“I left her near Caddam Wood,” I replied, “but she is probably not there now”

“Ah, they are strange creatures, these gypsies!” he said, casting a warning look at the earl.  “Now I wonder where she had been bound for.”

“There is a gypsy encampment on the hill,” I answered, though I cannot say why.

“She is there!” exclaimed Rintoul, and was done with me.

“I daresay,” McKenzie said indifferently.  “However, it is nothing to us.  Good-night, sir.”

The earl had started for the trap, but McKenzie’s salute reminded him of a forgotten courtesy, and, despite his agitation, he came back to apologize.  I admired him for this.  Then my thoughtlessness must needs mar all.

“Good-night, Mr. McKenzie,” I said.  “Good-night, Lord Rintoul.”

I had addressed him by his real name.  Never a turnip fell from a bumping, laden cart, and the driver more unconscious of it, than I that I had dropped that word.  I re-entered the house, but had not reached my chair when McKenzie’s hand fell roughly on me, and I was swung round.

“Mr. Ogilvy,” he said, the more savagely I doubt not because his passions had been chained so long, “you know more than you would have us think.  Beware, sir, of recognising that gypsy should you ever see her again in different attire.  I advise you to have forgotten this night when you waken to-morrow morning.”

With a menacing gesture he left me, and I sank into a chair, glad to lose sight of the glowering eyes with which he had pinned me to the wall.  I did not hear the trap cross the ford and renew its journey.  When I looked out next, the night had fallen very dark, and the glen was so deathly in its drowsiness that I thought not even the cry of murder could tear its eyes open.

The earl and McKenzie would be some distance still from the hill when the office-bearers had scoured it in vain for their minister.  The gypsies, now dancing round their fires to music that, on ordinary occasions, Lang Tammas would have stopped by using his fists to the glory of God, had seen no minister, they said, and disbelieved in the existence of the mysterious Egyptian.

“Liars they are to trade,” Spens declared to his companions, “but now and again they speak truth, like a standing clock, and I’m beginning to think the minister’s lassie was invented in the square.”

“Not so,” said the precentor, “for we saw her oursel’s a short year syne, and Hendry Munn there allows there’s townsfolk that hae passed her in the glen mair recently.”

“I only allowed,” Hendry said cautiously, “that some sic talk had shot up sudden-like in the town.  Them that pretends they saw her says that she joukit quick out o’ sicht.”

“Ay, and there’s another quirk in that,” responded the suspicious precentor.

“I’se uphaud the minister’s sitting in the manse in his slippers by this time,” Hendry said.

“I’m willing,” replied Whamond, “to gang back and speir, or to search Caddam next; but let the matter drop I winna, though I ken you’re a’ awid to be hame now.”