"Yes. I see you've made up your mind to act, so there's no chance of my guiding you any further. And I'm glad of it, Guv'nor," added the Cheap-jack, heartily, "you have plenty of resolution, and only need to exercise it. Now then, we're tiled in all right, so fire ahead and find out what this old----" "I'm the Rev. Michael Gowrie, saving your presence," said that gentleman in an aggrieved tone. "You are whatever pays you best," retorted Kind. "Here, have some more whisky, and answer the Guv'nor's questions straight, or I'll wring that blessed old neck of yours." "Elspeth!" "I agree with Sweetlips, father," said the girl with resolution. "If you don't act straightly, I'll accuse you myself of having murdered Sir Simon, even though you are my own father." "I," gasped Gowrie turning pale, all but his nose, which everlastingly gleamed a bright crimson, "I murder----?" "It looks like it," put in Herries, who had been watching the old trickster, "you've run your head into the noose, Mr. Gowrie." "I'm--I'm--innocent, damn ye." "Very good. Then explain what took place on that night." "I'll no dae that, until I see ye marrit tae my dochter, she-deil as she has been tae her auld faither." "But how can I marry her in my present position?" "Eh, ye can leave yon tae me, Angus. I'll ca ye Angus, seence ye're tae be bane o' ma bane and flesh o' ma flesh, as it micht be. When I can ca' my dochter Mistress Herries, and have the promise of the pair o' ye tae gie me enough tae leeve like gentry, I'll save the life o' ye,--aye, that I wull." "And tell us who killed Sir Simon." "Nae," said Gowrie with real regret, "I canna dae that, for I dinna ken wha committed the weecked deed." "That's a lie," cried Kind. "It's the truth, sir," said Gowrie in his best English. "For all I know Herries here may have killed the man." "You said that you could save me." "I did, and I can," said Gowrie, rather disconcerted, "but only if you marry Elspeth." "I don't require your command to marry her," said Herries, taking the girl in his arms. "I love your daughter with all my heart and soul, as a good true woman. I'll marry whenever I am free." "Ye'll mairry before that," said Gowrie sharply. "Can't you trust me?" asked Herries angrily. "I trust nae one." "He judges all by himself," said Kind. "Well then, tell us how the marriage can take place. You know that Mr. Herries is being searched for, and if he gets the banns put up, or procures a special license, he will be arrested." "I know that," snapped Gowrie with a leer, "and I want him to be arrested. "What!" cried Elspeth, placing herself before her father with a look of dismay, "would you betray him?" "No, no," said Herries, beginning to see the drift of the old man's plot, "Mr. Gowrie wants to earn the five hundred pounds reward from my cousin." "Aye, I do that, and save you from being hanged also." "I don't understand," said Elspeth in bewilderment.