The detective shot a keen glance at the baronet, whose back was still toward him.
“I have discovered,” continued Lord Towyn, “that Craven Black has an old house up in the Highlands, and that he has Neva there in close imprisonment. Neva has all the courage for which we gave her credit, and holds out stoutly against her enemies. Black apprehends a long stay in the Highlands while reducing her to subjection, and has come to Inverness to-day for winter stores. His yacht lies in the river, and he will be off at daybreak.”
“What are we to do?” exclaimed Atkins. “He will escape us. It will be necessary to arrest him.”
“I have made all the preparations for pursuit,” replied our hero. “I have a sloop, provisioned and ready, in which we will follow the yacht. We will dine here, and at a late hour this evening we will go aboard our vessel. We must be off in the morning, soon after the yacht.”
Sir Harold plied the earl with questions, and the latter told the tale of his day’s adventures at full length.
At six o’clock, dinner was served in their sitting-room. After dinner they talked for hours, and at ten o’clock that evening they quitted their hotel and went down to the wharf.
A fine mist was falling. The river was shrouded in darkness, but watery gleams of light came from the yacht and the other vessels lying in the river. The wind was still strong and free, blowing in fitful gusts.
The party had hardly come to a halt upon the wharf, when a small boat manned by two rowers shot out of the gloom, and ran along-side the landing-place.
“Is it you, Macdonald?” asked the young earl, bending forward and straining his eyes through the darkness.
“Aye, aye, sir. Is it you, my lord!” said Macdonald, in a loud whisper, rising in the boat.