"I think if you come this way, sir, you will find her with Sir Malcolm."
"Sir Malcolm!" exclaimed Ned. "My God, so he is!"
To himself he added:
"And she will soon be Lady Cromarty!"
But the thought did not seem to exhilarate him.
He was led towards the billiard room, an addition to the house which lay rather apart. The door was half open and through it he could see that the blinds had been drawn down, and he could hear a murmur of voices.
"They are in there, sir," said Bisset, and he left him.
As Ned Cromarty entered he caught the words, spoken by the new baronet:
"My dear Cicely, I depend on your sympathy——"