"

"Anything like Denham?" asked Ware quickly.

The Princess blew a contemptuous cloud of smoke. "Not in the least, Mr.
Ware. George was good-looking. What Denham is, you can see for yourself.
Denham was George's foster-brother," she explained.

"And his evil genius," added Giles. "I am beginning to understand."

The Princess flushed crimson, and her whole body trembled with passion.
"He ruined my life," she cried, trying to restrain her emotion. "If I
could see him hanged, I should be pleased. But such a death would fall
far short of the punishment he deserves."

"Has Denham negro blood in him?"

"Yes. He is a degree nearer the negro than I am. George was a native of
Jamaica, and very rich. When his mother died he was quite a baby, and
Denham's mother nursed him. Thus he became Denham's foster-brother, and
the two boys grew up together. Powell tried all he could to neutralize
the bad influence of Denham, but it was useless. George was quite under
Denham's thumb."

"Powell! The man who left the money to Daisy? Was he in Jamaica?"

The Princess nodded. "For a time," she said, "George was at an English
public school--Rugby, I fancy. He met Powell there, and the two became
much attached. There was also another boy called Kent."

"Daisy's father?"

"Yes. George, Powell, and Kent were inseparable. They were called the
Three Musketeers at school. Afterwards George lost sight of Kent, but
Powell came out to Jamaica to stop with George. That was before and
after my marriage. Denham was ruining my husband body and soul, and in
pocket. Powell tried to remonstrate with George, but it was no use.
Denham was the overseer, and George would not dismiss him. Then Powell
returned to England. Afterwards when he heard from me that George was
completely ruined, he wrote about the money."

"Did he say he would leave the money to George?"

"Not exactly that. He said that Kent was ruined also, and explained that
if he could make a fortune he would leave it equally divided between
George and Kent, as he did not intend to marry himself."

"But he did not leave his money equally divided," said Giles.

"No. But at that time Kent was not married, and Powell had not gone to
Australia to make his money. Whether he liked Kent better than George I
don't know, but, as you are aware, he left the money first to
Daisy--knowing that Kent was dead--and afterwards, should she die, to
George and his descendants."

"Then the money which Denha