THE NORTH COACH 313

horse while its rider dismounted, and then led it away to
the stable of an inn a short distance away. Charlie turned
at once and joined Harry.

“T need not have taken all the trouble I have, Harry,
still there was no knowing. Evidently the fellow has no
fear of being detected, and is going to pass for a week as
a gentleman from the country. I suppose he is in the
habit of stopping at that house whenever he comes up with
his pockets lined, and is regarded there as a respectable
gentleman by the landlord. Now you had better take your
horse to the stable where you agreed to hand it over, and
we will meet at our lodgings and plan what to do next.”

‘The discussion did not lead to much, there did not seem
to them anything to do until the day when the coach was
to be attacked, but they agreed it would be well to take
the advice of their friend the tipstaff. Hitherto they had
not told him more of their motive for desiring to find Nich-
olson than Charlie had said at his first interview with him.
‘They thought it would be better now to make him more
fully acquainted with the facts, for they had found him
shrewd, and eager to assist them to the best of his power.
‘They therefore sent a boy with a note to him at the court,
and at seven o’clock he came to their lodgings.

“We have found our man,” Charlie said as he entered.

“Tam very glad to hear it, gentlemen. I had quite
given up all hopes that you would be able to do so, and
thought he must have left town altogether for a time.”

“Sit down and take a glass of wine; we want your advice
in this matter, and unless you know how much there is at
stake you will not be able to enter fully into the affair.
Some four years ago this fellow was concerned in a plot by
which six gentlemen, among whom were our friends, were
brought to ruin. They were in the habit of meeting
together, being all of similar political opinions, and advan-
tage was taken of this by a man, who hoped to profit largely