"Say anything you like," Sir Roland answered coldly.
"You have been exceedingly kind to me: there are men who, finding me in concealment as you found me, and after what has happened in this house, would at once have called in the police. You may believe me or not, but I am extremely grateful to you. And I want to show my gratitude in the only way I can."
He paused for nearly a minute, then continued:
"Sir Roland, I will tell you as much as I am justified in telling about the robbery; but first, has anybody concerned in it been arrested?"
Sir Roland shook his head.
"Nobodyas yet," he answered. "The police have not discovered even the smallest clue."
"I and another were in your bedroom when your son suddenly sprang from behind the screen," the stranger went on. "Again you may believe me or not, but I tried to prevent my companion from doing him any injury. It was I who put the chloroform on the boy, but I did him no other harm, I swear, sir."
I saw Sir Roland's eyes blaze. Then, as his glance rested upon the stranger's starved, almost ashen faceit seemed to be gradually growing lividthe sternness of his expression relaxed.
"How came you to be in hiding here?" he asked abruptly. "How many accomplices had you?"
"Seven," the stranger replied, without an instant's hesitation. "The robbery was carefully planned; it was planned so carefully that it seemed without the bounds of possibility that it could fail to succeed. I and others were at your hunt breakfast"