“If they are respectable, I will see them on Friday evening, show them my badge, and tell them that the man who has been lodging here is a notorious highwayman, and that I am going to arrest him.  To prevent any chance of a mistake, I will put three or four of my mates round the house, to see that no one goes out to give him the alarm.  I will come down and open the door for you, at two o’clock in the morning.  You can then come up with me into his bedroom, and as he comes in, I will nab him.

“If, on the other hand, I find the people of the house have a doubtful reputation in the neighbourhood, we must simply hide in doorways, make a rush upon him as he goes up to the house, and overpower him there.  If one stands in his doorway, and leaps out on him as he comes up, he won’t have much chance of using a pistol.  I will have a cart ready, close by.  We will truss him up tightly, gag him and put him into it, and I will have some place ready for us to drive him to, if you think that plan is as good as any other.”

“I think it is an excellent plan, and could not be better,” Charlie exclaimed, and his friend heartily agreed with him.

“I think you will be able to get anything out of him, when you get him there,” said the tipstaff.  “He is sure to have some of the swag about him, and, even if none of the passengers of the coach are able to swear to him, that and the talk you overheard would be sufficient to hang him.”

“Can those boys you speak of write?”

“Not they, sir.”

“There might be a difficulty about a verbal message.”

“The guard will give it, all right, if he gets half a crown with it.  You need not trouble about that, sir.  I will have a man to meet each coach, as it comes in.

“And now we have arranged matters, sir, I will go with you to see the house, and will send a sharp fellow down tomorrow, to make inquiries about the people of the place.”

When they returned, the friends sat for a long time, talking together.  The suggested plan looked so hopeful that they felt confident of its success.

“I think, Charlie,” Harry said, “it would be a good thing for us to present ourselves to the Duke of Marlborough.  Then we shall see if he is disposed to take an interest in us, and help us.  If he is, he will tell us what had best be done towards getting Nicholson’s statement made in the presence of some sort of official who will act on it.  If he gives us the cold shoulder, we shall have to do as best we can in some other direction, and it will be well to have the matter settled, if possible, before we catch the fellow.”

“I think that will be a very good plan, Harry.  I know where he lives.  I inquired directly I came over.  Tomorrow morning we can go there and inquire, at the door, at what hour he receives callers.”