emerged into full view, and
in front of the rest was Mitchington and close behind him the detective,
and behind him--Glassdale!

CHAPTER XXVI. THE OTHER MAN

It was close on five o'clock when Glassdale, leaving Folliot at his
garden door, turned the corner into the quietness of the Precincts. He
walked about there a while, staring at the queer old houses with eyes
which saw neither fantastic gables nor twisted chimneys. Glassdale
was thinking. And the result of his reflections was that he suddenly
exchanged his idle sauntering for brisker steps and walked sharply round
to the police-station, where he asked to see Mitchington.

Mitchington and the detective were just about to walk down to the
railway-station to meet Ransford, in accordance with his telegram. At
sight of Glassdale they went back into the inspector's office. Glassdale
closed the door and favoured them with a knowing smile.

"Something else for you, inspector!" he said. "Mixed up a bit with last
night's affair, too. About these mysteries--Braden and Collishaw--I can
tell you one man who's in them."

"Who, then?" demanded Mitchington.

Glassdale went a step nearer to the two officials and lowered his voice.

"The man who's known here as Stephen Folliot," he answered. "That's a
fact!"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mitchington. Then he laughed incredulously. "Can't
believe it!" he continued. "Mr. Folliot! Must be some mistake!"

"No mistake," replied Glassdale. "Besides, Folliot's only an assumed
name. That man is really one Falkiner Wraye, the man Braden, or Brake,
was seeking for many a year, the man who cheated Brake and got him into
trouble. I tell you it's a fact! He's admitted it, or as good as done
so, to me just now."

"To you? And--let you come away and spread it?" exclaimed Mitchington.
"That's incredible! more astonishing than the other!"

Glassdale laughed.

"Ah, but I let him think I could be squared, do you see?" he said.
"Hush-money, you know. He's under the impression that I'm to go back to
him this evening to settle matters. I knew so much--identified him, as
a matter of fact--that he'd no option. I tell you he's been in at both
these affairs--certain! But--there's another man."

"Who's he?" demanded Mitchington.

"Can't say, for I don't know, though I've an idea he'll be a fellow that
Brake was also wanting to find," replied Glassdale. "But anyhow, I
know what I'm talking about when I tell you of Folliot. You'd better do
so