"Well, I"m getting some interested in Mr. MacLane!" exclaimed Buckhart.
"I don"t suppose he is around here now?"
"I canna tell. He comes an" goes like the wind. He may be outside th"
door this minute, or he may be i" Sutherland."
Dunbar Budthorne was doing his best to repress a peculiar sensation that was creeping over him. He wanted something, but for the time he could not imagine what it was. Of a sudden he knew, and he turned pale as the truth dawned upon him. He was ready to give anything or do anything for a drink of liquor.
While the others chatted on this restlessness and craving grew on Budthorne. Finally, politely asking to be excused and saying he was going to his room, he rose from the table.
His sister gave him a glance of questioning apprehension, but he smiled on her rea.s.suringly.
"You"re not ill, Dunbar?" she asked.
"Never felt better in my life," he answered, and her mind was relieved.
Outside the dining-room door he encountered Aaron, who had left the room ahead of him.
"I" there a"thing I could gi" ye, sir?" inquired Aaron, with the utmost deference and solicitude.
"No, nothing," answered Budthorne, and started to pa.s.s on.
Suddenly he paused and looked over his shoulder at Aaron, dimly seen by the faint light in the hall.
"Wait," he said in a low tone. "Come here a moment, Aaron."
The serving man stepped noiselessly toward him.
"Aaron, I"m not feeling quite right."
"Ay, sir; I thought ye lookt a wee disturbed. I hope ye are na ill?"
"I"m afraid I shall be unless I can get something to ward off the attack. Do you know if there is whisky or liquor of any sort in the place?"
Aaron seemed alarmed.
"I no hae anything to do wi" it," he hastily declared. "The widow alwa"
keeps a wee bit i" a bottle, but I hae na richt to touch it, sir."
Eagerly, almost fiercely, Budthorne grasped the little man by his bony wrist.
"I must have something of the sort!" he breathed, huskily. "Aaron, you must get me some of the contents of that bottle!"
"I canna do it," declared the serving man, as if in great alarm. "Were I to touch it th" widow wud be sair mad wi" me."
"You need not let her know it. She"ll never miss a little-enough for one good drink."
Still Aaron seemed alarmed.
"I ha" been wi" her five year an" no" once ha" I failed to mind her biddin"," he said weakly.
"I"ll pay you-I"ll pay you well," said Budthorne. "See, Aaron, here is money. Take it. Bring me enough for a drink from that bottle."
He pressed the money into the hand of the little man, who seemed on the point of refusing it.
"She wi" find it out, sir."
"How? I"ll never tell her."
"Ye sw"ar it?"
"Yes."
"Na matter wh" may hap, ye sw"ar ye willna tell Aaron gi" ye one drop from that bottle?"
"I swear it! Hurry up, man, or I"ll explode for the want of a drink."
"I canna gi" it to ye here."
"In my room, then?"
"Na! na!"
"Then where?"
"Ye maun meet me back o" th" house."
"Anywhere, so that I get the drink. How can I do it? Hurry up!"
"Ye maun go out by th" front dure; I"ll go out by th" back. Step round the corner an" find me at th" back."
"All right. But don"t lose time about it."
"Have na fear."
"Bring a big drink-a stiff drink. The longer I am without it the more I want."
A few moments later Budthorne left the cottage by the front door. There was no moon, but millions of bright stars gleamed in the dome of heaven.
The wind had fallen with the coming of night, but although it did not feel as cold, the temperature was much lower. To the east, close at hand, slumbered Lochleven; to the north, farther removed, rose the rugged Ochill Hills.
It was a night of peace and repose, with no suggestion of danger lurking near.
Within the cottage the merry party chatted and laughed about the supper table. Not until Budthorne had been absent some time did Nadia think of him again; but at last she began to worry why he did not return.
Finally she rose from the table, saying she would see what was detaining him.
"He has not been quite well of late," she explained. "Of course I"m foolish to worry about him, but I can"t help it. He must be in his room.
I"ll return in a few moments."
She did return in a few moments, a frightened look on her pale face.