ived in Florence these six years and more. I fancied
that when I was a detective I might have seen him, but he insisted that
he had not been to London for years and years. He originally came from
the States. And I was once a detective! Good Lord, how I have lost my
old cleverness! But to be sure I have been idle these ten years."

"Then you think Franklin is this man?"

"I think so, but of course I can't be sure. Naturally he will deny that
he is, and I can't prove the matter myself. But I tell you what, Ware,"
said Morley suddenly, "get that woman Wilson lodged with down, and see
if she will recognize Franklin as her former lodger. She, if any one,
will know him, and perhaps throw him off his guard."

Ware rose. "A very good idea," he said. "I'll write to her at once. I am
certain this is the man, especially as he has inherited Daisy's money.
He killed her in order to get the fortune, and that was why he kept
asking Asher's office boy about money left to people."

"Ah!" Morley looked thoughtful. "So that was the motive, you think?"

"I am sure of it, and a quite strong enough motive for many people,"
said Ware grimly. "If Mrs. Benker can verify this man, I'll have him
arrested. He will have to explain why he came here instead of the office
boy, and why he fled on that night."

"Yes, yes!" cried Morley excitedly. "And he might perhaps explain why
the governess helped him to escape."

"Ah!" Giles' face fell. "So he might; but if he dares to inculpate her
in this crime----"

"Ware," said Morley, laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if I
were you I should do nothing rash. Every one thinks that Miss Denham is
guilty. If this Franklin is the man who fled with her, he will accuse
her to save himself. Certainly there is the motive of the money, but
that might be explained away."

"I don't see how it can."

"Nor I; still, there is always the chance. Again, he may take
alarm--always presuming he is the man--and fly. I tell you what, Ware,
you bring Mrs. Benker down, and take her into the grounds of the Priory.
I will arrange that Franklin, without suspecting her or us, shall meet
her, accidentally, at some place where we can hide. Then we can overhear
if he is the man or not."

"He'll deny that he is."

"Why should he? There is nothing, so far as he knows, that Mrs. Benker
can lay hold of. If he is the man he will admit his identity, if not, he
will explain who he is. Whereas if we show ourselves and show