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?"