he thought that Logan would be extremely helpful, and that he was a friend of the Budes.  Perhaps he himself had better go and pick up Logan and inform him fully as to the mysterious events?  As Mr. Gianesi was also expected from London on that day (Thursday) to examine the wireless machine, which had been silent, Mr. Macrae sent off several vehicles, as well as the motor that carried the detectives.  Merton drove the tandem himself.

Merton found Logan, with his Spanish bull-dog, Bouncer, loafing outside the hotel door at Inchnadampf.  He greeted Merton in a state of suppressed glee; the whole adventure was much to the taste of the scion of Rostalrig.  Merton handed him Mr. Macrae’s letter of invitation.

‘Come, won’t I come, rather!’ said Logan.

‘Of course we must wait to rest the horses,’ said Merton.  ’The motor has gone on to Lairg, carrying two detectives who have made a pretty foozle of it, and it will bring back an electrician.’

‘What for?’ asked Logan.

‘I must tell you the whole story,’ said Merton.  ’Let us walk a little way—­too many gillies and people loafing about here.’

They walked up the road and sat down by little Loch Awe, the lochan on the way to Alt-na-gealgach.  Merton told all the tale, beginning with his curious experiences on the night before the disappearance of Miss Macrae, and ending with the dismissal of the detectives.  He also confided to Logan the importance of the matter to himself, and entreated him to be serious.

Logan listened very attentively.

When Merton had ended, Logan said, ’Old boy, you were the making of me:  you may trust me.  Serious it is.  A great deal of capital must have been put into this business.’

‘A sprat to catch a whale,’ said Merton.  ’You mean about nobbling the electric machine?  How could that be done?’

’That—­and other things.  I don’t know how the machine was nobbled, but it could not be done cheap.  Would you mind telling me your dreams again?’

Merton repeated the story.

Logan was silent.

‘Do you see your way?’ asked Merton.

‘I must have time to think it out,’ said Logan.  ’It is rather mixed.  When was Bude to return from his cruise to “The Seven Hunters"?’

‘Perhaps to-night,’ said Merton.  ’We cannot be sure.  She is a very swift yacht, the Flora Macdonald.’

‘I’ll think it all over, Bude may give us a tip.’

No more would Logan say, beyond asking questions, which Merton could not answer, about the transatlantic past of the vanished heiress.

They loitered back towards the hotel and lunched.  The room was almost empty, all the guests of the place were out fishing.  Presently the motor returned from Lairg, bringing Mr. Gianesi and a large box of his electrical appliances.  Merton rapidly told him all that he did not already know through Mr. Macrae’s telegrams.  He was a reserved man, rather young, and beyond thanking Merton, said little, but pushed on towards Castle Skrae in the motor.  ‘Some other motors,’ he said, ’had arrived, and were being detained at Lairg.’  They came later.