"How do you stand?" he asked.
"Anne will look after me," she answered. "I don't suppose you'll be mean enough to put her against me."
"Why should I?" said Giles mildly. "I am only too glad to help you in any way I can. But this money your father——"
"That is all right. Father saw Mr. Asher, the lawyer, and has left his money to Anne, every penny of it. I get nothing," cried Portia, with a fresh burst of grief; "but I do hope Anne will help me. I'm sure I've always been very good to her, even though she isn't my sister."
"Did your father tell you she wasn't?"
"Yes. He said she was an adopted child. Though why he should have left her all, and me nothing——"
Here Portia wept again.
Ware saw that Denham had arranged with Asher that her father's money should pass to Anne. No doubt he had told the lawyer the whole history of the imposture, and Asher would now take steps to place Anne in possession of her fortune. But Denham had deceived Portia, probably because he wished the girl to think well of him after he was dead. Giles resolved that he would not undeceive the girl.
"I'll see that things are made easy for you," he said. "Are you still at the Priory?"
"There's nowhere else for me to go till I hear from Anne."