“Tell zem I am ill.  I cannot gom to dinner.  To-morrow I shall take ze train back to London.  Himmel!  Vy vas I fool enof to act soch dishonorable lies!  I deceive all these kind peoples!”

“It isn’t that which worries me,” said Bunker imperturbably.  “I am only afraid that if you display this spirit you won’t deceive them.”

“I do not vish to,” said the Baron sulkily.

It required half an hour of the Count’s most artful blandishments to persuade him that duty, honor, and prudence all summoned him to the feast.  This being accomplished, he next endeavored to convince him that he would feel more comfortable in the airy freedom of the Tulliwuddle tartan.  But here the Baron was obdurate.  Now that the kilt lay ready to his hand he could not be persuaded even to look at it.  In gloomy silence he donned his conventional evening dress and announced, last thing before they left their room—­

“Bonker, say no more!  To-morrow morning I depart!”

Their hostess had explained that a merely informal dinner awaited them, since his lordship (she observed) would no doubt prefer a quiet evening after his long journey.  But Mrs. Gallosh was one of those good ladies who are fond of asking their friends to take “pot luck,” and then providing them with fourteen courses; or suggesting a “quiet little evening together,” when they have previously removed the drawing-room carpet.  It is an affectation of modesty apt to disconcert the retiring guest who takes them at their word.  In the drawing-room of Mrs. Gallosh the startled Baron found assembled—­firstly, the Gallosh family, consisting of all those whose acquaintance we have already made, and in addition two stalwart school-boy sons; secondly, their house-party, who comprised a Mr. and Mrs. Rentoul, from the same metropolis of commerce as Mr. Gallosh, and a hatchet-faced young man with glasses, answering to the name of Mr. Cromarty-Gow; and, finally, one or two neighbors.  These last included Mr. M’Fadyen, the large factor; the Established Church, U.F., Wee Free, Episcopalian, and Original Secession ministers, all of whom, together with their kirks, flourished within a four-mile radius of the Castle; the wives to three of the above; three young men and their tutor, being some portion of a reading-party in the village; and Mrs. Cameron-Campbell and her five daughters, from a neighboring dower-house upon the loch.

It was fortunate that all these people were prepared to be impressed with Lord Tulliwuddle, whatever he should say or do; and further, that the unique position of such a famous hereditary magnate even led them to anticipate some marked deviation from the ordinary canons of conduct.  Otherwise, the gloomy brows; the stare, apparently haughty, in reality alarmed; the strange accent and the brief responses of the chief guest, might have caused an unfavorable opinion of his character.