Our first success with him has misled us.

We thought we could do anything; we have really done worse than nothing, because all this valuable time has been lost.

If he had been allowed to proceed in his own way he would have ferreted out the matter as far as Stephen Roland is concerned, and would have found that there was no cause for his suspicion.

As it is he has done nothing.

He still believes, if left alone, that Stephen Roland is the criminal.