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."