urry up
and come to terms.'

'Impudent dogs!' said Mr. Macrae. 'But I think you are right, Mr. Blake;
we had better leave these communications open.'

Mr. Gianesi agreed that Blake had spoken words of wisdom. Merton felt
surprised at his practical common sense. It was necessary to get another
pole to erect on the roof of the observatory, with another box at top for
the new machine, but a flagstaff from the Castle leads was found to serve
the purpose, and the rest of the day was passed in arranging the
installation, the new machine being placed in Mr. Merton's own study.
Before dinner was over, Mr. Gianesi, who worked like a horse, was able to
announce that all was complete, and that a brief message, 'Yours
received, all right,' had passed through from his firm in London.

Soon after dinner Blake retired to his room; his head was still
suffering, and he could not bear smoke. Gianesi and Mr. Macrae were in
the Castle, Mr. Macrae feverishly reading the newspaper speculations on
the melancholy affair: leading articles on Science and Crime, the
potentialities of both, the perils of wealth, and such other thoughts as
occurred to active minds in Fleet Street. Gianesi's room was in the
observatory, but he remained with Mr. Macrae in case he might be needed.
Merton and Logan were alone in the smoking-room, where Bude left them
early.

'Now, Merton,' said Logan, 'you are going to come on in the next scene.
Have you a revolver?'

'Heaven forbid!' said Merton.

'Well, I have! Now this is what you are to do. We shall both turn in
about twelve, and make a good deal of clatter and talk as we do so. You
will come with me into my room. I'll hand you the revolver, loaded,
silently, while we talk fishing shop with the door open. Then you will
go rather noisily to your room, bang the door, take off your shoes, and
slip out again--absolutely noiselessly--back into the smoking-room. You
see that window in the embrasure here, next the door, looking out towards
the loch? The curtain is drawn already, you will go on the window-seat
and sit tight! Don't fall asleep! I shall give you my portable electric
lamp for reading in the train. You may find it useful. Only don't fall
asleep. When the row begins I shall come on.'

'I see,' said Merton. 'But look here! Suppose you slip out of your own
room, locking the door quietly, and into mine, where you can snore, you
know--I snore myself--in case anybody takes a fancy to see w