So they stood for a moment, and then the stranger closed the door behind him, swung off his hat, and made a sweeping bow.
"MADAM," SAID HE, "I CRAVE YOUR PARDON FOR THIS SEEMING INCIVILITY."
"Madam," said he, "I crave your pardon for this seeming incivility; but I am new come to Inverness, and am quartered here until to-morrow."
(Not so new-come thought Rob, mindful of Fraser's tavern.)
All the time the stranger's alert blue eyes were speeding hither and thither about the room. They paused for a moment on the rope in the master's hands, took in Rob at a glance (but with no appearance of recognition which grieved him), and then returned to Miss Macpherson, who had never acknowledged his presence by word or nod.
"Sir," said Rob to the stranger, "Mr. Macaulay was even now enquiring for you."
"Thank ye," he replied, "but I have already seen the rope in his hands. Maybe it could be used for a better purpose..."
Mr. Macaulay was as near to the door as the stranger. With a bound he reached it, and flung it back. And then with another swirl of air he was gone into the night.