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to the Bar； and before they had been tried and found wanting； he flattered
himself he was a fellow of unusual quickness and penetration。 They knew
nothing of Sherlock Holmes in those days； but there was a good deal said
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of Talleyrand。 And if you could have caught Frank off his guard； he would
have confessed with a smirk that； if he resembled any one； it was the
Marquis de Talleyrand…Perigord。 It was on the occasion of Archie's first
absence that this interest took root。 It was vastly deepened when Kirstie
resented his curiosity at breakfast； and that same afternoon there occurred
another scene which clinched the business。 He was fishing Swingleburn；
Archie accompanying him； when the latter looked at his watch。
〃Well； good…bye；〃 said he。 〃I have something to do。 See you at dinner。〃
〃Don't be in such a hurry；〃 cries Frank。 〃Hold on till I get my rod up。
I'll go with you； I'm sick of flogging this ditch。〃
And he began to reel up his line。
Archie stood speechless。 He took a long while to recover his wits
under this direct attack； but by the time he was ready with his answer； and
the angle was almost packed up； he had become completely Weir； and the
hanging face gloomed on his young shoulders。 He spoke with a laboured
composure； a laboured kindness even； but a child could see that his mind
was made up。
〃I beg your pardon； Innes； I don't want to be disagreeable； but let us
understand one another from the beginning。 When I want your company；
I'll let you know。〃
〃O！〃 cries Frank； 〃you don't want my company； don't you？〃
〃Apparently not just now；〃 replied Archie。 〃I even indicated to you
when I did； if you'll remember … and that was at dinner。 If we two fellows
are to live together pleasantly … and I see no reason why we should not … it
can only be by respecting each other's privacy。 If we begin intruding … 〃
〃O； come！ I'll take this at no man's hands。 Is this the way you treat a
guest and an old friend？〃 cried Innes。
〃Just go home and think over what I said by yourself；〃 continued
Archie； 〃whether it's reasonable； or whether it's really offensive or not； and
let's meet at dinner as though nothing had happened； I'll put it this way； if
you like … that I know my own character； that I'm looking forward （with
great pleasure； I assure you） to a long visit from you； and that I'm taking
precautions at the first。 I see the thing that we … that I； if you like … might
fall out upon； and I step in and OBSTO PRINCIPIIS。 I wager you five
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pounds you'll end by seeing that I mean friendliness； and I assure you；
Francie； I do；〃 he added； relenting。
Bursting with anger； but incapable of speech； Innes shouldered his rod；
made a gesture of farewell； and strode off down the burn…side。 Archie
watched him go without moving。 He was sorry； but quite unashamed。 He
hated to be inhospitable； but in one thing he was his father's son。 He had a
strong sense that his house was his own and no man else's； and to lie at a
guest's mercy was what he refused。 He hated to seem harsh。 But that was
Frank's lookout。 If Frank had been commonly discreet； he would have
been decently courteous。 And there was another consideration。 The secret
he was protecting was not his own merely； it was hers： it belonged to that
inexpressible she who was fast taking possession of his soul； and whom he
would soon have defended at the cost of burning cities。 By the time he had
watched Frank as far as the Swingleburn…foot； appearing and disappearing
in the tarnished heather； still stalking at a fierce gait but already dwindled
in the distance into less than the smallness of Lilliput； he could afford to
smile at the occurrence。 Either Frank would go； and that would be a relief
… or he would continue to stay； and his host must continue to endure him。
And Archie was now free … by devious paths； behind hillocks and in the
hollow of burns … to make for the trysting…place where Kirstie； cried about
by the curlew and the plover； waited and burned for his coming by the
Covenanter's stone。
Innes went off down…hill in a passion of resentment； easy to be
understood； but which yielded progressively to the needs of his situation。
He cursed Archie for a cold…hearted； unfriendly； rude； rude dog； and
himself still more passionately for a fool in having come to Hermiston
when he might have sought refuge in almost any other house in Scotland。
But the step once taken； was practically irretrievable。 He had no more
ready money to go anywhere else； he would have to borrow from Archie
the next club…night； and ill as he thought of his host's manners； he was sure
of his practical generosity。 Frank's resemblance to Talleyrand strikes me as
imaginary； but at least not Talleyrand himself could have more obediently
taken his lesson from the facts。 He met Archie at dinner without
resentment； almost with cordiality。 You must take your friends as you find
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them； he would have said。 Archie couldn't help being his father's son； or
his grandfather's； the hypothetical weaver's； grandson。 The son of a hunks；
he was still a hunks at heart； incapable of true generosity and
consideration； but he had other qualities with which Frank could divert
himself in the meanwhile； and to enjoy which it was necessary that Frank
should keep his temper。
So excellently was it controlled that he awoke next morning with his
head full of a different； though a cognate subject。 What was Archie's little
game？ Why did he shun Frank's company？ What was he keeping secret？
Was he keeping tryst with somebody； and was it a woman？ It would be a
good joke and a fair revenge to discover。 To that task he set himself with a
great deal of patience； which might have surprised his friends； for he had
been always credited not with patience so much as brilliancy； and little by
little； from one point to another； he at last succeeded in piecing out the
situation。 First he remarked that； although Archie set out in all the
directions of the compass； he always came home again from some point
between the south and west。 From the study of a map； and in consideration
of the great expanse of untenanted moorland running in that direction
towards the sources of the Clyde； he laid his finger on Cauldstaneslap and
two other neighbouring farms； Kingsmuirs and Polintarf。 But it was
difficult to advance farther。 With his rod for a pretext； he vainly visited
each of them in turn； nothing was to be seen suspicious about this trinity
of moorland settlements。 He would have tried to follow Archie； had it been
the least possible； but the nature of the land precluded the idea。 He did the
next best； ensconced himself in a quiet corner； and pursued his movements
with a telescope。 It was equally in vain； and he soon wearied of his futile
vigilance； left the telescope at home； and had almost given the matter up in
despair； when； on the twenty…seventh day of his visit； he was suddenly
confronted with the person whom he sought。