CHAPTER VIII.
A SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME.
Nick returned to the house. In the dark hall he paused.
Voices could be heard. Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
The room where he had met with the adventures already narrated was on his right.
A moment’s thought convinced Nick that the voices were those of the men who had been in the room with him, and had been led out by Benton.
He resolved to join them. Therefore he threw open the door on his left and entered a room.
It was not perfectly dark, as the other had been. A small bead of gas flame struggled with the shadows.
In its light Nick saw three men, whom he instantly knew to be crooks. One of them, Reddy Miller, had been suspected of belonging to Helstone’s gang.
Nick, it will be remembered, was disguised as Ellis Benton.
“Come, Ellis,” said Miller, the instant Nick appeared, “we’ve had enough fiddling round. Tell us what’s the object of all this mystery.”