"Yes," I replied, astonished at the question."What do you want with them?""Pack a couple in cases for traveling," says Mr.Dark, "with lines, and hooks, and fly-books all complete.Have a drop of the ale before you go--and don't stare, William, don't stare.I'll let the light in on you as soon as we are out of the house.Off with you for the rods! I want to be on the road in five minutes."When I came back with the rods and tackle I found Mr.Dark in the dog-cart.
"Money, luggage, fishing-rods, papers of directions, copy of anonymous letter, guide-book, map," says he, running over in his mind the things wanted for the journey--"all right so far.Drive off."I took the reins and started the horse.As we left the house Isaw my mistress and Josephine looking after us from two of the windows on the second floor.The memory of those two attentive faces--one so fair and so good, the other so yellow and so wicked--haunted my mind perpetually for many days afterward.
"Now, William," says Mr.Dark, when we were clear of the lodge gates, "I'm going to begin by telling you that you must step out of your own character till further notice.You are a clerk in a bank, and I'm another.We have got our regular holiday, that comes, like Christmas, once a year, and we are taking a little tour in Scotland to see the curiosities, and to breathe the sea air, and to get some fishing whenever we can.I'm the fat cashier who digs holes in a drawerful of gold with a copper shovel, and you're the arithmetical young man who sits on a perch behind me and keeps the books.Scotland's a beautiful country, William.Can you make whisky-toddy? I can; and, what's more, unlikely as the thing may seem to you, I can actually drink it into the bargain.""Scotland!" says I."What are we going to Scotland for?""Question for question," says Mr.Dark."What are we starting on a journey for?""To find my master," I answered, "and to make sure if the letter about him is true.""Very good," says he."How would you set about doing that, eh?""I should go and ask about him at Stockholm in Sweden, where he said his letters were to be sent.""Should you, indeed?" says Mr.Dark."If you were a shepherd, William, and had lost a sheep in Cumberland, would you begin looking for it at the Land's End, or would you try a little nearer home?""You're attempting to make a fool of me now," says I.
"No," says Mr.Dark, "I'm only letting the light in on you, as Isaid I would.Now listen to reason, William, and profit by it as much as you can.Mr.James Smith says he is going on a cruise to Sweden, and makes his word good, at the beginning, by starting northward toward the coast of Scotland.What does he go in? Ayacht.Do yachts carry live beasts and a butcher on board? No.
Will joints of meat keep fresh all the way from Cumberland to Sweden? No.Do gentlemen like living on salt provisions? No.What follows from these three Noes? That Mr.James Smith must have stopped somewhere on the way to S weden to supply his sea-larder with fresh provisions.Where, in that case, must he stop?
Somewhere in Scotland, supposing he didn't alter his course when he was out of sight of your seaport.Where in Scotland? Northward on the main land, or westward at one of the islands? Most likely on the main land, where the seaside places are largest, and where he is sure of getting all the stores he wants.Next, what is our business? Not to risk losing a link in the chain of evidence by missing any place where he has put his foot on shore.Not to overshoot the mark when we want to hit it in the bull's-eye.Not to waste money and time by taking a long trip to Sweden till we know that we must absolutely go there.Where is our journey of discovery to take us to first, then? Clearly to the north of Scotland.What do you say to that, Mr.William? Is my catechi** all correct, or has your strong ale muddled my head?"It was evident by this time that no ale could do that, and I told him so.He chuckled, winked at me, and, taking another pinch of snuff, said he would now turn the whole case over in his mind again, and make sure that he had got all the bearings of it quite clear.
By the time we reached the post-town he had accomplished this mental effort to his own perfect satisfaction, and was quite ready to compare the ale at the inn with the ale at Darrock Hall.
The dog-cart was left to be taken back the next morning by the hostler.A post-chaise and horses were ordered out.A loaf of bread, a Bologna sausage, and two bottles of sherry were put into the pockets of the carriage; we took our seats, and started briskly on our doubtful journey.
"One word more of friendly advice," says Mr.Dark, settling himself comfortably in his corner of the carriage."Take your sleep, William, whenever you feel that you can get it.You won't find yourself in bed again till we get to Glasgow."
