"Oh, really," exclaimed the young man, with a swift glance towards Frank Meredyth. "The yacht came over this morning? So Mr. Ross is in the neighbourhood?"
"Maybe, sir; but I have not seen him whatever."
That seemed to be enough for the cross-examiner.
"All right, Hector—thank you. Good evening!"
The head keeper withdrew; and Fred Stanley turned to his sister.
"I thought as much," said he. "I had a notion that Robinson Crusoe had come ashore from his desolate island. And no doubt he was very much surprised and disgusted to find two strangers intruding upon his favourite salmon pools—on the very first evening there has been a chance of a cast for some time. But he should not have allowed his anger to get the better of him; it was a childish trick, that flinging a stone into the water; a poor piece of spite—for one who claims to represent an old Highland family. Don't you think so, Mamie?"
Well, this at least was certain—that the Sirène had come across from Heimra, and was now lying in the Camus Bheag, or Little Bay. And the very next afternoon, as Mary Stanley and her friend Käthchen were seated at a table in the drawing-room busily engaged in comparing samples of dyed wool, the door was opened, and Barbara appeared.
"Mr. Ross, mem!" said Barbara.
CHAPTER VI.
A THREATENED INVASION.