Page:William Le Queux - The Czar's Spy.djvu/103

Rh was he had very cleverly gone into hiding in the undergrowth of one or other of the two glens — which I could not decide.

I stood out of breath, the perspiration pouring from me, undecided how to act.

Was it Leithcourt himself whom I had surprised?

That idea somehow became impressed upon me, and I suddenly resolved to go boldly across to Rannoch and ascertain for myself. Therefore, with the excuse that I was belated on my walk home, I turned back down the glen, and half an hour afterwards entered the great well-lighted hall of the castle where the guests, ready dressed, were assembling prior to dinner.

I was welcomed warmly, as I always was by the men of the party, who seeing my muddy plight at once offered me a glass of the sportsman's drink in Scotland, and while I was adding soda to it Leith- court himself joined his guests, ready dressed in his dinner jacket, having just descended from his room. "Hulloa, G     he exclaimed heartily, holding out his hand.        a long day of it, evidently. Good sport with Carmichael — eh?"

“Very fair," I said. "I remained longer with him than I ought to have done, and have got belated on my way home, so looked in for a refresher."

"Quite right," he laughed merrily. "You're always welcome, you know. I'd have been annoyed if I knew you had passed without coming in."

And Muriel, a pretty figure in a low-cut gown of turquoise chiffon, standing behind her father, smiled sweetly at me. I smiled at her in return, but it was