The House of the Four Winds

Chapter VI-2

Dickson, as well as he could, expounded Dougal’s reading of Evallonian affairs. There was nothing new to his auditors in the exposition, for it was very much what they already knew from McTavish.

“What I don’t understand,” said Alison, “is what Dougal thought you could do, Dickson.”

“I suppose,” was the modest answer, “that he wanted a business-like view of the situation.”

“But how could you give him that when you know so little about it?”

“That’s just what I told him. I said that before I could help to redd up the mischief I had to discover exactly what the mischief was. That’s why I came on here.”

“You’re a marvel,” said Alison with wide eyes. “I didn’t know you were so keen about Evallonia.”

“I’m not. I don’t care a docken about Evallonia. But, you see, I’m under a kind of bond, M