"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."