“A flame, exactly! Just a flame; no word better describes it. When you spoke of taking down that rotten den, I was for the time possessed. I can honestly tell you that a score of thoughts came sweeping through me that I never harboured for a second in my life before.” “Nor had intruded on you before, eh, Macaulay?” said the Captain. “That—that is neither here nor there; if every man confessed the thoughts his better nature rejected we were all condemned for the gallows sooner or later.” “I must say I was looking for a little more contrition, Mr Macaulay,” said the Captain. “You’ll allow the escapade was a little unusual, and not without some inconvenience to myself? You seem to take it in so odd a spirit that I cannot be sure against a recurrence. I may tell you that I’m determined to have Kincreggan down—I can be as dour as yourself, you see—and though I might be prepared to fight the point of its ownership once in the old fashion, I cannot guarantee that I should be ready for that a second time.” “Not a word!” said Macaulay hastily. “My position was ridiculous in law and equity. _Ne dominia rerum sint incerta neve lites sint perpetuæ_—even if your folk had held the place for only forty years instead of two hundred, your claim would be unassailable, as I’m prepared to contest in any court in the land. Kincreggan, Captain—pooh! I esteem the place so little that upon my word I would not grudge to put powder to it myself. And, if you will permit me, I’ll take my desk again.” Kilree rose from the lawyer’s seat with a chuckle, and Macaulay, indicating another, sank into his old chair with a sigh of satisfaction. “I would like to ask you one thing,” said the Captain. “How did it feel?” The lawyer flushed over his clean-shaven face and stared straight in front of him out of the window at the sea-shore with the wild gulls flying free. “I hope it is the last time so shameful an affair will call for reference,” he said; “but I’ll tell you this, it was—it was an ecstasy! I would not have lost the experience for ten thousand pounds.” “Ho! ho!” said the Captain. “Nor have it again for twice ten thousand,” concluded the lawyer. “And do you know this?” said the Captain, taking a grip of his arm and speaking softly into his ear. “Do you know this? By heavens, I envy you! What broke the spell?” “I know, but I’m not going to tell you,” said the lawyer shamefacedly. “Come, come! It is hardly worth while swallowing the rump and retching at the tail.” “Between ourselves, then,” replied Macaulay, “it was my slippers. That and an indifferent dish of tea. If my wife had not got me into my slippers, neither you nor I would be sitting so jocular here. The freedom of the mountains is not to be compared with a pair of dry hose and content beside the fire.” At that the Captain grimaced. “Tut!” said he. “I wish I had not asked you. I expected a miracle, and you give me only an epitome of civilisation.” THE BROOCH.