“Don't be alarmed, old man; I came up by that staircase and saw the door open, and guessed you'd be returning soon. But it seemed you went ROUND BY THE CORRIDOR,” he said, glancing curiously at the consul's face. “Did you meet the crowd?”
“Yes, Jock! WHAT does it all mean?”
MacSpadden laughed. “It means that I was just in time to keep Kilbraithie from chucking Delfosse down that ravine; but they both scooted when they saw me. By Jove! I don't know which was the most frightened.”
“But,” said the consul slowly, “what was it all about, Jock?”
“Some gallantry of that d——d Frenchman, who's trying to do some woman-stalking up here, and jealousy of Kilcraithie's, who's just got enough of his forbears' blood in him to think nothing of sticking three inches of his dirk in the wame of the man that crosses him. But I say,” continued Jock, leaning easily back in his chair, “YOU ought to know something of all this. This room, old man, was used as a sort of rendezvous, having two outlets, don't you see, when they couldn't get at the summer-house below. By Jove! they both had it in turns—Kilcraithie and the Frenchman—until Lady Macquoich got wind of something, swept them out, and put YOU in it.”
The consul rose and approached his friend with a grave face. “Jock, I DO know something about it—more about it than any one thinks. You and I are old friends. Shall I tell you WHAT I know?”
Jock's handsome face became a trifle paler, but his frank, clear eyes rested steadily on the consul's.
“Go on!” he said.
“I know that this flower which I am wearing was the signal for the rendezvous this evening,” said the consul slowly, “and this paper,” taking it from his pocket, “contained the time of the meeting, written in the lady's own hand. I know who she was, for I saw her face as plainly as I see yours now, by the light of the same fire; it was as pale, but not as frank as yours, old man. That is what I know. But I know also what people THINK they know, and for that reason I put that paper in YOUR hand. It is yours—your vindication—your REVENGE, if you choose. Do with it what you like.”
Jock, with unchanged features and undimmed eyes, took the paper from the consul's hand, without looking at it.