Then rising, he opened a little door that lay behind his chair, and stood to one side to let some one pass into the room. And very slowly, her head in the air, came Miss Macpherson. Rob felt his heart give a great thump, and then he grew cold as ice, for he knew, whether she wished to harm him or no, that his aunt was bound to recognize him. Strange advanced to meet her. "Mistress Macpherson," he said, "you remember me?" "Aye," she replied drily, "I know ye fine, though we met last in more reputable circumstances." "Alas!" he smiled, "duty is a hard master." The Duke burst in at that. "Madam," he cried, "ees zis boy known to you or nod?" "Your Highness," she replied, looking Rob squarely in the eyes, "this is my wretched nephew." With a bitter look of mortification and fury, Rob turned his back on them. "Vas 'e in arms against ze throne?" asked the Duke. "He was all that," she replied grimly, and Strange rubbed his hands with joy. This was beyond all expectation. "But, madam," went on the Duke, "you know vot zis means." He was evidently puzzled by her equanimity. "Thrawn necks are too common at present to be overlooked," she replied drily. He nodded, understanding her dimly. "Zen dere is noding more to be said," he remarked, and said something in Strange's ear, who touching Rob upon the shoulder led him away to his cell, where he was left to his own dismal thoughts. Returning, Strange begged Miss Macpherson to be seated, and again whispered into the Duke's ear, who nodded from time to time, and smiled sleepily. "As you vill, Strange," he said, and rising, withdrew. "Now, Miss Macpherson," began Strange when they were alone, "I knew I could rely upon you to put even the claims of relationship aside, when it was a question of loyalty." "Go on, my man," said she impatiently; "I'm no here to listen to patriotic sentiments." "Exactly. Now this is how the matter stands. Rob is convicted as a rebel, and there's only one solution to that. We agreed from the start that he was fated for a quick finish. But he's young, Miss Macpherson, and your own blood." "No blood of mine," she said sharply. "What my poor sister did is no affair of mine." "At any rate, it would not look well for you to have led to the lad's death." Miss Macpherson's lips tightened, but she said nothing. "And there are ways and means. All this fuss over a boy is not according to reason, much less the Duke's usual procedure. But Rob knows some things that his Highness is ready to hear in exchange for his life. More than that, he will deal generously with him." "What things?" asked Miss Macpherson, shortly. "Where Lovat hides, for instance. And, mark you, it will make no difference in the end. In a fortnight's time we shall drive the upper end of Loch Arkaig, where we hear he is concealed. But we are not sure, and a word from Rob would help us. That is hardly treachery, Miss Macpherson, is it?"