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"Mr—I beg your pardon—Crombie?—has told me that he is employed<br />
on one of my papers. Therefore I have a right to call upon his assistance.<br />
He informs me that I can also count on your goodwill and discretion,<br />
sir," and he inclined his head towards Jaikie. "It is imperative that this<br />
foolish affair should never be known to the public. I have been successful<br />
in life, and therefore I have rivals. I have taken a strong stand in public<br />
affairs, and therefore I have enemies. My position, as you are no doubt<br />
aware, is one of authority, and I do not wish my usefulness to be impaired<br />
by becoming the centre of a ridiculous tale."<br />
Mr Craw was losing his nervousness and growing fluent. He felt that<br />
these two young men were of his own household, and he spoke to them<br />
as he would have addressed Freddy Barbon, or Sigismund Allins, or<br />
Archibald Bamff, or Bannister, his butler, or that efficient spinster Miss<br />
Elena Cazenove.<br />
"I don't think you need be afraid, sir," said Dougal. "The students who<br />
kidnapped you will have discovered their mistake as soon as they saw<br />
the real Linklater going about this morning. They won't have a notion<br />
who was kidnapped, and they won't want to inquire. You may be sure<br />
that they will lie very low about the whole business. What is to hinder<br />
you sending a wire to <strong>Castle</strong> <strong>Gay</strong> to have a car up here to-morrow, and<br />
go back to your own house as if nothing had happened? Mrs Catterick<br />
doesn't know you from Adam, and you may trust Jaikie and me to hold<br />
our tongues."<br />
"Unfortunately the situation is not so simple." Mr Craw blinked his<br />
eyes, as if to shut out an unpleasing picture, and his hands began to flutter<br />
again. "At this moment there is a by-election in the Canonry—a<br />
spectacular by-election… . The place is full of journalists—special correspondents—from<br />
the London papers. They were anxious to drag me into<br />
the election, but I have consistently refused. I cannot embroil myself in<br />
local politics. Indeed, I intended to go abroad, for this inroad upon my<br />
rural peace is in the highest degree distasteful… . You may be very certain<br />
that these journalists are at this moment nosing about <strong>Castle</strong> <strong>Gay</strong>.<br />
Now, my household must have been alarmed when I did not return last<br />
night. I have a discreet staff, but they were bound to set inquiries on foot.<br />
They must have telephoned to Glasgow, and they may even have consulted<br />
the police. Some rumours must have got abroad, and the approaches<br />
to my house will be watched. If one of these journalists learns that I am<br />
here—the telegraph office in these country parts is a centre of gossip—he<br />
will follow up the trail. He will interview the woman of this cottage, he<br />
will wire to Glasgow, and presently the whole ridiculous business will<br />
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