"I think the best thing we can do is to keep an eye on the movements of this young man, Hadley, as well as upon others who may be associated with him, if he is the villain he is here made to appear. If we institute proceedings against him, we have only this letter to rely upon, which is not sufficient to convict him, as there is no legible name at the bottom of it, and no witness to corroborate the statements. If he is guilty, premature action will give him all advantages, and enable him to clear himself; whereas, by instituting a strict surveillance over his acts, we may be able to get at the truth of the matter, and can then act understandingly in the case." Mr. Mandeville coincided with the magistrate, and then they agreed to keep the matter strictly to themselves for the present. "Shall I retain the letter?" inquired the justice. "No, I wish to use it, first, and will then leave it with you," was the reply--and thus the matter was settled between them. While the events just related were transpiring, and at the very hour when Mr. Mandeville was consulting the man of law, Duffel was engaged with his two ruffian associates in a plot of villainy, which, for deep cunning and calculation, was superior to anything he had yet conceived and carried out, though it was but a link in the chain of criminal acts he had forged out and was about to follow up. The two held their consultation in the tongueless and earless solitude of a dense swamp, where none could hear their words or learn the purport of their schemes and give warning. "You understand about the horses, do you?" queried Duffel, after he had been explaining some intended operation, in which horses were to be stolen. "Yes, fully," was the reply. "Well, the horses will be missed, and, of course, it will be known that _somebody_ has taken them. I have a measure to propose which will throw suspicion on the wrong track and relieve us from any fear of being charged with the theft or even suspected of guilt." "That's the sort! do the killing and get the halter around some other rascal's neck. Let us hear your proposition, lieutenant."