Part 46 (1/2)
”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 pa.s.sed 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