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"It looks as good as ever!" The interruption was too gratifying to offend. "Better in some ways," he said complacently. "The principle of these things is " "I did miss it this morning," she hurried on. "In fact I had to have quite a long walk. Luckily Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland gave me a lift coming home." "Oh, indeed, miss? Stanesland gave ye a lift, did he? An interesting gentleman yon."
There could be no question he had plenty to think about now, though to judge from his expression, it seemed doubtful whether his thoughts were very clear. The laird of Stanesland strode into the Kings Arms and demanded: "Mr. Carrington? What, having a cup of tea in his room? What's his number? 27 right! I'll walk right up, thanks."
The unexpected energy displayed by her charming guest in bustling all over the country had surprised and a little perplexed Miss Peterkin, but she now decided that it was only a passing phase, for on the day following his visits to Keldale and Stanesland he exhibited exactly the same leisurely calm she had admired at first.
And then he took a cigar from his case, bit off the end, and felt for matches; all this being very deliberately done, and his eye following the clerk. Thus when a girl emerged from the room along a passage, she met, apparently quite accidentally, Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland. At the first glance it was quite evident that the meeting gave more pleasure to the gentleman than to the lady.
The old castle of Stanesland was but a small house as castles, or even mansions, go, almost devoid of architectural ornament and evidently built in a sterner age simply for security, and but little embellished by the taste of more degenerate times. As a specimen of a small early 15th Century castle it was excellent; as a home it was inconvenience incarnate.
"And then I borrowed yon trap and having advised Miss Farmond to come to Stanesland and she being amenable, I just brought her along to you." "Oh, it was on your advice then?" "Yes, sir." Cicely and her host exchanged one fleeting glance and then looked extremely unconscious. "She's derned wise!" said he to himself. He held out his hand to the gratified counsellor.
In ten minutes he had bolted a hasty lunch and at two o'clock was sitting in the car again. "To Stanesland Castle," he commanded. "And be as quick as you can." Mr. Carrington's interview with the laird of Stanesland began on much the same lines as his talk with Bisset.
"It's only common sense," added the superintendent. "Then how came the window to be unfastened?" demanded Ned. "I've suggested a reason," said Simon. "As a blind? Sounds to me damned thin." Simon Rattar turned away from him with an air that suggested that he thought it time to indicate distinctly that he was in charge of the case and not the laird of Stanesland.
Ned looked round him apprehensively for something else, but Bisset said: "We've taken him upstairs, sir." For a moment as he looked round that spacious comfortable room with its long bookcases and easy chairs, and on the tables and mantel-piece a hundred little mementoes of its late owner, the laird of Stanesland was unable to speak a word, and the others respected his silence.
They've let me off so far, and why the he begging your pardon, miss, but Stanesland uses strong expressions sometimes. 'Why the something, says he, 'should they want to put me in the bag now? I'm happier free and so's the lady. But he's a grand shot and a vera friendly gentleman, vera friendly indeed. It's a pity, though, he's that ugly." "Ugly!" she exclaimed.
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