"I understand what you mean," answered Ware quietly, "but my engagement to Miss Kent was purely a family arrangement. I loved Anne--I still love her. All the same, I would have married Miss Kent had she not been murdered." "You are very obedient, Mr. Ware." "And you very satirical, Princess. I could explain, but there is no need for me to do so. I want to find Anne. Can you help me?" "Not at present, but I may be able to do so. Of course, you don't believe that she killed your fiancée?" "Certainly not. I think the crime was committed by the man with whom she fled." "A tall man with a red beard and hair and black eyes?" "Yes, yes. Do you know him? Who is he?" "I have had him described to me," responded the Princess calmly, "but I know nothing about him." "Is he a friend of Anne's?" "That I don't know." She quietly selected another cigarette, lighted it, and looked with a serene smile at her visitor. Giles was annoyed. "We don't seem to be getting on with our business, Princess," he said roughly. "What is our business?" she demanded, looking at him through half-closed eyes. Her scrutiny made Giles uncomfortable, and he shifted his seat as he answered. "Mrs. Cairns said you could tell me about Anne." "So I can. What do you want to know, Mr. Ware?" "Who is she? Who was her father? Is he dead or alive? What do you know about the Scarlet Cross, and----" He stopped, for the Princess had opened her eyes to their fullest extent. "The Scarlet Cross. You know about that also?" she asked. "Of course I do. There was an anonymous letter----" "I have seen the letter, or at least a copy." "Indeed," said Ware, much astonished, "and an enamelled cross----" "I have seen the cross also." "It appears to me, Princess, that you know everything about the case." She glanced again at the clock, and smiled as she replied, "I am a friend of Anne's, Mr. Ware. I daresay you would like to know who told me all these things. Well, you shall be enlightened at ten o'clock. Meantime I can tell you all I do know about Anne and her father." "You will speak freely?" he asked mistrustfully. "Absolutely. You--you--" she hesitated--"you love Anne." She gave him a searching look. "Yes, I see you do. I can speak openly. Will you have another cup of coffee? No! Another cigarette. Ah, there is the box. A match. Now." "Now," said Giles eagerly, "what about Anne?" "What about myself first of all, Mr. Ware. I am a Hungarian. I quarrelled with my people and ran away. Finding myself stranded in London with very little money, I tried to get a post as a governess. I went to Mrs. Cairns, and thus became acquainted with Anne. We became great friends. She told me everything about herself. When I knew her history we became greater friends than ever. I was a governess only for a year. Then someone heard me sing, and----"--she shrugged her beautiful shoulders--"but that is quite another story, Mr. Ware. I am a concert-singer now, and it pays me excellently."