There's plenty of nice walks about the roads, and I want to
explore the sea-coast."

The last words seemed to annoy the innkeeper. "That's no' allowed
either," he said. "The shore's as private as the policies..
..Well, I wish ye joy tramping the roads in the glaur."

"It's a queer thing," said Dickson meditatively, "that you should
keep a hotel and yet be set on discouraging people from visiting
this neighbourhood. I tell you what, I believe that hotel of
yours is all sham. You've some other business, you and these
lodgekeepers, and in my opinion it's not a very creditable one."

"What d'ye mean?" asked Dobson sharply.

"Just what I say. You must expect a body to be suspicious,
if you treat him as you're treating me." Loudon must have told
this man the story with which he had been fobbed off about the
half-witted Kennedy relative. Would Dobson refer to that?

The innkeeper had an ugly look on his face, but he controlled his
temper with an effort.

"There's no cause for suspicion," he said. "As far as I'm concerned
it's all honest and above-board."

"It doesn't look like it. It looks as if you were hiding something up
in the House which you don't want me to see."

Dobson jumped from his chair. his face pale with anger. A man in pyjamas