"Now, Miss Macpherson," began Strange when they were alone, "I knew I could rely upon you to put even the claims of relationship aside, when it was a question of loyalty."
"Go on, my man," said she impatiently; "I'm no here to listen to patriotic sentiments."
"Exactly. Now this is how the matter stands. Rob is convicted as a rebel, and there's only one solution to that. We agreed from the start that he was fated for a quick finish. But he's young, Miss Macpherson, and your own blood."
"No blood of mine," she said sharply. "What my poor sister did is no affair of mine."
"At any rate, it would not look well for you to have led to the lad's death."
Miss Macpherson's lips tightened, but she said nothing.
"And there are ways and means. All this fuss over a boy is not according to reason, much less the Duke's usual procedure. But Rob knows some things that his Highness is ready to hear in exchange for his life. More than that, he will deal generously with him."
"What things?" asked Miss Macpherson, shortly.
"Where Lovat hides, for instance. And, mark you, it will make no difference in the end. In a fortnight's time we shall drive the upper end of Loch Arkaig, where we hear he is concealed. But we are not sure, and a word from Rob would help us. That is hardly treachery, Miss Macpherson, is it?"
"I never had a legal head," she replied, with an utterly expressionless countenance.