" he remarked. "What was your suggestion, Mr.
Ewart?"

"I was wondering whether you would come over to Invermalluch with
Burnham and me and--er--have a look round with us?"

"Well, if Fuller doesn't think it exceedingly rude of me, I should
like to," the American replied, "especially as Mr. Burnham will be
leaving you to-morrow, or the day after at latest."

"Incidentally, I don't know how we shall get back without you," I
pointed out. "You see, we sent the motor-boat on."

"By Jove, so you did!" Hilderman exclaimed. "Well, that settles it,
Fuller."

"I could take them on the _Fiona_ and put them ashore," his companion
persisted. Hilderman gave Fuller a look which seemed to clinch the
matter, however, for the little man beamed at me through his
spectacles, and explained that if he took us in his yacht it would be
killing two birds with one stone.

"Still, of course, my dear fellow," he concluded, "you must please
yourselves entirely."

So we saw him safely on board the _Fiona_, and then started for
Invermalluch in Hilderman's magnificent Wolseley launch.

"Fuller knows me," he explained, by way of apology. "I go up with him
sometimes as often as three times a week, but I gathered that you
asked me with a view to discussing the mystery of the green flash, or
whatever you call it."

"You're quite right; I did," I replied. "I simply want you to come and
have a look at the river, and see what you can make of it."

"Anything I can do, you know, Mr. Ewart," he assured me, "I shall be
delighted to do. If you think it will be of any assistance to you if I
explore the river with you--well, I'm ready now."

From that we proceeded to give him, at his request, minute details of
Garnesk's conclusions on the matter, and I am afraid I departed from
the truth with a ready abandon and a certain relish of which I ought
to have been most heartily ashamed.

When we stepped ashore at Invermalluch Hilderman looked back across
the water.

"If I'd waited for Fuller," he laughed, "I should have been stuck
there yet. He's let the water go off the boil or something."

We went up to the house and had tea on the verandah, for the General
had taken Myra up Loch Hourn in the motor-boat. After tea we got to
business.

"Now that I've had a very refreshing cup of tea," the American
remarked, "I feel rather like the mouse who said '_Now_ bring out your
cat' when he had consumed half a teaspoonful of beer! Now show me the
river."

"