“My forecast was wonderfully accurate,” he said to himself.

The silence was first broken by Mr. Gallosh.  As if thinking aloud, he remarked—­

“I was awful surprised to hear him speak!  It’s the Court fashion, you say?”

“Partly that; partly a prolonged residence on the Continent in his youth.  He acquired his accent then; he has retained it for fashion’s sake,” explained the Count, who thought it as well to bolster up the weakest part of his case a little more securely.

With this prudent purpose, he added, with a flattering air of taking his host into his aristocratic confidence—­

“You will perhaps be good enough to explain this to the friends and dependants Lord Tulliwuddle is about to meet?  A breath of unsympathetic criticism would grieve him greatly if it came to his ears.”

“Quite, quite,” said Mr. Gallosh eagerly.  “I’ll make it all right.  I understand the sentiment pairfectly.  It’s verra natural—­verra natural indeed.”

At that moment the Baron started from his reverie with an affrighted air.

“Vat is zat strange sound!” he exclaimed.

The others listened.

“That’s just the pipes, my lord,” said Mr. Gallosh.  “They’re tuning up to welcome you.”

His lordship stared at the shore ahead of them.

“Zere are many peoples on ze coast!” he cried. 
“Vat makes it for?”

“They’ve come to receive you,” his host explained.  “It’s just a little spontaneous demonstration, my lord.”

His lordship’s composure in no way increased.

“It was Mrs. Gallosh organized a wee bit entertainment on his lordship’s landing,” their host explained confidentially to the Count.  “It’s just informal, ye understand.  She’s been instructing some of the tenants—­ and ma own girls will be there—­but, oh, it’s nothing to speak of.  If he says a few words in reply, that’ll be all they’ll be expecting.”

The strains of “Tulliwuddle wha hae” grew ever louder and, to an untrained ear, more terrific.  In a moment they were mingled with a clapping of hands and a Highland cheer, the launch glided alongside the pier, and, supported on his faithful friend’s arm, the panic-stricken Tulliwuddle staggered ashore.  Before his dazed eyes there seemed to be arrayed the vastest and most barbaric concourse his worst nightmare had ever imagined.  Six pipers played within ten paces of him, each of them arrayed in the full panoply of the clan; at least a dozen dogs yelped their exultation; and from the surrounding throng two ancient men in tartan and four visions in snowy white stepped forth to greet the distinguished visitors.

The first hitch in the proceedings occurred at this point.  According to the unofficial but carefully considered programme, the pipers ought to have ceased their melody; but, whether inspired by ecstatic loyalty or because the Tulliwuddle pibroch took longer to perform than had been anticipated, they continued to skirl with such vigor that expostulations passed entirely unheard.  Under the circumstances there was nothing for it but shouting, and in a stentorian yell Mr. Gallosh introduced his wife and three fair daughters.