CHAPTER IV
THE COMPACT
'Neil!' said Reggie; 'it's impossible.'
Marjorie had become deadly white, and Allan pushed the hair back from his forehead and stood staring, his hands in his pockets. Reggie pranced backwards and forwards, in uncontrollable excitement, while Tricksy's dark eyes were growing as large as saucers in her little face.
'Elspeth,' said Marjorie sharply; 'you're talking nonsense, it can't be true.'
'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, it's the truth I will be telling you; the police came and arrested him before his mother's eyes that very day just after he had been out with you on the boat, and he's before the Sheriff in Stornwell this very day!'
'But, Elspeth, he did not do it! Nobody could believe that old Neil would do such a thing!'
'Indeed, Master Allan, there are those that do, although Neil, poor laddie, would no more do such a thing than the laird himsel, or the king upon his throne! Appearances are against him, poor lad; and it's for appearances that they've arrested him.'
'What appearances, Elspeth? Tell us about it?'