Ever since he had set out on his campaign he had regularly taken stock of his position; he was for ever reckoning it up.

And now, in his opinion, everything looked very promising.

He had--so far as he was aware--created a definite atmosphere of suspicion around and against Ransford--it needed only a little more suggestion, perhaps a little more evidence to bring about Ransford's arrest.

And the only question which at all troubled Bryce was--should he let matters go to that length before putting his ultimatum before Mary Bewery, or should he show her his hand first?
For Bryce had so worked matters that a word from him to the police would damn Ransford or save him--and now it all depended, so far as Bryce himself was concerned, on Mary Bewery as to which word should be said.
Elaborate as the toils were which he had laid out for Ransford to the police, he could sweep them up and tear them away with a sentence of added knowledge--if Mary Bewery made it worth his while.

But first--before coming to the critical point--there was yet certain information which he desired to get, and he felt sure of getting it if he could find Glassdale.