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“Well, Mr Pons,” he said in a low, soft voice. “We meet at last.”

“We do indeed, Colonel,” said my companion, descending the steps so that they were on the level, almost face to face.

“You have not wasted much time on receipt of my telegram.”

“The opportunity was too good to miss,” said the other in the same low, unemotional voice. “You have not lost your dexterity in dealing with my little toys.”

“Neither you your ingenuity, Colonel. Spring catches operating surprises were always your specialty, were they not.”

A muscle started fretting in the Colonel’s cheek but otherwise he and Pons might have been calmly discussing stock-market prices.

“You have been interfering with my operations, Mr Pons. And when you come upon my own home ground I find it intolerable.”

Solar Pons shrugged.

“It was a clumsy business, having the wreckage of the dogcart burned. Though I have no doubt I should have discovered that the shafts had been sawn through.”

The Colonel nodded absently.

“That was a tactical error on Ferguson’s part.”

“But one you have soon put right,” Pons observed. McDonald gave a harsh, mirthless laugh.

“I heard about the accident just before I left to come here. A tragic business.”

“Murder is always tragic,” said Solar Pons evenly.

McDonald was still standing stock-still but now the muscle in his cheek was twitching almost uncontrollably. That and his blazing eyes were the only indications of the anger within.

“Strong words, Mr Pons,” he said in that uncannily soft voice. “Strong words. And ones you are going to find difficult to prove.”

“I am not trying to prove them,” said Pons with a faint smile. “I am merely speaking my thoughts aloud.”

The Colonel nodded again, his yellow eyes now glancing from me to Mackintosh.

“Your telegram implied a settlement between us, Mr Pons. I am in agreement.”

“I knew I could rely upon you,” said Solar Pons slowly. “Your courage has never been in question.”

Colonel McDonald drew himself up stiffly and bowed slightly at the compliment.

“Perhaps we could walk to the car.”

“You have no objection to my friend and colleague, Dr Parker, accompanying us?”

“By no means, Mr Pons. I am quite alone.”

I hurried down the steps and followed as the two men strolled toward the white Rolls-Royce. The Colonel opened the spring-loaded boot which came up gently with a scarcely audible click. Within I could see two long leather cases.

“Matched sporting rifles, Mr Pons. Neither of us will be at a disadvantage. You accept the challenge?”

“Certainly. After all, it was I who issued it.”

As the import of their words sank into my brain I found my tongue. “This is madness, Pons! Are you suggesting something as barbaric as a duel? The Colonel is a crack-shot and an experienced stalker.”

“I am well aware of that, Parker. I am not entirely a novice myself with the sporting rifle.”

The Colonel bowed again, reluctant admiration on his face. “Then you accept, sir?”

“Most certainly. But on certain conditions.”

“And those are?”

“That Dr Parker be allowed to accompany me to act as my second — and see fair play. You to have a companion also. Unarmed I might add.”

The Colonel chuckled.

“By all means. I shall not need a companion for I would find him a hindrance. The only conditions of mine are time, place and the question of ammunition.”

Solar Pons looked steadily at the other.

“Ammunition?”

“Five rounds each. No more, no less. That should be ample to settle the matter.”

“Agreed. And the time and place?”

McDonald looked up at the sun.

“It is now one-thirty P.M. Darkness comes down swiftly in these latitudes. Both parties to be in position on the field by not later than two-thirty.”

Pons nodded.

“Agreed. And the venue?”

McDonald slid out one of the leather cases and handed it to Pons before closing the boot. He glanced across at Mackintosh.

“There is a rock called The Sentinel in the glen near the edge of Miss Haylin’s property just before the land rises to the skirts of Ben Affric.”

“Ah, the mountain beyond the glen. I will find it.”

“The gardener will tell you how to get to it. It is only a mile or so from here. I will meet you there. Until two-thirty, then.” “Until two-thirty.”

We waited in silence as the Colonel got behind the wheel. The Rolls-Royce glided sedately round the concourse and disappeared down the drive, a thin plume of exhaust smoke hanging behind it in the frosty air. Pons was already opening the case, looking at the sleek, polished rifle within. He broke open the breech.

“Fortunately, I am familiar with this model. It is a beauty. One of a matched pair, as McDonald said. The Colonel goes in for nothing but the best. There are five cartridges, as agreed.”

“This is madness, Pons,” I repeated, looking at the stolid form of Mackintosh as if for support. “I will not be a party to murder.”

“Tut, Parker,” said Pons chidingly. “You exaggerate, as usual. I do not think it will be as bad as that.”

He glanced up at the sun.

“Come, we must hurry. I have a few preparations to make before we reach the killing-ground.”

12

We walked uphill in silence, the sun throwing long shadows on the heather, a faint mist rising, the beauty of the blue-green mass of Ben Affric in the distance making our sombre errand seem like some wild figment of imagination. I still could not quite believe the whole incredible circumstance and walked in silence across the rough ground behind Pons, sick at heart and afraid for my friend.

Pons must have sensed my mood for he looked back at me with a smile, the harshness of the sunlight strongly accentuating the clear-minted lines of his face.

“My dear Parker. You look as though you are on your way to a funeral. Did I not tell you that things were not so serious?

“That is all very well, Pons,” I said. “But there is likely to be a bloody outcome to this business. How do you know that Colonel McDonald will keep his word. He is sure to be up to some treachery.”

“I am relying on it, Parker,” said Pons gravely, taking his pipe-stem from his mouth. “I have not come unprepared.”

He patted the large canvas bag he carried as he spoke. I myself had the loaded rifle McDonald had left with us, slung over my shoulder by the strap and I was finding our progress over the rough terrain rather heavy going. It had now turned two o’clock and we had cleared Miss Hayling’s estate and the humped mass of the mountain Ben Affric threw a vast shadow over the glen before us, so that it seemed as though we were advancing into the valley of the shadow. I looked at my companion in surprise.

“I do not follow you, Pons.”

He chuckled.

“All will be made clear to you shortly, Parker. Ah, that must be The Sentinel.”

I followed his gaze and saw the great hump of rock rising from the plain before us. Already, its base was lost amid the haze.

“What do you intend to do, Pons?”

“Indulge in a little deception, Parker. Normally, I would abide by the rules but I have myself no compunction in being devious when dealing with such a person as McDonald.”

We both saved our breath for the next ten minutes, as the going was difficult underfoot. Slowly the huge splinter of granite set in the middle of the lonely glen grew before us. By twenty-past two we were only a few hundred yards off.