Two days before their departure Mr. Bunker greeted his ally with a peculiarly humorous smile.

“The pleasures of our visit to Hechnahoul are to be considerably augmented,” said he.  “Tulliwuddle has only just made the discovery that his ancestral castle is let; but his tenant, in the most handsome spirit, invites us to be his guests so long as we are in Scotland.  A very hospitable letter, isn’t it?”

He handed him a large envelope with a more than proportionately large crest upon it, and drawing from this a sheet of note-paper headed by a second crest, the Baron read this epistle: 

“My lord,—­Learning that you propose visiting your Scottish estates, and Mr. M’Fadyen, your factor, informing me no lodge is at present available for your reception, it will give Mrs. Gallosh and myself great pleasure, and we will esteem it a distinguished honor, if you and your friend will be our guests at Hechnahoul Castle during the duration of your visit.  Should you do us the honor of accepting, I shall send my steam launch to meet you at Torrydhulish pier and convey you across the loch, if you will be kind enough to advise me which train you are coming by.

“In conclusion, Mrs. Gallosh and myself beg to assure you that although you find strangers in your ancestral halls, you will receive both from your tenantry and ourselves a very hearty welcome to your native land.  Believe me, your obedient servant,
                         “Duncan JNO.  Gallosh.”

“Zat is goot news!” cried the Baron.  “Ve shall have company—­perhaps ladies!  Ach, Bonker, I have ze soft spot in mine heart:  I am so constant as ze needle to ze pole; but I do like sometimes to talk mit voman!”

“With Mrs. Gallosh, for instance?”

“But, Bonker, zere may be a Miss Gallosh.”

“If you consulted the Baroness,” said Bunker, smiling, “I suspect she would prefer you to be imprisoned in China.”

The Baron laughed, and curled his martial mustache with a dangerous air.

“Who is zis Gallosh?” he inquired.

“Scottish, I judge from his name; commercial, from his literary style; elevated by his own exertions, from the size of his crest; and wealthy, from the fact that he rents Hechnahoul Castle.  His mention of Mrs. Gallosh points to the fact that he is either married or would have us think so; and I should be inclined to conclude that he has probably begot a family.”

“Aha!” said the Baron.  “Ve vill gom and see, eh?”

CHAPTER VI

A carefully clothed young man, with an eyeglass and a wavering gait, walked slowly out of Euston Station.  He had just seen the Scottish express depart, and this event seemed to have filled him with dubious reflections.  In fact, at the very last moment Lord Tulliwuddle’s confidence in his two friends had been a trifling degree disturbed.  It occurred to him as he lingered by the door of their reserved first-class compartment that they had a little too much the air of gentlemen departing on their own pleasure rather than on his business.  No sooner did he drop a fretful hint of this opinion than their affectionate protestations had quickly revived his spirit; but now that they were no longer with him to counsel and encourage, it once more drooped.