He nodded, very slowly. If this extraordinary stroke of luck came off, all his dreams would come true. Even as we talked out the details I could see his mind constructing schemes to take possession of the entire amount. He would have to get rid of me, of course, but that he would not do until he was sure he had everything. So we arranged what he, his secretary and manservant had to do. I was to return to Ardvreck House on Monday 26th August two or three days after their preparations were completed, when the fishing boat and its bullion cargo were due.

When I reached Fort William on the afternoon of the 26th, Howard himself awaited me at the station. I had one bag with me. He took me to his coach, standing outside. I saw that the manservant Metcalfe was driving it. The journey took four hours. Howard was labouring under some excitement, as was only natural, and I had to reassure him several times that everything was going according to schedule, that the ship would arrive the following night.

When we drove up the carriageway I was shown to an upstairs bedroom. When I came downstairs again, Howard with Adams, his secretary, and Metcalfe were waiting for me in the lounge. I remember Howard’s first words.

‘Just as you suggested, I sent off all the servants so we will have to rough it as far as meals are concerned.’

I told him I really could not eat until I had inspected their preparations. Howard laughed.

‘Just as you wish. I can understand your anxiety to see that all is in order.’

We went downstairs to the cellars, went into the big storeroom. Howard put the lamp he was carrying on a table. In its light the three men watched as I examined their work.

Across the whole of one side they had built a brick wall about three feet from the outside wall. It was complete apart from a section about four feet wide at the right-hand side through which the original back wall could be seen. Most of the new wall had already been white-washed and then dirtied to conform to the other three walls of the storeroom. It had been done so skilfully that apart from the unfinished section the new wall looked just as old as the other three.

On the floor of the storeroom boards had been laid. On these boards were the remaining bricks, pails of water, bags of mortar and sand required to complete the job.

I had hidden some of the contents of my bag on top of the big wardrobe when I was first in my bedroom. Some other things I placed in my pockets before going downstairs.