +instinct than to any tangible reason. But in his own mind he was +convinced. He recalled how the man had suddenly removed his scarf as +though he were stifling on that night. He remembered the wan face, the +dark, anxious face, and the rough red beard and hair. + +To be sure Franklin was dark-haired and sallow in complexion; also he +was clean-shaved, and even when not--according to Mrs. Parry--had worn a +full black beard. But the red hair and whiskers might have been assumed +as a disguise. Giles did not know very well how to verify his +suspicions. Then he determined to confide in Morley. Steel had told him +that the proprietor of The Elms was an ex-detective, and Giles thought +that for the sake of avenging Daisy's death he might be induced to take +up his old trade. With this idea he called at The Elms. + +Morley was delighted to see him and welcomed him in the most cheerful +manner. He and Giles were always good friends, and the only subject of +contention between them was the question of Anne's guilt. Morley still +believed that the governess had committed the crime and asked after her +at the outset of the interview. + +"Have you found her?" he asked, just as Mrs. Parry had done. + +Giles knew quite well of whom he was speaking. "No, I have not," he +answered; "and if I had I certainly should not tell you." + +"As you please," replied the little man complacently; "you will never +see the truth." + +"It is not the truth. But see here, Morley, what is the use of our +discussing this matter? You believe Miss Denham to be guilty. I am +certain that she is innocent. Let the difference between us rest there. +Still, if I could prove the innocence of Miss Denham----" + +"I should be more than delighted," responded Morley quickly, "and would +make all the amends in my power for my unjust suspicions. But you have +first to prove them unjust. Believe me, Ware, I admired Miss Denham as +much as my wife did, and thought much of her. I defended her from poor +Daisy's aspersions, and would have stood her friend all through but for +this last act of hers. Well! Well, don't get angry. I am willing to be +shown that I am wrong. Show me." + +Giles reflected for a moment, then went straight to the point. + +"I have been with Steel," he said abruptly, "and he tells me that you +have been in the detective line yourself." + +Morley nodded. "Quite so," he answered, "although I asked Steel to say +nothing about it. I am a private gentleman now, and I don't want my +former occupation to be known in Rickwell. A prejudice exists against +detectives, Ware. People don't like them, because every one has +something to conceal, and with a trained man he or she is afraid lest +some secret sin should come to light." + +"It may be so, although that is rather a cynical way of looking at the +matter. But you are really Joe Bart?" + +"Yes. And quite at your service. Only keep this quiet." + +"Certainly. I quite appreciate your reasons for wanting the matter kept +quiet. But see here, Mr. Morley--I shall call you so." + +"It will be better," replied the ex-detective cheerfully, "and I have a +sort of right to the name. It was my mother's." + +"Very good. Then as Morley why should you not exercise your old skill +and help me to find out who killed Daisy?" + +"I should be delighted, and what skill remains to me is at your service. +But I am rusty now, and cannot follow a trail with my old persistence or +talent. Besides, my mind is made up as to the guilt----" + +"Yes, yes," interposed Giles hastily, "you think so, but I don't agree +with you. Now listen to what I have to tell you, and I am sure you will +think that it was the man who killed Daisy." + +"But he had no motive." + +"Yes, he had. I'll tell it to you concisely." + +Morley looked surprised at Giles' insistence, but nodded without a word +and waited for an explanation. Giles related all that he had learned +about Wilson, and how Steel had connected him with the supposed clerk +who had served the summons on Morley. Then he proceeded to detail +Steel's belief that the so-called Wilson was a burglar, and mentioned +the fact of the yacht with the strange name. Morley listened in silence, +but interrupted the recital with a laugh, when the scarlet cross was +mentioned in connection with the robbery at Lady Summersdale's house. + +"Steel has found a mare's nest this time," he said coolly. "He knew +better than to come to me with such a cock and bull story, although he +has imposed very successfully on you and on that Hungarian Princess you +talk of. I had the Summersdale case in hand." + +"I know. Steel said that you carried it through successfully." + +Morley demurred. "I don't know if you can say that I was successful, +Ware. It was not one of my lucky cases. I certainly got back the jewels. +I found them in their London hiding-place, but I did not catch one of +the thieves. They all bolted." + +"In _The Red Cross_ yacht." + +"Oh, that's all rubbish," said Morley frankly; "there were a great many +yachts at Bexleigh on that occasion. I don't remember one called _The +Red Cross_. And even if one of that name was there, it does not say that +it is the same that was off Gravesend the other day." + +"Six months ago," corrected Giles gravely; "but how do you account for +the fact that wherever that yacht has been burglaries have taken place?" + +"I can't account for it, and Steel has yet to prove that there is any +connection between the yacht and the robberies. He thinks it a kind of +pirate ship evidently. Not a bad idea, though," added Morley musingly; +"the goods could be removed easily without suspicion on board a +good-looking yacht." + +"And that is what has been done." + +"It wasn't in the matter of Lady Summersdale's jewels," retorted the +ex-detective. "I found those in London, and have reason to believe that +they were taken there by train. Besides, there was no connection between +the yacht and that robbery." + +"Steel said that a scarlet cross was found in the safe, and----" + +"And," interrupted Morley, "there you have the long arm of coincidence, +Ware. That cross belonged to Lady Summersdale, and was one of the +trinkets left behind. If you want proof on this point, you have only to +ask Lady----no, I forgot, she is dead. However, I daresay her son or +daughter will be able to prove that the cross was hers." + +Giles was much disappointed by this explanation, which seemed clear +enough. And if any one should know the truth, it would be the man who +had taken charge of the case. Failing on this point, Giles shifted his +ground. + +"Well, Morley," he said, "I am not very anxious to prove this man Wilson +a burglar. He is a murderer, I am sure, and the greater crime swallows +up the lesser." + +"That sounds law," said Morley, lighting a cigar. + +"Well, Ware, I don't see how I can help you. This man Wilson, whether he +is innocent or guilty, has vanished; and, moreover, his connection, if +any, with the Summersdale robbery of ten years ago won't prove him +guilty of my poor ward's death." + +"I only mentioned that to show his connection with the yacht at +Gravesend. But as to this Wilson, I know where he is." + +Morley wheeled round with an eager light in his eyes. "The devil you do. +Where is he?" + +"At the Priory." + +"Is this a joke?" cried Morley angrily. "If so, it is a very poor one, +Ware. The man who lives at the Priory is my friend Franklin----" + +"He is also the man who was in the church on New Year's Eve--the man who +killed Daisy, as I truly believe." + +Giles went on to state what his reasons were for this belief. All at +once Morley started to his feet. "Ah! I know now why something about him +seemed to be familiar to me. What a fool I am! I believe you are right, +Ware." + +"What? That he is this man Wilson?" + +"I don't know what his former name was," replied Morley, with a shrug, +"but now you mention it I fancy he is the man who served the summons on +me." + +"You ought to know," said Ware dryly; "you saw him in this room, and in +a good light." + +"True enough, Ware; but all the time he kept his collar up and that +white scarf round his throat. His chin was quite buried in it. And then +he had a rough red--wig, shall we say? and a red beard. I didn't trouble +to ask him to make himself comfortable. All I wanted was to get him out +of the way. But I remember his black eyes. Franklin has eyes like that, +and sometimes I catch myself wondering where I have seen him before. He +tells me he has lived in Florence these six years and more. I fancied +that when I was a detective I might have seen him, but he insisted that +he had not been to London for years and years. He originally came from +the States. And I was once a detective! Good Lord, how I have lost my +old cleverness! But to be sure I have been idle these ten years." + +"Then you think Franklin is this man?" + +"I think so, but of course I can't be sure. Naturally he will deny that +he is, and I can't prove the matter myself. But I tell you what, Ware," +said Morley suddenly, "get that woman Wilson lodged with down, and see +if she will recognize Franklin as her former lodger. She, if any one, +will know him, and perhaps throw him off his guard." + +Ware rose. "A very good idea," he said. "I'll write to her at once. I am +certain this is the man, especially as he has inherited Daisy's money. +He killed her in order to get the fortune, and that was why he kept +asking Asher's office boy about money left to people." + +"Ah!" Morley looked thoughtful. "So that was the motive, you think?" + +"I am sure of it, and a quite strong enough motive for many people," +said Ware grimly. "If Mrs. Benker can verify this man, I'll have him +arrested. He will have to explain why he came here instead of the office +boy, and why he fled on that night." + +"Yes, yes!" cried Morley excitedly. "And he might perhaps explain why +the governess helped him to escape." + +"Ah!" Giles' face fell. "So he might; but if he dares to inculpate her +in this crime----" + +"Ware," said Morley, laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if I +were you I should do nothing rash. Every one thinks that Miss Denham is +guilty. If this Franklin is the man who fled with her, he will accuse +her to save himself. Certainly there is the motive of the money, but +that might be explained away." + +"I don't see how it can." + +"Nor I; still, there is always the chance. Again, he may take +alarm--always presuming he is the man--and fly. I tell you what, Ware, +you bring Mrs. Benker down, and take her into the grounds of the Priory. +I will arrange that Franklin, without suspecting her or us, shall meet +her, accidentally, at some place where we can hide. Then we can overhear +if he is the man or not." + +"He'll deny that he is." + +"Why should he? There is nothing, so far as he knows, that Mrs. Benker +can lay hold of. If he is the man he will admit his identity, if not, he +will explain who he is. Whereas if we show ourselves and show that we +suspect him, he will be on his guard. No, Ware; better let the woman +meet him by chance." + +"It's a good plan," replied Giles, shaking hands heartily with Morley. +"I am delighted that you should co-operate with me. We will yet prove +that Anne is innocent." + +"I hope so," cried his host, slapping Giles on the back. "Off with you, +Ware, to do your part. I'll attend to Franklin. But say no word of our +plan to any one. Upon my word," cried he jubilantly, "I feel just as +though I were in the profession again." And thus laughing and joking, he +sent his visitor away in the best of spirits. + +Delighted that he had some one to help him, Giles lost no time in +performing his part of the business. He sent a letter to Mrs. Benker, +asking her to come down for a couple of days. It was his intention to +invite Alexander also, as the boy would also be useful in identifying +Franklin as his mother's former lodger; but since leaving Asher's +Alexander had been taken up by Steel, who saw in him the makings of a +good detective. If Alexander learned anything he would certainly tell +his master, and then Steel would come down to interfere. Ware did not +want him to meddle with the matter at present. He wished to be sure of +his ground first, and then would ask the assistance of the detective to +have Franklin arrested. Of course, he had every confidence in Steel, but +for the above reason he determined to keep his present action quiet. +Also, Steel was on the south coast, hunting for evidence concerning _The +Red Cross_ yacht, and would not be pleased at being taken away to +follow what might prove to be a false trail. Ware therefore said nothing +to Mrs. Benker about what he desired to see her, but simply asked her to +come down on a visit. + +There was a prospect of his having another visitor, and one he did not +much wish to meet. This was the Princess Karacsay. Several times he had +called to see her, but she had always put off her promised explanation +on some plea or another. Instead of attending strictly to the business +which had brought them together, she made herself agreeable to +Giles--too agreeable he thought, for he had by this time got it into his +head that Olga Karacsay was in love with him. He was not a vain young +man, and tried to think that her attentions were merely friendly; but +she was so persistent in her invitations and--in the slang phrase--made +such running with him, that he grew rather nervous of her attentions. +Several times she had proposed to come on a visit to Rickwell, but +hitherto he had always managed to put her off. But her letters were +becoming very imperative, and he foresaw trouble. It was quite a relief +to Giles when the post arrived without a letter from this too persistent +and too charming lady. However, she did not trouble him on this especial +occasion, and he was thus enabled to give all his time to Mrs. Benker. + +That good lady duly arrived, looking more severe than ever and with +several new tales about the iniquities of Alexander. She expressed +herself greatly obliged to Giles for giving her a day in the country, +and got on very well with the old housekeeper. But when Ware told her +his reason for asking her, Mrs. Benker grew rather nervous, as she did +not think how she could support an interview, and, also, she wanted to +know what the interview was for. To some extent Giles had to take her +into his confidence, but he suppressed the fact that he suspected +Franklin of the crime. He merely stated that Steel--who had introduced +Giles to Mrs. Benker--had reason to believe that the so-called Wilson +was wanted by the police. All that Mrs. Benker had to do was to see if +Franklin was really her former lodger. After much talk and many +objections, she consented to do what was wanted. + +This was to wander in the park of the Priory and meet Franklin +accidentally near a ruined summer-house, near what was known as the +fish-ponds. Morley had arranged that Franklin should meet him there, and +was to be late, so as to afford Mrs. Benker an opportunity of speaking +to the man. Morley and Ware concealed themselves in the summer-house and +saw Mrs. Benker parading the grass. Shortly Franklin arrived, walking +slowly, and Mrs. Benker saluted him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TREASURE TROVE + + +"I beg your pardon, sir," said Mrs. Benker to the new-comer, "but I do +hope I'm not---- Why"--she changed her tone to one of extreme +surprise--"if it ain't Mr. Wilson!" + +The man did not move a muscle. Ware, who was watching, was disappointed. +At least he expected him to start, but the so-called Wilson was +absolutely calm, and his voice did not falter. + +"You are making a mistake; my name is Franklin." + +"It isn't his voice," muttered the landlady, still staring; "but his +eyes are the same." + +"May I ask you to go?" said Franklin. "You are trespassing." + +Mrs. Benker shook her rusty black bonnet. + +"You may change your hair from red to black," she declared, "and you may +shave off a ginger beard, but you can't alter your eyes. Mr. Wilson you +are, and that I'll swear to in a court of law before a judge and jury. +Let them say what they will about me being a liar." + +"Of what are you talking, woman?" + +"Of you, sir; and I hope I may mention that you were more respectful +when you boarded with me." + +"Boarded with you!" Franklin stared, and spoke in an astonished tone. +"Why, I never boarded with you in my life!" + +"Oh, Mr. Wilson, how can you? What about my little house in Lambeth, and +the dear boy--my son Alexander--you were so fond of?" + +"You are raving." + +"I'm as sane as you are," said the landlady, her color rising, "and a +deal more respectable, if all were known. Why you should deny me to my +face is more than I can make out, Mr. Wilson." + +"My name is not Wilson." + +"And I say it is, sir." + +Both the man and the woman eyed one another firmly. Then Franklin +motioned Mrs. Benker to a seat on a mossy bank. + +"We can talk better sitting," said he. "I should like an explanation of +this. You say that my name is Wilson, and that I boarded with you." + +"At Lambeth. I'll take my oath to it." + +"Had your boarder red hair and a red beard?" + +"Red as a tomato. But you can buy wigs and false beards. Eyes, as I say, +you cannot change." + +"Had this Wilson eyes like mine?" asked Frankly eagerly. + +"There ain't a scrap of difference, Mr. Wilson. Your eyes are the same +now as they were then." + +"One moment. Had this man you think me to be two teeth missing in his +lower jaw--two front teeth?" + +"He had. Not that his teeth were of the best." + +Franklin drew down his lip. + +"You will see that I have all my teeth." + +"H'm!" Mrs. Benker sniffed. "False teeth can be bought." + +"I fear you would find these teeth only too genuine," said the man +quietly. "But I quite understand your mistake." + +"My mistake?" Mrs. Benker shook her head vehemently. "I'm not the one to +make mistakes." + +"On this occasion you have done so; but the mistake is pardonable. +Mrs.--Mrs.--what is your name?" + +"Mrs. Benker, sir. And you know it." + +"Excuse me, I do not know it. The man who was your lodger, and whom you +accuse me of being, is my brother." + +"Your brother!" echoed the landlady, amazed. + +"Yes, and a bad lot he is. Never did a hand's turn in all his life. I +daresay while he was with you he kept the most irregular hours?" + +"He did--most irregular." + +"Out all night at times, and in all day? And again, out all day and in +for the night?" + +"You describe him exactly." Mrs. Benker peered into the clean-shaven +face in a puzzled manner. "Your hair is black, your voice is changed, +and only the eyes remain." + +"My brother and I have eyes exactly the same. I guessed your mistake +when you spoke. I assure you I am not my brother." + +"Well, sir," said the woman, beginning to think she had made a mistake +after all, "I will say your voice is not like his. It was low and soft, +while yours, if you'll excuse me mentioning it, is hard, and not at all +what I'd call a love-voice." + +Grim as Franklin was, he could not help laughing at this last remark. + +"I quite understand. You only confirm what I say. My brother has a +beautiful voice, Mrs. Benker; and much harm he has done with it amongst +your sex." + +"He never harmed me," said Mrs. Benker, bridling. "I am a respectable +woman and a widow with one son. But your brother----" + +"He's a blackguard," interrupted Franklin; "hand and glove with the very +worst people in London. You may be thankful he did not cut your throat +or steal your furniture." + +"Lord!" cried Mrs. Benker, astounded, "was he that dangerous?" + +"He is so dangerous that he ought to be shut up. And if I could lay +hands on him I'd get the police to shut him up. He's done no end of +mischief. Now I daresay he had a red cross dangling from his +watch-chain." + +"Yes, he had. What does it mean?" + +"I can't tell you; but I'd give a good deal to know. He has hinted to me +that it is the sign of some criminal fraternity with which he is +associated. I never could learn what the object of the cross is. He +always kept quiet on that subject. But I have not seen him for years, +and then only when I was on a flying visit from Italy." + +"Have you been to Italy, sir?" + +"I live there," said Franklin, "at Florence. I have lived there for over +ten years, with an occasional visit to London. If you still think that I +am my brother, I can bring witnesses to prove----" + +"Lord, sir, I don't want to prove nothing. Now I look at you and hear +your voice I do say as I made a mistake as I humbly beg your pardon for. +But you are so like Mr. Wilson----" + +"I know, and I forgive you. But why do you wish to find my brother? He +has been up to some rascality, I suppose?" + +"He has, though what it is I know no more than a babe. But they do say," +added Mrs. Benker, sinking her voice, "as the police want him." + +"I'm not at all astonished. He has placed himself within the reach of +the law a hundred times. If the police come to me, I'll tell them what I +have told you. No one would be more pleased than I to see Walter laid by +the heels." + +"Is his name Walter?" + +"Yes, Walter Franklin, although he chooses to call himself Wilson. My +name is George. He is a blackguard." + +"Oh, sir, your flesh and blood." + +"He's no brother of mine," said Franklin, rising, with a snarl. "I hate +the man. He had traded on his resemblance to me to get money and do all +manner of scoundrelly actions. That was why I went to Italy. It seems +that I did wisely, for if I could not prove that I have been abroad +these ten years, you would swear that I was Walter." + +"Oh, no, sir--really." Mrs. Benker rose also. + +"Nonsense. You swore that I was Walter when we first met. Take a good +look at me now, so that you may be sure that I am not he. I don't want +to have his rascalities placed on my shoulders." + +Mrs. Benker took a good look and sighed. "You're not him, but you're +very like. May I ask if you are twins, sir?" + +"No. Our eyes are the only things that we have in common. We got those +from our mother, who was an Italian. I take after my mother, and am +black, as you see me. My brother favored my father, who was as red as an +autumn sunset." + +"He was indeed red," sighed Mrs. Benker, wrapping her shawl round her; +"and now, sir, I hope you'll humbly forgive me for----" + +"That's all right, Mrs. Benker. I only explained myself at length +because I am so sick of having my brother's sins imputed on me. I hope +he paid your rent." + +"Oh, yes, sir, he did that regularly." + +"Indeed," sneered Franklin; "then he is more honest than I gave him +credit for being. Because if he had not paid you I should have done so. +You seem to be a decent woman and----" + +"A widow!" murmured Mrs. Benker, hoping that he would give her some +money. But this Mr. Franklin had no intention of doing. + +"You can go now," he said, pointing with his stick towards an ornamental +bridge; "that is the best way to the high-road. And, Mrs. Benker, if my +brother should return to you let me know." + +"And the police, sir," she faltered. + +"I'll tell the police myself," said the man, frowning. "Good day." + +Mrs. Benker, rather disappointed that she should have received no money, +and wishing that she had said Walter Franklin had not paid her rent, +crept off, a lugubrious figure, across the bridge. Franklin watched her +till she was out of sight, then took off his hat, exposing a high, +baldish head. His face was dark, and he began to mutter to himself. +Finally, he spoke articulately. + +"Am I never to be rid of that scamp?" he said, shaking his fist at the +sky. "I have lived in Italy--in exile, so that I should not be troubled +with his schemes and rascalities. I have buried myself here, with my +daughter and those three who are faithful to me, in order that he may +not find me out. And now I hear of him. That woman. She is a spy of his. +I believe she came here from him with a made-up story. Walter will come, +and then I'll have to buy him off. I shall be glad to do so. But to be +blackmailed by that reptile. No! I'll go back to Florence first." He +replaced his hat and began to dig his stick in the ground. "I wonder if +Morley would help me. He is a shrewd man. He might advise me how to deal +with this wretched brother of mine. If I could only trust him?" He +looked round. "I wonder where he is? He promised to meet me half an hour +ago." Here Franklin glanced at his watch. "I'll walk over to The Elms +and ask who this woman, Mrs. Benker, is. He may know." + +All this was delivered audibly and at intervals. Giles was not +astonished, as he knew from Mrs. Parry that the man was in the habit of +talking aloud to himself. But he was disappointed to receive such a +clear proof that Franklin was not the man who had eloped with Anne. Even +if he had been deceiving Mrs. Benker (which was not to be thought of), +he would scarcely have spoken in soliloquy as he did if he had not been +the man he asserted himself to be. Giles, saying nothing to his +companion, watched Franklin in silence until he was out of sight, and +then rose to stretch his long legs, Morley, with a groan, followed his +example. It was he who spoke first. + +"I am half dead with the cramp," said he, rubbing his stout leg, "just +like old times when I hid in a cupboard at Mother Meddlers, to hear +Black Bill give himself away over a burglary. Ay, and I nearly sneezed +that time, which would have cost me my life. I have been safe enough in +that summer-house--but the cramp--owch!" + +"It seems I have been mistaken," was all Giles could say. + +"So have I, so was Mrs. Benker. We are all in the same box. The man is +evidently very like his scamp of a brother." + +"No doubt, Morley. But he isn't the brother himself." + +"More's the pity, for Franklin's sake as well as our own. He seems to +hate his brother fairly and would be willing to give him up to the +law--if he's done anything." + +"Well," said Ware, beginning to walk, "this Walter Franklin--to give him +his real name--has committed murder. I am more convinced than ever that +he is the guilty person. But I don't see what he has to do with Anne. +Her father is certainly dead--died at Florence. Ha! Morley. Franklin +comes from Florence. He may know--he may have heard." + +Morley nodded. "You're quite right, Ware. I'll ask him about the matter. +Humph!" The ex-detective stopped for a moment. "This involuntary +confession clears George Franklin." + +"Yes. He is innocent enough." + +"Well, but he inherited the money," said Morley. "It's queer that his +brother, according to you, should have killed the girl who kept the +fortune from him." + +"It is strange. But it might be that Walter Franklin intended to play +the part of his brother and get the money, counting on the resemblance +between them." + +"That's true enough. Yet if George were in Italy and within hail, so to +speak, I don't see how that would have done. Why not come to The Elms +with me and speak to Franklin yourself? He will be waiting for me +there." + +"No," answered Ware after some thought, "he evidently intends to trust +you, and if I come he may hold his tongue. You draw him out, Morley, and +then you can tell me. Mrs. Benker----" + +"I'll say nothing about her. I am not supposed to know that she is a +visitor to Rickwell. He'll suspect our game if I chatter about her, +Ware. We must be cautious. This is a difficult skein to unravel." + +"It is that," assented Giles dolefully, "and we're no further on with it +than we were before." + +"Nonsense, man. We have found out Wilson's real name." + +"Well, that is something certainly, and his brother may be able to put +us on his track. If he asks about Mrs. Benker, say that she is a friend +of my housekeeper. You can say you heard it from your wife." + +"I'll say no more than is necessary," replied Morley cunningly. "I +learned in my detective days to keep a shut mouth. Well, I'll be off and +see what I can get out of him." + +When Morley departed at his fast little trot--he got over the ground +quickly for so small a man--Giles wandered about the Priory park. He +thought that he might meet with the daughter, and see what kind of a +person she was. If weak in the head, as Mrs. Parry declared her to be, +she might chatter about her Uncle Walter. Giles wished to find out all +he could about that scamp. He was beginning to feel afraid for Anne, and +to wonder in what way she was connected with such a blackguard. + +However, he saw nothing and turned his face homeward. Just as he was +leaving the park on the side near the cemetery he saw something +glittering in the grass. This he picked up, and was so amazed that he +could only stare at it dumb-founded. And his astonishment was little to +be wondered at. He held in his hand a half-sovereign with an amethyst, a +diamond, and a pearl set into the gold. It was the very ornament which +he had given Anne Denham on the night of the children's party at The +Elms--the coin of His Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW + + +The discovery of the coin perplexed Giles. It was certainly the trinket +attached to the bangle which he had given Anne. And here he found it in +the grounds of the Priory. This would argue that she was in the +neighborhood, in the house it might be. She had never been to the Priory +when living at The Elms, certainly not after the New Year, when she +first became possessed of the coin. He decided, therefore, that at some +late period--within the last few days--she had been in the park, and +there had lost the coin. It would, indeed, be strange if this trifling +present which he had made her should be the means of tracing her to her +hiding-place. + +And that hiding-place was the Priory. Giles felt sure of this. If she +was in the neighborhood and walking about openly, she would be +discovered and arrested. Therefore she must be concealed in the house. +She had gone off with Walter Franklin, and here she was under the wing +of his brother George. The case grew more mysterious and perplexing as +time went on. Giles did not know which way to turn, or what advantage to +reap from this discovery. + +Certainly, if he could get into the Priory and search the house, he +might discover Anne. Or, it might be, that if he confided in Franklin +and told him of his love for Anne, the man might tell the truth and let +him have an interview. But the matter took some thinking out. He decided +to let it remain in abeyance at present. After kissing the coin--had it +not been Anne's?--he slipped it into his waistcoat-pocket and returned +home. + +Here a surprise, and not a very agreeable one, awaited him. He reached +his house just in time to dress for dinner, and found a letter, which +had been delivered by hand. It was from Olga Karacsay, and announced +that she and her mother were stopping at the village inn. She asked +Giles to come over that evening, as she wished to introduce him to the +elder Princess. Ware was vexed that this inopportune visit should have +taken place at the moment. He did not wish to be introduced to Olga's +mother, and had more to do than to chatter French to a foreign lady. +However, being naturally a most polite young gentleman, he could not +refuse the request, and after dinner proceeded to the village. + +Morris, the landlord of "The Merry Dancer"--which was the name of the +inn--was a burly man, and usually extremely self-important. On this +night he excelled himself, and looked as swollen as the frog in the +fable. That two Princesses should stay in his house was an honor which +overwhelmed him. To be sure, they were foreigners, which made a +difference; still, they had titles, and plenty of money, and for all +Morris knew--as he observed to his flustered wife--might be exiled +sovereigns. Morris received Giles in his best clothes, and bowed himself +to the ground. + +"Yes, Mr. Ware, their Highnesses are within--on the first floor, Mr. +Ware, having engaged a salon and two bedrooms." + +"I didn't know you had a salon, Morris!" said Giles, his eyes twinkling. + +"For the time being I call it such," replied the landlord grandly. "My +daughter is a French scholar, Mr. Ware, and called the sitting-room by +that name. Me and Mrs. Morris and Henrietta Morris wish to make their +Highnesses feel at home. Allow me to conduct you, sir, to the salon of +their Highnesses. The garkong is engaged with the dejune, along with the +femmie de chambers, who also waits." + +"You are quite a French scholar, Morris." + +"Henrietta Morris, my daughter--or I should say, mon filly--has +instructed me in the languidge, sir. This way to the salon, sir," and +Morris marshalled the way with the air of a courtier of Louis XIV. + +Giles entered the sitting-room, which was pretty and quaint but +extremely unpretentious, bubbling over with laughter. + +Olga came forward, and catching sight of his face, laughed also as she +shook hands with him. + +"I see you know the jest," she said. + +"Morris informed me of it as soon as I entered his door. Why have you +come down to this dull place, Princess?" + +"Ah, no"--she made a pretty gesture of annoyance--"you must to-night +call me Olga----" + +"I should not think of taking such a liberty," said Giles quickly. + +Olga pouted. "Then, Mademoiselle Olga," said she, "my mother you must +call the Princess Karacsay. Will you allow me, Mr. Ware, to present you +to my mother?" + +She led the young man forward, and he found himself bowing to a stout +lady, who at one time must have been beautiful, but in whom age had +destroyed a great amount of her good looks. She was darker than her +daughter, and had a languid, indolent air, which seemed to account for +her stoutness. Evidently she never took exercise. Her face was still +beautiful, and she had the most glorious pair of dark eyes. Her hair was +silvery, and contrasted strangely with her swart face. One would have +thought that she had African blood in her. She wore a yellow dress +trimmed with black lace, and many jewels twinkled on her neck and arms +and in her hair. Her tastes, like her appearance, were evidently +barbaric. In this cold, misty island she looked like some gorgeous +tropical bird astray. + +"I am glad to see you, Mr. Ware," she said in soft, languid tones, yet +with a kind of rough burr; "my daughter has often talked of you." Her +English was very good, and there was little trace of a foreign accent. +Yet the occasional lisp and the frequent roughness added a piquancy to +her tones. Even at her age--and she was considerably over fifty--she was +undeniably a fascinating woman: in her youth she must have been a +goddess both for looks and charm. Olga was regal and charming, but her +mother excelled her. Giles found himself becoming quite enchanted with +this Cleopatra of the West. + +"You have been long in England, Princess?" he asked. + +"But a week. I came to see Olga. She would have me come, although I +dislike travelling. But I am fond of Olga." + +"It is more than my father is," said Olga, with a shrug; "he would not +come. I suppose he thinks that I have disgraced him." + +"My dear child," reproved her mother, "you know what your father's +opinion is about this wild life you lead." + +"A very hard-working life," retorted her daughter; "singing is not +easy. For the rest, I assure you I am respectable." + +"It is not the life for a Karacsay, my dear. If you would only come back +to Vienna and marry the man your father----" + +"I choose for myself when I marry," flashed out Olga, with a glance at +the uncomfortable Giles. "Count Taroc can take another wife." + +The Princess, seeing that Giles found this conversation somewhat trying, +refrained from further remark. She shrugged her ample shoulders, and +sipped her coffee, which she complained was bad. "You do not know how to +make coffee here," she said, unfurling a fan, "and it is cold, this +England of yours." + +"Princess, to-night is warm!" expostulated Ware. + +"Nevertheless I have had a fire made up," she answered, pointing with +her fan to the end of the room; "the landlord was so surprised." + +"He no doubt considered it to be an eccentricity of Her Highness," said +Olga, with a laugh; "a cigarette, mother?" + +The Princess took one languidly, and moved her chair closer to the fire. +The night--to Giles--was quite hot, and he could scarcely bear the +stifling heat of the room. Windows and doors were closed, and the fire +flamed up fiercely. Also some pastiles had been burnt by Olga, and added +a heavy, sensuous scent to the atmosphere. Ware could not help comparing +the room to the Venusberg, and the women to the sirens of that unholy +haunt. Which of the two was Venus he did not take upon himself to +decide. + +"I am used to the tropics," explained the Princess, puffing blue clouds +of smoke. "I come from Jamaica; but I have been many years in Vienna, +and in that cold Hungary," she shivered. + +"Ah, now I see, Princess, why you speak English so well," said Giles, +and he might also have added that he now guessed why she was so Eastern +in appearance and so barbaric in her taste for crude, vivid colors. She +had negro blood in her veins he decided, and Olga also. This would +account for the fierce temperament of the latter. + +"I left Jamaica when I was twenty-two," explained the Princess, while +her daughter frowned. For some reason Olga did not seem to approve of +these confidences. "Prince Karacsay was travelling there. He came to my +father's plantation, and there he married me. I am sorry I did not marry +someone in Jamaica," she finished lazily. + +"My dear mother," broke in her daughter petulantly, "you have always +been happy in Vienna and at the Castle." + +"At the castle, yes. It was so quiet there. But Vienna, ach! It is too +gay, too troublesome." + +"You don't like noise and excitement, Princess?" + +She shook her imperial head with the gesture of an angry queen. + +"I like nothing but rest. To be in a hammock with a cigarette and to +hear the wind bend the palms, the surf break on the shores. It is my +heaven. But in Hungary--no palms, no surf. Ach!" She made a face. + +"You are different to Mademoiselle Olga here," said Ware, smiling. + +"Quite different," cried Olga, with a gay laugh. "But I am like my +father. He is a bold hunter and rider. Ah, if I had only been born a +man! I love the saddle and the gun. No wonder I got away from the dull +Society life of Vienna, where women are slaves." + +"I like being a slave, if rest is slavery," murmured her mother. + +"Would not your father let you ride and shoot, Mademoiselle Olga?" + +"Ah yes, in a measure. But he is an Austrian of the old school. He does +not believe in a woman being independent. My mother, who is obedient and +good, is the wife he loves." + +"The Prince has been very kind to me. He does not trouble me." + +"He wouldn't let the air blow too roughly on you, mother," said Olga, +with a scornful laugh. "He is a descendant of those Magyars who had +Circassian slaves, and adores them as playthings. I am different." + +"You are terribly _farouche_, Olga," sighed the elder woman. "Your +father has forgiven you, but he is still annoyed. I had the greatest +difficulty in getting his permission to come over here." + +"He doubtless thinks you will be able to bring me back to marry Count +Taroc," replied Olga composedly, "but I stay." She looked at Giles +again, as if he were the reason she thus decided. To change the +conversation he stood up. + +"I fear I fatigue you ladies," he said, looking very straight and +handsome. "You will wish to retire." + +"Certainly I retire," said the Princess. "But my daughter----" + +"I shall stop and talk with Mr. Ware." + +"Olga!" murmured her mother, rather shocked. + +"I fear I have to go," said Giles uneasily. + +"No. You must stop. I have to talk to you about Anne." + +"Who is this Anne?" asked the Princess, rising lazily. + +"No one you know, mother. A friend of Mr. Ware's. Now you must retire, +and Katinka shall make you comfortable." + +"You will not be long, Olga? If your father knew--" + +"My father will not know," broke in her daughter, leading the elder +woman to the door. "You will not tell him. Besides," (she shrugged), "we +women are free in England. What would shock my father is good form in +this delightful country." + +The Princess murmured something to Giles in a sleepy tone, and lounged +out of the room bulky but graceful. When she departed and the door was +closed, Olga threw open the windows. "Pah!" she said, throwing the +pastiles out of doors, "I cannot breathe in this atmosphere. And you, +Mr. Ware?" + +"I prefer untainted airs," he replied, accepting a cigarette. + +"The airs of the moors and of the mountains," she exclaimed, drawing +herself up and looking like a huntress in her free grace. "I also. I +love wide spaces and chill winds. If we were in the Carpathians, you and +I, how savage our life would be!" + +"An alluring picture, Princess." + +"I am not Princess at present. I am Olga!" + +"Mademoiselle Olga," he corrected. "And what about Anne?" + +She appeared annoyed by his persistence. "You think of nothing but that +woman," she cried impetuously. + +"Your friend, mademoiselle." + +"Ach! How stiffly you stay that! My friend! Oh, yes. I would do much for +Anne, but why should I do all?" + +"I do not understand, mademoiselle." + +With a strong effort she composed herself, and looked at him smiling. +"Is it so very difficult to understand?" she asked softly. + +"Very difficult," replied Ware stolidly. + +"None so blind as those who won't see," muttered Olga savagely. + +"Quite so, mademoiselle." He rose to go. "Will you permit me to retire?" + +"No! I have much to say to you. Please sit down." + +"If you will talk about Anne," he replied, still standing. "From what +you said at our first interview, she evidently knows something of the +Scarlet Cross, and----" + +"I don't know what she does know. She was always careful." + +"I thought she spoke freely to you." + +"Oh, as a woman always does speak to one of her own sex. With +reservations, Mr. Ware. Still, I could tell you something likely to +throw some light on the mystery." + +"If you only would." + +"It would not lead you to her hiding-place." + +"What if I knew it already, mademoiselle?" + +She stood before him, her hands clenched, her breathing coming and going +in quick, short gasps. "You can't know that." + +"But _you_ do," he said suddenly. + +"I may, or I may not," she replied quickly; "and if you know, why not +seek her out?" + +"I intend to try." + +"To try! Then you are not sure where she is?" said Olga eagerly. + +"Before I answer that, mademoiselle, I must know if you are my friend or +Anne's--enemy," and he looked at her straightly. + +"You have put the matter--the position in the right way. I am your +friend and Anne's--no, I am not her enemy. But I won't give her to you. +No, I won't. You must guess that I----" + +"Mademoiselle," he interrupted quickly, "spare yourself and me +unnecessary humiliation. You know that I love Anne, that I love no one +but her. I would give my life to find her to prove her innocence." + +"Even your life will not bring her to you or save her from the law. +Giles"--she held out her arms--"I love you." + +"The heat of the room is too much for you. I will go." + +"No!" She flung herself between him and the door. "Since I have said so +much, I must say all. Listen! I have been making inquiries. I know more +about the Scarlet Cross and Anne's connection with it than you think. +Her fate is in my hands. I can prove her innocence." + +"And you will--you will!" + +"On condition that you give her up." + +"I refuse to give her up," he cried angrily. + +"Then she will be punished for a crime she did not commit." + +"You know that she is innocent." + +"I can prove it, and I shall do so. You know my price." + +"Olga, do not speak like this. I would do much to save Anne----" + +"And you refuse to save her," she replied scornfully. + +"I refuse to give her up!" + +"Then I shall do so--to the police. I know where she is." + +"You do--that is why you are down here." + +"I did not come here for that, but to see you. To make my terms. I love +you, and if you will give her up, I shall save her----" + +"I can save her in spite of you," said Giles, walking hastily in the +door. "Your presence here confirms a fancy that I had. I can guess where +Anne is, and I'll save her." + +"You will bring her to the light of day and she will be arrested. I +alone can save her." + +"You will. Oh, Olga, be your better self, and----" + +"You know my price," she said between her teeth. + +"I can't pay it--I can't." + +"Then you must be content to see her ruined." + +"You are a devil!" + +"And you are most polite. No; I am a woman who loves you, and who is +determined to have you at any cost." + +"Can you really save Anne?" + +"I can." + +"Will you give me time to think?" + +A flash of joy crossed her face. "Then I am not so indifferent to you as +you would have me suppose," she said softly. + +"You are not so--no, no! I can't say it! Give me time! give me time!" He +opened the door. + +"Wait, wait!" she said, and closed it again. "I will give you two days. +Then I return to London. If I have your promise, Anne shall be set free +from this accusation. If you tamper in the meantime with her--for you +may know where she is--I'll have her arrested at once." + +"I will do nothing," he said in muffled tones. + +"Swear! swear!" She placed her hands on his shoulders. + +Giles stepped back to free himself. "I will swear nothing," he said in +icy tones. "I take my two days." So saying he opened the door, but not +quickly enough to prevent her kissing him. + +"You are mine! you are mine!" she exclaimed exultingly. "Let Anne have +her liberty, her good name. I have you. You are mine!--mine!" + +"On conditions," said Giles cruelly, and went away quickly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS + + +Giles left "The Merry Dancer" quite determined to deceive Olga if it +were possible. No faith should be kept with such a woman. She had power, +and she was using it unscrupulously for selfish ends. Moreover, come +what might, Giles could not bring himself to make her his wife. He loved +Anne too deeply for that. And then he began to ask himself if he were +not selfish also, seeing that he would not lose his own gratification to +save the woman he loved. Nevertheless, he could not contemplate giving +up Anne with equanimity, and set his wits to work in order to circumvent +the treacherous Olga. + +In the first place he now felt certain that Anne was in the +neighborhood, and, as he shrewdly suspected, in the Priory. The +discovery of the coin and the presence of Olga in the village made him +certain on this point. In some way or another she had got to know of +Anne's whereabouts, and had come here to make capital of her knowledge. +If he consented to surrender Anne and make Olga his wife, she would +probably assist Anne to escape, or else, as she asserted, clear her of +complicity in the crime. + +On the other hand, should he refuse, she would then tell the police +where the unfortunate governess was to be found. It might be that Anne +could save herself. But seeing that she had fled immediately after the +murder, it would be difficult for her to exonerate herself. Also, the +reason she had then to take the guilt upon her own shoulders might again +stand in the way of her now clearing her character. Nothing was left but +to marry Olga and so free Anne, or seek Anne himself. Ware determined to +adopt the latter course as the least repugnant to his feelings. + +But Olga was no mean antagonist. She loved Giles so much that she knew +perfectly well that he did not love her, and this knowledge taught her +to mistrust him. As her passion was so great she was content to take him +as a reluctant husband, in the belief that she, as his wife, would in +time wean him from his earlier love. But she was well aware that, even +to save Anne, he would not give in without a struggle. + +This being the case, she considered what he would do. It struck her that +he would see if he could get into the Priory, for from some words he had +let fall she was convinced that he thought Anne was concealed therein. +Olga had her own opinion about that; but she had to do with his actions +at present and not with her own thoughts. For this reason she determined +to watch him--to be in his company throughout the time of probation. + +Thus it happened that before Giles could arrange his plans the next +day--one of which entailed a neighborly visit to Franklin--Olga made her +appearance at his house, and expressed a desire to see his picture +gallery, of which she had heard much. Her mother, she said, was coming +over that afternoon to look at the house, which, as she had been told, +was a model of what an English country-house should be. + +Giles growled at this speech, being clever enough to see through the +artifices of Mademoiselle Olga. + +"The house is as old as the Tudors," he expostulated; "your mother +should look at a more modern one." + +"Oh, no," replied Olga sweetly. "I am sure she will be delighted with +this one; it is so picturesque." + +"I am afraid that I promised to pay a visit this afternoon." + +"Ah, you must put it off, Mr. Ware. When two ladies come to see you, you +really cannot leave them alone." + +"If the next day will do----" + +"I don't think it will. My mother and I leave the next day. She is due +in town to a reception at the Austrian Embassy." + +Ware made other excuses, but Olga would listen to none of them. She +stopped all the morning and looked at the pictures, but she never +referred to their conversation of the previous night. There was a tacit +understanding between them that it should remain in abeyance until the +time given for the reply of Giles was ended. Still, Ware could not +forget that burning kiss, and was awkward in consequence. + +Not so Olga. She was quite cool and self-possessed, and although alone +with him for close on two hours, did not show the least confusion. +Giles, much disgusted, called her in his own mind "unmaidenly." But she +was not that, for she behaved very discreetly. She was simply a woman +deeply in love who was bent on gaining her ends. Considering the depth +of her passion, she restrained herself very creditably when with the man +she loved. Giles now saw how it was that she had defied her family and +had taken her own way in life. + +"I won't stop to luncheon," she said, when he asked her; "but I and my +mother will come over at three o'clock." It was now close on two. "I am +sure we shall have a pleasant afternoon." + +Giles tried to smile, and succeeded very well, considering what his +feelings were at the moment. If he could only have behaved brutally, he +would have refused the honor of the proposed visit, but it is difficult +to be rude to a charming woman bent upon having her own way. Ware kicked +as a man will, but ended in accepting the inevitable. + +Olga returned to the inn, and found the Princess seated on the sofa +fanning herself violently. Mrs. Morris was in the room, fluttering +nervously as she laid the cloth for luncheon. Olga looked at her mother. +"Did you take your walk?" she asked. + +The Princess nodded. "I am very warm," she said. + +"What do you think now?" asked her daughter impatiently. + +"I think that you are a very clever woman, Olga," replied the Princess; +"but I am too hungry to talk just now. When I have eaten and am rested +we can speak." + +"But just one word. Am I right?" + +"Perfectly right." + +This conversation was conducted in French, and Mrs. Morris could make +nothing of it. Even if she had known the sense she would not have +understood what it meant. However, Olga and her mother reverted to +English for the benefit of the landlady, and chatted about their +proposed visit to Ware's mansion. After that came luncheon. Shortly +after three mother and daughter were with Giles. He received them with +composure, although he felt quite otherwise than composed. The Princess +pronounced him a charming young man. + +"And what a delightful place you have here!" she said, looking at the +quaint Tudor house, with its grey walls and mullion windows. "It is +like a fairy palace. The Castle"--she meant her husband's residence in +Styria--"is cruel-looking and wild." + +"It was built in the Middle Ages," said Olga. "I don't think any one was +particularly amiable then." + +"I would rather have stayed in Jamaica," sighed the Princess. "Why did I +ever leave it?" + +Olga, who always appeared annoyed when her mother reverted to her early +life, touched the elder woman's elbow. The Princess sighed again, and +held her peace. She had a fine temper of her own, but always felt that +it was an effort to use it. She therefore usually gave in to Olga. "It +saved trouble," she explained. + +But her good temper did not last all the afternoon, and ended in +disarranging Olga's plans. After a hearty afternoon tea on the lawn the +Princess said that she did not feel well, and wished to go home. Olga +demurred, but Giles, seeing the chance of escape, agreed that the +Princess really was unwell, and proposed to send them back to the inn in +his carriage. Princess Karacsay jumped at the offer. + +"It will save me walking," she declared fretfully, "and I have done so +much this morning." + +"Where did you go?" asked Giles, wondering that so indolent a woman +should exert herself on such a hot day. + +"To some woods round a place they call the Priory." + +"To the Priory!" he exclaimed, astonished. "Do you know Mr. Franklin?" + +"My mother said the woods round the Priory," explained Olga, with an +annoyed glance at the elder lady. "She did not enter." + +"No," said the Princess, "I did not enter; I do not know the man. Oh, my +dear Olga, do come back. I don't feel at all well." + +"I will order the carriage," said Giles, rising. + +"And you will come back with us?" + +"Really, you must excuse me, Mademoiselle Olga," he answered; "but even +a country squire has his work to do." + +And with that he hurried away. In half an hour he had the satisfaction +of seeing the carriage roll down his avenue with a very disappointed +young lady frowning at the broad back of the coachman. Then he set about +seeing what he could do to circumvent her. + +It was too late to call on Franklin, as it was nearly six o'clock. +Still, Ware thought he would reconnoitre in the woods. It was strange +that the elder Princess should have been there this morning, and he +wondered if she also knew of Anne's whereabouts. But this he decided was +impossible. She had only been a few days in England, and she would not +likely know anything about the governess. Still, it was odd that she +should have taken a walk in that particular direction, or that she +should have walked at all. Here was another mystery added to the one +which already perplexed him so greatly. + +However, time was too precious to be wasted in soliloquizing, so he went +off post-haste towards the woods round the Priory. Since he wished to +avoid observation, he chose by-paths, and took a rather circuitous +route. It was nearly seven when he found himself in the forest. The +summer evenings were then at their longest, and under the great trees +there was a soft, brooding twilight full of peace and pleasant woodland +sounds. Had he gone straight forward, he would have come on the great +house itself, centred in that fairy forest. But this was the last thing +he wished to do. He was not yet prepared to see Franklin. He looked here +and there to see if any human being was about, but unsuccessfully. Then +he took his way to the spot where he had found the coin of Edward VII. +To his surprise he saw a girl stooping and searching. At once he decided +that she was looking for the lost coin. But the girl was not Anne. + +Looking up suddenly she surveyed him with a startled air, and he saw her +face plainly in the quiet evening light. She had reddish hair, a +freckled face, and was dressed--as Mrs. Parry had said--in all the +colors of the rainbow. Giles guessed at once who she was, and bowed. + +"Good evening, Miss Franklin," he said, lifting his hat, "you seem to be +looking for something. Can I assist you?" + +The damsel looked at him sternly and scowled. "You're trespassing," she +said in rather a gruff voice. + +"I fear that I am," he answered, laughing; "but you'll forgive me if I +assist you in your search, won't you?" + +"Who are you?" questioned Miss Franklin, quite unmoved by this +politeness. "I never saw you before." + +"I have just returned from London. My name is Ware." + +"Ware!" echoed the girl eagerly. "Giles Ware?" + +"Yes. Do you know my name?" + +She took a good look at him, and seemed--he was vain enough to think +so--rather to soften towards him. "I have heard Mrs. Morley speak of +you," she declared bluntly. + +"Ah! You have not heard a lady speak of me?" + +Miss Franklin stared. "No, I never heard a lady talk of you," she +replied, with a giggle. "What lady?" + +"The lady who is stopping in your house." + +Her eyes became hard, and she assumed a stony expression. "There is no +lady in the house but myself." + +"Not a lady who lost what you are looking for?" + +This time she was thrown off her guard, and became as red as her hair. +She tried to carry off her confusion with rudeness. "I don't know what +you're talking of," she said, with a stamp and a frown! "you can just +clear away off our land, or I'll set the dogs on you." + +"I see. You keep dogs, do you? Bloodhounds probably?" + +"How do you know that?" asked Miss Franklin, staring. "Yes, we do keep +bloodhounds, and they will tear you to pieces if you don't go." + +"You seem to forget that this is a civilized country," said Giles +quietly. "If you set your dogs on me, I shall set the police on you." + +"The police!" She seemed startled, but recovered herself. "I don't care +for the police," she declared defiantly. + +"You might not, but Walter Franklin might." + +"Who is he? Never heard of him." + +"Never heard of your uncle?" said Giles, and then wondered how he could +let her know that he had heard it without confessing to the +eavesdropping. It suddenly occurred to him that Franklin had--he +supposed--on the previous day made a confidant of Morley. This +supposition he took advantage of. "Mr. Morley told me that your father +had mentioned his brother." + +The girl started and thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean Uncle Walter," +she said, after a pause. "Yes, but we never talk of him." + +This little speech did not ring quite true. It seemed as though the girl +wished to back up the saying of her father, whether she believed it or +not. "Is that why you pretended ignorance?" he asked. + +"That was why," replied Miss Franklin, with brazen assurance. + +She was lying. Giles felt certain of that, but he could not bring the +untruth home to her. He suddenly reverted to the main object of his +interview, which had to do with the possibility of Anne being in the +Priory. + +"What about that coin you are looking for?" + +"I am looking for no coin," she replied, quite prepared for him. "I lost +a brooch here. Have you found it?" + +"Yes," replied Giles, his eyes watchfully on her face. "It is an Edward +VII. coin in the form of a brooch." + +He thought Miss Franklin would contradict this, but she was perfectly +equal to the occasion. "You must have found it, since you know it so +well. Please give it to me." + +"I have left it at home," he answered, although it was lying in his +pocket-book, and that next his heart. "I will give it to you to-morrow +if you tell me from whom you got it." + +"I found it," she confessed, "in the churchyard." + +"Ah!" A sudden light flashed into the darkness of Ware's mind. "By the +grave of that poor girl who was murdered?" + +"I don't know of any murdered girl," retorted Miss Franklin, and looked +uneasy, as though she were conscious of making a mistake. + +"Yes you do, and you know the lady who cleans the stone and attends to +the grave. Don't deny the truth." + +Miss Franklin looked him up and down, and shrugged her clumsy shoulders. +"I don't know what you are talking about," she declared, and with that +turned on her heel. "Since you will not take yourself off like a +gentleman, I'll go myself"; and she went. + +"Don't set the bloodhounds on me," called out Giles. But she never +turned her head; simply went on with a steady step until she was lost in +the gloom of the wood. + +Giles waited for a time. He had an idea that she was watching. By-and-by +the feeling wore off, and knowing by this time that he was quite alone, +he also departed. + +He was beginning to doubt Franklin, for this girl had evidently +something to conceal. He was sure that Anne was being sheltered in the +house, and that it was Anne who cleaned the gravestone. Perhaps George +Franklin was giving her shelter since she had helped his rascal of a +brother to escape. Thus thinking, he went through the wood with the +intention of going home. A glance at his watch told him it was after +eight. + +Suddenly it occurred to him that it would be a good time to pay a visit +to the graveyard and see if anything new had been done to the grave. All +the people were within doors at this hour, and the churchyard would be +quiet. Having made up his mind, he walked in the direction of the church +and vaulted the low wall that divided that graveyard from the park. He +saw Daisy's grave. Bending over it a woman. She looked up with a +startled cry. It was Anne Denham. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PART OF THE TRUTH + + +For a moment the lovers stared at one another in the luminous twilight. +The meeting was so strange, the place where it took place so significant +of the trouble that had parted them, that both were overcome with +emotion. Anne was as white as the marble tombstone, and looked at him +with appealing eyes that beseeched him to go away. But having found her +Giles was determined not to lose her again, and was the first to find +his tongue. + +"Anne!" said he, and stepped towards her with open arms. + +His voice broke the spell which held her chained to the ill-omened spot, +and she turned to fly, only to find herself on his breast and his dear +voice sounding entreatingly in her ears. + +"Anne," he said in a hoarse whisper, "you will not leave me now?" + +After a brief struggle she surrendered herself. There was no danger of +any one coming to the churchyard at this hour, and since they had met so +unexpectedly, she--like the tender, sweet woman she was--snatched at the +blissful moment. "Giles," she murmured, and it was the first time he had +heard her lips frame his name. "Giles!" + +Again there was a silence between them, but one of pure joy and +transcendental happiness. Come what might, nothing could banish the +memory of that moment. They were heart to heart and each knew that the +other loved. There was no need of words. Giles felt that here was the +one woman for him; and Anne nestled in those beloved arms like a wild +bird sheltering from storm. + +But the storm which buffeted her wings would tear her from this refuge. +The passionate delight of that second of Eden passed like a shadow on +the sun dial. From heaven they dropped to earth, and parted once more by +a hand-breath, stared with haggard looks at one another. The revulsion +was so great that Anne could have wept; but her sorrow was so deep that +her eyes were dry. For the gift of the world she could not have wept at +that hour. + +But she no longer felt an inclination to fly. When she saw how worn and +thin her lover looked, she knew that he had been suffering as much as +she had, and a full tide of love swelled to her heart. She also had lost +much of her beauty, but she never thought of that. All she desired was +to comfort the man that loved her. She felt that an explanation was due +to him, and this she determined to give as far as she could without +incriminating others. + +Taking his hand in her own, she led him some little distance from the +grave of Daisy; and they seated themselves on a flat stone in the shadow +of the church, and a stone's throw from the park wall. Here they could +converse without being seen, and if any one came they could hear the +footsteps on the gravelled path, and so be warned. And throughout that +short interview Anne listened with strained attention for the coming +step. At the outset Giles noted her expectant look and put his arm +round her. + +"Dearest, do not fear," he said softly. "No one will come; and if any +one does I can save you." + +"No," she replied, turning her weary eyes on him. "I am under a ban. I +am a fugitive from the law. You cannot save me from that." + +"But you are innocent," he said vehemently. + +"Do you believe that I am, Giles?" + +"Do I believe it? Why should you ask me such a question? If you only +knew, Anne, I have never doubted you from the first. Never! never!" + +"I do know it," she said, throwing her arms round his neck. "I have +known all along how you believed in my innocence. Oh, Giles, my darling +Giles, how shall I be able to thank you for this trust?" + +"You can, Anne, by becoming my wife." + +"Would you marry me with this accusation hanging over me?" + +"I would make you my wife at this moment. I would stand beside you in +the dock holding your hand. What does it matter to me if all the foolish +world think you guilty? I know in my own heart that you are an innocent +woman." + +"Oh, Giles, Giles!" Then her tears burst forth. She could weep now, and +felt the better for that moment of joyful relief. He waited till she +grew more composed, and then began to talk of the future. + +"This can't go on for ever, Anne," said he decisively; "you must +proclaim your innocence." + +"I can't," she answered, with hanging head. + +"I understand. You wish to protect this man. Oh, do not look so +surprised. I mean with the man you fled with--the man Wilson." + +"I don't know any one called Wilson." + +"Anne!"--he looked at her keenly--"I implore you to tell me the truth. +Who is this man you fled with to Gravesend--with whom you went on board +the yacht?" + +"Is that known?" she asked in a terrified whisper. + +"Yes. A great deal is known." + +"Portia never told me that," she murmured to herself. + +"Who is Portia?" + +"She lives at the Priory, and----" + +"I see. She is the red-haired, freckle-faced girl--the daughter of Mr. +Franklin. Morley told me that. Portia! What a stately name for that +dreadful young person!" + +"But indeed, Giles, she is a good girl, and has been a kind friend to +me," explained Anne eagerly. "She told me all about you, and how you +believed in my innocence." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Giles, "then that was why she seemed so pleased to hear +my name. I met her in the park just now, Anne----" + +"You met her in the park?" Anne half rose to go. He drew her down. + +"Yes, dearest. But don't be alarmed. She will never think that we have +met. She was looking for this." And Giles took out the coin. + +Anne gave a cry of delighted surprise. "Oh," she said, taking it +eagerly, "I thought I had lost it forever. And you found it, Giles?" + +"I found it," he replied gravely. "It was that discovery which made me +believe that you were in the neighborhood. And then when Olga----" + +"Olga." Anne looked at him suddenly. "Do you know her?" + +"Very well. She is your friend." + +"My best friend. She loves me like a sister." + +Giles could have told her that the sisterly love was not to be trusted, +but she had so much trouble that he could not find it in his heart to +add to her worries. Besides, time was slipping by, and as yet he knew +nothing of the truth of the matter. + +"Tell me why you fled with that man," he asked. + +"Giles, I will tell you all," she replied earnestly, "but on your part +let me hear what is being done about the death of poor Daisy. It will +set my mind at rest. You see how I have taken care of her grave, dear. +Were I guilty would I do that?" + +"I never thought you guilty," he repeated impatiently. "How many times +have I to say that?" + +"As many as you can bring your mind to repeat," she replied. "It is +sweet to think that you love me so well, that you can refuse to believe +evil of me in the face of the evidence against me." + +"Anne, Anne, why did you fly?" + +"Tell me how the case stands against me and what you have discovered," +she asked in a composed voice, and with a visible effort to command her +feelings. "And I shall tell you all that I can." + +As time was precious Giles did not lose a moment. He plunged into the +story of all that had taken place, from his interview with Mrs. Parry to +the finding of the coin which had first given him his clue to the +whereabouts of Anne. Also he touched lightly upon the visit of Olga to +Rickwell, but was careful not to allude to her feelings towards him. +Since Anne believed the woman to be her friend, he wished her to remain +in that belief. He was not the one to add to her sorrows. And even when +she was cleared of the charge and became his wife Ware determined that +he would never speak of Olga's treachery. For her own sake he knew that +the Hungarian would be silent. + +Anne listened in silence to his recital, and when he ended drew a sigh +of relief. "It might have been worse," she said. + +"I don't see how it could be," replied Ware bluntly. "Morley will insist +that you are guilty, and Steel thinks so too. I must admit that he +wavers between you and this man you fled with. Come now, Anne, tell me +all." + +"I shall not have much time," she said hurriedly. "I dare not let Mr. +Franklin know that I have met you. If I am not back in the Priory soon, +he will send Portia to look for me." + +"You can tell me much in ten minutes. Who is the man?" + +"My father," she replied in a low voice. + +Giles could hardly speak for surprise. "But your father is dead?" + +"I thought he was," said Anne. "I have believed it these many months. +But when I saw him in Mr. Morley's library on that night I knew that he +still lived." + +"But I can't understand how you made such a mistake. Does Morley know?" + +She shook her head. "I managed to restrain myself. Mr. Morley knows +nothing. Afterwards I went to the church in the hope of meeting my +father. He was in church." + +"I saw him," said Giles; "but tell me how the mistake occurred." + +"My father lived in Florence, and----" + +"Is his name Walter Franklin?" + +"That is his real name; but he was known in Florence as Alfred Denham." + +"You spoke to Olga Karacsay about him under that name?" + +"Yes, because I did not know until lately that his name was Walter +Franklin. Nor did I know that George Franklin, who inherits Daisy's +money, was his brother." + +"So George Franklin is your uncle and Portia your cousin?" + +"Yes; but let me go on. My father lived in Florence. I was often away +from home, as I was engaged as a governess. I came to England and met +Olga at the Institute. I procured an engagement in London; it was the +one I had before Mrs. Morley engaged me. I received news that my father +was ill of typhoid fever. I hurried at once to Florence. He not only was +dead, but he was buried, so I was informed by Mark Dane." + +"Who is Mark Dane?" + +"He was my father's secretary." + +"One moment, Anne. Your uncle stated that he was the man who lived in +Florence, and that your father being a scamp lived in England. On +account of Walter George resided abroad." + +"That is quite true. But Walter--I may speak of my father so for the +sake of clearness--used to come sometimes to Florence. George never knew +that he was there, thinking that he was in London. I learned all this +lately. At the time my father and I lived in Florence I knew nothing of +the relationship between George and Walter. My father knew that if Daisy +died his brother would inherit the money, and he kept a watch on George +so as to see if he would come into the property. But I knew nothing of +this, neither did Mark, although he was deep in my father's confidence. +Well, as I say, my father was supposed to have died. I expect another +corpse was buried in his place. Mark no doubt agreed to the fraud, +whatever was the reason. But I have not seen Mark since immediately +after the death, and can't get an explanation. I saw him in Florence, +and he told me that my father was dead and buried. Since then I have not +seen him." + +"So you returned to England, thinking your father was dead?" + +"Certainly. He left me a little money. I went back to my situation. +Afterwards I came down here. On that New Year's Eve I entered the +library and saw my father speaking to Mr. Morley. I disguised my +feelings, as I was certain he did not wish to be recognized. But the +shock was so great that I nearly fainted. I went up to my room, and +afterwards to church to see my father. He was there, as you know. I saw +him pass a paper to Daisy. She went out ten minutes later; he followed. +I wished to see him, and I was curious to know why he had come to +Rickwell and had let me think he was dead. Shortly afterwards I went +outside. It was snowing fast. I could not see my father or Daisy. +Suddenly I came across my father. He was beside the grave of Mr. Kent. +Daisy was lying on the ground. He gasped out that she was dead, and +implored me to save him." + +"Do you think he killed her?" + +"No. Afterwards he denied that he did. But at the time I believed that +he was guilty. I saw that he would be arrested, and in a frenzy of alarm +I cast about for some means to save him. I remembered your motor-car was +waiting at the gates. I sent Trim away on an errand----" + +"I know, I know! You deceived him!" + +"To save my father," replied Anne quietly. "I got the car in this way +and went off with my father. He told me to go to Gravesend, where he had +a yacht waiting. Near Gravesend the car upset. We left it on the +roadside and walked to Tilbury. A boatman ferried us across the river, +and we went on board the yacht." + +"Did you know your father was the owner of the yacht?" + +"No, I did not. He said that it belonged to a friend. We departed in the +yacht and went to a French port, then on to Paris." + +"And it was from Paris that you sent me the drawing of the coin." + +"Yes; I knew that appearances were against me, and could not bear to +think that you should believe me guilty. I did not dare to send any +letter, but I knew you would recognize the drawing of the Edward VII. +coin, and so sent it as you saw." + +"How long did you stay in Paris?" + +"For some weeks. Then we went to Italy, to Florence." + +"Wasn't your father recognized?" + +"No; he had altered his appearance. He gave me no reason at first for +doing this, but afterwards told me that he was engaged in a political +conspiracy, something to do with the Anarchists." + +"Is the red cross the symbol of some society?" + +"I can't say. He refused to explain the mystery of the cross to me. I +admit fully, Giles, that I cannot understand my father. His ways are +strange, and he leads a most peculiar life. Afterwards George Franklin, +my uncle, came to England and inherited the property. My father sent me +to him with an explanation. My uncle refused to believe that I was +guilty, and gave me shelter in his house until such time as my character +could be cleared. I came over and have been hiding in the Priory ever +since. I was so sorry for poor Daisy and for her unexpected death that +I came to see after her grave. I found it neglected, and thus went to +clean it, as you see. Portia, my cousin, has been very good to me. I +have stayed in all day and have walked out in the evening. No one knows +that I am here. No one will ever know unless you tell." + +"I tell? Anne, what do you take me for? I will keep quiet until I can +clear your character, and make you my wife." + +"You must not see me again." + +"No," sighed Giles, "it will not be wise. But can't you tell me who +killed Daisy, and thus clear yourself?" + +Anne shook her head. + +"I wish I could. But my father declares that he came out to see the +girl, and found her already dead on the grave face downwards. She had +been killed during the time he waited behind. He saw that there was a +danger of his being accused of the crime, since he had asked her to +leave the church. Thus it was that he lost his presence of mind and +called on me to save him. I did so on the impulse of the moment, and +thus it all came about." + +"Where is your father now?" + +Anne thought for a moment. + +"I would tell you if I knew," she said seriously, "as I know you will +not betray him. But I don't know where he is. Since I have been here I +have not heard a word from him." + +"Your uncle?" + +"If my uncle knew, he would hand my father over to the police. He hates +him; but he is always kind to me." + +"Anne, I wonder if your uncle killed Daisy to inherit the money?" + +"No; he was in Italy at the time. I am sure of that." + +"Has your father any suspicion who killed Daisy?" + +"No. He says he has not." + +"Why did he ask her to leave the church? And how did he manage it?" + +"He wished to speak to her about George Franklin, who would inherit the +money if she died. I believe he intended to warn her that George was +dangerous, for he hates my uncle." + +"Did your father know that the money had been left at the time?" + +"No. It was only because he was on the spot that he wished to see Daisy. +He wrote on a scrap of paper that he wished to see her about the money, +and she came out." + +"She was always eager after that miserable money," said Ware sadly. "But +your father did know that Powell was dead at the time, Anne." And he +told her of his discoveries in connection with the office boy. "So you +see your father was in England masquerading as Wilson," he finished. + +"Yes," said Anne, with a shudder, "I see now. But he told me nothing of +this. Indeed, I can't understand my father at all." + +"Do you know the meaning of the Scarlet Cross?" + +"No; he refuses to tell me. He won't say why he pretended to be dead; +and in every way he is most mysterious. But I am fond of my father, +Giles, although I know he is not a good man. But he did not kill Daisy; +I am sure of that. And even at the time I thought he had done so I saved +him. After all he may be as bad as possible; but he is my father, and I +owe him a daughter's affection." + +Giles would have argued this, but at the moment Anne started to her +feet. She heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and without a word +to Giles she flew over the low wall and darted across the park. He was +too astonished by this sudden departure to say a word. He had lost her +again. But he knew where she was after all. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WHAT HAPPENED NEXT + + +Giles left the churchyard slowly, with his brain in a whirl. Anne had +departed in hot haste, taking shelter in her hiding-place, and he dare +not follow unless he wanted it to be discovered. He never knew who it +was, whose footsteps had startled her away. When she left him he +remained for quite ten minutes where he was, in a kind of dazed +condition. The footsteps were not heard now. So intent had he been upon +Anne's flight, and on the amazing things she had told him, that he had +not noticed when they ceased. Then it occurred to him that they had +retreated--just as though a person had been listening and had hastily +gone away. But of this he could not be sure. All he did know was that +when he rounded the corner there was not a soul in sight. And nothing +remained but to go home. + +Olga and her mother did not put in an appearance on this night, so Giles +had ample time to think over his meeting with Anne. He did not see how +he could help her, and the story she had related bewildered, instead of +enlightening him. After a time he rearranged the details, and concluded +that, in spite of all denial, her father was the guilty person, and the +crime had been committed for the sake of the Powell money. + +"Whether the Scarlet Cross indicates a political society or is the +symbol of a thieves' association," said Giles to himself, "I can't say +until Steel is more certain of his ground. But this Alfred Denham, or +Walter Franklin, or whatever he chooses to call himself, is evidently a +bad lot. He has sufficient love for his daughter to keep his iniquities +from her, and that is why Anne is so much in the dark. I quite believe +that she thinks her father innocent, and saved him on the spur of the +moment. But he is guilty for all that." + +And then Giles proceeded to work out the case as it presented itself to +him. Walter Franklin--as he found it most convenient to call him--was a +scoundrel who preyed on society, and who by some mischance had a pure +and good daughter like Anne. To keep her from knowing how bad he +was--and the man apparently valued her affection--he sent her to be a +governess. She believed in him, not knowing how he was plotting to get +the Powell money. + +Certainly Walter had resided in Florence under the name of Denham. Ware +quite believed this, and guessed that he did so in order to keep an eye +on his brother George, who was to inherit the Powell money. Probably he +knew beforehand that Powell was ill, and so had feigned death that he +might carry out his scheme without Anne's knowledge. That scheme was to +impersonate his brother; and Giles trembled to think of how he proposed +to get rid of George when the time was ripe. He must have intended to +murder him, for since he had slain Daisy with so little compunction, he +certainly would not stick at a second crime. + +However, thus Giles argued, the first step to secure the money was for +him to feign death and thus get rid of Anne. Then he came to London, and +as Wilson stopped with Mrs. Benker in order to spy on the Ashers +through Alexander. As soon as he knew for certain that Powell was dead +and that the money was coming to Daisy, he came down to Rickwell on the +errand of serving the summons, and then had lured the girl outside of +the church to kill her. But for Anne following him, he would have +disappeared into the night and no one would have been the wiser. + +But the appearance of his daughter in the library upset his plans. She +followed him into the church and came out to find him near the dead +body. He certainly made an excuse, but Giles believed that such was a +lie. If he had confessed to the crime, even Anne might not have stopped +with him. But here Giles remembered that at the time of the flight Anne +really believed that her father was guilty. At all events he had made +use of her to get away, and thus had reached the yacht at Gravesend. It +was waiting for him there, in order that he might fly after the crime +was committed. Perhaps he intended to walk to Tilbury, and crossing the +Thames get on board the yacht before the hue-and-cry was out. Anne +hampered his plans in some measure and then, by means of the stolen +motor-car, assisted them. Thus the man had got away, and by the murder +of the girl had opened the way to George inheriting the money. + +"They went to Paris," mused Giles, "then to Florence. I daresay this +Walter intended to send Anne away on some excuse and to murder his +brother in Florence. Then he could slip into the dead man's shoes, and +come to inherit--as George--the property of Powell. Probably George left +Florence before Walter arrived, and thus escaped death. He is safe so +far, but how long will he be safe?" + +Then a terrible thought occurred to Giles. He wondered if Walter had +placed his daughter at the Priory so as to have an opportunity of coming +to see his brother, and thus seizing his chance of killing him. Anne, +innocent as she was of the real meaning of these terrible schemes, might +be a decoy. If her father came, George would be murdered. Walter, who +was able to disguise himself with infernal ingenuity, might slip into +the dead man's shoes, and thus the money he had schemed for would come +to him. Evidently the last act of the tragedy was not yet played out. + +The more Giles puzzled over the matter, the more bewildered he became. +He could see--as he thought--what had been done, but he could not guess +how the last act was to be carried out. Yet Walter Franklin was hiding +somewhere waiting to pounce out on his unsuspecting brother, and the +second crime might involve Anne still deeper in the nefarious +transactions of her father. Finally Giles made up his mind to seek +George Franklin at the Priory and tell him what he thought. The man +should at least be put on his guard. It may be said that Ware fancied he +might be permitted to see Anne as a reward for his kind warning. + +Before calling on Franklin he went to see the foreign ladies. To his +surprise both had left by the early morning train. There was a note from +Olga, which informed him that her mother had insisted on returning to +town, finding the country cold and dull. The note added that +she--Olga--would be glad to see him at the Westminster flat as soon as +he could come to London, and ended with the remark that he had yet to +give his answer to her question. Giles was relieved when he read this. +Olga was gone, and the two days of probation were extended indefinitely. +He might find some way of releasing Anne before he need give this +dreadful answer. Again and again did he bless the selfishness of the +elder Princess, which had removed the obstacle of Olga from his path. + +Meanwhile he put her out of his mind and went on to the Priory. He +called in on the way to see Morley, but learned that the little man had +gone to town. Mrs. Morley looked more worn and haggard than ever, and +seemed about to say something as Giles was taking his leave. However, +she held her peace and merely informed him that she missed her children +dreadfully. "But I'm sure that is not what she meant to say," thought +Ware, as he departed. On looking back he saw her thin white face at the +window and concluded--as Mrs. Parry did--that the poor lady had +something on her mind. + +In due time he arrived at the Priory and was shown into a gloomy +drawing-room, where George Franklin received him. Giles apologized for +not having called before, and was graciously pardoned. + +"And, indeed, I should have called on you, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, +"but I am such a recluse that I rarely go out." + +"You call on Mr. Morley, I believe?" + +"Yes; he is a cheery man, and won't take no for an answer. I find that +his company does me good, but I prefer to be alone with my books." + +There were many books in the room and many loose papers on the desk, +which Giles saw were manuscripts. "I write sometimes," said Franklin, +smiling in his sour way. "It distracts my mind from worries. I am +writing a history of Florence during the age of the Renaissance." + +"A very interesting period," Giles assured him. + +"Yes; and my daughter Portia helps me a great deal. You have met her, +Mr. Ware. She told me." + +"Yes; we met in the park. She was looking for something, which I found; +but I gave it to--to----" Giles hesitated, for he was on dangerous +ground. "To another lady," he finished desperately, and waited for the +storm to break. + +To his surprise the man smiled. "You mean my niece Anne," said he in the +calmest way. + +"Yes; I do mean Miss Denham. But I did not know that--that----" + +"That I wished you to know she was under my roof. Is that it?" + +"Yes," stammered Giles, quite at sea. He did not expect this candor. + +Franklin rather enjoyed his confusion. "I did not intend to let you know +that she was here. It was her own request that you were kept in +ignorance. But since you met her----" + +"Did you hear of our meeting?" + +"Certainly. Anne told me of it directly she came back. Oh, I have heard +all about you, Mr. Ware. My niece confessed that you loved her, and from +Morley I heard that you defended her." + +"Did Morley know that Anne was here?" + +"Certainly not. At the outset of our acquaintance he informed me that he +believed her to be guilty. I resolved to say nothing, lest he might tell +the police." + +"Why did you not tell him that she was innocent?" asked Giles hotly. + +The man looked grave and smoothed his shaven chin--a habit with him when +perplexed. "Because I could not do so without telling an untruth," he +said coldly. + +Giles started to his feet, blazing with anger. "What!" he cried, "can +you sit there and tell me that your own niece killed that poor girl?" + +"I have reason to believe that she did," replied Franklin. + +"She told me she was innocent," began Ware. + +Franklin interrupted. "She loves you too well to say otherwise. But she +is--guilty." + +"I would not believe that if she told me herself." + +"Sit down, Mr. Ware," said Franklin, after a pause. "I'll explain +exactly how the confession came about." + +Giles took his seat again, and eyed his host pale but defiant. "It is no +use your saying anything against Anne. She is innocent." + +"Mr. Ware, I believed that when she first came to me. I hate my brother +because he is a bad man; but I liked his niece, and when she came to me +for shelter I took her in, notwithstanding the enormity of the crime +which she was accused of having committed." + +"It gained you your fortune," said Ware bitterly. + +"I would rather have been without a fortune gained at such a price," +answered Franklin coldly; "but I really believed Anne guiltless. She +defended her father, but I fancied, since she had helped him to escape, +that he had killed the poor girl." + +"And he did," cried Giles. "I am sure he did." + +"He had no motive." + +"Oh yes, to get the money--the five thousand a year." + +"You forget. By Miss Kent's death that came to me." + +"Your brother would have found means to get it. I believe he will find +means yet." + +"I don't understand you. Will you explain?" + +Franklin seemed fairly puzzled by Giles' remarks, so the young man set +forth the theory he had formed about the murder. At first Mr. Franklin +smiled satirically; but after a time his face became grave, and he +seemed agitated. When Giles ended he walked the room in a state of +subdued irritation. + +"What have I done to be so troubled with such a relative as Walter?" he +said aloud. "I believe you are right, Mr. Ware. He may attempt my life +to get the money; and as we are rather like one another in appearance he +may be able to pass himself off as me. Why, there was a woman here who +called herself Mrs. Benker. She insisted that I was called Wilson, under +which name she knew my brother Walter. So you must see how easily he +could impose on every one. I am dark and clean-shaven; he is red-haired +and bearded. But a razor and a pot of black dye would soon put that to +rights. Yes, he might attempt my murder. But do not let us saddle him +with a crime of which he is guiltless. Anne killed the girl. I assure +you this is the truth." + +"I don't believe it," cried Giles fiercely. + +"Nevertheless"--Franklin paused and then came forward swiftly to place a +sympathetic hand on the young man's shoulder--"I heard her say so +myself. She confessed to me that she had met you, and seemed much +agitated. Then she ran out of this room to another. Fearing she was ill, +I followed, and found her on her knees praying. She said aloud that she +had deceived you, stating that she could not bear to lose your love by +proclaiming herself a murderess." + +"No, no; I won't listen." Giles closed his ears. + +"Be a man, Mr. Ware. Anne is ill now. She confessed the truth to me, and +then fled to her bedroom. This morning she was very ill, as my daughter +Portia assured me. Portia is out of the house. If you will come with me, +you will hear the truth from Anne herself. She is so ill that she will +not try to deceive you now. But if she does confess, you must promise +not to give her up to the police. She is suffering agonies, poor child!" + +"I'll come at once," said Giles bravely, starting to his feet. And it +was brave of him, for he dreaded the truth. "If she confesses this, +I'll go away and never see her again. The police--ah, you needn't think +I would give her up to the police. But if she is guilty (and I can't +believe such a thing of her) I'll tear her out of my heart. But it's +impossible, impossible!" + +Franklin looked at him with a pitying smile as he hid his face in his +hands. Then he touched him on the shoulder and led the way along a +passage towards the back part of the house. At a door at the end he +paused. "The room is rather dark. You won't see her clearly," he said, +"but you will know her by her voice." + +"I would know her anyway," cried Giles fiercely, and tormented beyond +endurance. + +Franklin gave him another glance, as though asking him to brace himself +for the ordeal, and then opened the door. He showed small mercy in +announcing Ware's coming. "Anne, here is Mr. Ware come to see you. Tell +him the truth." + +The room was not very large, and was enveloped in a semi-gloom. The +blind was pulled down, and the curtains were drawn. The bed was near the +window, and on it lay Anne in a white dress. She was lying on the bed +with a rug thrown over her feet. When she heard the name of Giles she +uttered a cry. "Keep him away!" she said harshly. "Keep him away! Don't +let him come!" + +"Anne! Anne!" cried Giles, coming forward, his mouth dry, his hands +clenched. "Do not tell me that you killed Daisy." + +There was a groan and silence, but Anne--so far as he could see--buried +her face in the pillow. It was Franklin who spoke. "Anne, you must tell +the truth once and for all." + +"No, no," she cried, "Giles would despise me." + +"Anne," he cried in agony, "did you kill her?" + +"Yes," came the muffled voice from the bed. "I found her at the grave. +My father was not there. He had missed her in the darkness and the snow. +She taunted me. I had the stiletto, which I took from the library, and I +killed her. It was my father who saved me. Oh, go away, Giles, go away!" + +But Giles did not go. He rose to his feet and stepped towards the +window. In a second he had the blind up and the curtains drawn apart. +The light poured into the room to reveal--not Anne Denham, but the girl +Portia Franklin. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON + + +It was indeed Portia. Seeing that she was discovered, she sprang from +the bed and faced Giles with a sullen, defiant look on her freckled +face. Still standing in the strong light which poured in through the +window, Ware looked at the girl satirically. + +"You are a very clever mimic, Miss Franklin," said he, "but you rather +forgot yourself in that last speech. Anne is of too sensitive a nature +to have explained herself with such a wealth of detail." + +"You were deceived at first," grumbled Portia, rocking herself. + +"Only for a moment," replied Giles. "And now I should like to know the +meaning of this masquerade?" + +"I also," cried Franklin, in his turn. He was staring at his daughter +with a look of profound amazement. "Where is Anne, you wretched girl?" + +"She has run away." + +"Run away!" exclaimed the men simultaneously. + +"Yes. After your finding out last night that she had killed Daisy Kent +she was afraid to stop. She knew that you hated her father, and thought +you might hand her over to the police. Last night she told me so, and +said she would run away. I love Anne, and I let her do as she liked. It +was I who let her out," ended Portia, defiantly. + +"Anne should not have so mistrusted me," cried Franklin, much perturbed. +"Surely I always protected her, and treated her well." + +"Ah, but you didn't know till last night that she was guilty." + +"No; but for all that----" began Franklin, only to break off. "Where has +she gone?" he demanded angrily. + +"I don't know. She had some money, and took a small black bag with her. +She said when she got settled she would write here and let me know where +she was, on condition that I did not tell you." + +"She has every reason to. Poor, miserable girl! to be an outcast, and +now to leave her only refuge," he sighed and shook his head. Giles all +the time had been watching Portia, whose face bore an expression of +obstinacy worthy of a mule. "Did this scheme for Anne's departure +include the masquerade you have indulged in?" + +"It is my own idea," she retorted defiantly. "Anne wished to get away +without my father knowing, so I stopped in her room and pretended to be +Anne. The servants were deceived, as I knew exactly how to imitate her +voice. I pulled down the blind, so that no one should see who I was. +Only you could have guessed the truth." + +"How is that?" + +"Because you love her." + +Giles thought this a strange speech for the heavy-looking girl to make. +"Is that an original remark on your part?" he asked. + +"No," she confessed candidly; "I suggested to Anne that I should pass +myself off as her, and so give her a longer time to get away. She said +that I might deceive the servants and my father, but that I could never +deceive you, because you loved her. But I had a good try," continued +Portia, nodding her red head triumphantly. "When my father spoke your +name at the door I thought I would try." + +"Well, you have done so only to fail," responded Ware coolly. "For the +moment I was deceived, but you forgot how to manage your voice, and, +moreover, your explanation was too elaborate. But how is it you dare to +confess, as Anne, that she killed the girl?" + +"Anne did kill Daisy Kent!" + +"She did not." + +"Yes, she did. She confessed as much to father last night, and to me +also. She asked me to tell you so, that you might forget all about her. +I was going over to your place this very day to tell, but when father +brought you in I thought I would pretend to be Anne and tell you in that +way." + +"Anne would have written, and----" + +"No, she wouldn't," said Portia, eagerly. "She began to write a letter +saying that she was guilty, but afterwards she thought it might fall +into the hands of the police, and tore it up. She told me to let you +know by word of mouth. All she asks of you is that you will forget that +she ever existed." + +"Let her tell me that with her own lips," said Giles, groaning. + +"Yes, Portia, tell Mr. Ware the place Anne has gone to." + +Portia eyed her father with some anger. "How can I tell when I don't +know? Anne never said where she was going. I let her out by the back +door just before dawn, and she went away. I know no more." + +"If she writes, you will let Mr. Ware know." + +"I shan't," retorted the girl. "Anne wants him to forget her." + +"That is impossible," said Giles, whose face was now haggard with the +anguish of the moment; "but you must be my friend, Portia, and tell me. +Think how I suffer!" + +"Think how she suffers, poor darling!" cried Portia, whose sympathies +were all with Anne. "Don't ask me any more. I shan't speak." + +And speak she would not, although Giles cajoled and Franklin stormed. +Whatever could be said of Portia, she was very loyal to the outcast. +There was nothing for it but for Ware to depart. And this he did. + +What was the best thing to be done Giles did not very well know. Anne +was lost again, and he did not know where to look for her. He could not +bring himself to believe that she was guilty, in spite of her confession +to Portia and Franklin. + +"It's that blackguard of a father of hers over again," he thought, as he +tramped moodily through the Priory park. "She is afraid lest his +brother--her uncle--should denounce him, and has taken the crime on her +own shoulders. Even though he is her father, she should not sacrifice so +much for him. But it is just noble of her to do so. Oh, my poor love, +shall I ever be able to shelter you from the storms of life?" + +There did not seem to be much chance of it at the present moment. +Mistrusting her uncle, she had vanished, and would let no one but Portia +know of her new hiding-place. And Portia, as Giles saw, was too devoted +to Anne to confess her whereabouts without permission. And how was such +permission to be obtained? Anne allowed her uncle to think her guilty in +order to save her unworthy father from his fraternal hatred. She had +asserted her innocence to Giles, but had apparently, through Portia, +tried to deceive him again, so that he might not follow her. "Poor +darling!" cries Giles, full of pity, "she wishes to put me out of her +life, and has fled to avoid incriminating her father. If she told me the +whole truth her father would be in danger, and she chooses to bear his +guilt herself. But why should she think I would betray the man? Bad as +he is, I should screen him for her dear sake. Oh"--Giles stopped and +looked up appealingly to the hot, blue sky--"if I only knew where she +was to be found, if I could only hold her in my arms, never, never would +I let her go, again! My poor Quixotic darling, shall I ever be worthy of +such nobility?" + +It was all very well apostrophizing the sky, but such heroics did not +help him in any practical way. He cast about in his own mind to consider +in which direction she had gone. The nearest railway station to London +was five miles away; but she would not leave the district thus openly, +for the stationmaster knew her well. She had frequently travelled from +that centre as Miss Denham, and he would be sure to recognize her, even +though she wore a veil. Anne, as Giles judged, would not risk such +recognition. + +Certainly there was another station ten miles distant, which was very +little used by the Rickwell people. She might have tramped that +distance, and have taken a ticket to London from there. But was it her +intention to go to London? Giles thought it highly probable that she +would. Anne, as he knew from Portia, had very little money, and it would +be necessary for her to seek out some friend. She would probably go to +Mrs. Cairns, for Mrs. Cairns believed her to be guiltless, and would +shelter her in the meantime. Later on a situation could be procured for +her abroad, and she could leave England under a feigned name. Giles +felt that this was the course Anne would adopt, and he determined to +follow the clue suggested by this theory. + +Having made up his mind to this course, Giles hurried home to pack a few +things and arrange for his immediate departure. Chance, or rather +Providence, led him past "Mrs. Parry's Eye" about five o'clock. Of +course, the good lady was behind the window spying on all and sundry, as +usual. She caught sight of Giles striding along the road with bent head +and a discouraged air. Wondering what was the matter and desperately +anxious to know, Mrs. Parry sent out Jane to intercept him and ask him +in. Giles declined to enter at first; but then it struck him that since +he was in search of information about Anne, Mrs. Parry might know +something. Her knowledge was so omniscient that, for all he knew, she +might have been aware all the time of Anne's presence at the Priory, but +held her tongue--which Mrs. Parry could do sometimes--out of pity for +the girl's fate. Giles went in resolved to pump Mrs. Parry without +mentioning what he knew of Anne. Supposing she was ignorant, he was not +going to be the one to reveal Anne's refuge. And if she did know, Ware +was certain that Mrs. Parry would tell him all, since she was aware how +deeply he loved the governess. Thus in another five minutes the young +man found himself seated in the big armchair opposite the old lady. She +was rather grim with him. + +"You have not been to see me for ever so long," said she, rubbing her +beaky nose. "Your Royal Princesses have taken up too much of your time, +I suppose. Oh, I know all about them." + +"I am sorry they did not stay for a few days," replied Giles in his most +amiable tone. "I wished to introduce them to you." + +"You mean present me to them," corrected the old dame, who was a +stickler for etiquette. "They are genuine Princesses, are they not?" + +"Oh, yes. But they are not royal. Princess Karacsay is the wife of a +Magyar noble. She is not an Austrian, however, as she came from Jamaica. +The younger, Princess Olga, is----" + +"Jamaica," interrupted Mrs. Parry! "Humph! That is where Anne Denham was +born. Queer this woman should come from the same island." + +"It's certainly odd," replied Giles. "But a mere coincidence." + +"Humph!" from Mrs. Parry. "Some folks make their own coincidences." + +"What do you mean, Mrs. Parry?" + +"Mean? Humph! I don't know if I should tell you." + +Giles was now on fire to learn her meaning. Evidently Mrs. Parry did +know something, and might be able to help him. But seeing that she was +slightly offended with him, it required some tact to get the necessary +information out of the old lady. Giles knew the best way to effect his +purpose was to feign indifference. Mrs. Parry was bursting to tell her +news, and that it would come out the sooner if he pretended that he did +not much care to hear it. + +"There is no reason why you should tell me," said he coolly. "I know all +about the Princess Karacsay. She and her daughter only came down here +for a rest." + +"Oh, they did, did they, Ware? Humph!" She rubbed her nose again, and +eyed him with a malignant pleasure. "Are you sure the elder Princess +didn't come down to see Franklin?" + +"She doesn't know him," said Giles, trying to be calm. "She took a walk +in the Priory woods. I suppose that is how the mistake----" + +"I don't make mistakes," retorted Mrs. Parry, with a snort. "I know a +new gardener who is employed at the Priory. He told Jane, who told me, +that Princess Karacsay, the mother, called on Franklin the other morning +and entered the house. She was with him for over an hour. He came to the +door to see her off. The gardener was attending to some shrubs near at +hand. He could not hear what they said to one another, but declares that +Franklin was as pale as a sheet." + +"Queer," thought Giles, remembering how the elder lady had denied all +knowledge of the man. However, he did not make this remark to Mrs. +Parry. "Well, there's nothing in that," said he aloud. "Franklin lived +in Italy for many years. He may have met the Princess there." + +"True enough." Mrs. Parry was rather discomfited. "There may be nothing +in it, and Franklin seems to be decent enough in his life, though a bit +of a recluse. I've nothing to say against the man." + +Giles thought that this was rather fortunate for Franklin, seeing that +Mrs. Parry's tongue was so dangerous. If she ever came to know of his +brother Walter, and of the relations between him and George, she would +be sure to make mischief. He thought it prudent to say nothing. The less +revealed to the good lady the better. However, this attitude did not +prevent Ware from trying to learn what Mrs. Parry had discovered with +regard to the two Princesses. She told him an interesting detail without +being urged. + +"Last night about nine I saw one of them out for a walk." + +"Princess Olga?" questioned Giles. + +Mrs. Parry nodded. "If she is the younger of the two, she is not a +bad-looking girl, Ware. She passed my window and went on to look at the +church. Rather a strange hour to look at a church." + +Giles started. It was about that hour that he had been talking to Anne, +and shortly afterwards she had heard the footsteps and had fled. He now +believed that Olga must have overheard a portion of the conversation. It +was her footsteps which they had heard retreating. At once he remembered +Olga's threat, that if he tampered with Anne in the meantime she would +have her arrested. This, then, was the reason why Olga had not come to +his house again, and why she and her mother had left so suddenly for +London. He wondered if the elder Princess knew about Anne, and was +assisting her daughter to get the poor girl into the hands of the law. +Giles turned pale. + +"What's the matter, Ware?" asked Mrs. Parry, sitting up. + +"Nothing," he stammered; "but this coincidence----" + +"Oh, I simply mean that as Princess Karacsay and Anne both came from +Jamaica, it was strange that they should go away to London together. +Don't you think so, too? There must be some connection." + +Giles started to his feet. "Anne," he said loudly, "do you know that +Anne is here?" + +"She was here," said Mrs. Parry, with a gratified chuckle; "but where +she has been hiding is more than I know. However, I am certain it was +Anne I saw this morning on the moor. She was veiled and dressed quietly; +but I knew her walk and the turn of her head." + +"You must be mistaken," said Giles, perplexed. + +"Indeed, I'm not. Trust one woman to know another, however she may +disguise herself. I tell you Anne Denham has been here in hiding. I +don't believe she left the neighborhood after all. I wonder who took +her in," muttered Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose as usual. "I must find +that out." + +"But what do you mean by saying Anne went to London with the----" + +"I can believe my own eyes and ears, I suppose," snapped the good lady. +"I was out at seven o'clock taking a walk. I always do get up early in +summer. That is how I keep my health. I have no patience with those who +lie in bed, and----" + +"But what did you see?" + +"Don't you be impatient, Ware. I want you to find Anne, as I believe she +is guiltless and has suffered a lot unjustly. While you have been on a +wild-goose chase she has been here all the time. If I had only known I +should have told you; but I didn't, worse luck." + +"I know you are my friend," said Giles, pressing her hand. "And you can +help me by saying where Anne has gone to." + +"Oh, my good man, you must find that out for yourself! I believe she has +gone to London with those Princesses of yours. At least that fool of a +Morris said they left his inn this morning early to go to London. They +drove to the Westbury Station. That is the one we hardly ever use down +here. The Barnham Station is the nearest." + +"Yes! yes! The Westbury is ten miles away. You go across the moor----" + +"My good Ware, have I lived all these years in this place without +knowing it as well as I know my own nose? Hold your tongue, or I'll tell +you nothing. The coachman who drove these Princesses of yours"--Mrs. +Parry always used this phrase disdainfully--"is a new man. Morris hired +him from Chelmsford, and he does not know Anne, luckily for her. If it +had been the old coachman she might have been in jail by this time. +Well, as I say, I was on the moor and saw the carriage coming along. I +didn't know that those Princesses were in it till one of them--the +younger--got out and stood by the roadside. I was close at hand, and +hidden by a gorse bush. She whistled. I tell you, Ware, she whistled. +What manners these foreigners have! Three times she whistled. Then some +one rose from behind another bush and walked quickly to the carriage. It +was Anne. Oh, don't tell me it wasn't," cried Mrs. Parry, vigorously +shaking her head. "I knew her walk and the turn of her head. Trust me +for knowing her amongst a thousand. Anne Denham it was and none other." + +"What happened then?" asked Giles anxiously. + +"Why, this Princess Olga embraced and kissed her. Does she know her?" + +"Yes. They have been friends for a long time." + +"Humph! and Princess Olga's mother comes from Jamaica, where Anne was +born," said Mrs. Parry. "Queer. There is some sort of a connection." + +"You are too suspicious, Mrs. Parry." + +"All the better. But I can see through a stone wall. Believe me, Ware, +that if there isn't some connection between those two, I am a +Dutchwoman. However, Anne got into the carriage and it drove away." + +Giles caught up his hat. "To London," he cried jubilantly. "I know where +Anne is to be found now." And to Mrs. Parry's dismay, he rushed out. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP + + +But Giles was not destined to go to London as quickly as he thought. He +rushed out of Mrs. Parry's cottage, leaving that good lady in a state of +frenzied curiosity, and walked rapidly through the village on the road +to his own house. On the way he dropped into "The Merry Dancer" to look +at an "A B C." Morris, still swelling with importance over his +illustrious guests, although these had now left, conducted him into the +deserted salon and gave him the guide. While Giles was looking up the +first train, Morley, hot and dusty and short of breath, rushed into the +room. + +"Upon my word, Ware, I think you must be deaf," he said, wiping his +perspiring forehead. "I've been running and calling after you for the +last five minutes." + +"I was buried in my own thoughts," replied Ware, turning the pages of +the guide rapidly, "wait a bit." + +"I see you are going to London, Ware. What's up?" + +By this time Giles noted the earliest train he could catch from Barnham +Station, and found he had over an hour to spare. He was not averse to +spending a portion of it in Morley's company, for he had much to tell +him of what had happened. And the advice of the ex-detective was +certain to be good. "I am following Anne," he said. + +"Miss Denham." Morley stared. "Then you know----" + +"Yes, I know; I met her last night by accident. And you have known all +the time." + +"Indeed, I know nothing," said the little man. "I was about to say that +you know where she is?" + +"Franklin did not tell you that she was with him, then?" + +"Miss Denham--with Franklin--at the Priory?" Morley looked stupefied. + +"She has been there all the time. I remember now. Franklin did not tell +you, because he knew that you would give her up to the police." + +"He told me nothing," said Morley slowly, "and if he had I should +certainly have given her up to the police. Does he think her innocent?" + +Giles shook his head gloomily. "He did, but circumstances have happened +which have led him to change his opinion. He believes now that she is +guilty. But he would never have told you." + +"Well, I suppose that is natural. After all she is his niece, and +although he hates his brother Walter, he must have some love for Anne, +or he would scarcely have taken her in. So she has gone away. Can you +tell me where she is to be found?" + +"Is it likely that I should?" + +Morley laughed in his cheery manner. "No," he replied bluntly, "for I +know she has gone to London, and that you are following her." + +"Quite so. But London is a large place. You will not find her." + +"I could if I followed you," said Morley promptly. + +"I should not let you do that." + +"Perhaps not. But if I chose I could circumvent you. All I have to do is +to wire your description to Scotland Yard and you would be shadowed by a +detective from the moment you left the Liverpool Street Station. But you +need not be afraid. I don't want to harm Miss Denham. If she crosses my +path I'll have her arrested, but I won't go hunting for her." + +"I don't trust you, Morley," said Ware quietly. + +"You ought to. I have put you on your guard against myself. If my +intentions were bad, I should not have told you. But my detective days +are over, and Miss Denham can go scot-free for me. But I'll tell you one +thing, Ware. She will never be your wife." + +"How can you prophesy that?" asked Giles sharply. + +"Because you will never be able to prove her innocence. I believe her to +be guilty myself, and if she is not, the task of removing the suspicion +is an impossible one. I have had many mysterious cases in my day, but +this is one of the most difficult." + +"I don't agree with you," said Ware promptly. "The case is perfectly +simple. Her blackguard of a father killed Daisy and afterwards intended +to kill his brother George and thus get possession of the money. Anne +saved him the first time, and to save him now from the hatred of George +she has taken his guilt on her own shoulders." + +"Who told you all this?" + +"It's my theory. And I'll prove the truth of it, Morley, by hunting +everywhere for Walter Franklin. When I find him I'll wring a confession +out of him." + +"I hope you will succeed," said Morley admiringly, "and you ought to for +your pluck. So far as I am concerned, I wash my hands of the whole +affair. You need not think I'll hunt down Miss Denham. Besides," added +Morley, nodding, "I am going away." + +"What!" Giles was astonished. "Are you leaving The Elms?" + +"In a month's time," replied the little man. "My wife's doing, not mine. +She has never got over a certain horror of the house since the murder of +that poor girl. I shall sell every stick of furniture and take Mrs. +Morley and the children to the United States. She wants to get away from +the old life and begin a new one. So do I. Rather a late beginning at my +age, eh, Ware?" + +"What about your finances?" + +"Oh, that's all right," said Morley, jubilantly. "I have settled +everything. An old aunt of mine has died and left me a couple of +thousand a year. I have paid every debt, and shall leave England without +leaving a single creditor behind me. Then Mrs. Morley has her own money. +We shall do very well in the States, Ware. I am thinking of living in +Washington. A very pleasant city, I hear." + +"I've never been there," replied Giles, making for the door, "but I am +glad to hear that your affairs are settled. There is no chance of +trouble with Asher now." + +Morley shook his head with a jolly laugh. "They won't send down another +Walter Franklin, if that is what you mean," said he. + +"They did not send him down. He came himself." + +"Yes. I only spoke generally. Well, I'll be sorry to go, for I have made +some pleasant friends in Rickwell--yourself amongst the number. But my +wife insists, so I must humor her. There's Franklin. I shall be sorry to +leave him." + +"Is he not going also?" + +Morley looked astonished. "No. Why should he go? He has the Priory on a +seven years' lease. Besides, he likes the place." + +"He might go to escape his brother." + +"I don't think Walter Franklin will dare to trouble George now. He is +innocent of actually committing this crime, but he certainly is an +accessory after the fact. He'll keep out of the way." + +"Let us hope so for the sake of George. Well, Morley, I must be off." + +Giles went home at top speed, and Morley remained at the inn to make +inquiries about the Hungarian Princesses. Although he was not now a +detective, yet Morley still preserved the instinct which made him ask +questions. He heard that the foreign ladies had driven to Westbury, and +afterwards strolled round to the stables to see the new coachman. He +learned from him about the strange lady who entered the carriage on the +moor. The man described her face, for it seemed that she had lifted her +veil for a moment when alighting at the station. Morley took all this +in, and walked home jubilantly. He knew that Anne was with the Princess +Karacsay. + +"If these were the old days," he said, "I'd wire to London to have the +house of those Hungarian women searched. I wonder what they have to do +with the matter? Humph! Anne killed Daisy. Is it worth while to try and +trace her?" + +This speech was made to Mrs. Morley, and the pale woman gave a decided +negative. "Let poor Anne go, Oliver," she said beseechingly; "I loved +her, and she had much good in her." + +"Still, I'm all on fire to follow up the clue," said Morley. + +"You promised to leave the detective business alone." + +"Quite right; so I did," he answered. "Well, I'll do what you wish, my +dear. Anne Denham can go free for me. I said the same thing to Ware, +although he won't believe me. But I should like to know what that +Princess Karacsay has to do with the matter." + +He worried all that evening, and finally went to see Franklin about the +matter. But he got scanty satisfaction from him. Franklin denied that +Anne had ever been in his house, and told Morley to mind his own +business. If the ex-detective's wife had not been present, and if this +conversation had not taken place in her presence, Franklin might have +been more easy to deal with. But the presence of a third party shut his +mouth. So Morley could do nothing, and made no attempt to do anything. + +Had Giles known of this it might have set his mind at rest, for he could +not get out of his head that he was being followed. At the Liverpool +station he alighted about ten o'clock, and looked everywhere in the +crowd to see if he was being observed. But his fears were vain, for he +could distinguish no one with any inquiring look on his face, or note +any person dogging his footsteps. He stepped into a cab and ordered the +man to drive to St. John's Wood. But at Baker Street he alighted and +dismissed the cab. He had only a hand-bag with him, and, carrying this, +he took the underground train to High Street, Kensington. When he +arrived there he drove in another cab to his old hotel, "The Guelph," +opposite the Park. When alone in his bedroom Giles smoked a complacent +pipe. "If any one did try to follow me," he said to himself, "he must +have missed me when I took the underground railway." + +It was close on half-past eleven when he ended his wanderings, too late +to call at the Westminster flat. But Giles thought that Olga would never +think he had traced her flight with Anne, and would not do anything +till the morrow, probably not before twelve o'clock. He was up early, +and went off to New Scotland Yard to see Steel. He did not intend to +tell him about Anne, thinking that the detective might arrest her if he +knew of her whereabouts. But he desired to know if Steel had discovered +anything in connection with the Scarlet Cross. Also, since Steel knew +Olga so well, he might be able to explain why she had come down with her +mother to Rickwell, and why the elder Princess had called on Franklin. +He half thought that Olga, keeping her promise, had brought Anne to +London to have her taken in charge by Steel. But on second thoughts he +fancied that Olga would keep Anne as a hostage, and not deliver her up +if he--Giles--agreed to become her husband. Thus thinking he went to see +Steel. + +The detective was within, and saw Giles at once. He looked very pleased +with himself, and saluted Ware with a triumphant smile. + +"Well, sir," he said, "I have found out an astonishing lot of things." + +"About the murder?" asked Ware apprehensively. + +"No." Steel's face fell. "That is still a mystery, and I expect will be +one until that woman--I mean that young lady--is found." + +"Do you mean Miss Denham?" demanded Ware stiffly. + +"Yes. Do you know where she is?" + +Giles shook his head. He was not going to betray Anne to her enemy, as +Steel in his detective capacity assuredly was. "I wish I did," he said. +"I have been at Rickwell trying to find out things. I'll tell you of my +discoveries later. Meantime----" + +"You want to hear about mine," cried the detective eagerly and full of +his subject. "Well, the murder can wait. I'll get to the bottom of +that, Mr. Ware. But I am now quite of your opinion. Miss Denham is +innocent. This man Wilson killed the girl." + +"I knew that Walter Franklin was guilty," cried Ware. + +"I said Wilson," was Steel's reply. + +"I forgot; you don't know about Wilson alias Franklin. I'll tell you +later. Go on, Steel. I'm all attention." + +"Oh! So his real name is Franklin. I never knew that," said Steel, +drawing his hand down his chin. "Well, Mr. Ware, I have been to all the +ports in the kingdom, and I have learned that wherever that yacht--she's +a steam yacht--_The Red Cross_ has been, burglaries have been committed. +At last I managed to lay my hand on a member of the gang, and made him +speak up." + +"What gang?" + +"A gang of burglars headed by the man I call Wilson and your +Franklin--the Scarlet Cross Society. They own that yacht, and steam from +port to port committing robberies. A splendid idea, and Wilson's own." + +Then he unfolded to the astonished Giles a long career of villany on the +part of the said Wilson. The young man shuddered as the vile category of +crime was unrolled. It was horrible that such a wretch as Walter +Franklin should be the father of Anne. But for all her parent's vices, +Giles never swerved from the determination to marry the girl. He was not +one of those who think that the sins of the father should be visited on +the child. + +"What is the name of the man who confessed all this?" asked Giles. + +"Mark Dane." + +Ware started. That was the name of the man Anne had mentioned as her +father's secretary. However, he said nothing, and when Steel requested +him to tell all he knew about Wilson, he related everything save that +he was Anne's father. Steel listened attentively, chin on hand. When +Giles finished he nodded. + +"I'll go down and see this brother," he remarked. "If he hates the man +whom we think committed the crime so much, he will be anxious to assist +us in securing him. I wonder why that governess helped Wilson, or rather +Walter Franklin, to escape? Of course, I believe that she is his +daughter. Now don't look so angry, Mr. Ware. If you remember, when I +talked with you at the Princess Karacsay's I said you could draw your +own inferences. That is what I meant." Here the detective stopped and +peered into Giles' face. "You don't appear to be so surprised as I +thought you would be." + +"Are you sure that Miss Denham is Wilson's daughter?" + +"No, I am not yet sure. But if I can make this Mark Dane speak further, +I'll be certain. He knows all about the matter. Unfortunately he is +gone. I caught him at Bournemouth, and after he told me a portion of the +truth he managed to get away. It's a long story how he fooled me. I'll +tell it to you another time. But the worst of it is," resumed Steel +dolefully, "that Dane will warn Wilson and he will get away. All the +same, now you have told me Wilson has a brother I may be able to find +out something in that quarter. The brother is all right?" + +"He is an honest man, if that is what you mean." + +"H'm!" said Steel sceptically. "I don't see how there can be any honest +member of the Franklin family." + +"Do you include Miss Denham?" asked Giles furiously. + +"Well, sir, she sails under false colors." + +"She can explain that." + +"I hope she will be able to when I catch her." + +"Steel, I won't stand this!" cried Ware, much agitated. + +The detective thought for a moment. "See here, sir," he remarked, "we +won't discuss this matter until I have caught Dane." + +"How do you hope to catch him?" + +"I have laid a trap for him at the Princess Karacsay's flat," said Steel +quietly. "Oh, don't look so astonished. This Dane was one of the +attendants at some concert where the Princess sang. He fell in love with +her, and has been bothering her with letters. I have arranged that he +shall call at the flat. I'll be waiting for him." + +"It's odd that the Princess should know about this man," said Ware. + +Steel looked at him queerly. "It is odd," he said; "and to my mind it is +more than a coincidence. Princess Olga is a clever woman. I have to be +very careful with her." + +"Do you mean to say that she knows anything?" asked Giles. + +"I am sure she does. I believe she could explain the whole business; but +I can't find out how she came to be connected with it. Well, Mr. Ware, I +must be off. When I see Dane and get the truth out of him, I'll see you +again. I hope, for your sake, that Miss Denham is not the daughter of +this man, but from a few words let drop by Dane I fear she is. At all +events, sir, you can set your mind at rest about her being guilty of +murder. She is innocent. The father did it." + +Giles departed, much comforted by this statement. He knew well enough +that Anne was the daughter of Wilson, alias Denham, alias Franklin, and +he shuddered again to think of his pure, good Anne being mixed up with a +man who was hand and glove with the criminal classes and a criminal +himself. However, he put this matter out of his mind for the moment, and +drove to the Westminster flat. If Anne was there, he determined to take +her away to a place of safety, and defy Steel and Walter Franklin to do +their worst. + +He went up the stairs, and was told that Mademoiselle Olga was not at +home. He was about to inquire after Anne, when the elder Princess, +looking pale and anxious, appeared at the door of the drawing-room. She +beckoned him in and shut the door. + +"Have you seen Olga?" she inquired. + +"No, Princess. Is she not with you?" + +"She is not," wailed the woman, throwing herself on the couch. "Late +last night she went out with Anne. A summons came--some letter--and Anne +had to go. Olga insisted on accompanying her. They said they would be +back at midnight; but they have not reappeared. I am distracted, Mr. +Ware. What shall I do? Where are they?" + +"Who was the letter from?" + +"I don't know. It was for Anne, and----" + +"You call Miss Denham Anne," said Giles abruptly; "and you brought her +here. What do you know of her?" + +"Everything," said the Princess, sitting up. "In spite of Olga I must +tell you the truth. Anne Denham is my daughter!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A STORY OF THE PAST + + +This communication was so extraordinary and unexpected that Giles +thought the Princess must be out of her mind. But although overcome with +emotion, she was sane enough, and seeing his astonishment repeated her +statement that Anne Denham was her daughter. The young man sat down to +collect his thoughts. + +"Do you mean to say that she is Mademoiselle Olga's sister?" + +"Her half-sister," corrected the Princess, sobbing. "I never thought I +should find her again, and like this. It's too dreadful!" And in strange +contrast to her usual indolent demeanor, she wrung her hands. + +Giles was still bewildered. "And you--were you the wife of Walter +Franklin?" he stammered helplessly. + +"There is no Walter Franklin," replied the woman, drying her eyes and +sitting up. "George Franklin is Anne's father. He was my husband." + +"But you are the wife of Prince Karacsay." + +"Certainly. I eloped with him from Kingstown in Jamaica, and George +divorced me. I afterwards married the Prince." + +"Then the man at the Priory is your first husband?" + +"No!" cried she vigorously. "He is not George Franklin." + +"He calls himself so," muttered Ware, quite puzzled. + +"Only to keep hold of the money left by Mr. Powell," explained the +Princess. "He is really Alfred Denham, who caused all the misery of my +married life with George." + +"Anne's father." + +"No. I tell you he is not Anne's father. George was the father of Anne. +He is dead. He died shortly after divorcing me." + +Giles felt his heart swell with gratitude to learn that Anne was not +connected with----Here he paused, more bewildered than ever. "I don't +quite understand, Princess," he said, trying to arrive in his own mind +at some solution of this complicated mystery. "Had not your husband a +brother called Walter?" + +"No. George was an only son." + +"Then did Alfred Denham have a brother of that name?" + +"No. Don't you understand, Mr. Ware. You have been deceived. Denham, who +calls himself by my husband's name pretends to be Anne's father, was the +man who went down to Rickwell." + +"The man whom Anne helped to escape." + +"Yes. Under the belief that he is her father, poor child." + +"Then there is no Walter Franklin. He is a myth?" The Princess nodded. + +"Invented to throw you off the scent." + +"And Denham, who calls himself George Franklin, really killed Daisy?" + +"I believe he did," declared the Princess fiercely. "That man is one of +the most wicked creatures born. He is capable of any crime." + +Ware said nothing. His brain refused to take in the explanation. That he +should have been so deceived seemed incredible, yet deceived he had +been. All this time he had been following a phantom, while the real +person was tricking him with masterly ingenuity. "But Anne told me +herself that she had an uncle called Walter," said he suddenly. + +"Of course! To save the man she believed to be her father." + +"Wait! Wait! I can't grasp it yet." Giles buried his face in his hands +and tried to think the matter out. + +The Princess went to the window and drew aside the curtain. "I see +nothing of Anne and Olga," she murmured. "Where can they have got to. +Oh, am I to lose her after all?" She paused and came back to the couch. +"Mr. Ware," she said, "I will tell you all my sad story, and then you +can judge what is best to be done." + +"That is best," said Giles, lifting up his worn face. "I am quite in the +dark so far. The thing seems to be incredible." + +"Truth is stranger than fiction," said the Princess quietly. "That is a +truism, but no other saying can apply to what I am about to tell you." + +"One moment, Princess. Who found out that Denham was masquerading as +your late husband?" + +"Olga found it out. I don't know how. She refuses to tell me." + +"And she asked you to come over to identify the man?" + +"Yes. That was why I went with her to Rickwell. I called on Denham, and +saw that he was not my husband." + +"I see!" murmured Giles, remembering what the gardener had told Mrs. +Parry about the pallor of the so-called Franklin when he came to the +door with his visitor. "I am beginning to gather some information out of +all this. But if you will tell me the whole story----" + +"At once, Mr. Ware. I want your advice and assistance. First you must +have some whiskey." + +"Not in the morning, thank you." + +"You must have it!" she replied, ringing the bell. "What I have said +already has upset you, and you will require all your courage to hear the +rest." + +"Anne," said Giles anxiously. + +"My poor child. I fear for her greatly. No! Don't ask me more. So long +as Olga is with her I hope that all will be well. Otherwise----" She +made a quick gesture to silence him, for the servant entered to receive +orders. + +So Giles was provided with some whiskey and water, which the Princess +made him drink at once. She had thrown off her languor, and was as quick +in her movements as he usually was himself. The discovery of Denham's +masquerade, the doubts about Anne's safety had roused her from her +indolence, and she had braced herself to act. A more wonderful +transformation Giles could scarcely have imagined. Shortly he was +ordered to smoke. The Princess lighted a cigarette herself, and began +abruptly to tell her tale. It was quite worthy of a melodramatic +novelist. + +"I was born in Jamaica," she said, speaking slowly and distinctly, so +that Giles should fully understand. "My father, Colonel Shaw, had +retired from the army. Having been stationed at Kingstown, he had +contracted a love for the island, and so stopped there. He went into the +interior and bought an estate. Shortly afterwards he married my mother. +She was a quadroon." + +Giles uttered an ejaculation. He remembered that Anne had stated she had +negro blood in her veins, and now saw why Princess Karacsay and her +daughter had such a love for barbaric coloring. Also he guessed that +Olga's fierce temperament was the outcome of her African blood. + +The Princess nodded. She quite understood his interruption. + +"You can see the negro in me," she said quietly. "In Jamaica that was +considered disgraceful, but in Vienna no one knows about the taint." + +"It is not a taint in England, Princess--or in the Old World." + +"No! Perhaps not. But then"--she waved her delicate hand +impatiently--"there is no need to discuss that, Mr. Ware. Let me proceed +with what I have to tell you. When I was eighteen I married George +Franklin. He was a young planter of good birth, and very handsome in +looks." + +"Anything like Denham?" asked Ware quickly. + +The Princess blew a contemptuous cloud of smoke. "Not in the least, Mr. +Ware. George was good-looking. What Denham is, you can see for yourself. +Denham was George's foster-brother," she explained. + +"And his evil genius," added Giles. "I am beginning to understand." + +The Princess flushed crimson, and her whole body trembled with passion. +"He ruined my life," she cried, trying to restrain her emotion. "If I +could see him hanged, I should be pleased. But such a death would fall +far short of the punishment he deserves." + +"Has Denham negro blood in him?" + +"Yes. He is a degree nearer the negro than I am. George was a native of +Jamaica, and very rich. When his mother died he was quite a baby, and +Denham's mother nursed him. Thus he became Denham's foster-brother, and +the two boys grew up together. Powell tried all he could to neutralize +the bad influence of Denham, but it was useless. George was quite under +Denham's thumb." + +"Powell! The man who left the money to Daisy? Was he in Jamaica?" + +The Princess nodded. "For a time," she said, "George was at an English +public school--Rugby, I fancy. He met Powell there, and the two became +much attached. There was also another boy called Kent." + +"Daisy's father?" + +"Yes. George, Powell, and Kent were inseparable. They were called the +Three Musketeers at school. Afterwards George lost sight of Kent, but +Powell came out to Jamaica to stop with George. That was before and +after my marriage. Denham was ruining my husband body and soul, and in +pocket. Powell tried to remonstrate with George, but it was no use. +Denham was the overseer, and George would not dismiss him. Then Powell +returned to England. Afterwards when he heard from me that George was +completely ruined, he wrote about the money." + +"Did he say he would leave the money to George?" + +"Not exactly that. He said that Kent was ruined also, and explained that +if he could make a fortune he would leave it equally divided between +George and Kent, as he did not intend to marry himself." + +"But he did not leave his money equally divided," said Giles. + +"No. But at that time Kent was not married, and Powell had not gone to +Australia to make his money. Whether he liked Kent better than George I +don't know, but, as you are aware, he left the money first to +Daisy--knowing that Kent was dead--and afterwards, should she die, to +George and his descendants." + +"Then the money which Denham holds as Franklin is rightfully Anne's?" + +"Yes. Now you are beginning to see. But don't be in too much of a hurry. +I want to tell you how my elopement came about." + +Ware nodded, and composed himself to listen. The Princess resumed. + +"I was happy at first with George. I really was in love with him, and +for two years we were devoted to one another. Anne was born, and she +drew us still closer together. Then Denham chose to fall in love with +me. I repelled him with scorn, but did not tell my husband, as I dreaded +lest George, who had a fiery temper, should kill the man. I simply kept +Denham at his distance. He vowed to be revenged, and gradually ruined +George. He made him neglect the plantation, and spend more money than he +could afford. He induced him to drink, and then George, who had not a +very strong will, began to run after other women. I was furious, and +told him about Denham. He was so besotted with the creature that he +refused to listen to me. Powell tried to stop George's downward course, +but without result. Then he was called back to England, and I was left +to battle against my enemy alone. My father and mother were both dead, +and I could do nothing. Denham constantly inflamed George against me. +Our house was like hell." + +Here she stopped to draw a long breath and control her emotion. Giles +pitied her profoundly, as he guessed how she had suffered. However, he +did not interrupt her, and she continued in a few moments. + +"Prince Karacsay came to the island. He was travelling for pleasure, and +in his own yacht. He fell in love with me. Seeing how miserable I was, +he implored me to fly with him. But I would not. I had lost much of my +love for George, who, under the bad influence of Denham, treated me so +cruelly. But there was my child--my little Anne--to consider. I declined +to fly. Our plantation was not far from the seashore. In a creek the +Prince had anchored his yacht. Denham was making my husband jealous, and +my life became unbearable. Oh!"--she threw up her arms--"not even the +years of peace that I have had can obliterate the memory of that +terrible time." And she wept. + +Still, Ware did not interrupt, thinking it best that she should not be +questioned too much. With a great effort she controlled herself, and +resumed her pitiful story. + +"One night," she went on in a low voice, "the climax came. The Prince +had been to dinner. He had to go, because George was so violent. Denham +had got my husband to drink, and his paroxysms of anger became terrible. +The Prince wanted to stop to protect me, but I asked him to go. It was a +rainy night, a violent thunderstorm was going on. I locked myself in the +nursery, to protect myself from the fury of George. He came to the door +and broke it down." She paused, and her voice leaped an octave. "George +turned me out into the rain." + +"Great God! Did he go that far?" + +She was on her feet by this time pacing the room. + +"He turned me out into the stormy night. I fled from his fury, drenched +with rain. At the gates of the gardens round the house I met with the +Prince. He had been hanging round the place fearful for my life. He +implored me to come on board the yacht and stop the night. I was almost +distracted with terror and anger. I went." She paused again. "From that +moment I was lost." + +"It was not your fault," Giles assured her. + +"No; it was not my husband's fault either, but the fault of that wicked +wretch Denham. He came the next morning, guessing where I had gone in my +distress. He brought a note from George, who bade me go with my lover, +the Prince. It was a lie. The Prince was no lover of mine then. I +demanded to see my child, but George refused. It was all Denham--Denham. +George was under the thumb of the wretch. The Prince behaved like an +honorable gentleman, and spoke up for me. But it was all of no use. +George was determined to have a divorce." + +"You mean Denham was determined to have one," corrected Giles. + +"Yes, yes. He was the one who ruined me. Then the Prince said he would +make me his wife as soon as the decree was pronounced. I agreed. What +else could I do? My child was refused to me. I was blamed by every one, +and the whole island was against me. I sailed for Europe in Prince +Karacsay's yacht. A few months later the decree was pronounced, and he +made me his wife. Since then I have been happy--that is as happy as I +could be, knowing that my child was lost." + +"Did you make inquiries about her?" + +"Some years later I did. Then I learned that George, with the child and +Denham, had sailed for Europe. The vessel was wrecked. The report said +that George Franklin and his child were saved. Denham's name was given +as one who was drowned. I rejoiced when I saw that punishment had +overtaken my enemy." + +"But Denham was not drowned." + +"No; it was George who met with that death. Denham, to get what little +money remained, took the name of George Franklin. I do not know how he +managed to deceive the people of the ship; but he must have done so in +some way, to get the false report put in the paper." + +"Did Denham not tell you when you unmasked him at Rickwell?" + +"He made some sort of explanation, but I think much of it was very +false." + +"How did you come to discover him?" + +"Olga did so. She knew a part of my story. That was why--as perhaps you +saw--she was always uneasy when I touched on Jamaica." + +"Yes; I remember that, Princess. Well, I must get Mademoiselle Olga to +tell me how she discovered all this. But on what terms did you leave +Denham?" + +"I told him that I would give him a month to make restitution to my +daughter Anne, and then if he did not I would inform the police." + +"Did he agree?" + +"No; the wretch defied me. He told me that Anne had murdered Daisy Kent +out of jealousy, and said that if I moved a finger against him he would +have her arrested." + +"He could not do that without harming himself." + +"I don't know," said the Princess wearily; "he is so clever that he +seems to do what he likes. I have taken no steps, because I wished to +get some advice as to how I should act under the circumstances. For this +reason I tell you." + +"I will do my best, Princess. But how was it Anne came with you?" + +"Olga managed that. She knew Anne was at the Priory. I don't know how. +Olga knows much. I wish she and Anne would come back again. I hope +nothing has happened." + +Even as she spoke the door opened, and Olga entered the room looking +haggard and worn out. "Anne!" cried her mother. "Where is Anne?" + +"Lost!" replied Olga, dropping exhausted into a chair, "lost!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OLGA'S EVIDENCE + + +Giles saw in the girl almost as great a change as that which had taken +place in her mother. Formerly haughty and self-possessed, she was now +quite exhausted and broken down. Her dress was muddy and wet and in +disorder. She had a grey face and red eyes. Huddled up in the chair, she +looked a pitiable object--the ruin of what was once a beautiful woman. + +"Anne lost?" cried the Princess, clutching at a chair to steady herself. +"Olga, what do you mean?" + +Olga did not answer. She closed her eyes and let her umbrella fall with +a crash. Giles saw that the girl was quite worn out. Hastily filling a +glass with undiluted whiskey, he held it to her lips, and made her drink +the whole of it. Shortly the ardent spirit did its work. She sat up and +began to talk in a stronger tone; but the excitement was artificial, and +would die away soon. Princess Karacsay saw this, and urged her daughter +to tell her story quickly before she collapsed, so that the police might +be sent in search of Anne. + +"The police will never find her," said Olga, with an effort. "She is +with Mark Dane. He has taken her away." + +"Dane?" echoed Giles. "Denham's secretary?" + +Olga looked at him with an inquiring air. "How much do you know?" she +asked, bracing herself up. + +"As much as your mother could tell me. I know that Anne is your +half-sister, and----" + +"Yes." Olga tried to rise, but sank back again. "She is my sister, my +dear sister, and I love her with all the strength of my nature." + +"Ah," said Ware sadly, "why did you not talk like that when last we met, +mademoiselle?" + +Olga passed her hand across her forehead. "I was mad, I think. But that +is all over. You need have no fear now, Mr. Ware. My passion for you has +spent itself." + +"Olga!" cried the Princess, scandalized, "you rave!" + +"No," answered her daughter; "I did last time Mr. Ware and I were +together, but now I talk sense. Did he not tell?" + +"I told nothing," interposed Giles quickly; "and you had better relate +when and where you left Anne, so that we can find her." + +"I'll do all in my power to save her and bring her back to you, Mr. +Ware. I was mad to talk and act as I did; but I have been punished by +the loss of Anne." + +"Olga!" cried the Princess in desperation, "for Heaven's sake speak +reasonably! Why did you go out with Anne last night?" + +"There was a note for Anne from Mark Dane, asking her to meet him near +the Abbey. She wanted to see him, as he vanished after the supposed +death of her father." + +"Of Alfred Denham," interrupted the Princess angrily; "I will not have +that man called Anne's father." + +"Of Denham," said Olga obediently. "Anne wished to learn why her father +had acted in so peculiar a way. She could not understand his behavior." + +"He is a scoundrel and Anne a saint," said the Princess bitterly. "No +wonder she could not understand him. She thinks he is a good man." + +"But surely she knows that he killed Daisy Kent," said Giles. + +"No," interposed Olga; "she denies that he did. I expect Denham has +managed to deceive her in some way." + +"Why did you not undeceive her, mademoiselle?" + +"It was not yet time," responded the girl quietly, "but my mother told +her a portion of the truth." + +"Yes. I said that she was my child and that Denham had been +impersonating her father, George Franklin." + +"Then she can't think Denham a good man now," said Giles. + +"I don't know," replied the Princess hopelessly. "He has such power over +her. He has been her father so-called for so long that she finds it +difficult to believe ill of him." + +"To learn the truth was why she insisted on seeing Dane," said the girl. +"Dane knew all about Denham, and Anne thought she would make him confess +what he knew." + +"And did he?" + +"That I can't say. I went out with Anne and we walked to the appointed +spot. Mark Dane was waiting for us." + +"Was he not astonished when he saw you?" + +"Why should he be astonished?" asked Olga, looking sharply at Ware. + +"Because I understand from Steel that he troubled you with letters." + +"You mean that Dane was in love with me. Yes. He was and is." + +"Olga," cried her mother again, "do behave yourself." + +"Oh, this is too serious to be a mere matter of behavior, mother. I have +made use of Dane's love to learn all about the society of the Scarlet +Cross, to which Franklin and Dane belong." + +"You can tell us that later," said the Princess impatiently. "I want to +know how you lost Anne." + +"Well, mother, Dane was astonished to see me. He was most respectful, +and said that he had a message for Anne from her father----" + +"From Denham." + +"Yes. Anne mentioned that Denham was not her father, that she had just +heard the truth, and Dane was amazed. He hardly knew what to say, but +ultimately stammered out some sort of denial. Anne did not give him time +to speak. She said that she would see Denham herself, and get to the +bottom of the imposture. Then she asked what message he had sent in the +character of her father. Dane refused to give it in my presence, so I +walked away for ten minutes and left them together. Oh, I was foolish, I +know," she added in reply to Ware's exclamation. "But I thought Mark +Dane was devoted to me, and would not play any tricks while I was about. +However, I did leave them alone. Anne was not in the least afraid, as +she always got on well with Dane and trusted him entirely. When I +returned in ten minutes, or it may be more, they were gone." + +"Gone!" echoed the Princess, much agitated. "Where?" + +"I don't know. I searched everywhere. I went round and round the Abbey. +I asked a policeman. They were nowhere to be found. I fancied that they +went across to Westminster Bridge, which they could easily do without my +seeing them. Anne must have gone of her own accord. She was decoyed by +Dane. I don't know why, no more than I know what inducement he held out +to lure her away. I searched for hours. Then I asked a policeman about +the matter. He told me to go to Scotland Yard. I went and inquired for +Steel. He had gone home. I have been walking the streets all night," +said Olga, with a haggard look. + +"Oh, great heavens!" moaned the Princess, wringing her hands; "what +would your father say if he heard?" + +"He will never know unless you tell him, mother. I can look after myself +easily. No one molested me. I had a cup of coffee at a stall this +morning, and went again to see Steel. He has gone out of town." + +"To Rickwell?" asked Giles eagerly; then he remembered. "I can't +understand. I called to see Steel at midday before I came here, and he +was then in his office." + +"Well, the official I spoke to about nine o'clock told me that he had +gone, leaving a message that he was going out of town, and would not be +back for a few days." + +"I wonder," began Giles, and then held his peace. It occurred to him +that Steel intended to remain until he caught Dane in the trap laid for +him in this very flat. The knowledge that the man had decoyed Anne away +on the previous night made Giles the more eager that he should be +caught. "You will see Anne yet, Princess," he said, for she was crying +bitterly. + +"Oh, I hope so--I hope so. But where is she?" + +"We must ask Dane that." + +"How are we to see Dane?" demanded Olga wonderingly. + +Ware explained the use made of Olga's name by Steel to trap the man. "I +expect Steel will call on you to-day to tell you this," he said +cheerfully. + +"I am not sorry, and yet I am," said Olga thoughtfully. "I know much +about Mark Dane, and want to save him from his bad companions. But I +hope Steel won't put him in gaol; that would ruin him entirely. Besides, +Steel promised not to have him arrested." + +"Promised you?" said Ware, astonished. + +"Yes. It was I who told him to look after Dane. I know much about this +matter." Then seeing Giles puzzled, she explained, "When I first met +Anne I saw that she was like myself in looks. That drew us together. You +see it yourself, do you not, Mr. Ware?" + +"Yes," replied Giles, "and I often wondered at it. Now, however, that I +know you are half-sisters, I wonder no longer." + +Princess Karacsay nodded her approval, and Olga continued. + +"When I learned that Anne's name was Denham I rather drew back from her. +She said that she was born in Jamaica, and, knowing what my mother had +said about Denham, I thought Anne was the daughter of my mother's enemy. +Afterwards I learned the truth through Dane." + +"How did you meet Dane?" + +"Well, I knew him by sight long before we spoke. He used to dog Anne and +myself. She never saw him. When I described his looks she thought he +might be her dead father's secretary--for she then believed her father, +Denham, alias Franklin, was dead. She wished to see him, but Dane always +kept out of her sight. Then when Anne went to Mrs. Morley he still +continued to dog me. He got to know a concert hall where I frequently +sang and hired himself there as an attendant. Then he took to sending me +love-letters. I was angry at first. Afterwards I wondered if he knew +anything about Denham, and thought he must if he really was the +secretary, as Anne said. I asked him to come here." + +"Olga," said the Princess, "you have behaved badly." + +"It has all turned out for the best," responded Olga wearily. She was +beginning to show signs of fatigue again, but still kept on with her +explanation in the most plucky manner. "Dane came. He is a handsome +young fellow and was well dressed. I led him on to talk about Anne. He +told me more than he should have done." + +"Told you what?" + +"That Denham had come in for money and was living at Rickwell. As I knew +from Anne about the Powell money, I put two and two together and +concluded that Denham was pretending to be Anne's father; that she was +really my half-sister; and that her pretended father had really murdered +Daisy Kent to get the money as Franklin." + +"But how did you know about this?" asked Giles. + +"Why," replied Olga, much surprised at his density, "I read the case in +the papers. I knew that Anne could not have killed Daisy, and having +settled in my own mind that she was not Denham's daughter, from her +resemblance to me, I decided that Franklin, who lived at the Priory and +had the money, was really my mother's enemy. I sent for my mother. She +came over, went down to Rickwell, and recognized Denham. That is all." + +"Wait a minute," said Giles quickly, "what about your telling Steel to +look after Dane?" + +"Well, Mr. Ware, it was this way," she answered. "When you came to me +and talked about the Scarlet Cross, I remembered that Dane had such a +one on his watch-chain." + +"The badge of the gang!" + +"Of course, but I did not know that until later. Then Steel came in, if +you remember, and hinted that the red cross was the symbol of such a +gang. Your talk of the cross being found in the church, and that you +thought it was dropped by the criminal set me thinking. I sent for Dane +again and tried to find out the truth. At first he refused, saying it +was as much as his life was worth to talk." + +"And I daresay he is right, mademoiselle. Denham would not stick at a +second murder. By the way, did you know he was Wilson?" + +"Only when Dane confessed. I gradually got him to be confidential to me, +promising that he would not get into trouble. He was so deeply in love +with me that he spoke out at last." + +"My dear Olga!" + +"Well, mother, I knew if I could get at the truth I could save Anne." + +The Princess nodded, well pleased. "I am glad you thought of your +sister." Olga flushed a deep red and her eyes sought those of Giles. "It +was not my sister I thought of, but of myself," she said in a low tone. +"You see, mother, I fancied that I might get something if I could prove +the innocence of Anne, for I----" + +"Is any explanation needed, mademoiselle?" said Giles uneasily. + +She paused for a moment and looked at him straightly. "No," she said at +length; "that is all over. I think no more explanation need be made. But +with regard to Dane. He told me that Denham had come to England to see +about the money left to Daisy Kent. He disguised himself as Wilson and +lodged at a Mrs. Benker's. Then he went down to Rickwell, and----" + +"And murdered Daisy," interposed Giles eagerly. + +"So I said, Mr. Ware; but Dane, who seems devoted in a way to Denham, +denies that he struck the blow." + +"Does he know who did?" + +"No. He says Denham doesn't know either." + +"Denham's a bigger scoundrel than you think," said Giles, recalling his +last conversation at the Priory. "He accuses Anne of murdering the +girl." + +"He'll have to prove it, then," said Olga coolly, while her mother +shrieked. "I'll be able to save Anne, never fear. However, Dane told me +that the red cross was the badge of a thieves' gang. Denham had a yacht +called _The Red Cross_, which goes from one port to another to take +stolen goods on board." + +"That's what Steel says." + +"Of course. Dane told him when he taxed him with it. The boy, for he is +just twenty-five, told me everything." + +"And you told Steel," said Ware, rather reproachfully. + +"I had to tell Steel, if I wished to save Anne," retorted Olga; "but I +asked him to do nothing to imperil the liberty of Mark Dane." + +"Did he promise that?" + +"Yes. Dane saw him in Bournemouth. I told him to call with a note, which +I gave him. Dane did not know why he was sent, and when he discovered +that Steel was a detective, he became afraid. I believe he told +something, but he afterwards ran away." + +"He doesn't trust you any longer perhaps," said the Princess. + +"From his attitude last night I think he does, although he was a trifle +reproachful. He will come if Steel has written a letter to call him here +in my name. Then I daresay he will be able to explain why he took Anne +away." + +"Will he do so?" + +"Ah! that is what we must find out." Olga paused, then continued. "I +wanted Steel to learn all he could from Dane about Denham, as I wish to +see that man arrested." + +"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," cried the Princess. + +"I thought of that. Denham tried to ruin your mother." + +"And he did--he did!" she said bitterly. + +"He tried, or rather he is trying, to ruin Anne also," said Olga. "For +these reasons I wish Steel to find evidence against him, so that he may +be arrested and made to confess his wickedness. Dane is the one who can +tell most about him, and I think Dane will, for since Denham got the +Powell money he had not behaved very well." + +While they were thus talking a knock came to the door. The servant +entered with a card, which she presented on a salver to her mistress. +Olga, who was thoroughly worn out, took it languidly, then suddenly +became excited. "He is here!" she said. "Mark Dane is here!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +MARK DANE + + +When Olga announced the name of her visitor, the Princess rose to leave +the room. She explained that she did not think it was in keeping with +the dignity of her position to meet every shady person who called, and +added that her daughter was not behaving in a way worthy of her name and +princely family. When she departed Olga looked inquiringly at Ware. He +swiftly interpreted her look. + +"I shall stop," he said promptly. "I am only too anxious to help you." + +Olga came forward and took his hand. "And you forgive me?" she asked. + +"There is nothing to forgive," he answered, shaking it heartily. "Let us +seek for Anne together. I daresay Dane will be able to tell us where she +is. I leave you to manage him." + +The girl nodded and touched the bell. Shortly the maid showed in a slim +young fellow of a somewhat effeminate type. He was clean-shaven and +wonderfully pale, with large dark eyes and curly black hair, worn rather +long. He was dressed in a grey suit and wore a red scarf tied loosely in +a bow. There was something foreign in his looks and dress. At the first +sight one would have taken him for an Italian, but when he spoke it was +apparent that he was an Englishman. + +"Princess!" he said effusively, when he entered. Then catching sight of +Giles in the background, he stopped short with a scared look. + +"This is a friend of mine, Mark," said Olga, coming forward. "He knows +all that there is to be known." + +"Oh! And you promised not to say a word," said Dane reproachfully. + +She shook her head. "I promised to save you from being arrested, and I +shall fulfil my promise. Why have you come here?" + +Dane fumbled in his pocket. "Your letter," he said, handing it to her. + +Olga took it, glanced at it, and finally passed it to Ware. + +"I did not write that letter," she said quietly. "Steel the detective +sent it, so as to bring you here. He wishes to resume the conversation +you left unfinished at Bournemouth." + +"It's a trap!" cried Dane violently, and swung round to the door. But +there was no chance of escape in that direction. He opened it to find +Steel standing without. The detective stepped into the room and locked +the door. + +"Now," he said, "we can have some conversation. Princess, I apologize +for having used your name unauthorized, but it was the only way to bring +this young man into my net." + +"Into a net!" said Dane, letting fall his soft hat. "You intend to have +me arrested!" His hand went round to the back of his waist. In a moment +Steel had flung himself forward, and after a short struggle disarmed +him. The knife that the detective had secured was an ugly-looking +weapon. + +"You are more Italian than the Italians," he said, slipping the knife +into his pocket; "but you are not a gentleman to frighten the lady." + +"I am not frightened," said Olga promptly; "but I am very tired. I shall +retire and leave you two gentlemen to deal with Mark." + +Dane sprang forward and caught her dress. He looked terrified. "Do not +leave me," he entreated. "You know that I love you, and that for your +sake I have betrayed a man who has done much for me. You promised to +help me." + +"I shall do so," she answered, returning to her seat. "I shall see that +you are not arrested, and----" + +"Pardon me, Princess, it may be necessary to----" + +"Mr. Steel, this man shall not be arrested," she said, stamping her +foot. + +"If I am," cried Dane resolutely, "I shall say nothing. Only to save +myself will I speak." + +Ware addressed a few hurried words to the detective, who nodded +reluctantly. It was Giles who spoke. "I promise that you shall not be +put in gaol, Dane," he said, "but you must tell the truth." + +"If I do so I am in danger of my life." + +"Then it is not gratitude that keeps you silent?" + +"Gratitude!" said Dane, flinging back his head, "what have I to be +grateful for? Mr. Franklin----" + +"You mean Denham," interposed Olga quickly. + +"Denham!" echoed Steel, "that is the father of the governess." + +"No," said Giles, "Anne's father is dead. This man Denham pretended to +play the part, and she has only lately been undeceived. Also, Mr. Steel, +you must know that there is no Walter Franklin. The man at the Priory +is the scoundrel you know as Wilson, the head of the Scarlet Cross +Society and the murderer of Miss Kent." + +"Not that last," interposed Dane, while Steel dropped into a seat +transfixed with astonishment. "Denham did not kill her. He does not know +who did. He told me so." + +"He would tell you anything to save himself," said Olga. + +"No," replied Dane, "he tells me all his secrets. At one time I should +have died before I revealed them, but Denham has treated me cruelly. I +owe him no gratitude. For years I slaved for him. I did all that a man +could do for his sake. What reward have I got? He has beaten me like a +dog. He has left me to starve. He has delivered me up to those members +of our society who hate me. Since he came in for this money----" + +"Wrongfully," put in Giles. + +"As you say, sir--wrongfully. But since he became George Franklin and a +wealthy man, he told me plainly that he washed his hands of me. He gave +me a small sum, and sent me to America, promising an annuity. It was not +paid. I wrote--I threatened. He laughed at me. So I have come back from +America to punish him." He turned to Olga and continued vehemently, "Do +you think that I would have told you what I did, Princess, had I not +hated the man? No. Not even for the love I bear you would I have done +that. You sent me to Mr. Steel at Bournemouth. I knew that he was a +detective, and went prepared to tell all about Denham's wickedness, even +although I incriminated myself." + +"But you did not do so," said Steel dryly; "you ran away." + +"And why? Because you mentioned that you suspected Miss Denham of a +crime. I held my tongue until I could see some chance of proving her +innocence. Had I told you all I knew then you would have had her +arrested, and let her know the shame of the man--her father." + +"He is not her father," said Olga again. + +"I know nothing about that," replied Dane, sitting down; "he always said +that he was her father, and I had no reason to believe otherwise. But I +am glad to hear that he is not. She is too good and pure to be the +daughter of such a man. I have known her for years. She is an angel. She +nursed me through an illness. I would do anything to prove my gratitude +for her sake. I held my hand from harming Denham because I thought he +was her father, and----" + +"You need do so no longer," cried Ware, whose face was bright when he +heard this praise of Anne; "she is the daughter of George Franklin, of +Jamaica. Denham assumed the name to get the Powell money." + +"Then," cried Dane, flinging wide his arms in a most dramatic manner, +"all I know you shall know. I turn King's evidence." + +"The best way to save your own skin," said Steel dryly; "you are an +Irishman, are you not?" + +Dane nodded. "Born in New York," said he. + +"Humph!" murmured Steel, but so low that only Giles heard him, "all the +better. You would betray your own mother if it suited you." + +Meanwhile Olga was speaking to the man. "The first thing you have to +confess," she said, "is about Miss Denham. Where is she?" + +"With Mr. Morley." + +Giles uttered an exclamation. "What has he got to do with her?" + +"I don't know. He came up to town yesterday evening." + +"About nine or ten?" asked Giles quickly. He remembered his feeling of +being watched at the Liverpool Street Station. + +"Yes," assented Dane, "he came up to see me. He said that he had a +message for Miss Denham from her father. Of course I thought then that +Denham was really her father. I asked Morley why he did not deliver the +message himself, for he knew that Miss Denham had come to town with the +Princess Karacsay." + +"How the deuce did he know that?" wondered Giles. + +"Well, you see, sir, Mr. Morley was a detective at one time, and he +always finds out what he desires." + +"True enough," put in Steel, "Joe Bart is very clever." + +"He appears to have been extremely so in this case," said Giles dryly. + +"Morley told me," continued Mark, "that Miss Denham knew he suspected +her of the murder, and she would not let him see her. If she knew he had +come to look her up that she would run away thinking he came to have her +arrested. He asked me to tell her to come to a rendezvous near the Abbey +without mentioning his name. I thought this was reasonable enough, and +wrote a letter." + +"And I went with Anne," said Olga. "Where did you go?" + +"When you left us I told her that Morley had a message from her father. +She said nothing to me denying the relationship, but she was afraid of +Morley. I told her that he had promised not to do her any harm. She was +still doubtful. Then Morley appeared. He had been close at hand, and he +explained that Denham was very ill. He wished to see Miss Denham and +make reparation for his wickedness. There was no time to be lost, +Morley said, and he asked her to come at once. She hesitated for a time, +and then went with Morley. She told me to wait till the Princess Olga +came back and tell her this." + +"Why did you not?" + +"Because Morley whispered that I was not to do so. I went away in +another direction." + +"Then why do you tell now?" asked Ware bluntly. + +"I wish to be revenged on Denham," said Dane fiercely. "He treated me +like a dog, and he shall be bitten by me. Curse him!" + +Olga walked to the door. "I shall go now," she said, seeing that Dane +was becoming excited and fearing a scene. "You can tell Mr. Steel and +Mr. Ware everything, Mark. When Denham is caught and Anne is free, you +shall come to Vienna with me. My father shall take you into his +service," and with this she held out her hand to him in a regal manner. +Dane kissed it as though it had been the hand of a queen, and when she +was out of the room, turned to the two men with a shining face. + +"I am ready to tell you everything," he said. + +"And betray those who have done you a kindness," muttered Steel. "You +would not be an Irish-American if you didn't. I know the type." + +Quite unaware of this uncomplimentary speech, Dane glanced into a near +mirror and ran his slim hand through his hair. He cast such a complacent +look at his reflection that Giles could not forbear a smile. The man was +a compound of treachery, courage, and vanity. He had some virtues and +not a few vices, and was one of those irresponsible creatures who +develop into Anarchists. But that the Scarlet Cross Society had +attracted his talents in the direction of a kind of coast piracy, he +would without doubt have been employed in blowing up kings or public +buildings. Giles thought with a grim smile that if Olga took this +creature to Austria, Prince Karacsay would have some work to keep him in +order. Dane was not the man to settle to a dull, respectable existence +or to earn his bread without a little excitement. A dangerous man, and +the more dangerous from his enormous vanity and utter want of moral +principle. + +Having made Steel promise not to arrest him, nor to make any use of his +revelations to endanger his own liberty, Dane cheerfully proceeded to +betray those he had sworn secrecy to. Wicked as was the gang, and evil +as was the purpose of its formation, Giles could not help feeling a +contempt for the traitor. There should be honor amongst thieves, thought +Ware. But Dane did not believe in the proverb, and explained himself +quite complacently. + +"I met Denham--as he usually called himself many years ago in Italy--at +Milan," said Dane; "he had a house there. His daughter--let us call Miss +Anne his daughter, although I am glad to hear she is not--lived with +him. She was then about fifteen and was at school at a convent. She and +I got on very well. I adored her for her beauty and kindness of heart. I +was starving for want of money, as my remittances had not arrived from +America. Denham took me in. I made myself useful, so there was no +charity about the matter." + +"Still, he took you in," suggested Giles, "that was kind." + +"A kindness to himself," retorted Dane. "I tell you, sir, Denham wanted +what he called a secretary and what I called a tool. He found such a one +in me. I don't deny that I did all his dirty work, but I had some +feeling of gratitude because he rescued me from starvation." + +"You contradict yourself, Dane." + +"No, sir, I do not," replied the man, with true Irish obstinacy, "but +I'm not here to argue about my conduct but to tell you facts." + +"Facts we wish to know," said Steel, taking out his note-book. + +"And facts I tell," cried Dane vehemently, then resumed in a calmer +tone. "Miss Anne was all day at school. Denham never let her know what a +devil he was. He was always kind to her. She thought him a good man. +Then thinking she might get to know too much, he sent her to a convent +for education and removed to Florence. There he called himself George +Franklin. He told me that he expected to get money by taking that name." + +"Then he admitted that he was not George Franklin," said Giles. + +"He never admitted anything. At one time he would say that his real name +was George Franklin, at another declare he was really Alfred Denham. But +he had so many names in the course of his career," added Dane, with a +shrug, "that one more or less did not matter. Besides, he was such a +liar that I never believed anything he said." + +"Not even about the Powell money?" + +"Oh, yes, I believed that. He was always swearing at some girl who stood +between him and the money. He mentioned her name once. I was with him in +England at the time, and set to work to find out. I learned all about +Miss Kent and her engagement to you, Mr. Ware." + +"And you know all about the Powell money?" + +"Yes. I got the truth out of Denham at last, but he never told Miss +Anne; nor did he ever mention Miss Kent's name in her presence; nor did +he ever say to me that Miss Anne was not his child. I never thought for +a moment she was Franklin's daughter. And for the matter of that," added +Dane carelessly, "I did not know if he was really Denham or Franklin +himself." + +"But Miss Anne knew nothing of all this?" asked Giles. + +"Absolutely nothing. After she went to the Milan convent, Denham would +not let her come back to him again. He was afraid lest she should learn +what he was and wished to preserve her good opinion. She went out as a +governess, and only rarely came home." + +"And how did Denham earn his living?" + +"Oh, he invented the Scarlet Cross Society. He bought a yacht, and +steamed to England from Genoa. For years we put in at different ports, +robbed houses and stowed the goods on board. Then we returned to Italy +and sold them." + +"A clever dodge," murmured Steel. "So that is why the goods were never +traced." + +"That is why," said Dane, with great coolness. "There was a Jew who took +a lot of what we brought. He sold them in the East. But it is too long a +story to tell at present. Denham sometimes went to England and sometimes +stopped in Florence. When he was away I stayed in his house as George +Franklin." + +"I see. He wished to prove an _alibi_." + +"That's it," said Dane. "He intended to get that money sometime, and +wished that when inquiries were made about George Franklin that it could +be proved he was in Florence all the time." + +"And then when Powell did die?" + +"Denham knew as soon as possible. He had a spy in Australia, and had a +cablegram sent to him. Then he arranged a pretended death to get rid of +Miss Anne. He did not want her to come into his new life. He treated her +well, however, for he left her money, and intended to give her an +income when he got the money. Another man was buried in place of Denham +and he went to England, where he reappeared as George Franklin to claim +the money." + +"As Wilson, you mean, to kill the girl who stood between him and the +fortune," said Steel, raising his eyes. + +Dane shook his head. "I know nothing of that," he said. "From the day +Denham left Florence my association with him has severed. I saw Miss +Anne, told her about the death of her father, and then went to America. +Denham did not pay me my annuity, and I came back to be revenged. I saw +him, but he denies having killed the girl. He says he does not know who +committed the murder. I have been earning my bread as I best can, +waiting for revenge." + +"But you had only to threaten to make all this public to make Denham +give you what you wished." + +"No." Dane looked uneasy. "The fact is he and some one else have a hold +over me. I need not tell you what it is, but I had to be silent." + +"But now that you speak he has still the hold." + +"Yes. But I intend to ruin myself in order to ruin him," cried Dane +fiercely, and rose to his feet. "Well, gentlemen, that is all I can tell +you at present. I shall go." + +To Giles' surprise, Steel made no objection. "You'll come and see me +again?" he said, opening the door for Dane. + +"Assuredly," replied that young gentleman, and departed. + +Giles looked amazed at this permission to depart being given by the +detective. "I should have thought it would be to your interest to keep +Dane here," he said. "He has not told us everything yet." + +"No," replied Steel, closing his book with a snap, "there is one very +interesting detail he has not told us. But the next time we meet I'll +get it out of him. Here," he touched the book, "there is enough to go on +with. I'll go down to the Priory and see the sick Mr. Denham." + +"I'll come also and see Anne," said Giles eagerly. "But Dane?" + +"He's all right. I have a couple of men waiting outside. He will be +followed everywhere. I'll be able to lay hands on him whenever I like. +Also I wish to see where he goes. He knows the various hiding-places of +this gang, and I want him to be tracked to one of them." + +"H'm! Don't you believe his story?" + +"Not altogether. He evidently hates Denham with all the virulent hatred +of a malicious character. He's a devil, that man Dane. I should not like +to incur his enmity. However, we'll make use of him, and then the +Princess can take him to Vienna to make trouble there, as he assuredly +will." + +"What is the especial detail you want to learn?" + +"I wish him to explain how he killed Daisy Kent." + +"He! Dane! Do you mean to say----?" + +"I mean to say that Dane is the murderer," said Steel triumphantly. +"That is the reason Denham and this other person (whoever he may be) +have a hold over him. If he ruins Denham, he does so at the cost of +being hanged." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A RAT IN A CORNER + + +The next day Giles returned to Rickwell with Steel. The detective could +not leave town before, as he had to procure a warrant for the arrest of +Alfred Denham, alias Wilson, alias George Franklin, and half a dozen +other names. The man was to be arrested for various robberies connected +with the gang of thieves, of which he was the head. Search was being +made by the police for _The Red Cross_ yacht, but evidently the gang had +taken alarm, for she had disappeared. It was Steel's opinion that she +was down Plymouth way, sailing round the Devonshire coast, and the +police in that county were on the lookout. + +"Once I can get that ship," explained Steel to Giles when in the train, +"and their claws will be cut. They have escaped for a long time, so +ingenious have their methods been. But I have accumulated a mass of +evidence, and have several names known to the police. Yes, and several +names of people not known. There are about twenty thieves, professional +and amateur, connected with this matter. It is a big affair. But I'll +get the yacht, and then Denham. That will be the means of laying bare +the whole swindle." + +"Which? Denham or the yacht?" + +"Each! both! If the police can seize the boat unexpectedly, some +incriminating papers are sure to be found on board. And if I can arrest +Denham, I'll soon get the truth out of him." + +"I don't believe he can tell the truth, even if forced to," said Ware +grimly. "You have no idea how that man has cheated me, Steel," and then +Giles related the eavesdropping of himself and Morley. + +"I don't know how Denham got to know," he continued, "but the tale he +told about the invented brother was his own history, and quite deceived +me and Morley. Also that soliloquy after Mrs. Benker departed was a +masterly conception. It would have cheated any one, let alone me. The +man was acting for the benefit of myself and Morley, and knew we were +listening. What a clever scoundrel!" + +"He's been a little too clever this time," replied Steel; then he began +to laugh, but refused to explain why he did so, save in a general way. + +"This is the queerest case I was ever in," he said, with a chuckle; "you +don't know how queer." + +"Well, you explain. I think you are keeping something from me." + +"I am," answered Steel readily. "Tit for tat, Mr. Ware. You did a little +business on your own account, and said nothing to me. I repay the +compliment." + +"I was afraid you would arrest Miss Denham." + +"You mean Miss Franklin. No, I should not have done that. My +investigations into this thieving case have shown me that she is +perfectly innocent. She knows nothing about Denham's rascalities, and +she certainly did not commit the murder." + +"Are you so sure that Dane is the culprit?" asked Giles. + +"Yes, I am sure. He was at Gravesend on board that yacht, and when the +so-called Wilson came by train from London, Dane rode over from Tilbury +on a motor-bicycle. They met on that night, and then I expect Denham +induced Dane to murder the girl. Afterwards Dane went back to Tilbury as +he came, and Denham induced his daughter to rescue him on your motor." + +"But why should he get Anne to do that?" + +"Because he saw that he had been wrong in forcing Dane to do what he +did. Dane was too hasty. He should have waited till Denham was a safe +distance away, and then have executed the deed. As it was I believe that +Denham came out to find the girl dead, and knowing he might be accused, +lost his head. Otherwise he certainly would not have betrayed himself to +Miss Anne. She, believing him to be her father, secured the car and +saved him. A very clever woman, Mr. Ware. I hope you will ask me to the +wedding." + +"How do you know it will ever take place?" asked Giles sadly. + +"Because I am sure we shall find Miss Anne in the Priory. I shall arrest +Denham, and you can place the lady in charge of some friend, or send her +up to her mother, the Princess Karacsay. By the way, how does she come +to be the mother?" + +"It's a long story. The Princess was married twice, first to George +Franklin, of Jamaica, and secondly to Prince Karacsay. But how do you +know that when Morley arrived with Anne that Denham did not take fright +and fly?" + +"I don't think Morley would let him do that. It is probable that Miss +Anne would tell him what she knew, and there would be quite enough +suspicion excited in Morley's mind to induce him to communicate with +me." + +"Has he done so?" + +"Well, no, he hasn't. But then, he's a detective also, you see, and his +professional jealousy, even although he has retired, may induce him to +engineer this business himself. But he shan't have the credit of it +after all my work," cried Steel vehemently. + +Then the detective began to turn over his notes, so as to prepare for +the coming interview with Denham. Giles gave himself up to his own +thoughts, and rejoiced that he would soon see Anne again. Her character +would be cleared, and then she would become his wife. Ware was much +relieved that Olga had overcome her foolish fancy for him, but he could +not be sure if her cure was permanent. When she excused herself, she was +weak and exhausted, and he dreaded lest when she recovered she should +begin to persecute him again. But after all, as he reflected, it really +did not much matter. The future of Anne was taken out of her hands, and +the Princess Karacsay would not permit Olga to play fast and loose with +Anne's happiness. + +Giles remembered how Olga had told him that Anne was at school at +Hampstead, but had not said a word about the convent at Milan. No doubt +Anne, when she first came to England, had gone for a few finishing +lessons to the Hampstead school, for there she had met Mrs. Cairns. +Still, Olga all the time had known much more of Anne's history than she +had chosen to tell. And if the Princess Karacsay had not been so candid, +Ware doubted very much if Olga would have confessed her relationship +with Anne. Yet on second thought he fancied he might be doing the +Hungarian sister wrong. In spite of her proposed treachery, she was +really fond of Anne, and perhaps would not have delivered her up to the +police. In fact, after she brought her mother over to unmask Denham, +and had thus made her aware of Anne's existence, she could not do that +without provoking her mother's undying enmity. On the whole, Olga was +something of a problem, and although Giles wished to think of her as +kindly as he could, he determined to see as little of her as was +possible after the marriage. He did not trust her. There was too much of +the untamed tigress about the girl. + +When the train arrived at Barnham, a trap ordered by Giles was waiting +to take them to Rickwell. On the platform Steel was met by a local +policeman who seemed to be much excited. "I have acted according to your +instructions, sir," he said, touching his helmet. + +"Well," said Steel sharply while Giles lingered to listen--for +everything the detective said was interesting to him; he still doubted +his intentions regarding Anne--"did Mr. Morley bring down Miss Denham?" + +"No, sir," was the unexpected answer. "Mr. Morley has not come back +since he went up to town two nights ago. He went by the nine train." + +"The same train as I went by," interposed Giles. + +"Are you sure?" said Steel, and Giles fancied he saw a smile play round +his rather full lips. + +"Yes, sir. Mr. Morley on the evening he went away called at the Priory +and had a quarrel with Mr. Franklin, sir. They came to blows, sir, and +Mr. Franklin's leg is broken." + +"Then he has not left Rickwell?" + +"No, sir. He's laid up with the broken leg and his daughter is nursing +him. He's awful bad, I've been told, sir, by Mrs. Parry." + +Giles could not help laughing at the introduction of the good lady's +name. She seemed to be mixed up with everything. He could not be sorry +for Denham, as he was only meeting with his deserts. "But Anne--where +can she be?" he asked Steel, as they stepped into the cart. + +"I wish I knew," said Steel gloomily. "I had an idea that Morley was +playing me false." + +"Do you think he is in league with Denham?" + +"I am sure of it. That is the portion of the case of which I have not +spoken to you. You'll hear what Denham says. Now that Morley has left +him in the lurch Denham will reveal Morley's connection with these +matters. But Morley has secured a hostage in the person of Miss Anne. He +has taken her away somewhere. His wife may know of his whereabouts. +After we have seen Denham we'll speak of her." + +"Since when have you had suspicions of Morley?" + +"Since I investigated this Scarlet Cross case. I have found one or two +of the gang who, like Dane, are willing to turn King's evidence to save +themselves. It was one of them called Scott who told me of Dane's coming +on the motor-bicycle to Rickwell. But later on you shall hear all. Let +me round off the case by arresting Denham." Here Steel scratched his +head and smiled ruefully. "But I fear the case will not be finished till +Morley is caught, and where am I to look for him? I wish I had had him +watched. He has been too clever for me. I might have known. As Joe Bart +he was one of the smartest detectives in London." + +After this speech Steel began to think, and as he seemed impatient of +interruption, Giles said nothing. In due time they arrived at the door +of the Priory. It was close on five o'clock. Steel rang the bell, and as +he did so a couple of policemen came round the corner for orders. Steel +told them to wait in the hall while he saw Denham. "I don't think he can +show fight with a broken leg," said Steel grimly. + +As he spoke the door opened. Portia with her freckled face swollen with +weeping appeared. She did not seem astonished at the sight of the men in +uniform. Perhaps she had seen them lurking in the neighborhood and knew +what to expect. + +"Come in," she said sullenly to Steel and his companion. "My father +expects you." + +"Who told him I was coming?" asked Steel. + +"I don't know," she answered, and led the way up the stairs. On the +landing she turned viciously. "If father had not broken his leg, you +would not have found us here," she declared. + +"I quite believe that," retorted Steel. + +"And you needn't have brought those beasts of men," continued the girl, +with a glance at the police in the hall. "We are all alone. Dowse and +his wife and daughter ran away whenever they heard there was trouble." + +"Oh, they are mixed up in this affair also." + +"I don't know. I shan't say anything, for I don't know nothing." + +She sullenly led the way through a long corridor and opened the door of +a sitting-room. Here on a sofa with a small table at his elbow lay +Denham. His leg was swathed in bandages, and he wore a loose +dressing-gown. As they entered he laid down a book and looked at them. +His face was worn, his hair was quite grey, but the brilliance of his +eyes were undimmed, and he spoke in a masterful manner. + +"Here you are, Steel," he said coolly. "Got the warrant?" + +"How do you know I have a warrant?" asked the other, taken aback. + +"I knew you would find out the truth the moment Mrs. Franklin, or +rather, I should say the Princess Karacsay, discovered me. She has told +you all and has put you on my track." + +"Dane put me on your track." + +"Dane? Well, I'm not surprised. He's a scoundrel. King's evidence, I +suppose? I'll defeat him, Steel. Take a seat and I'll tell you all about +myself." + +Very much surprised at this calmness the two men sat down. Denham waved +his daughter out of the room. She was unwilling to go, but a glance sent +her away. When she closed the door Denham turned to Giles. + +"When you marry Anne, Mr. Ware," said he, "ask her to look after my poor +daughter." + +"How do you know I shall ever marry Anne?" + +"Because you are a determined man. Men like you usually do get their own +way. You intend to marry Anne Franklin and you will. But Portia has been +good to Anne, and when I am in prison I hope Anne will take care of +her." + +"I'll see to that," said Giles. "I don't believe that the sins of the +father should be visited on the children. Do you know where Anne has got +to? She went away with Morley." + +At the sound of this name Denham's face grew black. "I wish I knew where +Morley is," he said vehemently. "I would give him up to the police with +pleasure. On the evening of the day Anne escaped he came here with his +wife. When she left he had a quarrel with me, saying I had done wrong in +letting Anne go. We fought, and he threw me down the stairs. My leg is +broken, and so I could not get away from the police. Well, I give myself +up. It is rather hard after I have done so much to get the money I +wanted." + +"Even to committing a murder," said Steel. + +"No," said Denham decisively; "I did not kill Daisy Kent. She was +murdered by--but I'll tell you that later. In the meantime, Mr. Ware, +tell me what the Princess told you, and I'll supply the details she +doubtless has omitted. Then Steel can follow with his tale." + +Giles had no hesitation in complying with this request. He narrated his +connection with Olga and the story told by her mother. Also he detailed +how he had confided in Morley, thinking him an honorable man. This was +the only time when Denham smiled, and he did smile derisively. However, +he did not interrupt, but when Giles was finished looked at Steel. That +gentleman gave a history of his doings and discoveries. He omitted all +mention of Morley. Denham noted this. + +"I see you have left something for me to tell," he said. "Well, as I am +like a rat in a corner, I must give in. The end has come, and I don't +know that I am sorry. I have had a very uneasy life of it since I left +Jamaica. And, as usual, it was a woman who ruined me." + +"Not the Princess Karacsay," said Giles quickly. + +"Yes. You heard her version of the story, now hear mine. She led me on, +she behaved badly, she----" + +"I don't believe you. I won't listen." + +"Very good. Then we will take up the story from the time I came to +Milan," replied Denham coolly. "Anne was with me, and I treated her +well. She never knew anything of my inner life, and always thought me a +good man. I rather prided myself in keeping her in that belief." + +"Dane said that you behaved very well," said Steel. + +Denham nodded ironically. "I am much obliged for the good opinion of +such a scoundrel," he said. "Well, you know how I treated Anne. When she +became a governess she left me to follow out my idea of making money. I +bought a yacht, and invented the Society of the Scarlet Cross. For a +time all went well. Then I was foolish enough when robbing the safe of +Lady Summersdale to drop a cross--a red cross. It was found by Bart--I +mean Morley, who was the detective." + +"You can call him Bart," said Giles. "Steel told me it was his name." + +"I prefer to call him Morley, since by that name I know him best," was +Denham's retort. "As I say, he discovered the red cross. He had charge +of the case, and he traced me by that ornament. He got to know of the +yacht and of the working of the gang. Instead of arresting us all, which +he could have done, he agreed to join us." + +"I thought so!" cried Steel, slapping his thigh. "I guessed this." + +"Did you offer him any inducement?" asked Giles. + +"Yes. At first he was bent on breaking up the gang and putting me in +jail. But I remembered how Walpole had said that every man had his +price. I ascertained Morley's. It was ease and comfort and plenty of +money to gamble with." + +"Did he gamble?" asked Ware, starting. + +"He ruined himself with gambling," replied Denham. "If it had not been +for his indulgence in that vice, he would not have joined our society, +Mr. Ware. However, he did. I told him of the Powell money, and said that +when I got it I would share it with him. Franklin was drowned; I had his +papers, and knew all about his life, and there was no difficulty in my +proving myself to be the man. I did so, and now have the money." + +"But the price of Daisy's death was----" + +"I'm coming to that," interrupted Denham impatiently. "Well, Morley +joined us. His professional information helped us to improve our +business. He made me give back Lady Summersdale's jewels, so that his +professional reputation might be preserved. He was highly complimented +on getting the swag back," added Denham, smiling ironically, "but the +thieves unfortunately escaped." + +"And he was hand in glove with the lot of you," said Steel, almost with +admiration. "I always said Joe Bart was clever." + +"He was too clever for me," said Denham, shifting his position, and +sighing with the pain of his leg. However, with iron resolution he +continued. "But I'll punish him yet. Well, to make a long story short, +Morley retired from the force and married a widow. She had money. He +spent all she had. He got his percentage from our society, and spent +that also. He was always gambling, and took runs up to town to lose his +money in a private hell he knew of. Afterwards he got into difficulties, +and began to yearn for the Powell money. It was because Daisy Kent was +to inherit it that he induced her father to appoint him her guardian." + +"And for that reason he settled in Rickwell." + +"Yes. Kent had known Mrs. Morley for many years, and it was she who was +the guardian. When he married Mrs. Morley our friend settled in +Rickwell, so that his wife might renew her friendship with Kent and get +the girl. It all came about as he designed, and Daisy Kent lived at The +Elms. Morley thought he would sell me, and when the girl got the money, +by using his influence to induce her to give it to him, I believe he was +capable of killing his wife and of marrying Daisy. But that scheme was +stopped by the fact that Daisy was engaged to you, Ware." + +"I am thankful that she was," said Giles, wiping his face. "What a devil +the man is!" + +"He is a clever man," replied Denham coolly, "but he was not +sufficiently clever to get the better of Daisy Kent. What she found +out, or how he treated her, I don't know; but she took a violent hatred +to him. He knew she would not give him the money when she got it, and +so----" + +"Stop!" cried Ware. "Do you mean to say Morley killed the girl?" + +"No. I wish I could say so. But he was in his house all the time. He is +innocent enough. I'll tell you about that later. At present let me go on +with the story. I heard by cable from Australia that Powell was dead, +and then I feigned death to get rid of Anne. I came to England, and, as +Wilson, heard about the will, and afterwards served the summons." + +"Why did you serve the summons?" + +"I simply wanted to see Morley without suspicion being excited. I saw +him in the library. He told me that he had ordered the yacht to anchor +off Gravesend and that Dane was coming to tell him when it was there. He +then asked me to kill Daisy Kent, saying I could get the fortune when +she was dead." + +Denham paused, and wiped his face. + +"I don't pretend to be a good man," he said, "but I declined to murder +the girl. While we were arguing Anne entered. When she saw me she nearly +fainted, as she thought I was dead. She recognized me." + +"Yes," put in Giles, "but she said she didn't speak to you." + +"But she did. Morley knew then that she was Franklin's daughter, and, if +Daisy died, the rightful owner of the money. I expect that is why he had +decoyed her away. Well, I made Anne agree to be silent, promising her an +explanation the next day. She left the room. I went away, and afterwards +to church. I wished to see Daisy and warn her against Morley. I passed a +note saying that I desired to see her about the money. She went out. I +followed shortly. It was snowing heavily when I got out. I heard a cry, +and rushed in its direction. It came from the grave of Kent. Daisy was +lying there dead. I saw a man dash away----" + +"Who was he?" asked Steel and Giles simultaneously. + +"I believe, from the glimpse I caught, he was Dane." + +"I thought so," said Steel triumphantly. + +"Yes, Dane killed the girl. I expect Morley put him up to it. I lost my +head. I knew that to save himself that Morley would accuse me. I rushed +forward. Anne came out. I hurriedly explained, and then----" + +"We know," interrupted Giles, "you bolted on my motor-car. Tell us how +you got the money." + +"Oh, I appeared as Franklin, and saw Asher. I produced my papers, and +was put into formal possession of the money. Morley insisted that I +should live down here, under his eye. I could not refuse. He has drained +me of nearly every penny. Then, when trouble began, he made use of his +position here to warn me of what was going on." + +"He made a fool of me," said Giles grimly. "I told him everything, and +you played that nice little comedy in the park." + +"With Mrs. Benker?" Denham smiled. "Yes; and the soliloquy was my own +idea. I knew that would impose on you." + +"Morley swindled me also," said Steel, with gloom. "Clever man!" + +"You said that before," remarked Denham dryly. "However, when Anne's +mother appeared I knew the game was up. She made me promise to send Anne +to her, so I had to let her go." + +"Why did you blame Anne for the murder?" + +"I wanted to stop your prying into matters which did not concern you," +snarled the man savagely. "It was you who started all this infernal +business. But it's all over. You can arrest me as soon as you like, +Steel, and if you can catch Morley I'll willingly stand in the dock +beside him." + +As he said this the door opened. There was a noise outside. Portia was +trying to keep some one back, but the man forced his way past her and +into the room. It was Trim, and he presented a letter to his master. +"Beg pardon, sir, but I heard you were here, and there's a letter came +this morning marked 'Immediate.' I wanted to start for town, but when I +heard you were here I came over, and this young woman's been trying to +keep me out, to say nothing of them police below." + +Giles opened the letter hastily. Something fell with a silvery ring on +the floor. Steel picked it up. "What's this?" he asked wonderingly--"a +coin with precious stones!" + +"Anne's Edward VII. half-sovereign," shouted Giles. "This is from her." +The letter, written in pencil, merely said, "Prisoner--yacht--Bilbao." + +"Steel," cried Giles, "Morley has taken her to Bilbao! We follow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A CATASTROPHE + + +About noon the next day Steel and Giles were on their way to Bilbao. +This prompt following of Morley was due to the fertile resource of Ware. +He remembered that a friend of his possessed a yacht which was at +present lying in Dover Harbor. The friend, Lord Kingsbridge, fortunately +happened to be in London, and Giles wired an appointment. With Steel he +went up to Town on that same night and drove at once to the Wanderers' +Club, where Kingsbridge was waiting for them. Giles explained the +situation, and secured the yacht at once. "The boat is quite ready to +start," said Kingsbridge. "All you have to do is to get steam up. I was +thinking of going on a cruise myself, and so had _The Firefly_ put in +order." + +"Why not come with us to Bilbao, my lord?" + +"Thank you, Mr. Steel, but I have to wait in town for a day or two, and +time is everything in this matter. If you take the first morning train +to Dover, you ought to be on your way to Spain in the afternoon. When +did this other boat start?" + +"Yesterday afternoon from Gravesend," said Giles. + +"Well, my yacht's a quick one, so I daresay you will be able to catch +this other one before she gets to her destination. You'll have bad +weather, I fear," said Kingsbridge; "there's a storm getting up." + +"I don't care if it blows the world out of the solar system," cried Ware +savagely; "I'm going to catch that man." + +"And the lady? Well, good luck to you, Ware." + +"Thank you, Kingsbridge. I shan't forget your kindness," replied the +young man, and departed with Steel in hot haste. + +Thus it happened that the two found themselves on board _The Firefly_ +steaming for Bilbao at top speed. The boat was two hundred tons, yacht +measurement, schooner-rigged fore and aft, with powerful engines and +twin screws. When all her furnaces were going she could smoke through +the water at surprising speed, and her captain having received +instructions from Kingsbridge, drove her south for all she was worth. He +was a pleasant young fellow called Calthorpe, and when he heard that the +trip was being made to rescue a lady took a personal interest in the +affair. He made up his mind to catch _The Red Cross_ before she reached +Bilbao. + +"Is she a fast boat?" he asked when _The Firefly_ cleared the Channel. + +"Nearly as fast as this craft," replied Mark Dane, who was at his elbow. +"She was built for speed." + +"H'm," said the captain; "it's stormy weather, and her speed will depend +a good deal on the way she is handled. I don't expect she'll do much in +the Bay." + +Evidently Calthorpe was not going to let his boat be beaten by an +outsider. He had never heard of _The Red Cross_, and believed _The +Firefly_ to be one of the smartest crafts afloat. The weather was dirty, +and when the gallant little boat lifted the Atlantic waves they were +running mountains high. But Calthorpe drove his vessel sheer through +them, and never slackened his speed for all their fury. And now it must +be explained how Dane came to be on board. The explanation may be given +in his own words to Giles. + +"When I left you in London, sir," he said, "I wondered where Morley had +taken Miss Anne. From what I knew I guessed that he would not carry her +to the Priory at Rickwell. It then struck me that he might use the +yacht. Since Steel took up the case she has changed her name and her +appearance, for Morley and Denham were both afraid lest she might be +found out. The gang of course know nothing of my intention to smash up +the organization, and I knew that I could get all information from one +of them. I sent a wire to this man--he's called Arden--and received +information that the boat was at Gravesend by Morley's orders, under the +name of _The Dark Horse_." + +"Rather a good name," said Ware, smiling. "Morley is something of a +humorist." + +"He's a devil!" said Dane fiercely. "I'll tell you my reason for saying +so later, sir. I went to Gravesend and found her lying in mid-stream. I +went on board and learned that Morley was away, but that the boat was to +sail shortly for some unknown destination." + +"Where was Morley?" + +"Up in town, sir, getting his money together to make tracks. I found +Miss Anne on board. She told me that Morley had suggested they should +get to Rickwell by the Gravesend line, and she, not thinking any harm of +him and anxious to see Denham and learn the truth about her dead father, +agreed. He took her down and drugged her in the train. As an invalid she +was taken on board _The Dark Horse_ and confined to her cabin. A hag +called Mrs. Johns attended to her. I know the old wretch. A regular bad +one; but devoted to Morley, who got her out of some trouble." + +"Why did you not rescue Miss Anne," said Giles, "and save us this +journey, Dane?" + +"I couldn't. Mrs. Johns allowed me to see Miss Anne, as she had no +reason to suspect me; but she kept guard at the door, and would not let +me out of her sight almost. If I had tried to take Miss Anne ashore, +she'd have brought the crew on me. They are all Morley's creatures. I +should simply have been poleaxed and dropped overboard, while the yacht +sailed away. No, sir. I told Miss Anne my difficulty, and asked her to +send a line to you at the Priory--where I knew you were--that you might +follow. She wrote three or four words----" + +"I know," interrupted Giles, "and enclosed the coin." + +"She did that, sir, so that you could be sure the message came from her. +I posted the letter. Then I went on shore and waited till Morley came +back. I learned from Miss Anne that the boat was going to Bilbao, and +when she started I came on to the Priory to ask if I could join in the +hunt for Miss Anne. Yes," cried Dane, shaking his fist, "and the hunt +after that devil Morley." + +"Why do you hate him so?" asked Giles, wondering at the man's fierceness +and ill-suppressed emotion. + +Dane thought for a moment, then answered, with his eyes on the deck, +"Morley killed my mother," he said in a low voice. "No, sir, not in the +way you think. He killed her by telling her what I was. She was a good +woman. She brought me up well, and did her best to make me a decent man. +I was well behaved till I went to Italy to study singing, and fell in +with Denham. He made me bad. Afterwards Morley made me worse. I have +thieved, I have--but what does the catalogue of my crimes matter to +you, sir? In a word, Denham and Morley ruined me. I hate them both, but +Morley worst of all. Do you think Denham will recover?" + +"From his broken leg? Of course he will, and then he will be taken to +jail at once. Steel left the warrant behind to be executed, in order +that he might come with me." + +"I hope Denham will get a long sentence, sir," said Dane savagely. "He +is a bad man. But Morley--nothing short of death will expiate his crime +so far as I am concerned. I wanted to reform, sir. Miss Anne was so good +to me that I saw how wicked was the life I was living. I wished to +reform and return to my mother. Morley heard of this. He followed me to +New York, where I was then. I had fled from the gang, saying I would +have nothing more to do with the thieving. Morley found me with my +mother. He told her what I was." Here Dane paused and sighed. "The blow +killed her." + +"She died of a broken heart, I suppose?" + +"Yes, of a broken heart. Then I went back with Morley to the old life +like a whipped dog. But I vowed revenge. I intend to have it now." And +he set his teeth determinedly. + +Giles was sorry for the young man. He appeared to have some good in him +when he felt the death of his mother, and the cause of it, so deeply. +But Ware could not help remembering that Dane had murdered Daisy Kent. +But for the fact that they relied on Dane to distinguish _The Red Cross_ +under her disguise, he would not have been allowed to come. But Steel +thought it was best to catch Morley first and then have Dane arrested +for the crime. He advised Giles to say nothing about it, lest it should +arouse the suspicions of Dane. But on board _The Firefly_ there was no +escape for the man, and after the previous conversation Giles began to +wonder if Dane really was guilty, despite the belief of Steel and the +evidence of Denham. He resolved to set his doubts at rest. + +"Dane," he said, after a pause, "you appear to have much good in you, +and the Princess Olga is anxious to save you from yourself. Since you +are helping us to break up this gang and catch Morley, who appears to be +the arch-criminal, I am willing to do what I can to save you from the +law. But there is another crime----" + +"What particular crime do you mean, sir?" asked Dane quietly. + +"The murder of Miss Kent." + +Dane started. "Do you believe that I had anything to do with that?" + +"Why not? You were at Rickwell on the night it was committed." + +"I was. I came over from the yacht at Gravesend to tell Morley she was +waiting his orders there, and to tell Denham also. He had appointed a +meeting there for me. I came on a motor-bicycle. What of that?" + +"A man called Scott told Steel that you were in Rickwell." + +"I admit it. I know Scott. He has turned King's evidence. It seems to +me, sir, that the whole lot of us will be pardoned if we are so anxious +to betray one another. But this crime----" + +"Denham says you killed the girl." + +Dane sprang to his feet with flashing eyes. "I swear by all that I hold +most holy that I did not touch the girl," he declared. "I never even set +eyes on her. Denham accuses me--yes, because I have told the truth about +him. I came on that night and saw Morley and him at the window of the +library in Morley's house. When I gave my message about the yacht I +returned to Tilbury, and then crossed to the boat. I never killed the +girl, by the memory of my mother!" + +"You seem to be speaking the truth," said Giles quickly. "Did you enter +the library? The girl was killed by a stiletto torn from the trophy of +arms near the desk." + +"I was not in the library. Morley would not allow me to enter. He and +Denham spoke to me on the terrace. When a noise was heard at the door--I +believe now it was Miss Anne who was entering--Morley gave me the tip to +get away." + +"Was the stiletto in its place?" + +"I don't know. I never noticed." + +"Do you think Morley killed the girl?" + +"Either he or Denham," replied Dane decisively; "and I think it was the +latter. When I heard of the crime being committed, I saw Mrs. Morley and +asked her if her husband was guilty. She denied it, saying that he was +in the library all the time. She came down and saw him." + +"She might do that to save her husband." + +Dane shook his head. "I don't think she was fond enough of him for that, +sir," he answered. "She was when he married her; but he treated her so +badly--as I was told by Denham--that she grew to hate him. He spent her +money, and behaved like the brute he is. For the sake of her children +she said nothing, but she was fond of Miss Kent, and I don't think she +would have defended him if a charge of killing the girl had been made." + +"Did Mrs. Morley know anything about the gang?" + +"No, she knew nothing. Morley always took good care to keep her in +ignorance. She knew no more of his secret life than Miss Anne did of +Denham's. Both men were very clever in concealing that which they did +not want to be known. But you believe that I am innocent of this +charge?" + +"Yes. You can face Denham when you return and ask him what are his +grounds for accusing you." + +"If ever I do come back," said Dane gloomily. And the conversation ended +for the time being. + +Dane made himself very useful on board, and Calthorpe took quite a fancy +to him. In addition to his other gifts he proved to be an excellent +sailor. It seems that he had run away from home, and had worked for some +years before the mast as a common seaman. He now wished to do what he +could on board _The Firefly_, and chummed with the crew. So great a +favorite did he become with Calthorpe that when he asked to be allowed +to steer, the favor was readily granted to him, and he proved very +proficient. Certainly Calthorpe did not know he was a suspected murderer +and had been a thief, and neither Steel nor Giles said anything about +this. Steel, indeed, still held to the belief that Dane was guilty; but +Ware laughed at him. + +"You said that Miss Anne was guilty," he declared; "then you believed +that Denham had struck the blow; now you are convinced that Dane is the +criminal. For my part I believe Denham to be guilty." + +"He may be," replied Steel, with a shrug. "I am so puzzled over this +case that I am prepared for any development. At all events, Denham is +being looked after. He can't escape me, whether he is merely a thief or +really the murderer we are in search of." + +When _The Firefly_ got into the Bay of Biscay the weather was worse than +ever. Giles was pleased, as Calthorpe told him that there was the better +chance of catching _The Dark Horse_ before she reached her port of +destination. Once on Spanish soil and Giles feared lest Morley should +carry Anne off to the mountains. He was such a scoundrel, and so clever, +that it might be possible he had confederates at Bilbao to help him to +carry out any scheme he might suggest. Giles wished to catch him before +he had time to formulate any new villainy. At all events, Morley would +never think that they had tracked him so speedily, or had followed so +rapidly. It was unlikely that he would use the yacht to the fullest +extent of her steaming powers. + +In the centre of the Bay _The Firefly_ was caught by the full force of +the storm. The wind and waves were terrific, but the gallant little boat +proved herself trustworthy. Under a sullen sky, over a dismal grey sea +she steamed, her decks streaming with water, and the ship herself +rolling terribly. + +Calthorpe did not slacken speed, and the boat responded splendidly to +his handling. A sharp lookout was kept by all on board for the yacht, as +Giles had offered a large reward for the first man who espied the boat. +But the difficulty was that none of the crew knew the looks of _The Dark +Horse_. However, they were to hail when they saw anything in the shape +of a yacht, and there were one or two false alarms. At length, when _The +Firefly_ was approaching the Spanish coast, Dane, who was on deck with a +glass, gave the alarm. It was a misty, grey day, with absence of sun and +wind. The ocean was heaving like masses of liquid pitch with an oily +look, and the yacht cut sheer through the terrific waves that threatened +to overwhelm her. Suddenly a wind rose, there was a blink of sunshine, +and about a mile away a bark was seen rolling in the trough of the sea. +"There she is!" roared Dane, and every one came on deck. + +"Are you sure?" cried Giles, taking the glass. + +"Perfectly sure," replied Dane, who was dangerously excited. "Captain, +let me handle the wheel as a reward." + +Calthorpe gave his assent, as he knew what a good steersman Dane was. He +then took his post beside Giles and Steel, who were admitted on to the +bridge, and thence directed the ship. Then _The Firefly_ made a bee-line +for the distant ship. + +Steel and Giles had less sense than they should have had; and Dane in +his joy at the sight of his prey quite forgot that with a good glass +Morley could recognize them all three. It was _The Red Cross_, alias +_The Dark Horse_, that was steaming leisurely southward, and doing her +best to battle with the strong seas that hammered her newly painted +sides. Thus Morley, who had never expected such promptitude, became +aware that his foes were at his heels. He saw the detective and Giles on +the bridge. But Dane he did not see, being in too much of a hurry after +his first glimpse of the danger to take further interest in those on +board _The Firefly_. The result of Morley's decision was that those on +the pursuing yacht saw clouds of smoke pouring out of the funnel, and +knew that the furnaces were being crammed to suffocation. There was a +shout of joy from _The Firefly's_ crew, for now the fun was beginning. + +"We'll see if she'll beat my boat," said Calthorpe on the bridge. + +It was very stormy, and black clouds were racing across a pallid sky. A +furious wind had blown the mists into shreds of vapor, and was ripping +white spume from the tops of the rearing waves. The vessel in flight +soared like a swallow, and slid down into mile-long valleys; but _The +Firefly_, having more powerful engines, tore straight through the walls +of water that threatened to block her way. She trembled with the +vibration of her screws, and in the stormy heaving of the water there +was great danger lest her propeller fans should snap. However, the +engineer stood with his hand on the throttle-valve, and stopped the +spinning of the screws when they emerged. + +Much the same tactics were being pursued on board _The Dark Horse_, save +that in addition the safety-valve was tied down. The engines worked at +furious speed, and the boat leaped like a hunted stag. But the hound on +its heels came closer and closer, and those on _The Dark Horse_ could +hear the roar of the delighted _Firefly_ crew. Morley ground his teeth, +and fed his furnaces again. Anne came on deck. + +"Go below!" he said, and swore at her. + +"I shall not," she retorted, and got away from him. + +He was not able to pursue, not being in position to leave his post +beside the captain. Besides, he thought it mattered very little whether +she was seen or not. Ware knew that she was on board, and, moreover, if +_The Dark Horse_ were overhauled, he would suffer most himself by the +capture. It would do him no good to throw Anne overboard, although he +felt much inclined to do so if only for revenge. + +Calthorpe could well be proud of his boat. She responded gallantly to +the strain put upon her, and tore like a mad thing through the waste of +waters. She swung 'longside of _The Dark Horse_, Dane steering with +flashing eyes and his long hair streaming in the wind. There was less +than a quarter of a mile separating the boats. Morley swerved to the +right. Dane followed. A pretty bit of steering on the part of both +vessels took place until the winds and waves took command. Then the +boats, out of hand, swung together, almost touching. Giles could see +Anne. She cried out and stretched her hands. + +Suddenly Dane turned the yacht in a circle. Calthorpe shouted to know, +with several adjectives, what he was up to. He would have stopped the +engines, which were working furiously, but that it was dangerous at the +moment. _The Firefly_ swung round, and then with the rush of a wounded +bull came straight at _The Dark Horse_. + +"Hell!" cried Calthorpe, "he's going to ram her." + +There was no time to stop the engines, or to reverse them. Those on _The +Dark Horse_ gave a yell of fear as the larger vessel bore down on their +slighter craft. Dane, fairly mad, shouted out abuse to Morley. Another +moment and the pursuing yacht struck the other midships, cutting her +almost to the waterline. All on board both ships were thrown down. _The +Firefly_ reeled back. Giles lifted his head to see Anne falling +overboard as _The Dark Horse_ lurched in the roaring waters. With a cry +of terror, he tore a lifebelt from its fastenings and threw himself +after her. + +After that he could only recollect that he was swimming for dear life +and for her, amongst those furious waves. Lifted on the crest of one he +saw her some distance away--a white figure against the black water. Then +he went sliding down into the liquid valley. How he reached her he did +not know; but after a terrific struggle he found her in his arms. He +managed to slip the lifebelt over her head, and kept her up with one arm +while he kept afloat with the other. She was insensible, but Giles +retained all his wits. He caught a glimpse of the ragged, injured bows +of _The Firefly_ high above him, and saw that Calthorpe was launching a +boat. In a few moments it came plunging towards him, and he was hauled +on board with Anne. Steel was in the boat, ashy pale. + +"Is our boat safe?" gasped Giles. + +"Yes. But _The Dark Horse_ is going down. Dane has gone overboard." + +Suddenly Steel shrieked, and Giles turned to where he pointed. In the +trough of the sea _The Dark Horse_ was plunging like a colt, rolling +like a drunken man. Giles saw Morley; near him Dane with a savage look +on his face. Morley, with terror in his eyes, tried to get away, but +Dane reached him, flung his arms round him, and with a wild shout both +men went down into the furiously bubbling witch-caldron, never to rise +again. + +The strain of the whole terrible business was too much for Giles Ware. +For the first and last time in his life he fainted. The last +recollection he had was of seeing the doomed vessel plunging downwards +and a cloud of white steam rising with a terrible roar from her +exploding boilers. After that, darkness and insensibility. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE END OF THE TROUBLE + + +Giles returned to Rickwell within a week, to find that great changes had +taken place in the place, even in that little while. After the +foundering of _The Dark Horse_, the other yacht had returned to England +forthwith. She had not been very badly damaged by Dane's mad act, +although her bows had been smashed. Calthorpe, indeed, had been on the +point of putting in to the nearest port to refit, but finding that _The +Firefly_ was still seaworthy he held on until he got back to Dover. + +Some of the crew of the lost ship had been picked up. As they were all +more or less connected with the Scarlet Cross Society, Steel took charge +of them and conducted them to London. Giles accompanied Anne to her +mother. The Princess Karacsay received her with open arms, and Olga with +many professions of gratitude. "You have undone all the harm I caused," +said Olga to Giles. + +"Oh, that's all right," he replied. "We are friends now?" + +"Friends, and nothing more than friends. I am returning to Vienna with +my mother, and have agreed to marry Count Taroc." + +Satisfied on this point, Giles went back to Rickwell, leaving Anne to +the society of the Princess. Almost as soon as he set foot in his home +he was informed of the news by Trim. + +"Mr. Franklin is dead," said Trim, with startling abruptness. + +"Dead!" echoed Ware astonished. "Was his broken leg the cause?" + +"No," replied the old man; "but yesterday he received a telegram, and +afterwards took a dose of poison. His daughter is coming here to see +you, sir. She heard you were to be here to-day." + +Giles wondered why Portia should come to see him, and also why Denham +should have committed suicide after receiving a telegram. Trim could not +tell him what the telegram was about, so Giles had to wait until the +girl chose to call and enlighten him. Perhaps she had a message for him +from the dead man concerning Anne. Meanwhile Trim went on to state that +Mrs. Morley was leaving Rickwell. + +"She has sold all her furniture and has let The Elms," said Trim. "I saw +Morris yesterday, and he tells me she is stopping at 'The Merry Dancer' +with her children." + +"Does she know of her husband's death?" asked Giles. + +"Death, sir. Is Mr. Morley dead?" + +"I forgot. You do not know. Yes, Trim. He went down in his yacht, _The +Dark Horse_, in the Bay of Biscay." + +"Poor woman!" said Trim, looking shocked; "she was so fond of him." + +Ware had his own opinion on this point, so made no remark. He turned +over the correspondence that had accumulated during his absence, and +found a letter from Mrs. Morley written a day or so previous. She said +therein that she wished to see him particularly, and that she would +call as soon as he returned. She had something most particular to tell +him. The word "particular" was underlined. Giles wondered if she +intended to tell him some of Morley's rascalities. But then he +remembered that, according to Dane, she knew nothing of the double life +which her husband had led. Anxious to hear what she had to say, he +despatched a note by Trim asking her to come to his house, and offering +to go to the inn, should she prefer their conversation to take place +there. When Trim departed, Giles proceeded to despatch such business +connected with his estates as was necessary. + +Hardly had he been an hour engaged in this way when Portia called to see +him. She had discarded her rainbow-colored garb, and was clothed in +funereal black. When she entered Giles' study he saw that her eyes were +red, and her face swollen with weeping. He felt extremely sorry for the +poor girl, and privately determined to look after her as Denham had +requested. Meantime he did his best to console Portia. + +"I am sorry to hear of your father's death," he said sympathetically. +Portia looked at him indignantly. + +"Why should you say that?" she demanded; "you were not his friend." + +"No. I certainly was not. All the same I cannot help regretting that a +man with such great gifts should have wasted them in the way he did, and +should have put an end to himself." + +"There was nothing else for him to do," said the girl mournfully. "He +was to be taken to gaol as soon as his leg was better. The police could +not move him immediately, or he would have been put in gaol long ago. +But he's dead now, and I'm glad. Whatever you may say of him, Mr. Ware, +he was my father, and good to me. Yes, and he was good to Anne also. +She'll tell you so." + +"I am sure he was," answered Giles gently. "Your father had his good +points, Portia. How much of his sad history do you know?" + +"I know he had his faults," she replied doggedly, "and that he was very +badly treated by that beast Morley. I'm glad Morley is dead." + +"How do you know he is?" asked Giles sharply. + +"Father got a telegram yesterday from Steel. Steel promised to let him +know if Morley was caught, as father hated him so. When the telegram +came saying that Morley was drowned, father said that he had nothing +left to live for, and that he was quite pleased to die. Then he sent me +out of the room and took poison. I came back in an hour," sobbed Portia, +"and found him dead. He looked so handsome as a corpse." + +Giles shivered at this morbid speech, but made no comment thereon. He +saw that Portia knew very little, and was determined in her own mind to +know no more. She had elevated her dead father to the rank of a hero, +and would not listen to a word against him. Ware thought there must have +been a great deal of good in Denham, despite his evil career, seeing +that he had gained the good will of both Portia and Anne. But he had no +time to talk further to Portia on these points, as a card was brought in +to him, and he learned that Mrs. Morley was waiting to see him. He said +a few final words to Portia. + +"How do you stand?" he asked. + +"Anne will look after me," she answered. "I don't suppose you'll be mean +enough to put her against me." + +"Why should I?" said Giles mildly. "I am only too glad to help you in +any way I can. But this money your father----" + +"That is all right. Father saw Mr. Asher, the lawyer, and has left his +money to Anne, every penny of it. I get nothing," cried Portia, with a +fresh burst of grief; "but I do hope Anne will help me. I'm sure I've +always been very good to her, even though she isn't my sister." + +"Did your father tell you she wasn't?" + +"Yes. He said she was an adopted child. Though why he should have left +her all, and me nothing----" + +Here Portia wept again. + +Ware saw that Denham had arranged with Asher that her father's money +should pass to Anne. No doubt he had told the lawyer the whole history +of the imposture, and Asher would now take steps to place Anne in +possession of her fortune. But Denham had deceived Portia, probably +because he wished the girl to think well of him after he was dead. Giles +resolved that he would not undeceive the girl. + +"I'll see that things are made easy for you," he said. "Are you still at +the Priory?" + +"There's nowhere else for me to go till I hear from Anne." + +"Anne is in town. I'll write to her, and we'll see what can be done." + +Portia rose to go, but she expressed no thanks for his kindness. "So you +are to marry Anne," she said. "Well, I hope you'll be good to her." + +"Don't you think I shall?" + +Portia, in spite of her grief, tossed her head. "I don't know," she +said; "all men are bad, except my father, who was very, very good," and +she looked defiantly at Giles as though challenging contradiction. + +But Ware was too sorry for the girl to make any harsh remark. He walked +with her to the outer door, and sent her away in a much more cheerful +mood. Then he returned to his study, and found Mrs. Morley already +seated near his desk. She looked ill and worn, but, in strange contrast +to her usual custom, wore a colored gown, and evidently had been trying +to dress herself as gaily as possible. She saw the surprised look on +Giles' face, and guessed its meaning. + +"Yes, Mr. Ware," she said, plucking at her dress, "you see I have my +holiday clothes on. Even though Oliver has left me, there is no need for +me to go into mourning. No. He has deserted me basely. I am determined +to show the world that I don't care." + +"Mrs. Morley, your husband is dead." + +"Dead!" She half started from her chair, but sat down again with a white +face. Then to Giles' horror she began to laugh. He knew that Morley had +been a bad husband to the woman before him, but that she should laugh on +hearing of his death, made him shiver. He hastily explained how Morley +had met with his fate, and Mrs. Morley not only laughed again, but +clapped her gloved hands. + +"Dead!" she said quite gleefully. "Ah! he was lucky to the last." + +Ware thought that the widow must be off her head to talk like this; but +Mrs. Morley was perfectly sane, and her exclamation was perfectly +natural, as he soon learned. She enlightened him in her next speech. + +"Don't you call a man lucky," she said quietly, "who died like my +husband in the clean waves of the sea, instead of being hanged as he +deserved?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the startled Giles. + +"Can't you guess?" She drew a paper out of her pocket. "I came here to +give you that, Mr. Ware. The confession of my wicked husband." + +"Confession?" + +"Yes. You will find it particularly interesting, Mr. Ware. It was my +miserable husband who murdered Daisy." + +"Never!" gasped Giles, rising aghast. "He was in the library all the +time. You told----" + +"I know what I told," she answered quickly. "I did so to save my name +from shame; for the sake of my children I lied. Oliver did not deserve +the mercy I showed him. Base to the last he deserted me. Now he is dead. +I am glad to hear it." She paused and laughed. "I shall not change my +dress, Mr. Ware." + +"Don't, Mrs. Morley," he said, with a shudder. + +"Not that name, if you please," she said, and noting her card on the +desk she tore it in two. Then opening her case she tore the other cards +and scattered them on the floor. "Mrs. Morley is no more. I am Mrs. +Warton. That is the name of my first husband--my true husband--the +father of my three children. Yes, Mr. Ware, I have sold my furniture, +and let The Elms. To-morrow I leave for the south of France with my +children. I land in France as Mrs. Warton, and the old life is gone for +ever. Can you blame me?" + +"From what I know of Morley I cannot," he stammered. "But what do you +know, Mrs. Mor--I mean Mrs. Warton?" + +"I know everything. Listen, Mr. Ware. When Oliver married me I was in +love with him. I thought he loved me for myself. But it was my money he +was after. Some time after our marriage I found that he was a gambler. +He lost all my money at cards. Fortunately there was a sum of a thousand +a year settled on me which he could not touch, nor was he able to touch +the money left to my children. All the rest (and there was a great deal) +he wheedled out of me and spent." + +"I wonder you did not put an end to him long ago. I mean I should have +thought you would separate from the scoundrel." + +Mrs. Morley sighed. "I loved him," she said in low tones. "It took me +many a long day to stamp that love out of my heart. I did all he wished +me to do. I took The Elms and obtained the guardianship of Daisy. I +never thought that he had any design in getting me to take her to live +with us. I was one of her father's oldest friends and loved the girl. +Morley managed the affair in such a manner that I did what he wished +without knowing I was being coerced." + +"Morley was a very clever man." + +"And a wicked man," said his widow, without emotion. "I can only think +of the way he behaved to me and mine. Daisy always hated him. I could +never get her to like him. I don't know what he said or did to her--he +always seemed to me to treat her with kindness--but she had an antipathy +to him. He thought when she got the Powell money he would do what he +liked with her and it. But when he saw she was hostile to him he +determined then on her murder." + +"You did not know that at the time?" said Giles breathlessly. + +"No. Certainly I did not, or I should have sent the girl away. I am only +talking by the light of recent events. When that man came to tell Morley +about the death of Powell he knew that Daisy would leave the house and +marry you as soon as she got the fortune. He tried to induce Denham when +he was in the library to kill Daisy, and took down the stiletto for that +purpose. Denham refused. Then there was a man called Dane, who came with +a message. Morley asked him likewise to kill the girl, and was likewise +refused. He saw there was nothing for it but to murder Daisy himself. In +a day or so it would have been too late, as she would hear about the +money and leave the house. Morley took the stiletto and went to the +church in the hope of killing her when she came out and was amidst the +crowd of people. He hoped to escape unobserved." + +"A rash idea!" observed Giles. + +"Oh, its safety lay in its rashness," said the widow coldly. "Well, it +happened that Denham lured Daisy out of the church and did not follow +for some time. Morley looking at the door saw her come out. She waited +for a moment and then walked to her father's grave. Morley followed and +killed her by stabbing her in the back as she knelt in the snow by the +grave. She fell forward with a cry. He would have repeated the blow but +that he saw Denham coming. He fled back to the house. I was in the +library when he arrived. He made some excuse, and I never thought +anything was wrong." + +"Had he the stiletto with him?" + +"I believe he had, but I did not see it. Afterwards he took the stiletto +back to the churchyard and pretended to find it, so that Anne might be +accused. Denham never suspected Morley of the crime. Why, I don't know, +as any one who knew what I have told you about his offers to Denham and +Dane must have guessed that Morley was guilty." + +"How did you learn all this?" asked Giles, glancing at the confession +which was in Morley's own handwriting. + +"At various times. I did not suspect him at first. But one thing led to +another and I watched him. I got at his papers and discovered all about +the Scarlet Cross, and----" + +"Wait, Mrs. Morley--I mean Warton. Did Morley write that anonymous +letter which accused Anne?" + +"Yes. He did so, in case it was necessary to kill Daisy. He hoped by +hinting beforehand that Anne would be accused. It was Anne's foolish +speech to Daisy, saying she would kill her, that gave him the idea. But +she meant nothing by it. It was only a few hot words. However, Morley +used them to his own end. Well, Mr. Ware, I found out about the thieving +gang, and then learned for the first time the kind of man I had married. +My love died out of my heart at once. I took to thinking how I could get +away from him. He used to mutter in his sleep, having an uneasy +conscience." + +"I should think he was too strong a man to have a conscience." + +"Well, he muttered in his sleep at all events. From what he said I +discovered that he had something to do with the death of Daisy. I +accused him, and told him that I knew all about his Scarlet Cross +wickedness. He denied the truth of this at first. Afterwards, little by +little, I got the truth out of him. I then made him write out that +confession and sign it, so that I could save Anne should she be caught. +I promised for the sake of my own name and my children not to use the +confession unless Anne was taken. That is why Morley ran away with Anne. +He fancied that she would continue to bear the blame, and also"--here +Mrs. Wharton hesitated and glanced at Giles--"I fancy that Oliver was in +love with Miss Denham." + +"The scoundrel!" cried Giles furiously. + +Mrs. Wharton--as she now called herself--laughed coldly and rose to +depart. "I don't think it matters much now," she said. "Anne was not +drowned also, was she?" + +"No," replied Ware, shuddering; "she is in London, and I hope shortly to +make her my wife." + +"I wish her all happiness," said Mrs. Wharton, without emotion. "I +always liked Anne, and for her sake I secured that confession. That, +when published, will vindicate her character. You need have no +hesitation in showing it to the police and in letting that detective +deal with it as he thinks fit. In a few days I shall be in France under +the name of Mrs. Wharton, and the past will be dead to me. Good-bye." +She held out her hand. + +"Good-bye," answered Giles, shaking it heartily. "I trust you will be +happy, Mrs. Wharton." + +"I shall be at peace, if nothing else," she replied, and so passed from +the room, and out of his life. + +Giles showed the confession to Steel, who was delighted that the real +culprit had at last been discovered. But he was sorely disappointed at +the suicide of Denham. "It spoils the case," he said. + +"You are going to bring the matter into court, then," said Giles. + +"Of course. I want some reward for my labor, Mr. Ware. I'll break up +that gang. I must publish this confession in order to save your future +wife from further blame. Not that it will matter much," he added, "for +Miss Denham--I should rather say Miss Franklin--has gone to Styria with +her mother and half-sister." + +"I know," answered Giles quietly. "I join them there in a week." + +"Well, Mr. Ware, I congratulate you, and I hope you'll have a good time. +You deserve it from the way in which you have worked over this case." + +"What about yourself, Steel?" + +"Oh, I'm all right. Dane, Morley, and Denham are dead, which is a pity, +as they are the chief villains of the play. Still, I'll contrive to +punish those others and get some kudos out of the business. And I must +thank you, Mr. Ware, for that reward." + +"It was Miss Anne's idea," replied Ware. "She will soon be put in +possession of her money, and asked me to give you the reward. It is half +from her and half from me." + +"And I believed her guilty," said Steel regretfully; "but I'll make +amends, Mr. Ware. I'll keep her name out of this business as much as I +can, consistently with the evidence." + +Steel was as good as his word. The thieves were tried, but Anne was not +mentioned in connection with their robberies. As regards the murder, the +confession of Morley was made public and every one knew that Anne was +guiltless. In fact, she was applauded for the way in which she had +helped her supposed father to escape. The papers called the whole +episode romantic, but the papers never knew the entire truth, nor that +Anne was the daughter of the Princess Karacsay. Not even Mrs. Parry +learned as much as she should have liked to learn. But what scraps of +information she did become possessed of, she wove into a thrilling story +which fully maintained her reputation as a scandal-monger. And she was +always Anne's friend, being particularly triumphant over the fact that +she had never believed her to be guilty. + +"And I hope," said Mrs. Parry generally, "that every one will believe +what I say in the future;" which every one afraid of her tongue +pretended to do. + +Giles and Anne were married from the castle of Prince Karacsay, in +Styria. The Prince took a great fancy to Anne Franklin, and learned the +truth about her parentage. But this was not made public. It was simply +supposed that she was a young English lady who was the intimate friend +of Princess Olga. But every one was surprised when the elder Princess at +the wedding threw over Anne's neck a magnificent necklace of uncut +emerald. "It belonged to your father's mother, dear," whispered the +Princess as she kissed the bride. + +Olga married Count Taroc, and settled down into the meekest of wives. +Giles and Anne heard of the marriage while on their honeymoon in Italy. +They had taken a villa at Sorrento and were seated out on the terrace +when the letter came, Anne expressed herself glad. + +"And you are pleased too, dear," she said to Giles. + +"Very pleased," he replied, with emphasis, whereat she laughed. + +"I know why you are pleased," she said, in answer to his look. "Olga +told me how deeply she was in love with you. But her cure was as quick +as her disease was virulent. She never would have harmed me, my dear. +Olga was always fond of me--and of you." + +Giles flushed and laughed. + +"Well, it's all over now," he said, "and I am glad she is married. But +let us talk about yourself. Are you happy after all your troubles, +dearest?" + +"Very happy, Giles. I regret nothing. Portia, thanks to you, is in a +good home. But my poor father----" + +"Don't call Denham that, Anne," he said, with a frown. + +She kissed it away. + +"He was always very good to me," she said. "I tried to save him, as you +know. I believed that he had killed Daisy by some mistake. But really, +Giles, I did not stop to think. I knew that my--I mean Denham--was in +danger of his life, and I could not rest until I had placed him in +safety." + +"And you defended him afterwards, Anne--that time we met in the +churchyard. You quite endorsed his story of the invented Walter +Franklin." + +"Don't reproach me, Giles. I had promised Denham to say what I did; and +not even for your dear sake could I break my word. He was a good man in +many ways; but, as you say yourself, it is all over. Let us forget him +and his tragic end." + +"And Morley's." + +Anne shivered. "He was the worst. Oh, what a terrible time I had on +board that boat, when I found he was deceiving me. I thought he was +taking me to Denham, and I wanted to see what he--I mean Denham--would +say to my mother's statement. I thought he might be able to show that he +was not so bad as she----" + +"Not another word," said Ware, taking her in his arms. "Let us leave the +old bad past alone, and live in the present. See"--he took a parcel out +of his pocket--"I have had this made for you." + +Anne opened the package, and found therein the coin of Edward VII. set +as a brooch and surrounded by brilliants. + +"Oh, how delightful!" she said, with a true woman's appreciation of +pretty things. + +"It is the dearest thing in the world to me, save you, Anne," he said. +"Twice that coin brought me to you. But for it I should never have been +by your side now." + +"No!" + +She kissed the coin again and fastened it at her throat, where it +glittered a pretty, odd ornament. + +"You waste your kisses," cried Giles, and took her to his breast. + + + + + +----------------------------------------------+ + |Transcriber's Note | + | | + |Inconsistencies in spelling have been retained| + |as in the original. | + +----------------------------------------------+ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COIN OF EDWARD VII*** + + +******* This file should be named 26063.txt or 26063.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/6/26063 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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