Drever," I replied. "I found it at the head of the
Gaulton Cliff on Saturday."
"Just so," said he smiling, "I had heard that. Now that stone may
be wanted in evidence. Would you mind letting me have it?"
"Here it is, sir," I said, handing it to him.
And taking it with him, he left me to my thoughts.
The morning of the inquiry came round, and at about ten o'clock
Jimmy Macfarlane opened the door of my place of confinement and
beckoned me to follow him. He conducted me through a long passage
into a large room adjoining the prison house.
It was a comfortable apartment, with a bright peat fire burning on
the hearth, before which Colin Lothian's dog lay sound asleep.
Close to the fire and athwart the room was a long table, where, as
I entered, I saw Bailie Duke seated at his ease in a large
armchair. At his right sat Bailie Thomson--a man with a forbidding
face, whom I had often of late seen in the company of Carver
Kinlay. At Mr. Duke's left hand was the schoolmaster, prim and
businesslike as I had often seen him look in the school when
anything of importance was pending, such as a class examination.
Near him sat Lieutenant Fox, looking very handsome in his naval
uniform, and very much at his ease. The only other person in the
room was Dr. Linklater, who smiled a greeting to me as I stood at
the door.
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