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1815. Napoleon has returned from Elba and Europe is again plunged into war. On a remote part of the Scottish coast, a French warship has struck rocks and run aground. The only apparent survivor of the shipwreck is sheltered at a farmhouse by a local family. Angus, the head of the family, is determined to hand the Frenchman over to the authorities at the first opportunity. Present in this scene are Angus, his wife Sarah, and his daughter, Jane. Lieutenant David Chalmers has just arrived in response to a summons from Angus.

ANGUS  Come in. Guid o' you to call so promptly.

DAVID  I did receive your message, but I was detained.

ANGUS  Daen what? Building sand castles by the sight of you.

DAVID  We took advantage of the low tide to wade out to the ship. She's aground in shallow water.

SARAH  Is she badly damaged?

DAVID  The hull's split wide open and all the masts are gone. There's wreckage and debris strewn all along the beach.

SARAH  And the crew?

DAVID  It would appear that the ship's entire complement perished.

ANGUS  You're shair about that?

DAVID  We found the captain's log book. My sergeant knows a smattering of French. However, it was another entry in the same log book concerning the ship's mission which proved most intriguing.

ANGUS  Up the Forth to raid the ports, correct?

DAVID  No, nothing like that. Their course was north-east. The storm must have blown them well off course.

ANGUS  You still haven't told us their mission.

DAVID  To purchase a vast quantity of weapons and munitions from an undisclosed foreign government.

ANGUS  Interesting I'll admit, but hardly intriguing.

DAVID  Until we read details of the vessel's cargo. According to the log, there was, somewhere on board, a casket.

SARAH  A casket? Containing what?

DAVID  A fortune.

ANGUS (suddenly very interested)  A fortune you say?

DAVID  In valuable gems, jewellery, gold....

SARAH  Incredible. And all to be spent on arms?

DAVID  Enough to equip an army. Needless to say, I ordered an immediate search of the ship.

ANGUS  And what did you find?

DAVID  Nothing.

ANGUS  Nothing?

JANE  Nae treasure?

ANGUS  Are you positive? Did your men search thoroughly?

DAVID Every nook and cranny. I can assure you, if there ever was a casket as described, it is no longer on board that ship.

ANGUS  As you say, intriguing.

DAVID  I thought I would give you an accurate account before the rumours began to circulate. Now what was this urgent business?

ANGUS (still ruminating over DAVID'S disclosure)  Urgent business?  Oh aye.... you'll be riding back to St. Andrews?

DAVID Yes, but not until tomorrow.

ANGUS  That's unfortunate. I....er.... wanted a letter delivered there as soon as possible.

DAVID  Is that all you wanted? On my way here I met Doctor Strachan. He was going to St. Andrews. Couldn't he have delivered your letter?

ANGUS  I meant to hand it to him, but I clean forgot.

SARAH  Never!

DAVID  Having wasted a journey, may I be permitted to rejoin the search?

JANE  For the casket?

DAVID Naturally, but also for survivors. Although I think we would have found any by now. You haven't seen any survivors?

ANGUS  Not a sowl.

(SARAH and JANE exchange glances) 

DAVID  I would ask you to be on the lookout nonetheless.

ANGUS If I get to ken about any survivors, you'll be notified.