The natural and right thing was to summon the aid of the law, but, FIFTH, that would be a slow business with Loudon able to put spokes in the wheels and befog the authorities, and the mischief would be done before a single policeman showed his face in Dalquharter.
Therefore, SIXTH, he and Heritage must hold the fort in the meantime, and he would send a wire to his lawyer, Mr.Caw, to get to work with the constabulary.

SEVENTH, he himself was probably free from suspicion in both Loudon's and Dobson's minds as a harmless fool.

But that freedom would not survive his reappearance in Dalquharter.

He could say, to be sure, that he had come back to see his auntie, but that would not satisfy the watchers, since, so far as they knew, he was the only man outside the gang who was aware that people were dwelling in the House.

They would not tolerate his presence in the neighbourhood.
He formulated his conclusions as if it were an ordinary business deal, and rather to his surprise was not conscious of any fear.