Moreover, he felt certain that even if he could think of some means to sell it he had no right to do so. Obviously it was the property of the MacGilrays, if any of the family still existed, or, failing them, of Lord Ruffan as the present owner of the estate. Eventually he made up his mind that he must surrender it and hope that he would be treated generously as its discoverer.
Early in August, life at the Castle began to stir. Aunt Flora received a letter from His Lordship, with orders to prepare rooms for ten guests who would be arriving on the 11th for the opening shoot on the 12th. He would be coming up on the 7th, to ensure that all was in readiness for his house party. Late on the afternoon of the 8th, Adam saw Lord Ruffan for the first time. He was a big, heavy man of over sixty, with a bucolic but kindly face that betrayed his reputed fondness for vintage port. Adam, in his best suit, was duly presented by Aunt Flora and, carefully coached by her, said his piece about how grateful he was to His Lordship for having given him a home.
Adam was already tall for his age, well set up and, with his crop of red gold curls, a fine looking youngster. Lord Ruffan regarded him for a moment out of slightly protuberant eyes, then patted him on the shoulder and said:
`Glad to see you, young feller. Terrible thing about your family, but you're welcome here. What do you intend to do in life?'
It was just the sort of opening that Adam had been hoping for. Swallowing hard, he replied, 'Weel, sir. I… I've been wondering of ye'd allow me to ask your advice aboot that?'
`Adam!' his aunt reprimanded him sharply. ' Tis no' for you to trouble His Lordship wi' such matters.'
But Lord Ruffan waved aside her protest. `Easy on, Mrs. Inglis. I'd be glad to talk the boy's future over with him. As I shall be dining alone tonight, he can come in afterwards and keep me company while I drink my port.'
A few hours later Adam was reminded of a book that his mother had read to him shortly before her death. Its title was Little Lord Fauntleroy. The only likeness to the setting of the book was the richly furnished dining room with its oil paintings of bygone Lords and Ladies on the walls, the big, mahogany table shining in the candlelight, the silver and cut glass on it. Edward known as Teddy Chiswick, fifth Viscount Ruffan, bulky, red nosed, semi bald, lounging back in his elbow chair at the head of the table, did not in the least resemble the dignified Earl of Dorincourt; and Adam, years older than the little velvet clad Fauntleroy, was no blood relation but came of common clay.
Yet there he was, sitting at the long table in this great room with the powerful owner of the Castle: the great Lord whose casual word could spell happiness or misery for scores of dependants scattered for miles round.
At a gesture from Ruffan, Adam had seated himself gingerly on the edge of a chair. To his surprise the red faced master of the Castle poured him a glass of wine, smiled at him and said, `Now, boy, drink that while you tell me about yourself.'
Adam gave a nervous smile and blurted out, 'Et's no meself I wished to talk aboot, but I was agin saying so before the aunt.' Then he produced the MacGilray's letter, pushed it across the table and added, `I come on this in ye'er Lordship's library.'
Taking the document, Ruffan read it through, laid it down and said, `This is quite a find. Most interesting. Don't know much about such things myself, but it must be worth a few pounds.' He gave a sudden wink and went on, `You're a smart boy to have brought it to me. Out to make a bit, eh? All right, we'll look on it as yours and I'll buy it from you, then send it to the Royal Stuart
Society.'
`Aye, but that's not all,' Adam burst out excitedly, and he fished out from his trouser pocket a gold coin that he had taken from the hoard for such an occasion.
`God's boots!' exclaimed His Lordship, his brown eyes opening wide between their puffy rolls of flesh. `You don't mean…?'
`Aye,' Adam nodded. `The treasure's still there: cups and flagons made o' gold, some wi' jewels, lots o' siller, necklaces, rings an' the like a whole chest of it.'
`Damn it, boy, this can't be true! You're pulling me leg,' declared Ruffan suspiciously.
'Nay! What'ud I gain by that?' Adam protested. ` 'Tis the truth. How else could I ha' come by this piece o' gold?'
Teddy Ruffan suddenly sat forward, his eyes narrowed and alert, `And you've not told your aunt nor anyone else"
`Nay, not a soul. I'd a feelin' that ye'er Lordship might prefer it kept secret.'
`And you were right. I give you full marks for that.' For a long moment His Lordship stared at Adam in silence, endeavouring to assess his character and wondering whether he could be trusted. The youngster's face was open and handsome, but far from foolish, and held a hint of shrewdness; so he said:
`You've had the sense to hold your tongue about this. Can I rely on you to continue to keep it under your hat?'
`Aye,' Adam nodded vigorously. 'Ye'er Lordship kens best what's tae be done, an' I'll no' breathe a word aboot the doin'.'
`Good. Listen, then.' Ruffan ran a pudgy hand over his thinning grey hair. `The stuff is treasure trove. If the MacGilrays who once owned this place had descendants I'd feel under an obligation to hand it over to them. But that branch is extinct; so as it's on my property I consider I've a right to it. There are laws about treasure trove, though. The government takes the stuff and the finder may get only a small percentage of their value. I'm not having that. We'll go along to this place tomorrow morning and collect the goods. Then I'll dispose of them privately d'you see?'
Adam `saw' and readily agreed.
`Now,' said His Lordship, `help yourself to another glass of port and tell me what you want out of life.'
The generous wine loosened Adam's tongue. He made no mention of his occasional visions, but spoke of his wish to see foreign countries and of the books he had read to improve his education. Ruffan was much impressed, particularly with Adam's knowledge of early European history, about which he himself had only very sketchy ideas. An hour later he had decided that, the treasure apart, the boy would well repay looking after; and Adam, having skilfully evaded his aunt, made his way to bed, slightly muzzy but enormously elated at the outcome of his disclosure.
Next morning the beefy, bucolic looking Englishman and the lithe, handsome Scottish lad made their way to the little bridge. While Ruffan sat on the bank of the burn, keeping watch in case
anyone approached, Adam crawled back and forth bringing out the small sacks of treasure.
Ruffan examined each item. As he had anticipated, most of the articles Adam had taken for gold were only silver gilt, while the gems were of indifferent quality and poorly cut; but, even so, owing to their age, they were collector's pieces and, he estimated, worth several thousand pounds.
When the last piece had been put back into a sack, His Lordship, in a high good humour, winked at Adam and said, `Now, young feller, we've got to get the stuff back to the Castle without some Nosy Parker spotting us and becoming inquisitive. Early hours of the morning best time for that and to carry the lot I'll need your help. Think you can keep awake till one o'clock, then get dressed and join me down in the library without anyone being
the wiser?'
`Aye.' Adam beamed with delight at the thought of this adventure with his new friend. `I'll be there. Ye'er Lordship can count on it.'
The expedition went off without a hitch, and when the treasure had been packed away in the Castle safe the conspirators had a glass of wine together. While they were drinking, Ruffan said
`I'm not as rich as people think, not by a long sight. Since the war these accursed taxes have made it devilish difficult for me to keep up this place, my home in Somerset and my flat in London. My heir won't be able to, that's certain. But he's a dreary fellow, so I'll never cut down to benefit him. Still, that's beside the point. As things are, this haul is a very welcome windfall and I want to show my appreciation of what you've done. Any ideas?'