Read "The House of the Schemers" by Fred M. White online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
On the whole, Burles decided that there was no reason for him to remain in Waterloo-road any longer. It had come as a surprise to him to find that John Stern was in any way connected with O'Brien; but then Stern was to be trusted, as the detective felt sure. He had been of considerable service in the past, and was likely to be so again. And it would be easy on the following morning to tax Stern with his visit to O'Brien's and get from him the reason which he had for calling in the Waterloo-road. Burles sleepily made up his mind to the candid course.
He went off softly, leaving the two men alone together. He would have been a little surprised, perhaps, had he, after all, decided to stay and listen.