Bartley alighted and lifted the horse’s hoof. Then he examined the others. But there was no stone. Yet the horse went lame when they started again. “He’s hurt his frog. He’ll be all right in an hour,” said Gregory, who was learned on the subject. “Here’s the Warren Inn just handy. You’ll do well to put up there for a bit. Us can go in the parlour an’ wait; then, if there’s any in the bar, they won’t see us.” John Beer and his wife were, of course, not yet at home; but a potman kept house and waited in the public room. The place was empty. Mr Corder and Gregory took Daniel Sweetland into a little parlour, while Bartley stabled the lame horse. Presently he returned and brought a lamp with him, for it was now growing dark. “An hour I’ll wait, and only an hour,” declared Corder. “Then, if the horse be still lame, we must get another.” The officers sent for bread, cheese and beer. They asked Daniel to join them, and he agreed; then suddenly, while they were at their meal, he spoke. “I’ve got a word to say to you chaps. ’Tis a terrible matter, but I’d rather have it off my mind than on it just at present. Will you do the fair thing if I tell you, an’ give me credit after?” “You’d better far keep quiet,” said Corder. “’Tis like this. The cleverness of you three men mazes me. To think as Gregory here saw so clear about the burglary; an’ Bartley too! Well, now your horse goes lame an’ everything. ’Tis fate, an’ so I’ll speak if you’ll listen. Only I ax this as a prisoner; I ax this as the weak prays the strong for mercy; that you’ll remember to my credit how I made a clean breast of everything without any pressure from any of you.” Mr Corder stared. “Trouble’s turned your head, my son, by the looks of it. Whatever rummage be you talking about?” “’Tis sense, I promise you. I nearly told just now when us was speaking about the burglary. Then, just here of all places, your horse falls lame. ’Tis like Providence calling me to speak.” Daniel was playing his solitary card. The chances were still a thousand to one against him; but he saw a faint possibility, if things should fall out right. His swift mind had seized the accident of the horse’s lameness, and his plot was made. “Be plain if you can,” said Corder. “Don’t think I’m against you. Only I say again, there’s no power in us to help you, even if we had the will.” “I’m thinking of last August--that burglary. Well, now, how about it if I was able to help you chaps to clear that up? Wouldn’t I be doing you a good turn, Greg, if you was able to say at headquarters that by cross-questioning me you’d wormed the truth out of me?” Mr Gregory stared. He licked his lips at the very idea.