“We had nine days running without rain in 1911,” Kilwhillie reminded him.

“Did we? Well, if we get a fine day to-morrow that will equal the 1911 record,” Ben Nevis observed, after a scarcely perceptible pause to be sure his calculation was correct.

“Quite.”

“And by Jove, if we don’t have rain to-morrow we shall beat it,” he went on.

Delighted with the establishment of this mathematical fact, Ben Nevis stamped across to the side-table and ladled another couple of spoonfuls into his porringer.

“I don’t think I’ll say too much about this record in front of Royde,” Kilwhillie remarked pensively, “if you see what I mean.”

“Knocknacolly, eh?” Ben Nevis asked, an expression of tremendous sagacity playing about his florid weatherbeaten countenance.

“Quite. That’s why I’m anxious he should see the place as soon as possible. I think places always look better when the sun is shining. Particularly Knocknacolly. It’s very good of you, Donald, to come with us this morning.”

“Not a bit, Hugh, not a bit. I mean to say I think I can be helpful, and I do want you to get Knocknacolly off your hands at a fair price. Besides, I think the Roydes will be an asset, what? The more money we can get into Inverness-shire the better for everybody. I’ll send a cable to Hector from the post-office at Kenspeckle. I don’t see why he shouldn’t be able to get home in ten days from now.”

“I should think he would. Wonderful thing, this flying. I’m really extremely obliged to you, Donald, for coming along with us this morning. If I can sell Knocknacolly at a fair price it will be helpful. But it’s rather an interruption to sport.”

“Oh, that’s all right, Hugh. Besides, I’ve given up that idea of throwing those hikers into a loch. I don’t want them to cause any friction between you and Trixie. I put things right last night, and she’s very pleased I’m going to drive over with you to Knocknacolly instead of rounding up these Scottish Nationalists. By the way, I think we’ll take the Daimler. It’s more comfortable than your old Austin.”

“If I manage to sell Knocknacolly I’ll get a new car,” said Kilwhillie hopefully.

“I’ve told MacIsaac to arrange for the beaters to get round Glenbristle and Glenbogle this morning and I propose to round up the Scottish Nationalists this afternoon, put them in the lorry, and have them deposited at the railway station in Fort William. It’s a pity not to use the dungeons, but Trixie’s got this old idea into her head that it’ll cause trouble. So I’m humouring her. You’ve got to humour women, Hugh.”

“Yes, my mother required a lot of humouring during the last ten years of her life,” said Kilwhillie. “I know what it is.”