"You are thinking of detectives in stories, Mr. Cromarty. The real men are no better than Sutherland--not a bit. I believe in Sutherland. Better man than he looks. Very shrewd, most painstaking. Couldn't have a better man. Useless expense getting a man from London." "Don't you trouble about the expense, Mr. Rattar. That can be arranged all right. I want a first class man engaged." The sudden glance which the lawyer shot at him, struck Ned as unusual in his experience of Simon Rattar. He appeared to be startled again, and yet it was not mere annoyance that seemed to show for the fraction of a second in his eye. And then the next instant the man's gaze was as cold and steady as ever. He pursed his lips and considered his answer in silence before he spoke. "You are a member of the family, Mr. Cromarty; the actual head of it, in fact, I believe." "Going by pedigrees, I believe I am, but being a member is reason enough for my wanting to get daylight through this business--and seeing somebody swing for it!" "What if you made things worse?" "Worse! How could they be?" "Mr. Cromarty, I am the Procurator Fiscal in charge of this case. But I am also lawyer and factor to the Cromarty family, and my father was before me. If there was evidence enough--clear and proper evidence--to convict any person of this crime, it would be my duty as Procurator Fiscal to convict them. But there is no definite evidence, as you know yourself. All we can do, if we push this matter too far, is to make a family scandal public. Are you as the head of the Cromarty family, and I as their factor, to do this?" It was difficult to judge with what feelings Ned Cromarty heard this deliberate statement and appeal. His mouth was as hard as the lawyer's and his eye revealed nothing. "Then you propose to hush the thing up?" "I said nothing about hushing up. I propose to wait till I get some _evidence_, Mr. Cromarty. It is a little difficult perhaps for a layman to realise what evidence means, but I can tell you--and any lawyer, or any detective, would tell you--we have nothing that can be called evidence yet." "And you won't get any till you call in somebody a cut above Sutherland." "The scent is too cold by this time--" "Who let it cool?" interrupted Ned. For a moment the lawyer's eyes looked unpleasant. "Every effort was made to find a clue; by yourself as well as by the police. And let me tell you, Mr. Cromarty, that our efforts have not been as fruitless as you seem to think." "What have we discovered?" "In the first place that there was no robbery committed and no sign of anybody having entered the house from the outside." Ned shook his head. "That's a lot too strong. I believe the man _did_ come in by the window." "You admit there is no proof?" "Sure," said Ned candidly. "I quite admit there is no proof of anything--yet." "No robbery, no evidence of anyone having come in by the window--"