CHAPTER XIX.
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
'Do you know the old man of the sea, of the sea?
Have you met with that dreadful old man?
If you haven't been caught, you will be, you will be; For catch you he must and he can.' -- HOLMES.
Robert Stevens and twenty others captured with Bacon were kept in prison.

His mother and sisters visited him, but he saw nothing of his stepfather.

One evening he was informed that a gentleman wished to see him, and immediately Mr.Giles Peram was admitted to his cell.
"How are you, Robert--ahem ?" began Giles.

"This is most extraordinary, I assure you, and you have my sympathy, and you may not believe it, no, you may not believe it, but I am sorry for you." "You can spare yourself any tears on my account," the prisoner answered, casting a look of scorn and indignation on the proud little fellow who strutted before him with ill-concealed exultation.

Without noticing the irony in the words of the prisoner, Giles puffed up with the importance of his mission, went on: "Robert, I have come to you with a singular proposition.