as beside the grave of Mr. Kent.
Daisy was lying on the ground. He gasped out that she was dead, and
implored me to save him."

"Do you think he killed her?"

"No. Afterwards he denied that he did. But at the time I believed that
he was guilty. I saw that he would be arrested, and in a frenzy of alarm
I cast about for some means to save him. I remembered your motor-car was
waiting at the gates. I sent Trim away on an errand----"

"I know, I know! You deceived him!"

"To save my father," replied Anne quietly. "I got the car in this way
and went off with my father. He told me to go to Gravesend, where he had
a yacht waiting. Near Gravesend the car upset. We left it on the
roadside and walked to Tilbury. A boatman ferried us across the river,
and we went on board the yacht."

"Did you know your father was the owner of the yacht?"

"No, I did not. He said that it belonged to a friend. We departed in the
yacht and went to a French port, then on to Paris."

"And it was from Paris that you sent me the drawing of the coin."

"Yes; I knew that appearances were against me, and could not bear to
think that you should believe me guilty. I did not dare to send any
letter, but I knew you would recognize the drawing of the Edward VII.
coin, and so sent it as you saw."

"How long did you stay in Paris?"

"For some weeks. Then we went to Italy, to Florence."

"Wasn't your father recognized?"

"No; he had altered his appearance. He gave me no reason at first for
doing this, but afterwards told me that he was engaged in a political
conspiracy, something to do with the Anarchists."

"Is the red cross the symbol of some society?"

"I can't say. He refused to explain the mystery of the cross to me. I
admit fully, Giles, that I cannot understand my father. His ways are
strange, and he leads a most peculiar life. Afterwards George Franklin,
my uncle, came to England and inherited the property. My father sent me
to him with an explanation. My uncle refused to believe that I was
guilty, and gave me shelter in his house until such time as my character
could be cleared. I came over and have been hiding in the Priory ever
since. I was so sorry for poor Daisy and for her unexpected death that
I came to see after her grave. I found it neglected, and thus went to
clean it, as you see. Portia, my cousin, has been very good to me. I
have stayed in all day and have walked out in the evening. No one knows
that I am here. No one will ever