by Fergus Hume
CHAPTER XXII
OLGA'S EVIDENCE
Giles saw in the girl almost as great a change as that which had takenplace in her mother. Formerly haughty and self-possessed, she was nowquite exhausted and broken down. Her dress was muddy and wet and indisorder. She had a grey face and red eyes. Huddled up in the chair, shelooked a pitiable object--the ruin of what was once a beautiful woman.
"Anne lost?" cried the Princess, clutching at a chair to steady herself."Olga, what do you mean?"
Olga did not answer. She closed her eyes and let her umbrella fall witha crash. Giles saw that the girl was quite worn out. Hastily filling aglass with undiluted whiskey, he held it to her lips, and made her drinkthe whole of it. Shortly the ardent spirit did its work. She sat up andbegan to talk in a stronger tone; but the excitement was artificial, andwould die away soon. Princess Karacsay saw this, and urged her daughterto tell her story quickly before she collapsed, so that the police mightbe sent in search of Anne.
"The police will never find her," said Olga, with an effort. "She iswith Mark Dane. He has taken her away."
"Dane?" echoed Giles. "Denham's secretary?"
Olga looked at him with an inquiring air. "How much do you know?" sheasked, bracing herself up.
"As much as your mother could tell me. I know that Anne is yourhalf-sister, and----"
"Yes." Olga tried to rise, but sank back again. "She is my sister, mydear sister, and I love her with all the strength of my nature."
"Ah," said Ware sadly, "why did you not talk like that when last we met,mademoiselle?"
Olga passed her hand across her forehead. "I was mad, I think. But thatis all over. You need have no fear now, Mr. Ware. My passion for you hasspent itself."
"Olga!" cried the Princess, scandalized, "you rave!"
"No," answered her daughter; "I did last time Mr. Ware and I weretogether, but now I talk sense. Did he not tell?"
"I told nothing," interposed Giles quickly; "and you had better relatewhen and where you left Anne, so that we can find her."
"I'll do all in my power to save her and bring her back to you, Mr.Ware. I was mad to talk and act as I did; but I have been punished bythe loss of Anne."
"Olga!" cried the Princess in desperation, "for Heaven's sake speakreasonably! Why did you go out with Anne last night?"
"There was a note for Anne from Mark Dane, asking her to meet him nearthe Abbey. She wanted to see him, as he vanished after the supposeddeath of her father."
"Of Alfred Denham," interrupted the Princess angrily; "I will not havethat man called Anne's father."
"Of Denham," said Olga obediently. "Anne wished to learn why her fatherhad acted in so peculiar a way. She could not understand his behavior."
"He is a scoundrel and Anne a saint," said the Princess bitterly. "Nowonder she could not understand him. She thinks he is a good man."
"But surely she knows that he killed Daisy Kent," said Giles.
"No," interposed Olga; "she denies that he did. I expect Denham hasmanaged to deceive her in some way."
"Why did you not undeceive her, mademoiselle?"
"It was not yet time," responded the girl quietly, "but my mother toldher a portion of the truth."
"Yes. I said that she was my child and that Denham had beenimpersonating 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 overher. He has been her father so-called for so long that she finds itdifficult 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 confesswhat he knew."
"And did he?"
"That I can't say. I went out with Anne and we walked to the appointedspot. 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 havemade use of Dane's love to learn all about the society of the ScarletCross, to which Franklin and Dane belong."
"You can tell us that later," said the Princess impatiently. "I want toknow 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 justheard the truth, and Dane was amazed. He hardly knew what to say, butultimately stammered out some sort of denial. Anne did not give him timeto speak. She said that she would see Denham herself, and get to thebottom of the imposture. Then she asked what message he had sent in thecharacter of her father. Dane refused to give it in my presence, so Iwalked away for ten minutes and left them together. Oh, I was foolish, Iknow," she added in reply to Ware's exclamation. "But I thought MarkDane 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, asshe always got on well with Dane and trusted him entirely. When Ireturned 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 theywent across to Westminster Bridge, which they could easily do without myseeing them. Anne must have gone of her own accord. She was decoyed byDane. I don't know why, no more than I know what inducement he held outto lure her away. I searched for hours. Then I asked a policeman aboutthe matter. He told me to go to Scotland Yard. I went and inquired forSteel. He had gone home. I have been walking the streets all night,"said Olga, with a haggard look.
"Oh, great heavens!" moaned the Princess, wringing her hands; "whatwould your father say if he heard?"
"He will never know unless you tell him, mother. I can look after myselfeasily. No one molested me. I had a cup of coffee at a stall thismorning, and went again to see Steel. He has gone out of town."
"To Rickwell?" asked Giles eagerly; then he remembered. "I can'tunderstand. I called to see Steel at midday before I came here, and hewas then in his office."
"Well, the official I spoke to about nine o'clock told me that he hadgone, leaving a message that he was going out of town, and would not beback for a few days."
"I wonder," began Giles, and then held his peace. It occurred to himthat Steel intended to remain until he caught Dane in the trap laid forhim in this very flat. The knowledge that the man had decoyed Anne awayon the previous night made Giles the more eager that he should becaught. "You will see Anne yet, Princess," he said, for she was cryingbitterly.
"Oh, I hope so--I hope so. But where is she?"
"We must ask Dane that."
"How are we to see Dane?" demanded Olga wonderingly.
Ware explained the use made of Olga's name by Steel to trap the man. "Iexpect Steel will call on you to-day to tell you this," he saidcheerfully.
"I am not sorry, and yet I am," said Olga thoughtfully. "I know muchabout Mark Dane, and want to save him from his bad companions. But Ihope Steel won't put him in gaol; that would ruin him entirely. Besides,Steel promised not to have him arrested."
"Promised you?" said Ware, astonished.
"Yes. It was I who told him to look after Dane. I know much about thismatter." Then seeing Giles puzzled, she explained, "When I first metAnne I saw that she was like myself in looks. That drew us together. Yousee it yourself, do you not, Mr. Ware?"
"Yes," replied Giles, "and I often wondered at it. Now, however, that Iknow you are half-sisters, I wonder no longer."
Princess Karacsay nodded her approval, and Olga continued.
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br /> "When I learned that Anne's name was Denham I rather drew back from her.She said that she was born in Jamaica, and, knowing what my mother hadsaid about Denham, I thought Anne was the daughter of my mother's enemy.Afterwards I learned the truth through Dane."
"How did you meet Dane?"
"Well, I knew him by sight long before we spoke. He used to dog Anne andmyself. She never saw him. When I described his looks she thought hemight be her dead father's secretary--for she then believed her father,Denham, alias Franklin, was dead. She wished to see him, but Dane alwayskept out of her sight. Then when Anne went to Mrs. Morley he stillcontinued to dog me. He got to know a concert hall where I frequentlysang and hired himself there as an attendant. Then he took to sending melove-letters. I was angry at first. Afterwards I wondered if he knewanything about Denham, and thought he must if he really was thesecretary, as Anne said. I asked him to come here."
"Olga," said the Princess, "you have behaved badly."
"It has all turned out for the best," responded Olga wearily. She wasbeginning to show signs of fatigue again, but still kept on with herexplanation in the most plucky manner. "Dane came. He is a handsomeyoung fellow and was well dressed. I led him on to talk about Anne. Hetold me more than he should have done."
"Told you what?"
"That Denham had come in for money and was living at Rickwell. As I knewfrom Anne about the Powell money, I put two and two together andconcluded that Denham was pretending to be Anne's father; that she wasreally my half-sister; and that her pretended father had really murderedDaisy Kent to get the money as Franklin."
"But how did you know about this?" asked Giles.
"Why," replied Olga, much surprised at his density, "I read the case inthe papers. I knew that Anne could not have killed Daisy, and havingsettled in my own mind that she was not Denham's daughter, from herresemblance to me, I decided that Franklin, who lived at the Priory andhad the money, was really my mother's enemy. I sent for my mother. Shecame over, went down to Rickwell, and recognized Denham. That is all."
"Wait a minute," said Giles quickly, "what about your telling Steel tolook after Dane?"
"Well, Mr. Ware, it was this way," she answered. "When you came to meand talked about the Scarlet Cross, I remembered that Dane had such aone on his watch-chain."
"The badge of the gang!"
"Of course, but I did not know that until later. Then Steel came in, ifyou remember, and hinted that the red cross was the symbol of such agang. Your talk of the cross being found in the church, and that youthought it was dropped by the criminal set me thinking. I sent for Daneagain and tried to find out the truth. At first he refused, saying itwas as much as his life was worth to talk."
"And I daresay he is right, mademoiselle. Denham would not stick at asecond murder. By the way, did you know he was Wilson?"
"Only when Dane confessed. I gradually got him to be confidential to me,promising that he would not get into trouble. He was so deeply in lovewith me that he spoke out at last."
"My dear Olga!"
"Well, mother, I knew if I could get at the truth I could save Anne."
The Princess nodded, well pleased. "I am glad you thought of yoursister." Olga flushed a deep red and her eyes sought those of Giles. "Itwas not my sister I thought of, but of myself," she said in a low tone."You see, mother, I fancied that I might get something if I could provethe innocence of Anne, for I----"
"Is any explanation needed, mademoiselle?" said Giles uneasily.
She paused for a moment and looked at him straightly. "No," she said atlength; "that is all over. I think no more explanation need be made. Butwith regard to Dane. He told me that Denham had come to England to seeabout the money left to Daisy Kent. He disguised himself as Wilson andlodged at a Mrs. Benker's. Then he went down to Rickwell, and----"
"And murdered Daisy," interposed Giles eagerly.
"So I said, Mr. Ware; but Dane, who seems devoted in a way to Denham,denies that he struck the blow."
"Does he know who did?"
"No. He says Denham doesn't know either."
"Denham's a bigger scoundrel than you think," said Giles, recalling hislast conversation at the Priory. "He accuses Anne of murdering thegirl."
"He'll have to prove it, then," said Olga coolly, while her mothershrieked. "I'll be able to save Anne, never fear. However, Dane told methat the red cross was the badge of a thieves' gang. Denham had a yachtcalled _The Red Cross_, which goes from one port to another to takestolen goods on board."
"That's what Steel says."
"Of course. Dane told him when he taxed him with it. The boy, for he isjust twenty-five, told me everything."
"And you told Steel," said Ware, rather reproachfully.
"I had to tell Steel, if I wished to save Anne," retorted Olga; "but Iasked him to do nothing to imperil the liberty of Mark Dane."
"Did he promise that?"
"Yes. Dane saw him in Bournemouth. I told him to call with a note, whichI gave him. Dane did not know why he was sent, and when he discoveredthat Steel was a detective, he became afraid. I believe he toldsomething, but he afterwards ran away."
"He doesn't trust you any longer perhaps," said the Princess.
"From his attitude last night I think he does, although he was a triflereproachful. He will come if Steel has written a letter to call him herein my name. Then I daresay he will be able to explain why he took Anneaway."
"Will he do so?"
"Ah! that is what we must find out." Olga paused, then continued. "Iwanted Steel to learn all he could from Dane about Denham, as I wish tosee that man arrested."
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," cried the Princess.
"I thought of that. Denham tried to ruin your mother."
"And he did--he did!" she said bitterly.
"He tried, or rather he is trying, to ruin Anne also," said Olga. "Forthese reasons I wish Steel to find evidence against him, so that he maybe arrested and made to confess his wickedness. Dane is the one who cantell most about him, and I think Dane will, for since Denham got thePowell money he had not behaved very well."
While they were thus talking a knock came to the door. The servantentered with a card, which she presented on a salver to her mistress.Olga, who was thoroughly worn out, took it languidly, then suddenlybecame excited. "He is here!" she said. "Mark Dane is here!"
