Obviously they had discovered his visit to Flint House on that night, or at least, that he was out in the storm during the time the murder was committed.

His commonsense told him the reason for Barrant's reticence.

He had kept quiet in the hope that he would go to his father's house at Richmond, which no doubt had been closely watched.

Now that Barrant had come to the conclusion that the man he was after was too clever to walk into that trap, he had confided his suspicions to the newspapers in order to guard all avenues of escape by putting the public on the watch for him.
A feeling of helplessness crept over Charles as he contemplated the incredible ingenuity of the mesh of events in which he and Sisily were entangled.

Any moment might terminate his liberty and see him placed under lock and key.