Adam could just see that it was on the top of a hill, not quite so high
as that which was covered by the Castle, on whose tower flew the flag,
and which was all ablaze with moving lights, manifestly used in the
preparations for the festivities on the morrow. So Adam deferred his
curiosity till daylight. His grand-uncle was met at the door by a fine
old man, who greeted him warmly.

"I came over early as you wished. I suppose this is your grand-nephew--I
am glad to meet you, Mr. Adam Salton. I am Nathaniel de Salis, and your
uncle is one of my oldest friends."

Adam, from the moment of their eyes meeting, felt as if they were already
friends. The meeting was a new note of welcome to those that had already
sounded in his ears.

The cordiality with which Sir Nathaniel and Adam met, made the imparting
of information easy. Sir Nathaniel was a clever man of the world, who
had travelled much, and within a certain area studied deeply. He was a
brilliant conversationalist, as was to be expected from a successful
diplomatist, even under unstimulating conditions. But he had been
touched and to a certain extent fired by the younger man's evident
admiration and willingness to learn from him. Accordingly the
conversation, which began on the most friendly basis, soon warmed to an
interest above proof, as the old man spoke of it next day to Richard
Salton. He knew already that his old friend wanted his grand-nephew to
learn all he could of the subject in hand, and so had during his journey
from the Peak put his thoughts in sequence for narration and explanation.
Accordingly, Adam had only to listen and he must learn much that he
wanted to know. When dinner was over and the servants had withdrawn,
leaving the three men at their wine, Sir Nathaniel began.