In a few minutes the servants and gillies had gathered, hastily clad; they were met by Logan, who briefly bade some bring hammers, and the caber, or pine-tree trunk that is tossed in Highland sports.  It would make a good battering-ram.  Donald Macdonald he sent at once to Mr. Macrae.  He met Bude and Lady Bude, and rapidly explained that there was no danger of fire.  The Countess went back to her rooms, Bude returned with Logan into the observatory.  Here they found Donald telegraphing to the conspirators, by the wireless engine, a message dictated by Merton: 

’Don’t be alarmed about communications.  I have got them to leave our machine in its place on the chance that you might say something that would give you away.  Gianesi suspects nothing.  Wire as usual, at about half-past two in the morning, when you mean it for me.’

‘That ought to be good enough,’ said Logan approvingly, while the hammers and the caber, under Mr. Macrae’s directions, were thundering on the door of Blake’s room.  The door, which was very strong, gave way at last with a crash; in they burst.  The room was empty, a rope fastened to the ironwork of the bedstead showed the poet’s means of escape, for a long rope-ladder swung from the window.  On the table lay a letter directed to

   Thomas Merton, Esq.,
   care of Ronald Macrae, Esq.,
   Castle Skrae.

Mr. Macrae took the letter, bidding Benson, the butler, search the room, and conveyed the epistle to Merton, who opened it.  It ran thus:—­

’DEAR MERTON,—­As a man of the world, and slightly my senior, you must have expected to meet me in the smoking-room to-night, or at least Lord Fastcastle probably entertained that hope.  I saw that things were getting a little too warm, and made other arrangements.  It is a little hard on the poor fellow whom you have probably mauled, if you have not shot each other.  As he has probably informed you, he is not Mr. Gianesi, but a dismissed employe, whom we enlisted, and whom I found it desirable to leave behind me.  These discomforts will occur; I myself did not look for so severe an assault as I suffered down at the cove on Sunday evening.  The others carried out their parts only too conscientiously in my case.  You will not easily find an opportunity of renewing our acquaintance, as I slit and cut the tyres of all the motors, except that on which I am now retiring from hospitable Castle Skrae, having also slit largely the tyres of the bicycles.  Mr. Macrae’s new wireless machine has been rendered useless by my unfortunate associate, and, as I have rather spiked all the wheeled conveyances (I could not manage to scuttle the yacht), you will be put to some inconvenience to re-establish communications.  By that time my trail will be lost.  I enclose a banknote for 10_l_., which pray, if you would oblige me, distribute among the servants at the Castle.  Please thank Mr. Macrae for all his hospitality.  Among my books you may find something to interest you.  You may keep my manuscript poems.

   Very faithfully yours,
   GERALD BLAKE.’