When I entered the place it was about four o'clock in the afternoon, and peace lay on it like a garment.

In the wide, sunny street there was no sign of life, and no sound except of hens clucking and of bees busy among the roses.

There was a little grey box of a kirk, and close to the bridge a thatched cottage which bore the sign of a post and telegraph office.
For the past hour I had been considering that I had better prepare for mishaps.

If the police of these parts had been warned they might prove too much for me, and Gresson would be allowed to make his journey unmatched.

The only thing to do was to send a wire to Amos and leave the matter in his hands.