Then Rob could have shouted for joy, for he knew in a trice who the great man in Fraser's tavern had been, who but the stranger on the moor who had lured the weasel from his lair. Nearer came the ripple of music, and then sounded a lusty banging at the street door and a man's voice shouting for entry. "Whist!" said his aunt, and again came the knocking. "Wha's there?" she cried. "Open!" returned the voice--a deep bass voice like the noise of a bull. "Open in the name of the King!" "Better open, Mistress Macpherson," counselled the master; "though I would I were out of here. If I had a sword, but who ever saw a dominie with such a thing?" and he laughed ruefully, while a furious knocking beat upon the door. Presently Rob saw the yellow light of a candle, and heard the falling back of the bolts. A cold burst of night air rushed into the place, and with it there entered a great, formidable looking man, so tall that he must needs bend nearly double to enter, dressed in riding clothes, and with his hat rammed down upon his face. Rob slid into the room. Beside him stood Mr. Macaulay, the rope still dangling in his hands. His aunt was facing the stranger, holding the candle high so that its rays fell upon his face. So they stood for a moment, and then the stranger closed the door behind him, swung off his hat, and made a sweeping bow. [Illustration: "MADAM," SAID HE, "I CRAVE YOUR PARDON FOR THIS SEEMING INCIVILITY."] "Madam," said he, "I crave your pardon for this seeming incivility; but I am new come to Inverness, and am quartered here until to-morrow." (Not so new-come thought Rob, mindful of Fraser's tavern.) All the time the stranger's alert blue eyes were speeding hither and thither about the room. They paused for a moment on the rope in the master's hands, took in Rob at a glance (but with no appearance of recognition which grieved him), and then returned to Miss Macpherson, who had never acknowledged his presence by word or nod. "Sir," said Rob to the stranger, "Mr. Macaulay was even now enquiring for you." "Thank ye," he replied, "but I have already seen the rope in his hands. Maybe it could be used for a better purpose..." Mr. Macaulay was as near to the door as the stranger. With a bound he reached it, and flung it back. And then with another swirl of air he was gone into the night. The stranger watched his departure with upraised brows and a smile upon his lips, then he stepped to the door and closed it, bolting it with careful hands. "For the present," said he, turning to Rob, "he's gone: You are not afraid of my company, are you?" He grasped him gently by each shoulder as he spoke, and looked into his eyes.