g her father, George Franklin."

"Then she can't think Denham a good man now," said Giles.

"I don't know," replied the Princess hopelessly. "He has such power over
her. He has been her father so-called for so long that she finds it
difficult to believe ill of him."

"To learn the truth was why she insisted on seeing Dane," said the girl.
"Dane knew all about Denham, and Anne thought she would make him confess
what he knew."

"And did he?"

"That I can't say. I went out with Anne and we walked to the appointed
spot. Mark Dane was waiting for us."

"Was he not astonished when he saw you?"

"Why should he be astonished?" asked Olga, looking sharply at Ware.

"Because I understand from Steel that he troubled you with letters."

"You mean that Dane was in love with me. Yes. He was and is."

"Olga," cried her mother again, "do behave yourself."

"Oh, this is too serious to be a mere matter of behavior, mother. I have
made use of Dane's love to learn all about the society of the Scarlet
Cross, to which Franklin and Dane belong."

"You can tell us that later," said the Princess impatiently. "I want to
know how you lost Anne."

"Well, mother, Dane was astonished to see me. He was most respectful,
and said that he had a message for Anne from her father----"

"From Denham."

"Yes. Anne mentioned that Denham was not her father, that she had just
heard the truth, and Dane was amazed. He hardly knew what to say, but
ultimately stammered out some sort of denial. Anne did not give him time
to speak. She said that she would see Denham herself, and get to the
bottom of the imposture. Then she asked what message he had sent in the
character of her father. Dane refused to give it in my presence, so I
walked away for ten minutes and left them together. Oh, I was foolish, I
know," she added in reply to Ware's exclamation. "But I thought Mark
Dane was devoted to me, and would not play any tricks while I was about.
However, I did leave them alone. Anne was not in the least afraid, as
she always got on well with Dane and trusted him entirely. When I
returned in ten minutes, or it may be more, they were gone."

"Gone!" echoed the Princess, much agitated. "Where?"

"I don't know. I searched everywhere. I went round and round the Abbey.
I asked a policeman. They were nowhere to be found. I fancied that they
went across to Westminster Bridge, which they could easily do without my
seeing them. Anne must have gone of her own acco