After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and thought deeply over his plans.

He did not wish to make a false step, yet there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his giving Stephen Roland up to the police.

Besides this, it would put the suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but that gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery.

After deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise.

Meanwhile, before the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a serious disagreement of opinion.
* * * * * "I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering with Stratton.