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."