st not be offended if I speak plainly, Mr. Ware."

"I shall be offended if you speak evil of my friend Miss Denham." This
was from the Princess, who raised herself up with her eyes flashing
angrily. "I will not have it," she said.

"Then am I to say nothing?" asked Steel ironically.

"Nothing against Miss Denham," put in Giles.

"You are both rather difficult to deal with," remarked Steel, with a
shrug. "However, I'll explain, and you can draw your own inferences. It
seems from what Mrs. Benker said that Mr. Wilson was mostly out all
night and in all day. Also he was frequently absent for a long time. He
likewise took much interest in Society newspapers and in the movements
of the aristocracy. He also wore on his chain an ornament--a
red-enamelled cross, in fact."

"What!" cried Giles, with a start, and he noted that the Princess
started likewise, and that her face grew pale.

"He wore a red-enamelled cross," repeated Steel imperturbably, "on his
watch-chain. Mrs. Benker had been in the service of the late Lady
Summersdale when the diamonds of that lady were stolen. She remembered
that a red-enamelled cross had been found in the safe whence the jewels
were taken. Wilson was amused at this. He said that the cross was the
emblem of a charitable society from which he received a weekly sum.
Well"--he hesitated and looked at his listeners--"that clue came to an
end. I lost sight of Wilson. I then went to look for _The Red
Cross_--the yacht, I mean!"

"What has the yacht to do with Wilson?" asked Ware angrily.

"If you remember, sir, I told you that Wilson was the man who served the
summons on Mr. Morley, and who, as I believed, killed Miss Kent. He
afterwards fled with Miss Denham and went on board the yacht. Is not
that the case, sir?"

"So far as I can judge, it is," muttered Giles reluctantly.

"Well, then," went on Steel triumphantly, while the Princess--as Giles
observed--listened intently, "I looked after that yacht. I could not
find her, but I am looking for her now. That is why I am in the country.
I came up this morning from Deal, and I go back there to-morrow. I find,
sir, that this yacht puts in at various places every now and then."

"Most yachts do."

"Yes, sir. But while most yachts are at anchor in a place does a
burglary invariably occur? No, sir, wait," for Giles had sprung to his
feet. "Lady Summersdale's place was on the seashore. Her diamonds were
stolen. At the time this yacht was at anchor