I forgot; you don't know about Wilson alias Franklin. I'll tell you
later. Go on, Steel. I'm all attention."

"Oh! So his real name is Franklin. I never knew that," said Steel,
drawing his hand down his chin. "Well, Mr. Ware, I have been to all the
ports in the kingdom, and I have learned that wherever that yacht--she's
a steam yacht--_The Red Cross_ has been, burglaries have been committed.
At last I managed to lay my hand on a member of the gang, and made him
speak up."

"What gang?"

"A gang of burglars headed by the man I call Wilson and your
Franklin--the Scarlet Cross Society. They own that yacht, and steam from
port to port committing robberies. A splendid idea, and Wilson's own."

Then he unfolded to the astonished Giles a long career of villany on the
part of the said Wilson. The young man shuddered as the vile category of
crime was unrolled. It was horrible that such a wretch as Walter
Franklin should be the father of Anne. But for all her parent's vices,
Giles never swerved from the determination to marry the girl. He was not
one of those who think that the sins of the father should be visited on
the child.

"What is the name of the man who confessed all this?" asked Giles.

"Mark Dane."

Ware started. That was the name of the man Anne had mentioned as her
father's secretary. However, he said nothing, and when Steel requested
him to tell all he knew about Wilson, he related everything save that
he was Anne's father. Steel listened attentively, chin on hand. When
Giles finished he nodded.

"I'll go down and see this brother," he remarked. "If he hates the man
whom we think committed the crime so much, he will be anxious to assist
us in securing him. I wonder why that governess helped Wilson, or rather
Walter Franklin, to escape? Of course, I believe that she is his
daughter. Now don't look so angry, Mr. Ware. If you remember, when I
talked with you at the Princess Karacsay's I said you could draw your
own inferences. That is what I meant." Here the detective stopped and
peered into Giles' face. "You don't appear to be so surprised as I
thought you would be."

"Are you sure that Miss Denham is Wilson's daughter?"

"No, I am not yet sure. But if I can make this Mark Dane speak further,
I'll be certain. He knows all about the matter. Unfortunately he is
gone. I caught him at Bournemouth, and after he told me a portion of the
truth he managed to get away. It's a long story how he fooled me. I'll
tell