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The party looked up quickly. Their faces were still flushed and agitated, but a new restraint seemed to come upon them on seeing him. "I thought I heard a row outside," said the consul explanatorily. They each looked at their host without speaking. "Oh, ay," said Macquoich, with simulated heartiness, "a bit fuss between the Kilcraithie and yon Frenchman; but they're baith goin' in the mornin'."
Lady Macquoich smiled ambiguously so ambiguously that the consul thought it necessary to interfere for his friend. "She seems to say what most of us think, but I am afraid very few of us could voice as innocently," he smilingly suggested. "She is a great friend of yours," returned the lady, looking at him through her half-veiled lids. "She has made us quite envy her."
"Ye owe it yoursel' to your wife not to pit up with it a day longer," said the subdued voice of Sir Alan. "Man! ye war in an ace o' havin' a braw scandal." "Could ye no' get your wife to speak till her," responded Macquoich, "to gie her a hint that she's better awa' out of this? Lady Deeside has some influence wi' her." The consul ostentatiously dropped the extinguisher from his candlestick.
This room, old man, was used as a sort of rendezvous, having two outlets, don't you see, when they couldn't get at the summer-house below. By Jove! they both had it in turns Kilcraithie and the Frenchman until Lady Macquoich got wind of something, swept them out, and put YOU in it." The consul rose and approached his friend with a grave face.
"Your frien' is maist amusing wi' her audacious tongue ay, and her audacious ways," he said with large official patronage; "and we've enjoyed her here immensely, but I hae mae doots if mae Leddy Macquoich taks as kindly to them.
"I thought I heard MacSpadden's voice," said the consul quietly. There was a dead silence. Then Macquoich said hurriedly: "Is he no' in his room in bed asleep, man?" "I really don't know; I didn't inquire," said the consul with a slight yawn. "Good night!" He turned, not without hearing them eagerly whispering again, and entered the passage leading to his own room.
It was already past midnight, and the party had dropped off one by one, with the exception of Deeside, Macquoich, the young Englishman, and a Scotch laird, who were playing poker an amusement which he understood they frequently protracted until three in the morning. It was nearly time for him to expect his mysterious visitant.
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