Giles took his seat again, and eyed his host pale but defiant. "It is no use your saying anything against Anne. She is innocent."
"Mr. Ware, I believed that when she first came to me. I hate my brother because he is a bad man; but I liked his niece, and when she came to me for shelter I took her in, notwithstanding the enormity of the crime which she was accused of having committed."
"It gained you your fortune," said Ware bitterly.
"I would rather have been without a fortune gained at such a price," answered Franklin coldly; "but I really believed Anne guiltless. She defended her father, but I fancied, since she had helped him to escape, that he had killed the poor girl."
"And he did," cried Giles. "I am sure he did."
"He had no motive."
"Oh yes, to get the money—the five thousand a year."
"You forget. By Miss Kent's death that came to me."
"Your brother would have found means to get it. I believe he will find means yet."
"I don't understand you. Will you explain?"