A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective StoryHume, Fergus
Philosophy
A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective Story
Hume, Fergus
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
"No," replied Dane, "he tells me all his secrets. At one time I should
have died before I revealed them, but Denham has treated me cruelly. I
owe him no gratitude. For years I slaved for him. I did all that a man
could do for his sake. What reward have I got? He has beaten me like a
dog. He has left me to starve. He has delivered me up to those members
of our society who hate me. Since he came in for this money----"
"Wrongfully," put in Giles.
"As you say, sir--wrongfully. But since he became George Franklin and a
wealthy man, he told me plainly that he washed his hands of me. He gave
me a small sum, and sent me to America, promising an annuity. It was not
paid. I wrote--I threatened. He laughed at me. So I have come back from
America to punish him." He turned to Olga and continued vehemently, "Do
you think that I would have told you what I did, Princess, had I not
hated the man? No. Not even for the love I bear you would I have done
that. You sent me to Mr. Steel at Bournemouth. I knew that he was a
detective, and went prepared to tell all about Denham's wickedness, even
although I incriminated myself."
"But you did not do so," said Steel dryly; "you ran away."
"And why? Because you mentioned that you suspected Miss Denham of a
crime. I held my tongue until I could see some chance of proving her
innocence. Had I told you all I knew then you would have had her
arrested, and let her know the shame of the man--her father."
"He is not her father," said Olga again.
"I know nothing about that," replied Dane, sitting down; "he always said
that he was her father, and I had no reason to believe otherwise. But I
am glad to hear that he is not. She is too good and pure to be the
daughter of such a man. I have known her for years. She is an angel. She
nursed me through an illness. I would do anything to prove my gratitude
for her sake. I held my hand from harming Denham because I thought he
was her father, and----"
"You need do so no longer," cried Ware, whose face was bright when he
heard this praise of Anne; "she is the daughter of George Franklin, of
Jamaica. Denham assumed the name to get the Powell money."
"Then," cried Dane, flinging wide his arms in a most dramatic manner,
"all I know you shall know. I turn King's evidence."
"The best way to save your own skin," said Steel dryly; "you are an
Irishman, are you not?"
Dane nodded. "Born in New York," said he.
"Humph!" murmured Steel, but so low that only Giles heard him, "all the
better. You would betray your own mother if it suited you."
Meanwhile Olga was speaking to the man. "The first thing you have to
confess," she said, "is about Miss Denham. Where is she?"
"With Mr. Morley."
Giles uttered an exclamation. "What has he got to do with her?"
"I don't know. He came up to town yesterday evening."
"About nine or ten?" asked Giles quickly. He remembered his feeling of
being watched at the Liverpool Street Station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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