“When, then?”

“After you have seen James Barron.”

“Seen him? Meet that man again?” cried Stratton, with a look of horror.

“Yes.”

“Impossible!”

“No; it is my wish—my prayer. Come with me and see him. Then you shall decide what should be done; and I give you my word that I will follow out your wishes to the letter.”

“You promise that?”

Brettison gave him his hand in token of his promise, and Stratton stood thinking for a moment or two.

“Yes,” he said then, “I have no cause to fear. It is cowardly to refuse. When shall the meeting be?”

“To-morrow.”