The scallywags are a hopeless minority. If I get sent to quod–’

‘You won’t get sent to quod. At the worst it will be a fine, and you can pay that. What’s the extreme penalty for this kind of offence, Ned?’

‘I don’t know,’ Leithen answered. ‘I’m not an authority on Scots law. But Archie’s perfectly right. We can’t go making a public exhibition of ourselves like this. We’re too old to be listening to the chimes at midnight.’

‘Now, look here.’ Lamancha had shaken off his glumness and was as tense and eager as a schoolboy. ‘Didn’t your doctor advise you to steal a horse? Well, this is a long sight easier than horsestealing. It’s admitted that we three want a tonic. On second thoughts Archie had better stand out – he hasn’t our ailment, and a healthy man doesn’t need medicine. But we three need it, and this idea is an inspiration. Of course we take risks, but they’re sound sporting risks. After all, I’ve a reputation of a kind, and I put as much into the pool as anyone.’

His hearers regarded him with stony faces, but this in no way checked his ardour.

‘It’s a perfectly first-class chance. A lonely house where you can see visitors a mile off, and an unsociable dog like Archie for a host. We write the letters and receive the answers at a London address. We arrive at Crask by stealth, and stay there unbeknown to the countryside, for Archie can count on his people and my man in a sepulchre. Also we’ve got Lithgow, who played the same game with Jim Tarras. We have a job which will want every bit of our nerve and ingenuity with a reasonable spice of danger – for, of course, if we fail we should cut queer figures. The thing is simply ordained by Heaven for our benefit. Of course you’ll come.’

‘I’ll do nothing of the kind,’ said Leithen.

‘No more will I,’ said Palliser-Yeates.

‘Then I’ll go alone,’ said Lamancha cheerfully. ‘I’m out for a cure, if you’re not. You’ve a month to make up your mind, and meanwhile a share in the syndicate remains open to you.’

Sir Archie looked as if he wished he had never mentioned the fatal name of Jim Tarras. ‘I say, you know, Charles,’ he began hesitatingly, but was cut short.

‘Are you going back on your invitation?’ asked Lamancha sternly. ‘Very well, then, I’ve accepted it, and what’s more I’m going to draft a specimen letter that will go to your Highland grandee, and Claybody and the American.’

He rose with a bound and fetched a pencil and a sheet of notepaper from the nearest writing-table. ‘Here goes – Sir, I have the honour to inform you that I propose to kill a stag – or a salmon as the case may be – on your ground between midnight on – and midnight -. We can leave the dates open for the present. The animal, of course, remains your property and will be duly delivered to you. It is a condition that it must be removed wholly outside your bounds. In the event of the undersigned failing to achieve his purpose he will pay as forfeit one hundred pounds, and if successful fifty pounds to any chanty you may appoint.