35
IV. THE KING'S NARRATIVE. II 55
V. HENDERSON'S NARRATIVE 60
VI. THE STRANGE CASE OF MR. ROBERT OLIPHANT 71
VII. THE CONTEMPORARY RUTHVEN VINDICATION 80
VIII. THE THEORY OF AN ACCIDENTAL BRAWL 94
IX. CONTEMPORARY CLERICAL CRITICISM 99
X. POPULAR CRITICISM OF THE DAY 111
XI. THE KING AND THE RUTHVENS 118
XII. LOGAN OF RESTALRIG 148
XIII. THE SECRETS OF SPROT 168
XIV. THE LAIRD AND THE NOTARY 182
XV. THE FINAL CONFESSIONS OF THE NOTARY 201
XVI. WHAT IS LETTER IV? 232
XVII. INFERENCES AS TO THE CASKET LETTERS 240
_APPENDICES_
A. THE FRONTISPIECE 245
B. THE CONTEMPORARY RUTHVEN VINDICATION 252
C. FIVE LETTERS FORGED BY SPROT, AS FROM LOGAN 257
INDEX 265

ILLUSTRATIONS

_IN COLOURS_
GOWRIE'S COAT OF ARMS _Frontispiece_
_PHOTOGRAVURES_
JAMES VI. _to face p._ 4

_From the picture painted by Paul Van Somer_
(1621) _now in the National Portrait Gallery_
QUEEN ANNE 138

_From a painting by Paul Van Somer in Queen Anne's
Room_, _St. James's Palace_
_OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS_
FALKLAND PALACE 33

_From a Photograph by J. Valentine & Sons_,
_Dundee_
DIRLETON CASTLE 82

_From a Photograph by J. Valentine & Sons_,
_Dundee_
FALKLAND PALACE: THE COURTYARD 116

_From a Photograph by J. Valentine & Sons_,
_Dundee_
RESTALRIG HOUSE 150

_From a Photograph by W. J. Hay_, _Edinburgh_
RESTALRIG VILLAGE 150

_From a Photograph