The question, ‘Do you know the man’s name?’ elicited the now familiar shrug.
‘We called him,sir.’ An impish grin, ‘tae his face.’
‘Was he the only guard?’
Finn shook his head. ‘Nae, but he were the meanest. Th’owers did as he said.’
‘But he was the only one to stay overnight?’
Finn gave another shrug. ‘Ah dinnae ken. He be the only one there when ah ran.’
‘Thank you, Finn, you’ve been most helpful.’ Gifford stood up to take the boy back to the kitchen, but the lad stood his ground.
‘Ye’re nae gaun tae send me back are ye, Maister?’ It was the second time the boy had asked the same question.
Peter shook his head. ‘We will not send you back, Finn. If you wish it, your home is here now, in Caerlaverock.’
‘Aye, ah dae.’ Finn’s response was clearly heartfelt as he finally allowed himself to be led away.
‘Those poor children,’ Felicity murmured. ‘To be locked down there in the dark. It’s monstrous.’
As soon as Finn had left the room, Peter became all business. ‘A perfect description, Felicity. And wewillput a stop to it. The letter is now on its way to my father, but until we receive his reply, we must focus our attention on rescuing those unfortunates already in MacFarlane’s clutches.’
He turned to his sister. ‘Once Gifford is back with us, could youdescribe what you read in the book you found to those who weren’t with us at dinner last night?’
Jennifer nodded. ‘And I have some further ideas of how we can use the information,’ she enthused.
As soon as the elderly steward returned, she repeated what she’d found in the book’s pages. ‘It’s perfect I think,’ she finished. ‘There is enough information to make any approach to the MacFarlane Clan legitimate, but we can make up the rest of it ourselves. What do you think, Grandpapa?’
The Reverend hmphed, then, ‘I think you may have more Shackleford blood in you than Sinclair. What Canterbury tale would you have me spin?’
Jennifer grinned. ‘I’ve given it some thought. The book stated that Edward Coleman visited Loch Lomond just before his arrest. What if he was carrying the gold – mayhap in some kind of satchel – with the intention of burying it somewhere?’
‘Och, why would he bother? Ah mean, he wouldnae be havin’ much use fer it, an’ Edinburgh tae Lomond be no small distance.’ Dougal had a point. Jennifer bit her lip and frowned.
‘Could he have written a letter divulging the whereabouts of the jewellery to a member of his family – perhaps someone still living back in Sussex? I would imagine the last people he’d want to see benefit from his gold would be those who would see him dead.’
‘Aye an’ the Reverend could be a descendant of the family…’
‘…Still residing in Sussex, who somehow found the letter…’
‘…and made haste up to Loch Lomond…’
‘…Intendin’ tae look fer the gold.’
‘So where did he hide it?’ Jennifer’s triumphant final question was met with silence.
‘It would have to be close enough to the mine for Augustus and Dougal to be able to secretly keep watch while they’researching,’ Felicity mooted at length.
‘Inveruglas,’ Dougal announced suddenly. At Peter, Jennifer and Felicity’s blank looks, he added, ‘It be an island in the loch close tae the mine.’
‘Do they still have a stronghold there?’ Malcolm asked. ‘I thought it long abandoned.’
‘Aye it is. But the MacFarlane be still boond tae it somethin’ fierce.’
‘Inveruglas be the best place tae get a clear view o’ the mine across the loch.’ Brendon nodded slowly.
‘So, what if Colman buried his gold on th’island?’ Dougal looked around the table.
