e, and was shown at once into the marquis's study, as it was
called. When his lordship entered she took the lead the moment the
door was shut. "By this time, my lord, ye'll doobtless hae made up yer
min' to du what's richt?" she said.

"That's what I have always wanted to do," returned the marquis.

"Hm!" remarked Miss Horn as plainly as inarticulately.

"In this affair," he supplemented; adding, "It's not always so easy to
tell what _is_ right."

"It's no aye easy to luik for 't wi' baith yer een," said Miss Horn.

"This woman Catanach--we must get her to give credible testimony.
Whatever the fact may be, we must have strong evidence. And there
comes the difficulty, that she has already made an altogether
different statement."

"It gangs for naething, my lord. It was never made afore a justice o'
the peace."

"I wish you would go to her and see how she is inclined."

"Me gang to Bawbie Catanach!" exclaimed Miss Horn. "I wad as sune gang
an' kittle Sawtan's nose wi' the p'int o' 's tail. Na, na, my lord.
Gien onybody gang till her wi' my wull, it s' be a limb o' the law. I
s' hae nae cognostin' wi' her."

"You would have no objection, however; to my seeing her, I
presume--just to let her know that we have an inkling of the truth?"
said the marquis.

Now, all this was the merest talk, for of course Miss Horn could not
long remain in ignorance of the declaration her fury had, the night
previous, forced from Mrs. Catanach; but he must, he thought, put
her off and keep her quiet, if possible, until he had come to an
understanding with Malcolm, after which he would no doubt have his
trouble with her.

"Ye can du as yer lordship likes," answered Miss Horn, "but I wadna
hae 't said o' me 'at I had ony dealin's wi' her. Wha kens but she
micht say ye tried to bribe her? There's naething she wad bogle at
gien she thoucht it worth her while. No 'at I 'm feart at her. Lat her
lee! I'm no sae blate but--Only dinna lippen till a word she says, my
lord."

The marquis hesitated. "I wonder whether the real source of my
perplexity occurs to you, Miss Horn," he said at length. "You know I
have a daughter?"

"Weel eneuch that, my lord."

"By my second marriage."

"Nae merridge ava', my lord."

"True, if I confess to the first."

"A' the same whether or no, my lord."

"Then you see," the marquis went on, refusing offence, "what the
admission of your story would make of my daughter?"

"That's plain eneuch, my lord.