Merton naturally passed a good deal of his time in wondering what had occurred at Kirkburn, and why Logan needed his presence.  ’The poor old gentleman has passed away suddenly, I suppose,’ he reflected, ’and Logan may think that I know where he has deposited his will.  It is in some place that the marquis called “the hidie hole,” and that, from his vagrant remarks, appears to be a secret chamber, as his ancestor meant to keep James VI. there.  I wish he had cut the throat of that prince, a bad fellow.  But, of course, I don’t know where the chamber is:  probably some of the people about the place know, or the lawyer who made the will.’

However freely Merton’s consciousness might play round the problem, he could get no nearer to its solution.  At Berwick he had to leave the express, and take a local train.  In the station, not a nice station, he was accosted by a stranger, who asked if he was Mr. Merton?  The stranger, a wholesome, red-faced, black-haired man, on being answered in the affirmative, introduced himself as Dr. Douglas, of Kirkburn.  ’You telegraphed to my friend Logan the news of the marquis’s illness,’ said Merton.  ‘I fear you have no better news to give me.’

Dr. Douglas shook his head.

A curious little crowd was watching the pair from a short distance.  There was an air of solemnity about the people, which was not wholly due to the chill grey late afternoon, and the melancholy sea.

’We have an hour to wait, Mr. Merton, before the local train starts, and afterwards there is a bit of a drive.  It is cold, we would be as well in the inn as here.’

The doctor beat his gloved hands together to restore the circulation.

Merton saw that the doctor wished to be with him in private, and the two walked down into the town, where they got a comfortable room, the doctor ordering boiling water and the other elements of what he called ’a cheerer.’  When the cups which cheer had been brought, and the men were alone, the doctor said: 

‘It is as you suppose, Mr. Merton, but worse.’

‘Great heaven, no accident has happened to Logan?’ asked Merton.

’No, sir, and he would have met you himself at Berwick, but he is engaged in making inquiries and taking precautions at Kirkburn.’

’You do not mean that there is any reason to suspect foul play?  The marquis, I know, was in bad health.  You do not suspect—­murder?’

‘No, sir, but—­the marquis is gone.’

’I know he is gone, your telegram and what I observed of his health led me to fear the worst.’

‘But his body is gone—­vanished.’

’You suppose that it has been stolen (you know the American and other cases of the same kind) for the purpose of extracting money from the heir?’

’That is the obvious view, whoever the heir may be.  So far, no will has been found,’ the doctor added some sugar to his cheerer, and some whisky to correct the sugar.  ’The neighbourhood is very much excited.  Mr. Logan has telegraphed to London for detectives.’