on some excuse and to murder his
brother in Florence. Then he could slip into the dead man's shoes, and
come to inherit--as George--the property of Powell. Probably George left
Florence before Walter arrived, and thus escaped death. He is safe so
far, but how long will he be safe?"

Then a terrible thought occurred to Giles. He wondered if Walter had
placed his daughter at the Priory so as to have an opportunity of coming
to see his brother, and thus seizing his chance of killing him. Anne,
innocent as she was of the real meaning of these terrible schemes, might
be a decoy. If her father came, George would be murdered. Walter, who
was able to disguise himself with infernal ingenuity, might slip into
the dead man's shoes, and thus the money he had schemed for would come
to him. Evidently the last act of the tragedy was not yet played out.

The more Giles puzzled over the matter, the more bewildered he became.
He could see--as he thought--what had been done, but he could not guess
how the last act was to be carried out. Yet Walter Franklin was hiding
somewhere waiting to pounce out on his unsuspecting brother, and the
second crime might involve Anne still deeper in the nefarious
transactions of her father. Finally Giles made up his mind to seek
George Franklin at the Priory and tell him what he thought. The man
should at least be put on his guard. It may be said that Ware fancied he
might be permitted to see Anne as a reward for his kind warning.

Before calling on Franklin he went to see the foreign ladies. To his
surprise both had left by the early morning train. There was a note from
Olga, which informed him that her mother had insisted on returning to
town, finding the country cold and dull. The note added that
she--Olga--would be glad to see him at the Westminster flat as soon as
he could come to London, and ended with the remark that he had yet to
give his answer to her question. Giles was relieved when he read this.
Olga was gone, and the two days of probation were extended indefinitely.
He might find some way of releasing Anne before he need give this
dreadful answer. Again and again did he bless the selfishness of the
elder Princess, which had removed the obstacle of Olga from his path.

Meanwhile he put her out of his mind and went on to the Priory. He
called in on the way to see Morley, but learned that the little man had
gone to town. Mrs. Morley looked more worn and haggard than ever, and
seemed about to s