II.
The next day he informed Mr. Weldon of the circumstances. The
Chief of the Police was presently sent for and the suspicions of Mr. Weldon
and James were made known to him. In a word, they unfolded to him
the whole affair of the drafts, and named Ellery as the person on whom
their suspicions rested.
`Still,' said Mr. Weldon, `there is every probability that the persons in
this house are parties; for that two separate conspiracies for ruining James
should be going on at the same time, by persons wholly unconnected with each
other, is improbable.'
The head of the police was an experienced man, and a person of discriminating
judgment. He argued with them; and after some discussion
of the best mode of proceeding, it was decided that the house, No. —, Dormer
Place, should be visited that night with a suitable force, and any suspicious
persons there arrested.
`As to the young girl's being the celebrated opera singer, “La Isla,” is,
I think, improbable,' he said; `this person, La Isla, is more respectable than
the woman who laid the trap for Mr. Daily. Her character I suspect he
can guess at if he tries. As she was once a sewing-girl she is probably
now a kept-mistress of the man who would have arrested Mr. Daily.'
This was also the opinion of Mr. Weldon and James.
