k-haired man, on being answered in
the affirmative, introduced himself as Dr. Douglas, of Kirkburn. 'You
telegraphed to my friend Logan the news of the marquis's illness,' said
Merton. 'I fear you have no better news to give me.'

Dr. Douglas shook his head.

A curious little crowd was watching the pair from a short distance. There
was an air of solemnity about the people, which was not wholly due to the
chill grey late afternoon, and the melancholy sea.

'We have an hour to wait, Mr. Merton, before the local train starts, and
afterwards there is a bit of a drive. It is cold, we would be as well in
the inn as here.'

The doctor beat his gloved hands together to restore the circulation.

Merton saw that the doctor wished to be with him in private, and the two
walked down into the town, where they got a comfortable room, the doctor
ordering boiling water and the other elements of what he called 'a
cheerer.' When the cups which cheer had been brought, and the men were
alone, the doctor said:

'It is as you suppose, Mr. Merton, but worse.'

'Great heaven, no accident has happened to Logan?' asked Merton.

'No, sir, and he would have met you himself at Berwick, but he is engaged
in making inquiries and taking precautions at Kirkburn.'

'You do not mean that there is any reason to suspect foul play? The
marquis, I know, was in bad health. You do not suspect--murder?'

'No, sir, but--the marquis is gone.'

'I _know_ he is gone, your telegram and what I observed of his health led
me to fear the worst.'

'But his body is gone--vanished.'

'You suppose that it has been stolen (you know the American and other
cases of the same kind) for the purpose of extracting money from the
heir?'

'That is the obvious view, whoever the heir may be. So far, no will has
been found,' the doctor added some sugar to his cheerer, and some whisky
to correct the sugar. 'The neighbourhood is very much excited. Mr.
Logan has telegraphed to London for detectives.'

Merton reflected in silence.

'The obvious view is not always the correct one,' he said. 'The marquis
was, at least I thought that he was, a very eccentric person.'

'No doubt about _that_,' said the doctor.

'Very well. He had reasons, such reasons as might occur to a mind like
his, for wanting to test the character and conduct of Mr. Logan, his only
living kinsman. What I am going to say will seem absurd to you, but--the
marquis spoke to me of his malady as