'
He picked it up, glanced at the superscription, and laid it down
again. One of the others had been looking at my boots, and a word
in German called the speaker's attention to them.
'You've a fine taste in boots,' he said. 'These were never made
by a country shoemaker.'
'They were not,' I said readily. 'They were made in London. I
got them frae the gentleman that was here last year for the shootin'.
What was his name now?' And I scratched a forgetful head.
Again the sleek one spoke in German. 'Let us get on,' he said.
'This fellow is all right.'
They asked one last question.
'Did you see anyone pass early this morning? He might be on a
bicycle or he might be on foot.'
I very nearly fell into the trap and told a story of a bicyclist
hurrying past in the grey dawn. But I had the sense to see my
danger. I pretended to consider very deeply.
'I wasna up very early,' I said. 'Ye see, my dochter was merrit
last nicht, and we keepit it up late. I opened the house door about
seeven and there was naebody on the road then. Since I cam' up
here there has just been the baker and the Ruchill herd, besides you
gentlemen.'
One of them gave me a cigar, which I smelt gingerly and stuck
in Turnbull's bundle. They got into their car and were out of sight
in three minutes.
My heart leaped with an enormous relief, but I went on wheeling
my stones.
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