"Not so bad as that. It is only a sleeping potion. Our friend had an object in asking if we slept soundly. He means that we shall."
"Are you quite sure the whisky has been tampered with, Mr. Grant?"
"I am reasonably sure of it."
"Then of course we won't drink it."
"Certainly not, but we will appear to have done so. Open the window."
The earl poured out a glass of the whisky and emptied it out of the window. He filled the glass a second time, and again emptied it.
"That is better than to have swallowed it," he said. "I will leave a small portion in the pitcher to disarm suspicion."
"What do you think Red Ralph intends to do?" asked Scott, in a low tone.
"I think he intends to make us a visit during the night. As there is no way of locking the door, that will be very easily managed. Had we drunk the whisky, we should have slept so profoundly that Ralph could have ransacked the room without interference.
"Have you a pistol, Mr. Grant?"