"What paper is he reading? I didn't know there was one here." I explained what paper it was, adding, "I quite admit that it was a waste of time when I ought to be admiring your unrivalled view, Mr. Hilderman. I offer you my sincere apologies." Hilderman threw a quick glance at Mr. Fuller. "Better give it him back, Fuller," he said. "There is nothing more annoying than to have a paper snatched away from you when you're half-way through it." Shortly after that Fuller declared that he must be leaving, and asked Hilderman rather pointedly whether he felt like a trip to Loch Duich. I determined to step in with an idea of my own. "I was going to make a suggestion myself, Mr. Hilderman," I began, "but it doesn't matter if you are engaged." "Well, I don't know that I'm particularly keen to come with you this afternoon, Fuller," he remarked. "What was your suggestion, Mr. Ewart?" "I was wondering whether you would come over to Invermalluch with Burnham and me and--er--have a look round with us?" "Well, if Fuller doesn't think it exceedingly rude of me, I should like to," the American replied, "especially as Mr. Burnham will be leaving you to-morrow, or the day after at latest." "Incidentally, I don't know how we shall get back without you," I pointed out. "You see, we sent the motor-boat on." "By Jove, so you did!" Hilderman exclaimed. "Well, that settles it, Fuller." "I could take them on the _Fiona_ and put them ashore," his companion persisted. Hilderman gave Fuller a look which seemed to clinch the matter, however, for the little man beamed at me through his spectacles, and explained that if he took us in his yacht it would be killing two birds with one stone. "Still, of course, my dear fellow," he concluded, "you must please yourselves entirely." So we saw him safely on board the _Fiona_, and then started for Invermalluch in Hilderman's magnificent Wolseley launch. "Fuller knows me," he explained, by way of apology. "I go up with him sometimes as often as three times a week, but I gathered that you asked me with a view to discussing the mystery of the green flash, or whatever you call it." "You're quite right; I did," I replied. "I simply want you to come and have a look at the river, and see what you can make of it." "Anything I can do, you know, Mr. Ewart," he assured me, "I shall be delighted to do. If you think it will be of any assistance to you if I explore the river with you--well, I'm ready now." From that we proceeded to give him, at his request, minute details of Garnesk's conclusions on the matter, and I am afraid I departed from the truth with a ready abandon and a certain relish of which I ought to have been most heartily ashamed. When we stepped ashore at Invermalluch Hilderman looked back across the water. "If I'd waited for Fuller," he laughed, "I should have been stuck there yet. He's let the water go off the boil or something."