XVI
RUMOUR
One windy afternoon a man on a bicycle struggled up to the door of Stanesland Castle and while waiting for an answer to his ring, studied the front of that ancient building with an expression which would at once have informed his intimates that he was meditating on the principles of Scottish baronial architecture. A few minutes later Mr. Bisset was shown into the laird of Stanesland's smoking room and addressed Mr. Cromarty with a happy blend of consciousness of his own importance and respect for the laird's.
"I have taken the liberty of calling, sir, for to lay before you a few fresh datas."
"Fire away," said the laird.
"In the first place, sir, I understand that you have been making enquiries through the county yourself, sir; is that not so?"
"I've been through this blessed county, Bisset, from end to end to see whether I could get on the track of any suspicious stranger. I've been working both with the police and independent of the police, and I've drawn blank."
Bisset looked distinctly disappointed.
"I've heard, sir, one or two stories which I was hoping might have something in them."
128
