ulty in looking
any one in the face, and this difficulty was intensified when he found
himself confronted with bold and candid eyes. He felt abashed and a
little nervous.

"I've come to see you about Huntingtower House," he began.

"I know, so Glendonans informed me. Well, I'm very glad to hear it.
The place has been standing empty far too long, and that is worse for a
new house than an old house. There's not much money to spend on it
either, unless we can make sure of a good tenant. How did you hear
about it?"

"I was taking a bit holiday and I spent a night at Dalquharter with an
old auntie of mine. You must understand I've just retired from
business, and I'm thinking of finding a country place. I used to have
the provision shop in Mearns Street--now the United Supply Stores,
Limited. You've maybe heard of it?"

The other bowed and smiled. "Who hasn't? The name of Dickson McCunn
is known far beyond the city of Glasgow."

Dickson was not insensible of the flattery, and he continued with more
freedom. "I took a walk and got a glisk of the House, and I liked the
look of it. You see, I want a quiet bit a good long way from a town,
and at the same time a house with all modern conveniences. I suppose
Huntingtower has that?"

"When it was built fifteen years ago it was considered a model--six
bathrooms, its own electric light plant, steam heating, and independent
boiler for hot water, the whole bag of tricks. I won't say but what
some of these contrivances will want looking to, for the place has been
some time empty, but there can be nothing very far wrong, and I can
guarantee that the bones of the house are good."

"Well, that's all right," said Dickson. "I don't mind spending a
little money myself if the place suits me. But of that, of course, I'm
not yet certain, for I've only had a glimpse of the outside. I wanted
to get into the policies, but a man at the lodge wouldn't let me.
They're a mighty uncivil lot down there."

"I'm very sorry to hear that," said Mr. Loudon in a tone of concern.

"Ay, and if I take the place I'll stipulate that you get rid of the
lodgekeepers."

"There won't be the slightest difficulty about that, for they are only
weekly tenants. But I'm vexed to hear they were uncivil. I was glad to
get any tenant that offered, and they were well recommended to me."

"They're foreigners."

"One of them is--a Belgian refugee that Lady Morewood took an interest
in. But the other