settle instantly, lest anxiety for a father's
grief should undermine her constitution.

Mr. Williams had a long interview with Mr. Macrae. It was arranged that
he should read family prayers in the morning and evening. He left _The
Church Quarterly Review_ and numbers of _The Expositor_, _The Guardian_,
and _The Pilot_ in the hall with his great coat, and on the whole his
entry was very well staged. Duncan Mackay occupied a room at the
keeper's, who had only eight children.

Mr. Williams asked if he might see Mr. Blake; he could impart religious
consolation. Merton carried this message, in answer to which Blake, who
was in bed very sulky and sleepy, merely replied, 'Kick out the
hell-hound.'

Merton was obliged to soften this rude message, saying that unfortunately
Mr. Blake was of the older faith, though he had expressed no wish for the
ministrations of Father McColl.

On hearing this Mr. Williams merely sighed, as the Budes were present. He
had been informed as to their tenets, and had even expressed a desire to
labour for their enlightenment, by way of giving local colour. He had,
he said, some stirring Protestant tracts among his clerical properties.
Mr. Macrae, however, had gently curbed this zeal, so on hearing of
Blake's religious beliefs the sigh of Mr. Williams was delicately
subdued.

Dinner-time arrived. Blake did not appear; the butler said that he
supported existence solely on dried toast and milk and soda-water. He
was one of the people who keep a private clinical thermometer, and he
sent the bulletin that his temperature was 103. He hoped to come
downstairs to-morrow. Mr. Williams gave the party some news of the outer
world. He had brought the _Scotsman_, and Mr. Macrae had the gloomy
satisfaction of reading a wildly inaccurate report of his misfortune.
Correct news had not reached the press, but deep sympathy was expressed.
The melancholy party soon broke up, Mr. Williams conducting family
prayers with much unction, after the Budes had withdrawn.

In a private interview with the millionaire Merton told him how he had
discovered the real meaning of 'The Seven Hunters,' whence the first
telegram of the kidnappers was dated. Neither man thought the
circumstance very important.

'They would hardly have ventured to name the islands if they had any idea
of staying there,' the millionaire said, 'besides any heartless jester
could find the name on a map.'

This was obvious, but as Lady Bude