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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38d4c49 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50518 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50518) diff --git a/old/50518-8.txt b/old/50518-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1ca6fb6..0000000 --- a/old/50518-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16456 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Gowrie:, by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Gowrie: - or, the King's Plot. - -Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James - -Release Date: November 20, 2015 [EBook #50518] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOWRIE: *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page images provided by -Google Books (University of California, Davis) - - - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - 1. Page scan source: - https://books.google.com/books?id=djYoAQAAIAAJ - The Works of GPR James, Esq. Volume 17 - (University of California, Davis) - - - - - - -[Illustration: Frontispiece] - - - - - - -GOWRIE: - -OR, - -THE KING'S PLOT. - - -BY -G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. - - - -LONDON: -SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. -STATIONERS' HALL COURT. -MDCCCXLVIII. - - - - - - -THE WORKS -OF -G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. - -REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR. - -WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. - -"D'autres auteurs l'ont encore plus avili, (le roman,) en y mêlant les -tableaux dégoutant du vice; et tandis que le premier avantage des -fictions est de rassembler autour de l'homme tout ce qui, dans la -nature, peut lui servir de leçon ou de modèle, on a imaginé qu'on -tirerait une utilité quelconque des peintures odieuses de mauvaises -m[oe]urs; comme si elles pouvaient jamais; laisser le c[oe]ur qui les -repousse, dans une situation aussi pure que le c[oe]ur qui les aurait -toujours Ignorées. Mais un roman tel qu'on peut le concevoir, tel que -nous en avons quelques modèles, est une des plus belles productions de -l'esprit humain, une des plus influentes sur la morale des individus, -qui doit former ensuite les m[oe]urs publiques."--MADAME DE STAËL. -_Essai sur les Fictions_. - - "Poca favilla gran flamma seconda: - Forse diretro a me, con miglior voci - Si pregherà, perchè Cirra risonda." - DANTE. _Paradiso_, Canto I. - - - -VOL. XVII. -GOWRIE. - - - -LONDON: -SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. -STATIONERS' HALL COURT. -MDCCCXLVIII. - - - - - -NOTICE. - -The Author is aware that the Frontispiece of this Work is very bad; but -in justice to the Engraver, he thinks it fair to state, that in -consequence of a necessary change in the publishing arrangements, a -space of time totally insufficient was all that could be allowed for -the device of a subject, and the execution of the plate. Another -illustration, for insertion in "Gowrie," will be given in the -succeeding volume of this edition. - - - - - - -TO -HER GRACE -THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. - - -Madam, - -Man's mind lives too much upon credit. We borrow our thoughts and -opinions, and too often trade with the intellectual property of -others, when it would be much better for every man to cultivate his -own little field, and bring its original produce to market, if he -would but be content with what God has given him. - -In the pages which I here present to your Grace, I have plainly and -boldly stated my own opinion regarding one of the darkest transactions -in history; and after much and various reading upon the subject, I am -confirmed in the belief that this opinion is just, though I have -conveyed it in the form of fiction. Many, and indeed most, of our best -historians, have taken an opposite view of the case; but in putting -forth my own, I have not been moved by any ambition of originality, -and indeed can here lay claim to that quality, only in a limited -degree; for others in various ages have advanced the same opinions in -regard to the innocence of the Earl of Gowrie, and the guilt of the -king, which I have expressed in the present work. However that may be, -my own view was taken, and my judgment formed, before I was aware that -any others had entertained the same. I had only read, in short, the -accounts of the Gowrie Conspiracy which had been written by persons -who came to a different conclusion. It was from their own statements, -and more especially from that of King James himself, that I was led to -believe, at an early period, that of which I am convinced now. Nearly -four years ago, I found in the correspondence of Henry IV. of France a -letter from the King of Scotland, giving his own account of this -bloody transaction, and my note upon it at the time was to the -following effect:--"This is more than improbable. It is to suppose -that the earl, his brother, and the king, were all seized with sudden -madness; for nothing else could account for the conduct of either of -the three, if this story were true." - -I have since read very nearly all that has been written upon the -subject, except other works of fiction, of which I have not seen one, -though I am told there are several; and every particle of historical -evidence which I have met with has tended to impress upon my mind the -firm belief that the last Earl of Gowrie was as amiable, as -enlightened, and as innocent of all offence against the king as any -man in Scotland. His name, his race, his position, and his opinions, -rendered him obnoxious to the king; and he died as in these pages I -have attempted to show. I find, on reading the letters and memoirs of -contemporaries, that very few persons believed him guilty, and that -King James had recourse to all the resources of persecution, in order -to silence the many voices which too loudly proclaimed him innocent. - -It may seem strange that I introduce such topics into a dedication, -which is generally reserved for expressions of respect and esteem; but -an appeal to the understanding is, I believe, no bad testimony of -respect; and I am quite sure that your Grace will receive it as such; -for I know that in kindly permitting me to dedicate this work to your -name, you neither needed nor desired any public expression of the -respect, the esteem, and the gratitude, with which - - - I have the honour to be, - Madam, - Your Grace's - Most humble servant, - G. P. R. JAMES. - - -Willey House, near Farnham, Surrey, - 27th June, 1848. - - - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -In laying before the public in one volume a work of equal extent with -those which are usually produced in three volumes, and in placing in -the general collection of my romances an entirely new composition, I -may be expected to say something of the motives which have induced me -to follow such a course. - -Some years ago, when a question was agitated amongst Ministers and in -Parliament, as to whether it was expedient or not to give British -authors increased facilities for maintaining their just rights against -foreigners who reprinted their works and used every unscrupulous means -to introduce their pirated editions into various parts of the British -dominions, Government was induced to decide in the affirmative, not -upon the one-sided and partial statement of authors and publishers, -but on a general and very extensive view of the subject, as affecting -the country at large. While the question was under consideration, many -long and important discussions took place, in which I bore a principal -share; and while I endeavoured to support, to the best of my -abilities, the just claims of British authors, the then President of -the Board of Trade, the Right Honourable W. E. Gladstone, with -consummate ability and great scope of view, maintained the general -interests of the public. Although the right of the British author was -never contested, some apprehension was expressed--I believe by Sir -Robert Peel--lest the granting of increased means of protecting that -right might have a tendency generally to increase the price of books. - -When Mr. Gladstone informed me of this fact, I stated my own opinion -to be directly the reverse, and that by the extension and security of -the market, the price would be rather diminished than increased. I -need not here enter into all the arguments I used to show that such -must naturally be the case, but I stated, at the same time, my -readiness, upon certain acts being passed, to use every means in my -power to avert the evil which Government apprehended, by making an -effort to diminish the price of books. From various causes since that -period, the price has greatly diminished; but I do not mean to assert -that the diminution has been caused alone by the facilities that were -ultimately granted, although they have operated in that direction to a -considerable extent. - -For my own part, even before all the measures were taken which had -been contemplated, I fulfilled my engagement to Government by -diminishing the price of my next work by one third. The result was -unfavourable, as, indeed, I had anticipated. The increased sale by no -means compensated for the diminution of price. I was a loser to a -considerable extent, and the publisher no gainer by the experiment. - -I was afterwards told that the diminution was not sufficient to -produce any great effect; and I resolved to make another trial, though -anticipating but one result. Such is my motive for giving one entire -new work of fiction at about one fourth of the sum which is ordinarily -charged. My reason for placing it in this edition is, that the -collection having already some hold upon the public, and the sale -being considerable, the experiment has the better chance of success, -while the effect will be favourable rather than otherwise upon the -collection itself. - -I need only farther say, that I have no doubt whatsoever of the -result--namely, that the increase of sale will be in no degree -commensurate with the reduction of price; and therefore I shall never -make the experiment again. - - - - - - -GOWRIE: - -OR - -THE KING'S PLOT. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -On the 15th of August, 1599, a young man was seen standing on one of -the little bridges in the town of Padua. He was plainly dressed in an -ordinary riding habit of that period, having a short black cloak over -his shoulders, a tawny suit of cloth below, and a high crowned hat -with a plume of feathers falling on one side. In most respects his -apparel indicated no higher station than that of a respectable -citizen, and indeed citizens of his age, for he could not be more than -two-and-twenty, very frequently displayed more gaudy feathers, -although the bird they covered might be of inferior race. There were, -however, one or two marks about him which seemed to point out a -superior station. Instead of a large fraise or ruff round his neck, -which was then still common, he wore a falling collar of the richest -and most delicate lace, tied in front of the throat by a silver cord -and tassel; and though the sheath of his long rapier was merely of -black leather, the hilt of the weapon, as well as that of the dagger -to his girdle, was of silver exquisitely wrought. His large buckskin -gloves, too, were edged with a silver fringe, and embroidered upon the -back. In person he was tall and finely formed, with a highly -intelligent and expressive countenance, somewhat stern and determined, -indeed, for one so young, but yet with a strange mingling of lofty -thoughtlessness and careless ease. He was perfectly alone, though on -that day the citizens of Padua were all in full holiday, the bells of -the churches ringing, and the cannon firing from the ramparts. Every -one seemed to have got a companion but himself; and all the streets in -the interior of that city of numberless arcades, were thronged with -groups celebrating the holiday, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, -while he stood alone on the little bridge, as I have said, near the -Ferara gate, which was left to comparative solitude by the populace, -who were flocking to the churches. He remained in the same spot for -more than a quarter of an hour, sometimes leaning his arms on the -parapet of the bridge, and gazing down into the shining water, or -watching the labours of a stout man, less devout than his neighbours, -who still continued his work in one of the boats, with his white -shirt and his bright blue breeches reflected in the painted mirror -below--sometimes looking up the street which led to the bridge, -amongst the arches of which, groups of men and women in gay attire -were seen, appearing and disappearing as they crossed from one side to -the other. The bright sunshine of Italy was pouring in oblique lines -through the openings of the street, and as it caught from time to time -upon the brilliant dresses of the passing inhabitants, the effect was -strange and pleasing; and a city, the narrow streets and dim arcades -of which generally rendered its aspect somewhat gloomy, was now all -life and gaiety. The young stranger did not seem to take part in the -general merriment: not that he looked sad or even grave, for when he -turned his eyes up the street, and caught sight of any of the moving -groups which it presented, a smile came upon his lip, somewhat -sarcastic it is true, as if he regarded with a certain portion of -contempt the rejoicings of the people or the occasion which called -them forth, but yet cheerful and free, as of a mind untroubled which -could afford to find amusement in the little follies of others. - -When he had remained in that same spot for nearly a quarter of an -hour, the loiterer was joined by another, a much more gaily habited -cavalier. The latter was about the same age, or perhaps a year or two -older, not quite so tall as his companion, though still a tall man, -darker in complexion, and powerfully though lightly made. His step was -free, his look open and sparkling; and though his features were not -strikingly handsome, yet his countenance was exceedingly pleasing, and -not the less striking from some degree of irregularity. - -"Ever exact to time and place, Signor Johannes," said the latter, -grasping the hand of him who had been waiting; "and now, I dare say, -you have been accusing my tardiness and want of punctuality; but, upon -my life, what between folly in the morning, study at mid-day, business -in the afternoon, and emotions in the evening, I have had my hands -full; so be not angry, good my lord." - -"Heaven forbid," replied the other; "he that were angry with want of -punctuality in you, Hume, would quarrel with a lark for singing, or an -owl for hooting, and might spend his whole time in fretting his spirit -at the nature of his friend. Besides, you made no promise to be here. -I wrote, fixing my own hour, and taking my chance of its suiting you." - -"But why all this mystery, and why this sober suit?" exclaimed the -other, taking hold of his cloak, with a gay laugh; "this smells -strongly of Geneva; and your brown jerkin is worthy of a true disciple -of Beza. In pity, John, do not let him affect the outward man. Be as -rigid as you will in resisting the powers of the Babylonian lady on -your heart and mind, but do not carry your religion into taffeta, or -suffer tenets to interfere with silk and satin. The religion that -kills one innocent joy, is not the religion of Him who more than once -told us to rejoice; and I cannot help thinking, that those who -prescribe particular clothing for particular ceremonies, and those who -proscribe it upon all occasions, are equally foolish and wrong." - -"And so do I," answered his companion; "you will not find me altered -in the least in those things; but the cause of my homely suit, and the -mystery of my coming is the same, and very simple. I did not wish to -be recognised by any of our good teachers here in this learned -university, nor by any of our old companions but yourself. To show -you, however, that I am no fanatic, know that I am even now on my way -to Rome, to see the wonders of the eternal city and his holiness the -Pope, though I shall not certainly ask his blessing, from a very -strong doubt of its doing me any good." - -"There I agree with you," replied his friend; "though the blessing of -a good man can never do one any harm, and there might be worse men -than Clement; but what have you done with your retinue? Where are all -the servants, where the famous tutor, Dominie Rhind?" - -"Gone on to Monselice," replied the other, "there to wait for my -coming, if they can find room in the little inn, and if not, to travel -farther, to Rovigo. But you have my messenger with you, have you not? -I bade him wait my coming." - -"Good sooth have I," answered the other, "and the mad knave has kept -the whole of Padua in an uproar for the last three days. What between -jeering the men, making love to the women, and playing with the -children, he has made friends and enemies enough to serve a man a -lifetime." - -"He is incorrigible!" said his friend, with an air of vexation. "I was -forced to send him away from Geneva, for Beza would not tolerate him, -and I loved not to see the good old man distressed. But the fellow -promised amendment, and he is so attached and faithful, that his -virtues and his vices, like a Spanish olla, are blended into a very -savoury dish, though of the most opposite ingredients. I laid strict -injunctions upon him to be discreet, and above all, never to mention -my name." - -"That last point of discretion he has most strictly maintained," -replied the more gaily dressed cavalier; "for even to me he has never -pronounced the forbidden word, always expressing his meaning by some -periphrasis, such as 'the noble gentleman you wot of,' 'the worshipful -writer of the letter,' 'him who shall be nameless,' and so forth, ever -eking out the sense with a raised eyebrow and thumb jerked back over -his shoulder, as if he were speaking of the devil, and owned Beelzebub -for his master. But now let us to your inn, where supper and a small -room are provided for you according to your behest, and there you -shall tell me what has brought you back to this fair Italian land, and -I will relate what has occurred to me since last we met." - -"My errand in Italy is soon told," said his comrade, with a smile. "I -come to buy some pictures to adorn my poor house at Perth. It were a -shame to have dwelt so long in Italy, and not to carry back something -of the Caracci's handiwork. I will see Annibale, and Ludovick too, and -Caravaggio. I have heard, too, of a young painter named Reni--Guido -Reni they call him, who is now making some noise at Bologna. One -picture said to be his I have seen, full of grace and beauty, and if -he so paint he will soon be famous in all the world--why do you -laugh?" - -"Because I judge pictures alone brought you not to Padua," replied his -companion; "for in good sooth there are few worth seeing here, except -St. Anthony preaching to the fishes." - -"A very unprofitable waste of good doctrine," said the other; "but let -us go--yet, we will choose the dull back streets which the students -love not, for I do not wish them to see their late Lord Rector coming -amongst them in masquerade." - -"Come, then, under the walls," answered the other; and, leading the -way, he conducted his friend through several of the low and narrow -streets which abutted upon the defences, hardly meeting any one but a -labourer and an old woman or two in miserable rags, seeking amongst -the piles of rubbish, thrown out here and there in the open spaces -between the walls and the houses, for anything that poverty could make -valuable. At length they were obliged to turn into one of the larger -streets; but ten steps therein brought them to a narrow doorway under -one of the arcades, where they entered and mounted a long dirty stair. -At the first landing was a door on the left, through which they passed -into a little ante-room, where at a table was seated a young man -dressed as a servant, but without badge or cognizance, as was usual -with the domestics of great families at that period. If one might -judge from his face, which was ugly enough to be funny, and funny -enough to be beautiful--I do not love paradoxes, but I am driven into -one--he was not a personage very much given to grave contemplations. -Nevertheless, on the present occasion he was so seriously occupied -with the piece of work he had in hand, that for an instant he did not -observe the entrance of the two gentlemen we have mentioned. That -piece of work was indeed a very important and elaborate one, at least -in his opinion--namely, the cutting out, in small blocks of soft wood, -a variety of grotesque heads, in which his inventive genius displayed -itself by producing noses such as never were seen on any human -countenance, eyes of every degree of obliquity, and chins, some -retreating, as if afraid of the portentous nasal organ which -overshadowed them, and some immeasurably protruded, as if to domineer -over the mouth that yawned above. In truth he showed no small skill in -sculpture, although his genius had taken rather an eccentric turn; and -it was evident that he enjoyed his own performance very much, for his -first salutation to his master was a loud laugh, as he contemplated -the extraordinary physiognomy he had just carved. Then, awakening to -the more sober realities of life, he started up, laying down the knife -and wood upon the table, and saying, with a low bow, "Welcome to -Padua, noble sir; better late than never; nothing's lost that is not -at the bottom of the sea. It is a long lane that has never a turning. -A man cannot be too late who has time enough." - -"Spare your proverbs, good Master Jute," replied his master, the -stranger who had been waiting on the bridge; "I find that, -notwithstanding all your promises of reformation and sobriety, you -have been setting the whole town in an uproar." - -"Not so, indeed, my noble lord; with the best intentions I have not -had time to get through more than the French quarter. I hurried here -as fast as possible, both to do your will and my own, seeing that I -have been pent up like a brawn in a stye for the last three months; -but still I have not had time enough. As for promises, although, like -pie-crusts, they are made to be broken, and he who vows much performs -little, yet, from a silly fondness for a whole skin and clear -conscience, I never break mine; and I beseech your lordship to -recollect that I only promised to behave well by the shores of Lake -Leman." - -"Well, well, we will talk more of that hereafter," replied his lord, -following the other gentleman towards the inner room. "I find you have -obeyed my injunction of not mentioning my name. See that you attend to -it still. And now go and order them to bring my supper up, for I have -ridden hard and fasted long." - -The man made a low bow, and obeyed, while the two gentlemen proceeded -into the neighbouring chamber, and the traveller, casting himself into -a seat, said, with a sigh, the source of which might be difficult to -discover, "So, here I am, once more in Padua." - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -The room was a little dingy room lined with black oak, carved into -panels, with some degree of taste and ornament, the house having -formerly belonged to higher personages than those who possessed it at -the time; for Padua, even then, like all persons, places, and things, -on the face of the earth, had seen its mutations; and Patavium had -undergone, since the days of Livy, a thousand different changes, which -had rendered fashionable parts of the city unfashionable, turned the -houses of nobles into the residences of boors, converted Pagan temples -into Christian churches, and, with greater propriety, had converted -amphitheatres into slaughter-houses. Amongst later alterations, the -house which had formerly been inhabited by one of the mercenary -followers of Angelo, had descended to the station of an inn, at first -well frequented and in high repute, but gradually sinking lower and -lower, till it had now become a sort of lodging-house in ordinary for -merchants who visited the town of Padua, and the poorer class of -students, on their first arrival. The chamber, however, was lofty; the -window which looked into the court, large, and opening all the way -down the centre, which was then rare; and the coolness so desirable at -that burning season was to be obtained there, which could not be found -in many a larger and finer apartment in the city. In this room, with -several flasks of fine wine before them, were seated, about half an -hour after sunset, John, Earl of Gowrie, and his friend Sir John Hume. -There were two wax tapers on the table, some plates of beautiful -fruit, perfuming the whole air, and some cakes of a sweet kind of -bread, for which Padua was then famous. The rays of the candles were -quickly lost in the dark wainscoting around, but they threw sufficient -light upon the table and its white cloth, and showed fully the -expressions of the two young men's countenances. Both were still gay, -and laugh and jest had gone on between them during the meal; but every -now and then a look of deep thoughtfulness, almost amounting to -melancholy, crossed the face of the earl, passing away again like the -shadow of a flying cloud cast momentarily on a fine landscape. They -had been speaking of many things while the servant of the earl and -some of the people of the inn had been coming and going. The period of -Lord Gowrie's sojourn at Padua as a scholar had been referred to, and -the high academic honour which had been conferred upon him somewhat -more than a year before, by his election to the office of rector, had -been commented upon by Hume, who laughingly said, "If I had puzzled my -dull brains for seven years, I never could have obtained or merited -such a distinction, John." - -It was one of Lord Gowrie's graver moments when his friend made this -observation, and he replied gloomily, "Those who eat the fruit early, -Hume, are left with bare boughs in the autumn. I was elected Lord -Provost of Perth before I was fourteen; I fought in a lost battle at -fifteen; and I was rector of this university before I was twenty. -Blighted hopes, or early death, we often find the fate of those who -taste the bitter stream of life so soon." - -"Nonsense," replied his friend; "have you studied the sublime art of -astrology to so little purpose? It is but that you are born under a -fortunate star, and will go on in honour and success until the end." - -"Small success at the field of Down," replied the earl; "for a more -disastrous rout never befel brave men than there overtook Athol and -Montrose." - -"But great success to you," answered Hume, laughing; "for you escaped -where many a brave man fell, and were pardoned without inquiry, when -many were mulcted of half their goods--Still, still your fortunate -star was on the ascendant; and the devil, the king, and the popish -lords could not get the better of its influence; and now what brings -you to Padua?" - -"By and by," said the young earl--"we'll talk of that by and by. Tell -me, first, all that has happened to you, according to your promise." - -"My life, good faith, has been dull enough," replied Sir John Hume, -"till within the last week, when I have had a little occupation for my -thoughts besides dull problems and hard studies. Do you remember an -old man with a gray beard, who used to wander about towards eventide, -in a long black gown and a velvet cap? Manucci is his name, a -Florentine, who has travelled much in different lands, speaks English -like an Englishman, and French like a Frenchman, and used to look like -Titian's portrait, only more meagre and somewhat less fresh and -lusty." - -Lord Gowrie had twice nodded his head in token that he knew the person -spoken of; but Hume had still gone on describing, till at length the -young earl said, almost impatiently, "Yes, yes, I know him well. What -of him?" - -"Poor man, he has been in sad trouble," replied his friend; "our -reputation for magic here has risen somewhat too high for our -security. We have had monitories from the holy office, warning our -learned professors against permitting forbidden studies, and enjoining -them strictly to seek out and deliver up to justice all those who -practise black and damnable arts. Arnesi only laughed, and said that -his was a black and white art, for that he dealt in pen and ink, but -that he hoped the white would save the black part of the business. A -number of the older signors, however, whose wits are rather on the -wane, and who still fancy that everything they do not understand -themselves is magic, took up the matter far more seriously, and laying -their wise heads together in small conclave, determined they would -seek out, and hand over to the tender mercies of those who roast the -body to save the soul, every poor creature to whom suspicion could -attach. Manucci had a long gray beard, a rusty black gown, but small -reverence for the learned professors, paid no fees, kept himself apart -in solitary studies, seldom spoke with anybody, and had a keen and -spirit-searching eye. Here seemed a sorcerer at once, quite ready to -their hand. Still such appearances, without proof, would not justify -violence; but they judged that the search for proof would; and as I -was passing the old man's door, near the Trevisogate, I saw the -college beadle and three or four more officers making their way in -against the resistance of the poor old woman who waits upon him, and -who was assuring them with tears that her master was dying in his -bed." - -"Dying!" exclaimed Lord Gowrie, with a start. - -"Well, I went in with them," continued Hume, not noticing his friend's -exclamation; "and a pitiful sight I soon beheld." - -"In the name of Heaven, what?" demanded the Earl of Gowrie, with a -pale cheek and an eager eye; and then feeling how completely the whole -expression of his countenance must have changed, he added, "I was much -interested in that old man. I knew him well, loved him well, and was -going on a long promise to see him this very night." - -"Indeed!" said Hume, before he proceeded to finish his story, musing, -as if some intricate problem was placed before him. "Ha! Well, as I -was saying, I went in, following the officers--a few steps behind I -might be, and then, when we came into the little back room, I saw a -bed with a crucifix at the foot, and the old man lying on it, the -image of death. His long beard was stretched upon the decently -composed bed-clothes, hard to say which was the whitest; his left hand -was folded quietly on his breast, and his right was stretched out over -the side of the bed, with tightly pressed upon it the lips of the most -beautiful girl I ever beheld in my life--with one sole exception," he -added. - -Lord Gowrie was evidently very uneasy. He played with the hilt of his -rapier, clasping and unclasping his hands upon the sheath; he gazed -eagerly in his friend's face, as if he would fain have interrupted -him, but yet hesitated to do so. - -"Well," continued Hume, "the officers at first seemed a little -touched, but they are folks not easily moved, and the waters of pity -soon subside with them, when agitated for a moment by the unwonted -wind. One of them took him by the shoulder, and said, 'Come, signor, -you must get up, and deliver all your papers. We are sent to examine -everything, by the council of the university, which has strong reason -to believe you guilty of magic and sorcery.' - -"'My thoughts are there,' said the old man, meekly, pointing towards -heaven; but the young girl by his bedside started up, and gazed at the -officers with wild and frightened eyes. These men, now, were very -zealous Christians; but they thought it a point of piety to interrupt -a dying man's preparation to meet his Maker, and to hurry him away to -death--for nothing else could have followed--before that preparation -was complete." - -The Earl of Gowrie bent his head upon his hands, covering his eyes -with his fingers; but his friend could see that he shook violently, -either with anger, apprehension, or some other strong emotion. He went -on, however, saying, "I thought it best now to interfere, John, -knowing that I am somewhat a favourite with the good officers of the -university, being too dull or too light to be taken for a conjuror, -and too free with my purse for a dealer in the things of darkness. I -therefore stepped quietly forward, and representing that the old -gentleman was evidently too ill to be moved, suggested that it would -be better to make a preliminary examination of the papers, in which I -offered to assist. I had some difficulty in prevailing; but at length -it was agreed that all suspicious documents should be carried at once -before the senate, and those that were plain and straightforward left, -while one officer remained in the house, to prevent a man from -escaping who could not stir a step. The search was somewhat curious, -and certainly there were sundry writings of which I understood not one -word; but I pressed the old man's hand, and told him in English to -make his mind easy, asking for one word of explanation in regard to -the strange tongues I had found there written. 'Some are Armenian,' he -answered, 'some Syriac, and some Gaelic, which you, at least, should -understand.' Happily I did, for one of the first papers examined was -an old song of our own Highlands, describing the hunting of a stag. I -could have laughed, had the matter not been serious, to see the -puzzled faces of the learned doctors. The Armenian and Syriac they -knew at least by the characters, and afraid of showing their brief -extent of knowledge, they pronounced them all very innocent; but the -Gaelic was in the high road to the Holy Inquisition, though written in -the Latin character, when I begged to see the paper, and read aloud -and laughed, and read and laughed, and read again, with as strong a -twang of the old Erse as I could bring my mouth to utter. A dozen -voices called for an explanation of the strange sounds I was pouring -forth. On which I assured them that the fancied magic was but a poem -in one of the languages of my own land, of which I would give a -translation if they would lend an ear. You know that some such songs -in the mountain tongue are not of the most cleanly. This was one which -soon set the reverend doctors grinning, and I returned in triumph with -messages of peace to the poor man's bedside." - -"Did he die?" demanded the earl, in a tone subdued almost to a whisper -by his eagerness. - -"Nay, he is better," replied Hume; "for having saved his life in one -way, I now bestirred myself to save it in another. I sat with him -through that livelong night; I tried to cheer and comfort him, and -finding from the beautiful creature who was the companion of my watch, -that of late he had denied himself almost necessary sustenance, what -with poverty, what with study, I sent for wine to my own house, and -forced it upon him, till the flame of life rose up bright once more -above the fresh-trimmed lamp." - -A curious change had come over the young earl during the utterance of -the last few sentences. "Now I will warrant," he said, with a laugh, -strangely contrasting with the deep emotions he had lately displayed, -"that the inflammable heart of John Hume has taken fire at this fair -girl's bright eyes, and that they have led him every day to the small -house near the Treviso gate?" - -Hume gazed at him for a moment with a grave look; and then, moving his -chair a little nearer, he laid his hand upon that of Gowrie. "I have -gone every day," he said, "but not for those bright, dark eyes, for I -have not forgotten a pair, blue as the twilight sky, that dwell at -Perth; but I have gone out of pity to the old man--pity for the young -girl--and affection for John Ruthven." - -The earl gazed at him for a moment, then started up, and cast his arms -around him, saying, "You have my secret, Hume; but how you learned it -I know not; for until this hour it has rested in my own bosom, which I -ever fancied the only sure casket for the treasure of one's own -thoughts." - -"Good faith, my noble lord," answered Hume, "there are other languages -than words. Looks and acts, for those who mark them, speak as plainly -as the best orator. Here, during the last year of your stay at Padua, -each night you stole away in private to visit the house of an old man, -learned, indeed, and doubtless full of mighty secrets in nature and -art, known for an astrologer, and suspected of practices with things -less full of light than the bright stars. Your devotion to knowledge -no one doubted, but such regular attendance at her shrine seemed more -than natural in a young man of twenty; and I sometimes doubted that -you were wooing a fairer and a warmer lady than cool Dame Science. -When you went away from this poor place, too, you were wondrous sad, -and with a sadness different from that with which we part from the -calm pleasures and dull tasks of youth to take part in the eager -strifes of manhood. 'Twas a passionate sadness, not a thoughtful one. -Well, when I saw her who must have been the companion of many of your -hours of study in the old man's house, I easily discovered that they -had not been cold ones; and as I knew that you proposed to return, for -a time at least, to Italy, I studied, for your sake, to show all -kindness to those whom you had loved. Nay, more, I ventured even to -seek a confirmation of my fancies; throwing out your name in -conversation, as we cast a gilded fly upon the water to see if the -shining salmon will spring up to catch it. I said that, to my belief, -it would not be long ere you returned to Italy." - -"What did she say?--How did she look?" demanded Gowrie, eagerly. - -"At the first mention of your name she sighed," replied Hume, "and her -cheek turned a shade paler than before; but when I talked of your -return, the retreating blood rallied back into her face with double -force, conquering the paleness in its turn, and dying the whole with -crimson." - -"Indeed!" said Gowrie, thoughtfully. "It is strange! I knew not that -it was so!" - -"Not know it! Not know what, Gowrie?" exclaimed his friend. - -"That there was one feeling in her heart towards me," answered the -earl, "which would make her heart's pulse beat with a faster stroke, -or vary the colour in her cheek a shade. You are mistaken, Hume, in -thinking that she was the companion of the hours I spent at old -Manucci's house. I seldom saw her; but gradually there came a passion -into my heart, which made the chance of one of those rare, short -interviews, attraction strong enough to lead me, night after night, to -where they might be had. Not that I did not struggle against growing -love, restraining myself by prudent worldly thoughts; and I would have -quitted Padua sooner, but that my station as Lord Rector held me here. -You, who know me, can well judge, I think, that while thus debating -with my love in my own heart, I would not do that sweet girl such a -wrong as by word or look to seek her love in return." - -"You could not hide your own, Gowrie," replied Hume; "yours is not a -nature that with a cold exterior can cover over the fiery heart -within. Your actions you may rule, and do so often with great power; -but your looks and tones refuse such rigid sway." - -"It may be so--it may be so," said the earl; and he leaned his head -upon his hand, and thought. "And so the old man is better?" continued -the earl, after he had remained silent for a few minutes, during which -his friend had not ceased to gaze at him without speaking. - -"Better, but not well," answered Hume; "what he chiefly needed was -strengthening food and wine; but he had a sore disease for which I -know no cure--old age, I mean--all other things but that we may fend -off or remedy; but that slow creeping sickness of old age may often be -hurried, but never delayed. In short, his last attack has shaken him -much. He sits up, however; and his appetite has returned. A -superstitious notion too has aided to his recovery so far, even when -at the worst. He told his grandchild that he was certain he should not -die before the morrow of the Assumption." - -Lord Gowrie laid his hand upon Sir John Hume's arm, saying, in a -marked manner, "Because he expected to see me to-night; and I must go -to him, Hume; but before I go, tell me, truly and sincerely, has your -own heart remained firm against the beauties and the graces of this -fair being with whom you have been so much?" - -"See what a thing is love!" said Hume; "you cannot fancy that any one -can escape the bow which has wounded you. Have I not said, Gowrie, -that I have not forgotten the deep blue eyes in Perth, and never shall -forget them? I am as constant as a fixed star." - -"What, little Beatrice," exclaimed the earl, "of whom you brought me -such a glowing picture two years ago? but she is still a mere child." - -"You think her so, because she was one when you left her," answered -Hume; "but let me tell you, Gowrie, when I saw her she was a woman, -and rich in all a woman's graces. Your mother thought that it would be -well to wait a year or two, but nothing now is wanting but your -consent. We have stood even the trial of absence, and are both still -of the same mind." - -Lord Gowrie pressed his hand, replying at once, "My consent is yours, -Hume, whenever you choose to claim it. It is strange," he continued, -with a smile, "I can but think of Beatrice as the curly-headed child, -who, seven years ago, wiped the blood and dust from my brow when I -came back from the field of Downcastle. Hark! the clock is striking -nine, I must set out." - -"I will go with you nearly to the door," replied his friend; "and you -had better have your man to wait for you. The streets of Padua have -proved somewhat dangerous since you were here; and on the night of a -high festival, the excellent Christians of this part of the world -think it no crime to put a dagger in a friend's back, if they have -saluted the blessed virgin as they passed the church." - -"Well, call him in," replied Lord Gowrie; and having rung a small bell -that stood upon the table, they were joined immediately by the earl's -servant. - -"Get your beaver and your cloak, Austin Jute," said the earl; "we are -going out into the streets, and you must follow. Take broadsword and -dagger too. I know you can use them well upon occasion. Have you them -at hand?" - -"A good workman never wants tools, my lord," replied the man; "and as -to using them, Heaven send the opportunity, and I'll find the means. A -man that threads a needle, ought to be able to stitch; and I who have -hammered hot iron in my day, should be able to use it cold, though men -say practice makes perfect, and I have had but little in your -lordship's service. However, what is early learned is long retained; -and a hand that is well acquainted with a cudgel remembers its use as -well as the back that bears the beating." - -The earl and his friend both laughed. "There, there," cried Sir John -Hume, "in pity's name, good Austin, content yourself with ready-made -proverbs, and do not eke them out with your own manufacture." - -"All as old as the King of Spain's wine, worshipful sir," replied the -man; "though all old things are not bad, a new doublet is better than -a worn cloak, and proverbs, like lenten pie, may get musty by keeping. -I shall have my pinking iron on before your worships are down the -stairs; and God send you a safe journey to the bottom, as I shall not -be there to take care of you." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -When the Earl of Gowrie had parted from his friend at the door of -Hume's lodging, he walked on, followed by his servant, for some four -or five hundred yards farther, till the wider and more fashionable -street deviated into a number of narrow and somewhat intricate lanes, -each, however, having its arcades on either side, with the three or -four upper stories of the houses built over them, so that two people -might have shaken hands from window to window. At the last house of -one of these lanes, where the street terminated at a canal, with a -bridge over it leading to the Treviso gate, the young nobleman -stopped, and using a great bar of iron which hung upon the door, -knocked three times aloud. He had to wait some time, however, before -the door was opened, and was just about to knock again, when an old -woman, with a lamp in her hand dangling by a long chain, appeared to -give him entrance. - -"How are you, Tita?" he said. "I am sorry to hear that Signor Manucci -has been so ill. Can he see me to-night?" - -"Oh yes, sir; he expects you," replied the woman, "and will go into -his own private study to receive you, though the signora thinks it may -hurt him." - -The young lord's countenance fell at her reply; for he might fancy -that the old man had determined upon receiving him alone, and to say -sooth, he had come to see another also. He followed the woman, -however, up the narrow stairs, telling his servant to wait below; and -he was well pleased to find that his guide turned at once to the -right; for he was acquainted with every step in the house, and knew -that she was conducting him first to a cool little room where Manucci -and his grand-daughter usually sat in the vehement heat of summer. He -was even more fortunate than he expected to be, for when the door -opened, the light within showed him that, for the time, the chamber -was tenanted by one person only, and that the one he most desired to -see. It is a strange passion, love, often agitating the strong in -frame and powerful in mind more than the weak and gentle. It were vain -to deny that the young lord was greatly moved as his eye fell again -upon the fair being whose society the ordinary principles of worldly -prudence had taught him to believe might be dangerous to his peace. -Nevertheless, he advanced straight towards her, holding out his hand -with eager agitated pleasure. Nor could she meet him without emotion, -too plainly visible, notwithstanding all that inherent self-command -which is one of the first qualities in a modest, well-regulated -woman's heart. The colour varied in her check. The finely chiselled -lip quivered in the vain effort to speak; and the dark bright eyes, as -if afraid of their own tale, veiled themselves beneath the long -lashes, avoiding the glance of tenderness of which she had caught a -momentary sight. - -The instant he had entered the room, the wise old woman left him and -closed the door; and he stood for an instant silent, with the lady's -hand in his. A moment after, he slowly raised her hand, and pressed -his lips upon it. It was in those days but an act of ordinary -courtesy, implying nothing but friendly regard or reverence; but they -each felt that there was a fire in that kiss, and both were more -agitated than at first. - -"Julia," said the young earl, at length--"Julia, you are much moved; -and so am I, indeed--we have been parted long----" - -She sank slowly down into her seat again; but she felt that she must -speak to welcome him, or let silence confess all; and she answered, "I -have had much, very much to agitate me lately. It is not wonderful -that I am a good deal moved, in seeing an old friend after a long -absence." - -"And is that all?" said the earl, almost sadly. "I had hoped it was -something more. May I not trust that the agitation of both has the -same source--that in absence we have learned to know our own hearts, -and to feel that our happiness depends upon each other?" - -"Hush! hush!" she said, raising her eyes to his face, with an -expression which was answer enough. "I must not hear you. I must not -reply upon such subjects--at least not now." - -"And why not now?" demanded the earl. "Who can say when the -opportunity may present itself again? Who can say what obstacles may -intervene between us, if we do not seize the moments which fate has -given?--Say, Julia, why not now?" - -"Because I have duties to perform," she answered, "from which nothing -should estrange me. The time may come--nay," she added, sorrowfully, -"it must come, and that but too soon, when I shall have no one to -think of but myself, no one to ask or to consult with, in regard to -what I should do; but now I would not, if I could help it, take a -thought away from him who has bestowed for long years all his thoughts -upon me. I have even reproached myself, when I saw him suffering and -sinking before my eyes, for having but too often let those thoughts, -which should have been all his, wander away to other things." - -"And did they seek me in their wanderings?" asked Gowrie, taking her -hand again, and gazing into her eyes. - -She answered not, but averted her look, while the rose deepened in her -cheek; and as they thus sat, the door opened suddenly, and the old man -appeared. It made them both start; but Gowrie was strong in honesty of -heart and purpose; and advancing frankly, he took Manucci's hand in -his, saying, "I have longed much to see you, my old friend, and your -dear Julia too. We have been long parted; but my affection for neither -has decreased." - -Manucci was very feeble; and perhaps with agitation, perhaps with -weakness, he tottered on his feet. Lord Gowrie held him firmly by the -hand, however, drew forward a chair, and supported him till he was -seated. - -"I have many things to speak to you about," said the old man; "many -things which may agitate me and you. But let us not talk about them -just yet. I have been very ill; and the little strength I have left, -would soon be expended if I did not economise it carefully." - -"I have grieved much to hear of your illness," replied the earl, -standing beside his chair and gazing down upon him. "My friend, Sir -John Hume, has told me how much you have suffered, and how you have -been persecuted." - -"The latter is nothing," replied the old man. "Every man, not behind -his age in knowledge, and who from that point casts his view farther -forward than the rest, judging of the consequences of each fact by -experience of the past, corrected by a full acquaintance with the -present, will ever seem criminal in the eyes of the fools who -disbelieve, and of the knaves who believe and dread. Persecution was -to be expected when I held myself aloof from idlers who consumed their -time in mere amusement, and from learned busy-bodies, who wasted it in -vain and fruitless studies; but that illness was a sturdy, stern, and -less conquerable foe. He has battered down the outworks, and the -shattered fortress must soon surrender." - -"Yet you look better than I expected," replied the earl. "Indeed, at -your age, which you have often told me is great, few men look better." - -He might, indeed, well say so, for the old man's eye, as he sat there, -was clear and bright; and a hue, very like that of returning health, -was in his cheek. He was a tall man, and had once, apparently, been a -very powerful one. His frame, indeed, was a little bowed. His beard -and hair were snowy white; and the skin was wrinkled, except upon the -high forehead and the bald crown of the head. All the signs of age, -indeed, were there, except that the teeth were fine and apparently -undecayed, and that the hand--which, with the exception, perhaps, of -the ear, shows the advance of age more distinctly than any other part -of the frame--looked not so knotted and bony as it often appears at a -late period of life. - -The conversation easily and gradually deviated into topics of a calm -and tranquil kind. The young earl spoke of many things which had -occurred to him since he left Padua. They might afford little matter -of amusement to the reader of the present day; but they were -interesting to the ears which heard him. The old man, too, had his -tale of the changes which had taken place in Padua; but he more -frequently referred to the results which had followed his own -researches in matters of science. Deeply read, for that period, in -natural philosophy--mingled as it was at the time, before the immortal -Bacon had established a juster system of investigation, with the -dreams of alchymy and judicial astrology--he discussed many subjects -familiar to the ears of Lord Gowrie, whose whole family had a strong -and unusual taste for inquiry into the secrets of nature. The old man -seemed to be revived by his young friend's presence; and he soon -recovered that cheerful gaiety which had greatly distinguished him in -earlier years. Still, however, the earl remarked, that from time to -time his eyelid would drop and his voice become low, as if with -fatigue, and at length he said, in a kindly tone, "You are tired, my -good old friend. It will be better for me to bid you good night now, -and come to talk of other matters with you to-morrow." - -"No, no!" cried Manucci; "it must be to-night, or never. I have waited -for you, Earl Gowrie, for I told you if you would return on this -night, I would read you the scheme of your nativity--point out to you, -as clearly as man's voice can show, the course by which you may avoid -the perils and secure the advantages of life, and tell you what must -absolutely happen--what is still dependent upon courage and conduct. -For this I have studied, and pondered, and tried the indications of -the stars again and again; but the hour is not yet come, and you must -wait till the clock strikes twelve. Then I will speak; for to-morrow, -perchance, I shall not have strength to do so." - -"Nay, I trust your strength will every day increase," replied the -earl; but the old man shook his head, and cast a grave and melancholy -glance upon the beautiful girl who sat near him. - -"The things of this life are waning away," he said; "and in truth, it -is time that I should depart. Eighty years are a heavy load; and the -burden is still increasing. There were men, as you have heard, who -would fain have eased me of it; but as it contained a few things that -are valuable, I was unwilling at that moment to part with it, like all -other men, clinging to my treasure though it bent down the shoulders -that bore it." - -"Methinks a life of study and the calm enjoyment of tranquil thought -may well lighten the burden of years," replied the earl; "and but for -the apprehension and annoyance caused by these foolish men, your -existence, my good friend, has been tranquil and peaceable enough." - -The old man smiled sadly. "We always fail," he said, "when we judge of -the fate of others. Life is double, Gowrie, an internal and an -external life; the latter often open to the eyes of all, the former -only seen by the eye of God. Nor is it alone those material things -which we conceal from the eyes of others, which often make the -apparently splendid lot in reality a dark one, or that which seems sad -or solitary, cheerful and light within. Our characters, our spirits -operate upon all that fate or accident subjects to them. We transform -the events of life for our own uses, be those uses bitter or sweet; -and as a piece of gold loses its form and its solidity when dropped -into a certain acid, so the hard things of life are resolved by the -operations of our own minds into things the least resembling -themselves. True, a life of study and of thought may seem to most men -a calm and tranquil state of existence. Such pursuits gently excite, -and exercise softly and peacefully, the highest faculties of the -intellectual soul; but age brings with it indifference even to these -enjoyments--nay, it does more, it teaches us the vanity and emptiness -of all man's knowledge. We reach the bounds and barriers which God has -placed across our path in every branch of science, and we find, with -bitter disappointment, at life's extreme close, that when we know all, -we know nothing. This I have learned, my young friend, and it is all -that I have learned in eighty years, that the only knowledge really -worth pursuing is the knowledge of God in his word and his works--the -only practical application of that high science, to do good to all -God's creatures." - -"Still study is not wasted," said the earl, "when it leads to such an -elevated result, when it teaches us in the creature to see the -Creator, and in the events of existence to behold his will, and surely -the fruit of such conclusions must be peaceful." - -"Tend to peace they must," replied the old man; "for they must quiet -strong passions, moderate vehement desires, teach us to bear -afflictions with fortitude, and to temper our anxieties with hope; but -yet, noble lord, neither philosophy nor religion can alter the -constitution of our minds. We may know that God is good and merciful. -We may know that in the end all must be well; but we still see that on -this earth there is a world of sorrow, and we may shrink under the -anguish ourselves, or tremble at seeing it approach those we love." - -"Fear not for me," said the beautiful girl who was seated beside him, -seeing his eyes turned with a sad look towards her; "oh, let not one -anxiety on my account add to the burden of years, and make your last -days cheerless. Though those may deny me who are bound to protect me, -thank God, I can render myself independent of them. The education you -have given, the arts you have taught, would always enable me with my -own hands to win my own bread----" and then she added, in a low tone, -catching a look almost reproachful on the earl's face, "should it be -needful." - -"Which it shall never be," replied the earl at once, "so long as I -have a hand and heart to offer, and means----" - -"Hush! hush!" exclaimed the old man, turning his eyes almost sternly -from the one to the other; "no such rash words. You know not what you -speak of. At all events wait till you know what fate maybe before you; -and then, with the deliberate forethought of a man, act as becomes a -man, and not as a rash boy." - -The effect of his words upon Julia were not such as might have been -expected, perhaps; for whether the severer part had found an antidote -in what her lover had said before, or whether, from some secret source -in her own heart, the waters of hope swelled forth anew, she seemed -from that moment to cast away the deeper tone of thought and feeling -which had characterized her conversation and demeanour during the -evening, and to resume the light-hearted spirit of youth which had -spread such a charm around her in the first years of her acquaintance -with Lord Gowrie. - -"Nay," she said, laying her hand upon the old man's arm, "all other -things apart, is it not true that I can win my own bread by my own -hands? Can I not paint well enough to gain the few scudi that are -needful for my little sustenance? Can I not compose music which brings -tears at least into your eyes? Can I not write as well as many a one -who lives by his pen? Can I not illuminate missals, or embroider, or -work baskets, if needs must be? Would I not long ago have done all -this for your support as well as mine, if you would but have let me?" - -"You would indeed," he answered, "but that I could not have. Not that -I hold it degradation in any one, my child, by their own industry to -remedy the niggardliness of fortune; but I could not bear to see you -labour for me." - -"Oh, man's pride!" exclaimed Julia; "what an obstacle it is to peace -and happiness. Here," she continued, turning to Lord Gowrie, with a -sparkling look--"here has he, for many a year, supported, instructed, -educated me; and now he will not let me repay a small portion of the -debt I owe him by labouring for him now, although he knows right well -that to do so would be my greatest joy, that the object would be -happiness and the means amusement. But you look tired," she said, -gazing affectionately in the old man's face; "let me go and bring you -some refreshment." - -"Call Tita," replied the old man; "she will bring it; and now let us -speak of ordinary things." - -A small tray was soon brought in, with some fruits, and bread, and -wine; and the conversation was renewed in a gayer spirit, Julia -striving by her light and happy tone to cheer the old man, and banish -the gloom which seemed to hang about him. The time thus passed -rapidly; and some few minutes before midnight the old man rose, saying -to the earl, "I go before for a moment. Follow me speedily. She will -show you the way, but remember, in the meantime, no rash words." - -When he was gone, the earl and Julia stood for a moment gazing at each -other; and then Gowrie took her hand, saying, "Notwithstanding his -prohibition, thus far, at least, I must speak----" - -But she laid her left hand on his shoulder, lifting her bright eyes -swimming in tears to his, and interrupted him. "Not now, Gowrie," she -said; "I am no dissembler, nor are you. My heart is open to you, and -yours to me. If we were to speak for years we could say no more, and -anything like promises are vain at this moment, for nothing shall ever -part me from him but death. Now come. His lamp is lighted by this -time; and I fear to trust myself with you here alone, not from doubt -of you, but of my own firmness; and a few more words would make me -weep. I see the dark day coming, Gowrie; and, as I said before, I -would not, for the joy of heaven, rob him of one thought or care, so -long as his life shall last." - -As she spoke she led the way to the door without withdrawing her hand -from her lover; and thus, hand in hand, they went along the corridor -which led to the old man's study. There Julia left him, and the earl -went in. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -The room which the Earl of Gowrie entered was a small one of an -octagonal shape, having tall lancet windows on every side but one. It -had probably, at some period long past, been the interior of one of -those small projecting turrets which we still occasionally see -ornamenting the angles of the ancient castellated houses of the -Italian nobility. The bridge leading towards the Treviso gate, and the -small canal were underneath; the city walls rose up black beyond; but -the turret was high above, and through the windows, on every side but -that next to the city, were seen twinkling the bright and -multitudinous stars of heaven. In the centre of the room was a large -oaken table bearing a lamp, the flame of which was peculiarly bright -and perfectly white in colour, and over the rest of the table were -cast in strange confusion a number of curious objects. There were -books--some closed, but some open, and displaying characters with -which the young earl was perfectly unacquainted. One page was covered -all over with cyphers alternately of red and blue; and one was traced -with many mathematical figures, which, although the earl was well -versed in that science, seemed to him strange and new. Another -manuscript lay near, which he saw at once was written in Hebrew, but -there were others in which the lines ran from corner to corner of the -page, with such a multitude of strokes and flourishes, that the -letters themselves could hardly be distinguished. Scientific -instruments were there too, tossed about amongst the papers, with the -uses of many of which the young lord was unacquainted. There were -triangular glasses filled with sand, and glass globes, connected -together by a tube of the same substance, half filled with mercury. -Squares and triangles of brass covered over with curious signs were -there likewise; and round about the room, beneath shelves loaded with -ponderous volumes, were several globes, and instruments of a rude -construction for observing the stars. In one corner stood a small -furnace, with crucibles and retorts, and various other implements of -chemical or alchemical science; and on a small pedestal of black -marble between two of the windows was raised a crucifix of ebony and -ivory, supported by two heads of cherubim, exquisitely sculptured in -white marble, the one looking up towards the cross with a bright -smile, the other with the eyes bent down, as if weeping, and the whole -expression sad. At the foot of the crucifix lay a human skull. - -At the moment the earl entered, the old man, Manucci, was seated on -the side of the table opposite to the door, with a reading desk -bearing up a large vellum-covered book before him, and a paper covered -with a strange-looking diagram on the table. He had a pen in one hand, -and a pair of compasses in the other; and without noticing, even by a -look, the young earl's entrance, he turned his eyes from time to time -to the book and then to the paper again, and once or twice inscribed a -figure of a curious form at the side of the diagram. Twice he paused -and listened, as if in expectation of some sound, and then laying down -the pen, he leaned his head upon his hand, and remained in silent -meditation. - -At length the large bell of the Franciscan church of St. Antony struck -the hour of midnight, and all the other clocks in the city proclaimed -that a day was ending and beginning. - -"Now," said Manucci, addressing the earl, "come hither, and sit beside -me. Here is the scheme of your nativity, drawn out carefully according -to the dates that you have given me. Of the past I will not speak; -for, as you have often told me the events which have occurred to you -at various periods of your life, perhaps in drawing deductions from -the aspect of the stars, my judgment might be somewhat guided by the -knowledge I already possessed. It is sufficient, however, that to any -one who is acquainted, even superficially, with this science, it would -plainly appear, that the aspect of the stars in the month of October, -1593, menaced you with great danger, and that in '94, towards the end -of the year, you were clearly destined to quit your native land. Of -the future, however, I must speak more strongly; for times of great -trial to you are coming. Look at these menacing aspects, and judge for -yourself." - -"I know so little of the science," replied the earl, "that I cannot -pretend to form a just opinion; but it seems to me, from the little I -do know, that here," and he laid his finger on a part of the diagram, -"is the promise of much happiness, honour, and peace, and love." - -"Ay," said Manucci, "but look farther. Here is honour, and peace, and -love, but hardly has the sun of next year touched his extreme point -north, when see what menacing aspects appear. Almost every planet is -in opposition in your house. Do you not see?" - -"I do, indeed," answered the earl; "but yet it is nearly -unintelligible to me. I beseech you read it, according to your skill." - -"It is dark and yet clear," said the old man. "This, however, I can -tell with certainty, that the greatest point of peril in your whole -life, lies between the end of June next year and the anniversary of -this day. The danger shall come upon you in the midst of peace and -tranquillity, when all things seem to promise fair. If you escape that -period, the rest of existence shall be bright and happy, your life -shall be long and prosperous, and fortune shall smile upon you to the -end; but there is great peril there." - -"But how shall I avoid it?" asked the earl. "Can you give me no -indication for my guidance? Can you not tell me what is the nature of -the peril, from whom or whence it comes?" - -Manucci mused. "It is not war," he said, "for Mars is low down. I -should say that policy had to do with it, that the danger is more of -conspiracy than of war." - -The young earl smiled; but Manucci went on, in the same sort of musing -way. "Love, too," he said, "has a share in the evil, though indirect; -but conspiracy assuredly, from the menacing aspect of Saturn. Avoid, I -beseech you, avoid all meddling with the politics of your native land; -scrupulously and carefully eschew treason, or anything that may be so -construed; listen not even to the words of conspirators, take no part -in their counsels, drive them forth from your presence if they seek to -tempt you, and so I trust you may escape the peril; but if not, you -will certainly fall, for the anger of a king evidently threatens you; -and the cause of danger is conspiracy, goaded on by love." - -"Safely and surely can I promise," answered the earl, "for I have long -made up my mind to avoid all plots, and to take no share of any kind -in aught but the ordinary business of the day. My family have suffered -too much already from their dealings with that foul fiend, Policy, -which ever proves the ruin of those who give themselves up to her, who -soothes them with hopes but to deceive them, and raises them up but to -dash them down. Neither have I ever seen or heard of one benefit -procured for the country by the blood of all the patriots who have -fallen in defending their fellow citizens' rights, still less by that -of those who have suffered base personal ambition to lead them into -schemes of treason and disloyalty under the pretence of redressing -grievances. There comes a pitch of tyranny sometimes, it is true, when -it is necessary to dare all and to risk all for security, liberty, and -repose; but it very, very seldom happens, in the ordinary course of -events, that anything can be gained by revolt, which can compensate -even for a few days of turbulence, anarchy, or civil war. Nothing of -the kind exists at present, or is likely to exist, to justify anything -like conspiracy or rebellion. Make your mind easy then, as far as I am -concerned; for I can safely promise to avoid everything which can -afford even a reasonable cause of suspicion." - -"Thank God that it is so," answered Manucci, solemnly; "but ever keep -in mind what I have said. Think of it every day. Remember it on every -occasion; for I have told you that the peril will come suddenly, and -probably, therefore, the temptation also. If you attend to my warning, -and thus escape the danger, you will have to thank me for long years -afterwards. Therefore now sit down here in my seat, and copy -accurately that which is there written. Keep it constantly about you, -refer to it often, and thus will you ever be upon your guard." - -"If your warning prove effectual," replied Lord Gowrie, "I shall owe -you, my dear friend, much indeed; and I only wish you would tell me -how I can repay the service." - -"Perhaps I may--perhaps I may," said the old man; "but copy that -quickly, then we will talk more." - -Lord Gowrie sat down to copy the paper; but it occupied him during a -longer time than he had imagined, and in the meantime, a little scene -had taken place in the kitchen of the house, which ultimately took a -direction towards the same subjects which closed his conference with -Manucci. - -Left alone in the dark, worthy Austin Jute waited with exemplary -patience till the old woman who had opened the door, returned with a -lamp, and invited him to come and take some supper with her in the -kitchen. - -"One cannot have too much of a good thing," said the Englishman, for -such he was, in his own tongue; "but then again, another proverb says, -'Enough is as good as a feast;' and to speak the truth, I have supped; -but 'a full bag is better than an empty sack;' and, for that matter, -no one knows when he has had enough, and therefore I cannot be -supposed to be a judge in a case of conscience." - -This reasoning was addressed to himself rather than to the old lady -who stood by his side, listening to all he had to say with an air of -the most perfect unconsciousness, waiting for the time when it should -be his pleasure to explain himself in Italian. - -"Well, ma'am, I will come," he replied, in the latter language, which, -by the way, he spoke remarkably well. "My stomach says it would not -object to any reasonable quantity of good food, and still less to a -cup or two of good wine. I will follow you, and if----" - -But the servant, accustomed to see many strange people, and to hear -many foreign languages, seemed to comprehend his meaning as much by -his looks as his words, and beckoning him to come on before he had -ended his sentence, she led the way towards her refectory. The fare -she spread before him was not very abundant nor very rich, but it was -refreshing, for fruit was ever cheap at Padua, and of such consisted -the principal part of their meal. Austin Jute was a man to make -himself easily at home wherever he came, and though, to say truth, he -might have been well pleased if his companion had been younger and -prettier, nevertheless he was soon in full talk with the old woman; -and when a little bell rang above for refreshments there, he helped -her to arrange the dishes and place the glasses with their long -stalks, as willingly and cheerily as if she had been sixteen. - -"There now, Tita," he said, as she lifted the tray, "put the other -side with the bottles next to you. Always, in life and on a tray, -place the load where it is easiest borne. Two hands are enough when we -know how to use them, but four are better when work is plenty: so I'll -go and open the doors for you, for there seem many in your house." - -As may well be supposed, Master Austin was now in high favour with the -good dame; for age receives as a boon what youth exacts as a tribute; -and when she rejoined him after carrying in the supper, she said, in a -low voice, "Well, your lord is certainly one of the handsomest, -noblest-looking cavaliers I ever saw; and so frank and friendly in his -way. He always speaks to me as if I were an old friend, and not a poor -servant." - -"Like master, like man, my dear," replied Austin Jute; "birds of a -feather flock together. Like sticks to like. That is the reason my -master and I are so fond of each other; but I hope there is somebody -else fond of him too, for I saw, as you came out, such a beautiful -pair of eyes outshining the lamp, that I now understand very well why -my lord came back to Padua, and why he used to come hither almost -every night when he was here before, with that dull-looking fellow, -Martini, after him, like an ill-conditioned cur running at the heels -of a fine horse." - -"I never liked that man," said the old woman, seating herself on her -stool in the kitchen. "I am glad your lord has not brought him -to-night." - -"He could not bring him if he had wished it," replied Austin; "he -would have tumbled to pieces by the way. He was hanged two months ago -at Geneva, for robbing a gentleman who was in the same inn with us. My -master would never believe he was a rogue till he saw him hanging, -though, when he fell out of the ferry-boat into the Po, and floated -like a bad egg, I told the noble earl, that he who is born to be -hanged will never be drowned. They hanged him at last, however, and -made the proverb good." - -"I dare say they were quite right," said the old woman, in a -moralizing mood; "though people who are set to do justice, often do -great injustice. Do you know, they came and wanted to drag my good old -master away, who is as honest a man and as good a Christian as any in -Padua; and they would have done it, too, and most likely put him to -the rack, if it had not been for the courage and kindness of one of -your countrymen, a student here, called Hume, and the wit and -lightness of the Signora Julia." - -"Yes, I heard of all that Signor Hume did," replied Jute, "for he told -my master while I was sitting in the ante-room, with nothing but a -thin door between; for you know, Tita, though everything is made for -one purpose, most of them will serve two. But what did the young lady -do?" - -"The moment she heard the noise," replied the old woman, "she ran and -shut the door across the passage which leads to the study. So they -found nothing but some scraps of old papers that were in the room -where my poor master was ill in bed; for that door shuts so close that -no one can tell it from the wainscot, and having no keyhole, but a -spring lock, they thought the passage ended there. If they had got -into the study there would have been fine to do, for there are all -manner of strange things there, which are as innocent and as holy as -the _bambino_, I will vow; but nobody understands them but my master, -and everything people don't understand they think wicked." - -This sage and just observation did not lead Austin Jute from the track -he was following; for, to say sooth, curiosity was one of his -failings, and the sight of so beautiful a face as he had seen in the -room above, had stimulated that very ticklish quality till he could -not resist it. "Ah, she is a charming creature, I am sure," he said; -"it is true, all is not gold that glitters; and handsome is who -handsome does. The devil will take an angel's form at times. The frock -does not make the monk; but still she looked so sweet and sad, I am -sure she is very amiable. Many a one, Donna Tita, looks gay and -cheerful, and many a one looks pleasant and merry, and is but a sour -devil after all; but it is a good heart that looks sad for other -people's sorrows. Besides, my master would not be so fond of her if -she were not an angel. But who is she? Is she the old signor's -daughter?" - -"And is your master so fond of her, then?" said the old woman, without -answering his question. "Are you sure he has never been straying after -other women, all this long time while he has been away?" - -"Not once, upon my word," replied Austin, with a solemn air, laying -his hand upon his left breast. "Lord bless you, since he knew the -signora, he has become as discreet as a bell-wether. Why, he sent me -out of Genoa for six weeks, just for pinching the cheek of Ninette -Bar, the daughter of the innkeeper, and putting my lips too near those -of Rosalie, the smith's niece. It is true that I had to break the head -of Jerome, and whack Rosalie's lover in self-defence; for it came to -crabstick. But as for my lord, he passed all his time at the house of -an old gentleman called Beza, where fewer women got in than get into a -monkery--though he used to have as gay a heart as the gayest once on a -time." - -"Then why did he go away, and stay away so long, if he is so fond of -her?" asked the old lady, who had her own share of curiosity as well -as Austin Jute. - -"Nay! gads my life! you must ask that of the earl himself," replied -the man, "for I am not his father confessor. Perhaps the lady was -cold, for you women will have your whimsies. Dear creatures, you would -not be half so charming without." - -The compliment oblique is almost always sure to go deeper than the -direct; and good Tita, though she had long lost any external claims to -the title of a charming creature, included herself comfortably in the -general category, and felt her heart open towards her companion. "No, -no," she answered, "she is not cold--to him, at least; and how should -she be, when she scarcely ever saw a young man before? He is not so -bad looking either, and a kind heart too; and as for whimsies, dear -child, she has none, and never had. She lay in my arms when she was -two years old, and that is sixteen years since." - -"Upon my life, the old gentleman must have taken to matrimony late in -life, to have a daughter of eighteen, when he is eighty," said Austin -Jute, laughing. - -The shot took effect. - -"His daughter, you foolish knave!" cried the old lady, "she is not his -daughter!--His daughter's daughter, if you will." - -"Well, there would be no great harm in it, if she were his daughter," -answered Jute; "so you need not look so angry, my dear; many a man -marries at sixty for the consolation of life, or at least of the -little bit of life that remains. Better late than never, men say. I -would rather come in at the end of the dinner than see no dinner at -all. It is never too dark to see one's way, if one has but a lantern; -and if we have gone on wrong from the beginning, why should we not try -to get right at the end?--And so the young lady's name is not Manucci, -after all?" - -"Her mother's was," answered Tita. "Poor thing, I remember her well. -When she gave the child into my hands," she said, "Take care of her, -Tita, for she will soon have no mother to do so, and no father has she -ever known." - -"Oh, ho!" said Austin Jute, with a peculiar expression of countenance; -but the old woman's black eyes flashed fire. "Out, knave!" she said, -without allowing him to finish the sentence; "would you slander a -saint in heaven?" - -The next moment, however, her face resumed its ordinary expression, -and she said, "I spoke foolishly. I should have told you, the babe's -father died on the day that she was born. The mother never held her -head up after; and she kept her word with me too truly; for scarcely -four months were gone by, ere we laid her in Campo Santo." - -"Poor thing!" said Austin Jute, in so natural a tone of pity, that all -remains of anger were banished from Tita's heart. "How did the lady's -husband die? Was it in battle or of disease?" - -"By the axe, young man--by the axe," replied Tita, sharply; "a -plaything with which people in your country sport even more than we do -here in Italy--at least I have heard so; for I know nothing of any -other land but my own; but I have heard the Signor say that there has -been sufficient innocent blood shed upon the scaffold in England and -Scotland to bring down a curse upon the country." - -"Upon my life, he said true," replied Austin Jute; "for I have seen a -few heads roll in my own day, and have always thought it a pity that -people cannot find some other means of putting those out of the way -who stand in their light, but by cutting them on the back of the neck. -Were men's heads no better than turnips, we could not treat them more -carelessly than we do in our little island. Poor child, her -misfortunes came early; and I hope and trust that she got over them -all at once. People must eat black bread, they say, at one time of -their life; and it is better to swallow it before we have tasted any -other, than to eat the white bread first, and then have the other -after." - -"God send that it be so with her," said the old woman, "for a dearer, -sweeter girl never lived." - -"And, after all, what is her name?" said Austin Jute, in that quiet -sort of easy tone which so often leads on confidence; but good old -Tita answered quietly, with a shrewd glance of the eye, "Julia, to be -sure--the Lady Julia. That has been enough for me all my life; and it -should be enough for you too, I think." - -"Enough is as good as a feast," answered Austin Jute; but as he saw he -could gain no more information he dropped the subject, and began to -wonder at the length of his lord's visit. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -"It is done," said the earl, "and, I think, accurately." - -The old man bent over the paper, and examined every line. "Saturn is -wanting in the third house," he replied; "and you have left out the -sextile there." - -Lord Gowrie corrected the error, then folded the paper carefully, and -put it in his bosom. When he had done so, he turned his eyes to -Manucci's face, and saw that the old man was very pale, while a -dropping heaviness of the eyelid and a quivering of the lip seemed to -the young lord to indicate great weariness. - -"I wish much to speak to you, my good old friend," he said, "upon -matters of great moment; but I see that you are weary, and I must not -begin now, for our conversation might be long." - -"We must begin now and end now, Gowrie," said the old man, looking at -him gravely; "for who shall say what a day will bring forth? I have -learned this in eighty years, if nothing else, that the present only -is ours, the past is gone beyond our recall, the future is in the hand -of God. Then let no man think that he can command to-morrow, for -health or sickness, strength or weakness, fortune or adversity, are -all as unstable as the wind, changing how and why we know not. I have -much to say to you too, and on the same subject, I believe. You would -speak of Julia, is it not so?" - -"It is," answered Lord Gowrie. - -"And you love her. I have seen it before this night. I have caught -your eyes watching her anxiously, as if you loved, yet hesitated; as -if the thoughts of the world's opinion, and friends' advice, and -courtly favour, and ambitious dreams perchance, came like dull vapours -from the earth, clouding the star of love. You went away; and I let -you go, without one word to stay you; for no man can be worthy of her, -so long as one such doubt remains in his bosom. Are they all gone -now?" - -"All that I have ever entertained," replied Lord Gowrie, in a tone of -some mortification; "but you have done me some wrong, my good friend, -in your own fancies. Very few of such considerations as those you -imagined have had influence with me. I loved, but I saw no surety of -being loved in return. I knew not how strong my love was till I went -away; and I judged that it was but right to her to make myself -sure--before I strove to win her affection--that my own was durable -and true. I had often heard of boyish passion soon forgot, of love -that waxes and wanes in a few short months, and if I have learned no -other point of philosophy, I have learned to doubt the human heart -till it is tried. As for worldly considerations, you do me wrong. No -thoughts of court favour, of ambition, of avarice, ever crossed my -mind. I am wealthy enough, powerful enough, high enough in station to -set such things at nought: nor did the world's opinion influence me; -but I thought it might be wiser and better too, if, ere I acted -decidedly in any way, I opened my heart to my own dear mother, one of -royal race, but who has withal a royal heart, and knows that the true -wealth is the wealth of the mind, the highest nobility that of the -spirit. Such were the only worldly feelings I bore with me when I went -away; but I will not deny that long before that, when I found passion -rising in my heart towards her, I did struggle against my growing -love, though I struggled in vain. I am candid with you, my old -friend--I tell you all; but now that I have the hope of being loved in -return, every other consideration is cast away." - -"Every other?" asked the old man, gazing at him thoughtfully. - -"All, all!" replied the earl. "This is no time to ponder or to pause, -no time to seek either consent or counsel. You have been very ill, -nearly at the gates of death, were threatened with persecution, might -have been torn from her in a moment, and she left desolate, -friendless, defenceless. What should I have thought of myself--how -should I have felt, if, when I returned, I had found you dead or in -prison, and this dear girl cast upon the world? This must never be -again, my old friend--if she will give me her heart, share my station -and my fortune, and trust to this arm for her defence." - -"Spoken nobly, and like yourself," replied the old man. "That she -loves you, I doubt not; for, though unconsciously, perhaps, yet you -did seek her love. That you love her well and truly, I am very sure; -otherwise you would not be here to-night, Gowrie, for you came not -alone to learn your fate from me. But yet I must think both for you -and for her; and I will place the greatest trust in you that ever was -placed in man, because I know you to be full of honour, and that she -is firm in honesty and purity of heart. Yet I will exact some promises -from you both--promises which, solemnly given, you will not dare to -break." - -"I never yet broke one knowingly," replied Lord Gowrie; "and I never -will. Where her fate is concerned, believe me, my good friend, a -promise given would be but the more sacred." - -"And you are then resolved to marry her?" said Manucci. - -"If she can give me her whole heart," replied the earl. - -"Do you ask no question as to her birth, her station, her family?" -said the old man. - -"None," replied the earl. "Love, they say, my good friend, is blind; -but mine has not been so. Before my feelings towards her deserved that -name, I had many opportunities of observing; and my eyes were then, at -least, open. Small traits, which might have escaped many, told me -great secrets of her heart and character. Her love and her devotion to -yourself, seeming to merge all feelings in her duty towards you; her -prompt obedience to your lightest wish, flying before command, and -seeming to divine your unspoken thoughts; her tenderness towards all, -even towards the wicked and the cruel, censure losing itself in pity -for those who are not happy enough to be good; that true modesty which -is without vain affectation, and, ignorant of evil, places no watchful -guard against false appearances. All these, and many more things of -the kind, I marked, and often thought, these are the qualities which -will only have greater scope and shed brighter lustre in a wife; and -when to these was added, each day, the perception of some new grace of -person or of mind, was it possible not to love, Manucci?" - -"You have, indeed, watched closely, and judged well," replied the old -man; "and, with one who can so justly estimate, I have no fear of my -dear child's happiness. Now listen; and, though weary, I will tell you -sufficient to show you that, even according to the world's usual -judgment, you have not chosen so far amiss. By the side both of father -and of mother, she is your equal in rank. Though an exile from my -native city, I am of a race which can count its generations back -almost to the days of ancient Rome. That she is the child of my only -daughter you know, for you have often heard me say so; and, by the -father's side, she is descended from a race, if not royal, as you have -said of your mother, often more powerful than the kings they served. -They, too, are of your own land; and their blood has mingled with that -of your own ancestors. Your family and hers have fought, and plotted, -and achieved, and sat together on many a field, in many a cabinet, at -many a council board. Her father, indeed, she never knew, for he died -by the hand of the executioner on the day when she was born; his lands -were confiscated and given to another; and I fled from Scotland with -her mother and herself, trusting that, at some future time, and by a -more wise and just sovereign, that portion which was secretly settled -on my poor child, as her dowry, and which no confiscation could touch -by law, might be restored to its true owner. These papers, which I -will give to you, will tell the rest and prove the whole; and now -listen to me, Lord Gowrie--you must soon return to your own land----" - -"Not to leave her here," replied the earl, interrupting him; "that I -cannot do, my friend." - -"Peace, peace," said the old man; "you must hear before you can -understand. She shall go with you--but not as your wife, impatient -boy--under the charge of your honour, and under your solemn promise to -me, not even to seek to wed her till one of two things has come to -pass. You shall endeavour, to the utmost of your power, to restore to -her the estates which were reft from her and from her mother by the -hand of oppression. The papers I am about to give you will prove her -title, and all that she demands is justice. If you succeed, then in -God's name, if you so will, make her your wife; but if not, you shall -wait patiently till after the last day of September in the next year. -Then the danger will be over." - -"But what will become of you, my good friend?" demanded the earl. "I -should never desire Julia to make such a sacrifice as that: nor would -she, I am sure, accede, even if I were to demand it." - -"Before that time," replied the old man, "my head will rest upon an -earthy pillow. The blood is freezing in these wintry veins, and it -will soon cease to flow. You said you were going farther on--to Rome, -to Bologna, to Florence. Go on; and by the time you return, she may -need protection and support. I know that I shall die within these two -months; and although the precise period I know not, yet depend upon -it, you will be still in Italy when that event happens. Then take her -away at once from scenes which must have their bitterness, place her -in honourable ward with your mother, who, if I know her right--and I -remember her well--will be zealous in the cause of the orphan daughter -of her husband's friend; and when her rights are established, or the -day of danger for yourself is passed, then be to her as fond and true -a husband as your noble father was to Dorothea Stuart. Will you -promise me all I demand?" - -"I will," answered the earl. "I do most solemnly; but as yet, my good -friend--" and a slight shade of doubt came upon his face, "I am not -sure that she herself will consent. I think--I trust she will; but -there is no promise between us, no assurance upon her part, that she -can love me as I love her. I must see her, I must ask her, before my -heart is fully at ease. I will come to-morrow, for doubtless she has -retired to rest ere now." - -"See her at once," said the old man, with a smile. "Her answer will -soon be given, or I know her not. Nor will she seek her pillow while I -am waking. See her now. It were better, I think, that you proceeded on -your journey to-morrow, so that when the hour comes, you may be ready -to act at once." - -"My journey can be postponed, or given up altogether," replied the -earl. "It would be one full of care and anxiety, if I thought that she -might be left here suddenly, without friends or support. I speak -plainly, because, my noble friend, I know that you fear not death, and -are prepared for its coming. Were I to follow out the plan I had -proposed, she might be left here for weeks without comfort or -assistance." - -"No, no," answered Manucci, "I will not have it said, that your love -for this dear child made you linger on here when you had other objects -before you. As to her fate, fear not for that. I see what you dread; -but there you are misled. I am very poor, it is true; but I have made -myself poorer than I am, in order that she may be richer when the -moment comes. In that cabinet are two thousand golden ducats, saved -from my small means by the utmost parsimony. That will be sufficient, -and more than sufficient, till she is under the protection of your -mother. She must not go back to her native land altogether as a -beggar; and she must hire one or more maidens to attend upon her by -the way. Neither must she, my good lord, be dependent upon you; for -that might give occasion for busy tongues to bruit about rash -suspicions. Let her pay her own servants; let her defray her own -expenses; there will be still enough and to spare. Now go and speak -with her. I will wait you here." - -The young earl rose with a faint smile, and moved towards the door; -but ere he reached it he turned, and approaching the old man, grasped -his hand, saying, "Many, very many thanks for all your confidence; but -yet there is one more boon which I must ask, and I shall not be -satisfied unless you grant it. My friend, Sir John Hume, whom you -already know well, the affianced husband of my young sister Beatrice, -will remain here for a fortnight longer. Should need be, Julia must -trust in him, till I can reach her. He is the soul of honour, and -kindly and gentle in feeling. But I must also leave a servant here, -who shall attend every day at your house, and if events should require -it, will either stay to assist his master's promised bride or seek and -find me, with wit and diligence such as few can show. His character is -a very mixed one, with faults and virtues in excess; but he has proved -his devotion to me many a time, and of his honesty I am well assured. -Say you agree to this! Then I shall go in peace." - -"Well, so be it," answered the old man. - -And leaving him for the time, the young earl hurried away towards the -room whither he had been first conducted. His first steps along the -passage were eager and impetuous. It seemed as if he could not too -soon hear the words which were to decide his fate; but as he -approached the door, his feet relaxed their speed; and he paused -thoughtfully, with his hand lifted towards the lock. What was it that -made him hesitate? Let his own words answer. "No, no, studied speech -is vain," he said at length. "I will pour my heart into hers, and if -the feelings within it but find voice, no eloquence can match them." - -Thus saying, or rather thinking, he opened the door and went in. Julia -was seated at the table with a book before her, on which her eyes -rested not, with the lamp casting its pale light on the fair white -forehead, the jetty hair, the long fringed eyelids, and the sweeping -arch of the mouth. Her eyes were turned away, gazing on vacancy; but -the first step of her lover in the room roused her from her reverie, -and with a start, sudden but graceful, she rose, exclaiming, "Where is -he?--Is he ill?" - -"No, dearest Julia," replied the earl; "but I have come from him to -you, to speak a few words, which, with your answer, must decide our -fate for life." - -As he spoke he took her hand, and led her back towards the chair from -which she had risen; but she shook her head mournfully, without -resuming her seat, and said, "Have I not answered already? I have told -you that I cannot, that I must not speak now." - -"Nay, listen to me," said the earl, "for I seek not to take you from -him, nor even to bind you to quit him; but he and I have now spoken of -all; and we have made promises to each other, which it remains but for -you to ratify; for upon you depends the execution of his plans, as -well as the fulfilment of my hopes." - -She bowed her head in silence and with tearful eyes, looking like -a flower bent down with heavy dew, and the earl gazed at her -tenderly--almost sadly, for a moment. "I am about to leave you again, -dear Julia," he said, at length; "but I go this time with very -different feelings from those which I experienced when last we parted. -I then knew not all that was in my own heart; I knew nothing of yours. -I felt love without being aware how powerful it was, and without even -hoping it was returned. But now I comprehend all the strength of my -own attachment; and I do entertain hopes which it is for you to -confirm or to destroy. Painful as it is, I must mingle sad images even -with the expression of my brightest hopes. A time must come, Julia, -and you yourself see that it is coming fast, when you will be left -alone, bereft of kindred support. I have offered, I have promised, to -supply to you the place of him whom death may soon, and must -eventually, take away. Nothing that you can now say can make that -promise void. It shall be executed fully, sincerely, with my whole -heart and my whole energies; but it is you who must decide how it is -to be executed by me--whether as the promised husband, plighted to you -till death, with mournful happiness soothing your sorrows, sharing -your grief, and with a right indefeasible to protect and comfort you, -till your lot is blended by the marriage vow with his----" - -The colour had come warmly up into her cheek as he spoke; and Gowrie -paused an instant, doubting what were the emotions in which the blush -had its source; "Or--" he added, "or as the true and sincere friend, -fulfilling towards you the promise made to one loved, esteemed, and -mourned by both; but, with deep and bitter disappointment in his -heart, pouring shadow and darkness over his whole afterlife." - -Julia started, gazed at him for an instant, and then exclaimed, "Oh -no, Gowrie, no!--Can you have doubted?--Can you really have painted -such a picture to your own fancy?--Can you think me so ungrateful--so -base?" And she let her forehead fall upon his shoulder, while his arm -stole round her waist. - -"Thanks, dearest girl, thanks!" he said; "but tell me--tell me, Julia, -is it with your whole heart?" - -She looked up, with her cheek burning, and replied, in a voice hardly -audible, "Do not doubt it! When he is gone, there will be none to -share with you;" and Gowrie pressed her tenderly to his bosom. - -"Enough, enough," he said; "now I shall be quite happy." - -Oh, vain words! Oh, rash anticipations! What mortal has ever had the -right to infer that he shall be happy, even for an hour? Any man may -learn, how much stronger hope is than fear in the human heart, by -examining whether his expectations of joy, or his apprehensions of -sorrow, have been most frequently disappointed. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -It was a dull and heavy day in the month of September. The sky had -been covered each evening, for the last week, with dark flocculent -clouds, high up in air, but still leaden and lowering, and now the -rain descended in the city of the ten colleges in a perfect deluge. -The country round Padua rejoiced, for the summer had been very dry and -hot, and the land yearned for the dew of heaven; but the streets of -the town were almost impassable, except under the arcades on the west -side--where any street was fortunate enough to have a west side--for -there was a strong wind blowing, which drifted the large drops under -the arches to the east, and a torrent flowed down the middle of each -street, increased every two or three yards by a gushing spout -projecting from the house top. - -There was, however, sunshine in one of the dwellings of the town, for -Julia's heart was happier than she almost liked to own. She sat with a -letter before her from Gowrie, announcing that he would be speedily -back in Padua; and she herself was writing to him, telling him part of -the feelings which arose in her own bosom--for she had not yet taken -courage to tell him all--and conveying to him the glad tidings that -her aged relation had entirely recovered from his late serious -illness, and was looking better than she had seen him for many a -month. - -Manucci himself was sitting beside her, busy with some abstruse -problem, and from time to time raising his eyes to watch her write, or -to mark the varied expressions which passed over her beautiful face, -with that calm and heavenly satisfaction which spreads through the -breast of age--when the mind is well regulated and the heart -generous--at witnessing the hopes of youth and the joys which no -longer can be shared. - -Julia wrote on. The old man bent his head over the papers; and a few -minutes after Tita entered to tell her master that a man with sea-fish -was at the door, and to ask if he would purchase any. She spoke to -him, but he did not answer; and Julia suddenly turned round and gazed -at him. He was very pale, and his head rested upon one of the great -wings of the chair. Starting up with a low cry of fear, his grandchild -ran round, and raised his head. The eyes were closed, but he still -breathed hard and noisily. His limbs, however, were motionless, and he -was evidently insensible. Assistance was called, and he was removed to -his room and laid upon his bed. Tita ran away at once, first for a -physician and then a priest; and both came nearly at the same time. -The man of art applied the remedies usual in those days, while the -good priest watched narrowly to take advantage of the first return of -consciousness to perform his functions likewise. Extreme unction was -given while he was still insensible; and about two hours after the -attack Manucci opened his eyes for a moment, and the priest eagerly -advanced the crucifix towards him. Whether the motion was voluntary or -involuntary who can tell? but old Manucci raised his hand, and it fell -upon the cross. It was the last effort of expiring life. The next -moment a sharp shudder passed over his frame, and he was a corpse. - -"He has died like a good Catholic," said the priest, who was a man of -a kindly and a liberal heart. - -Julia wept, but replied not; and the old man, coming round to the side -of the bed where she stood, tried to comfort her to the utmost of his -power. She pressed his hand gratefully, but still remained in silent -tears; and the priest, drawing the physician apart, they conferred -together for several minutes in a low tone. - -"The sooner the better," said the physician, "lest the suspicions that -have been abroad should make them stop it." - -"You're a witness he died as a good Catholic, with his hand upon the -cross," rejoined the priest. - -"I am," answered the physician; "but it will be better to say as -little, either of his death or anything else, as possible, till the -funeral is over, otherwise we shall have a scandal, and perhaps a -disturbance." - -"You are right, you are right," said the priest. "My dear child," he -continued aloud, turning towards Julia, who was kneeling by the dead -man's bedside, while Tita stood weeping at the foot, "you had better -come with me into another room. There is nothing here but the clay. -The spirit which you loved has departed in peace to our Father which -is in heaven. There are sad duties to be performed; but trouble not -yourself with them. I and your friend here, Signor Anelli, together -with good Tita, will care for all that;" and approaching her side, he -took her hand and gently led her away. - -The funeral was performed as secretly as possible and as speedily; and -it is always speedy in Italy; and Julia sat alone in the little room, -where she had been writing when the old man was struck by the hand of -death. The two letters were still open upon the table; and, as her eye -fell upon the very last sentence she had been writing, in which she -spoke of Manucci's recovered health, the tears flowed fast and long. - -"I must write him another tale now," she said, tearing the letter; and -then rising, she inquired whether Austin Jute, whom Gowrie had left to -assist her in case of need, was in the house, for Hume had by this -time left Padua. - -The man was in her presence in a moment, and Julia told him that she -wished him to set out immediately to seek his lord at Bologna, and -tell him what had occurred. - -"Disobedience is a great sin, dear lady," replied Austin Jute; "but I -must either disobey you or my lord. He told me to leave you on no -account whatever; and to say sooth, I believe, as things go, I can be -of better service here than at Bologna, for Sir John Hume has gone to -join my master, and there is no one but me to take care of you. If you -will write a few lines, however, dear lady, I will see that it goes by -a sure messenger." - -Nor was Austin Jute wrong in his conclusions, though at that moment he -did not choose to tell the lady all he had heard. Rumour had been busy -in Padua, and of course from the moment it was generally known that -old Signor Manucci was dead, some one of her hundred tongues was -busied in manufacturing a new falsehood every instant. Citizens and -shopkeepers talked. Tutors and professors laid their heads together. -The heads of the colleges met and consulted, and thought fit to call -in the advice of a commissary of the holy office. They had made such a -bustle about it, however, before that secret and discreet functionary -had anything to do with the matter, that a report of what was going on -had spread far and wide. Austin Jute had his ears and his eyes open; -and, as he knew many of the servants of the colleges, he soon learned -much that was taking place, and determined to watch all the more -eagerly over her who had been committed, in some degree, to his -charge. Such were the motives of his answer to Julia; and ere evening -he had cause to rejoice that he had not undertaken her mission, for -one oversight, or rather act of neglect, on the part of the -inquisitor, afforded him an opportunity of turning his stay in Padua -to the greatest advantage. Some one suggested, in the meeting of the -heads of colleges, that it would be expedient, before proceeding -further, to examine the priest who had attended Manucci on his death -bed. The commissary of the holy office was either tired, hungry, or -busy; and he left the worthy doctors of the university to make that -investigation themselves. Had the good father been examined by the -inquisitor, he would have dared as soon chop off his right hand as -give any intimation of what was likely to take place. For the mere -scholastic dignitaries he had no such fear or reverence; and the -moment he quitted them, he hastened to the house near the Treviso -gate. The first person he saw was Tita, but immediately behind her -stood Austin Jute; and a short conference was held by the three, so -brief, indeed, that the old servant did not catch half of the good -priest's meaning, for he was too much alarmed to remain more than a -few moments. - -As soon as he was gone, Austin laid his hand upon the old woman's arm, -saying, "Not an instant is to be lost. We must take Time by the -forelock. We shall never catch him if he once gets on. I must go and -prepare means. You go and bring the young lady down into the garden, -and by the steps to the gate. Tell her to take whatever money she has, -gold, or jewels, or anything else, and as few clothes as possible, -packed in a small space. Lock and bar the door of the house as soon as -I am gone, but keep the garden gate upon the latch, and mind you do -not open the front door, whatever knocking or hammering you may hear." - -"But what is it, what is it?" exclaimed Tita. "I did not understand -what the good father meant." - -"That your sweet lady will be handed over to the inquisition within -half an hour, if you do not do as I tell you, and quickly," replied -Austin. "Remember, a minute lost is never regained. Time and tide wait -for no man.--Haste, haste, Tita. But stay! It were well if the lady -had some disguise. Where could one get a novice's gown and veil?" - -"Not nearer than at the stall by St. Antony's," replied the old woman; -"but I've got my festa gown and a large black hood, that would cover -her head and shoulders. The gown is too big, but no matter for that, -it'll go on the easier." - -"Away, then. Dress her in it, and bring her down. But mind, lock and -bar the door, and open to no one." Thus saying, he set out at full -speed. - -With trembling hands Tita fulfilled his directions in regard to -securing the front entrance of the house. As soon as that was -accomplished she hastened to her young mistress, whom she found -writing a few sad lines to Gowrie. The agitation and terror in the -woman's face at once caught Julia's attention; and she started up, -exclaiming, "What is it now? What new misfortune has happened?" - -"Oh, dear lady, you must fly!" said Tita. "Austin Jute, my young -lord's man, says there is not a moment to be lost; and he understands -what the good father said better than I do. I only heard him say they -were coming here immediately to search; but Austin says you must get -all the money you have, and everything that is valuable, and put on -some disguise, and come down as fast as possible to the garden gate, -where he will join us; they will put you in the inquisition else." - -The beautiful girl seemed to comprehend her danger at once; and the -thought of being deprived of liberty, and cut off from all power of -communicating with the only being on earth whom she now sincerely -loved, brought a look of terror into her face. - -"A disguise!" she exclaimed. "Where shall I find a disguise? I have -none but my ordinary clothes." - -"Never mind that. I will bring that in a minute," replied Tita; "only -you get ready without delay. Get the money and the jewels, and all -that is worth carrying, and don't open the door on any account till I -come down, however they may knock." - -Thus saying, she ran away to her own room, and soon descended with her -gala dress, which was that of a Lombard peasant. By this time her -naturally sharp wits had recovered from the first effect of fear and -agitation, and now she was all promptness and decision. Throwing the -dress she had brought over her young mistress, she fastened the bodice -as tight as she could, and gathered together the large folds of the -petticoat. But before she covered her head with the black hood, which -she had likewise brought, she could not forbear gazing at her for an -instant, and kissing her cheek, saying, "Bless thee, my child. Thou -art as beautiful a little peasant as any in all the Veronese." The -rest of the preparations were soon made. Some few articles of dress -were packed in a small bundle; the money taken from the drawer in -which it had been placed; and a heart cut in red cornelian, and set -round with large diamonds--the only trinket which Julia possessed, -with the exception of the gold pins for her hair, and a brooch to -clasp her mantle--was taken from a casket and placed in her fair -bosom. All this being arranged, they hurried down the stairs towards a -door leading into the garden, their steps being accelerated by a -considerable noise in the usually quiet street. In the passage of the -house, however, Tita stopped, saying, "I had better take the key," and -approaching the door, she drew the key forth quietly, and hastened -after her mistress, who was by this time at the small door leading -into the garden. - -I should, perhaps, have mentioned before, some particulars respecting -the situation of the house, in explanation of the directions which -Austin Jute had given. It was, as I have said before, the last house -in the street, and close to the bridge which led over the little -canal, towards the Place d'armes within the Treviso gate. As that gate -had been one of much importance in former times, a good deal of pains -had been taken to strengthen it against an enemy, and at the side of -the canal, a work of earth, faced with masonry, with a regular -platform and parapet, had been formed, commanding the bridge on one -side, and the Place d'armes on the other. As quieter times had come, -this work, abutting upon the house of Signor Manucci, had been -neglected; and the space within, had been cultivated by him as a -little garden. The whole level was considerably higher than that of -the water, and a short flight of steps arched over, descended from the -garden to a small sally port in the wall, which led to a narrow path -not more than two feet wide, by the side of the canal, at a spot -distant some sixty or seventy yards from the bridge. The house itself -was, in fact, included in the fortification; and the turret, in which -the poor old man's study had been placed, overlooked the wall and the -country round, and had probably, in former times, served the purpose -of a watch tower. The little garden, however, except at one point, was -only visible from the turret when a person stretched his head far out -of the windows in the massy walls; neither could the steps be seen -which led to the sally port. - -With all these particulars Austin Jute, whose disposition was -naturally inquisitive, had made himself thoroughly acquainted; but he -had forgotten to warn the fugitives not to cross that one part of the -garden which was visible from the windows above; and Julia, as soon as -she had passed the door, was running straight across, when Tita -stopped her, calling, "Under the wall, my dear--under the wall, and -behind the fig tree and the mulberries.--I will lock this door -though.--Heaven! we are not a minute too soon. They are knocking in -the street there, as if they would have the door down. Well, let them -try. It will take them some time, I warrant, for it is good strong -oak, clasped with iron." - -With this reflection she followed her young mistress, and keeping -amongst the shrubs as much as possible, they reached the top of the -steps, and descended to the sally port. That was soon unlocked, and -there they remained for nearly a quarter of an hour in a sort of -semi-darkness, hearing faint and dull the sound of heavy blows -proceeding from the street, as the officers of the university and the -holy office, when they found that no gentler means were effectual in -obtaining admission, had recourse to sledge-hammers to effect an -entrance. At the end of that time a loud crash was heard, and Tita -whispered, "They've got in now." - -Julia trembled very much, but a comparative silence succeeded, which -lasted some five minutes more, and Tita tried to cheer her, saying, -"Perhaps, after all, they wont find their way to the study this time -either. I pulled to the door in the passage as I came along, and the -spring's not easily seen." - -Hardly had the words been pronounced, however, when the sound of -voices coming through the windows above showed that her hope was -fallacious; and Julia said, in a low tone, "Had we not better go out -to the bank of the canal?" - -"No, no," replied Tita; "we shall hear them if they come into the -garden, for they must knock that door down, too, or force the lock." - -A moment after the latch of the sally port was lifted, and the door -opened. "Come out! come out!" said the voice of Austin Jute; and, like -lightning, Julia darted through the door, and stood beside her lover's -servant on the bank of the canal. - -"I'll lock this door, too," said Tita, taking out the key and placing -it on the other side. - -"Safe bind, safe find," said Austin; "but the proverb is not true at -the other side of the house, for they've dashed the door in, and the -whole street is filled with a mob. So much the better for us. There -will be fewer people in the other places." - -"But which way shall we take?" asked Tita; "if we go to the bridge, we -must cross the end of the street; and all the neighbours know me right -well." - -"That would never do," replied Austin. "Take the other way to the -bridge higher up. Then we can cross there, and come back to the gate -from the other side. It's longer; but it cannot be helped. The -farthest about is sometimes the nearest way home. I have bought three -asses, and they have just gone through the gates, to wait for us at -the little wine-shop half a mile on." - -Tita took a few steps in the direction which he indicated, leading the -way, for the path was not wide enough to admit of two abreast; but -then she stopped suddenly, saying, "I think two asses would do, Signor -Austin." - -"How do you mean?" asked the man. - -"Why, I mean that it will be much better for me not to go away from -the city," said Tita; "if they find us all gone, and should afterwards -catch the Signorina, they will be sure to say that she ran away -because she knew she was guilty of something. Now, a plan is come into -my head, and as soon as I've seen you out of the gates, I'll just go -round by the market, buy a basketful of things, and go back with the -key, as if I knew nothing that has happened." - -"But, Tita, they may shut you up in prison," cried Julia. - -"No, my dear, they wont," replied the old woman, calmly; "they'd only -have to feed me there if they did, so they'll know better. I can tell -them, with a safe conscience, that you were gone before they ever came -to the house; and if they ask where, I'll say you took the Treviso -way. The truth is, my child, I am not fit now for running anywhere in -a hurry; and if I were to go with you, I should only delay you, and -perhaps lead to your being found out, for many people all round know -old Tita, and there is scarcely any one in the town has ever seen you. -I know you will think of me when you are away; and when you are safe -and happy again, perhaps you may send for the old woman who nursed you -in your youth." - -"That I will, Tita," replied Julia; "but I am terrified to leave you -with these people." - -"No fear, no fear, my child," answered the old woman. "They can say -nothing against me, for I went to confession every week. But you would -never go, you know, my child, because neither you nor the signor -thought it did any good; and, indeed, I don't think you had anything -to confess. They can't hurt me; and they wont, I'm sure, for I'm -neither too wise for them nor too good for them, and have always done -what the priest told me; said my prayers, and counted my beads; and if -that is not being a good catholic, I don't know what is." - -"But you must have some of this money, at least," said Julia, as Tita -was walking on again. - -"Give me two ducats," said the old woman; "that'll keep me a long -while." - -But Julia insisted on her taking much more; and when that was settled, -they proceeded on their way, without difficulty or obstruction. It was -not without some tears that Julia parted with her faithful old -servant, nor without much emotion that she went forward on an untried -path of life, protected by a man whom she had known only a few weeks; -but there seemed no other course before her, and she strove not to -show any doubt or dread. The asses were found ready at the spot where -they had been appointed, and telling the man who brought them, that -"the other girl" would not come, Austin Jute placed his fair companion -on the pad with which one of them was furnished, bestrode the other -himself, and led the way for about a mile farther on the Treviso road. -Then, however, he turned to the left, and, circling round the city, -endeavoured to regain the highway to Bologna. - -In the meantime good Tita re-entered the town by one of the other -gates, bought herself a new basket as she went along, and leisurely -took her way to the market, where she stopped at several of the -stalls, and, as the following day was a fast-day, bought herself a -portion of fish and vegetables sufficient for the frugal meal of one -person, and no more. She laid the key between the articles of food and -the side of the basket, and was, with the same calm, deliberate step, -proceeding homeward, when a man, who was passing through, exclaimed, -with looks of wonder and surprise, "Ha, Tita, you take matters -wonderfully quietly! Do you not know that they have broken into your -house, upon a charge of sorcery against your old master, and are now -seeking for proofs amongst his papers, I understand. Orders have been -given, they say, to apprehend your young lady, for all men admit that -she never came to confession or absolution, and some would have one -believe that she is but, after all, a familiar spirit, which your -master consented to have dealings with, in order to get at unheard-of -treasures." - -"I had her in my arms when she was two years old," said Tita, -sturdily; "and she was more like flesh than spirit, and good Christian -flesh, too." - -This answer seemed irrefragable to the good townsman, who replied, -"Well, you know best; I never saw her." - -And Tita replied, with a toss of the head and a scornful air, -"Unheard-of treasures, forsooth, when the poor old man died as poor as -a rat! Sorcery must be a poor trade I trow, and the devil be very -uncivil to his friends and acquaintances." - -With this answer, she walked quickly homeward, as if she had heard, -for the first time, of what had occurred. When she reached the door of -the house, she found the whole passage filled with people, many of -whom were anxious to get up the stairs, and see the inside of a -sorcerer's dwelling, in good company; but the officers of the -inquisition, the beadles and servants of the university, and some -half-dozen of the company of soldiers to which the garrison of Padua -was now reduced, kept back the people with brandished partizans and -staves, till at length a shout was raised by some one who knew her, of -"Here is old Tita! here is old Tita! A fagot and a tar-barrel for the -old witch!" - -Now Tita had sufficient experience in the ways of the world to know -that the attacking party always has a certain advantage; and, -consequently, making her way through the crowd as best she could, she -assailed the officers, high and low, with great volubility. Could they -not wait for her coming back, she said, when she had only gone out for -half an hour? What was the need of breaking down the door, when they -had only to wait a minute or two, and it would have been opened for -them? But they must needs be making work for the smith and the -carpenter. - -She insisted, as if it was a right she demanded, instead of a fate -that was certain to befall her, to be carried immediately before the -illustrissimi up stairs; and even when in their presence, she assumed -all the airs of towering passion, and poured forth, upon the -commissary of the inquisition himself, such a torrent of vituperation, -that for a moment or two he was utterly confounded. As he recovered -himself, however, he reprehended her with dignity, and demanded how -they could tell she would ever come back at all. To which Tita -adroitly rejoined, "What right had you to suppose I would not? Had not -I got the key with me?" and she instantly produced it from the basket -which she carried on her arm. - -Whether logic was not in its most palmy state in Padua at the time, or -whether the functionaries of the holy office were not accustomed to -deal in the most logical manner with questions brought before them, I -know not; but assuredly, the commissary regarded the anger, the -apostrophe, and the key, as very convincing proofs of Tita's ignorance -and innocence. He nevertheless proceeded to question her in regard to -the departure of the Signora Julia, who, he informed her, was gravely -suspected of having aided her late grandfather in unlawful studies, of -which pursuits, on his part, they had discovered irrefragable proofs. - -"Lord bless you, illustrious signor," replied the old woman, with a -very skilful sort of double dealing, not exactly falsifying the matter -of fact, but giving it a colour altogether different from that which -it naturally bore, "my young lady went out before I did. Why, she set -off on the road to Treviso some time ago; and she is gone to see a -gentleman to whom she is to be married, I understand; but I don't know -much about the matter, for she does not talk to me greatly about such -things; and all I know is, that a better young lady or a better -Christian does not live. As to my poor master's dealing in magic, I -don't believe a word of it; for I never saw a ghost or a spirit about -the house, and I am sure it would have frightened me out of my wits if -I had. I'll tell everything I know, and show every cranny about the -house for that matter, for I've swept it every bit from end to end -many a time, and I never saw anything about the place except what I've -heard gentlemen call philosophy, which I thought was something they -taught at the university, God forgive me!" - -This reply produced an unwilling smile, and the great readiness which -Tita expressed to tell all she knew perhaps saved her from many after -questions, for but a few more were asked; and then the commissary and -those who were joined with him departed, sweeping away all the papers, -and many of the instruments of poor Manucci, Tita following them to -the very street, and teazing them vociferously to have the door -mended. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -It was a sultry autumnal day--one of those days of early autumn when -the summer seems to return and make a fierce struggle to resume its -reign, when the leaves are yet green, or just tinted with the yellow -hue of decay, when the grape is still ruddy on the bough, and the fig -looks purple amongst its broad green leaves. The air had seemed -languid and loaded all the day, as if a sirocco had been blowing, -though the wind was in the west, and a hazy whiteness spread over the -wide plains through which wander the Po, the Mincio, and the Adige. -The silver gray cattle strayed lazily through the fields, sometimes -lifting their heads, and bellowing as if for fresh cool air, sometimes -plunging amongst the sedges, or actually swimming in the streams. Not -a bird was seen winging its way through the air, the very beccaficos -were still amongst the vines, and the horses of a large party of -travellers who were approaching the banks of the Po, hung their heads, -and wearily wended on, oppressed more by the languid heat of the day -than by the length of the way they had travelled. - -The travellers themselves, however, seemed gay and full of high -spirits: the three gentlemen who rode in front jesting lightly with -each other, though one was an elderly man of a staid, though somewhat -feeble looking countenance: and the servants behind chattering in -various languages with no very reverent lowness of tone. - -"Do you remember, Hume," said one of the former, as they rode on, "our -first journey by night through these plains?" - -"Yes," replied the other, "and your plunging your horse into the -Mincio, vowing we had all got off the high road." - -"Because we had nothing but fire-flies to light us," replied Gowrie, -"and Mr. Rhind took the first we saw for falling stars." - -"Though there were no stars in the sky to fall," cried Hume; "or if -they had fallen, they would have been caught in the thick blanket of -cloud, and tossed up again." - -"Well, my young friend," said meek Mr. Rhind, "they were the first I -ever saw, you know, and every man may make a mistake." - -"I wonder you did not take them for the burning bush," said Hume, a -little irreverently; "for, my dear Rhind, you had had the Old -Testament in your mouth from the moment we left Mantua, and you had -paid our bill to the Moabitish woman who cheated us so fearfully. You -called her by every gentile name you could muster, simply because she -would have twenty _scudi_ more than her due." - -"Well, I own I loved her not," replied Mr. Rhind. - -"But she did not want you to love her!" retorted Hume; "she wanted -Gowrie to love her, and he would not; so she charged the twenty scudi -for the disappointment; and all she wanted _with you_ was to pay the -money." - -"Which I certainly would not have done, if I could have helped it," -replied Mr. Rhind. - -"But you could not, my dear sir," said Lord Gowrie; "depend upon it, -Rhind, there is no striving against woman, circumstances, or an -innkeeper's bill; and it is only waste of words and time to contest a -point with either." - -"I am sorry you find it so, my dear lord," replied Mr. Rhind, somewhat -tartly, for he had been rather hardly pressed by his young companions' -gay humour during the morning. Lord Gowrie only laughed, however, for -his heart was very light. He was returning to her he loved; he had -known few sorrows since his very early years, and each step of his -horse's foot seemed, to hope and fancy, to bring him nearer to -happiness. He could have jested at that moment good-humouredly with a -fiend; and certainly Mr. Rhind did not deserve that name. The young -earl, however, saw clearly that his former preceptor was somewhat -annoyed, and he consequently changed the subject, stretching out his -hand, and saying, "Behold the mighty Po. I know not how it is, but -this river, about the part where we are now, though less in course and -in volume than either the Rhine, the Rhone, or the Danube, always -gives me more the idea of a great river than they do. Perhaps it may -be even from the lack of beautiful scenery. With the others we lose -the grandeur of the river in the grandeur of its banks. Here the broad -stream comes upon us in the dead flat plain, without anything to -distract the attention or engage the eye. I am inclined to believe -that a river, as a river, is always more striking when there is no -other great object to be seen." - -"And yet to me," said Hume, "the ocean itself, simply as the ocean, -without storms to lash it into magnificent fury, or rocky shores to -hem it in, like a defending and attacking army, but seen from a plain -sandy shore upon a calm day, is not half so sublime a sight as poets -and enthusiasts would have us believe. There is a great deal of -quackery in poetry, don't you think so, Gowrie? Poets bolster -themselves and one another up with associations and images, till they -believe things to be very sublime, which abstractedly are very -insignificant. I remember once standing upon a low beach, and putting -the whole sea out, by holding up a kerchief at arm's length. I have -never since been able to think it sublime except during a storm." - -"Take care how you try other things by such standards," said Gowrie; -"I am afraid, my dear Hume, that the same kerchief would have equally -reduced the finest, the noblest, and the best of all the things of -earth. It is he who extends his vision, not he who contracts it, that -learns to judge things most finely, and also, I believe, most really." - -As these words were passing, they were slowly approaching the banks of -the great river, which at that spot is broader perhaps than at any -other point of its course. The land on either side was bare and dusty, -and the heat became more and more intense from the want of verdure -around. At length a proposal was made that instead of crossing at once -in the ferry boat, and pursuing their journey on horseback from the -other side, they should hire a boat and drop down to Occhiobello, -leaving the horses and grooms to rest for an hour or two at Massa, and -then follow down the stream in the course of the evening, when the -weather would be less sultry. The proposal came from Mr. Rhind, who -was evidently a good deal fatigued; and the Earl of Gowrie, ever -anxious to contribute as much as possible to his old tutor's comfort, -acceded at once, although the plan might cause a few hours' delay, and -he was anxious to hasten on as fast as possible, impelled by love and -the expectation of speedily meeting her for whom his affection seemed -but to increase by absence. There was some difficulty, indeed, in -procuring a boat; for although the large ferry-boat, which, like -Charon's, had carried over many a generation, was lying at its -accustomed mooring place, yet no small boats were near, and they had -to ride slowly down the bank of the stream for more than a mile before -they came to a village where they could procure what they wanted. -There, however, they engaged a small skiff of a rude kind, then -commonly used by the peasantry; the three gentlemen embarked without -any of their attendants; and the boatmen, after a little consultation -amongst themselves, put off from the shore. - -"What were you talking about just now while you were looking at the -sky every minute?" asked Lord Gowrie, in Italian, addressing the -master of the boat. - -"We were saying that we should not get back without a storm, signor," -replied the man. "I should not wonder if we had to stay at Occhiobello -to-night, for when the Po is angry she is a thorough lion." - -"I hope the storm will not come before we land," said Mr. Rhind, who -was of a timid and unadventurous nature. - -His two young companions only laughed, teazing him a little with -regard to his fears, for they were at that age when a portion of -danger is the sauce of life, giving a higher flavour to enjoyment. The -boatmen assured the old gentleman that the storm would not come till -evening; and away they went down the full quick stream, having for the -first half hour the same hot and glaring sun above them, shining with -undiminished force through the thin haze which lay upon the landscape. -If they expected to find fresher air upon the water they were -mistaken, for not a breath of wind rippled the current of the stream, -and the reflection of the light from its broad glassy current rendered -the heat more intense and scorching than on the land. Sir John Hume -amused himself by taking Mr. Rhind to task for the bad success of his -plan; but Lord Gowrie good-humouredly remarked, that at all events -they were saved the trouble of riding. The boat dropped down the -stream more rapidly than usual, for there was a large body of water in -the river at the time, and the current was exceedingly fierce; but at -the end of about a quarter of an hour the wind suddenly changed to the -southeast, and blowing directly against the course of the eager -waters, tossed them into waves as if on the sea. The change was so -sudden--from almost a perfect calm, with the bright smooth glassy -river hastening on unrippled towards the Adriatic, to a gale of wind -and a wild fierce turbulent torrent--that good Mr. Rhind was nearly -thrown off his seat, and showed manifest symptoms of apprehension. The -boatmen showed no alarm, however, and Lord Gowrie and Sir John Hume -contented themselves with looking up towards the sky, which in the -zenith was becoming mottled with gray and white, while to windward -some heavy black masses of cloud were seen rising rapidly in strange -fantastic shapes. The air was as sultry as before, however, and after -blowing for about a quarter of an hour sufficiently hard to retard the -progress of the travellers very much, the wind suddenly fell -altogether, and a perfect calm succeeded. The waters of the river -still remained as much agitated as ever, and Lord Gowrie called the -attention of Hume to a very peculiar appearance in the sky to the -south. - -"Do you see that mass of leaden gray cloud, Hume?" he said, "lying -upon the black expanse behind. See how strangely it twists itself into -different forms, as if torn with some mortal agony." - -"Agony enough," answered Sir John Hume, "for the poor cloud looks as -if it had the cholic; but I have remarked that it always is so when -the wind is in the southeast. We shall see presently if there be -thunder or anything else, for it is nothing strange to witness a -conflict of the elements at this season of the year, especially in -this dry and arid country, where the sun seems to reign supreme, -without one green blade of grass to refresh the eye, or one cheering -sound to raise a heart not utterly deprived of feeling for its fellow -creatures." - -The young gentleman spoke in English; but the elder boatman, a man who -had numbered many years, and who with his three sons was now still -following the profession in which he had been bred in his early youth, -seemed to remark the direction of his eyes, and to divine the subject -of his thoughts and conversation. "Ah, sir," he said, "I should not -wonder if there were an earthquake before night. You are staring at -that queer-looking cloud; and I have rarely seen such a fellow as -that, working away as if it were twisting itself into all sorts of -shapes rather than begin the devastation, without its ending in -something very sharp." - -The two young men, who comprehended every word, though spoken in the -broad Mantuan dialect, looked at each other in silence; but Mr. Rhind, -who, notwithstanding his long residence in Italy, had with difficulty -mastered the common terms of the language, remained silent, merely -observing, "Well, it is pleasant that the wind has gone down, although -the river is still tossing about in a strange way; I am half-inclined -to be sick as if I were at sea." - -Half an hour passed without the prognostication of the fisherman being -fulfilled. The same lull in the air, the same agitation of the water -continued; Occhiobello was in sight, and the sun was sinking far away -over the Piedmontese hills, surrounded by a leaden purple colour, in -which it was difficult to say whether the dull stormy gray or the -crimson glow of evening predominated. In the south, the same heavy -clouds were seen, somewhat higher than when the wind fell, cutting -hard upon the blue sky overhead; and the large mass of vapour, the -peculiar appearance of which I have already mentioned, lay contorting -itself into a thousand different forms every moment. On the right -bank, not far behind them, when they looked back, the travellers could -see their horses and servants coming at an easy pace down the course -of the stream, the slow progress of the boat having given an advantage -to the party on land; and in front, a little more than half way -between them and Occhiobello, a row boat was perceived crossing the -broad river from the left bank to the right, apparently with great -difficulty, and heavily laden. - -"That is Mantini's boat," said one of the boatmen to the other. - -"Ay, he'll get himself into a scrape some day," said the old man. "You -see he's got horses in it now!" - -"How is that likely to get him into a scrape?" asked Lord Gowrie. "Is -the boat not fitted for horses?" - -"Oh yes, signor," replied the man; "but it is not that I spoke of. The -law says, no boat shall carry horses, oxen, or asses, except the -regular ferry boats." - -"Few would get across, then, by any other conveyance," said Sir John -Hume; "for this infernal tossing is beginning to make me think that -none but asses, would go in a small boat when they could get a big -one. Come, row on, row on, my men; for if you lose time grinning at my -joke, I shall not take it as a compliment." - -The men put their strength to the oar, and the boat flew on a good -deal more rapidly; for a gay good-humoured manner will always do more -with an Italian than either promises or commands. The boat before them -was rather more than half way across the river, while they, in the -mid-stream, were rapidly approaching it, when suddenly the old -boatman, starting up, pushed his way to the stern between the earl and -Mr. Rhind, and thrust his oar deep in the water, somewhat in the -fashion of a rudder, exclaiming, "It is coming, by St. Antony! keep -her head on, boys--keep her head on!" and looking out along the course -of the stream, Lord Gowrie saw a wave rushing up against the current, -not unlike that which, under the name of the Mascaré, proves so -frequently fatal to boats in Dordogne. Towards the middle of the -river, the height of this watery wall, as it seemed to be, was not -less than seven or eight feet, though near the banks it was much less, -and all along the top was an overhanging crest of foam, snow-white, -like an edge of curling plumes. A loud roar accompanied it; and the -fierce hurricane, which was probably the cause of the phenomenon, -seemed to precede the billow it had raised by some forty or fifty -yards; for the heavy-laden boat which they had seen, and which, having -approached much nearer the bank, was much less exposed to the force of -the rushing wave than their own, was in an instant capsized by the -violence of the blast, and every one it contained cast into the -rushing water. - -Horses and men were seen struggling in the stream; and with horror the -earl beheld a woman's garments also. "Towards the bank!--towards the -bank!" he cried, "to give them help;" but the boatmen paid not the -least attention, and scarcely had the words quitted his mouth when the -wind struck their boat also. One of the young men, who had been -standing up, was cast headlong into the bottom of the bark; those who -were seated could hardly resist the fury of the gale; and the next -instant the wall of water struck them with such force, that instead of -rising over it, as the old boatman had hoped, the skiff filled in a -moment, and went down. - -For an instant the Earl of Gowrie saw nothing but the green flashing -light of the wave, and heard nothing but the roaring of the water in -his ears; but accustomed from his infancy to breast the dangerous -billows of the Firth of Tay, he struck boldly out, rising to the -surface, with very little alarm for himself or for his companion Hume, -whom he knew to be a practised swimmer also. His first thought was for -his good old preceptor; but he soon saw that Mr. Rhind was even in a -better condition than himself, having somehow got possession of an -oar, over which he had cast his arms, so as both to hold it fast, and -to keep his head and shoulders out of water. The old boatman and his -two sons were seen at some little distance striking away towards the -shore; and Hume, never losing his merriment even in the moment of the -greatest peril, shouted loudly, "Get to land, Gowrie--get to land! I -will pilot Rhind to the bank, if he will but keep his helm down, and -his prow as near the wind as possible." - -As Hume was much nearer to the worthy tutor, Lord Gowrie followed his -advice; but the first two strokes which he took towards the land, -drifting, as he did so, part of the way down the stream, showed him at -a few yards' distance a scene of even greater interest than that which -actually surrounded him. It was that of the boat which had been -capsized by the first rush of the hurricane. It had not sunk at once -as his own smaller craft had done, and one or two men were clinging to -a part of it which appeared above the water. Close by, a horse's head -and neck protruded above the stream; and the hoofs were seen beating -the water furiously, in the poor animal's violent efforts to reach the -land. Considerably nearer to the earl was a group of three persons, -two men and a woman. One of the men, only a few feet distant from the -others, and apparently but little practised in the art of swimming, -was struggling furiously, with energetic efforts, to reach a better -swimmer, who was not only making his own way towards the shore, but -supporting coolly and steadily with his left hand the head and -shoulders of the girl beside him. She herself was dressed in the garb -of a peasant; but a feeling of terror indescribable seized upon the -earl, when in the face of the man who supported her he recognised the -features of his own servant, Austin Jute. He saw in an instant that if -the drowning man once caught hold of them, all three must inevitably -perish; and swimming towards them as fast as possible, he shouted, "To -the shore, Austin--to the shore! Don't let him reach you, or you're -lost!" - -"Here, take her, my lord," cried Austin Jute--"take her, and leave me -to settle with him. Drowning men catch at a straw; and he has got hold -of one of the tags of my jerkin--in God's name take her quick, or -he'll have us all down!" - -As he spoke the earl reached his side. He asked no questions, for one -look at the girl's face before him was enough. The dark eyes were -closed. The long black hair floated in ringlets on the water, and the -face was very pale, but the small fair hands were clasped together on -the breast, as if with a strong effort to resist an almost -overpowering inclination to grasp at the objects near. - -"She lives," thought the earl, cheered by that sign; and placing his -hand under her shoulders he bade the servant let go his hold. Then, -with no more exertion than was needful to support himself and her in -the water, and to guide them in an oblique line towards the shore, he -suffered the stream to bear them on. The only peril that remained was -to be encountered in passing the boat, where the horse was still -struggling furiously; but that was safely avoided, and then, confident -in his own strength and skill, the earl made more directly for the -bank, and reached it just as the sun was disappearing in the west. For -one so young, Lord Gowrie had known in life both very bitter sorrow -and very intense joy; but nothing that he had ever felt was at all to -be compared with his sensations at the moment when, after staggering -up the bank with Julia in his arms, he placed her on the dry turf at -the foot of a mulberry tree, and gazed upon her fair face as she lay -with the eyes still closed. - -"Julia," he said, "Julia;" and then everything gave way to joy as she -faintly opened her eyes and unclasped her hands. The bright purple -light of evening was streaming around them, and glancing through the -vine leaves which garlanded the trees. There was no one there but -themselves; and with warm and passionate joy he kissed her fair cheek -again and again, and wrung the water from her hair, and bound the long -tresses round her ivory brow, while, with wild words of tenderness and -love, he poured forth the mingled expression of joy and apprehension -and thankfulness. For a moment or two she did not speak. I know not -indeed whether it was terror, or exhaustion, or the overpowering -emotions of the moment that kept her silent; but even when she could -find words they were at first but two, "Oh, Gowrie!" - -A moment after they were joined by Sir John Hume and Mr. Rhind, and, -looking up the stream, Gowrie saw a group of several persons on the -bank, busy apparently in helping sufferers out of the water. - -"Did you see my man Austin, Hume?" asked the earl, after some other -words had passed, of that quick and whirling kind by which moments of -much agitation are followed. - -"Oh yes, he is safe," answered Hume. "Indeed, you need not have asked -the question, he'll not drown easily, though another fellow near him -did his best to prevent him keeping his head above water." - -"It was that which alarmed me for him," replied the earl; "and I owe -him too much this day, Hume, not to feel anxious for his safety. Are -you sure he reached the shore?" - -"Quite sure," replied his friend, "and I trust that there are not many -lost from amongst us. Fair lady," he continued, taking Julia's hand, -"I rejoice indeed to see you safe, and if Gowrie will take my advice, -and you can find strength to walk, he will lead you at once to the -little town down there, where you can dry your wet garments and obtain -some refreshment and repose." - -As the young knight spoke, Mr. Rhind turned an inquiring glance to -Lord Gowrie's face, as if he would fain have asked who the beautiful -creature before him was, and what was her connexion with his former -pupil. The earl did not remark the expression, however; but Julia -called his attention away by touching his hand and making a sign to -him to bend down his head. He did so at once, and after listening to a -few whispered but eager words, he said aloud, "No, we will not go to -Occhiobello. There is a village up there; it will do well enough. Have -you strength to go, Julia? If not, we will either get or make a litter -for you." - -She rose, feebly, however, and though feeling faint and giddy, -declared that she was quite capable of walking. "Let us see first," -she added, "if all the people are saved. It would darken the joy of -our own escape if any of the rest were lost." - -"Here comes your man Jute," said Sir John Hume, addressing the earl. -"He will tell us how the others have fared." - -They walked on a little way to meet the man who was approaching; and -as soon as he was within ear shot the earl called to him, inquiring if -all were safe. - -"Two have gone to the bottom, my good lord," replied Austin; "the -master of our own boat for one, and the same fellow who tried so hard -to drag me down with him. For the former I am sorry enough; for he -seemed a good cheerful-minded man; but for the latter I don't care a -rush; and, to say truth, I believe he may be as well where he is. He -followed us down to the boat, my lord," continued Jute, in a whisper -to the earl, "and jumped in, willy nilly, just as we were putting off. -I've a great notion he had no good will to my young lady, for he kept -his eyes fixed upon us the whole time, as if ready to make a spring at -us as soon as we got out of the boat." - -"You must tell me more by and by," said the earl. "Now let us -forward." - -Thus saying, with Julia's arm drawn through his own, he walked slowly -on towards the group which was standing on the bank, while Hume -followed, conversing with Mr. Rhind, whom he seemed to be teazing by -exciting his curiosity in regard to Julia, without satisfying him by a -single word. Such broken sentences as, "Oh, very beautiful indeed. -Don't you think so?--Quite a mystery altogether--I can tell you -nothing about it, for I know nothing--Gowrie has known her a long -time--Her name? Lord bless you! my dear sir, I don't know her name, I -hardly know my own sometimes--" reached Gowrie's ear from time to -time, and brought a serious smile upon his lip. At length, however, -they approached the group upon the bank, and found the whole of the -Italians much more taken up with grief for the various losses they had -sustained than with joy at their own escape from a watery grave. The -brother of the man Mantini, who had been drowned, was sitting upon the -sand, pouring forth a mixture of strange lamentations, sometimes for -the boat, sometimes for his brother. The other old fisherman and his -two sons were wringing their hands, and bemoaning the ruinous accident -which had befallen them. The old man could not be comforted; and his -sons seemed to increase the paroxysms of his grief from time to time -by recapitulating the various perfections of their little craft, and -the sums of money which had been expended upon her. Lord Gowrie, -however, contrived very speedily to tranquillize their somewhat -clamorous grief by saying, "Do not wring your hands so, my good man; -you lost your boat in my service, and the best you can buy or build to -replace it, you shall have at my cost. Show us now the way to that -village, for I see no path towards it; and come and see whether you -can procure some lodging for us there during the night. I dare say you -know most of the good people there, and can tell us where we can find -rest and provisions." - -The old man declared that the best of everything was to be found at -the village, though there was a better inn, he said, at Occhiobello, -which was not above three quarters of a mile farther. - -"That makes all the difference to the lady," replied the earl; "and we -shall do very well at the village for the night." - -He then approached the younger Mantini, and attempted to comfort him -as he had done the other boatman, by promising to pay the amount of -his loss. - -"That wont buy back my brother," said the man, sadly. "I should not -have cared a straw about the old boat if it had not been for that." - -"That is God's doing, not man's," replied the earl; "and man cannot -undo it. This should be some comfort, for he deals better for us than -we could deal for ourselves; but think of what I have said, and let me -know the expense of a new boat, this night at the village there. Can -you tell who was the other unfortunate man who has been drowned?" - -"His name I don't know," answered the boatman; "but when I wanted to -keep him out of the boat, which was too heavy laden as it was, he -whispered that he was a messenger of the holy office, and told me to -refuse him a passage at my peril. He brought a curse into our boat, I -trow, or we should not have had such a storm; but there is no use of -my sitting here and watching the water. Two horses and two men have -gone down beside the boat, and no one will ever rise again till the -last trumpet calls them out of the grave. I may as well go with you to -the village as sit here watching the water that rolls over them all;" -and getting up, he followed the rest of the party with his hands -behind his back, in dull and silent grief. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -Do you know well, dear reader, any of those large villages which are -scattered over what may be called the Mantuan plain? They deserve not, -indeed, the name of towns, though they often approach them in size. I -mean such places as San Felice, Gonzaga, Bozzolo, Sanguinetto, and -others of that class, which now present a number of small scattered -stone houses, with gardens generally around them, and a road running -through the midst; and here and there a much larger house falling -rapidly to decay, with no windows to keep out the storm or the -tempest, and very often the roof completely off, while the tall square -tower, which is certain to be found stuck somewhere about the -building, rises one, if not two stories above the rest. The church is -generally placed upon any little rising ground, sometimes at one -extreme of the village, sometimes in the middle, with the priest's -cottage close by; but in any of these at the present day, you might as -well look for an inn as for the shop of a diamond merchant, unless you -chose to call by that name the little hovel, surrounded by a garden, -where, on festival days, the peasantry go to drink their glass of -Rosolio and water, wine, lemonade, or, since the Austrians have -bestrid the land, vermouth. - -In the days I speak of, however, when journeys were almost always -performed on horseback, and cross-roads shared more liberally with -highways in the patronage of travellers, those larger houses which I -have mentioned were all inhabited by wealthy contadini, who often -combined with their ordinary occupation of farmers the more lucrative -calling of inn-keeping. The large farms which they held furnished -abundance of provisions for any accidental guests, and the upper parts -of the house, though scantily decorated, were kept ready for the -reception of travellers, in case the blessing of heaven, the plague in -a neighbouring town, or the bad reputation of the high road, brought -the wayfarers to villages in preference to cities. Very different, -indeed, were the customs and habits of such inns at that time, from -those which have prevailed within the last century, or, perhaps, even -more; for though not more than two hundred and fifty years have -passed, yet from the end of the sixteenth to the beginning of the -seventeenth century, were times of great change in the habits and -manners of all the nations of Europe; and at the small village inn in -Italy, instead of seeing waiters, tapsters, or drawers, or even -barmaids and chambermaids, all running eagerly to receive the -unexpected guest, the landlord would rise up from under his fig tree -or his olive, with a courteous salutation, and his sons and daughters -would be called upon to attend his guests. - -Such was the reception of the Earl of Gowrie and his companions, at -the little inn in the village which I have described upon the banks of -the Po. One of the first houses they met with was a large building, -such as I have described, with its tall square tower of five stories -at one corner, the whole situated at the distance of a hundred yards -from the road, with a farm-yard in front. On the left of that -farm-yard was a vineyard, rich with grapes; and from a pole leaning -over the wall, hung suspended a garland, as indication sufficient that -hospitable entertainment was to be found within. The host himself was -seated under a tree in the vineyard, _pigliar la fresca_, as he called -it himself; but no sooner did he see the party enter the court-yard, -than up he started, notwithstanding his age and his fat, both of which -were considerable, and hurrying forward to do the honours to his -guests, called loudly for Bianca and Maria, and Pietronillo, to assist -in making the visitors comfortable. The whole house was bustle and -confusion in a moment; and although it could not afford accommodation -to all, yet the Earl of Gowrie and his own immediate companions found -every thing they could desire. Austin Jute was immediately sent back -to bring his fellow-servants, who were coming down the river with the -horses; and the boatmen were lodged in the neighbouring houses, to -fill the pitying ears of the villagers with moving tales of disasters -undergone. - -Such details were not wanting to excite the interest, and in some -degree the wonder of the host, his daughters, and his son. There was -something in the air, the countenance, and even in the dress of the -gentlemen who made the house their temporary residence, which seemed -to show that they were foreigners; yet two of them spoke the language -with the most perfect purity even of accent, and not the slightest -tone of their fair companion indicated that she was not a native of -the country. But then, in her case, her dress was that of a mere -Paduan peasant on a gala day, while her language, her manners, and her -whole appearance, denoted a much higher station, and from time to time -she spoke to her companions in another tongue, without the slightest -appearance of difficulty or hesitation. The pretty country girl, too, -who aided her to change her wet garments for others which she kindly -and willingly supplied, brought down the report that every part of her -dress but the mere gown and bodice, were of the very finest materials, -and that she had taken from her bosom a trinket shaped like a heart, -surrounded with what seemed to her, jewels of inestimable value. - -The rooms which were assigned to the travellers were somewhat -difficult to allot, for each, as was and is still very common in -Italian houses, opened into the other; and the young earl had -determined that thenceforth Julia should be guarded by himself. When -he pointed out, therefore, as they passed through them, the end -chamber of the whole suite as that which was best suited to her, and -took possession of the next for himself, good Mr. Rhind's severe -notions seemed a little shocked, and though he did not venture to make -any observation, he looked exceedingly grave. - -Lord Gowrie took no notice, though he did not fail to remark the -change of expression, for from the few private words which had passed -between himself and Julia, he felt that the time had come when it -would be necessary very speedily to give whatever explanation he -thought needful. It could not, indeed, be afforded at the moment, but -a few minutes after, stopping one of the daughters of the host, he -said, "Stay a moment, Bianchina. The signora may be alarmed at -sleeping in a strange house alone. You must kindly take the other bed -in her chamber." - -"With much pleasure, sir," replied the girl, and tripped away. This -being arranged to the satisfaction of Lord Gowrie, and even to that of -Mr. Rhind, there remained another feat to be accomplished, which was, -to obtain a quiet unwatched private conversation with Julia, in which -he might learn all that had befallen her. The few words which she had -spoken on the bank of the river had given him a general knowledge of -the greater misfortunes which had happened, but to a heart that loved -as his did, the smallest particular, the most minute detail was -interesting. He longed to hear her tell all, to comfort her for all, -and his imagination, which was quick and eager, painted all that she -had endured--the sorrow, the terror, the agitation. He grieved -bitterly that he had not been present to protect and to console her at -the time when such evils had over-shadowed and such difficulties -obstructed her path of life, and he thirsted to pour the balm of -sympathy and affection into the gentle heart so bruised. - -Many an obstacle presented itself, however, during the next hour, to -any private communication. The whole house was in a bustle; beds were -to be made, rooms arranged, supper prepared. Julia had to change her -dripping garments and to obtain others; the earl to give various -orders, and to bestow the promised compensation upon the boatmen; the -host, his son, his daughters, and a maid were running from room to -room, and chattering with everybody; the servants who had been left to -follow with the horses arrived to increase the numbers and the -confusion, and some time after Austin Jute made his appearance, -bearing the little packet which Julia had carried with her from Padua. - -"Nothing is lost," he observed, "but what is at the bottom of the sea. -Search saves seeking. All deep things have a bottom." - -It was easier to obtain speech of him than of Julia at that moment, -and the earl soon learned all that Austin himself knew--the death of -good old Manucci, the wild and absurd rumours which had spread after -his decease, and the risk which the beautiful girl herself had run of -being committed to prison upon the charge of taking part in the old -man's supposed unlawful arts, and being imbued with heretical notions. -The means taken to effect her escape were then detailed, and Austin -Jute went on to say, "We got on very well that night, my lord, and -reached a little country inn which I remembered well, at Battaglia, -where, although the accommodation was poor enough, I thought we should -be in safety. I was forced to tell many a lie, it is true, and say -that the young lady was my sister, which the people believed, because -we spoke nothing but English to each other, although the family -likeness is not very great, and she was dressed like an Italian girl. -The next morning, however, I found that there were people out in -pursuit of us. One of the sparrow-hawks had stopped at the inn in the -night to refresh his horse and himself; and refreshing himself -somewhat too much, he chattered about his errand, for when the wine is -in, the wit is out, my lord. The people of the place were all agog -about it, for they had not had a bit of sorcery and heresy for a long -time; and from their talk I found that he was going towards Rovigo to -give orders at the ferries and the bridges for apprehending us. That -forced us to turn out of our way, and cross the Adige higher up; but I -made up for lost time by selling the two asses, and buying two good -horses, and we crossed the country between the Adige and the Po quick -enough. The difficulty was how to get over this great river, for I did -not doubt that our picture had been painted at every passage house; -and besides, I had seen, two or three times, a man who seemed to me -watching us. I went along the bank, therefore, till I found the boat -in which we did try to cross just ready to start with some of the -peasants. For a high bribe the man agreed to take us and our horses, -though it's against the law; but just as we were putting off, down -came the black looking fellow whom I had seen several times following, -jumped off his horse, tied the beast to the boat post, and forced his -way into the boat. All the rest you know, my lord, and all I can say -is, if he was upon a bad errand, the fellow has gone to answer for it. -He tried hard to drown me, but I would not let him." - -Such was Austin Jute's brief tale; and in a few minutes after, the -boatman, Mantini, came in to receive what had been promised him. His -calculation regarding the value of the boat which had been lost seemed -to be just and even moderate; and after having paid him his demand, -the earl added ten Venetian ducats more. - -"I cannot recall your brother to life, my good friend," said Gowrie, -"nor can I compensate for his loss to you and others; but if he has -left any children, distribute that small sum amongst them, on the part -of a foreign gentleman who sincerely commiserates their misfortune." - -The rough boatman, with the quick emotions of the south, caught his -hand and kissed it, saying, "God bless you, sir!" He then turned away -towards the door, but paused before he reached it, and coming back, he -said in a low voice, "I hear you know the signora who was in our boat; -and I think, from the way you looked at her, that you love her. If so, -start to-morrow morning at daybreak, avoid Ferara and all this side of -Italy, and get into the Parmesan, or some place where they will not -look for you." - -The earl gazed at him for a moment in silence, and then replied, "This -is indeed a valuable hint, my good friend, if you have just cause for -suspecting any evil intended against us. So far I will acknowledge you -are right: the young lady is well known to me, and her safety is -dearer to me than my own." - -"I _have_ just cause, signor," replied the man. "The river has -delivered the signora from one of those who were pursuing her, but -there are others watching for her at Ferara, and all along the course -of the stream. The man who came into our boat just as we were putting -off--he who was drowned, I mean--told me, in a whisper, that he was a -messenger of the holy office, and bade me run to Occhiobello at once, -to ask the podesta for assistance to apprehend the lady and the man -who was with her, as soon as we landed from the boat. It was that made -me say he brought a curse with him, for he seemed to rejoice as much -at the thought of catching a poor young thing like that, as others -would at making her happy. I heard all about the plans they had laid -for taking her; and he said it was the duty of every one to give -instant information. I shall give none, and you are safe for me; but -there are other people here who will be chattering, and the noise of -the loss of the two boats, and the drowning of two men, will bring -plenty of inquiries to-morrow morning. If I can put them on a wrong -scent, however, I will." - -The earl thanked him warmly for his information, and then held a -hurried consultation with Hume, to which, at the end of a few minutes, -Austin Jute was called. It was evident, no time was to be lost in -preparing for a very early departure on the following morning. Horses -had to be purchased, to supply the place of those which had been -drowned; and it seemed also needful to procure a different dress for -Julia, as it was now clear that the persons in pursuit of her had -obtained information of the costume in which she had left Padua; and -moreover, her travelling in the garments of a peasant girl, with three -gentlemen in a high station in society, would assuredly attract -attention at every inn where they stopped. Where or how this change of -apparel was to be obtained, proved a very puzzling question; for -although the use of ready-made garments was in that day much more -common than at present, yet it was not to be expected that the village -could supply such, nor that even Occhiobello possessed a shop where -anything of the kind could be obtained. - -"I will go and talk to one of the girls of the house about it," said -Hume. "There is supper being served, I see. You go in, Gowrie, and -partake, while I seize upon Bianchina or her sister, and try to -discover what is to be done." - -He was more fortunate than might have been anticipated, for he found -the two daughters of the innkeeper together, and quite willing to -enter into conversation or gossip upon any subject he chose. -Nevertheless, it was not very easy to explain to them what he wanted, -without explaining, at the same time, Julia's dangerous and painful -situation; but when he had at length accomplished the task, well or -ill, the younger girl looked at her sister with an expression of -intelligence. - -"So," she said, "the lady wants a dress, does she? and that is all. -Well, I think that can be easily procured for her. Don't you remember, -Bianca, the Venetian lady who was here last year, and left a coffre -behind her?" - -"Well," replied the other sister, looking shrewdly at Sir John Hume, -"I thought, when first I set eyes on her, that the signora was not -peasant born. Now, I'll warrant me, she has stolen away in disguise -from home, some dark night, to meet her lover here; and the wild river -had well nigh given them a mournful bridal bed--'tis very strange that -all the elements seem to make war against love. I never yet heard of -any of these stolen matches going forward without being crossed for a -while by storms and accidents." - -Sir John Hume thought it might be no bad policy to suffer the turn -which the light-hearted girl had given to the fair Julia's flight and -disguise, to remain uncontradicted; and he replied, laughing, "Well, -thou art a little divineress. Don't you think I'm a proper man for any -fair lady to run away from home to mate with?" - -"No, no," answered the girl, with a shrewd glance; "it is not you she -came to mate with; it is your friend; and you stand by, like the dog -by his master's chair, watching the good things provided for him, and -only taking what scraps he gives you--Ha! ha! gay signor, have I -touched you?" - -"By my faith you have, and hit hard," replied Sir John Hume; "but I -will have a kiss for that, Bianchina, before we part." - -"It must be in the dark, then," cried the girl, laughing, "for fear I -should see your face and not like it." - -"But about this Venetian lady's goods and chattels, my two pretty -maids," said the young knight, recurring to the subject. "We cannot -break her coffre open and steal her apparel." - -"Trouble not your brain with that, gay signor," answered the girl -Maria. "We will not make you take part in robbery." - -"Unless you steal my heart, and I lose it willingly," replied the -knight. - -"No fear of that; it is not worth stealing," replied the girl. "If it -has been bestowed on every country girl you meet, it must be well nigh -worn out by this time. As to the apparel, it belongs to us, now. That -sweet lady's case was much of the same sort as this one's. She fled -from a hard father at Venice, and came hither to meet her lover, and -fly with him to Bergamo; but, by some mischance, it was nine whole -days before he found her, and all that time we hid her close, though -the pursuers tracked her almost to our door. We used to sit with her, -too, and comfort her, and talk of love, and how fortune often favoured -it at last, after having crossed it long. At the end of the nine days, -the young marquis came and found her; but as they were obliged to fly -for their lives on horseback, the coffre was left behind; and when she -got home and was married, she wrote to bid us keep it for her love, -and divide the contents between us. They are not garments fit for such -as we are; long black robes, which would cover our feet and ankles, -and trail upon the ground, mantles and hoods, and veils of Venice -lace. We cut up one velvet cloak, to make us bodices for holidays, but -that is all we have taken yet; and we can well spare the lady garments -enough for her journey, and more becoming her than those which now she -wears." - -This was very satisfactory news to the young Earl of Gowrie, when his -friend joined him at supper, after parting from the two gay girls -above, with an adieu better suited to the manners of that day than to -our notions in the present times. As soon as supper was over, he -hastened with his friend and Julia to conclude the bargain for the -contents of the Venetian lady's coffre; and, to say truth, though -good-humoured, lively, and kind-hearted, the innkeeper's two daughters -showed a full appreciation of that with which they were parting, and -did not suffer it to go below its value. To make up, however, for this -little trait of interestedness, Maria and Bianchina set instantly to -work with needles and thread and scissors, to make the garments fit -their new owner; and leaving Julia with them, after a whispered -petition that she would join him soon in the gardens, the earl went -down again to the eating room, purposing at once to enter in -explanation with Mr. Rhind, in order to save grave looks or -admonitions for the future. - -He found his former tutor, however, sound asleep, worn out with the -fatigues and anxieties of the day, and soothed to slumber by a hearty -supper and a stoup of as good wine as the village could afford. - -"Faith, Gowrie," said Sir John Hume, "I could well nigh follow old -Rhind's example; but I may as well stroll through the village first, -and see what is going on. There is nothing like keeping watch and -ward. Will you come?" - -The earl, however, declined, and strolled out into the gardens, which -extended to the banks of that little river which, taking its rise -somewhat above Nonantola, joins the Po not much higher up than -Occhiobello. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -The moon was clear in the heaven, the skies in which she shone were of -that deep intense blue which no European land but Italy or Spain can -display; there was an effulgence in her light, which mingled the rays -with the deep blue woof of the night heavens so strongly, that the -stars themselves seemed vanquished in the strife for the empire of the -sky, and looked out but faint and feeble. - -In a small arbour covered with vines, on the bank of the stream, sat -the lady Julia and her lover. The bright rays of the orb of night -floated lightly on the water, changing the dark flowing mass into -liquid silver, while a hazy light poured through the olive, the fig, -and the vine, giving a faint mysterious aspect to the innumerable -trees, and enlivening various spots upon the dull, cold, gray earth, -with the yellow radiance of the queen of night. - -I believe it is as fruitless as difficult to try to analyse the -feelings of the human heart, when that heart is strongly moved by the -impulses implanted in it by nature, called into activity by accidental -and concurring circumstances. That nature has laid down a rule, and -that the heart always acts upon it with more or less energy, according -to its original powers, I do strongly believe; but it seems to me -fruitless, or at all events but little beneficial, to investigate why -certain bosoms, especially those of southern climates, are moved by -more warm and eager feelings than others. The operation of man's mind -and of his heart are as yet mysteries; and no one who has ever written -upon the subject has done more than take the facts as they found them, -without at all approaching the causes. We talk of eager love; we speak -of the warm blood of the south; we name certain classes of our -fellow-beings, excitable, and others, phlegmatic; but we ourselves -little understand what we mean when we apply such terms, and never try -to dive into the sources of the qualities or the emotions we indicate. -We ask not how much is due to education, how much to nature; and never -think of the immense sum of co-operating causes which go to form that -which is in reality education. Is man or woman merely educated by the -lessons of a master, or the instructions and exhortations of a parent? -Are not the acts we witness, the words we hear, the scenes with which -we are familiar, parts of our education? Is not the Swiss or the -Highlander of every land educated in part by his mountains, his -valleys, his lakes, his torrents? Is not the inhabitant of cities -subjected to certain permanent impressions by the constant presence of -crowds and the everlasting pressure of his fellow-men? Does not the -burning sun, the arid desert, the hot blast, teach lessons never -forgotten, and which become part of nature to one class of men; and -frozen plains, and lengthened winters, and long nights, other lessons -to the natives of a different region? Give man what instruction you -will, by spoken words or written signs, there is another education -going on for ever, not only for individuals, but for nations, in the -works of God around them, and in the circumstances with which his will -has encompassed their destiny. - -Perhaps no two people upon earth had ever been educated more -differently than the two who sat together in that garden, and yet, -strange to say, in the character of each had been produced traits -which, while they left a strong distinction, disposed to the most -perfect harmony. Gowrie, born amidst rich and wild scenery, had passed -his earliest days in troublous and perilous events. Constant activity, -manly exercises, dangerous sports, and wild adventures, had been -alternated with calm study; and acting on a mind of an inquiring and -philosophic turn, and a frame naturally robust, had increased and -early matured the powers of each. Thus had passed his days to the age -of seventeen, and then a perfect change had taken place in his course -of life. Removed to Padua, he had devoted himself for some years -solely to the cultivation of his understanding; and had followed -eagerly, and with extraordinary success, inquiries not alone into the -lore of ancient days, but into those physical sciences which were then -known but to a few, and often perilous to the possessor. Love had come -at length to complete the education of the heart, just when the -education of body and mind was accomplished. - -Julia, on the contrary, had been snatched, at a period beyond her -memory, from the dangers and difficulties which had surrounded her -infancy. She had passed the whole period of early youth in calm and -quiet studies, directed to unite every grace and accomplishment with -strength of mind and firmness of principle. No tender, no gentle -affection had been crushed; her spirit had been embittered by no -harshness; her heart had been injured by no disappointment; no -rankling memory of any kind was in her bosom, and her affections had -been cultivated as well as her understanding. Bright and cheerful, -deep-feeling, and true by nature, a sense of duty had been given her -as a guide and not a tyrant; and her attachments and her enjoyments, -limited to a very small sphere, had gained intensity from their -concentration upon few objects. - -And there they now sat, side by side, with her hand locked in his, -telling and hearing the tale of the first great griefs which she had -ever known. Youth forms but a faint idea of mortality till the dark -proofs are placed tangibly before its eyes. We know that those we love -must die; but hope still removes the period, and draws a veil over the -terrors of death. She had sometimes sat and thought of it--especially -when her old relation had pointed out that the great enemy of the -mortal frame was approaching more and more closely to himself--but she -had never been able to realize the grim features as they appeared to -her now, when she had seen them near; and now, when she spoke of the -loss of him in whom, for so many years, all her feelings and her -thoughts had centered, she leaned her head upon Gowrie's shoulder, and -the tears flowed fast. - -It was natural--it was very natural that she should cling with but the -stronger affection to him who now sat beside her. The first strong -love of woman's heart had been given to him, and that is intense and -absorbing enough; but he was now the only one; there was no partition -of affection with any other being in the world; neither brothers nor -sisters, nor parents nor friends, shared her thoughts or divided her -attachment. The cup of love was full to the brim. Not one drop had -been spilt; and it was all his own. - -Nor were his feelings less intense towards her, though different; for -man's part is ever different in the great moving passion of youth. To -protect, to defend, to befriend, is his allotted portion of the -compact between man and woman; and to feel that he was all in all to -her, that she had none to look to but him, that then and for ever her -fate rested on his power and his will, that his arm must be her stay, -his spirit her guide, his love her consolation, rendered the deep -passion which her beauty, her grace, her gentleness first kindled, but -the more warm and ardent. It was pure, and high, and noble, too. He -forgot not at that moment the promises which Manucci had exacted from -him. He proposed not to himself or her to break them. He told her all -that had passed; and though he expressed regret that such delay must -interpose before he could call her his own, and showed how much -easier, safer, and happier their course would be, if she could at once -give him her hand at the altar, yet he expressed no desire at that -time to deviate from the conduct pointed out. Pledged to follow it, it -seemed to him but as a road traced on a map, which, though circuitous, -would lead in the end to happiness, and from which they could not turn -aside without losing their way entirely. It was only how they could -best tread that path that they considered; and there, indeed, much was -to be thought of and provided for. The first object was to place the -fair girl in safety; for although a sad smile came upon her -countenance at the absurdity of the accusation, when she spoke of the -suspicions entertained against her, yet those were days when innocence -was no safeguard, and the unreasonableness of a charge was no -security. The only course to be followed seemed that which had been -pointed out by the boatman, Mantini--namely, to ascend the river as -rapidly as possible, without venturing into the Venetian territory, -and then to pass straight through Piedmont and France, to England. - -"We shall have time enough, as we go, dear girl," said the young earl, -"to examine the papers which your grandfather gave me, and to judge -what our course must be when we reach Scotland. The first thing to be -thought of, however, is security, and therefore we had better set out -by daybreak. Doubtless, my good man Austin can procure a couple of -horses before that time, and if not, two of those which bear the -baggage must carry a saddle, and the packages follow by some other -conveyance." - -"I will be ready when you bid me," replied Julia, "and do what you bid -me, Gowrie; but there was one injunction which he whom I have lost, -laid upon me, when he told me to accompany you to Scotland. He bade me -engage some women to go with me as servants, saying that it might seem -strange if I journeyed with you all alone.--I know not why it should -seem strange," she continued, raising her eyes to his face; "for whom -have I to trust in but you? and who, but you, has any right to protect -and guide me?" - -Gowrie smiled, and kissed the fair small hand he held in his; but he -answered at once, "He was very right, dear Julia. It _would_ seem -strange; and men might make comments more painful even to me than to -you. The harsh, hard world neither sees, nor tries to see, men's -hearts; but wherever there is the opportunity of evil, supposes that -evil exists. Our poor friend was right; maids you shall have to go -with you; but it is impossible to engage them here: nor, indeed, would -it be prudent to attempt it. At Mantua, or Piacenza, we shall be more -free to act; and in the meantime I will tell good old Mr. Rhind of the -exact situation in which we are placed, to prevent him from coming to -any wrong conclusions--I mean the gentleman who sat next Sir John Hume -at supper; he was formerly my tutor, and will return with us to -England." - -"Oh, yes; tell him--tell him," replied the lady, eagerly. "He gazed at -me often during the meal, and I felt the colour coming to my cheek, I -knew not why. It seemed as if he doubted me, and did not like my -presence with you." - -"Nay, it is not exactly so," replied her lover. "He is a good and -gentle-minded man, only somewhat too much a slave to the world's -opinion. As soon, however, as he knows all, he will be quite -satisfied, and aid us to the best of his power. And now, dear Julia, -seek your rest; for you will have but little time to repose; and we -must make quick journeys and long ones till danger is left behind." - -The earl did not calculate altogether rightly upon Mr. Rhind's ready -acquiescence. Whether it was that he had been suddenly awakened in the -midst of his sleep by the landlord lighting the tapers in the eating -hall, or whether it was that the portion of wine he had taken, though -not sufficient to affect his intellect, had been enough to affect his -temper, I cannot tell; but certain it is, that he assumed a tone with -his former pupil which roused some feelings of anger. - -"I wish to speak with you, my lord," he said, as soon as Lord Gowrie -entered the room alone. - -"And I with you, my dear sir," answered the young earl. "What is it -you desire to say?" - -"Why, there is something very strange here, my lord," said the other, -while Gowrie seated himself. "You are suddenly and unexpectedly, as it -seems, joined by a young woman of very great beauty, with whom you are -evidently very well and intimately acquainted, but whom I have never -seen or heard of before. Now, my dear lord, neither my character nor -my principles will permit me----" - -"Stop one moment," said the earl, interrupting him. "I wish to guard -against your saying anything that may be offensive to me, and which -you would yourself regret hereafter. Already you have used the term -'young woman,' when you should have said 'young lady,' for her -manners, as well as her appearance, should have taught you what her -station is. However, as I came here to explain to you my own position -and hers, I may as well go on, and save you needless questions. She is -a lady of birth equal to my own, with whom, as you say, I am well -acquainted, and have been so long. She is plighted to me to be my -bride; and but for the loss of her nearest, and indeed only kinsman in -this country, I should have gone on to find and claim her at Padua, -and would there have introduced you to her under more favourable -circumstances." - -He paused in thought for a moment, doubtful as to whether he should -tell Mr. Rhind the absurd suspicions under which her whom he loved had -fallen; for he knew his good tutor well, and did not believe that -those suspicions would appear so ridiculous in the eyes of his -companion as they were in his own. - -Mr. Rhind, however, instantly took advantage of his silence to reply. -"What you tell me, my lord, alarms me more than ever. What will your -lady mother--what will all your friends and relations think of your -marrying a strange Italian--a runaway, as it seems, from her home and -her family, a follower, of course, of Popish superstitions and -idolatries, a worshipper of the beast, a disciple of the antiChrist of -Rome? I must desire and insist----" - -"You will insist upon nothing with me, Mr. Rhind," replied Gowrie, in -a low, but somewhat stern tone. "Pray do not forget yourself; but -remember that your authority over my actions has long ceased to -exist--had, indeed, ceased before I made this lady's acquaintance. Old -friendship, respect for your virtues, and personal affection, may -induce me to condescend so far as to give you explanations of my -conduct and my purposes; but it must be upon the condition that you -lay aside that tone altogether." - -Mr. Rhind found that he had gone a little too far; but yet he did not -choose altogether to abandon his purpose, and he replied, "Well, my -lord, my part can very soon be taken. It is true, as you say, that you -are your own master; but still I have a duty to you and to your family -to perform, which I must and will fulfil, and, having done so, we can -then part upon our several ways if you think fit. That duty is to -represent to you the consequences of a course----" - -"Of which you know nothing," answered the earl, "being utterly and -entirely ignorant of the whole facts, and assuming a number of -positions, every one of which is false. Your logic and your prudence -have both failed you, my good sir; and as you still speak in a tone I -dislike, I think it will be much better to drop a discussion which -seems only likely to end in a diminution of both my respect and my -friendship." - -"You are very hard upon me, my lord," replied Mr. Rhind. "I am not -conscious of having deserved such treatment, and all I can say is, if -I have done so, I am ready to make any atonement in my power, as soon -as you show me that such is the case." - -"That I can show you instantly," answered Lord Gowrie; "for I am sorry -to say that you have undoubtedly erred in every one of your -conclusions, and should have known me better than to suppose that I -would act in a manner derogatory to my character, to my station, and -to the faith in which I have been brought up." - -"The passions of young men," said Mr. Rhind, gravely, "will often lead -them to act contrary even to their own judgment." - -"I might reply to that observation somewhat severely," said the earl, -conquering a strong inclination to retaliate; "but I will not do so, -and will merely show you, how you have suffered prejudice to warp your -own judgment. You have said the lady is an Italian. On the contrary, -she is my own countrywoman, the daughter of a house as noble as my -own. You have said that she is a papist, a worshipper of the beast, a -follower of the antichrist of Rome. These are harsh words, sir; and -they are all false. She is a protestant. Her father was a protestant, -her mother, her grandfather. As to the latter, by whom she was -educated, he was driven from his native country on account of his -testimony against the superstitious vanities of that very church of -Rome--do not interrupt me.--You have said that she is a runaway from -her family and friends. There you are as much in error as in all the -rest. She has fled to me, on the death of her only surviving relation -in this country, to escape persecution; and one of the principal -charges upon which that persecution is founded, is that she could -never be brought to attend upon the superstitious observance of -confession, or ask absolution at the hands of a mortal like herself. -And now, my good sir, having heard the facts, let me tell you my -intentions. I have undertaken to escort this young lady back to her -native country of Scotland; to claim for her, and if possible to -restore to her the estates of which she has been unjustly deprived; -and I have promised to make her my wife at the end of about twelve -months from this time. All this I will perform to the letter. Nay -more, I should conceive it a duty, in the situation in which she is -placed, to urge her at once to give me her hand, had I not bound -myself solemnly to refrain till the period I have mentioned is past. -This promise I will also keep, though in keeping it I render the rest -of the task I have undertaken more delicate and difficult; but of -course I shall consider it a duty to take every means in my power, by -all tokens of outward reverence and respect, to shield her, not only -from reproach but from suspicion, while travelling under my protection -to her native land. You may aid me to do so if you will, and in so -doing, I believe you will be performing a Christian act; but still, if -after what I have said you entertain any hesitation, I do not press -you to do so, and leave you to act perfectly as you think fit." - -Mr. Rhind had bent down his head, feeling, with a good deal of -bitterness, that he had placed himself greatly in the wrong; and that -although he might still entertain great objections to the course which -the young earl was determined to pursue, and be anxious to urge upon -him considerations to which he attached great importance, his -arguments would seem weak and without force, after the injustice of -his first conclusions had been so completely proved. There was a -little struggle in his breast between mortified vanity and the -consciousness of having shown himself rash and prejudiced; but various -prudential considerations arrayed themselves on the side of humility, -and he answered, in a low and deprecatory tone, "I grieve most -sincerely that I have done the young lady wrong; and I rejoice most -sincerely, my lord, to find that whatever other objections may exist, -your affections have been fixed upon one so sincerely attached to the -protestant faith. My only apprehension now is, as to what your lady -mother may think of such an engagement entered into without her -knowledge and consent." - -"Leave me to deal with my mother, my dear sir," replied the earl; "I -know her better than you do, and entertain no fear of the result. She -is far too wise a woman to assume authority where she possesses none, -but that which affection and reverence give her. Nay, more, she is too -kind and too noble not to approve of what I have done and what I -intend to do, when she finds that no reasonable objection stands in -the way of my affection, and that the object of my love is in herself -worthy of it. Do I understand you right that it is your purpose to -bear me company as heretofore, and to assist me in escorting this -young lady to her own land with decency and propriety?" - -"Most assuredly, my dear lord," replied Mr. Rhind, "if you will accept -my services; and I do hope and trust that you will not mention to the -young lady the prejudices I somewhat rashly entertained, for it might -lose me her favour, and make her look upon me as an enemy instead of a -friend." - -Lord Gowrie smiled, and gave him his hand, saying, "Make your mind -quite easy on that score. I will make no mischief, my dear sir. And -now we had better all perhaps seek repose, as it will be needful for -us to set off by daylight to-morrow, and to alter our whole course, -taking the way towards Piacenza, as I dare not cross any part of the -Venetian territory, lest my beautiful Julia should fall into the hands -of the hateful Inquisition." - -"God forbid!" exclaimed Mr. Rhind, to whom the Inquisition was an -object of the utmost terror and abhorrence. "If she run such risks for -conscience sake, well may the dear lady merit the love and reverence -of all good men." - -The treaty of peace thus concluded, the earl and his former tutor -parted for the night; and Gowrie proceeded to inquire what had become -of Hume, and to ascertain the result of Austin Jute's efforts to -procure horses for their journey of the following day. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -On one of the spurs of the Apennines, where that large chain, which -forms as it were the spine of Southern Italy, approaches most closely -to the Mediterranean at its northern extremity, just about half way -between the fair town of Piacenza and the frontiers of Piedmont, there -stood in those days, and there stands still, an inn, to which the -inhabitants of the neighbouring city frequently resort in the summer -months, to enjoy the cool upland air and the beautiful scenery. It is -situated a little higher up than Borgonovo, and then bore the name of -La Festa Galante. The scenery round is wild and uncultivated, but full -of picturesque beauty, with myrtle-covered hills sloping down gently -to the wide plains of Lombardy, which lie stretching out to an immense -extent till sight is lost in the blue distance. Ten days after the -events which I have related in the last chapter, the Earl of Gowrie -and his fair companion were seated on the slope of the hill, at about -a quarter of a mile from the inn, gazing down with delight on the -splendid landscape beneath them, while the setting sun poured his last -rays over the mountains and the plain, and gilded the steeples and the -towers of Piacenza, making the city look much nearer than it really -was. The distance might be some seventeen or eighteen miles, and the -period of the year had passed when the inhabitants of the town were -accustomed to come thither to escape the heated streets and crowded -thoroughfares. There were no other guests in the house but the earl -and his party; and a more quiet and secluded spot could not well have -been chosen for fugitives to rest after a long flight, or lovers to -pass a few days of happy repose. The proximity of another state, too, -by crossing the frontier of which security could soon be obtained, -might be one reason why the earl had selected that spot as a place of -temporary sojourn after the fatigues and anxieties which Julia had -lately endured, for Voghera was not farther distant than Piacenza, and -the actual boundary was within two miles of the inn. - -All was calm and still around them. Mr. Rhind sat reading a little -farther down the hill. A servant girl, who, with a sort of adventurous -spirit which often characterizes the peasantry of that part of the -country, had agreed to quit her home at Borgonovo, and accompany the -strangers into distant lands, was plying the busy needle within call. -The sleepy evening sunshine and the blue shadow crept in longer and -longer lines over the short turf and the scattered myrtle bushes, and -overhead, stretched out like a canopy, the broad dark branches of four -or five gigantic pines, while, at a little distance along the face of -the hill, was seen peeping out a Palladian villa, with large chesnut -trees, serving rather to break the hard straight lines than to conceal -that a house stood there. The villa indeed was uninhabited, for its -owner had retired into the city for the cooler and more rainy months -of winter; but still it gave to a scene unusually wild that air of -habitation and society which, under most circumstances, is pleasant -from the associations produced. - -Their conversation was not gay, but it was cheerful--far more cheerful -than it had been since last they met; for memory of the dead had -darkened the horizon behind them, and frequent apprehension had spread -clouds over the prospect before. At several places where they had -stopped by the way, causes of alarm had occurred; and even at Piacenza -they had found reason to doubt their security. A man, who had known -Mr. Rhind in Padua, had met him in the streets, and told him a -distorted tale of poor Manucci's death and Julia's flight, declaring -boldly that the old man had been addicted to unlawful arts, and that -it was suspected his granddaughter had aided him in their pursuit. He -added, however--what neutralized in the mind of his hearer the effect -of his tale, as far as poor Julia was concerned--that she was clearly -guilty, because she had never been known to come to confession or seek -absolution of the priest. Now, however, both Gowrie and her he loved -felt in security, for he had taken measures to guard against surprise; -and the memory of the loss she had lately sustained had been somewhat -softened by time and the rapid passing of many stirring events. Gowrie -strove to cheer her, to remove apprehension, to efface the traces of -the first deep sorrow she had known; and though gaiety would have -jarred with her feelings, yet a cheerful tone mingled with deep -thought, will often find its way to a heart which would reject direct -consolation and fly from painful merriment. - -On the preceding day she and Gowrie had read together the papers which -had been intrusted to him by Manucci, and the perusal had been sad; -for there she found the tale of all that her parents had suffered, and -though she could not but rejoice to feel that no disparity between her -own rank and that of her husband could make his friends look cold upon -her, yet the impression--at least the first impression--was -melancholy. - -He had marked it at the time, and would not recur to the subject now, -but spoke of other things of a lighter nature, but which had more or -less connexion with deeper and stronger feelings. - -"It is indeed a fair spot of earth, this pleasant land of Italy," he -said, as they gazed over the scene before their eyes; "and yet, my -loved Julia, there is always something sad in it to my sight. The -memories of the glorious past contrast so strongly with the painful -realities of the present, that I can never enjoy these bright scenes -without wishing that a happier lot had been assigned to those who -inhabit them." - -"But there are bright things here still," replied Julia; "if the glory -of arms is gone, the glory of arts still survives." - -"And policy has succeeded liberty," said Gowrie, with a faint smile; -"but let us not, love, dwell upon regrets. How gloriously the rays of -the setting sun are painting, almost with ethereal splendour, that -high _campanile_ and the old castle by its side, while the purple -shadow, resting upon the village below, marks it out upon the -illuminated bosom of the hill. There may be more peace, perhaps, under -that obscurity, than in the sun-lighted towers above. I am resolved, -dear girl, to seek no glories. See!--even now the splendour is passing -away, and the gorgeous fabric is almost lost to sight. No, no! content -and happiness are jewels better worth the seeking than all that -ambition can offer or power can give." - -"Thank Heaven you feel so," answered Julia; "but tell me, Gowrie, -something of your own land--of my land too--of our land. I fear me, -from the way in which you admire the scenes we pass through here, that -it wants that beauty which charms you so much." - -"Oh, no!" answered Gowrie; "it has beauties of its own, far different, -but not less great. Its skies are often full of clouds, and its air of -mists; rugged and stern are many of its features, and its winds are -cold and strong. But those clouds give infinite variety to all they -pass over; and if it be not a land of sunshine, it is at least a land -of gleams. The shadow and the light wreath themselves in airy dance -over the prospect, and the purple heath and yellow broom supply to us -the myrtle and the gentia, hardly less fragrant, and in nought less -beautiful. Then, the grey mists--let them not scare you--for when they -rise in the morning rays from out the valleys, winding themselves -round the tall hills, they look like a grey cloak trimmed with gold -wrapping the limbs of the giant genius of the land. Then, though the -features of the landscape are, as I have said, bold and rude, they -attain in the sublime what they lose in the beautiful, and striking -the imagination elevate the mind.--Yet there are many beauties too, -soft and gentle and pleasant to look upon; for it is not all the deep -dim lake, the rocky mountains, the roaring cataract; but there are -scenes as sweet and placid as any even in this bright land; and where -you find them, they seem like a smile upon a warrior's face in a -moment of peace and repose." - -"I shall love it, I am sure," replied Julia; "for though I have seen -but little of this wide world, yet I have often gazed at beautiful -pictures with feelings that I can hardly describe--a love and a -longing to penetrate into the deep glades, to roam amongst the rocky -hills, to trace the glistening river through the woods, to see how the -lake ends amongst the mountains, to solve all the mysteries which the -painter has left to be the sport of fancy. But I have ever, though -pleased with both, loved those pictures best which show me grand and -striking scenes. They seem to lift up my heart more directly unto God. -The rocks and mountains seem the steps of his temple, his altar on the -summit of the hills. But what like is your own place at Perth?" - -"Our place," said Gowrie, pressing the small hand that lay in his; -"'tis a large old house in one of the most beautiful cities in the -land, with wide chambers and long galleries.--But look, my Julia, -there is a horseman coming along the road from Borgonovo, and spurring -hither at great speed. It must be my good fellow Austin, who is -watching there; and lo! there are two others following at a somewhat -slower pace. Hola, Catharina, call out the men! We need not fear the -coming of two men, if there be no more behind. I think that second -figure looks like Hume. He does not ride in the Italian fashion. But -still he could hardly have reached Padua, and followed us hither so -soon. The first is certainly Austin, and he spares not the spur." - -They stood and watched him, while some three or four servants, well -armed, as was the custom of that day, came out and ranged themselves -near their lord. In the meantime, the first horseman was lost to their -sight, plunging in amid some brown woods which lay at the bottom of -the slope. Then, re-appearing, he rode more slowly up the steep hill, -while the other two who followed were in turn concealed by the wood. - -In a few minutes, Austin Jute sprang to the ground by his lord's side, -saying, "Sir John Hume, my lord, is coming up; and I rode forward to -warn you." - -"You should not have left the village, Austin," said the earl; "I bade -you stay, unless you saw cause for apprehension." - -"True, my lord," answered the man; "but I have other tidings too. Bad -tidings make the messenger ugly, so I told the good first. I fear you -will have to move in the cool of the evening, for there is a fat -dominican, a slink official, and two servitors, down there below, who, -I wot, seek no good to the signora. I talked with them easily, and -made myself as simple as a dove for their benefit. But there need be -no hurry and no fear, lady," he continued, seeing Julia's cheek turn -somewhat pale, with that sick-hearted feeling which comes upon us -amidst the anxieties of the world, when we have known a brief period -of repose, and the fiend of apprehension appears at our side again. -"Cheer up, cheer up! there are only four of them, and we more than -double their number. They wont get much help from the podesta, who is -an atheist, thank Heaven! Besides, full barrels roll slow, and they -are now filling themselves with both meat and drink. It was their -first call, and I bestowed on each of them a bottle of a wine which I -knew to be heady on an empty stomach." - -"Here comes Hume," said the earl. "Keep watch on that point of rock, -Austin. In half an hour it will be dark; and methinks they will not -travel after sun-down." - -"If they do," answered Austin Jute, "I will undertake to rob them of -their breviaries, and make them think a single man a whole troop of -banditti; for, being cruel, they must be cowards--at least I never saw -those two bad things apart." - -"Nothing of the kind, if you please, Jute," replied the earl, who had -little doubt, from long knowledge of his servant's character, that he -was very likely to execute in frolic what he proposed in jest. "Go -where I have told you, and watch the road well till night falls, or -till I tell you to return." - -"I suppose, if I see them trotting up, I may ride down to bid God -speed them, my lord?" said Jute, taking two or three steps away. "I -heard one of the learned professors at Padua say, 'Always meet a -coming evil;' and he added some Latin, which I don't recollect." - -The earl did not reply, but turned to greet his friend Hume, who, as -gay and light-hearted as ever, shook his hand with a jest, saying, -"Here is a letter for you, Gowrie; may it bring good news, though it -came last from an evil place. Dear lady, you may well look lovely, for -you have turned the heads of all the doctors of Padua, only it -unluckily happens that the effect of beauty, like that of the sun, is -changed by what it shines upon, bringing forth fruits and flowers in -the garden and the field, and hatching viper's eggs upon a dunghill. -They all declare you are an enchantress; and though Gowrie and a great -many more may think the same thing, it is in a very different sense." - -"They do me great wrong," answered Julia, sadly; "and they did wrong -to him who is gone, for his whole mind was turned to doing good to his -fellow-men, and certainly never dreamed of evil. If all people were as -innocent of guile as he was, we should have a more peaceable world." - -"They are not very peaceable in Padua," replied Hume, "for there has -been a riot, and many broken heads. I have to thank it, perhaps, for -being here, however, for the worthy council of asses had well nigh -made up their minds to cause my arrest for having pronounced Gaelic, -Gaelic; and I do believe, if they did not understand Italian, they -would pronounce it magic also. Well, what news, Gowrie? If your -epistle be as placable as mine from the same hand, your affairs will -go smoothly, and happiness have a green turf to canter over. For my -part, I shall go through the rest of Europe like a shot out of a -culverin, till I stop rolling, at dear Beatrice's pretty little feet." - -While he had been speaking, Lord Gowrie had been examining the -contents of the letter which his friend had given him; and although -his eye had been straining eagerly on the page with a look almost -approaching to anxiety, as is the case with most men of strong -feelings, when they receive written tidings from distant friends, -there was a smile upon his lip which showed that the contents were not -unsatisfactory. We may as well look over his shoulder, however, while -he stands there with the letter in his hand, and read the words that -it contains for ourselves. Thus, then, the epistle ran:-- - - -"To the Earl of Gowrie, our dear Son, with love and affectionate -greeting: - -"SON,--Your letter of the 16th of August, by the hands of a trusty -messenger, reached us with speed; and seeing that there are therein -contained things of weight, anent which your mind is disquieted till -you shall hear from us, I write at once to let you know the mind of -your granduncle and myself. Having proved yourself on all occasions -wise and prudent, even beyond your years, you do well to write freely -of your purposes to those who have your love and interest much at -heart, notwithstanding that you are now of an age both to judge and -act for yourself without control. We doubt not, my dear son, that you -show your discretion in the choice you have made, and that the lady -Julia, of whom you write, is worthy of all commendation. We might have -wished you in such a matter to choose one known to us all, and with -whose friends we might have dealt in the ordinary way; but, as you -have made your choice, and love beareth hardly contradiction, we are -glad to find that she is one of your own countrywomen, of suitable -rank, and well nurtured, and also that she hath resisted stoutly all -lures to defection in a land of idolatry and well nigh heathenism. It -is comfortable, too, to find that you are not so hurried on by rash -and intemperate affections as to propose to wed this lady at once, but -inclined rather to wait till she has been brought amongst your own -friends, and has sought, if not recovered, the lands which you say are -her due: not that we need heed much whether she come to you, my son, -with a rich dowry or not, so that the other qualities be suitable; but -we are glad to find that both you and she are inclined to act with -discretion rather than hasty passion. Thus you will understand that I -have conceived a good opinion both of her heart and her understanding, -not only by what you write, which might be warped by the love of a -young man, but by her own acts, which speak in her praise. You may, -therefore, kiss her for me, as her dear mother, and tell her that she -shall have under my roof the care and kindness which is shown to her -other children by your fond parent, - - "DOROTHEA GOWRIE." - -"_Post Scriptum_.--I trust that your coming will be speedy, for it is -now many years since mine eyes beheld my son. Sir John Hume marries -your sister Beatrice, who is now in attendance upon the Queen's -Majesty. I have written to tell him he hath my consent, and put this -letter within his in one packet, not knowing where you may be when the -messenger reaches Padua." - - -Without answering Sir John Hume, Gowrie gently took Julia in his arms, -and kissed her lips, saying, "I am commissioned, dear love, to give -you this kiss for one who is ready and well pleased to receive you as -a daughter." - -"I wish dear Beatrice were here, with all my heart," said Sir John -Hume, "then such tokens might become the fashion.--In Heaven's name -what are you staring at, dearly beloved Rhind? Did you never hear of a -kiss being sent in a letter before? and if the Countess of Gowrie -chooses to do such duty to her fair future daughter-in-law by deputy, -not being able to perform it herself at a thousand miles' distance, -who could she choose better for the office than her own son?--But -come, Gowrie, your mad-pated fellow has told you doubtless that you -have black neighbours near; and you have now to choose whether you -will set out to-night or wait till morning. Look, there is a star -beginning to glimmer up there. The evening is warm and fair, and we -can reach Voghera before the gates close. What say you, fair lady?" - -"Oh, let us go," answered Julia. "I shall not feel in safety till I -have left this land behind me." - -"Come, then, let us to horse at once," said Gowrie. "We can go on with -some of the men; and the rest can follow with the baggage after. -Methinks they wont subject doublets and cloaks to the holy office, so -that we can leave them in safety." - -The plan was no sooner proposed than executed. The host's bill was -paid, the horses saddled, and the three gentlemen of the party, with -Julia and the girl who had been hired to accompany her, set out just -as the sun had sunk below the horizon. The stars looked out clear and -bright upon their path, and with a glad heart Julia passed an old -tower, even then deserted, which marked the boundary of the -territories of Piacenza and Voghera, then, as now, under distinct and -separate rule. Her spirits rose; and though she had been somewhat -silent during the first few miles of the ride, she now questioned Sir -John Hume, who was on her right hand, regarding all he had seen at -Padua. He answered gaily and lightly, evading her questions, for he -did not like to tell her that the house which had been so long her -home had been completely pillaged on the day that she fled from Padua. -She soon saw that he was unwilling to satisfy her; and fancy filled up -but too truly the mere vague outline that he gave. With regard to her -poor old servant Tita, however, she was determined to hear more; and -there the young gentleman had less scruple in affording her every -information. - -"Oh, as to dearly beloved Tita," he said, "she has done exceedingly -well. She fairly and boldly encountered and defeated all the old women -in black gowns that the university could send against her. She bullied -the professors, rated the inquisitor, and nearly scratched the eyes -out of the faces of the officers. She told old Martinelli to his -beard, that if people had not suspected him of unlawful studies he -never would have tried to cast the imputation upon others; and as to -her old lord and young lady, they had much less to do with evil -spirits than others she could mention, who, people said, kept books -written with blood, and used to raise up the image of a child out of a -pot of boiling water. The old fool got frightened out of his wits, and -made his exit from the house as fast as possible, not knowing what she -would charge him with next, and fearing that part of the storm which -he had helped to raise might fall upon himself. Every one after was -afraid to meddle with bold Tita, and she remained mistress of the -field. She is now very comfortably established in a small house by the -market-place, and is looked upon with great reverence as one of the -heroes of Padua." - -"It is really strange how men can be so mad and foolish," said the -earl. "Spirits must be very weak and powerless to submit themselves to -the sway of feeble old men, or half-crazed old women." - -"Or have a very strange taste in female beauty," rejoined Hume, "to -fall in love with wrinkles, gray hair, and more beard than is becoming -on a lady's chin; but these events promise to raise a grand scholastic -dispute in Padua, for already the parties are arraying themselves for -and against the existence of magic at all. Antonelli has announced a -lecture on the non-existence of magic, and when one of the doctors -hinted that such an opinion was heretical, he turned the tables upon -the persecutors, by giving the two parties the names of magicians and -anti-magicians, so that Martinelli and his faction are now universally -known by the title of the magicians, much to their horror and -confusion." - -"But we have the warrant of Scripture," said Mr. Rhind, gravely, "for -asserting that magic has really existed. Balaam, the son of Balak, -when he was called to curse the children of Israel, distinctly spoke -of it as an art which he himself practised." - -"Are you sure it was not Balaam's ass?" asked Sir John Hume, laughing; -"I am sure no one would practise it in the present day but an ass. I -don't know what they did then." - -Mr. Rhind, however, though silenced, was not satisfied. He had -listened to the whole conversation with great attention; and combining -what he then heard with words which had at times dropped from both the -earl and Julia, he perceived the nature of the charge against her, and -felt sadly oppressed in mind thereby. It is true he had seen nothing -in her but beauty, sweetness, and rational devotion; he had discovered -that she always carried with her a Bible in the English tongue; but -still fully impressed, as most men were in his day, with a belief that -such a thing as magic really existed, he felt grieved and uneasy on -account of his pupil's long intimacy with Manucci, who, he now found, -had been accused of practising unlawful arts. He tried on the -following morning, by what he thought skilful questions, to extract -more information from Sir John Hume; but he was, by nature, so simple, -that Hume foiled him at every turn by a repartee, and the same night, -eager to hurry on towards Scotland by longer and more rapid journeys -than Julia could undertake, the young knight left his companions to -follow, and hastened on towards France, leaving Mr. Rhind to brood -over his own conclusions with bitterness and apprehension. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -It may seem perhaps a paradox to say that expectation is enjoyment. -Nevertheless it is so on this earth. Fruition is for heaven. With the -accomplishment of every desire, there is so much of disappointment -mingled, that it cannot be really called enjoyment, for fancy always -exercises itself upon the future; and when we obtain the hard reality -for which we wished, the charms with which imagination decorated it -are gone. Did we but state the case to ourselves as it truly is, -whenever we conceive any of the manifold desires which lead us on from -step to step through life, the proposition would be totally different -from that which man for ever puts before his own mind, and we should -take one step towards undeceiving ourselves. We continually say, "if I -could attain such an object, I should be _quite contented_." But what -man ought to say to himself is, "I believe this or that acquisition -would give me happiness." He would soon find that it did not do so; -and the never ceasing recurrence of the lesson might, in the end, -teach him to ask what was the source of his disappointment?--Was it -that other circumstances in his own fate were so altered, even while -he pursued the path of endeavour, as to render attainment no longer -satisfactory?--was it that the object sought was intrinsically -different when attained from that which he had reasonably believed it -to be while pursuing it?--or was it that his fancy had gilded it with -charms not its own, and that he had voluntarily and blindly persuaded -himself that it was brighter and more excellent than it was? Perhaps -the answer, yes, might be returned to all these questions; but yet I -fear the chief burden of deceit would rest with imagination, and that -man would ever find he had judged of the future without sufficient -grounds, and had suffered desire to stimulate hope, and hope to cheat -expectation. Yet, perhaps, if he would but turn back and look behind, -when disappointment and success had been obtained together, he would -find that the pleasures tasted in the pursuit, especially at the time -when fruition was drawing nearer and nearer, would, in the sum, make -up the amount of enjoyment which he had anticipated in possession. I -will go to a certain town, says man, and there I will spend this sum -in my purse, in buying things which are necessary to my comfort and -satisfaction. He travels on the road. He spends his money here, he -spends his money there; and when he arrives, he finds that he has not -sufficient to purchase one-half of what he proposed to buy. Yet he -enjoyed himself by the way, and has no cause to complain. - -If we thus decorate, as I have stated a few sentences ago, the object -of desire with charms not its own, we may well say that we enjoy in -anticipation even while the pursuit continues, and more especially do -so where success seems to us certain, though remote. In the case of -Lord Gowrie it was truly so. He looked to his union with Julia as a -consummation of happiness; and he longed for the passing of the time -till she should be his own for ever; but yet the days were very bright -which he passed beside her in the interval. Hope went on before them -and they followed; but they gathered many a flower by the way. Bound -by his promise, he knew that a certain interval must elapse before -their fate could be inseparably united. There was no use in hastening -their movements. There was no object in hurrying on towards his native -land. He felt inclined to linger amongst fair scenes, and in a climate -where winter comes slowly and departs soon, by the side of her he -loved, with little restraint but what his own feeling of right imposed -upon him, with a sense of deep happiness in the present, and -expectation to brighten the hereafter. - -In Piedmont and Savoy, all danger was at an end; for while the -southern and eastern parts of Italy were still under that system of -tyranny and superstition which strove to control the thoughts as well -as the actions of men, the states bordering on France had cast off the -bondage in a considerable degree, and the power of the most cruel and -arbitrary tribunal that ever was founded by man was no longer -recognised. - -Still there was something due to opinion, especially to the opinion of -those he reverenced and loved. Doubts might naturally arise if he -halted without any reasonable motive by the way; if he detained her -who was to be his bride before she was his bride, in any lengthened -sojourn, almost alone with him, in distant lands. They went slowly, -therefore; but they still proceeded. They stopped sometimes during a -whole day for rest; and for that purpose they chose the most beautiful -scenes they could find--scenes which harmonised with the feelings of -their own hearts. It would have been too much to expect that two -beings, loving as they loved, should ride post through the most -beautiful parts of Europe. Their journeys, too, were slow and short. -They sought to enjoy everything worth enjoying that presented itself. -They loved to see, and to comment, and to delight--to pour into each -other's bosoms every thought as it arose, and to blend, as it were, -their minds together as their hearts were already blended. For the -deeds that were enacted round them--and there were many at that time -of surpassing interest--they cared very little. What was to them what -princes or potentates said or did? What was to them the shifting -scenes of policy or war? They had a world apart within themselves, in -which every feeling and every thought was centred. As they approached -the mountains of Savoy, however, they heard some rumours of military -movements, which caused alarm in the mind of Mr. Rhind. He was a very -peaceable man, and somewhat timid; but Lord Gowrie treated the matter -lightly, and Julia seemed hardly to comprehend that there was any -danger to unwarlike persons in the strife of monarchs. Their progress, -however, was rendered even slower than before, by other circumstances. -Mountains to climb presented themselves at every step; roads were bad -and dangerous, towns became few, and accommodation difficult to be -procured. The art of the engineer had not at that time triumphed over -the barriers which nature had placed between land and land, and the -first fall of snow, though scanty, had added to the difficulties of -the way. - -The modern reader would derive little amusement or instruction from a -detailed account of the passage of the Alps, in the reign of -Elizabeth. Suffice it, that after a long and fatiguing day's journey, -the party of Lord Gowrie arrived, towards sunset, at the small town of -Barraux. Julia was weary and exhausted, Mr. Rhind was hungry and -low-spirited, and nothing was to be obtained at the inn, in the way of -food, but some brown bread and some small fish out of the Isere. -Nevertheless, youth and hope and love made a great difference between -the two younger and the elder of the travellers. The tendency, I fear, -of all the experience of age, is selfish; and it is strange that the -nearer we approach towards the period of quitting earth, the more we -prize its comforts. True, indeed, there are some who preserve the -finer things of the unworn fresh heart even unto the end; but, of all -the many trials to which man's soul is subject in this state of -probation, I cannot but think that a tendency to that apathy for what -is great and fine, and to that concentration of the mind upon the body -which are incident to old age and long experience of life, is amongst -the greatest. Mr. Rhind could not enjoy at all, though the scene -around him, as the reader who may have wandered that way will know, -was full of objects both to soothe and to elevate. He consoled himself -with the wine, which was very good, while Julia and Gowrie wandered up -to the base of the old castle on the hill, to get one last look of the -beautiful soft valley through which the Isere wanders on, with gentle -cultivated hills hemming it round, and blue gigantic mountains -towering up beyond, while the sun, set to them, still tipped the peaks -with purple and with gold. - -They returned slowly to their light supper, which was preparing during -their absence, and shortly after, Julia retired to rest. Mr. Rhind was -not long ere he left the room also; but it was a large old rambling -house, which had formerly been a priory of the suppressed order of the -Temple, standing near the centre of the little bourg--I think the -reader can see it still--and Mr. Rhind could not find his room. He -came back, and disturbed the earl in a reverie, to ask which it was; -and the landlord had to be summoned to show him. If Gowrie was sleepy -before, the inclination to slumber had now passed away; and he sat for -some time longer in meditation. The landlord looked in at length; and -remembering that he was keeping up a race of people devoted to early -hours, he rose, got a taper, and retired to his own chamber. Then -setting down the light, he looked around, and again fell into a fit of -thought. - -There are times when--we know not why--the spirit of the mind, if I -may use a strange term, seems completely to triumph over the mere -corporal part of our nature, to conquer its sensations, to make light -of its necessities, to overcome its habitual resistance almost without -an effort--times when soul seems to possess the whole, when every -faculty is subdued to thought. Vain is it to struggle against it--vain -to say I will read, I will sport, I will sleep. Thought replies, no; -and for the time we are her slave. Such was the case with Gowrie that -night; and though he gazed round the chamber as I have said, what it -contained made merely an impression upon the eye, which reached not -the mind within. - -It was a large, wide, old-fashioned chamber, the walls of which had no -hangings, although two wide pieces of a tapestry, with which the whole -room had probably formerly been decorated, were drawn across the -windows. On one side of the room was a large bed, almost lost in the -extent of the floor, and having curtains of a dingy green hue, and of -a silk stuff, the manufacture of which had even then long passed away, -formerly called cendal. There was a small round table in the middle of -the room, a mirror in a black oak frame standing forth from the wall, -supported by two iron bars, a washing-table in the corner, and two or -three chairs. That was all that it contained; and, as I have said, it -was very large and very gloomy. Nevertheless, although the year was -approaching winter, there was something close and oppressive in the -atmosphere. It felt as if the windows had not been opened for many a -year. Gowrie did not remark it, but sat down at the table and fell -into thought again. He remained thus for more than an hour. I have -called it thought, but yet it was of that trance-like character -wherein all things seem more like impressions than ideas, when dead -affections rise up from the tomb of memory in the shape of living -existences, and from the future the shadows of unborn events, clad in -the forms of actual realities, present themselves for warning or -encouragement. There is no continuity, there is no arrangement, there -is no operation of the intellect. Mind sits as a spectator while -the pageant passes, called up before our eyes by some unnamed -power.--What? - -Who can say? There are things within us and without us that we know -not of--that the hardest handed metaphysician has never been able to -grasp. - -In the midst of such fits the body will sometimes renew the struggle, -and strive to regain its power, especially if anything affects it -strongly. The earl seemed to feel the oppressive closeness of the -room. He rose, went to the window near the bed, pulled down the -tapestry, and threw open the rattling small-paned casement. It looked -to the east; and the bright moon, within a few days of the full, -peeped in from above the Alps, pouring a long line of splendour over -the floor. He knew not, indeed, that he had moved. The external eye -might see the casement and the moon, and the faint line of mountains -flooded with silver light; but the mind saw not. It had other visions; -and leaning his arms upon the bar on which played the part of the -casement that opened, he remained buried in the same reverie. Its tone -was melancholy--not exactly sad, but of that high grave stern cast -which seems to rob the things of earth of all their unreal brightness, -stripping off the gilding and the gauds, and leaving the hard leaden -forms alone, while another light than that of the world's day spreads -around, as if streaming from a higher sphere, and showing all the -emptiness and the nakedness of the illusions of the earth. - -How long he had remained thus I know not, and he himself did not know, -but something--what he could never tell--made him suddenly turn round. - -How shall I tell what followed? Was it an illusion of the fancy? Was -it a dream? Was it a reality?--Who shall say? But there before him was -a face and form well known, though never seen in life. It was that of -a tall dark pale man, with traces of sickness on his face, a bloody -dagger in his hand, and marks of gore upon his arm. His portrait hung -in the earl's palace at Perth, though with a more glowing cheek, and -in unspotted robes. But there he stood before him now, as if the grave -had given up its dead, his father's father, the slayer of the hapless -Rizzio. There was the same haggard look, the same ashy cheek, the same -rolling eye with which he had sunk into a seat in the presence of his -queen when the dreadful deed was done, and the full horror of the act -was poured upon his conscience. There the same gasping movement of the -lips with which he called for water to allay the burning thirst which -was never to be quenched but by the cold cup of death. A pale hazy -light spread around him, and he seemed to raise his hand with a -menacing gesture. He spoke, or Gowrie thought he spoke, in tones low -and stern, "Shall the blood of Douglas and of Ruthven mingle once -more?" he said. "Shall the child of him who denied all participation -in the act he prompted, and left his betrayed friend to perish in a -distant land, unite her fate to the heir of him who was destroyed! -Beware, boy, beware! Upon the children's children the blood of the -slain shall call for vengeance; and the unborn of the dark hour shall -seek a fatal retribution!" - -As he spoke, the earl's head seemed to become giddy with awe and -surprise, the figure vanished, all that the room contained became -indistinct; and when Lord Gowrie again opened his eyes, he found -himself lying across the bed with his clothes on, and with the morning -light streaming brightly through the casement. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -The landlord of the inn at Barraux had been up before any of his -guests; and anxious to show that his larder was not always so ill -provided as it had been the night before, he had contrived to procure -materials for a very substantial breakfast, to strengthen the -travellers for their day's journey. It was well dressed, too, after -the fashions of that day, and good Mr. Rhind did ample justice to its -merits both by eating and lauding it, gaily declaring that the morning -made up for the evening, and that, according to the popish -superstition, the landlord might claim the merit of some works of -supererogation over and above those necessary to atone for the sins of -the night before. - -Gowrie himself was in no very jesting mood. He made, it is true, every -effort to shake off the impression produced upon his mind by the -strange events lately passed. It was a dream, he thought--an idle -dream, or else a hallucination. He had been very much fatigued, had -obtained but small refreshment, and yet he had sat up thinking, -wasting time which would have been better employed in repose. Over -fatigued, he had dropped asleep without knowing it, had fallen upon -the bed, and imagination, set free from all restraint, had conjured up -appearances strangely connected with the previous subject of his -thoughts. He strove to eat, to talk, to jest playfully as usual, but -he was not very successful in the attempt, and the demeanour of his -fair Julia soon put a stop to the effort. She was exceedingly -thoughtful, grave, almost sad. She eat little, spoke less, and when -the horses were brought round to the door, mounted with a deep sigh. - -After they had ridden some little way, the earl asked, in a low tone, -if anything had disturbed her. - -"Nothing of importance," she answered, glancing her eye towards Mr. -Rhind, who was riding near; "but I will tell you more very soon." - -She spoke so low that their worthy companion did not hear what she -said; but even if he had heard, it is probable that he would not have -altered his position in the cavalcade, for Mr. Rhind was a very slow -man at taking a hint, and seemed to have no conception that his former -pupil might sometimes find the society of her he loved pleasanter -without ear-witnesses. A favourable hill, however, afforded, about -half an hour afterwards, as they rode on towards Chamberry, the -opportunity that the lovers desired. Mr. Rhind was not fond of riding -fast, either up hill or down. He had conscientious scruples as to -spurring his horse, and never used a whip when he could help it. Thus, -when the cavalcade began the ascent, he suffered his beast to drop -slowly behind, and in the end took out a little vellum-covered volume -from his pocket, and began to read. - -"Now, dearest Julia, let us quicken our pace," whispered Gowrie. "We -shall be at the top of the hill very soon, and Rhind will rejoin us -some half league after we have reached the bottom of the descent." The -lady shook her rein. The horses sprang on. The servants, more discreet -than Mr. Rhind, followed at an easy trot, and by the time that Gowrie -and Julia had reached a spot about one third of the whole distance -from the top of the hill, they found themselves some two or three -hundred yards before any of their attendants. - -"Now tell me, dearest," said the young earl, "what is it has made you -so grave and sad this morning? There is no one within ear-shot." - -"It is nothing, really nothing," replied Julia. "You will think it -very ridiculous, I fear, when I say that the only cause of my being -grave, if I have been so, was an idle dream; but I love to tell you -all, Gowrie, to have no thought hidden from you." - -"Ever, ever do so," replied the earl, warmly; "but what was this -dream, love? I fear it must have disturbed your rest, and you much -needed repose." - -"I must have been asleep some time," she answered; "but indeed, -Gowrie, it was a thing of no moment--merely a dream--and yet if I tell -you, it may make you grave and sad too." - -"Nay, now you excite my curiosity the more," replied her lover. "Pray -tell me all, dear girl." - -"Well," she answered, with a faint smile, "I was very tired, and glad -to lie down to rest. The little maid we hired at Borgonovo, who slept -in the same room, was very weary too, so that her fingers would hardly -do their office in unlacing my bodice. How soon she was asleep I do -not know, for the moment my head rested on the pillow my eyes were -closed in slumber. I cannot tell how long I slept quietly and -undisturbed; but then I seemed to wake. The room was the same. The -aspect of all things round me was unchanged; but there was a light in -the chamber, and at the distance of about a pace from my bedside I saw -a standing figure of a man, distinct and clear, but yet so thin and -shadowy, that it seemed as if every part were penetrated with the -light in the midst of which he stood--a coloured shadow resting on the -pale blue glare." - -"What was he like? Who was he?" demanded Lord Gowrie, eagerly. - -"He was very pale," answered Julia, "with a face that seemed to -express suffering and sorrow more than strong passions. His hair, cut -short in the front, was jetty black, mingled here and there with gray, -and falling in dark masses of large curls behind. He was tall, about -your own height, Gowrie, and seemingly powerful in form, but with the -shoulders a little bowed, as if worn by sickness. He was dressed in -armour, but the head was bare; and a cloak was cast over his arm, -concealing his right hand. His eyes were bright and flashing; and the -face and upper part of the body seemed more real and corporeal than -the lower limbs, which I could hardly see. There was a small scar upon -his face, between the mouth and the cheek, as if----" - -"The same," murmured Lord Gowrie, "the same! Did he not speak?" - -"Oh, yes," answered Julia, "he seemed to speak, or I dreamed it. He -stood gazing at me long indeed in silence, while I lay trembling with -fear. I tried to ask him what he did there--what he wanted. I tried to -rouse the house--to wake the maid who was sleeping near me; but my -tongue seemed tied, no sounds proceeded from my lips, and I strove in -vain to rise in bed. In the meantime he stood silent, gazing at me; -and at last he said twice, 'Poor thing! poor thing! Do you not know,' -he asked, 'that the blood of Morton and the blood of Ruthven can never -be mingled together till the gore that the one shed and the other -falsely denied is fully avenged?--Beware! beware! Hurry not on your -own fate. Pause! Refrain till the blow has fallen, let it fall where -it will----.' Do not look so gloomy, Gowrie--it was but a dream, for -the agony of mind I suffered broke the spell, and with a low scream I -started up. The maid woke instantly, and as I looked round I found -that all was darkness. The poor girl asked what was the matter, and I -told her then, as I have just said to you, that it was only a dream. I -asked her, however, if she had seen the doors closely locked. She -assured me that she had, and got out of bed to see, when she found -that it was so, and all was fast and safe. My rest had been disturbed, -however, and I did not sleep again for some time, which is perhaps -what made me somewhat dull and heavy; but still it was but a dream." - -"A very strange one," answered Lord Gowrie, and fell into a fit of -thought. His meditations, however, were less of Julia's dream than of -what his own conduct ought to be. He felt unwilling to alarm her, or -to create any doubts or suspicions in her bosom as to the course -before them; but yet her frank confidence required return; and he felt -that after she had told him all, he ought to withhold from her -nothing. - -In the meantime she rode on by his side, with the tresses of her -glossy hair somewhat shaken by the exercise, falling here and there on -her beautiful face. The dark eyes were bent down with the long -eyelashes resting on her cheek, as if she would not interrupt his -meditations by a look; but at length the earl said, "This is a strange -dream, indeed, dear Julia; and the occurrence is the more strange, -inasmuch as something very similar happened to me last night also." - -Julia started, and looked up. "Oh, what?" she exclaimed. - -"The selfsame person appeared to me likewise," replied her lover. "I -know him well by your description, too accurate to be mistaken; but -that which is perhaps the most strange of all is, that to me he -appeared as I have never seen him represented, but as I have heard him -described, and to you, who have neither seen him nor his picture, -exactly as his portrait stands in my gallery at Perth." - -"But what did he say to you? What was the import of your dream?" asked -Julia. - -"I am not so certain it was a dream," replied Lord Gowrie; "would that -I were; but his warning to me was very similar to that addressed to -yourself. You have told me all, dear Julia, and I must not withhold -anything from you; but still, while speaking with perfect confidence -to each other, we must not let anything like superstitious fears -affect our conduct or turn us from our course. Your heart and mine, -dear girl, are inseparably linked for weal and woe. God grant, for thy -sake, that the happiness may predominate; but I feel that neither -could know what happiness is were we ever to part." - -"Oh, no, no!" murmured Julia, in a low tone, letting the reins fall -upon her horse's neck, and clasping her hands together, while her head -bowed down as if something oppressed her almost to fainting--"Oh, no, -no! That hour were death." - -Gowrie soothed her by assurances of eternal love, and then proceeded -to tell her all that had occurred to him during the preceding night. -He spoke of it, too, as of a delusion of the imagination; but Julia -fell into thought which lasted several minutes after he had done. At -length she looked up with a brighter glance. "If you remember," she -said, "the night before last we were looking over together those -papers concerning my birth, and we spoke much of my father and your -ancestor who slew the unhappy Rizzio. The subject rested long in my -mind; and perhaps on you also it had no slight effect. Do you not -think, Gowrie, that in passing through the scenes we have lately -traversed, with things exciting the imagination at every step, weary -and exhausted too, fancy was likely to reproduce for us, in sleepy or -drowsy hours, the phantoms which had haunted us throughout the day?" - -"Perhaps so," answered her lover, glad to catch at any solution of a -mystery so dark and painful--"perhaps so, my Julia; and yet these -dreams are very like realities sometimes. The people in my land--in -our land--are given much to superstition, and I would far rather -imagine that I had yielded to those impressions implanted in us during -youth, than believe that such a warning should in our case be -requisite or given." - -"But do you believe, Gowrie, that such a thing is now permitted as -that the spirits of the dead should revisit earth in the forms which -they bore while living?" Julia asked, gravely, and then added, "he who -was my instructor from my earliest years had no faith in such events." - -"Much has been said, much ever will be said," answered Gowrie, "upon -that, in regard to which little can ever be known on this side of the -grave. Philosophy, my Julia, says one thing, and something in man's -own breast ever says another. Our knowledge tells us that we can never -see that which has no substance, that we cannot hear that which has no -voice. The spirit within says, 'There are means of communication -between me and my unimprisoned brethren. The eye is my servant in my -communication with earthly things, the ear is but the portico of the -audience chamber of the mind, where the voices of earth are heard; but -for things not of earth there is another sight, another hearing. The -sovereign mind communicates with them direct, and not through her -ministers.'" - -He spoke gravely, for the subject was one of those in regard to which -we are inclined to apply the aids of philosophy to confirm opinions -formed already without their help. Few persons in the world, and very -few, indeed, in Scotland, at that time, were without faith in dreams -and apparitions; and what is, indeed, very strange, those who were the -most sceptical of the truths of revealed religion, were often the most -credulous of the tales of superstition. - -Julia, however, saw that he was sad, and she made every effort to -conquer the gloom which her strange dream had cast upon her own mind; -for there can be no doubt that it had made its impression--not, -indeed, that she received it as a real warning from another world, for -her mind had been differently tutored in early years; but still it had -filled her thoughts with gloomy images, and she had given way to them -more than was customary with her. Now, however, she strove to resume -her natural cheerfulness, and quietly, easily, with that simple art -which nature teaches to a kind heart, led the conversation away, -without any abrupt transition, from the subject which seemed to give -pain to him she loved. - -They were now at the bottom of the hill; and although they had ridden -more rapidly down than was perhaps very prudent, they drew in their -horses' reins when they reached the level ground, in order to let Mr. -Rhind rejoin them. He was riding slowly along, still reading; but a -sound, which startled the whole party, and their horses also, soon -caused him to quicken his pace, in order to get to Lord Gowrie's side -again. 'Tis a strange power which strong minds have over weak ones. By -circumstances, power and authority may be placed in the hands of the -weak, and they may exercise them till the exercise becomes habitual; -but in every moment of difficulty or danger, the strong mind assumes -the sway, and the weaker one takes refuge under its shelter. Mr. Rhind -had known Lord Gowrie from his infancy, had received rule over him -when he was a boy, had been placed with him to guide him when he was a -youth. He hardly looked upon him as more even now; he hardly -comprehended that his tutorship was finished; but the instant that a -peril presented itself, or an embarrassment occurred, instead of -protecting and guiding, he sought protection and guidance from his -former pupil. - -I left the reader waiting for a sound, or at least for some -description of that sound which startled the whole party. It was that -of a cannon-shot, not very far distant either; and before Mr. Rhind -could reach the young earl's side, or any one could ask any questions, -another and another succeeded, till the number reached to -four-and-twenty. - -"Good gracious, my dear lord, we have got into the midst of the -hostile armies," exclaimed Mr. Rhind. - -"The king must have made more rapid progress than I expected," replied -Lord Gowrie, in a calm, quiet tone. "Those guns must be from -Montmeillant or Chamberry." - -"From Montmeillant, my lord," said Austin Jute, who had ridden up. -"The sounds come from the east." - -"But the wind blows down the valley," answered the earl. "What shall -we do, dear Julia? Are you afraid?" - -"What is the choice?" she asked. - -"To go on by Chamberry and the Pont Beauvoisin to Lyons, or retread -our steps towards Grenoble, and take the longer way. It is evident -that a part of the King of France's army is before us; but we cannot -tell what is taking place on the Grenoble road." - -"May I go on and reconnoitre, my lord?" said Austin Jute. "I can bring -you back information, and perhaps a pass. They say it is better to be -at the end of a feast than at the beginning of a fray, and perhaps it -may be so; but I like a little bit of the fray, too, provided it last -not too long." - -"That may be the best plan," said his master. "Tie something white -round your arm, and prick on; we will follow slowly." - -Before this scheme could be executed, however, a party of some eight -or ten horsemen came dashing round the rocky turn of the road, and -cantered down into the meadow which lay on the bank of the stream, -before they saw the party of the young earl. They were all in arms -except two, and evidently belonged to one or other of the contending -forces. The next moment, however, the eyes of one of those who bore no -defensive armour rested on the group under the hill; and turning his -rein suddenly thither, followed by all his companions, he was soon in -front of the party of travellers, and shouting in a loud, but gay and -jesting tone, "Stand, give the word!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -The system of warfare carried on in Scotland, at the time we speak of, -was not of the most civilized character--generally a war of partisans, -which is always a bloody war. Mr. Rhind had known no other; and, -consequently, he was in a state of most exceeding alarm. Julia was -much less so, for the tranquil air of the young earl showed her at -once that nothing was to be feared. The earl's servants, too, who, -with their master, had seen a good deal of the world, seemed perfectly -quiet and at their ease; and Austin Jute whispered in a low tone to -one of the men, "By my fay, that is a splendid horse the fellow is -riding, somewhat heavy about the shoulder and the legs, but a noble -beast in a charge, I'll be bound." - -"Remain quietly here," said the earl, addressing those who surrounded -him. "I will go forward and speak with this gentleman. Stay here, dear -Julia; there is not the slightest danger." - -The person whom he approached, and who had reined in his horse, after -calling to the strangers to stand and give the word, was a man of the -middle age, or perhaps a little more, for he had certainly, by ten -years at least, passed that important division where the allotted life -of man separates itself into two halves. Oh, thirty-five, thirty-five, -thou art an important epoch, and well might be, to every man who -thinks, a moment of warning and apprehension. Up to that period, in -the ordinary course of events, everything has been acquisition and the -development of different powers. Thenceforward all is decay--slow, -gradual, imperceptible, perhaps, at first, but sure, stealthy, and -increasing with frightful rapidity. The stranger might be forty-six or -forty-seven years of age, but he looked a good deal older. His beard -and moustachios were very gray, especially on the left side; his face -was wrinkled a good deal at the corners of the eyes; and his very -handsome forehead--the only truly handsome part of his face--was -wrinkled also, with an expression rather of quiet and dignified -gravity than with age. His other features were by no means good; the -mouth sensual, though good-humoured; the nose aquiline, and somewhat -depressed at the point; and the eyes twinkling and keen, with an -expression of somewhat reckless merriment. There was a very peculiar -satyr-like turn of the eyebrow, too, which was gray and bushy, with a -thick tuft about the centre, where it ran up into a peak from the -nose. The dress of this officer--for officer he certainly appeared to -be--was of very plain materials, consisting of a brown cloth suit, -with no ornament whatever, except a gold chain round his neck. Above -his pourpoint he wore a sort of sleeveless coat, or rather small -mantle with arm-holes, trimmed with sable fur; and the fraise round -his neck was of plain linen, and so small as to be quite out of the -fashion of the times. His leather gloves extended to his elbow, and -his large coarse heavy boots came in front higher than the knee. There -were pistol holders at his saddle-bow, a long heavy sword by his side, -and the whole figure was surmounted by a broad-brimmed hat, with a -tall white plume of feathers, which kept waving about in the wind. - -"Who are you, sir?" he said, in French, as the earl approached him, -"and whither are you going? Are you aware that you are within the -limits of the camp besieging Montmeillant?" - -"I was not, indeed," replied the earl; "but being peaceably disposed, -and having no connexion with either party in the hostilities which I -understand are going on, I suppose there will not be any difficulty in -passing by the Pont Beauvoisin into France?" - -"Upon my life, I cannot tell that," replied the other. "It will much -depend upon what is your country, what is your business, and whence -you came from last." - -"I have come from Italy," replied the young earl, "passing quietly -through Piedmont; and my business----" - -"Stay, stay," said the stranger. "You have come through Piedmont, have -you? Now that is not the country, of all others, from which France -courts visitors just now. Have you seen the Duke of Savoy lately?" - -"I never saw him in my life," replied the earl, "unless I see him -now." - -"Oh, no," said the stranger, "that you certainly do not. By your -speech I should take you for an Englishman. Is it so? If it be, pass, -in God's name, for if I tried to stop you, I should have my good -sister Elizabeth coming over to chastise me with her large fan. Ventre -Saint Gris! it does not do to enrage the island lioness." - -"No, sire," replied the earl, "I am not one of her majesty's subjects, -being a native of a neighbouring country called Scotland." - -"Ha, ha!" cried the other, laughing. "What, one of the flock of my -dearly beloved cousin, King James? Heaven bless his most sagacious -majesty. How went it with him when last you heard?" - -"Right well, sire," replied the earl; "but it is some time since I -heard any news except referring to my own private affairs." - -"May I crave your name and business, good sir?" said the King of -France, who, while he had been speaking with Gowrie, had been eyeing -the young nobleman's little troop. "'Tis somewhat late to travel for -mere pleasure, especially with ladies in one's company." - -"Business I have, unfortunately, none," answered the young earl, -gravely, "except to make my way back as fast as possible to my own -land, with my fair cousin, who takes advantage of my escort even at -this late season, seeing that she otherwise might not meet with an -opportunity for some time. My name, sire, is John Ruthven, Earl of -Gowrie." - -"Ha! noble lord," said Henry, with a less constrained air. "I have -heard of you before,--an intimate of my old friend Beza's, if I -mistake not. You passed through France some five or six years ago on -your way to Padua, at least some one of your name did so." - -"The same, sire," answered the earl; "I trust it will be your gracious -pleasure to afford me a pass and safe conduct." - -"Assuredly," answered the king, with a gay and laughing air; "but you -must come and dine with me, cousin, if it be but for the service that -your name will do me." - -"I know not how it can benefit your majesty," said Gowrie, anxious to -proceed as rapidly as possible. - -"As a terror to favourites," replied Henry, with a meaning look. "The -name of Ruthven, methinks, should keep them in great awe. But I will -take no refusal. You and your fair cousin too, and any gentleman who -may be of your party, must come and partake of a soldier's dinner in -his tent. I left the king behind at Lyons; and, on my life, I like the -old trade better than the new. Ay, and even found more peace of mind, -cousin, when I had daily to fight for my breakfast, than when I sit -down in a palace, surrounded by men, some hungry for my treasures, and -some thirsty for my blood." - -"As the season is drawing towards a close," replied Lord Gowrie, -without actually venturing to decline the king's invitation, "I am -anxious, sire, to proceed as rapidly as possible towards England." - -"Fie, man!" exclaimed the king; "have I not said I will take no -refusal? Why, if I let you pass without some sign of hospitality, your -cousin and mine, worthy King James, the northern Solomon--though his -descent from David might be less honourable than clear--would think -that I had some ill-will to his high wisdom. And now I will ride back -with you. You, Monsieur de Chales, ride on to Rosni. Tell him I will -come to-morrow, unless he has taken the place in order to prevent me. -He is as jealous of his king as a spoilt woman. Come, my Lord Gowrie, -introduce me to this fair cousin of yours. We have wanted gallantry to -keep her waiting so long." - -Thus saying, he spurred on, accompanied by the young earl, who, -obliged to give way, resolved to assume something of the king's own -humour, and said at once, as they rode up, "Sire, allow me to present -to you my cousin, the Lady Julia Douglas. Julia, this is that great -king of whom you have heard; who not only conquered his own throne, -but the affection of his own people; the one by the sword of war, the -other by the sword of justice." - -"I kiss your hand, fair lady," said the king. "The Lady Julia Douglas! -What, one of the bleeding hearts? I trust, my lord count, that her -heart is safe in your keeping." - -"In which case your majesty will not try to steal it from me," -answered the young earl, to whom Henry's character for somewhat -vehement gallantry was not unknown. - -"No, no; honour amongst thieves," answered the king. "Were I an -officer of Cupid's court I might stop you, having taken you in the -very act of carrying off your booty; but being merely a poor -pickpocket myself, I am not justified in interfering. Come, let us -forward," he continued, seeing that the colour had risen somewhat high -in Julia's cheek; and turning his horse, he rode on in the direction -of Chamberry. - -A young lover is always like a miser with a jewel of great price. He -may feel certain of the strength of the bolts and bars which secure -his treasure; he may be confident that it is safe; but yet he never -feels entirely at his ease, when he knows that robbers are abroad; and -undoubtedly Gowrie was somewhat less than pleased to see the gallant -attentions of the king to his fair promised bride as they rode along. -Henry saw his uneasiness, and was amused, though the earl concealed it -well; and with some good-humoured malice--for I believe in this -instance it was no more--the monarch strove to persuade his two young -guests that they might well spend a few days with him in Chamberry. -"You," he said, turning to the earl--"you, sprung from a race of -soldiers, and who have probably been in arms yourself, can you make up -your mind to leave a spot where high deeds are being performed?" - -"I feel myself obliged to do so," replied the young earl, adding, with -a smile, to point his double meaning, "If there were nothing else, -this lady's presence would, of course, hurry my departure from the -scenes in which your majesty takes so much delight." - -"Parbleau! there is no danger," cried the king. "Our camp is filled -with ladies. The town of Chamberry is in our hands. 'Tis but the -citadel holds out for honour; and Madame de Rosni gives a ball in the -city this very night.--What say you, fair lady? Will you not stay and -grace her entertainment?" - -"It must be as a prisoner if I do, sire," replied Julia; "for duty -calls me on to Scotland as fast as possible, and, to tell truth in no -very courtly fashion, inclination too." - -"On my life," cried the king, laughing, "you must be both disciples of -Rosni's. That hard-headed Huguenot will speak his mind however -unpalatable; and I find that the Scotch are as blunt, though they -cannot be more honest. Well, well," he continued, with a sigh, "as you -will not consent to cheer us by an importation of fresh thoughts and -fresh faces, I must even let you go, although I do believe I should be -justified in treating you both as rebels, and shutting you up as -prisoners, the one in the camp, and the other in the old Carthusian -convent, to do penance for your offence--I acting as father confessor -of course." - -Julia looked anxiously to Gowrie, who replied, with a laugh, "That -would be a breach of the law of nations, sire. Francis the First -suffered his enemy, Charles the emperor, to pass unscathed; and as -your majesty deigns to call me cousin, good faith, I will only treat -with you as crown to crown." - -"I call many a man cousin who is less so than yourself," replied the -king, seeing that he could not succeed in detaining them. "If I -remember right, your grandmother, or great-grandmother, was sister to -Mary Queen of France, and to Henry, the excellent King of England, -eighth of that name, who had an admirable expedient for ridding -himself of troublesome wives. Upon my life, I wish it were an -inheritance of kings. Parbleau! it would be a more valuable privilege -than that of curing the evil by our touch, which they say we kings -possess. I would rather touch my own sore and cure it, than that of -the lame beggars who crowd about the cathedral doors at Rheims." - -"Methinks your majesty would not use it even if you did possess it," -said Julia. - -"Why not, fair lady?" cried Henry, quickly, for the subject was one -which always excited him. - -"I mean the sharp touch which King Henry used to cure the ill of which -you speak," replied Julia. - -"No, perhaps not that," said Henry, musing. "I am not cruel; and I do -not love such sharp remedies even with hard, iron-tempered men. I have -a notion, too, that ladies' necks were made for other things than to -bear an axe--to bear gay jewels and bright glittering chains, I mean. -That same fondness of the axe you speak of, especially in the case of -women, seems a particular characteristic of the Tudor race. Thank God, -it has not come hither. I do not think I should like the practice, -even on the worst of women; and by my faith, the dagger and the bowl, -which we have been rather fond of here in former years, is not to my -taste either. If I were to choose, I would rather be the victim than -the executioner. God deliver me from being either!" - -There was something in the conversation, and the course which it had -taken, which brought a fit of deep thought upon Henry; and for the -next twenty minutes he said little or nothing; then looking up, he -pointed forward with his hand, saying, "There is fair Chamberry; but -it is some miles distant yet; and as you must needs go forward -to-night--which, after all, is perhaps better--I will send on to bid -them have my homely dinner ready, and a few spoonfuls more pottage -than is ordinarily supplied to the king's table. I can tell you, -cousin, the kings of France are almost sure to find their way to -Abraham's bosom, for there is much more of Lazarus than of Dives in -their condition on this earth. Things are rather better now, thanks to -Rosni; but in times past I have often wanted a dinner, and even now, -as you may see, and will see, I am neither clothed in purple and fine -linen, nor fare sumptuously every day." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -Although Henry IV. was much accustomed to call things by their own -names, the tent which he had spoken of was a handsome house in the -town of Chamberry, his camp the wide circuit of the city itself, -though, to say sooth, there were other tents, and another camp without -the walls. The purveyors of the royal household had not, it is true, -been much more careful in providing "cates divine" for the monarch's -table than they usually had been in times past. Perhaps no general -officer in his army fared so ill as Henry IV., for he was too -good-humoured to take notice of any little derelictions, and cared -less for an offence against his own person than one against the state. -Perhaps he was wrong; I believe he was: for a man who tolerates -disobedience of orders or default of duty in one instance, gives -encouragement to the same fault in another. But still men of great -genius have many roads open before them to the same ends; and the -rigid rule which one considers necessary to the attainment of his -objects, may be dispensed with by another without danger. - -It may be true as an axiom, that the French nation can never remain -peaceable and prosperous--considering their peculiar national -characteristics--except under a tyrant. It may be true that Henry IV., -had he been a tyrant, would never have perished by the knife of -Ravaillac. It may be true, that no _strong-minded_ tyrant ever fell -either by the hands of the assassin or the judgment of his people; -that it is the combination of weakness of character with despotic -theories, that has been the downfall of every monarch who has -succumbed to public indignation or private vengeance:--"The roar of -liberated Rome" itself was merely the exultation of a people who had -been cowed for years by a madman and a fool, at their liberation from -a yoke as pitiful as it was oppressive. But there is a power in love, -when excited by a being whose sterner and stronger qualities command -respect, which is powerful over great masses; and although Henri -Quatre passed over many small faults in those who surrounded him, I -believe his vigour and determination in great things would have -secured him against anything like popular caprice or versatility; and -that the only thing which he had to fear, as a consequence of his -good-humoured lenity in regard to personal offences, was the cowardly -means of private assassination. - -However that may be, the king's table, on the day of which we have -been speaking, was certainly more poorly provided than that of many -private gentlemen of modern fortune. The pomp and circumstance of a -court waited around; but yet his scanty meal was no way royal, and the -king felt a little mortified that such penuriousness had been -displayed before a stranger. - -Immediately after dinner, Henry left the fair Julia with Madame de -Rosni and some other ladies, and called Gowrie away to a small cabinet -of the house in which he had taken up his quarters. Seating himself, -he motioned his young guest to a chair, and then said, "I take it for -granted, my lord, that what you have said is actually the case, and -that you have not seen our good cousin of Savoy, nor know anything of -his affairs; but that you are simply travelling homeward with the -beautiful bird in your trap, intending, of course, to make her your -bride when you reach your native land?" - -Gowrie merely bowed his head, saying, "I assure your majesty, I know -nothing of the Duke of Savoy whatever." - -"Well, then," replied Henry, "there may be one, perhaps, whom you may -be well pleased to know--I mean Elizabeth, Queen of England. I will -therefore write her majesty a few lines in your favour; and you will -do well, when you reach Paris, to see her ambassador, Sir Henry -Neville, in order that he may second my recommendation. I can see the -time coming," continued the king, "when favour in England may be -highly beneficial to a Scottish nobleman. If you should attain it, use -it discreetly, for you have to deal with two people who have their -peculiarities. The one, with strong sense, has small sincerity, with -infinite policy combines many weaknesses, who can be a bitter enemy, -but not an honest friend, and who will always sacrifice to expediency -those who have served her--and there are none others--for their own -ends. It will be right for you to be well with her, but not too well. -The other has the greatest wit of any man I know, and the least -wisdom. Cunning as a fox, his policy is as wily as that of the beast, -and as pitiful. But his hatred is very dangerous, for it is strong in -proportion to his weakness, and will pursue paths as obscure as his -logic or his religion. To the latter personage you must have access -from your own rank; to the former I will give you a letter, which will -prove of good or bad effect on your own fortunes as you shall use it. -Wait a moment, and I will write. You have done me some wrong in your -own thoughts to-day; but I do not bear malice long; and I will not -tell the maiden queen that you were half afraid to trust yourself with -her brother of France, having a fair maiden in your company." - -The king looked at him with a meaning smile as he spoke; but Gowrie -instantly replied, "It was doing your majesty no wrong to suppose that -you have great power over all hearts, and to be anxious to preserve -one at least from your sway." - -"Out, flatterer!" said the king; "do you think I do not know mankind, -when I have dealt with them, fought with them, negotiated with them, -and played at cards with them for seven-and-forty years? I knew what -was going on in your young heart better than you did yourself, and -would have teased you a little longer, but that I know myself too, -and am aware that it is dangerous sporting where a fair girl is -concerned--at least, with Gascon blood in one's veins. So you shall -go, and God speed you. I knew your father in my youth, when he was -here in France, and I would have saved his life if he had fled to me -at once, as he should have done. You are a sad race of rebels, you -Ruthvens; but all my best friends have been rebels in their day, and -therefore I must not exclude you." - -Thus saying, the king began to write with a rapid and careless hand, -while the young earl, in whom some part of what he had said had -wakened painful memories, sat with his eyes bent upon the ground, and -his mind buried in thought. - -Henry's letter, though somewhat quaint and formal, as his epistles to -Queen Elizabeth usually were, was conceived in a gay and light tone, -and intended beyond all doubt to do the young earl service with the -royal lady to whom it was addressed. After the usual form of -superscription, he went on to say, "I have learnt of your Majesty to -deal promptly with enemies, and therefore, though most unwilling to -have recourse to arms against our good cousin of Savoy. Being desirous -to live peaceably with all men, yet finding that he mistook us for -children, I judged it right to lead here, into the heart of his -territories, an army which, I think, is bringing him rapidly to a -better judgment. We have taken a number of his towns and castles, and -are now here in the very heart of the mountains, with Chamberry and -Montmeillant in our hands, and nothing but the citadels holding out. -In the midst of these successes, I have been visited by the noble -lord, the Earl of Gowrie, who will lay these at your feet; and as he -is exceedingly desirous of serving your Majesty, I trust my letter to -his care, being well assured of his honour and fidelity. Moreover, as -doubtless your Majesty well knows, he is bound to honour and serve -your royal person, even by the ties of blood, being descended, though -remotely, and by the female line, from that great prince who -terminated by the sword on Bosworth field the dissensions of York and -Lancaster. I doubt not that for his own sake you will grace him with -your favour, and whatever may be wanting in his own deserts to the -eyes of one who judges not lightly, I trust you will grant him, for -the sake of your Majesty's brother and grateful servant." - "HENRY." - -"Now, a few words to good Sir Henry Neville," said the king, looking -up; "and then I will dismiss you, Gowrie, to your journey, that you -may say, you had nothing but good at the hands of the King of France." - -He then wrote a letter, in rather a different strain, to the English -ambassador in Paris, recommending the young earl to his care and -notice, and begging him to forward to the utmost of his power, -consistently with his duty to his royal mistress, whatever views the -earl might have at the English court. Then starting up, he said, "Now -call the page, Gowrie, and let him bring wax and silk to seal these -epistles, after which we will to horse with all speed, for I must on -the way too. I have played Henry of France long enough to-day. I must -now play Henry of Navarre again, for I intend to have Charbonnieres -before to-morrow night." - -The letters were soon sealed, and once more Lord Gowrie and his party -set out upon their way, the king himself accompanying them with a -small troop some three or four miles on their road. He then took leave -of them with a gallant speech to the fair Julia, and a gay jest with -the young earl; and wending onwards slowly, those whom he thus left -made the best of their way to Lyons, where some repose became -absolutely necessary. - -As this book is not intended for an itinerary, I shall not dwell upon -the events of their farther journey, which was very much like all -other journeys in that day, when very few facilities were offered to -the traveller for proceeding at a rapid pace to the end of his -journey. Inns, indeed, were infinitely more numerous in France than -even at present, for the very slowness of progression rendered it -necessary that halting places should be provided at short distances; -and, of course, those inns were sometimes very good, and sometimes -very bad, according to the quality of the landlord, and the class of -guests whom he was accustomed to receive. Although it is probable -that, from the most barbarous ages down to the present time, some -sorts of machines on wheels, usually called carriages, have been used -amongst European nations, and that persons travelled in them from one -part of a country to another, yet very few persons in France at that -period ever adopted such a mode of conveyance, but performed their -journeys on horseback, when they were capable of so doing. I am not -aware, indeed, whether the horses which were provided for travellers -at different stations all along the high roads, were even fitted for -draft; and the usual plan, when either dignity or infirmity induced -any one to travel in a carriage, was to proceed with his own horses, -or to hire of the peasantry beasts of draft, which could usually be -obtained at any of the small towns on the road. For travellers -journeying with their own horses, the best inns were of course always -open; and the appearance of the party of the Earl of Gowrie secured -reverent reception from landlords and attendants. Nevertheless, the -inconvenience and fatigue to which the fair Julia was subjected during -her long journey were so great, that at Lyons Gowrie determined to -purchase a carriage and four horses for herself and her maid, and in -this conveyance they proceeded on their way, escorted by the rest of -the party on horseback. The length of time spent on the journey, -however, was by this means rendered much greater than it otherwise -would have been, for--tell it not in these days of railroads--the -utmost they could accomplish on the average was three-and-twenty miles -in the day. - -Who is there now-a-days who would not declare such a journey very -tiresome? but yet, if the truth must be told, neither Lord Gowrie nor -his fair companion found it so. Bee-like, they extracted pleasure from -every flower on the way; and an impression seemed to have taken -possession of them, which we but too rarely obtain in life, that the -present may be rendered, if we please, the happiest part of existence. -There were no particular clouds in the horizon of the future. There -was nothing tangible which could make them dread the coming days; but -they felt that they were very happy in the society of each other; and -though they both longed for the hour when their fate would be -permanently united, every other change but that presented itself to -imagination as something fearful. Long as the journey from Lyons to -Paris was, it was at length accomplished; and as they approached the -barriers of the great city, Lord Gowrie rode on with a single servant, -to seek and prepare lodgings for his whole party. He commended Julia -to the care of Mr. Rhind, but spoke a few words, before he rode away, -to Austin Jute, directing him where to seek him in the city, and -trusting, if the truth must be told, more to his wit and capacity than -to any knowledge of the world possessed by his former tutor. - -The carriage passed the gates of Paris without difficulty, and went -slowly on through the tortuous streets of the capital of France, the -way being so narrow in many places, that the servants who rode with -the vehicle were obliged to drop behind. Mr. Rhind had taken a place -in the coach at the barrier; but he could not refrain here and there -from drawing back the leathern curtains which covered that open space -which is defended by windows in more modern vehicles, but which was -then altogether destitute of glass. The motive he assigned to himself -and Julia for so doing was to see that the driver went right to the -Place Royale, where they were to meet the young earl; but, in truth, -the worthy gentleman's knowledge of Paris was much too limited to -enable him to give any accurate directions in case the man had gone -wrong, and perhaps curiosity might have as great a share in the act as -caution. However that may be, the proceeding proved unfortunate. The -sea remains long agitated after a storm, and the civil wars which had -desolated France for so many years had left a great deal of licence in -the capital, which not all the firmness and energy of the king had -been able to repress. Just as the carriage was turning out of the Rue -St. Antoine towards the river, and while the servants were yet behind, -a gay company of young men rode by at the very moment Mr. Rhind was -about to close the curtain again. The look which one of them gave into -the vehicle called the colour into Julia's cheek. It might be -difficult to explain what there was in the expression which caused the -blood to rush so quickly into her face--she never could explain it -herself; but she felt that it was insolent, if not insulting. The -curtain, however, was immediately drawn, and she thought the annoyance -past, when suddenly the clatter of a horse's feet at the side of the -carriage was heard, the curtain was pulled rudely back from without, -and the same face which she had before seen was thrust partly into the -carriage. - -The stranger said something in a laughing tone, but Julia heard not -what it was, and almost at the same moment she saw an arm stretched -out, and a clenched fist strike the intruder a violent blow on the -side of the head, while the voice of Austin Jute exclaimed in English, -"Take that, for showing so much more impudence than wit. Never thrust -your snout where you can't get it out." - -A scene of strange confusion instantly followed, of which she could -only behold or comprehend a small part. She saw Austin Jute off his -horse, and the stranger in the same situation. But then Mr. Rhind drew -the curtain tight, and tied the thongs. There was a clashing of -swords, however, and the combatants seemed to run round and round the -vehicle, which, by this time, had stopped, till at length there came a -low cry and a deep groan, and then the voice of Austin exclaimed -aloud, speaking to the driver, "On!--on to the Place Royale as quick -as possible!" - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -We must now change the scene for a while, and carry the reader to a -very different part of the world. In a small cabinet in the old castle -of Stirling, sat a young man between nineteen and twenty years of age. -It was clear, and even a warm day, though the season was winter. No -snow, however, had yet fallen; the fields were still green; and the -beautiful scene that stretched out beneath the eye, with the tall -highlands mounting to the sky on the one side, with the fair lowland -scene spread out for miles on the other, displaying all the windings -of the Forth on its course towards the sea, little needed the leafy -foliage of the spring or summer to render it exquisitely beautiful. It -is probable, indeed, that he who built the high turret in which the -cabinet was situated, had little thought of affording a beautiful -scene to those who occupied it, for its destination was that of a -watch tower, and from its peculiar position it commanded the widest -possible view to be obtained of the country on three sides. The young -man whom I have mentioned, paid as little attention to the fair -landscape stretched beneath his eyes as the builder of the tower may -be supposed to have done, though he sat near one of the four small -windows which it contained, and the casement was wide open. In his -hand--as he had cast himself back, resting against the stone-work of -the window, with his head leaning forward, and his feet crossed over -each other--was a small piece of paper, closely written in a female -hand, and oft he gazed upon it, and oft he smiled, and once he raised -it to his lips and kissed it. There was something that pleased him -well in that paper. Oh, false and treacherous hopes of youth, how -often do ye prove sweet poisons, which we quaff gaily to our own -destruction! I once saw a curious piece of ancient sculpture, -representing a child playing with a serpent, and I have often thought -that the sculptor must have intended to typify the hopes of youth. - -Still he gazed, and smiled, and played with the paper, and fell into -thought. What was it the enchantress promised him? What was the golden -dream which, for the hour, possessed the palace of the soul? I know -not. Woman's love belike, for he was as fair a youth to look upon as -ever mortal eye beheld--exceedingly like his brother, the Earl of -Gowrie, but of a lighter and a gayer aspect. - -Hark! There is the sound of a foot upon the short flight of steps that -lead up to the turret from the large chamber below! It is not the step -of her he loves. It is not hers, the giver of the gay day-dream in -which he has been indulging; for see, he suddenly hides the paper, and -looks towards the door with a glance of surprise if not alarm. And yet -it is a woman's foot, light and soft falling; and the form that now -appears at the door is surely young enough and bright enough to waken -all the tenderest emotions of the heart. - -But no! There is a slight gesture of pettish impatience, and he -exclaims, "What, Beatrice! What do you want now? Really, you tiresome -girl, one cannot have a moment's time for thought." - -"Thought, Alex?" cried the young lady, with a laugh; "I wish to Heaven -you would think, or think to some purpose. I have come to make you -think if I can. Nay, nay, no signs of impatience, for I intend to -lecture you; and you must both hear and consider what I have to say. -Though I be a year younger, yet I am older in court and experience -than you are. Oh, if you get up that way I shall lock the door;" and -she did as she threatened, adding, "What do you laugh at?" - -"At your sauciness, silly girl," answered Alexander Ruthven. "Where -should you get experience, and what right have you to assume all the -airs of sage old age?" - -"I got my experience in this court," answered Beatrice, "where I have -been for eighteen months, and you but three; and as for age, Alex, a -woman of eighteen is as old as a man of four or five-and-twenty. So -now sit you down there, like a good boy, and listen to what I am going -to say to you." - -Alexander Ruthven cast himself down in the seat again, with an air in -which a certain affectation of scornful merriment overlaid, but could -not conceal altogether, an expression of irritable mortification. -"Well," he said, "here I am. Pray to what do your sage counsels tend, -sister of mine?" - -"They tend to your happiness, your safety, your honour, Alex," -answered the Lady Beatrice, a little sharply, for though she had come -with the kindest as well as highest purposes, her brother's tone hurt -her. - -"Now, gad's my life!" replied Alexander Ruthven, "I do believe that no -man upon earth would suppose this to be the gay, bird-hearted Beatrice -Ruthven." - -"If so, what must be the brother's conduct which has so changed me, -which has made the gay, grave, the light-hearted, heavy?" demanded -Beatrice. - -Her words now seemed to strike him more than those which she had -previously uttered, for there was a deep melancholy in her tone, which -gave their meaning additional point. "Well, Beatrice," he said, laying -his hand on hers, "you are a dear good girl, I believe, and love me -truly. Tell me what it is in my conduct that you object to?" - -Beatrice instantly threw her arms round his neck and kissed him. "This -is like my own dear brother," she said; "and now I'll be Beatrice -again. But to the point. Do you know, Alex Ruthven--do you know that -you are flirting with a queen till it is remarked by many?" - -The youth's cheek turned fiery red. "Pooh, pooh!" he cried, "this is -all folly! Can I not, in common courteous gallantry, profess my -devotion to my sovereign's wife without any evil construction? Surely -the difference between our stations is so great as to leave no ground -either for danger or suspicion." - -"The difference of station is so great as to free her from all danger -of evil," replied Beatrice; "and I trust there are higher and holier -principles too which would keep you, Alex, from the same; but neither -those principles nor that difference will free either of you from -suspicion, nor will it free you from danger even of your life, if you -and she go on as you have been doing." - -"Why, what have I done, and what ought I to have done?" demanded the -young man, almost sullenly. - -"I can tell you better what you ought not to have done," answered his -sister. "You ought not to take private moments for stooping over the -queen's chair, and whispering words into her ear with low tones and -sweet smiles. You ought not, in any mask or pageant at the court, to -seek her out, and find her instantly, as if you had some secret way of -discovering which she is, amongst a hundred different disguises. You -should not have pages coming to you with billets to be delivered -secretly. I could tell you a dozen more things you should not do; but -methinks this is enough." - -The young man's countenance had changed expression several times while -she spoke; but at last he answered, angrily, "Do you consider, -Beatrice, that you censure your royal mistress as well as me?" - -"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed his sister. "I am her lady of honour; and -her honour is dear to me as my own. No, no, what she does, and what -she permits, is, I do believe, from a knowledge of the vast difference -between her and you--the barriers between the sovereign and the -subject, which she never dreams that you will venture to overstep. She -knows not the danger to herself and you, even of that which is done in -all innocence; and you, who should know it better, go rashly on, I -trust with a pure heart, but still with an evil aspect to the world. -Nay more, Alex, I tell you, you are watched by eager and jealous eyes, -and that your name--which never should be--is ever coupled in men's -mouths with the queen's. Beware, beware in time, my dear brother." - -Alexander Ruthven put his hand to his head and gazed down on the -ground with an expression no longer that of anger, but rather of -sorrow, and almost of despair. "I knew not it would come to this," he -said. "Heaven and earth! what is to be done?" - -"I thought you knew it not," said his sister, "and therefore, my dear -brother, I was resolved to warn you. As to what is to be done, I think -nothing can be more easy. Get leave of absence for a while, and when -you return, be careful of all your words and looks. Of your purposes -and acts, I believe--nay, I am sure--there is no need to warn you to -be careful. But remember, my brother, and ever bear it in mind, that -though you yourself and though the queen may be perfectly blameless, a -court is always filled, not alone with the suspicious, but with the -malevolent. It must ever be so in a place where one man can only rise -by another man's downfall. If your purposes be true and noble, and I -will not doubt they are so, and if your conduct be but prudent, the -task before you is an easy one." - -The young man waved his hand and turned away his head. "More difficult -than you know," he said, gloomily. "Oh, how difficult!" - -He seemed as if he were about to go on, but at that moment some one -suddenly laid a hand upon the lock of the door, and tried to open it. -The young man and his sister both started, and looked at each other -with an expression difficult to describe. Beatrice turned very pale, -her brother very red, for each fixed in their own mind upon a person -in that court as the yet unseen visitor; and in the imagination of -both it was the same. Another instant, however, undeceived them. The -door was shaken violently, and the voice of the king exclaimed, in -broad Scotch, "Hout! What's this? Wha's lockit in here? Alex Ruthven, -what need to steek the door, man?" At the same time he continued to -shake the door furiously, as if seeking to force his way in. - -Beatrice instantly started forward and turned the key, and the door at -once flew open, nearly knocking her down. In the door-way appeared -James himself, with his coarse countenance flushed, and a heavy frown -upon his brow, while a little behind was seen one of his favourites at -that time, named Doctor Herries, and another form, the sight of which -made Beatrice's heart beat quick. Without noticing the young lady, -James took a stride into the room, and looked all round, with his -large tongue lolling about in his mouth, and the tip appearing between -his half-open teeth. It was evident that he expected to see some other -person besides those which the room contained; but there was no place -of concealment of any kind, and no means of exit except the door near -which he stood. The furniture itself was so scanty, that one glance -was sufficient to show him he had been mistaken. Prefixing one of -those blasphemous oaths in which he so frequently indulged, he -exclaimed, "What the de'il is the meaning o' this? Why should brother -and sister lock the door upon themselves?" - -By this time, however, Beatrice had recovered her self-possession, and -she replied, with a low curtsey, "It was nothing, your majesty, but -that Alex and I have had a little bit of a quarrel; and I was -determined to have it out with him. He wanted to run away, and so I -locked the door." - -"I think that's a flaw, lassie," replied the king, coarsely; "but gin -you've quarrelled with your billy, tell me what it's about, and I'll -soon redd ye." - -"It's all redd up already, sire," answered Beatrice. The king, -however, was determined to hear more, and pressed her closely; but -Beatrice, without any want of respect, answered him with spirit. "I am -not going to tell of my brother, sir," she said. "When brother and -sister quarrel, it is better, like man and wife, that they should -settle their quarrels themselves; and ours is settled. So, with your -majesty's good leave, I'll not begin the matter again." - -"Ay," murmured the king to himself, in a bitter tone. "These Ruthvens -are all rebels. By----" he continued, turning to Doctor Herries, "I -thought he had got some one else locked in here than his sister, and -that there were more sweet words than bitter ones going on." - -Dr. Herries, a coarse hard-featured man, with a club foot, shrugged -his shoulders, saying, in a low voice, "Your majesty is seldom wrong -in the end; but you had better not let him see all that you suspect, -and give him some reason for coming." - -"Oo, ay," said the king. "It had gane clean out o' my head. Weel, -Alex, my bairn," he continued, in a cajoling tone, which he not -unfrequently assumed when seeking to cozen some one, against whom he -meditated evil, into a belief that he was well disposed towards him, -"I was just bringing you this good knight here, who came this morning -with letters from your mother. 'Deed, his business, it seems, is mair -with your saucy titty than yoursel; but I thought it just as weel to -let you know what was going on before I put they two together." - -Beatrice coloured till the blood mounted over her whole forehead, but -Alexander Ruthven answered somewhat sullenly, "I thank your majesty, -and am well pleased to see Sir John Hume. As for my sister, she is her -own mistress, and sometimes wants to be mine, too." - -"There now," said the king, laughing, "the bairn's in the dorts; but -what he says is true enough, as Sir John may find out some day. She'd -fain manage us all. So now I shall leave you three together, for I've -got a world of work to do. A crowned heed is no a light ane." - -Thus saying, he retired with his club-footed favourite, taking a look -back at the door to see the expression of the faces he left behind; -but well knowing his majesty's habits, all parties guarded their looks -till he was gone, and the door shut. Even then they were silent till -the heavy step of Doctor Herries was heard crossing the room below, -for the king's propensity to eaves-dropping was no secret in Stirling -Castle. - -As soon as they were assured that he was gone, Sir John Hume, even -before he exchanged greetings with her he loved, turned to young -Ruthven, exclaiming, "In Heaven's name, Alex, what is the matter with -the king?" - -"I don't know," answered Alexander Ruthven. "He does not make me the -keeper of his secrets." - -"But this secret somehow affects you," replied Hume; "and it is worth -looking to, my friend, for James's enmities are very deadly, and his -fears often as much so." - -"What makes you think that he has any ill will towards me, Hume?" -asked the young man, who, if the truth must be told, had been not a -little alarmed by all that had taken place. - -"His whole conduct," answered Hume. "He kept me below nearly half an -hour talking the merest nonsense in the world--a heap of learned trash -about Padua and Livy, just like the daudling nonsense of old Rollock -of the High School, when he fell into his dotage. And yet he fidgeted -about the whole time, pulling the points of his hose in a way that -showed me he was uneasy. Then he called a page, and whispered to him -some message; and then he began again upon Livy, and roared out a -whole page of crabbed Latin, and asked me if I could translate it. -Just at that minute the boy came back again, and said aloud he could -not find her Majesty, upon which up started James, saying, 'We'll find -some one, I'll warrant. Come along, Cowdenknows. Come along, Herries. -You must come and see the work;' and then he said, as if he had -forgotten to say it before, 'I'll take you to Alex Ruthven, John -Hume.' All this time he was rolling away towards the door, like an -empty barrel trundled through the streets by a cooper's man. I never -saw him go so fast before in my life--muttering all the way, too, till -he came to this door; and he seemed in such a fury when he found it -locked, that I did not know what was to happen next; and a bright -sight for me was the face of this dear lady when I came in. Bright as -it always is," he added, taking Beatrice's hand and kissing it, "it -never looked so bright as then." - -"Nay, nay, Hume," said Beatrice, "let us talk of more serious matter, -and seriously. What you say makes me very uneasy. I saw the king was -angry about something, and your account proves that his anger was not -light. Give us your counsel. What is best to be done?" - -Alexander Ruthven had cast himself down again, and seemed buried in -bitter thought; but his sister's words roused him, and he started up, -exclaiming, "What I will do is decided. I will away to the king, and -ask leave of absence--absence!" he murmured to himself--"a bitter -boon! He well may grant that;" and without waiting for reply or -comment, he hurried from the room. - -"And now, dear girl," said Hume, as soon as he was gone, "let us speak -of happier themes. Is my Beatrice changed, or does the heart of the -woman still confirm the promise of the girl?" - -"Don't you see I am changed?" answered Beatrice, gaily. "I am half an -inch taller, and a great deal thinner. My mother was quite right to -say that she had no notion of a girl marrying till she had done -growing." - -"Ay, but is the mind changed?" said Hume: "you have changed, my -Beatrice--from lovely to lovelier." - -"Fie!" exclaimed Beatrice. "You might have made it a superlative, and -said loveliest, at once; but if you think I have become more beautiful -in person, why should you think I am uglier in mind? And would it not -be so, John Hume, to cast old love lightly away like a crumpled -farthingale? No, no; you know right well that Beatrice does not -change; and, therefore, all the time that you are asking such silly -questions, you call her your Beatrice, to show that you are quite -sure." - -"And you are my own dear Beatrice, ever," said the young knight, -throwing his arm round her, with a smile; "and if there was the least -little bit of doubt engendered by two long years of absence, it was -the least little bit in the world." - -"There, that will do," said Beatrice, turning away her head, but not -very resolutely. "But now, tell me about my dear brother Gowrie. Where -is he? What is he doing? When is he coming back?" - -"When last I left him, he was at Voghera," replied her lover. "What he -was doing, was making love; and when he will be back depends upon the -state of the roads, the courage of Mr. Rhind, and the strength of the -fair lady who bears him company." - -"Making love?" said Beatrice. "I heard something of this from my -mother. A fair Italian, is not she? Beautiful, I will answer for it: -for John knew what beauty is, even when a boy; but I do not think that -he would be taken by beauty alone. Heaven and earth! I must get -somebody to teach me a few more phrases of Italian than I have. Can -the dear girl speak French, do you know?" - -"I cannot tell," answered Hume, laughing; "for I never spoke to her in -anything but English, which she speaks nearly as well as you do, -Beatrice, and better than I do. There is Florentine blood in her -veins, it is true; and the warm south shines out in her eyes, and -glows upon her cheek; but she is Scottish by birth, and half Scottish -by parentage. More I cannot tell you, Beatrice, for more I do not -know. She is protestant, too, Gowrie says; and certainly I never saw -her tell beads or heard her say Pater-nosters. She was likely to have -got roasted for the omission; but that, I trust, will secure her a -warm reception here." - -"From me and mine, at least," replied Beatrice. "But if you mean from -the court, I do not know what to say. The king has his own notions of -religion as well as of government. They are both much the same, and -both somewhat strange. I believe he would willingly have the whole -land papist, if he might but be the pope. Indeed, he insists upon -being the pope of his own church, and makes every one bow the head to -his infallibility." - -"He'll find that a hard matter in Scotland," said Sir John Hume, -gravely; "and I almost fear that Gowrie's humour will not suit all he -finds here--at least, what I hear on my return makes me think so. I -understand the king has forbidden three or four ministers to preach, -because they would not defend his actual supremacy. The days of old -John Knox seem to be quite forgotten." - -"Not quite," answered Beatrice. "There are those who remember them, -though the king does not. God guard that Gowrie may have the prudence -to keep quiet, for the king will have his way. There are some men who -oppose him, and many who laugh at him; but by one means or another, he -makes them all bend to his will sooner or later; and there is -generally harm comes of it, if people do not yield readily." - -"Everybody is tired of the feuds we have had," answered Hume; "and -therefore men give way to things they disapprove; but Gowrie's is a -spirit not easily bowed, and I doubt that he will ever be a favourite -here." - -"Heaven grant that he never may," replied the lady; "for it is a place -of peril, depend upon it, Hume, and one out of which I shall be right -glad to be." - -"That may be when you will, dear Beatrice," answered Hume. "You have -but to say the day, and free yourself from the bonds that tie you to a -court." - -"In order to fetter myself with others," said Beatrice, gaily; "but it -is not so easy as you suppose, John. When my mother's letter came to -the queen, telling her majesty that she consented to our marriage, the -king vowed, with a great many hard oaths, that he would not have it -for a twelvemonth." - -At this announcement, Sir John Hume became very wroth, and ventured to -break the precepts of the wise king in regard to speaking ill of -princes; but his angry exclamations were cut short by the return of -Alexander Ruthven, with the tidings that he had obtained leave of -absence very readily, and was about to set out. "What must be done, -had better be done quickly," he said; and then with a meaning look he -added, "Excuse me to her Majesty, Beatrice, for I shall not be able to -see her before I go." - -It is probable that the young man did not in truth seek to deceive his -sister; but certain it is, that some two hours after, when the king -had gone out on horseback, Beatrice, as she looked forth from one of -the windows, saw Anne of Denmark walking, unattended, between the -castle wall and Heading Hill, a little mound just beyond the limits of -the castle. I have said unattended, but not unaccompanied, for by her -side was a form very like that of Alexander Ruthven; and Beatrice, as -she saw it, pressed her hands together tightly, murmuring, "Rash boy!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -In the year 1599, the Place Royal at Paris was a new and fashionable -part of the world; but nevertheless, one of the best houses, forming -an angle with the street which led down from the Rue St. Antoine, had -been taken by an Italian speculator, to be let out in apartments as a -sort of inn, or, as it would now be called, hotel, though the more -modest title of auberge was all that it then assumed. Next door to -this house, was the hotel of the English ambassador, Sir Henry -Neville; and before the porte cochère of each of the two houses was -assembled a little knot of four or five persons: in the one instance -composed of servants gazing vacantly out into the Place; and in the -other, of the master of the house, some of his waiters, and the Earl -of Gowrie, with the servant whom he had taken with him from the gates. -The young earl and the host, with whom he had just arranged for the -reception of his party, were looking up the street, and waiting for -the arrival of the carriage, when suddenly they saw it approaching at -a much more rapid pace than they expected, and a tumultuous assemblage -of several persons following, while Austin Jute, at a quick trot, rode -on before. The moment he arrived in the square, he sprang from his -horse, and throwing the rein loose, approached his master, saying, in -English, "I am sorry to tell you, my lord, that a young man has just -thought fit to insult the Lady Julia, so I ran him through the body; -and now they are following with a guard to catch me. I had therefore -better be off, and find your lordship out afterwards." - -He spoke rapidly, without any of his usual proverbs; but his young -lord replied, "Stay, stay, Austin; if you are not in fault, I will -protect you." - -"I could not help myself, sir," replied the man. "He thrust his head -into the carriage. I boxed his ears. He drew his sword; and I defended -myself. There are plenty who can prove it." - -"Let him come in here," said one of the English ambassador's servants, -who had been listening. "If he's an Englishman, here's the proper -place for him. This is the embassy." - -"Run in there, Austin," said the young earl. "Tell your story to Sir -Henry Neville, if he be within, and say that I will see him in a few -minutes. Let him know that you are a subject of her Majesty the queen, -and he will give you protection." - -"Come along, come along! there is no time to stand talking," cried the -English servant; and, hurrying after him, Austin Jute ran under the -porte cochère, and the gates were closed just as the carriage drove -into the Place, and stopped at the door of the inn. The servants who -had remained with the vehicle were four in number; and they had -without difficulty contrived to cover Austin Jute's retreat, by riding -between the wheels of the carriage and the houses of the narrow -street, though pressed upon by two mounted gentlemen, who followed -them with drawn swords and menacing words. The moment the carriage -entered the Place, however, the horsemen who were pursuing dashed -round the vehicle and the servants, and just caught sight of the -closing gates of the English embassy. At the same time, coming down -the street, as fast as they could run, were five or six of the town -guard, with large unwieldy halbards on their shoulders, which, of -course, greatly impeded their advance. - -"Did he go in there?" shouted one of the horsemen, as soon as he saw -Austin's riderless horse in the Place, and the gates of the English -embassy closed. - -The words were addressed to no one in particular; but he looked -straight to the Earl of Gowrie as he spoke. The young nobleman took no -notice of him, however, but calmly handed Julia out of the vehicle, -saying, "Go straight in with Mr. Rhind, dear one. Everything is ready -for you;" and then, seeing that she was very pale, he added, "Do not -be alarmed. There is no danger. Austin has taken refuge at the English -ambassador's.--Go in with the lady, and show her the apartments, sir," -he said, speaking to the landlord. "I will follow immediately." - -"But, my dear lord," said Mr. Rhind, who had by this time got out of -the carriage---- - -"Go in, go in," said Gowrie, interrupting him, as he saw the two -horsemen coming up towards them, and the guard entering the Place. "Go -in, my dear sir, and do not leave her till I come. Now, gentlemen," he -continued, turning to the strangers, as soon as he saw that Julia was -safe in the hotel, "you seem to have business with me." - -"Sacre bleu!" cried one of the others; "does that carriage belong to -you, sir?" - -"It does," replied Lord Gowrie, quite calmly. - -"Well, then, one of your companions has just killed a gentleman, our -friend," rejoined the stranger, furiously; "and we will have vengeance -upon him." - -"I understand," replied Gowrie, in the same unmoved tone, "that one of -my servants--seeing a person, whom I will not honour by calling him a -gentleman, insult a lady--punished him as he deserved, and then, in -his own defence, ran him through the body. Is this the case or not?" - -"Your servant!" exclaimed the Frenchman, without giving a direct -answer, but mixing a few very indecent expletives with his speech; -"was it a coquin of a servant who ventured to draw his sword upon a -gentleman?" - -"It is impossible to know a gentleman but by his actions," replied the -young earl; "and whether he were gentle or simple, my servant would -certainly punish any one who insulted a lady under his protection, -well knowing, sir, that I would justify him and support him either -with my sword or with my means; and let me add more, that whoever or -whatsoever you may be, I shall look upon those who take part with him -who committed the insult, as having shared in it, and treat them -accordingly." - -The Frenchman to whom he spoke instantly sprang to the ground; and -perhaps more serious results would have ensued, had not the guard with -their halbards come up, and thrust themselves between the earl and his -opponent, both of whom had their hands upon their swords. - -"Where is he? where is he?" was the cry; and the officer of the guard -seemed much inclined to lay hands upon Gowrie himself, not having a -very correct notion of the personal appearance of him he was to -apprehend. - -"You are mistaken, my good sir," said Lord Gowrie; "the person you are -in search of apparently, has taken refuge at the house of the English -ambassador, being a subject of that crown. At present, I am but -scantily informed of what has occurred. Is the person he fought with -dead, and who is he?" - -"He is not dead, but he will die certainly," said the officer; and the -Frenchman, who had dismounted, as I have stated, finished the reply by -saying, "He is a Scotch lord, who has been brought up with us at this -university, the Seigneur de Ramsay." - -"I know no Scottish lord of that name," said the earl. - -"We must have the homicide out, however," observed the officer of the -guard; and approaching the gate of the embassy, he knocked hard for -admission. - -It was common, in all large Parisian houses at that period, to have a -small iron grating inserted in the great gates, at the height of a -man's head, through which, in times of danger, letters or messages -might be received by those within, without opening the doors. This, at -the English embassy, was covered in the inside with a thick shutter of -wood, which, on the loud knocking of the officer of the guard, was -withdrawn, showing the face of a burly porter behind the grate. - -"What do you want?" demanded the porter. - -"I want the body of a man who has taken refuge here after committing -homicide," replied the officer. - -"You can't have him, either body or soul, unless his excellency gives -him up," answered the porter, gruffly. - -There is in every man's mind, I believe, a store of the comic, which, -though often battened down under strange and little-penetrable -hatches, is sometimes arrived at, even in a very obdurate bosom, by -the simplest of all possible processes. The Earl of Gowrie was in no -very jesting mood. He was vexed at the scrape his servant had got -into; and he was vexed to think that the life of a human being had -been endangered, if not lost. He was vexed, moreover, then, that -Julia--his Julia, should have been insulted by any one on her first -entrance into the French capital. But yet the braggadocio tone of the -French cavalier had somewhat amused him; and the reply of the sturdy -English porter, delivered in very indifferent French, almost made him -laugh, notwithstanding the seriousness of the subject. He had -approached close to the gate with the officer, who, for the moment, -seemed completely rebuffed by the reply; and knowing well that the -matter could not end there, Gowrie interposed, to procure a more just -and reasonable arrangement. He did not choose to use the English -language, lest any suspicion should be excited in the minds of the -Frenchmen around; but speaking French almost as well as he did his -native language, he said, "Be kind enough, my good friend, to tell Sir -Henry Neville that the Earl of Gowrie is at his gate, and would fain -speak with him; but as French gentlemen are very apt to take their own -prepossessions for realities, and to suspect, whenever they are in the -wrong themselves, that others are in fault, it will be better, if he -does me the honour of admitting me, that he should admit this officer -of the prevot, and also this gentleman, who styles himself the friend -of the wounded man." - -"I demand that the culprit should be delivered up," said the cavalier, -fiercely. "The privileges of no ambassador can shelter a murderer; and -as to prepossessions, we all know that you Englishmen are the natural -enemies of France, and that you have never aided any party in this -country but for the purpose of promoting dissensions, and thereby -nullify the efforts of Frenchmen for the honour and glory of their -native land." - -"His majesty, your king, might well be grateful to you for the -observation, sir," replied the earl; "and my opinion of a Frenchman's -prejudices is not altered thereby; but as my proposal is a fair one, I -am quite willing to abide by it if it suits you. If not, I shall -demand entrance for myself alone, which I think will not be refused -me, as a distant relative of the ambassador's sovereign." - -The latter words of the earl's reply had no slight effect upon the -officer of the guard, who thenceforth addressed the young earl as -"monseigneur," and took pains to explain to him that he was only -acting in the strict line of duty. The two French cavaliers stood -apart, consulting between themselves, till the porter returned, after -carrying Gowrie's message to Sir Henry Neville. - -"I am to permit three to enter," he said; "but while I do so, the rest -must stand back to at least thirty paces from the gate, that I may -open the wicket in safety." - -The guard, and Gowrie's men, who had crowded round, were ordered to -withdraw to the prescribed distance; and the command having been -obeyed with no great alacrity, a small wicket in the gate was opened, -through which Gowrie passed at once, taking precedence of the others -as his right, from a knowledge that it is always dangerous to yield a -single step to a Frenchman, who is certain never to consider it as a -courtesy, but to look upon it as an acknowledgment of his superiority. -The officer of the guard followed; and then came the stranger, looking -back for a moment to some half-dozen idlers who had gathered round, -with a strong inclination to call upon them to assert the honour of -France, whether impugned or not impugned. Although Gowrie saw the -glance, and easily comprehended what was passing in the worthy -gentleman's bosom, his mind was put perfectly at ease by the array -which he saw drawn up in the court-yard of the embassy. Those days -were not as these, when powdered lacqueys, in the gold and silver lace -which their masters will not condescend to wear, with two or three -attaches and a few clerks hired on the spot, are the only guards of a -diplomatist accredited by one court to another. Men went prepared for -any contingency, and buckler and broadsword were as common in the -suite of an ambassador as paper and pen and ink. Full forty men, well -armed and stout in limb, were drawn up in the court of the embassy, -while the secretary of the envoy himself waited at the foot of the -stairs, on the left hand, ready to conduct the earl and his companions -to the minister's cabinet. To the Earl of Gowrie he was particularly -deferential and attentive, while to the French cavalier who followed, -and whom he addressed as Monsieur de Malzais, he was coldly polite. -After passing through two or three handsome saloons, the whole party -was ushered into a small room surrounded with book-shelves; and a -tall, elegant, dignified looking man rose up from a table to receive -them, laying down a book which he had been reading, with the most -perfect appearance of tranquillity and ease. His eye instantly rested -on the Earl of Gowrie, being in truth well acquainted with the persons -of the two others, and advancing towards him, he took his hand, and -welcomed him to Paris with many expressions of esteem and regard. - -"I have had a letter from his majesty, the King of France," he said, -"informing me of your lordship's approaching arrival; and I only -regretted that I did not know how I might serve you in anticipation of -your coming, so that all might be prepared for you. Pray, my lord, be -seated;" and placing a chair for him, he remained standing till the -earl had taken his seat. - -We can hardly bring our minds in the present day to believe that all -this ceremonious respect, this ostentatious display of reverence for a -fellow man, could have any effect upon the view which reasonable -beings would take of a simple question of justice. But there was very -little of the old Roman left in the sixteenth century. When men sold -their loyalty and compounded for their treason, it was not to be -supposed that justice was unmarketable. Cromwell, with all his faults -and all his crimes, was the first who thoroughly purified the seat of -justice, and taught the world that, in one country at least, neither -rank nor wealth, nor even long conceded privilege, could prove a -shield against the sword of justice. The immunities claimed by and -granted to ambassadors were then enormous, and the influence of high -rank often amounted to elevation above the law. The officer of the -guard, though a man sensible of his duties and willing to perform -them, was not less subject than others to the general feelings of the -age and country in which he lived; and Monsieur de Malzais, though -resolute even to obstinacy and bold to rashness, was habitually -impressed with the reverence thus thought due to high station; and -though they had both entered the room with a determination to require -that Austin Jute should be at once given up to justice, the honours -shown to his master by the ambassador of the haughtiest queen in -Europe, rendered their demand very moderate in tone, and not very -persevering in character. - -To the surprise of both, however, Gowrie himself pressed for immediate -investigation. He had been brought up in a sterner school, in which -that spirit prevailed which afterwards shone forth with so strong a -light in the higher and purer of the puritan party in England. - -"I do not request your excellency," he said, after the officer of the -guard had stated his object, and Monsieur de Malzais had preferred his -charge, "to throw your protection over my servant, unless a clear case -of justification can be made out in his favour; and then only so far -as to shield him from long imprisonment and perhaps suffering, till it -is ascertained whether the gentleman he has wounded lives or dies. I -doubt not that the laws of the land will do justice between man and -man, though the one be a mere servant and the other a person moving in -a more elevated station of life, and I shall myself stay to see that -it is so. But, in the first instance, as your own countryman and as my -servant, I think you have every right to inquire whether he did, as he -says, injure this gentleman in his own defence or not." - -"I shall certainly do so," replied Sir Henry Neville; "for I should -not be fulfilling my duty to my sovereign, were I to suffer one of her -subjects to undergo unnecessary imprisonment for an act which he was -compelled to perform. I shall deal with the case, my lord, exactly as -if it were that of one of my own servants. If I find he has been -guilty of a crime, I shall give him up at once to justice; if I find -he has not, I shall protect him against all and every one, as far as -my privileges extend. To this neither you yourself nor these gentlemen -can object." - -Whatever might be their abstract notions of the sovereignty of the -law, neither of the Frenchmen did venture to object, and Austin Jute -was called into the presence of the ambassador, and told his story in -his own words, which were translated by the secretary for the benefit -of those who did not understand the English tongue. - -"We were riding along quietly enough, your excellency," he said, "much -more like sheep that have got into a strange fold than anything else, -when three gentlemen, of whom that was one," and he pointed to -Monsieur de Malzais, "rode up and passed the carriage. We made way for -them to go by, for they say, 'when you meet a fool in an alley, give -him the wall;' but then they said something amongst themselves and -laughed, and one of them wheeled his horse with a demivolte, and poked -his head in at the carriage window, holding back the curtain. As it -must have been done on purpose, unless he and his horse were both -taken giddy, which was not likely, for it is rare for two animals to -be seized with dizziness at the same time, I reminded him of the way -he ought to go by a knock on the side of the head. He did not like -that sort of direction, and jumping off his beast, or tumbling off, as -the case may be, he drew his sword and poked at me in a way that would -have made the daylight shine through me if I had not slipped off on -the other side. An open enemy is better than a false friend; and now I -knew what I was about. A cat in a corner is a lion; so having no means -of escape, I drew cold iron too, and we both poked away at each other -till he got a wound and fell. Thereupon, thinking to make my heels -save my head, I got on my beast again and came hither." - -"Did this gentleman here present, or any of the others, attempt to -part you and your opponent?" asked Sir Harry Neville. - -"No," answered Austin Jute; "that gentleman called out, 'Well lunged, -Ramsay,' or some such name--'punish the dog.' I know French enough to -understand that." - -"Well, sir, what do you say to this?" asked Sir Harry Neville, turning -to Monsieur de Malzais. "If the man's story is true, it would seem -that the provocation came on the side of your friend; that he was -justly punished for insulting a lady, and that then he drove this good -man to defend himself." - -"But his story is not true," replied the Frenchman, in a somewhat -hesitating tone; "the Seigneur de Ramsay did not insult the lady. He -only looked into the carriage, as any gentleman might do." - -"That's a lie!" said Austin Jute, who had a very tolerable knowledge -of the French tongue. "He looked into the carriage as no gentleman -would do, and pulled back the curtain with his hand. There were plenty -of people to prove it. Ask Mr. Rhind, and the other servants." - -A part of this reply only was translated to Monsieur de Malzais, who -was answering warmly; but Gowrie interposed, saying, "I will send for -Mr. Rhind, who was in the carriage, and also for some of the servants. -I have spoken with none of them myself. This man has had time to speak -with none of them either, and therefore their account will be -unbiassed." - -The persons whom he mentioned were speedily brought to the embassy, -and fully and clearly confirmed the account of Austin Jute. Mr. Rhind -testified that the curtain of the carriage had been rudely and -insolently drawn back, and the head of a stranger thrust into the -vehicle; and the servants proved that the wounded man had drawn his -sword, and made a thrust at their companion, before Austin Jute had -even unsheathed his weapon. That first lunge, they said, would most -probably have proved fatal, had not Austin dexterously slipped from -his horse, and so avoided it. - -While they proceeded in giving their evidence, the secretary -translated their replies almost literally; and although the French -gentleman did not actually look ashamed, yet he seemed very much -puzzled how to meet their testimony. He had recourse, however, to a -means not uncommon with persons in his predicament, declaring there -was evidently a conspiracy to shield the offender, which called a -smile upon the lips of Sir Henry Neville, who replied, in a quiet -tone, "You have had so many conspiracies in France lately, Monsieur de -Malzais, that you fancy almost every transaction is of the same -nature. It seems to me, and I doubt not also to the officer of the -guard, that no time has elapsed sufficient for these people to make -themselves perfect in exactly the same account of the whole -transaction. It will therefore be my duty to protect this poor man, -who seems to have done nothing but what he was bound to do in defence -of his lady and of his own life. My house must therefore be his place -of refuge, from which he shall not be taken except by violence, which, -I presume, nobody will think of attempting." - -"Assuredly not, your excellency," replied the officer of the guard; -"my view of the case is the same as your own; but neither you nor I -are judges in this land; and I only consent to abstain from any -farther proceedings against this person, till it is ascertained -whether the gentleman he has wounded lives or dies. Should the latter -event occur, I must apply to higher authorities for directions as to -my future conduct." - -"That as you please, sir," replied the ambassador; "but be assured, -that under no circumstances will I give him up, unless I have express -directions so to do." - -"And in the meantime he will of course escape," said Monsieur de -Malzais. - -The ambassador made no reply, but rose and turned upon his heel with a -look of some contempt; and the French gentleman, with the officer of -the guard, retired. - -"Now, Master Austin Jute," said Sir Henry Neville, "you may depend -upon my protection so long as you keep yourself within the limits of -this house, its courts, and garden; but if you venture out upon any -pretext, you are very likely to get into the little Chatellet, in -which case you might find yourself some day stretched out considerably -beyond your usual length, upon an instrument called the rack, and -perhaps might never be heard of afterwards; for there are often -curious things done in this country in the name of justice. Be warned, -therefore, and do not go abroad." - -"Don't be afraid, sir," answered Austin Jute; "I will never stretch my -feet beyond the length of my sheet. I know when to let well alone. -When the waters are out, it is better to be on the top of a hill than -in the bottom of a valley. If the maid had kept the pitcher in her -hand, it would not have got broken; so, with many thanks, I will -follow your advice to the letter." - -With these quaint saws the good youth withdrew, accompanied by the -rest of the Earl of Gowrie's servants, who had been summoned to give -evidence; and as soon as they were gone, Sir Henry Neville said, with -a smile, "I trust this young man will not die, my lord, for it might -occasion us some trouble, although his character is well known here in -Paris." - -"Who is he?" demanded Lord Gowrie. "There are so many Ramsays in -Scotland, that it is impossible to distinguish one from another, -unless one knows the name of the estate belonging to the person." - -"I do not believe he has any estate to distinguish him," replied the -ambassador; "but he is a cousin of Sir George Ramsay of Dalhousie, -whose brother John is page to your own sovereign, King James. This -young man, proving of an unruly disposition, and likely to bring -disgrace upon himself and his very honourable family, was sent hither -by Sir George, one of the finest and highest-minded men I know, to -study at the university here. He has rendered himself, however, more -famous for rashness, violence, and insolence, than for learning or -talent; and I believe the reports of his conduct which have reached -Scotland have given great pain to his elder cousin, though the younger -still remains much attached to him, and has promised, they say, to use -his influence at the court of the king for this young man's -advancement. But now, my good lord, by your leave I will accompany you -to pay my respects to your fair lady. I was not, indeed, aware that -your lordship was married." - -The colour somewhat mounted into Gowrie's cheek; but he replied, "Nor -am I, Sir Henry. The lady whom I have the honour of escorting back to -Scotland,--her grandfather, with whom she resided, having very lately -died in Italy--is my cousin, the Lady Julia Douglas." - -Perhaps the slight shade of embarrassment apparent in the earl's -manner, in making this announcement, might excite the ambassador's -curiosity; but he was too good a diplomatist to suffer any trace of -what was passing in his mind to appear in his demeanour, and repeating -his wish to be presented to the lady, he accompanied Gowrie to the -inn. By this time all trace of the little disturbance which had -occurred had vanished from the Place Royale; and gay groups of -Parisians were beginning to assemble there, to walk up and down, and -converse, make love, or observe each other, as was customary during -the evening of each fine day. After being introduced to Julia, with -whose exceeding beauty he seemed greatly struck, the ambassador -proceeded to discuss with Gowrie that nobleman's plans. He advised him -strongly to remain in Paris till the result of Ramsay's wound was -known, adding, in a low voice, for the young earl's own ear, "I can -almost forgive Ramsay's attempt to get another sight of a face and -form like that, when once he had seen them." - -"I shall not forgive him so easily," answered the earl; "for no lady -under my care and escort shall be insulted with impunity." - -"I beseech you, let the matter drop, my good lord," replied Neville; -"if the young man dies, there is an end of it; if he recovers, he has -surely been punished enough." - -"He shall apologise, however," said the earl, in a thoughtful tone; -"though I am not disposed to be harsh with him. Perhaps, indeed," he -continued, "he may have received a lesson from the hand of my servant -which may do him good. I know Sir George Ramsay well, at least I did -so in my boyhood; and if there be one drop of his blood in this young -man's veins, there must be some good qualities at bottom." - -"Let us trust that the bad blood has been let out," said the -ambassador, "and that the good remains behind, and that he may recover -to make a better use of life than he has hitherto done. I will send in -a short time to inquire how he is going on, and will let you know the -answer I receive. In the meantime I take my leave, and will do my best -to provide for your amusement during your sojourn in Paris." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -Austin Jute was soon quite at home at the house of the English -ambassador. His talents were of a very universal kind; and they had -been sharpened by certain citizen-of-the-world habits, which he had -acquired in the roving life he had led for some years. He had first -come over to France with the Earl of Essex, as servant to one of the -gentlemen of his household; and that gentleman having been killed in -one of the many skirmishes which were then taking place, Austin had -been left, like a masterless horse on the field of battle, to run -about the world as he liked. Doubtless the earl himself would have -either provided for his return to England, or taken him into his own -service, had Austin applied properly. But Austin did not, for he had -no affection for the Queen of England's favourite, although -susceptible of strong attachments; and with a score or two of crowns, -which he had accumulated one way or another, he set out to see the -world, and, if possible, improve his fortunes. He was rarely at a -loss, in whatever circumstances he might be placed; for though very -unlike a cat in disposition, he had the quality attributed to the -feline tribe of always falling upon his feet. Ready, willing, bold, -active in mind and body, a shrewd observer, a ready combiner, with a -very retentive memory of everything he saw or heard, and great -confidence in his own luck, Austin Jute might have gone through life -with the greatest possible success, had it not been for a certain -light-hearted love for the fair sex, which often got him into quarrels -with more serious lovers, and a quickness of disposition, which -rendered those quarrels much more serious than they might otherwise -have been. Whenever he was not personally concerned, and he had to -manage any affairs for others, he was generally exceedingly prudent -and shrewd; at other times, however, he was rash to the greatest -possible degree, and seemed to find a pleasure--a vain pleasure, -perhaps--in multiplying scrapes around him, with the most perfect -confidence of being able to get out of them some way or another. - -Thus, in gaiety of heart, he had wandered half through -Europe--sometimes being obliged to make a very precipitate retreat -from one or other of the small states into which the continent was -then divided, but as frequently obtaining as much honour and success -as he could have anticipated--when a succession of misadventures, -unusually long and serious, brought him to Padua without a crown in -his pocket. He was there relieved in the midst of poverty, which had -depressed, and sickness which had nearly extinguished his light -spirit, by several of the English and Scottish students, and thus fell -under the notice of the Earl of Gowrie, who, finding him clever, and -having cause to believe him honest, engaged him in his service, at -first in a very inferior position, from which he had risen by strong -proofs of zeal, attachment, and honesty, to the highest point in his -master's favour and confidence. - -With all his fellow-servants, too, he was a very great favourite, for -he had not the slightest inclination to domineer, to exact, or to -exclude; and the curious sort of miscellaneous education which he had -received, or rather, which he had bestowed upon himself, gave him a -superiority that they were quite willing to acknowledge. He could -write, and he could read, which was more than many persons in a much -higher station could do at that time. He could play upon the fiddle -and the flute, and the hurdy-gurdy. He could carve all sorts of things -in wood. He had as many curious receipts as are to be found in the -"True Gentlewoman's Delight." He could catch all sorts of birds and -beasts by strange devices of his own. He could fence, use the sword -and buckler, or play at single stick like a master of the art of -defence. He could ride well, and was never known to appear either -tired or sleepy. - -He had not been a couple of hours in Sir Henry Neville's house, before -a multitude of his small talents displayed themselves for the benefit -of the ambassador's servants; and his frank good humour soon gained -him plenty of friends in the household. Unlike most Englishmen, who -seem to look upon every man as an enemy till he has proved himself -otherwise, Austin Jute appeared to regard the whole human race as a -friend, which is, perhaps, the greatest of all secrets for smoothing -the way of life; and on the evening of the day of his arrival, he sat -in the hall at the embassy, carving a little sort of box or casket out -of a piece of yew, in which he produced the most extraordinary -devices, whistling all the time airs so wild and merry, that many of -the servants collected around to listen, and others looked over his -shoulder, examining the progress of his work. - -While thus employed, one of the attendants came into the hall, saying, -"The news isn't good, Master Jute. The people say he will not get over -the night." - -"Well, he knows best what he's about," answered Austin Jute, quietly. -"Every man must die once; and but once can a man die. He has got what -he deserved from me, and nothing more. He must manage the rest as he -likes himself." - -"But it may be awkward for you, if he does die," answered the man. - -"Not a whit," replied Austin Jute. "My luck is not at so low an ebb. -Fortune comes tripping, they say; and a stumble's no great matter so -there be not a fall. I say devoutly, 'God save the worthy gentleman!' -But if he dies, he dies; and it is no fault of mine--I wish him well." - -"But who is the lady who was in the carriage?" asked another of the -servants; for curiosity, the passion of all semi-civilized people, was -even stronger then in capitals than it is now in country towns. "They -say she is not your lord's wife." - -"No," answered Austin Jute, "but she is his cousin, which is better, -as the world goes. She will be his wife hereafter, if Heaven so will -it, and she live long enough to reach the first stage of woman's -decline." - -"Nay, I see not how that is a decline," said the servant. "It is -promotion, I think; and all ladies think so too." - -"Why was Sarah better than Hagar," asked Austin Jute, laughing, -"except that the one was the free woman and the other bond woman? Now, -according to our rites and ceremonies, the wife is the bond woman, and -therefore, matrimony in a woman's case is the first stage of decline. -It is maid--wife--mother; and then widowhood or death gives the poor -thing liberty again. She is first free, then the slave to one, then -the slave to many, and if ever she regains her liberty, it is by -Heaven's will." - -"If they are going to marry," said the blunt Englishman who spoke, "I -wonder they don't marry at once, and go back home, man and wife. It is -what we simple people would do. It would save trouble and save -speculation." - -"True," answered Austin Jute; "but there are impediments in all -things, Master Jacob. Look you here, now. The lady has just lost her -grandfather by death, who was as good as a father to her, or better. -Now, it is improper for a lady to marry in mourning, and improper for -a lady to travel all alone with a gentleman, without being married to -him. Now, which is worst, think you, Master Jacob?" - -"All alone with a gentleman without being married to him," replied the -Englishman, "for that, one can cure one's self." - -"And so one can cure the other," replied Austin Jute; "and therefore -the lady does not travel all alone with my lord; for, besides her -maid, who is a very nice young woman, she has got with her my master's -old tutor, Mr. Rhind, who is a very nice old woman. Thus all decencies -are made to meet; and they can jog along as coolly as Noah and his -wife did over the waters of the flood, though, Heaven mend me! I do -not think I could do the same." - -Perhaps the task was not so easy to Gowrie as his good servant -thought, and to say truth, all considerations of prudence prove -frequently but very weak bonds against inclination. He strove to -strengthen them indeed as far as possible, and though the presence of -worthy Mr. Rhind was often an annoyance as well as a restraint, yet he -tried not to escape from it. Mr. Rhind, however, whose sense of -propriety was somewhat capricious, and who was now so much accustomed -to see Gowrie and Julia together, as to think it not so strange as he -had done at first, would frequently, during their stay in Paris, go -forth to see this object or that, which was worthy of attention, and -the lovers would be left alone together in circumstances dangerous to -their resolution. It was thus one evening, after about seven days' -residence in Paris, that the worthy tutor was absent, and Gowrie sat -by Julia's side. The windows were closed, the hangings drawn, the -bright fire of wood sparkled and glimmered on the broad hearth, the -taper light was dim and shadowy; and they sat dreaming over the -future, or meditating over the past, while Fancy's timid wing dared -hardly rest over the present, lest she should settle there and be -unable to rise again. - -It was a cold evening, the frosty air made the fire sparkle; there -came sounds of joyous voices from without, rousing sympathies and -hopes and visions of happiness. A gay girl's tongue was heard passing -the windows, sinking into silence almost as soon as heard; but the -words "_Oui, oui, je t'aime, je t'aimerai toujours_," sounded distinct -upon the ears of those within. It was the key-note of the heart, and -in each bosom it echoed, "_Oui, oui, je t'aime, je t'aimerai -toujours_." - -She was very lovely as she sat there, leaning back in the large chair, -with her tiny feet stretched out towards the fire; every line full of -grace; one small fair hand resting white upon the dark drapery falling -over her knee, the other locked in Gowrie's, and her head slightly -bending forward, with the bright dark curls flowing over her brow and -cheek, and her full dark eyes bent upon the fire, seeing pictures in -the strong light and shade. - -"_Oui, oui, je t'aimerai toujours_," said Julia's heart, and Gowrie's -repeated it; and the thoughts of both wandered far away, plunging -through the future like a swallow into the depths of air. Whither did -Gowrie's wander? Far, far away, as I have said, and calm judgment -strove in vain to regulate its flight. There was something stronger -still than reason in his breast. Love--passion was for the time the -master, and fancy was but passion's slave. He let her range, but it -was for his good pleasure, and reason's voice was all unheard. - -At length the lover started up with a thrilling frame and an agitated -voice, exclaiming, "This is, indeed, too hard!" - -"What, Gowrie, what?" demanded Julia, rising with some alarm at the -sudden exclamation which broke the stillness, for they had not spoken -for some minutes. - -Gowrie clasped her in his arms, and whispered in a low tone, bending -down his head till it rested on her shoulder, "Thus to love you, thus -to be ever near you, and to be forbidden to call you mine till long, -long months of dark uncertainty are past.--Oh, Julia, why should we -not be united at once? He who is gone could never foresee all the -difficulties and even dangers in which his prohibition may place us. I -feel sure that had he done so, he never would have exacted such a -sacrifice. One half of our journey is still before us. We must still -remain here many days, perhaps weeks; and oh, dear girl, if you can -feel or even conceive that which I feel, you will know that this -struggle is almost more than mortal can bear, especially when I see -the difficulties and dangers increasing ever before us, which would be -all removed by our immediate union. What should prevent you from -giving me this dear hand at once?" and he covered it with ardent -kisses. - -"Nothing but our promise, Gowrie," replied Julia, with a burning cheek -and a deep sigh; "but, oh, let us not break our word. I will do -whatever you will. You are all to me now. I have none but you; and -what you can ask I will not refuse, for I know you will not ask -anything that is wrong. But oh, remember and consider what it was we -promised, how solemnly we promised, and that that promise was given to -the dead." - -"But if the dead could see," answered Gowrie, "would not the -circumstances in which we are actually placed appear so different to -those which were contemplated, as to justify a deviation from our -engagement?" And as he spoke he pressed her closer to him. - -"I know not," answered Julia, without an effort to free herself from -his embrace, "nor can we ever know, till we join him where all doubts -end; but yet, Gowrie, he was not one to overlook aught in his -foresight of the future. Nothing has occurred which he might not -naturally foresee. We love dearly, we feel strongly, we are anxious to -be united, we have been delayed on our journey, we have been exposed -to some insolence and some inconvenience. More, even, may be before -us; but all this could not but be displayed to the eyes of one who had -well nigh eighty years of the world's experience, and whose memory of -every event in life was as perfect as that of youth. Besides, Gowrie, -it was a promise, and I have ever held a promise to be the most sacred -of all things. Did I know that I had ever broken one, let whatever be -the motive, let whatever be the justification, I should never know -pure happiness after--I should live in regret and fear--there would be -a spot upon the past and a cloud upon the future. I should feel that I -had been untrue, and fear retribution." - -She raised her bright dark eyes to his face, with an appealing, almost -an imploring look, and then added, in a low tone, "But be it as you -will, Gowrie. My fate is in your hands, and I am ready to suffer -anything--even that, for your sake." - -"Enough, enough, dearest!" said Gowrie, with a sigh; "you shall suffer -nothing for my sake that I can spare you. But oh, dear girl, you know -not the pain which the fulfilment of this promise costs. Did you never -dream, Julia, that you were parched with thirst, and saw a cool stream -flowing before your eyes, but that when you bent down to drink, the -pure wave receded before your lip, leaving you more thirsty than -before? Thus often do I fancy it may be with me, and that our union -may still be delayed by circumstances, till some unexpected fate -snatches me from you, or you from me, for ever, when a few dear words -spoken at the altar might put our happiness, in that respect, beyond -fate." - -Julia bent down her head, with bright drops swimming in her eyes, for -such sad pictures were not unfrequently present to her own -imagination; but she answered, "It would be a clouded happiness, -Gowrie; for we should both feel that we had done wrong. I have never, -indeed, dreamt such a dream as you mention; but yet I understand well -what you mean, and sometimes fears and doubts take possession of me -also. Yet I reproach myself when I give way to them; and I am sure -that they would increase a thousand fold were we to break our -promise. I should then tremble every hour lest our dear-purchased -happiness--bought by a falsehood--should be taken from us, and that -the union too soon attained, would be too soon ended." - -"You are wiser and better than I am," said Gowrie, gently relaxing the -embrace in which he held her, and kissing her tenderly--"and it shall -be as you will, my love." - -"Oh, neither wiser nor better," answered Julia; "but women are -accustomed to ponder upon such things, and think of them, I imagine, -more deeply than men, who act often from sudden impulses." - -Though grave and sad, Gowrie could not refrain from smiling at the -very different view she took of human character from that which either -prejudice or experience gives to man. Yet, after a moment's thought, -he replied, "The world does not judge so, my Julia; and yet, perhaps, -you are in some degree right. Women give more weight to feeling and -thought, and men to interest and passion, in balancing the right or -wrong of actions in the mind. But hark! there is a foot in the -ante-room;" and he led her back to her seat. - -The next instant there was a gentle tap at the door, and on Gowrie -saying, "Come in," the person of Austin Jute appeared. - -"Austin, Austin!" cried his master, "I commanded you strictly not to -stir from Sir Henry Neville's house till this unfortunate affair was -terminated." - -"True, my noble lord," replied Austin, "but the _till_ has happened. -Not, indeed, that I could have staid longer, pent up in one house like -a jackdaw in a cage, if it had cost me my life to go out. Had the -doors been locked it might have been a different thing, for one soon -learns to do without what one cannot get; but with what one longs for, -always before one's eyes, one is sure to try for it." - -Gowrie turned his eyes, with a smile, to Julia, but did not speak; and -the man went on, saying, "All yesterday I looked out of the window of -the porter's room, because I did not choose to trust myself to look -out of the door; and this morning, as I crossed the fore-court, I -found myself sidling up towards the gate, whether I would or not, like -a young crab left upon the sands. To-morrow I should have been out, I -am sure, had I not had a message to-night to tell me that Master -Ramsay had taken a sudden turn the night before in the right way, and -was now out of danger. He sent himself to tell me, which was civil, -and he told the messenger to bid me come to see him to-morrow, when I -should be quite safe." - -Lord Gowrie mused; but after a moment's thought he said, "I trust this -youth has some grace left. Nevertheless, Austin, you had better not go -until I have seen and taken counsel with Sir Henry Neville. This might -be a mere scheme to entrap you. I say not that it is so, for I do not -know the habits of this place well enough to judge; but it is exactly -such a stratagem as men would have recourse to in Italy; and I must -have the advice of one who knows better the customs of Paris than -either of us." - -"Oh, they are very different from the Italians," said Austin Jute; but -then, remembering Julia's parentage, he stopped short, and the next -moment Mr. Rhind entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -As early on the following morning as possible, Gowrie visited Sir -Henry Neville, and was received with every mark of kindness and -distinction. He propounded at once his questions regarding Ramsay and -Austin Jute, but received a reply which somewhat surprised him. - -"Oh, there is no danger to your servant," said the ambassador. -"Neither Ramsay himself nor any one else in Paris, I think, would -venture to send such a message to my house for the purpose of -entrapping any one. Besides, I have the same information myself; but -yet I think I would not let the servant go." - -"Will you explain why not?" said Gowrie. "I was in hopes that the fact -of Ramsay's sending this message at all, was a proof that the rash -intemperance of which you formerly spoke, proceeded merely from the -unchastised passion of youth, and that he has better qualities in his -nature than he has hitherto suffered to appear." - -"I trust it is so," replied Neville; "but yet there remains a great -deal to be beaten out of him. The truth is, my dear lord," he -continued, with a laugh, "that the message first came to me, and -though, perhaps, kindly intended towards your servant, was still -somewhat insolent in its tone. He sent to say that he was recovering, -and that the man who had wounded him need fear no chastisement--that -was the word he used; and he then went on to say, that the man might -come to him in safety, when he would assure him of his pardon. We -rough islanders, my lord, are accustomed to think that no pardon is -necessary where no offence has been committed; and therefore I judge -that you had better not let your man go. It might only lead to evil -consequences; for I do not think, from Master Austin's look and -manner, that he is one to submit to haughty or injurious words without -a rejoinder." - -"He certainly shall not go," answered Gowrie, "since such was the -message. However, I shall myself soon quit Paris, and therefore, Sir -Henry, if you will favour me with the letters which you have promised -me for the English court, I will deliver them with pride and pleasure, -as it is, of course, my intention to present my humble duty to her -Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as I pass through London." - -"You shall have them this very evening," answered Neville; "but yet I -wish you would stay for a couple of days longer; for I know that you -are a great lover of music, and there is a very delicate concert to be -given the day after to-morrow. There are three of the most excellent -performers on the violin that ever were heard, besides some famous -singers from Italy; and they will perform several rare and beautiful -pieces by a new composer of great genius." - -Lord Gowrie promised at once to stay for the high treat offered to -him; but he took his leave without informing Sir Henry Neville that he -had other objects in delaying his departure. Had the message of Ramsay -been that which he had imagined when he visited the ambassador, the -young earl would have quitted Paris on the following day; but the tone -in which he now found it was conceived, induced him to adopt another -course, and proceeding at once to his own chamber without seeing -Julia, he sat down and wrote the following note:-- - - -"To Master Ramsay of Newburn, greeting:-- - -"Sir, - -"His excellency Sir Henry Neville, English ambassador at this court, -has communicated to me your message to my servant, by whom you were -wounded. I rejoice to hear that you are in a way of recovery, which, I -trust, will be soon complete. It was my purpose to have quitted this -capital long ago, but in the circumstances which exist, I shall remain -here for some days longer, in order to give you an opportunity of -doing that which, doubtless, you will be naturally disposed to do. We -are all subjected to error, especially in youth; but when a man of -good breeding has committed a fault towards another, he is always -desirous of apologizing for it. I am informed, by no less than five -eye-witnesses, that while I had ridden on before my carriage, you -offered an insult to a lady under my care and escort, which was, in -fact, an insult to myself. Doubtless you are inclined to write an -apology for this conduct, as that which has passed between my servant -and yourself can be considered as no atonement to - -"Your most humble servant, - -"GOWRIE." - - -When he had read the letter over, sealed, and addressed it, the earl -dispatched it by an old and somewhat matter-of-fact servant, who had -accompanied him from Scotland to Italy. He gave no especial directions -in regard to its delivery; and the man, in the ordinary course, would -probably have left it at the lodging of his young countryman, had he -not been forced to take with him, both to show him the way, and to -interpret for him, a lacquais de place, who had been engaged by the -earl since his arrival in Paris. The lacquais de place of those days -was a very different animal from that which bears the title at -present, when every drunken courier, who has been discharged for bad -behaviour, and whose character is too well established to obtain -permanent employment, places himself at the door of a hotel, and calls -himself a lacquais de place. The one who had been hired by Lord Gowrie -was a brisk, impudent, meddling fellow, full of the most consummate -French vanity, and determined to have his say upon every occasion. He -must needs see the letter which was to be delivered; and when he got -to the door, he did not fail to impress upon the good old man, that it -was necessary he should deliver the letter to the Seigneur de Ramsay -in person, and obtain an answer of some kind, to which the Scotchman, -always well inclined to meet a countryman in foreign lands, did not in -the slightest degree object. Some difficulty, indeed, was made in -admitting him; but when he announced that he came with a letter from -the Earl of Gowrie, the difficulty ceased, and he was ushered into the -room of the wounded man. - -Ramsay of Newburn was lying on his bed dressed in a warm robe de -chambre, as if he had been only allowed to get up during the morning. -He was a powerful and a handsome man of one or two-and-twenty years of -age, with good features, but by no means a prepossessing expression. -His face was very pale from loss of blood, and from the illness -consequent upon his wound; but his eye was bright and hawk-like, and, -with his black hair, neglected since his wound, and falling in ragged -masses over his forehead, it gave a wild, fierce look to his worn -countenance. As soon as the servant entered, he motioned his own -attendant to withdraw, and said in a low, hollow tone, "They tell me -you are the Earl of Gowrie's servant. You are not the man who wounded -me?" - -"No, sir," replied the other. "He is still at the embassy." - -"You have got a letter for me, have you not?" asked Ramsay, keeping -his eyes fixed upon his face. - -The man presented it; but Ramsay went on without opening the letter, -saying, "You are a countryman of mine, by your tongue." - -"Yes, sir," answered the servant. "I come from fair Perth itself." - -"It is a beautiful town," said Ramsay. "I suppose you have been long -in the service of the earl?" - -"I was in the service of his brother before him," replied the man. - -"Well, I am very sorry there should have been any disagreement between -the earl and myself," continued Ramsay. "Pray, who is the lady who is -with his lordship?" - -"I cannot justly say, sir," answered the man; and then, seeing a -curious sort of light coming into the other's eyes, he added, "She's a -far-away cousin of my lord's. The Lady Julia Douglas, they call her. -My lord met with her in Italy, where some of her relations dying, he -agreed to see her safe back to Scotland." - -"Then she is not an Italian, as some of my people told me?" rejoined -the young man. - -"Oh, no," cried the servant. "She speaks fine English; and I've never -heard her speak anything else, except to the servants at times." - -Ramsay mused, and then inquired if the earl was going direct back to -Scotland. - -"He'll stay a while in London town, they say," rejoined the man; "but -I can tell nothing for certain. My lord does not talk much of what he -intends to do." - -"Will you draw back that curtain from the window?" said the wounded -man, "that I may see what the earl writes;" and his request being -complied with, he opened the letter and read. The first words seemed -to please him well, for a smile came upon his lip. It had somewhat a -sarcastic turn, indeed; but the usual expression of his face was -sneering. The next words, however, clouded his brow; and as he read -on, it became as black as a thunder cloud. When he had done, he -remained with his teeth hard set, and the letter still in his hand, -apparently musing over the contents, while quick, almost spasmodic, -changes of expression came over his face, and from time to time he -muttered something to himself, the sense of which the servant could -not catch. Gradually, however, the irritable movements seemed to -cease; and he looked at the letter again, not reading it regularly, -but glancing his eye from one part to the other, in a desultory -manner. His brow then became smoother, though it cost him an apparent -effort to banish the frown, and the sneer which hung about his upper -lip he could not banish. - -"If your lord takes his departure so soon," he said, "I fear I cannot -have the honour of paying my respects to him. Is it quite certain that -he goes in three days?" - -"I have not heard, sir," replied the man, "and so I can't say; but if -he has told you so in the letter, depend upon it he'll do it: for he -is not one to change his mind lightly." - -"Well, then," said Ramsay, with a somewhat peculiar emphasis, "I must -wait another opportunity." - -"I will tell him so, sir," said the old servant; but the young man -exclaimed, "No, no, you need not tell him exactly that; merely say I -regret my inability to wait upon him, and that I am unable to write. -You may say, moreover----" - -He did not finish the sentence, but fell into thought again, tossing -himself uneasily on his bed, till the servant, thinking that he had -done, took a step towards the door, saying, "Well, I'll tell him, sir, -just what you say." - -"Stay, stay," said Ramsay; "I have something to add. You may say to -the noble lord, for me, that I am sorry I offended the lady, but that -I did not at all intend to insult her. The curtain was drawn rudely in -my face by a man in the inside of the carriage; and I pulled it back -as a reproof to him, without thinking of her at all." - -"Well, sir, you know best," replied the man, who, though not very -brilliant, did not think that this account accorded well with what he -himself had seen. "I'll tell the earl just what you say." - -"Pray do," said Ramsay; "and say, moreover, that I shall soon have the -honour of seeing his lordship in Scotland, as I intend to return -thither as soon as I can travel. Your master is well acquainted, I -think, with my good cousin, Sir George." - -"Oh, ay," answered the man. "I have seen Ramsay of Dalhousie many a -time, both at Perth and at Dirleton, and young Jock Ramsay, too, his -brother, who used to come to play with Mr. Alexander. They used to -quarrel and fight very often; but that is the way with boys." - -"They quarrelled, did they?" said Ramsay of Newburn, with a smile. -"Doubtless they'll be better friends as men. And now, tell my man to -give you a draught of strong waters, but don't let it make you forget -to deliver my message to your lord." - -"No, no, sir; no fear of that," answered the man, and withdrew. - -When he was gone, Ramsay writhed upon his bed, as if in pain, and he -murmured to himself, "Ay, that bitter cup is quaffed; but I'll make -those who have forced it upon me taste a bitterer. But how--but how? I -shall never have strength to wield a sword like a man again. The -villain has crippled me for life. I can fire a shot, though; and, my -good lord of Gowrie, I will not forget you." - -Then he fell into thought again, and meditated in silence for nearly -half an hour, while various changes of expression came over his -countenance, all dark, but of different shades. At length some thought -seemed to please him, for he laughed aloud. "Ay," he said, "that were -better. Then, however matters go, I am the gainer. He has made me -truckle to his leman. I'll try if I cannot make him bend his haughty -head before those who once already have trampled on the necks of -Ruthvens. Let him beware both of words and actions, for he shall be -sharply looked to. The proud peat! Let him stay in London with the -crooked old Englishwoman. I'll be in Scotland before him, and he shall -find her protection blast rather than save him. If I know my cousin -John aright, I can so work these ends together as to make this earl -regret having done shame to a Ramsay. What I have not strength to do -boldly, I will try to do shrewdly, and there will be some pleasure in -seeing him help to work out my objects against himself. There is -Stuart, too; if we can once get him mixed in the affair, the king will -not be long out of it. Then, Gowrie, look to yourself, for James never -forgives those whom he fears." - -He continued thus muttering to himself for some time longer; but what -has been already detailed will be sufficient to show that Ramsay -entertained that sweet and gentlemanlike passion of revenge, which was -at the time exceedingly dear and pleasant to most of his countrymen. -It is so, indeed, with all nations in a semi-barbarous state, and in -such a state was Scotland undoubtedly at that time. Torn by factions, -frequently a prey to civil strife, when not actually a prey to -anarchy, ruled by the strongest and the readiest hand which could -clutch and hold the reins of government, she had long seen her -children rising to power and wealth on each other's heads, and the -pathway to honours marked out by a stream of blood. Ambition went hand -in hand with revenge; and the terrible rule seemed fully established -in the land, "to forget a benefit as soon as possible, but never to -forgive an injury." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -I must pass over, with a very brief and general statement, the events -which occurred to the personages connected with this tale during -several months. There is always in tale-telling, unless the action be -compressed within a very short space, a period during which the -interest would flag, if the regular passing of each day was noticed, -and the small particulars detailed. Were life filled with those -striking events which move and interest the reader, with those -passions to which the sympathetic heart thrills, with those grand -scenes of action which excite the imagination, or with those lesser -incidents which amuse and entertain, the human frame, like an -over-sharpened knife, would be ground down upon the whetstone of the -world, and existence be curtailed of half its date. It is my belief, -that patriarchal age was secured to the earlier inhabitants of earth -as much by the long intervals existing between the periods of intense -excitement, to which they were sometimes subjected, and by the calm -and careless ease of the intervening periods, as by any of the many -other causes which combined to extend the space between birth and -death to well nigh a thousand years. True, they were not close pent up -in cities--true, they were continually changing air and scene--true, -that excess in anything was little known--true, that they were nearer -to the great architype, fresh from the hands of his God, and framed -for the immortality of which sin deprived him--true, that long -centuries of vice, folly, contention, and misfortune had not then -brought forth the multitudinous host of diseases continually warring -against the mortal body, diminishing its powers of resistance from -generation to generation; but still I believe that the want of -excitement, which can only be known where men are spread wide and far -apart over the face of the earth, was absolutely necessary to that -vast prolongation of life. The mind and body did not mutually grind -down each other. Still, the more peaceful periods in any man's history -are those which the least interest his fellow-men, and during the time -which elapsed between Gowrie's departure from Paris and his arrival in -Scotland, no adventures or impediments occurred which can justify much -detail. That departure was delayed for a day or two beyond the period -which he had at first fixed; and though the weather was now becoming -sharp and cold, yet those few days produced a favourable change, and -rain and fog gave way to clear skies and broad sunshine. The days, -however, were brief, and the journeys necessarily short; so that a -week elapsed between his departure from Paris and his arrival at -Calais. Four days more brought him to Loudon, and now a new scene -opened upon him. - -Furnished with letters from Sir Henry Neville to the principal -statesmen of the court of Queen Elizabeth, he was received with every -demonstration of respect and esteem in the English capital, and two -days after was presented to the queen herself. I find little record in -history of what followed; but one historian, whose views, it must be -remarked, were strongly biassed by peculiar feelings of partizanship, -declares that the honours shown by the English sovereign to the young -earl were of the most marked and extraordinary kind. It is sometimes, -in the present day, not easy to account for the course of policy -pursued by Elizabeth in her conduct to the subjects of the -neighbouring crown; but we must not doubt well-authenticated facts -because we cannot penetrate their motives. The writer whom I have -mentioned states, in speaking of the Earl of Gowrie, that the queen -"ordered that guards should attend him, that all honours should be -paid him which were due to a Prince of Wales and to her first cousin, -and that he should be entertained at the public expense all the time -he should remain at her court." - -I can scarcely imagine that this account is not exaggerated. We find -that she showed no such honours to others, who stood much in the same -degree of affinity to herself as he did; and unless she wished -needlessly to alarm the King of Scotland, no cause can be supposed for -such conduct. That she treated Gowrie with great distinction, however, -is undeniable, and even marked her favour for him more strongly than -her old affection for his grandfather could account for. This course -was very dangerous to the young earl himself, for the court of England -at that time was thronged by spies of the Scottish monarch; and even -the most familiar friends and counsellors of Elizabeth conveyed -information to James of all that could affect his interest, to the -most minute circumstances. The natural desire of what is called -currying favour, of course, gave some degree of colour to the accounts -transmitted; and there is every reason to believe, from an examination -of the State Paper Office, that such intimations alone were given as -had a tendency to put the monarch on his guard, without discouraging -his hopes or diminishing his energies. The way for his advent to the -throne had been prepared long beforehand; whether from the general -considerations of policy, from personal ambition, or from avarice, -such men as Cecil had chosen their course, and were determined to -remove or overawe all competitors, and to insure the accession of the -King of Scotland. I am inclined to believe--without considering them -as anything more than mere mortals--that the purest spirit of -patriotism inspired those who thus acted. Every man of common sense -must have seen that most important ends were to be obtained by uniting -the crowns of Scotland, Ireland, and England upon one head; nor could -any one doubt that--apart from all considerations of the personal -character of the man--the means of maintaining his claims, of crushing -all competitors, and of establishing his power upon a firm and secure -basis, were more completely in the hands of the King of Scotland than -of any other person who could aspire to the English throne. His faults -were all personal, which never enter sufficiently into the -calculations of politicians; his advantages were those of position, -which almost always have too much weight with those who influence the -fate of empires. By personal character, no man was ever less fitted to -fill the throne of a great country, or to unite discordant races under -one sway, than James I.: by political position, no one could compete -with him in pretensions to the throne of England. Happy had it been -for Great Britain had such not been the case, for the vices of the man -more than compensated the advantages of the prince, and the weakness -of his successors consummated what his own wickedness began; but no -one can blame those who chose according to the lights they possessed, -and who smoothed the way for that which naturally appeared the best -for the whole nation at the time. - -The reports which reached Scotland of the honours shown to the Earl of -Gowrie in the English capital, generated, in a jealous and irritable -mind, covetous of extended and despotic rule, a feeling of doubt and -dread most dangerous to its object; and the busy and gossiping spirit -of a small court did not fail to increase the unpleasant impressions -thus produced, by a thousand rumours, which had no foundation in -truth. Reports were circulated and credited, that Queen Elizabeth had -actually designated the Earl of Gowrie as her successor, and even -that, in order to unite two great claims to the crown which she held, -she had made all the arrangements for a marriage between that nobleman -and the Lady Arabella Stuart; one who, like himself, was not very -remote from the direct succession. These facts have been omitted -altogether, or slurred over by modern historians, in noticing that -part of history in which this young nobleman appears; but that such -rumours existed in England and Scotland can be proved from -contemporary authorities; and we can easily conceive the feelings with -which such a man as James was thus prepared to view one whose -influence was already redoubtable, on his return to his native land. - -Could he have seen the private life of the earl, it is probable that, -although he might still have remained inimical, the king's fears would -not have assumed the character of hatred. From various motives, which -every one can conceive, Julia was not disposed to mingle with the -gaieties of a foreign court, or, before she was received and -recognised in her own land, to assume the position she was entitled to -in the society of the neighbouring state. She felt it no privation, -indeed--she sought it not--she cared not for it; but even if she had, -she would have forborne, and she had full compensation in the -tenderness of him she loved. Gowrie appeared at the court of England -alone: he put not forth on her behalf, claims which were to be decided -in a different country, and by different laws; and on the only -occasion when the queen jestingly alluded to his fair companion, he -replied, with that courtly reverence towards the sovereign to which -Elizabeth was accustomed, and that due respect for Julia's situation -from which he never deviated, "It is painful, madam, to be torn by two -duties and two inclinations. You may easily suppose it would be -grateful for me to linger here at your majesty's feet, but my duty, -both by kindred and by promise, is to escort my cousin back to -Scotland, in order to establish rights of which she has been too long -deprived. I trust, however," he added, with the air of gallantry which -pervaded Elizabeth's court, "that ere long I shall be enabled to -return, not alone to bask in the beams of your favour, but to ask a -share for one who, I may humbly say, is more worthy than myself of -that honour for which princes might well contend with pride." - -He spoke with that serious gravity, and yet with that unembarrassed -ease, which greatly struck the sovereign whom he addressed; and she -replied, in her somewhat abrupt manner, "God's my life, cousin, I have -a great inclination to see this same fair creature, and would do so -too with all honour, either in private or in public, did I not know -that it would do her no good service where she is going. Commend me to -her, however, and tell her we regard her and yourself with favour, and -will do our best to serve you both should need be." - -The earl conveyed the message to her he loved; but Julia smiled almost -sadly, as she replied, "I fear me, Gowrie, that I am not fitted for -courts, at all events by inclination. Calm and peaceful quiet with him -I love is all that I desire in life. Nevertheless, understand me, I -would not for the world keep back him whose fame and whose character I -am bound to regard even before my own peace, from the path of honour -and renown, for anything that earth can give. I am ready, when you -require it, to mingle with courts and crowds, to take my share in -whatever may be for your benefit--nay, should need be, to buckle on -your armour with my own hands for the battle-field, and bid God speed -you in the right, while I remain alone to weep and pray for your -deliverance and success. Heaven send me strength when the hour of -trial comes; but in strength or in weakness I will not shrink from my -duty towards you." - -About ten days after, when the frost, which was then reigning with -great severity, had broken up, rendering the roads more passable, -Gowrie took his departure from London, and proceeded by slow journeys -towards Scotland. He was detained for somewhat more than a week at -York by a fresh fall of snow; but as soon as that had melted away -under the increasing warmth of the spring, he resumed his way, and -passed the border in the end of February, 1600. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -It was a cold, clear, frosty afternoon, in the month of January, 1600, -when two gentlemen, both young, but one considerably older than the -other, walked together up and down a trim but formal piece of garden -ground, beneath the walls of one of the old fortified houses of the -day, not very many miles distant from the fair city of Edinburgh, and -in the county of Mid Lothian. The hour was late, the sun was below the -sky, bright stars were beginning to peep out above, and the garden was -only defended from the keen blast by a wall of uncemented stones, -although the castle itself was a very solid piece of masonry. - -Still the two gentlemen continued to walk on, with the crisp frost -crackling under their feet, whenever they fell upon the long grass at -the side of the path, or upon the dry leaves which had dropped from -the trees, few and far between, which graced the little enclosure. - -The elder of the two was a man of about six or seven-and-twenty years -of age, of the middle height, or perhaps somewhat less, slight in -appearance, from the extreme accuracy of all his proportions, though -in reality much stronger than many men of a more powerful look. His -features were slightly aquiline, but chiseled with wonderful delicacy. -The hair was dark, but the eye clear and blue, with that calm, firm, -but mild expression, which we are inclined to attach to vigor of -character when united with gentleness of heart. His mien and air were -particularly distinguished by a sort of easy dignity, which rendered -it impossible to see him without feeling that there was not only a -gentleman of high race and associations, but a man of remarkable -powers of mind, of which he was conscious, but not vain. - -The companion of this personage was in years a mere youth, but in form -a strong and active man. He was darker in complexion than the other, -taller, more muscular, and the well-grown beard showed that boyhood -was no more. His countenance was also very handsome; but there was in -it a stern and fiery look, which reminded one of a fierce warhorse -when checked by the rein; and occasionally as he talked, there would -come a scowling frown upon his brow, which rendered the expression -very different from that of his companion. Nevertheless, there was -traceable in the features a strong resemblance, so that in the angry -moments of the one, which indeed were rare, or the gayer and gentler -moments of the other, there was no difficulty in pronouncing them two -brothers. - -"Well, John," said the elder of the two, as they turned in their walk, -"I wish much you would abandon your intention of riding back to-night. -I would fain put eight-and-forty hours between your rash impetuosity -and your meeting again with your former friend. You seem so little -moved by reason, that I would see what time can do." - -"I tell you, Dalhousie," said his brother, "I am not going to quarrel -with him. Indeed, he will take care how he gives me occasion, I think. -But I and Alexander Ruthven can never more be friends. His pride is -insufferable, and his favour with the queen, be it good and honest, as -some would have us think, be it dishonest and disloyal, as others -suspect, can give him no claim to reverence from others as good as -himself, or better perhaps." - -"Is there no pride at the bottom of your own feelings towards him, -John?" asked his brother, with a smile; "and is there not, perhaps, a -little jealousy of that same favour that you speak of, which makes you -look upon it in an unfair light? Ruthven's sister is the queen's -dearest friend; and is it at all unnatural that a portion of her -regard for the sister should be extended to the brother?" - -"I do not know," answered John Ramsay, quickly; "I am not so nice in -my scanning as you are, George; but one thing I do know, which is, -that I do not love to see my lord and master made to look like a fool -in his own court by one of his own servants. If there be nothing evil -in this familiarity but that, it is surely bad enough; but if there be -more, they had better not let me see fair signs of it; for I would -drive my dagger into his heart as readily as his grandfather drove his -into Rizzio's." - -"Fie, fie! You are too rash, boy," said Sir George Ramsay; "neither -zeal nor courage are worth much, John, unless tempered by discretion; -and again I say, you give too much way to passion, and suffer it to -give a colour to all you see; just as you used to quarrel with -Alexander Ruthven, when a boy, without any reasonable cause, so do you -now suspect and dislike him as a man without just grounds." - -"I never loved him," answered the other, moodily. "I dislike all the -Ruthvens--I always have disliked them, with their stately grandeur and -proud airs." - -"Because you are proud yourself, John," said his brother; "and because -your pride has been somewhat offensive at times, they have not liked -you. Did you ever see any of them show pride towards me?" - -"Because you are not proud enough," replied the young man, sharply. - -"I am as proud as any man ought to be," replied his brother, in a -reproving tone; "too proud to do a base action--too proud to give way -to a grovelling thought--too proud to entertain a mean suspicion. I am -proud, too, of my name and race, proud of the deeds of my ancestors, -and proud enough, I trust, never to tarnish their renown by any -unworthy act of their descendant." - -With one of those impulses which move hasty men, the youth seized his -brother's hand and pressed it warmly. "I know you are, Dalhousie," he -said; "forgive me, my dear brother. I may be somewhat too proud; but I -do not ever really doubt that you are proud enough for all that is -noble, too proud for anything that is mean. But you have not lately -seen so much of what is passing at the court as I have; and believe me -the sight is not pleasant." - -"Well, then, John, stay another night away from it," answered his -brother; "you acknowledge that the king does not expect you till -Friday. One day will take you to Edinburgh and to Stirling, ride as -slow as you will." - -"Be it as you wish," replied John Ramsay, "but I must set out -to-morrow somewhat early.--Hark! There are horses' feet coming along -the frosty road. Who can it be, I wonder, at this late hour?" - -"Some of our good cousins come to rest for the night," said Sir George -Ramsay, with a smile; "it can be no one on business of much -consequence, by the slowness of the horses' tread." - -He was mistaken, however, for the result of the meeting which was -about to take place was of infinite consequence to the fate of his -brother and himself. The two walked leisurely along the little path -which led back to the house, and passing through a small postern door, -proceeded to the gates to welcome the coming guest. All that they -could see, when they looked out along the road, was a dim figure on -horseback, at the distance of about two hundred yards, and something -like another horseman behind. Both were coming very slowly, although -the coldness of the night might well have rendered quicker progression -agreeable both to man and horse. As the travellers were evidently -approaching the house for the purpose of stopping there, Sir George -Ramsay called out some of the servants; and the moment after, his -brother, looking intently forward, said, "It is very like Andrew's -figure, but riding bent and listless, as I have seen him when he is -drunk." - -"I hope he has not chosen that condition to present himself on his -return," said Sir George. "Halloo! Who comes?" - -"'Tis I, Sir George," answered the voice of Ramsay of Newburn, "faint -and weary, and needing much your hospitality." - -It was evident, from the way in which he spoke, that the young -gentleman was perfectly sober; and Sir George merely replied, "Come -in, Andrew, come in. You shall be right welcome. Here, William, take -Newburn's horse." - -"Lend me your arm, good fellow," said the guest, slowly dismounting. -"I am not over supple, nor so strong as I once was." - -His own servant rode up with the saddle-bags at the same moment; and -being assisted from his horse, he was led into the house, where lights -were burning in what was called the great chamber. Both Sir George -Ramsay and his brother were struck and moved with the ghastly paleness -of their cousin's countenance, and everything was done that kindness -could devise to refresh and revive him. - -"Ah, now," said Sir George, after he had drunk a cup of that fine -Bordeaux wine which was to be found nowhere in greater perfection than -in Scotland, "there is some colour coming into your cheek again. You -will do well now." - -"My cheek will never bear the rose again, Dalhousie," replied his -cousin. "It was once red enough, but its ruddiness is gone for ever." - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed John Ramsay; "why, what is the matter with thee, -man? Hast thou seen a wraith?" - -"Ay, and felt one too, in the shape of a drawn sword," replied the -other. "I have been run through the body by a churl in the streets of -Paris. 'Tis now some two months ago, and I am well, they tell me. But -where is my strength gone? Where the quickness of my hand, which could -always keep my head, till that hour?" - -"But how did all this happen?" demanded Sir George Ramsay. "Some -foolish quarrel, I'm afraid, Andrew." - -"Good faith, foolish enough," answered the young man; "but I am cured -of folly for life, George;" and he proceeded to give his own account -of the adventure which had befallen him with good Austin Jute. - -"I was riding through the streets of Paris," he said, "with two young -friends, when we had to pass a large old country carriage, in which I -espied a very pretty face--you know I always loved pretty faces. I -might gaze at it somewhat earnestly perhaps for a moment longer than -was needful; and I am not sure that I did not rein in my horse a -little, when lo, up rides one of the servants who was behind the -carriage, and struck me a blow, which made me miss the stirrups, and -left me scarcely time to save myself from falling under the horse's -feet." - -"A lounder on the side of the head," said John Ramsay, half inclined -to laugh; but his cousin went on gravely. - -"I should not have had the blood of a Ramsay in my veins," he said, -"if I had not taken sword in hand to avenge such an insult. But, good -faith, the fellow was as quick as I was, and a good swordsman too, -though I have seldom met my match. The street was narrow and crowded, -however, the carriage in the way, horses all about us, and somehow I -slipped my foot, and the next instant found his sword running like a -hot iron through my chest and out of my shoulder bone. Here--it went -in here," he continued, laying his hand upon the spot, "and passed out -here, going clean through flesh and bone. I dropped instantly, and was -carried away to my lodging, where I lay upon a sick bed for many a -day, and rose only to find that I have lost the full use of my sword -arm for ever. I may hold a pen perhaps, like a clerk, but as to manly -uses they are gone." - -"But what became of the man who hurt you?" demanded Sir George Ramsay; -"if your tale be quite correct, Andrew, his conduct was most -unjustifiable." - -He laid a strong emphasis on the word, if, for he knew his cousin -well, and there was a conviction in his mind that something had been -kept back. Ramsay of Newburn, however, did not appear to remark the -peculiar tone in which the words were pronounced, but replied, "It was -unjustifiable, I think, Dalhousie; but he had great protectors. -The English ambassador stood his friend, and the ambassador's -intimate--your friend, the Earl of Gowrie--talked high, and opposed -the pursuit of justice. Between them they would not suffer the man to -be secured, even till it was ascertained whether I lived or died." - -"But what had Gowrie to do with it?" asked Sir George, while his -brother's brow grew dark, and his teeth tight set together. "I should -have thought that Gowrie, of all men, would have been inclined to -resent an injury done to a Ramsay; and the earl has a strong sense of -justice--he had, even as a boy." - -"Not where his own followers are concerned," replied his young cousin; -"and this man was his own servant. I know not what became of his sense -of justice in this case; but the matter is as I told you. He defended -the man against all pursuit; and had I died I have no doubt that he -and his dear friend and counsellor, the English ambassador, would have -found means to shelter the offender altogether." - -Sir George Ramsay mused, still doubting much; but John got up and -walked about the room, and, after a momentary pause, his cousin -continued, "He had even the kindness, when I was lying on a sick bed, -to send a demand that I should make an apology to the lady whom I -gazed at." - -"You did not do it!--I trust you did not do it!" exclaimed John -Ramsay, vehemently. - -"I trust you did," said Sir George, looking up. "An apology is due to -any lady we have offended, whoever asks it; and I cannot but think, -from what I have seen of the young earl myself, and from what I have -heard through others, that he would not have demanded an apology had -there been no cause of offence." - -"You always judge me harshly, Dalhousie," said his cousin, somewhat -bitterly. - -"Faith, not I," answered the young knight. "I judge men as I find -them, Andrew. I know Gowrie's nature and temper well, and I know -yours, too, my good cousin.--But what did you do? Did you make the -apology?" - -"I could do nothing else," answered the other. "I was ill on a sick -bed; I felt that the powers of my right arm were gone for ever; I knew -not what might happen if I refused, with such influence as there was -arrayed against me. Otherwise, I would have made him eat my sword -first. As it was, I only said that I was sorry if I had offended the -lady, and that I had no intention of insulting her; but with that he -contented himself." - -Sir George Ramsay smiled. "I can see Gowrie in it all," he said; -"resolute in what he thinks is right, but mild and easily appeased." - -"Out upon it!" exclaimed his brother, and darted impatiently from the -room. - -Sir George did not seem to notice his departure in the least, but went -on with what he was saying. "But what I do not understand is, that he -should send you a message. Surely he wrote, Newburn? Have you still -the letter?" - -"Yes," answered his cousin. "I will show it to you some other time. It -is in my baggage." - -"I should like to see it much," said Sir George. "Now, tell me truly, -Andrew, did you do nothing else than gaze? I know you well, my good -cousin. You are gay and rash, have a somewhat evil opinion of all -women, and believe that admiration, even when implying insult, must -still have something pleasing in it for them. Did you add no words to -the look?" - -"Not one, upon my honour," replied his cousin, boldly. - -"And no act either?" asked Sir George; and then seeing a sort of -hectic glow come into his cousin's pale face, he added, quickly, "You -did--I see it there--What was it?" - -"I really do not know what right you have to tax me so," replied -Andrew Ramsay, colouring still more. - -"I will tell you," answered Sir George, in a calm, but stern tone. -"You have told me some passages which have lately taken place, -implying that you have been injured. Now, if wrong has been done my -cousin, and the very consequences of that wrong prevent him from -redressing it himself, I take up his quarrel as the head of his house. -But I must first be sure that wrong has been done you. I must see the -case clearly, and therefore I ask you what it was you did. Do not -conceal anything from me, Andrew, for depend upon it I will know the -whole, and that very soon." - -The other grew white and red by turns, but his elder cousin had -habitually great command over him, and he answered in a low and -somewhat sullen tone, "I only pulled back the curtain of the carriage -a little, to see her more plainly, nor should I have done that if it -had not been rudely drawn in my face." - -"So now we have the truth," said Sir George; "and I will tell you how -I read your story, Andrew. You and some young companions--gay -libertines, mayhap--in riding through the streets of Paris, met a -carriage containing a young lady of great beauty. You stare rudely in, -as I have seen you do a thousand times; the curtain is drawn to shut -out an insolent gaze, and you pull it back again with a sort of coarse -bravado. These are the plain facts of the case, I take it, and even by -your own showing I cannot but see that Gowrie was quite right." - -"You seem to have got his own story by heart, Sir George," replied his -cousin, "and throw it somewhat unkindly in the teeth of a kinsman who, -wounded, weak, and sick, comes to seek your hospitality." - -"I am sorry for your wound, Andrew," said the knight, "and trust you -may soon recover health and strength. As for the story, I have never -heard one word of it but from your own lips. The writing was not very -legible, but you cannot deny that I have managed to decipher it. And -now let us change the subject a little. Who is this lady in whom -Gowrie takes such an interest?" - -"I know no--this leman, I suppose," replied the young man, with a -scoff. - -"Not what you suppose, Andrew, but what you have heard. You cannot -have been mixed up in such an affair without having learned more of -the object of your admiration. Who did people say she was?" - -"Oh, she was given out to be his cousin, whom he was bringing from -Italy," replied Ramsay of Newburn. "They said that she had been living -with relations there, who were lately dead, and that Gowrie, like a -true Paladin Orlando, was bringing her straight back, defying all men -in her cause by the way." - -"But what was her name?" asked Sir George. "You must have heard her -name." - -"His servants called her, the Lady Julia Douglas," answered his -cousin. "I never heard of such a person. Did you?" - -Sir George Ramsay mused, saying slowly, "No--no, not exactly--yet at -the time of Morton's death there were rumours of a private marriage -with an Italian lady--there were many Italians about the court at the -time--Ha! here comes John back again--Have you ever heard, John, any -rumours of the Regent Morton having left a daughter? I think I -remember something of it." - -"Oh, yes," answered John Ramsay. "I have heard Stuart talk of the -matter. He was employed himself to search for the supposed widow and -child; for they got about a story that the regent had married an -Italian in the end of his life, but dared not own it for fear of the -ministers, who would have put him on the stool of repentance, or -preached at him by the hour, which would have been just as bad. Stuart -could hear nothing of them, except that an old Italian count, with his -daughter and young child, had fled to Leith as soon as Morton was -arrested, and had taken ship there for France some weeks after his -execution. They supposed that this was Morton's wife and child, and -that she had carried away with her all the vast treasures he had -scraped together." - -Sir George Ramsay shook his head; but saying, "It must now be supper -time; I will call for it," he left the room without any further -observation on the subjects of which they had been talking. - -The moment he was gone and the door closed, John Ramsay gave a -peculiar glance to his cousin, saying, "I must hear more of this -matter, Andrew--but alone, alone. Dalhousie's cold prejudices drive me -mad. I cannot keep my temper with him when he talks of these Ruthvens. -I have much to say to you, too." - -"And I much for your ear, John," said his cousin, hurriedly. "Find out -where your brother's people lodge me, and come to my room, after I -have gone to bed and all is quiet; I shall retire soon, upon the plea -of weariness; but I shall not sleep till you come, for I have those -things in my breast which are enemies to slumber." - -They had not time to say much more before Sir George Ramsay returned, -and it was immediately after announced that supper was served in the -hall. Thither, then, they took their way; and over the good cheer and -the rich wine all painful subjects seemed forgotten, till Ramsay of -Newburn rose, and alleging that he was weary, retired to rest. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - -It was nearly midnight when the door of the small room which had been -allotted to Ramsay of Newburn, opened, and, with a lamp in his hand -and a quiet stealthy step, his cousin John entered, and seated himself -at the foot of his bed. "I could not come before, Andrew," he said, -"for Dalhousie has been walking up and down the hall an hour beyond -his usual bed-time." - -"Never mind, never mind," answered the other. "I can rest, but I -cannot sleep, John. I never sleep now till two or three o'clock, and -shall not do so, till I see those punished who deserve it." - -"My longings go in the same way," said John Ramsay; "but my brother -has been telling me that you pulled back the curtain of the lady's -carriage in order to stare in at her. You should not have done that, -Andrew. I cannot call upon Gowrie for reparation after that." - -"Pshaw! give not one moment's heed to private quarrels, John," -answered his cousin, in a frank tone. "I might be wrong in the -business; and Lord Gowrie was certainly overbearing and unjust. I have -apologized, however, to the lady--not to him, and that matter is -settled; but there are other matters behind." - -"Of a more public nature, I suppose, from what you say of private -quarrels," observed John Ramsay; "and I know right well that Alexander -Ruthven has run up a score which he may find it difficult to wipe off; -but the earl has nothing to do with that. Happily for him, he has been -so long absent that he cannot be suspected either of intrigues at -court or treason to the state." - -"Be you not sure of that, John," replied the other. "Would I had as -free access to the king as you have, I would soon put his majesty upon -his guard against this haughty young lord, who is now wending back to -plot here as his ancestors did before him." - -"I will soon bring you to the king's presence if you have any charge -to make against him," said his cousin. "If you accuse him boldly and -with good proof, you will not want supporters who will bear all before -them." - -"Nay, but I have no direct charge to make, my good cousin," replied -Ramsay of Newburn; "and clear proofs are difficult to obtain." - -"Indeed!" said John Ramsay, his countenance falling. "I thought, from -your words, that you were very sure of your game--I mean, sure that -this man is plotting." - -"As sure as I lie here and you sit there," answered his cousin; "but a -man may be very sure himself, and yet not be able to make others so. -The most dangerous traitors are always those who conceal their designs -most carefully; and Gowrie is such. Calm and tranquil in speech, -thoughtful and prudent in act, he never commits himself till his -purposes are matured." - -"Why, Begbie of the Red Hill, who saw him in Italy, told me he was -frank and free, and fond of jest and harmless sport," replied John -Ramsay. - -"Begbie's a fool," answered the other, impatiently; "and for fools the -earl can put on what character he likes. I saw Begbie as he came back -through Paris, and he told me how the earl had shown him, at Geneva, -little paper balls, which at his command rose into the air, and -skimmed quite across the lake, and small figures of ducks and geese, -that floated in a vessel of water, and came to whatever side he called -them. Why, there is not a mountebank in France or England but would -show him such wonders, and yet the fool took it all for magic, and -half believed the earl to be a sorcerer." - -"But if you have no charge against him," said his cousin, returning to -the point, "I see not what can be done with the king." - -Ramsay of Newburn mused. "If we knew a serpent to be in the garden," -he said, at length, "and saw the grass moving towards a dear friend -who lay sleeping there, should we not do well to wake him, even though -we could not perceive the reptile under the covering through which it -moved?" he asked, at length, in a slow emphatic tone. - -"Assuredly," answered John Ramsay; "but we must be quite sure that -there is a snake there, and afterwards seek for the beast to destroy -it, otherwise our friend may be angry with us for breaking his -slumber." - -"Exactly so," rejoined the other; "and I think we can at least show -that there is a snake in the grass, though perhaps not exactly where -it lies. As to seeking the beast and destroying it, that must be done -hereafter, if we find it venomous, as I believe it is." - -"Come, come, to leave all such figures," said John Ramsay, "let me -hear of what the king is to be warned. He is too wise and shrewd to -listen to every tale that can be told, especially when he knows that -the teller loves not the race against whom it bears. How shall I show -him, or how will you show him, Andrew, that there is a snake in the -garden? That is the question." - -"I can do but little," answered his cousin. "Wild and reckless, -seeking pastime and pleasure, and thoughtlessly getting into every -kind of difficulty, I have neither reputation nor favour to back my -words against the influence of a man so great; who has, moreover, a -brother and a sister prime favourites at the court. You can do much, -John; and I will tell you all I know, both that you yourself may see -that there is just cause, and that your warning to the king may not -prove vain." - -"As to his brother," exclaimed John Ramsay, the object of whose -greatest animosity at that moment was Alexander Ruthven, "he may -indeed be a favourite at the court; but he is no favourite with the -king." - -"That matters not," answered his cousin. "My word would go for little, -and even yours, perhaps, John, may not go for much; but I have no duty -to perform, and you a great one. Yet I would not have you hardly and -imprudently accuse the earl before we have stronger proofs." - -"Then what would you have me do?" demanded the young man, interrupting -him impetuously. - -"I will tell you what," answered his more wily cousin. "I would have -you point out to the king, how dangerous it is for some of his prime -nobles to sojourn for weeks at the court of the Queen of England--the -murderer of his mother, the unceasing enemy of his whole race--at the -court of her who has ever promoted treason and rebellion in his -kingdom, and received the banished traitors of Scotland as her best -friends. I would point out to the king, how dangerous this is," he -repeated, "especially when the person who does sojourn there is, -within a short remove, as near the throne of England as himself." - -"I see--I see," answered John Ramsay. "I understand what you mean." - -"I would, then," continued his cousin, "ask the king if he is aware -that the Earl of Gowrie has spent some weeks in Paris, almost in the -sole society of Sir Henry Neville, the English ambassador, seeing him -every day at his own house, and going but once to visit the -representative of his own monarch." - -"But is this true? Did he do it?" inquired the other, eagerly. - -"It is quite true, and can be proved by a dozen witnesses," answered -his cousin. "I have a statement of the fact in the saddle-bags which -lie there, given me by the master of the inn where the earl lodged in -Paris. He did this, and even more. I would then ask the king if he is -aware that honours almost royal were shown to this youth at the -English court; that the guard turned out at his presence; that -chamberlains and officers went down to meet him at the foot of the -stairs on his approach; that the queen always styled him, cousin, and -sometimes spoke of him as the nearest heir to her crown? I would ask -if his majesty were aware of the nature of those private conferences -which John Earl of Gowrie held with Robert Cecil and the Earl of -Essex, besides numerous others of the court, whom the king may think -more in his interests than they really are? I would also inquire -whether King James had heard of a project for marrying the Earl of -Gowrie to the Lady Arabella Stuart, and suffering the crown of England -to fall quietly on his head?" - -"By Heaven! if all these things be true, he should be arrested for a -traitor the moment he sets foot in Scotland," cried John Ramsay, his -impetuous spirit jumping at conclusions far beyond those which his -cousin's words implied, or to which his intentions reached; "and I -will do it myself, if no one else will do so." - -"No, no!" exclaimed the other. "You are too impetuous, John. The -arresting him on his arrival would but put all the other parties -concerned upon their guard, and enable him by their means to conceal -his treason by a skilful defence. Besides, the king dare not for his -life make the acts of his good sister of England matter of accusation -against her 'fair cousin of Gowrie.' Fie, man; for a courtier, thou -art but little of a politician. Tell his majesty what I say. Ask him -the questions which I have put. He hath information large enough, I -will warrant; but if he want more, let him demand it of me. I have -ligged for a fortnight in London, weak almost to death, and neglected -by every one, but a few trusty friends, who brought me all the secrets -of the court. There I heard of nothing but Gowrie, Gowrie. His star -was in the ascendant; and I have doubts, strange doubts about his -journey onward." - -"Think you he will not come?" demanded John Ramsay, fixing his eyes -upon him. - -"I do not know," answered his cousin, thoughtfully; "but if he do, it -will be for some purpose of which it were well to beware.--If he -stay," he continued, very slowly, "he stays to be King of England. If -he come back hither, it may be but to settle his affairs before he -returns, or perhaps--but I would not carry my thoughts to the daring -length to which it has been hinted he might carry his ambition. He has -no claim upon the crown of Scotland, even were the king removed. The -nobles of the land would never suffer it! What though his descent from -Margaret Tudor may give him some show of title to the English throne; -here he has no show of right whatsoever, and I will not believe it. Do -not mention what I have said on this head, John," he continued, taking -his cousin's hand and pressing it; "do not mention it, on any account. -All the rest I can prove; but this is merely the rash suspicion of one -who knows not our habits and our customs, and whom I am bound in -honour not to name. He is a great man, too," he continued, -thoughtfully, "but one whose views of policy and ambition have, I -cannot but think, too wide a range--Do not mention it, on any -account." - -"I will put the king upon his guard, at all events," said John Ramsay, -thinking himself very politic in giving no definite answer as to what -he would tell and what he would withhold, while he was in reality -meditating the very course on which his cousin sought to guide him. -"It is frightful to think what might be the result if this young man -had the ambition and the daring of his ancestors. Why, the king's life -itself----" - -"No, no!" cried Andrew Ramsay, interrupting him, "I do not think he -would venture such an act as that. The worst I do believe he would -attempt, might be to seize his majesty's person, and send him prisoner -to England, like his mother." - -"He should feel my dagger first," answered the young man with whom he -spoke; "but I do not know, Andrew, how far these men's ambition may -go. You cannot tell what has been taking place at our own court. If -Gowrie is aspiring in one way, his brother Alexander is not less so in -another. I will tell you what, Andrew," he continued: "there was a -time last autumn when the king hurried away from his cabinet with -Herries and John Hume, and took his road, as fast as he could go, -towards the rooms where Alex Ruthven is lodged. I know not upon what -information he acted; but I followed him to the foot of the stairs, -and when I heard that the door above was bolted, and the king shook it -till it was like to come down, I thought, Andrew----" he continued, -dropping his voice, and pressing his hand tight upon his cousin's arm, -"I thought that the next sound I should hear would be the death cry of -a Ruthven." - -"No bad noise," said Andrew Ramsay, drily; "but you told me something -of your suspicions by letter, John. How has this matter gone on -since?" - -"From bad to worse," answered the young man. "He went away for a -while, and then returned; and since then he has been more daring than -ever." - -The conversation thus proceeded for about half an hour longer, when -the clock struck one, and John Ramsay rose, saying, "Well, I will away -to bed; but we shall meet to-morrow, before I depart for Edinburgh." - -"If you go to-morrow I will ride with you," answered his cousin, "for -I am bound thither too. We can talk farther by the way." - -"So be it, then," answered John Ramsay; and with a few more words, to -arrange their plans, they parted for the night, the younger man to -sleep, after a short space given to agitated thought, the elder to -meditate somewhat scornfully, though well pleased, upon the easy tool -which passion renders the most impetuous and unruly, when duly and -skilfully directed. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - -I love not to leave Gowrie and Julia so long, and yet they are very -happy without me. Doubtless they could do without Mr. Rhind either, as -he sits there in the window of the old-fashioned inn, with its deep -bay and its small lozenges of glass, and its heavy frame of lead and -iron. Julia looks up at Gowrie, and smiles, and his eyes glance -cheerfully. There must be some jest between them, light and happy, -with none of the world's bitterness--the jest of two lovers' hearts. -Would that I knew what it is; but the words are spoken in a whisper, -for Mr. Rhind is there with his everlasting little volume bound in -vellum, and I may as well leave them at Berwick, too, and go on -before, to see what reception was preparing for them in a distant -place. - -I must convey the reader with me to the old royal palace of Falkland, -without, however, giving any detailed account of a building, a much -better description of which than any I can afford may be found in many -an antiquarian record. Suffice it that it was large, roomy, and then -in a high state of preservation. It was also surrounded by an -extensive deer-park, called "The Wood of Falkland," which was perhaps -its highest attraction in the eyes of King James VI., whose only -virtue was the love of hunting. - -The season, as every reader, whether skilled in woodcraft or not, must -know, was not one in which St. Hubert permits the horned tenants of -the forest to be chased by man, for it was as yet but the month of -February. But that season of the year was a dull one for the Scottish -monarch; and after being deprived of his favourite pastime, he -sometimes found the exercise even of his "Kingcraft," as he termed the -art of government, so tedious as to require relief, and the labours of -learned dullness, in which at other times he indulged, very wearisome. - -When this was the case, he would often retire for a day or two, either -to Falkland or to Stirling, with a few chosen attendants or -companions, to see how his "_beasties_" were going on, or rather to -revive the memories of the sport in which he delighted, by the sight -of gray woods in their winter bareness, and of the antlered objects of -his pursuit stalking about familiarly through the glades at a period -when they knew, by experience or tradition, they were free from the -hostility of men and dogs. The king had that sort of tender admiration -for the objects of his sanguinary pursuit, that strange mixture of -affection and cruelty, which is not uncommon in the human tiger -throughout the world. The libertine, with the creature of his -pleasure, whom he chases but to destroy, affords merely a modification -of the same selfishness, and no one could probably have entered into -James's feelings more fully than good old Buffon himself, who begins -his description of the stag with the kindly words, "Voici l'un de ces -animaux innocents, doux et tranquilles, qui ne semblent être faits que -pour embellir, animer la solitude des forêts, et occuper loin de nous -les retraites paisibles de ces jardins de la nature;" and then he -gives an account of the best and most approved means of tearing it to -pieces. - -However, it was in one of the alleys of the park or wood of Falkland -that King James wandered on, in the latter end of February, 1600. -Where he first entered the wood, the underwood was not very thick, and -the sharp winter, just drawing to a close, had torn from the branches -to which they clung many of the leaves which, like shipwrecked -mariners, had held feebly on long after their brethren had been swept -away. By his side, or rather half a step behind, was a young man, -dressed, like the monarch himself, in Lincoln green, and some fifty -paces further back was a well-armed attendant. The period at which the -stags are dangerous had long passed, indeed; but still James was not -usually ill pleased to have aid ever at hand in case of need, for he -was accustomed to say himself, "there are more vicious beasts in the -world than harts and hinds." His pace was quick, though, as usual, -shambling and irregular, and as he went he rolled his eyes about in -every direction in search of some of the beasts of the chase. - -"Whist, whist, Jock," he said at length, pausing, and pointing with -his finger; "there's a fine fellow--an old stag, upon my life, as fat -as the butterman's wife. De'il's in the beastie! he's casting his head -gear already. Do you see, man, one side is as bare as my hand? We -shall have an early summer and a hot one. Whenever the old stags, or -the stags of ten, cast their horns before March, you may be sure there -will be an early season. The young ones are always a bit later; but -that's an old hart coming his ninth year. I'll warrant he's been down -every morn to neighbour Yellowly's farm at the water, by the grease -upon him. Let me catch you in the month of June, my man." - -The king then went on to instruct his young companion in various parts -of science connected with his favourite amusement, giving him all the -French and Scotch and English terms for different proceedings in -woodcraft, and for the qualities and distinctions of the deer. - -The young man listened with all due submission and apparent attention, -though, to say truth, he was somewhat impatient of the lecture, and -thought that he understood the subject, practically at least, as well -as the king himself. There was another source of impatience also in -his bosom, for the truth was, he eagerly sought an opportunity of -speaking upon a different topic; while the profound reverence for the -kingly office, in which he had been educated, prevented him from -introducing it himself, till the monarch's own words gave him some -fair opening. He had watched his opportunity for weeks, but something -had always intervened to prevent his executing his purpose; and now -when he had fully expected to find the moment he sought, during the -expedition to Falkland, it seemed likely to be snatched from him by -James's long-winded dissertation upon hunting. He could almost have -burst forth with some impatient exclamation as the king went on -discussing and describing, and mingling his disquisitions with quaint -scraps of Latin most strangely applied; but the opportunity was nearer -than the young man thought. - -"You see, Jock," said the king, "a young stag, or a stag entering ten, -or even a stag of ten, may be forced and run and brought to bay easily -enough; but an old stag is a wily beast, ever on his guard, and ready -at every minute to give the dogs and the hunter the change. He knows -well where his enemies lie, which way they will take, what they will -do, and how to circumvent them." - -"He must be very like your majesty, then," said the young man, with a -low bow, adding, "at least, I hope so." - -"Ha, man, what's that?" cried the king, looking round; but before John -Ramsay could answer, the king had plunged into woodcraft again. "In -the season when people cannot hunt," continued James, "he'll come out -to the edge of the wood, or into the fields, and nibble the young -corn. I've known one rout out an old wife's kail-yard; but as soon as -the month of May begins, back goes the sleek fellow into the very -heart of the woods and parks, and then you have to track him step by -step, mark all his footprints, and sometimes in hot weather trace them -contrariwise over the dry ground, in order to put the dogs on where -the scent lies. Eh, man, he's a wary beast, and takes every means to -hide his comings in and his goings out." - -"So do some of your Majesty's enemies," said the young man, with -peculiar emphasis; and James's attention was now fully caught. - -"Ha! say you so, Jock?" cried the monarch, with a start. "There's -something thou hast to say, lad--out with it, in God's name. You love -your king well, I do believe. Come, tell the whole--keep farther back, -Sanderson," he continued, raising his voice, and speaking to the man -who followed. "Now, Jock, now, let's hear it all, and if you do your -duty faithfully you have the king's favour." - -"My duty I will do whether or no," answered the young man, bluntly. "I -love your majesty too well to keep anything back from you, even should -it make you think me indiscreet; and I know that your wisdom will soon -see that which my poor wit cannot divine. I have had some doubts, as -to whether I may not be doing wrong, in my own thoughts, to a noble -gentleman; but if I tell you just what I have heard, which is my -bounden duty, your majesty will soon see and judge which is the right -of it all." - -"That's a good lad--that's a good lad," repeated the king. "We will -soon clear the matter up when we know the whole, and act according to -judgment and reason. Kings were appointed of God, the judges of all -things upon earth; but how should they judge if they do not hear? Now -tell me, man, who it is you suspect. There are in every kingdom a -great many fools who are always getting into mischief from want of -wit, and a great many born devils always egging them on." - -"I don't know that I've a right to say that I _suspect_ the Earl of -Gowrie," replied the young man; but the king instantly interrupted -him, exclaiming, with a violent oath, "Why, what the de'il do you know -about Gowrie? I had thought that all his tricks were known to myself -alone--but what have you to say concerning him?" - -"If your majesty knows all his proceedings," answered John Ramsay, "I -have nought to say. The matter is in good hands." - -"But how can you tell I know all about the matter, Gabie?" asked the -king, impatiently. "Speak out, man--speak out." - -"Well, then, I would humbly ask your majesty," continued Ramsay, -remembering the instructions he had received, "whether you are aware -that during the whole time the earl was in Paris, he was in continual -connexion with the English ambassador, Sir Henry Neville, seeing him -every day, and that he only thought fit to wait upon your majesty's -ambassador once?" - -"Ay, did he so?" said James, musing. "He may find that he cannot -lightly his own born sovereign without scathe. How got ye knowledge of -this, man? You've no been in Paris yourself, unless you can be in two -places at once." - -"I had a cousin there at the time, your majesty, and he tells me that -the thing was commonly remarked and talked about. Then I understand -that her majesty, the Queen of England, showed somewhat more honour -and grace to this Earl of Gowrie than one of your majesty's subjects -should willingly have received." - -"Ay, poor fellow, he couldn't help that," said the king, with a -curious grin at his own affectation of candour. "If our good titty and -aunt, Queen Elizabeth, like the other wild jade, Fortune, will thrust -honours upon a man who does not want them, he must take them as they -come. But what did she do that was worthy of mark?" - -John Ramsay, in reply, recapitulated all that his cousin had told him; -and, more from James's manner than any words that escaped him, judged -the communication gave the monarch a slight uneasiness. The king, as -was common with him when internally agitated, hurried his sort of -limping pace into the thicker wood, pulling the sides of his breeches -at the same time, and mumbling inward comments, of which not one word -could be distinctly heard. Then sitting down on a broad stone bench, -which stood at the side of the avenue, near a spot where a lateral -alley branched off, he impatiently bade his companion go on, although -the young man was already speaking as fast as he could. - -"The only thing more I have heard, sire," said John Ramsay, who had by -this time well-nigh finished his tale, "is that the earl was in -constant communication, and that of a secret kind, with Sir Robert -Cecil, the Earl of Essex, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Lord Cobham." - -"The devil is in those fellows," said the king, abruptly. "They betray -every one, first their own mistress, and then their own friend. -They've softened all down to me; but I saw through them, lad, even -before what you have told me. They could not blind my eyes so as -to prevent my finding out that there was more under their fine -speeches.--But you've got something else to say, Jock. I see it in -your face, man.--Out with it!" - -"It was only this, your majesty," replied the young man, "and I don't -know, indeed, whether it is necessary to say it, for your wisdom needs -no guidance; but the fact is, all the information I have received, -comes from my cousin Newburn." - -"None the worse for that, man, I dare say," said the king. "Why should -not your cousin Newburn tell truth, as well as another, Jock -Ramshackle?" - -"I have thought, since I spoke with him, sire," answered Ramsay, "that -he may be a little prejudiced, for he and the earl, it seems, are not -on the best terms, one of the earl's men having nearly killed him in a -dispute about a lady travelling under the earl's escort. Besides, my -brother Dalhousie is a great friend of the earl's, and thinks very -well of him." - -"Tell your brother not to take his lot with him," said James, sharply. -"He does not know what he mints at; and he'll bring himself to bad -bread before he's done.--A lady, did you say? What lady might that be, -I should like to know? Odds life! I trust he'll bring none of his -Italian limmers here, or he'll have the kirk session on his back." - -"They say she is a cousin of his own," said Ramsay, in a doubtful -tone, "and that one of her relations in Italy dying, while the earl -was there, committed her on his death bed to the earl's charge. They -call her the Lady Julia Douglas." - -"Whew!" cried the king, adding a long whistle, as if he were calling -back a falcon. "So, my bonny bird, we shall get you at last. The Lady -Julia Douglas! Why, this is the very lass, I'll pawn my ears, that -Arran, poor body, was looking for so felly some eighteen years ago. -Mayhap we shall hear something now; we shall get some inkling of all -Morton's treasures which we could never lay hand on. This must be -thought of quickly. We must have the lady in our own ward, Ramsay, for -we are sair pressed for siller just now. I'll away to Edinburgh this -very night, and see to this matter. Why, that man Morton had gathered -together, what by scarting and what by nipping, enough to replenish -the treasury of Scotland for a twelvemonth, and yet when he went to -take the last kiss of the maiden of Halifax, he had not money enough -in his pouch to pay the hangman. All that he had was forfeited to the -crown, being attainted as a traitor; but he had either hidden all his -gold away, or else the Italian lady and her father had carried it away -with them, for we could never find so much as a crown piece, and I can -tell you it sat ill upon my stomach and Arran's too. He was a feckless -poor body, that Arran, or he'd have never let the old count and his -daughter and the bairn get away. But we must watch for this good earl -and the pretty lady, and we'll soon find out where the money is." - -"Shall I set out at once, sir, with a party of the guard?" asked -Ramsay, ever ready for action. "I'll arrest the earl the moment he -sets foot in Scotland, if your majesty will but warrant me." - -"Fie, now, lad. What a rash fool thou art!" said James, in a -good-humoured tone. "No, no, boy. We must trust things that require to -be done fair and softly to older and cooler heads than thine. There -must be no violence, no show of force; but we must get the lady into -our own ward cannily and quietly, and then deal with the earl -afterwards, as he comports himself. I tell thee what, Jock," he -continued, stretching out his hand, and pinching the young man's -cheek, "I would not have all the wealth of the old regent Morton go to -swell the riches of Gowrie for one half of Perthshire. They are too -rich and powerful already, those Ruthvens; and I'll have no new -Douglases rising up in the land to outshine their king and beard him -too. They used to call Dalkeith the lion's den, when Morton had it; -but I'm not fond of such wild beasts, and these Ruthvens are a bit of -the same breed. No, no; we'll take care of the lady, and provide for -her marriage; but it shan't be to a Ruthven." - -As the king spoke he rose, as if he were going to walk away, but the -next moment he stopped, and turned round to his young companion, -saying, "Now mind, Jock, what I'm going to bid you, and see that you -obey. Hold your tongue about all that has passed between you and the -king. Say not a word to any one, whatever you may see or hear; and -above all things keep your hands, and your tongue too, off young Alex -Ruthven, whom you are always bickering with, I'll take my own time, -man; and depend upon it, if I want anything that requires a strong -hand and a bold heart, and love and affection to a sovereign, I'll -send for you, Jock; so you keep quiet and bide your time, as I shall -bide mine. Kingcraft teaches a man patience, Jockie Ramshackle; but -you'll need an awful quantity of drilling." - -Thus saying, the king moved on along the avenue, till he came to the -corner of the cross alley which I have mentioned, where he suddenly -started and turned pale, on seeing a man, and that man a stranger, -approaching with an easy, sauntering step, and within some five or six -yards of him. With the impulse of courage, Ramsay, who was a little -behind, placed himself at once at the king's side, although he could -not but see there was no danger, for the stranger was quite unarmed; -and James, at the same time, becoming conscious of that fact also, -recovered his courage, and said, in a low tone, "Whist, man! wha the -de'il is this, I wonder? Haud your tongue--he's going to speer -something at us." - -"I say, old gentleman," said the stranger, "I wish you would tell me -my way out of this place, for I've lost myself, and cannot get back to -the palace." - -Now it is to be remarked, that James was not at this time an old -gentleman, being then in his thirty-fourth year; but his hair was -somewhat gray already, and the strange and awkward form of dress which -he affected--quilted, loose, not always in very good repair, and here -and there somewhat greasy--gave him the appearance of being at least -twenty years older than he really was. Ramsay's cheek reddened at the -man's familiar address to his sovereign; but James made him a sign to -be quiet; and the stranger went on in the same cavalier tone, saying, -"It's a long lane that has never a turning; but this has so many -turnings, that it is as bad as the labyrinth of Didymus." - -"Dædalus, you mean, young man," answered the king; "and you yourself -make an ugly sort of Theseus, though I am not quite so frightful as -the Minotaur." - -"I never heard of that gentleman," answered the stranger; "but I dare -say he was ugly enough. However, handsome is who handsome does; and if -he behaved well in his capacity, no one could blame him for not being -pretty. You cannot have more of a cat than its skin, or comb a monkey -that has got no hair. However, I want very much to find my way out of -this place, for like many another pretty piece of work that man gets -into, it is easier in than out." - -"I should like to know how you did get in," answered James, who was -exceedingly amused. "You must have got over the wall, I think." - -"Not I," answered the man; "I came round by the stables, and through -the back court; but what signifies it to you how I got in?" - -"It signifies very much," cried Ramsay, fiercely, for his blood had -continued boiling during the whole conversation, at what he considered -the man's insolence. - -But James interposed, exclaiming, "Hout, lad, keep your breath to cool -your porridge. How can the man tell that I am the head keeper? He's -clearly a stranger here, by his tongue." - -"Oh, if you are the head keeper, that makes all the difference," -answered the other. "I know what belongs to parks as well as any one; -and the head keeper is always a very reverend gentleman in my eyes. A -man should never quarrel with his bread and butter; and I've often got -a capital venison steak for being civil to the head keeper. So, sir, -I'll tell you I got quite honestly in, as you can learn yourself, if -you go back with me to the palace. I've brought a letter from my lord -to his majesty the king, and as I've long had a great wish to see him, -I told a lie, and said I was to deliver it myself; but the people at -the palace told me that his majesty was busy in his cabinet on affairs -of state." - -"The lying loons!" muttered James, with a laugh. - -"And so," continued the other, "I just put up my horse at the hostel, -and walked through the gates into the park." - -"And so you had a great desire to see the king, had you?" said James. -"What might that be for? Why should you want to see him more than any -other man?" - -"For three reasons," answered the other; "because they say he is as -wise as King Solomon; because he's fond of proverbs; and because he's -the greatest hunter upon earth since Nimrod." - -James chuckled, till his quilted doublet shook; and then he asked, -"Who told you all this?" - -"Why, my lord, the Earl of Gowrie," answered the man; and the king -instantly turned a sharp and meaning glance to Ramsay's countenance. - -"And so he told you," he said, "that the king was as wise as Solomon? -Faith, my man, though I love the king, who is my master, as well as -any man in the realm can love him, yet I think your lord was a little -bit mistaken to tell you so." - -"He didn't exactly tell me so," answered Austin Jute, whom the reader -has already discovered, "but he told others so within my hearing." - -"Then he followed the counsel of King Solomon himself," answered -James; "and he must be a wise man, too. He spoke not ill of princes, I -mean, otherwise would the birds of the air have carried the matter." - -"Now, Heaven forbid that he should speak ill of his own born -sovereign," answered Austin Jute, "or think ill of him either; but I -pray you, good sir, without more conference, tell me my way out, for I -fear that the king may go forth; and I have got to ride far to-night." - -"What, you ride toward Berwick by the gloaming, I'se warrant?" said -James. - -"No, not so," replied Austin Jute. "I'm away across the country to -Carlisle, and hope to meet my lord just as he crosses the border." - -"Ay, comes he by Carlisle?" said the king; "but it's a wild country -thereabout, my man. Aren't you afraid to ride without any arms?" - -As he spoke, he moved down the avenue, back towards the palace; and -Austin Jute followed, saying, "I have got sword and buckler at the -hostel, and know how to use them at a pinch, I trust. He who bides a -blow may spare a buffet; but you see, sir, I thought it was not right -for a man of my condition to approach the king's palace with arms on -my back, so I left all those things at the hostel till I had delivered -the letter.--Now there goes a fine stag, upon my life! I would fain be -as near him some fine summer's day, with a bow in my hand, and liberty -to shoot." - -"I should like to see thee right well," said the king; "and if thou -comest here to me at Falkland some summer day, thou shalt have leave -and licence to pick out three fat bucks, and kill them, if thou canst, -with three arrows, but the first shaft that fails, so ceases thine -archery." - -"Agreed, agreed," cried Austin Jute, tossing up his cap in the air, -and catching it again. "Thank thee, master keeper. If I pick thee not -out some fine venison, or if I miss one buck, say there is no archer -left in Lincolnshire; and thou shalt set up the horns over thy door, -and give a pasty to the poor men of the village, that once in their -lives they may taste king's meat." - -"Soul and body! and so I will," cried the king, taking part in his -enthusiasm; "and thou shalt have two crowns into the bargain, for each -buck thou killest." - -"Two crowns!" cried Austin Jute, taking a step back, and gazing at his -companion. "That's good pay, master keeper, considering that the -umbels are my own by old forest law." - -"Well, well," said the king, "'twas a rash promise; but I like to see -a good shaft shot as well as any man--don't look round, lad, for I'm -taking thee straight to the palace--there you see the windows. Never -mind that man; he's only one of the under keepers." - -And as they passed the attendant, who had followed the king in his -walk, the man dropped behind, and took up his station at the same -distance as before. - -"I've a notion," said Austin Jute, with his cap in his hand, "that -eagles would be taken for rooks by foolish men, if they hid themselves -in rooks' feathers." - -"So thou hast brought a letter from the Earl of Gowrie," said James, -without noticing the quaint observation, though it sufficiently -indicated that his real rank was now suspected. "Well, he is a right -loyal and well disposed young lord, I have heard. Have you got the -letter with you?" - -"It is here, sir," answered Austin Jute, producing it. - -"Let me see it, let me see it," said the king. - -The man hesitated for a moment, and then dropped upon his knee, -saying, "I beseech you, sir, to pardon me; but I have strange doubts I -must have offended--unwittingly, as you will well believe--if you be -really, as I now think, the king's majesty. But your attendants -assured me confidently that you were busy in your cabinet on matters -of great moment; otherwise I should never have ventured into your -royal park." - -"God's blessing on the vermin!" said the king, "for they have made me -a merry minute or two. Give me the letter, man. I am the king; and for -your mistakes you have our grace and pardon, for a dusty doublet may -well cheat a man of no great conveyance." - -Thus saying, he opened the letter and read. The tenour was as follows: - - -"Please your Majesty, - -"If the bestowing of great benefits should move the receivers thereof -to be thankful to the givers, I have many extraordinary occasions to -be thankful to your Majesty; not only being favoured with the benefit -of your Majesty's good countenance at all times myself, but also, that -it hath pleased your Majesty to advance my brother and my sister to -great grace at your royal court. Being anxious to give some more -certain sign and vive testimony to your Majesty of my devotion to your -royal person, I am now hastening to cast myself at your feet, in the -hope that it may please you to command me in anything whereby your -Majesty may have a proof of my prompt and faithful obedience in all -things that may tend to your Majesty's satisfaction, together with the -weal and prosperity of the realm. - -"In the meantime I repose myself still in your Majesty's constant -favour, till God grants that I shall see your Majesty in so good a -state as I wish, which will give me the greatest contentment of all. - -"So earnestly craving Heaven to bless your Majesty with all felicity -and satisfaction in health, and with an increase of many prosperous -days, I kiss most devoutly your Majesty's hands. - -"Your Majesty's most humble subject, and obedient servant in all -devotion," - "GOWRIE." - - -"A right loyal and faithful letter," said the king. "Now walk straight -forward into the house, my friend. Fill thy stomach at the larder. Get -thee a good cup of wine at the buttery, and away with thee at once, to -tell thy lord that the king is well pleased at his return, and waits -impatiently to consult with him and other good lords upon many things -concerning the good of the state. Tell him, however, that he will not -find us here at our palace at Falkland, but at our poor house in -Edinburgh--which, if he have any grace left," he added, in a low voice -to Ramsay, "he will not like to walk about so well. Bid him make haste -and come to us straight, for we are anxious for his presence, and -desirous to show him favour.--Away with you, my man!" - -The king waited till Austin Jute had taken somewhat more than a -hundred paces along the avenue, and then said in a low voice, to -Ramsay, "This earl is a false loon, Jock. See here what he says--that -he is willing to show prompt obedience in all things that may tend to -our satisfaction, together with the weal and prosperity of the realm. -That's just their hypocritical talk when they intend to play the -traitor. They always find something which is required for the weal and -benefit of the realm, which may thwart their own natural prince, whom -God appointed to rule over them, and made his vicegerent upon earth. -He'd never have put in these words, Jock, if he were not minded to do -all he can to cross us. A dour divot, just like all those Ruthvens. I -can smell him out as well as my brack Barleycorn can smell the foot of -one of those beasties." - -"I hope your majesty will let him feel that it is so," said Ramsay, -"and teach him that he cannot cross his king with impunity." - -"No, no, lad. I shall handle him after my own way," said the king. -"Have you never seen a bairn stroking bawdrans up the wrong way? So -I'll just cross the grain with him in all kingly courtesy, then we -shall soon see whether he turns dorty upon us, and then will be the -time to wind off the pirn. But come along, Jockie, it's time that we -should get home, for I must see to this lassy he's got with him. It -may be she, I think--it may not; but if it be, it's high time to care -for her." - -Thus saying, the king walked on hastily, and, by a small side-door, -entered the palace. Immediately after, some of his attendants were -called to his presence, and questioned regarding the account which -Austin Jute had given of himself. All they could tell, however, was -that he had brought a letter from the Earl of Gowrie, and had said -that he had been to Holyrood, but finding the king absent at Falkland, -had come on direct. On this James made no comment, but, somewhat to -the surprise of his attendants, ordered everything to be prepared for -immediate departure for Edinburgh. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - -Austin Jute's horse was a strong one, but it was hardly strong enough -for his purpose. Austin Jute's own frame was hardened by much -exercise, but it was barely firm enough to endure what he imposed upon -it. He left the presence of the king with a very quiet though a quick -step; and had the eye of James traced him along the avenue, he would -have seen that easy, jaunty, somewhat self-satisfied air, which was -natural to him--and is to most men who have always a proverb under -their hand for a walking-stick--not in the least diminished by his -late interview. But, alas! that which was natural to him at other -times was now assumed. He would not have drooped a feather at that -moment for the world. Even when he had reached the little hostel or -inn, which had been set up as near the gates of the palace as decency -permitted, and to say truth, by the connivance of the king's -comptroller, somewhat nearer than in strictness it should have been, -he maintained his gay and quite-at-ease demeanour: laughed with the -good man of the house, eat something which had been prepared for him -during his absence, and seemed to be trifling away his time, when -suddenly a large clock, which then graced the front of the palace, -struck one, and Austin started up with a look of surprise. - -"Gads, my life!" he exclaimed, "is that one o'clock?" - -"Oo, ay," replied the host, "that's the knock's just chappit ane." - -"Then I'm an hour behind," cried Austin; and paying his score with due -attention, he mounted and rode away, merely asking, in a common-place -tone, which was his shortest road towards Carlisle. - -His movements were all reported in the palace before half an hour was -over; but when it was found that he had made inquiries about the -Carlisle road, no further questions were put. But Austin Jute did not -long continue on the road he first took. He had learned by some -experience in his various travels to foil pursuit, even in countries -that he did not know; and he was soon riding on a bridle path towards -Lesslie, going on at a quick but not a violent pace, anxious to -advance as rapidly as possible, but not to knock up his beast before -he reached his journey's end. - -To all human creatures whom he met on the road, to innkeepers, and -even inn-keepers' daughters, he was uncommonly taciturn; but with his -horse he held long conversations, which seemed to comfort the poor -animal greatly. - -"Well, you got over that last mile bravely, Sorrel," he would say; "a -good heart's worth a peck of provender. But a peck you shall have at -the very next village. If we cannot get oats we can get meal, that's -one comfort, in Scotland. Thank Heaven, you are no way dainty, and I -dare say would drink a stoup of Bordeaux wine if we could find it. -Perhaps we may, too, at the next town. We never know where good luck -lies." - -He kept his word, and the horse justified his good opinion; for the -wine was procured, and the beast drank it, seeming as much revived -thereby as if wine were made to cheer the heart of beast as well as -man. - -On, on, the pair went, however; and as they passed over one of those -wild moors, neither then nor now unfrequent in the land of cakes, -Austin began to tell the good stout horse all about his interview with -King James, in the full confidence he would never repeat it. - -"I think I managed that right well, Sorrel," he said. "The covetous -thief never dreamt that I knew him all the time, and had heard every -word he said for a long while before. By cock and pie, if he had, I -should have had both my ears slit, I'll warrant; the right ear for -eaves-dropping, and the left for calling him 'old gentleman.'--You -answer never a word, Sorrel. That's poor encouragement for a man to -tell a merry tale. If thou wouldst but give a horse-laugh or anything, -I would say thou art a witty beast and understandest a joke. But thou -art weary, poor fellow," he added, patting the horse's neck, "and yet -thou must go many a mile further ere morning. A merciful man is -merciful to his beast; but I must not be merciful to thee, or my dear -lord and lady may suffer, and thou wouldst not like that, Sorrel. -Well, well, take the hill easily, then; I will get off and walk by thy -side. Here's a pool of water, thou shalt have a drink." - -In this sort went he on; and it is not too much to say, that by such -cheerful conversation and a great number of little attentions, he kept -up both his own spirit and the horse's. - -It is no slight distance from Falkland to Berwick, take it which way -one will; but when the distance was aggravated by having to cross the -Firth of Forth, an operation disagreeable both to man and beast, it -may easily be conceived that Austin's expectation of reaching Berwick -before the next morning was a bold one. His journey also had been -increased by the detour he had made at first setting out, and by a -ride of five-and-twenty miles or more in the morning. He reached -Kinghorn, however, about half-past three; and there, after sundry -inquiries as to his best course, hired one of those large and -excellent boats for which the place was famous, to put him over to -Prestonpans. The wind was low but favourable, the sea calm, and -neither Austin nor his horse suffered so much as might have been -expected; but still, the poor animal showed no great inclination to go -farther forward that night. He eat his provender, however, with a good -appetite, that surest sign of a horse not being near the foundering -stage; and after an hour and a half's rest, the traveller set out once -more by the light of the stars. Sorrel bore up well to Haddington, but -between that place and Dunbar, his pace grew slower and more slow, -till at length it fell into a walk. - -"Well, I will not hurry thee, Sorrel," said Austin, "thou hast gone -good sixty miles to-day, besides two ferries, and if we get to Dunbar -'tis but thirty more to Berwick. It cannot be eight o'clock yet, and -thou shalt have some hours' rest." - -Thus saying, he dismounted, and walked by the beast's side for the -next five miles, till the sound of the ocean beating with a heavy -murmur on the shore showed him that the town of Dunbar was near; and -in a moment after he saw a light here and a light there, at no great -distance before him. Mounting his horse, he rode quietly in, and -stopped a sober citizen, who, with a lantern in his hand, was taking -his way through the unlighted streets. - -In answer to his inquiry for the best inn, the good man, as usual, -directed him "straight on," adding the invariable "you cannot miss -it." - -He was so far right, however, that Austin did not miss it, and riding -into the open yard, was soon in possession of the landlord and his -myrmidons. - -"Ae, ye've a tired beast there," said the good man, "and we must find -a stall for him, though we've more than we can well lodge already; for -the great Earl of Gowrie came in an hour or two ago with all his -people." - -"No, not with all of them," answered Austin Jute, "for I am one; and I -hope and trust that the earl has not gone to bed yet, for I have kind -greetings to him from the king's majesty, which I ought to give as -soon as may be." - -"In bed!" cried the landlord. "Fie! His supper's just put on, and the -auld man has hardly finished his thanks yet for the good meat." - -"If that's the case I'll let him have his meal in peace," answered -Austin, "and after I have seen to poor Sorrel, you shall take me where -the other servants are, that I may have some meat too; for, to say -sooth, I've had but one cup of bad wine and a morsel since daylight." - -"That is the way servants treat their lords," thought the host; "here -is this man has a message even from the king himself, and he must -first fill his beast's stomach, and then his own before he delivers -it." - -But he did good Austin Jute injustice, for without a strong motive he -would have gone fasting to bed, rather than have provided for his own -wants--whatever he might have done for his horse's--before he -fulfilled his duty to his master. But, to say truth, he had a -disinclination to the presence of Mr. Rhind when his tale was to be -told, and having, with that acuteness which the lower orders exercise -more frequently upon the higher than the higher imagine, acquired a -thorough knowledge not only of Mr. Rhind's character but of all his -little habits, he calculated very accurately what would be his -proceedings. "He has had a long ride," thought Austin; "he will eat a -good supper; he will drink a good cup of wine; and then he will go to -bed directly. I must spend my time as best I may till then, and when -the coast is clear, go in and tell my tale. It must be a long one." - -"Don't you say a word of my arrival, good host," he continued, perhaps -gathering from the landlord's countenance what was passing in his -mind, and "fooling him to the top of his bent." "Servants must feed, -you know, as well as their masters, and if they know I'm here, I may -be sent for, and kept an hour before I get a bit of meat and a crust -of bread between my grinders." - -"Well, well," said the host, with a sigh; and after Austin had seen -the corn duly poured out under Sorrel's nose, he was led into the inn -kitchen, where he was at once received with such a shout of -gratulation by his fellows, as to show the host that his new guest was -a favourite with his equals, whatever he might be with his superiors. - -Austin eat his supper in peace and merriment, jesting gaily with all -around him, but still carrying on a course of under-thought in his own -mind till his meat was finished, and then the landlord thought fit to -hint that it might be as well for him to deliver his message, hoping -perchance to hear the terms thereof; and the words of a king were -great in the eyes of a Scottish host in those days. - -"Your lord has all but done, I can tell you, my man," he said. - -"Ay, all but and well nigh," said Austin; "has the old gentleman gone -to bed yet? Supper is not over till he's gone, I think." - -"No, he's not gone yet," answered the host, "but he's just dawdling -over some nuts." - -"Well, then, he'll entertain my lord till I've taken another cup," -replied Austin Jute; and he set himself to work again to make his -companions laugh, with an affectation of insolence he did not really -feel. - -A minute or two after, however, the landlord returned, saying, "The -old gentleman's gone now--and I'm thinking you had better not let your -lord know how long you've been here." - -"Oh dear, yes, I shall," replied the servant, starting up at once. "I -never hide anything from him, Master Host, whatever you may think;" -and away he went, without pause or hesitation. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - -The supper had been gay and cheerful, the materials better than might -have been expected in a small country inn of Scotland at the beginning -of the seventeenth century; and Julia and Gowrie were alone once more, -for Mr. Rhind had now become quite accustomed to his position, and -forgetting all his sage decorums, consulted little but his own ease. -The night was cold and clear, the fire in the large open chimney -blazed bright and cheerfully, and a gay and happy sensation, as if the -presentiment of coming joy, was in the heart both of the lady and of -her lover. When they crossed the border, indeed, and re-entered the -native land of both, their feelings had been different; a sort of -dread had come upon Julia's mind--that kind of oppressive sensation -which often overpowers us when some great fact, to which we have long -looked forward, is accomplished, deciding our destiny for ever, and -yet leaving the results hidden in darkness till they are evolved by -time. When Gowrie had said, "Here we are, in Scotland," the land of -her fathers, where they had ruled, and bled, and suffered--the land -where her own fate was to be worked out; where the brightest happiness -which the wildest flight of her young fancy could reach, or the -deepest grief which a fearful heart could portray, was to be enjoyed -or endured; an overpowering impression of great things, past and to -come, fell upon her for an instant, and she could hardly sit her -horse. - -The feelings of Gowrie were somewhat similar. After a long absence, -he, too, was returning to his native land. With him, too, there was -much that was painful in the history of the past. In this land his -father had perished on the scaffold; from it that father's father had -fled an exile to linger out a few short years of sickness in a foreign -country; while many and many a relation and friend had here wetted the -scaffold with their blood. What was before himself? he asked; and as -he crossed the frontier, he strove to cast his eye forward, as if to -penetrate the dark and heavy veil which hides the future of all mortal -fate: nor did he do so without dread. - -Such feelings, however, had passed away. The morning had been clear, -though cold. The scenes through which they passed were fair enough, -and there was that blue freshness in the hues of the bright wintry -landscape which compensates, in some degree, for the warmer colouring -of the summer. All had gone well, too, on the road. Nothing had -occurred to harass or disturb. The delicate complexion of the -beautiful girl, nurtured under a softer sky, had acquired a brighter -glow in the bracing influence of the northern air, and she looked -lovelier than ever in Gowrie's eyes; while, as she turned a look to -him, he seemed to ride with that prouder air which one ever feels -inclined to assume when, after a long absence, we again tread the land -of our birth and of our love. - -Thus, by the time they reached the inn for the night, all dark fancies -had been swept away; and now they sat with their feet to the bright -lire, and with their hearts overflowing with those words of love which -had been repressed during the day by the presence of another. - -Austin Jute, Austin Jute, stay where you are for an hour! Break not -yet the spell of happy dreams--cloud not yet the gleam of wintry -sunshine. Let no shadow cross their path! - -But it must not be. There was a tap at the door, and Lord Gowrie -raised his head, and looked round with some surprise, saying, "Come -in." - -"I have ventured to intrude upon you, my lord," said Austin Jute, -"having a message from his majesty, the king----" - -At that moment he was followed into the room by the good host, who at -once began to bustle with cups and platters; but Gowrie turned, -saying, as he saw his servant stop suddenly, "You can leave those -things, Master Fairbairn. I will send for you when I want them -removed." - -The man retired slowly and ill pleased, and Gowrie made a sign to -Austin to go on; but the man paused for an instant, and then -approached the door, saying, in a low voice, "By your leave, my good -lord, I will see that there be no eaves-droppers." - -There was no one at the back of the door; but the light that streamed -out shone upon the figure of the landlord at the end of the passage. -Austin stood for a moment and stared at him with a full, determined, -pertinacious gaze, till the man, somewhat disconcerted, walked slowly -and sulkily down the stairs. - -Then returning close to his lord's chair, and shutting the door behind -him, Austin said, "I have a great deal to tell you, my lord, and have -made haste to get back." - -"The king's message first, good Austin. What said his majesty?" - -"Oh, fine things, my lord," answered Austin Jute. "It's a bad mercer's -where there's no silk, and a poor court where there are no courtesies. -The king was full of delectable speeches upon your lordship's graces -and fine qualities; and he bids you hasten on to his presence with all -speed, as he wishes to consult you upon many things." - -"What, then, you saw his majesty in person?" said Gowrie. - -"Ay, did I," answered Austin Jute, "and heard him, too, and that -before he knew it. Thus I had the sauce to my salmon ready made--that -is to say, the interpretation of his majesty's speeches before they -were spoken." - -"Explain, explain," said Gowrie, somewhat eagerly. "I trust that thou -hast committed no new imprudence, Austin?" - -"Oh no, my good lord," answered the man. "I never commit any -imprudences on your account: it is only on my own I venture. I would -not play at pitch and toss with your fortunes as I do with mine for -half your lordship's estate. But the matter is this: I went to -Edinburgh as you told me, but at the palace--Holyrood, as they call -it--I found that the king had gone the day before to another place -called Falkland, and making myself familiar with the porter, I heard -all about it, as how King James V. had died there----But that as -nothing to do with the matter; so on with my tale. Well, this morning -early, I set off for Falkland with the letter, taking----" - -"This morning early?" said Gowrie. "Thou hast had a long journey for a -winter's day----Stay, stay, my Julia. This may be news for you also." - -"It is, indeed, my lord," answered Austin Jute, with a bow to the -lady; "and I have, as your lordship said, had a long journey, for I -took my way round that my horse and myself might have as little water -as possible. Well, I got to Falkland about ten o'clock, and a fine -place it is, better than Eltham a great deal. When I got there, I left -my horse and my sword at the inn, brushed the dust off my jerkin, and -went away to the palace. Well, I asked to see the king." - -"Asked to see the king!" exclaimed Gowrie, almost angry; "in Heaven's -name, man, what were you thinking of! Do you suppose that the king -sees every servant who brings a letter of compliment from a gentleman -of his court? You should have given it to an usher, or some other -officer." - -"Upon my life, my lord, I know not what possessed me," answered Austin -Jute, "unless, indeed, it was that the porter at Holyrood told me the -king had got a gentleman of the name of Ramsay with him, and the name -of our friend in Paris was Ramsay too. So I wanted to see what was -going on--I always want to know what is going on. However, the people -at the palace told me that the king was very busy in his cabinet, -transacting affairs of state. I answered, I would wait his majesty's -pleasure, or come back again in an hour. Thereat the men laughed, -which was not very civil, and told me I had better come back. Taking -them at their word, I left the door, and was going back to the inn, -when seeing some horses led about near one corner of the building, I -concluded that there must lie the stable, and always having a love for -horses, I went away thither to see if there was anything worth looking -at. I found nobody there; but saw a door open, with a view into a park -beyond, so I judged I might as well take a walk." - -"Upon my life, I wonder thou hast come back with thine ears on," said -Gowrie. - -"One is born with luck, though years bring learning," replied Austin -Jute; "and luck befriended me, my lord, all the way through. First I -came to a garden with some fine trees in it. I did not know there were -any such in Scotland; and then I walked across a wild piece of ground -towards a thick wood I saw some way off, about a third of a mile or -so. Well, it was a mighty pleasant wood, with a great many of the -brown leaves still hanging upon the underwood, and alleys and avenues -cut very nicely. I wandered here and I wandered there, till at last, -when I wanted to get out, I could not find the way; and suddenly, just -as I was going out of one alley into another, I heard two people -speaking, and I stopped----" - -"To eavesdrop," said Gowrie, with a glowing cheek; "for shame of -yourself, sir!" - -"Well, it is a bad habit, my lord," said Austin; "but all servants -have it; and in this instance it is lucky I gave way to it." - -"Tell me nothing about it," said Gowrie. "I will not have it said----" - -"My lord, you must hear," replied the man, firmly. "If you drive your -dagger into me the next minute, you shall hear what I have to say, for -this dear lady's safety and your own, and the happiness of both, -depend upon it. If people will take double ways with you, you must -take double ways with them; and I tell you the king is putting on a -fair face to you, but intends you ill." - -Julia dropped her head upon her hand, with a cheek which had lost the -rose; and Gowrie, after a pause, said, "If such be the case, speak on. -I must not refuse intelligence that may affect her." - -"It's about her almost altogether, my lord," replied Austin Jute, "for -there was a great deal had gone before, which I did not hear. However, -I know that what seemed the younger voice said, 'If your majesty will -give me a warrant I will apprehend the earl as he comes.' Now mind, my -lord, I can't give you the exact words all through, but I'll give you -their meaning. Well, when this voice had spoken, a fat thick voice -answered, like that of a man with plums in his mouth; and it called -the other a fool, and said he didn't understand policy, and a great -deal more, and that he would deal fair and softly with your lordship -till he had got occasion against you--I should have told you that this -wasn't the first thing I heard, because it has all got mixed up in my -head together; but I heard the young one say, 'They call her the Lady -Julia Douglas,' which showed me it was you they were talking of, and -my lady here; and besides, one of them said something about hating -those Ruthvens." - -"Make your tale short--make your tale short," said the earl. "What -more said the king about the lady? As for myself, I will take care he -shall have no occasion against me." - -"Why, he said, my lord, that the lady and her mother had carried off -from Scotland all the treasures of a gentleman he called Morton, who -had been attainted for treason." - -"Alas! alas!" said Julia, "I've often heard my grandfather say that we -fled with little more than would carry us to Italy." - -"What more--what more?" demanded the earl; and Austin Jute proceeded -to give very accurately the substance of all that had been said by the -king and Ramsay during the latter part of their conversation. - -"In his ward!" exclaimed Gowrie. "She shall never be in his ward, if I -can help it. No, no, my Julia. Your father's wealth was his ruin, for -to seize it was the object of those who destroyed him. What he did -with it has never been discovered; and now, fancying that you must -either possess it or know where it is concealed, this avaricious king -of ours would fain get you into his power. Heaven only knows what then -might happen. But that shall never be!--What more said he, Austin?" - -"Nay, not much, my good lord, but what he did say was not sweet;" and -then, after detailing the rest, he added, "At those words I heard them -get up, and begin to walk along, crushing the crisp leaves under their -feet. So I went on and met them." - -"You were mad," cried Gowrie. - -"Oh no, my lord, never wiser," answered Austin Jute. "I put on a gay -sort of sauntering air, and called out to the king as soon as I saw -him, 'Halloo, old gentleman! I wish you would show me how to get out, -for I have lost my way.' The young man looked as if he would have -cracked my skull, but the old one took it as a good joke." - -Moved as he was, Gowrie could not forbear from smiling faintly. "And -how did all this end?" he asked. - -"Why, sir, I treated him with no sort of ceremony for some time," said -Austin Jute; "talked with him familiarly about the king, and for fear -of getting you into a scrape, owned it was a lie that I had told at -the palace about having orders to deliver your letter to the king -himself, and said that I wanted very much to see the king, because I -had heard from you he was as wise as Solomon, and the greatest hunter -upon earth. We chatted very friendly for some time, I can tell you; -and then he thought fit to let out that he was the king, never -dreaming, I will answer for it, that I knew it quite well all the -time. When he had got your letter, nothing could be more civil or -complimentary than his majesty was. He bade you hasten your coming, as -I told you before, and sought to know which road you took, so I told -him by Carlisle, just to give your lordship time. If it does not suit -you to bear me out, you can just say that it was a lie of mine, or a -mistake, or anything you please. My ears are quite at your lordship's -disposal." - -"No," said Gowrie, thoughtfully--"no. Something must be determined at -once. Go out into the passage, Austin, and see that nobody comes -near.--No eaves-dropping, remember!" - -"Upon my honour, my lord," replied the man, and took his departure. - -"Oh, Gowrie, what is to be done?" exclaimed Julia. - -Gowrie pressed her to his breast with feelings difficult to describe. -"In truth, love, I hardly know," he said. "I must think calmly for a -moment." - -"Had I not better return at once to England," she asked, "and remain -there till you can satisfy the king that I know nothing of this -coveted wealth, or till we can be united?" - -Gowrie walked up and down the room for a minute, strongly tempted, but -he did not yield. - -"No, love, no," he said; "if you go, I must go too. I will not leave -you unprotected in another land; and, moreover, it might be dangerous -even to myself. Listen, dearest Julia;" and seating himself beside -her, he laid his hand upon hers, saying, "While we were in London, -some subtle dark words were dropped by the ministers of Elizabeth, as -to my having the power of being of great service to her majesty in my -native land. I gave no encouragement to such conversation, and it -ceased; but if she had you in her power, might not she try to use the -strong love which she knows I bear you, to drive me to acts contrary -to my duty and my allegiance? Trust you with her, I dare not. Trust -you in James's hands I will not; for I doubt him, Julia--I doubt him -much. He prides himself on dissembling; and his acts all show that he -aims at absolute power. What is to be done, is the question, and only -two courses seem open to us--either for you to give me your hand -at once, when Gowrie's arm will find means to protect Gowrie's -wife.--Nay, look not so sad; I know your scruples, dear one, and there -is another course to choose. We have in this country of Scotland a -district, as you know, called the Highlands, where law is little -known, and to which the king's power can hardly be said to extend. -Just upon the borders of that district, I have a mountain castle -called Trochrie, where, I think, beyond all doubt, you would be in -greater safety than in England. At all events, it would require an -army to bring you forth; and I do not believe that James would think -fit to do any violent act. It may be as well, however, that you should -remain there in secret till I can prove to the king that neither his -own avarice, nor the greediness of his favourites, would be served by -taking you from me. The castle shall be well prepared for defence, -however; and with justice on my side, and the good friends I have, I -could hold out against him for ever. I will do no disloyal act myself, -but I will endure no tyranny." - -"Oh, let me thither," cried Julia, with a bright smile of hope coming -upon her face again. "I will keep myself so carefully that he shall -never dream that I am there. I will take exercise in the early -morning, or in the evening twilight, so that people shall fancy I am a -spirit; and the rest of the day I will pass my time in my lonely tower -with my two maidens, like some enchanted lady that we read of in those -books of magic chivalry." - -"It is very hard to doom you to such a fate, my Julia--to send such a -flower as you to bloom in such a desolate wilderness." - -"Hard!" said Julia, enthusiastically--"hard, when it is for you, -Gowrie! Have I not been accustomed to solitude too? It will but be -living over again, for a short time, amidst the beautiful scenes of -nature, with free fresh air and changing skies around me, the same -life that I led so long in Padua, amongst close houses in a dull town. -And then, perhaps," she added, with a smile, "Gowrie may sometimes -steal away from courts to see me; and when I think the time of his -coming draws nigh, what joy it will be to look out from some high -window of the castle, over moor and fell, to see if I can perceive my -dear knight coming across the distant plain." - -"It is a fair picture you have drawn, dear girl, of a less fair -reality," answered Gowrie; "but I will try, dear girl, to make it as -bright for you as may be. Often, often will I come to see you, till -the dear hour when I can call you my own. And I will bring some of my -sweet sisters, too, to cheer you. We will store the old castle with -pleasant books and instruments of music; and when I come you shall -sing me the songs of the sweet south, till all darker things are -forgotten. Still, still I could hardly consent to your plunging into -such a scene, were not the bright season coming when our Highlands -look the fairest, when the yellow broom and the purple heath succeed -each other on the hills, and the bright sunshine softens the -ruggedness of the scene. During the six long months which must elapse -ere, according to our promise, you can give me your hand, the year -still goes on brightening for us in Scotland. In truth, I see no other -course we can pursue." - -"Nor I," she said, eagerly. "Let me set out to-morrow early, Gowrie; -and in the meantime you hasten back across the border again, take the -way round by Carlisle, as the man said you were coming by that road, -and so lull the king's suspicions, if he entertains any." - -"But you cannot go alone, my Julia," answered her lover. "That will -never do. Stay; my mother is at Dirleton with my young brothers. I -have thought of a plan that will answer. You shall go thither under -the escort of good Austin Jute and my servant David Drummond. She can -then forward you on your way to Trochrie with Austin and some of her -own people. Part of the way were better made by sea, for the waves -will leave no trace of your passing, and the weather is now fair. To -Dirleton you can go to-morrow, and on the following day proceed; but -alas! I must not go with you, I fear." - -Julia bent her head a little, gazing on the ground, and then said, in -a low voice, "Will she receive me willingly, Gowrie?" - -"As her own child," replied Gowrie, warmly; "I will answer for it, -love." - -"Though I am a stranger, an intruder, one who even now is bringing -danger on her beloved son!" said Julia, almost sadly. - -"You know not Dorothea Stuart," answered Gowrie. "Were the pursuers -close upon your steps, my love, were every danger and misfortune -following you close, it would only render you dearer to her--it would -only make her whole soul rise to serve you. However, I will write to -her this very night, telling her all I wish, and the reasons thereof. -You shall carry the letter with you; and if everything is not -performed as zealously and punctually as if I were there myself, my -mother is changed indeed, and has lost all love for me. Now, dearest -Julia, retire to rest; you shall be roused in time, and everything -shall be prepared for your departure: alas! that I must add, for our -parting, too; but it shall not be a long one, dear girl. Whenever -occasion serves that I can get away without observation, I will be on -the way to Trochrie, for my heart will lie buried there with you, and -even in the midst of crowds I shall be solitary." - -Julia could not answer, for her heart was too full--it was like a cup -brimming over, and the least thing that shook her would have spilt the -precious drops within. One silent pressure of the hand, and they -parted for the night; but when she was gone, Gowrie stood and mused -with sad and painful thoughts, and ere she sought her pillow she bent -her head and wept. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - - -There was a fine old house, as we should call it now, but which was -then in great part a modern one, although the beating and buffeting of -angry winds, and the dark breath of the storm, had blackened it ere -more than sixty years had passed since the foundation-stone was laid. -It was built in a style of which there are very few specimens in -England, though several in France; but that is easily accounted for, -inasmuch as during the greater portion of the short period assigned to -that particular style, contentions of one kind or another had existed -between the court of London and that of Paris, and the communication -between England and Italy was extremely limited. Very different had -been the case with Scotland, the connexion between which country and -France had been cemented by many ties, while an infinite number of the -young noblemen of the north completed their education either at Paris -or at one of the universities of Italy. The Tudor architecture in -churches is well known; and although there is something in the breast -of every man of taste which tells him that there is a want of purity -of conception and grandeur of design therein, yet it is very beautiful -in its kind. So much, however, can hardly be said in favour of the -social architecture of the period; and perhaps less still, in point of -really good taste, were the pretensions of that Italian style, in -which one front of Dirleton House was constructed. The windows were -large and many, divided by stone mullions, and having pilasters -between, light and airy, but of no order under the sun, and panels -covered with rich and fantastic arabesques. - -The whole had an air of lightness and richness, notwithstanding its -incongruous and unmeaning details; but at the hour of which I speak, -and at which a little cavalcade consisting of seven horses approached -the front, nothing could be seen of the elaborate ornaments, and the -whole building lay in the midst of the grey woods that surrounded it, -a large and sombre pile of building, with a cheerful light streaming -through two or three of the casements. Weary with travelling, anxious -and apprehensive, Julia looked up to Dirleton House with a cold -feeling of dread and gloom. Vain had been Gowrie's assurances of a -kind reception: she felt that she was a wanderer--a fugitive, claiming -protection and aid, even to their own peril, from persons on whom she -had no claim, and who were strangers to her in all the kindly -relations of the heart. Her timidity became more and more great as she -approached the principal entrance of the house, which projected before -the rest, with a sort of terrace and flight of steps of its own. Fancy -was very busy, and showed her the strange looks with which she would -be at first received, the stately lady of royal race, the two or three -tall and lordly striplings, her sons, all gazing upon her as a -stranger, and wondering what brought her there. - -"I will send in the letter first," she thought; "they will then know -who I am, at least; and I shall soon see by my reception whether I am -a welcome guest or not. It will be bad enough at the best----Here, -Austin," she said, when, having ridden up to the terrace by one of the -two slopes at the sides, the man sprang to hold her rein, and assist -her to dismount,--"here, Austin, take this letter in. Deliver it into -the Countess of Gowrie's own hand, and tell her that I wait her -pleasure without." - -The man looked surprised, but took the letter, and approached the -great door, by the side of which hung an immense massive iron ring, -notched all over the inner side, with a small iron bar beside it -suspended from a chain, Austin gazed at this strange-looking -instrument by the faint light, and felt it with his hand, but could -make nothing of it. He was looking for some other means of making -their presence known within, when the other servant, David Drummond, a -heavy, sinister-looking man, started forward, and taking hold of the -ring, soon produced a sound, by running the iron bar over the notches -in the inside, sufficient to call two or three servants to the door. - -Austin was immediately admitted, and disappeared from Julia's sight, -while the other servant shook hands with an old friend, one of the -domestics of the countess, and seemed to explain who the fair guest -was, for the porter came instantly forward, and with a civil tone, but -in such broad Scotch that she could scarcely understand him, asked if -she would not alight and come in, as he was quite sure his mistress -would be very glad to see her. - -"I will alight," said Julia, accepting his assistance, "for I am very -weary of my horse's back; but as to the rest, I will wait;" and -springing to the ground, she leaned her arm upon the saddle, the tired -beast standing quite still by her side. - -She had not long to remain in uncertainty, however, for hardly two -minutes had passed when she heard a female voice, as some one -approached the door from within, exclaiming, "Where's my bairn? -Where's my dear child?" and immediately after a tall and commanding -woman, somewhat past the middle age, issued forth with a quick step, -and approached her. Her gray hair, falling from under a black velvet -coif, and mingling with a lace veil attached thereunto, her long black -velvet garments, in the fashion of the reign of Queen Mary, her fine, -though worn countenance, her tall figure, and her quick step and eager -look, all struck poor Julia with a feeling of awe, which was only -dissipated by the warm and tender embrace in which the countess folded -her, kissing her repeatedly, and saying, "And did ye doubt, poor -thing, that Gowrie's mother would not take ye to her heart? Come, -come, my bairn, you do not know me yet; but Dorothea Ruthven is no -false friend or fleeching courtier, to say one thing and mean another. -Come you in, and rest all your cares upon a mother's bosom; for, God -willing, I will be a mother to you as to my own bairns." - -Thus saying, she took her by the hand, and led her through the wide -vestibule into a small but richly decorated room on the ground floor. -Then stopping in the midst, where the full light from a large sconce -filled with wax candles fell upon them both, she turned to look upon -her fair companion for the first time. - -As if struck and astonished by what she beheld, the old countess -suddenly loosed her hold, and clasping her two hands together, she -exclaimed, "Ae, but you're bonny!" Then instantly throwing her arms -round her, she pressed her to her heart again. - -Julia wept with agitation and joy, and the gentle clasping of her -small soft fingers upon the old countess's hand conveyed without words -all that was passing in her heart. - -"Now sit down, my dear child," said Lady Gowrie, taking her own seat, -and pointing to another close by her; "you're weary and frightened, I -dare say, for I see from the first few lines of Gowrie's letter that -something has not gone quite right with all your plans; but you must -not let that put your heart down, my bonny bird, for this is a wild -land, and if we were to let little things scare us, we should live in -terror all our lives. My two young lads have gone out, and not come -back yet, but they will be right glad when they return to find their -new sister, and then we'll have our supper, and you shall go to bed -and sleep." - -"Oh, read Gowrie's letter first, before you are so kind, dear lady," -said Julia, wiping the tears from her eyes; "you will see that my -coming with him has first brought embarrassment upon him on his return -to his native land, and perhaps you may not love me so well -afterwards." - -"Not a bit less, my child," said the old countess, in a firm, but sad -tone. "I have ever loved those I loved, best when misfortune came upon -them. Did I not love his father well," she continued, raising her eyes -to heaven, "the day the axe fell? And yet, woe is me! bitter was that -day of love, indeed! Well-a-well, I will read my boy's letter; but -mind, my dear, you are to call me mother, for a mother I will be to -you, come fair or come foul;" and wiping away the tears from her eyes, -she held the letter nearer to the sconce, and read. - -While she went on, Julia gazed at her with a look of anxious interest; -but her longing to know what would be the lady's feelings on hearing -all the particulars of her situation, was soon lost in scanning the -worn but noble feelings, and tracing the strong likeness between her -and her son. - -"Fie, fie!" cried the old lady, at length, when she had read the -somewhat long epistle to an end; "this is but a scratch, and you and -Gowrie have taken it for a wound. Our good king is fond of gold, and -he has those about him who are fonder still; but when they find that -you have none, my child, they'll leave you at peace right willingly. -It will all come to nothing, you'll see. However, in the meantime, -like a dutiful mother," she continued, with a smile, "I must do what -my son bids me, though I'm loath to part with you so soon. But first I -must take care that the servants are tutored to speak carefully. All -my own people I can depend upon; can you on yours, my child?" - -"I trust so," replied Julia; "the two girls can speak no English, so -they are safe; and of the men, one is faithfulness itself. The other I -do not know so well, but he has been with Gowrie long, I believe, and -came with us all the way from Italy." - -"What's his name?" asked the countess; and when she heard it was David -Drummond, she shook her head with a rather doubtful look. "He's what -we call a dour creature," she said, "but faithful to his trust, I -believe. He killed a man here in a fray, and I sent him over to John -to get him out of harm's way. John warned him well, that if he played -so with his hands again, he should suffer; but I believe he is honest, -only ill to manage when he takes a grudge at any one. I will have the -people up into the vestibule, and tell them to be secret. They've been -used to things that would teach fools discretion." - -Thus saying, she rose, and taking a small silver bell from the table, -went out into the vestibule, where Julia heard the bell ring, and -after a short pause the sound of many feet moving. Then came the voice -of the countess speaking loud and slow. A few short sentences, with -long pauses between, concluded her harangue; but in a moment after -there was a considerable movement and bustle; and when Lady Gowrie -returned, she had on either side a fine tall lad, bearing a strong -resemblance to her eldest son. Each of the boys gazed forward with -natural eagerness to see their future sister in-law, and the colour -mounted somewhat more warmly into Julia's face; but all embarrassment -was over in a moment, for one after the other advanced with frank -grace, kissed her fair cheek, and called her Julia and sister. - -"Now, William, my boy," said the countess, "we must have supper soon -and to bed betimes, for Julia must on upon her way early to-morrow, -and you must go to guard her, with five or six of the men and her own -people." - -"Early to-morrow!" cried the lad, in great surprise; "I thought that -she was going to stay with us here. Where is she going?" - -"Ask no questions, lad," said his mother, gravely; "it does not become -youth to inquire, but rather to obey. You will have your directions -to-morrow ere you set out; and those you must entirely keep to -yourself till you come to the end of your journey. Now go and order -them to set on the supper. Your dear sister is tired and hungry, I -doubt not." - -"No, indeed, dear mother," replied Julia; "fear has taken all appetite -from me to-day." - -"Fear, poor frightened bird!" said the old lady. "We must strengthen -your heart with mountain air--not to make it harder, but more firm. -Fear nothing here, my dear, for we will guard you well. You come of an -eagle's race, and he who checques at you is but a goshawk." - -While she had been speaking, her son William had left the room, and in -a minute or two it was announced that supper was served. Putting her -arm through that of her fair guest, the countess led her to a small -hall, where supper was found upon the table; but as they went the -elder lady said, in a low voice, to her young companion, "You shall -have a little chamber next to mine, and your two maidens beyond. I -will wake you before daylight, for ever since Gowrie's death I rise at -four. But, in truth, you must warn the girls yourself that you set out -early, for though I could once speak French I have lost it now, and -Italian I could never conquer." - -Weariness of body and of mind performed for Julia the part of peace; -and she slept as soon as her head touched the pillow. Her sleep was -disturbed and full of dreams, however; and on the following morning -she woke with a start and a feeling of terror, when some one knocked -at her chamber door. For a moment or two she knew not where she was; -but she was soon recalled to the recollection of all the circumstances -of her fate, by the voice of the Countess of Gowrie warning her that -it was time to rise for her journey. All that kindness could do was -performed to soothe, comfort, and encourage her; and her lover's -mother affected to laugh at her fears, though she bewailed the -necessity of her going at that season of the year into the wild and -solitary scenes where she was about to take up her abode. - -In her directions to her son William, the old countess was very -particular, remaining closeted with him for nearly half an hour. No -one was informed of the ultimate end of the journey about to be taken -but Julia and himself; and instead of directing their course by land -towards Trochrie, the party proceeded in a straight line towards the -sea, and took boat, thereby increasing the length of the journey some -thirty or forty miles. The servants, who were acquainted with the -country, might well be somewhat surprised when they found where they -landed, and in what direction they afterwards bent their course; but -not the slightest expression of astonishment was seen upon the -countenance of any one, and not one word of comment was uttered -amongst them. With much unquestioning obedience they followed where -their young master led, in a manner which perhaps was only seen in -Scotland at that time. Towards Julia, William Ruthven was all -brotherly kindness and attention, cheering her to the utmost of his -power, and attempting, in his young zeal, to amuse her with tales of -the different places through which they passed. But it is sad to say, -that almost every little history--such had been for many years the -state of Scotland--ended with a tragedy; and he soon found that the -subject on which Julia was most inclined to speak was that of his -brother Gowrie. He indulged her, then, by many a question with regard -to the earl's stay in Italy, and to their journey home; and thus -indeed he did contrive to while away several hours, till at length, on -the evening of the third day, they arrived in sight of a large and -somewhat gloomy-looking building, which William Ruthven pointed out as -the castle of Trochrie. During the whole of the latter part of their -journey the mountains had been rising up before them, and all the -beautiful scenery of Athol, with which every English traveller is well -acquainted, presented itself to Julia's sight. The day was peculiarly -favourable, too, though that which preceded it had been dark and -lowering. The sun, journeying towards the north, had made, as it were, -an effort to dispel the clouds; and, towards evening, the heavy masses -of vapour floating away upon the light wind, only served to cast dark -shadow upon some points of the landscape, while the rest remained -covered with bright gleams; and the sinking sun flooded the glens with -light, and sparkled in the streams and waterfalls. At the distance of -about a mile from the castle a man was sent forward to have the gates -opened, and as they rode over the drawbridge, which had been lowered -to give them admission, William Ruthven said, in a kind tone, "Welcome -to Trochrie, dear Julia." - -Julia knew not why, but a cold shudder crept over her frame at the -words; and looking up at the dark arch under which she was passing, -she asked herself involuntarily, "In what case shall I pass these -gates again?" - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - - -We must now turn to follow the course of the Earl of Gowrie, who -hurried to horse as soon as he could force himself to part with Julia, -the 28th of February, and he spared not the spur till he had reached -Carlisle. The distance was not far short of a hundred miles, although -knowing the country well, till he reached the borders of Cumberland he -took the shortest cuts towards his destination. Nevertheless, by -twelve o'clock on the following day, he had reached the city of the -British chief, and halted there for three hours, to rest those horses -which were capable of going on, and to purchase three or four others, -to supply the place of those which were knocked up. The journey was -then resumed, at a slow and orderly pace; and the earl once more -approached the frontier of Scotland, on the western side. Such rapid -progress as he had made during the last thirty hours was not at all -suited, of course, to the habits of good Mr. Rhind; and that worthy -gentleman was left behind, with a request that he would tarry for a -day or two at Dunbar, and then proceed slowly to Edinburgh, preserving -perfect silence as to the events which had lately taken place; which, -it must be remarked, puzzled him greatly, as the earl was not inclined -to enter into lengthened explanations on the subject. On the -discretion of the servants who accompanied him, the earl thought he -could depend; and he consequently satisfied himself with giving them -merely two commands--namely, to avoid mentioning to any one their -previous journey to Dunbar, and if asked what had become of the lady -who had accompanied them to England, to state that he, the earl, had -sent her to a place of security some way before they reached Carlisle. -This having been done, they rode on towards Langholm, where the earl -proposed to pass the night. On his arrival, however, at the only inn -which that place contained, he found the court-yard in a bustle with -numerous horses and servants, and perceived also two or three of the -king's guard loitering about. The announcement that the place was -quite full, therefore, did not surprise him; and, in answer to his -inquiries, the host informed him that the Lord Lindores had just -returned with his suite, after having visited the border that morning. - -Gowrie smiled at the name of one of the especial companions of the -king; and finding, in answer to a quiet inquiry, that the noble lord -had arrived from Edinburgh late the night before, he was confirmed in -the suspicion, that the object of Lindores' coming had been to claim -the wardship of Julia in the king's name. - -Innocent of all offence himself, however, he did not scruple to send -up a message to the courtier nobleman, requesting that he would spare -him a part of the accommodation of the inn; but one of Lord Lindores' -servants had been beforehand with him in communicating his arrival, -and before the host, whom Gowrie charged with his message, could leave -his side, the gentleman to whom it was to be delivered was seen -descending the stairs, which, as was then very customary in Scottish -inns, came down at once on the outside of the house, from a covered -gallery above, into the court-yard. His dress and appearance were -sufficient to indicate his rank, although Gowrie had not seen him from -his boyhood; but Lord Lindores, forgetting his prudence, advanced at -once towards the young earl, holding out his hand, and saying, "Ah, my -noble Lord of Gowrie, how goes it with your lordship? Welcome back to -Scotland after a long absence." - -"Many thanks, my lord," replied Gowrie, shaking hands with him. "My -absence has indeed been long enough for old friends to forget me. But -I find your lordship has engaged the whole house; can you not spare me -a room or two?" - -"I should be sadly wanting in courtesy else," replied the other, whose -eye, during the whole conversation, had been wandering over Gowrie's -followers. "We will put some of the men into the cottages or houses -near. What will you require?" - -"Only a room for myself," replied the earl, who was somewhat amused by -the puzzled look upon his companion's face--"only a room for myself, -and an ante-room for two or three of my servants. The rest must shift -as they can. We will not put you to inconvenience." - -"That will be soon arranged," replied Lord Lindores; "and as my supper -will be ready in a few minutes, your lordship must honour me by -partaking thereof. I will just speak a word or two to some of my men, -telling them to seek lodgings elsewhere, and rejoin you in a moment." - -Gowrie remained near the foot of the stairs till his return, with an -air of the most perfect indifference; but he did not fail to observe -what seemed eager question and answer pass between his brother peer -and one of the men who had been in the court-yard when he arrived. - -"Now, noble earl, permit me to show you the road," said Lord Lindores, -returning; and he led the way up stairs to a small guest-chamber, -prepared for the evening meal, but which was also ornamented by a -truckle bed. After some ordinary compliments, Lord Lindores fell into -thought for a moment or two, and then looking up, he said, "Had I not -thought that your lordship would not arrive in Scotland till -to-morrow, I should have prepared better for your accommodation; for, -to say the truth, I was led to expect the pleasure of seeing you on -the border if my business detained me here a day or two." - -"Indeed! How so?" demanded Gowrie, looking up; for he, too, had fallen -into thought. - -"Oh, very simply," replied the other lord. "His majesty, when sending -me yesterday to inquire into some of the affairs upon the border, -informed me that he had had a letter from your lordship, and, as you -were returning by Carlisle, I should most likely meet you somewhere -here. He bade me greet you well on his part, and say that he was -anxious for your arrival." - -"His majesty is ever gracious," said Gowrie, drily; "I trust to kiss -his hand the day after to-morrow at the farthest." - -"He taught me to believe, my noble lord, that I should find a fair -lady in your company," said his companion, assuming a jocular look and -tone; "the most beautiful of the beautiful, I understand; a gem that -you have brought us from southern lands." - -"Oh, no," answered Gowrie, in a light and easy tone; "his majesty has -been misled. Such a lady as you describe did travel part of the way -hither under my convoy; but I left her behind before I reached -Carlisle." - -"Indeed!" said Lord Lindores, with a look of mortification and -surprise. "But perhaps the journey was too fatiguing, and she will -follow you?" - -"Oh dear, no!" answered Gowrie, with a laugh. "She is very well where -she is, I doubt not, and will remain there for some time." - -"On my life," cried the other, resuming his jocular tone, "I think -your lordship is jealous of us poor lords of Holyrood." - -"To be sure I am," answered Gowrie, at once; "and fully resolved I am -not to bring her to that court till I bring her as my wife. You see, -my good lord, I am frank with you; but you will own that there is -cause to fear that I might lose my bride, if I carried her amongst -such gay cavaliers as the Lord of Lindores." - -His companion, who had already seen the middle age, laughed gaily; for -I know neither age nor circumstance in which vanity will not do its -work. He seemed perfectly deceived, however, and indeed was so, -concluding that Gowrie, from some cause, suspecting the king's -purpose, had left his fair companion on the other side of the border. -He was not well satisfied, indeed, with the result of his mission, for -he had calculated upon gaining considerable credit with the king by -skilfully executing a somewhat delicate task. Their meal passed over -gaily, however; and Lindores, who was somewhat of a bon vivant, had -taken care that the table should be supplied with better wine than -could be procured at Langholm. Of this he partook abundantly, and -hospitably pressed his guest to do the same; but Gowrie was upon his -guard, and contrived to avoid the glass, without his companion -noticing that such was the case. In the meantime, Lindores, imagining -that each large double bottle was shared equally between him and the -earl, drank more than his due proportion, and passed through most of -the stages of inebriety, from loquacity to drowsiness. In the former -stage, however, the wine being in and the wit out, he laughed joyously -at the thought of the king's disappointment, and told his companion, -as a profound secret, the end and object of his journey to the border. - -On the following day early, the earl and Lord Lindores set out -together for Edinburgh; but Gowrie thought fit to stop for the night -at Selkirk, while his companion pushed on somewhat farther, in order -to bear to the king the news of his disappointment in person. He -arrived in the capital at a somewhat early hour the next day, and -proceeded at once to the palace, where James's ill-humour knew no -bounds. - -"That is just like those Ruthvens," he said, in the presence of Sir -Hugh Herries and John Ramsay, who were in the king's closet when -Lindores told his story. "They are all as wise as serpents, but not as -innocent as doves; and this lad is at the head of them. If he were not -at heart a rebel to his own liege sovereign, wherefore should he leave -the lass in England? Does it not give our good aunt Elizabeth a hold -upon him, which no foreign sovereign should have over one of our -subjects? Can she not twist him thereby what way she likes? Maybe his -treason is already consummate, and he has left the girl behind him as -a pignus or pledge for his carrying it out to our destruction. We must -deal softly with him, nevertheless," he continued, seeing that his -words had sunk deeply into the minds of those around him, and having, -perhaps, the example of Henry II. before his eyes--"we must deal -softly with him, till we find occasion against him; mind that, lads, -and let not one of ye cross him, so as to make the matter into a -private quarrel. He has many friends and great wealth, so we must go -gently to work with him till the time comes." - -Notwithstanding his injunctions to others, the king could not -altogether restrain his own demeanour, but remained sullen and -irritable all day. He inquired twice whether the earl had arrived in -Edinburgh; and when told that he had come to the house of one of his -relations, whither a number of the old friends of his family flocked -to meet and congratulate him, he exclaimed, "The fickle fools! They go -as blithesome to a burial." - -The following morning, as he was seated with the queen, receiving some -of the nobles of the court, with the Duchess of Lennox, Gowrie's -sister, on one side of Anne of Denmark, and Beatrice Ruthven behind -her chair, some loud shouts, uttered in the streets of the town, made -themselves heard even in the royal apartments. - -"What are the fools skirling at now?" cried the king; "is it another -Tolbooth fray?" - -"Not so, your majesty," replied Lord Inchaffray, who had just entered; -"as I rode hither a moment ago, the young Earl of Gowrie was passing -up the street with a large number of noble gentlemen, his friends; and -some hundreds of people were running after his horse's heels, shouting -and wishing him joy on his return." - -James's brow darkened immediately, and lolling his tongue in his -cheek, with a bitter and meaning smile, he said, loud enough for -several persons to hear, "There were as many people who convoyed his -father to the scaffold at Stirling." - -The Duchess of Lennox instantly turned deadly pale, and fell, so that -she would have struck her head against the queen's chair, had she not -been caught in the arms of her sister Beatrice. - -The court was immediately thrown into strange confusion; and the king, -as if totally unconscious that the illness of the young duchess was -produced by his own act, exclaimed, "De'il's in the woman! What's the -matter with her? The rooms not so hot." - -"But your majesty's words were sharp," said Beatrice; "my sister is -not accustomed to hear the death of a father she loved made sport of." - -"You are saucy, mistress, I think," said the king, frowning upon her. - -"And your majesty unkind," said Beatrice, boldly; but Anne of Denmark -interfered, and caused some of the gentlemen present to assist in -conveying the duchess to another room. - -James himself felt in some degree, it would appear, that he had acted -in a cruel and discourteous manner, for he said, in a low but somewhat -apologetic tone, "Fegs! I forgot she was the earl's daughter. One -cannot always remember, in this good land of ours, who is of kin to -those who have had their heads chopped off." - -He then turned to other subjects, seeming soon to forget altogether -what had occurred; and when, a few minutes afterwards, Gowrie himself -was introduced, unconscious of all that had taken place, the king -received him with the utmost cordiality and kindness, displaying -remarkably, on this occasion, that detestable hypocrisy which he -considered one of the essential parts of kingcraft. If anything, his -manner was too condescending and gracious, approaching to a degree of -familiarity more repugnant to the feelings of the young earl than -haughtiness could have been. After having given him his hand to kiss, -he pinched his ear, called him a truant, and insisted upon examining -him in what he called the humanities, much to the annoyance of most of -the gentlemen of his court, many of whom understood neither the Latin -nor Greek languages, and some of whom did not understand their own. -The earl's replies gave his majesty satisfaction, at least apparently; -and he went so far as to pronounce him a good scholar and a credit to -the country. - -This gracious speech he followed up by commanding him to come to his -breakfast on the following morning, and there he commenced a -conversation with the earl, who was standing behind his chair, the -coarseness of which, in point of language, prevents it from here being -written down, but the nature of which may be divined, when I state -that it referred to the murder of David Rizzio, and the fright which -that horrible event had occasioned to the unfortunate Mary when about -to become the mother of the very monarch who spoke. - -Gowrie felt that the choice of the subject was intended as an insult -to himself, from the part which his grandfather had borne in that -lamentable transaction; but he repressed all angry feeling, not alone -from respect for the royal authority, but also because he had a deep -internal conviction that the conduct of his ancestor on that occasion -could not be justified, and that the king had a fair subject of -reproach against his family, which, upon every Christian principle and -every honourable feeling, should have been restrained to silence, -considering all that had passed since, but which might naturally be -remembered, if not rankle, in a weak grovelling mind. He made no reply -whatever then, and left the conversation to seek another course, when -suddenly, to his surprise, Colonel Stuart entered the room, and was -greeted by James as an invited guest. - -The spirit of his race now rose in his bosom. He saw before him, -invited apparently to meet him there that morning, the man who, when -his father, after an imperious order from the king to quit the realm -within fourteen days, lingered for a few hours longer at Dundee to -settle the affairs of his family, and to hire a ship to carry him -abroad, pursued him to the very port where he was about to embark, and -brought his head to the block. His patience could not endure any more, -and drawing back a step, he said, "I think, your majesty, it may be -better for me now to retire." - -"Come, come, my Lord Gowrie," said the king, "I will not have you look -down upon Colonel Stuart. He is a worthy gentleman, and has done this -crown good service. Neither will I have you seek quarrel with him in -regard to passages long gone." - -"Sir," answered the earl, with a low bow, "I will never seek that man, -but it is not fit that he should cross my path. As to seeking quarrel -with him, _aquila non capit muscat_. I now beseech your majesty to -pardon me for retiring;" and he withdrew slowly from the royal -presence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - - -The whole court of Holyrood was now busied principally with one -subject. It is the vice of all petty courts to have their whole -attention taken up with personal quarrels and small passions, not the -less venomous for their minuteness. The Earl of Gowrie was not a -favourite--that had become evident within one week after his return -from the continent; and although he neither held nor coveted any place -about the king's person, all those who were mounting the frail ladder -of courtly favour marked the coldness between the king and himself -with satisfaction, and augured the fall of those members of his family -who had obtained appointments in the royal household. At all events, -as far as he was personally concerned, Gowrie prepared to cut the -matter very short, by taking leave of the king within ten days after -his arrival in Edinburgh, upon the plea of visiting his mother, and -examining the condition of his own estates. Still he himself, and his -relations with the court, continued to occupy the thoughts of men. -From his wealth, from his connexions, and from his extensive property, -he was much too important a person to have his movements, his -demeanour, or his intentions considered lightly; and, far superior to -most of his fellow peers, both in acquired knowledge and intellectual -scope, he had shown so decided a leaning to that rational freedom -which was repugnant to all James's ideas of authority, that courtiers -readily learned to hate him because their royal master showed that he -feared him. Nevertheless, with the great majority of his equals in -rank he was very popular, and by the poorer classes he was universally -and dangerously beloved. The people cheered him when he appeared in -public, even while the courtiers were drawing back from his brother -and sister, in terror of the plague-spot of disfavour. Yet the effect -of his coming had been very different upon different men who had been -united in opinion before his arrival. Sir Hugh Herries, commonly -called Doctor Herries, who had a strong personal dislike both to the -earl's brother Alexander and to the Lady Beatrice, and who had -extended this feeling of animosity to the earl himself and all his -family, seemed but to be confirmed in his rancorous ill-will by the -presence of Gowrie himself. Nor did he at all attempt to conceal it, -replying to any observations the earl addressed to him, in few words -and with a repulsive tone; and calling him in private, proud, -overbearing, and ambitious, although he himself had personally no -cause to accuse him of such faults. - -John Ramsay, on the contrary, grew grave and thoughtful. He did not -seek the earl's society, but he did not avoid it; and the kind and -friendly tone which Gowrie assumed towards him, treating him as the -brother of an old and dear friend, his frank and open manner, and some -instances of calm and generous forbearance, when the young man gave -way to the impulses of a rash bold temper, appeared at once to pain -and to soften him. - -"He is a noble creature," he said, one day, speaking to Herries, who -had been decrying the young lord. "He may be ambitious, he may be -proud, and he must bear the brunt of his faults if they lead to acts; -but he is a noble creature, Sir Hugh; and when I look at him, I cannot -help thinking that he is like a gallant stag that has been marked out -for the slaughter." - -"That is very likely," answered Herries, with a cold sneer. "One -generally chooses the finest beasts to lay the hounds at their heels; -but I've a notion, Ramsay, that a stag which carries its head so high -might become dangerous if one did not run him down before his antlers -were fully grown." - -"Perhaps so," answered Ramsay; "more's the pity;" and he turned away -and left him. - -While this brief conversation was passing, Gowrie was seated with his -brother and sister in a small room of the palace, talking quietly with -them just before his departure. They were all careful in what they -said, and the subject of the king's conduct and demeanour to the earl -since his return was never mentioned, for James's ubiquity was well -known in the palace, and no one was sure where the monarch might be at -the moment. - -"Well, Gowrie," said Beatrice, "I shall try to get leave of absence -for a day or two while you are at Dirlton, and come and see you and my -mother; for there are a thousand things I want to talk to you about, -which I have never been able to speak of in this place, and never -should if we were to live here till we are gray-headed." - -"Of no great moment, I dare say, dear Beatrice," replied the earl, "or -you could have come to talk over them all at my lodging in the -High-street." - -"You men are all alike," said Beatrice, laughing; "you think all women -such frivolous creatures, that we can never have anything important to -say. Now, if I were to speak to you of the lady with the dark eyes, -whom you were bringing over from Italy, and who has never yet appeared -amongst us, would not that seem of moment, my lord and brother?" - -"Hume has been telling tales," said Gowrie, laughing. - -"Not a whit," answered Beatrice; "it is your own dear mother who told -the tales four or five months ago. She sent me your dutiful and humble -letter, my lord--I suppose to teach me to behave myself. But what have -you done with the dear girl? I long to see her soon.--Where have you -hid her?" - -"In a place of great security, child," replied her brother, gaily, but -still upon his guard; "and you shall see her, too, as soon as I have -proved to his majesty--who has taken it into his head that she has got -all the Earl of Morton's treasures--that her whole dowry consisted of -two thousand gold ducats, and that she and her grandfather have been -living in actual poverty ever since they fled from Scotland, nineteen -years ago." - -"But what could put it into the king's wise head that she had got the -regent's wealth?" asked Beatrice. - -"Such a thing was not as unlikely as you think," replied Gowrie. "The -king has a shrewd scent for such things; and so convinced was he that -it was the case, he sent Lindores to meet me on the road from -Carlisle, and claim my poor Julia as a ward of the crown. Lindores was -vastly mortified when he found I had left her behind; and the same -night, to console himself, he got drunk, and told me the whole story -in his cups." - -Beatrice laughed, and Alexander Ruthven laughed; but Gowrie went on, -saying, "I cannot venture to speak to his majesty on the subject -myself, and I have looked in vain for him to speak to me. I have -thrown the ball at his foot a dozen times, but he would not kick it; -though I have a shrewd notion, Beatrice, he would rather have me wed a -dowerless girl like this, than marry a rich bride." - -"Hie, Alex, boy! Alex!" cried the voice of the king, certainly not -very far from the door. "Alex Ruthven, I say, is your good brother -gone?" and James himself entered the room unattended. - -Every one instantly rose; and the king rolled on towards a seat, with -that peculiar ungainly shamble which was more conspicuous when he was -either moved by any strong emotion or wished to appear peculiarly -gracious. It was almost always a certain sign that the monarch was -dissembling favour when he approached any one with that roll very -strongly apparent. - -The only one in the room, however, whose clear sight and long -observation enabled her to judge the truth, was Beatrice Ruthven, and -she stood and gazed sidelong at the king, while Gowrie hastened to -advance a chair. - -"Weel, ye've an unkie cosy family council here," said James, seating -himself; "but, my good lord earl, there's something I wish to say to -you before you go--just in a private friendly kind of way." - -"Now comes the matter of my fair Julia," thought Gowrie, and he -replied, "I am happy to be here to receive your majesty's commands." - -But James had made up his mind not to utter one word upon the subject -which Gowrie thought he was about to touch upon, till the earl spoke -himself; and whether he had heard any part of the preceding -conversation or not--which will ever be a mystery--he kept his -resolution. "What I was about to say is this, my lord," he said. "We -are now at the twelfth of March, and on the twenty-third of the month -we propose to hold a council of our peers, to lay before them the -necessities of the state, which can only be subvented by the devising -of some new tax or subsidy from our faithful people, which may enable -us to carry on the work of government more at our ease--and very -little ease do we get for crowned kings, as the devil in hell kens, -who gives us so many troubles," continued James, in his more familiar -tone. "Now, my good lord, what I wish to say is, I must have your -advice and assistance in this matter, with other noble lords, like -yourself, and therefore I trust you will be back in time to give us -counsel, as you are sworn." - -"Most assuredly, sire," replied Gowrie; "I will not fail to obey your -majesty's summons whenever it is sent. I shall be found at Dirleton, -or at my poor house in Perth." - -"Moreover," continued the king, seeming hardly to notice the reply, "I -trust you will, as folks say, lend the king your shoulder in this -matter; for I can tell you, my lord, that we are sorely pinched and -straightened at this present, more than befits a king to be; and -trusting to your loyalty and affection, we believe that you will -farther us to the extent of your ability." - -"If it cost me half my estate, I will, sire," replied Gowrie, frankly; -"it shall never be said that my king was in need, and I refused to do -my share as far as my private fortune would go." - -"Well said--well said!" replied James; "I always knew you for a loyal -and faithful subject. But I fear, my good lord, that what any good -friend to the crown would do in his individual capacity--not that I -mean to refuse any free gift or kindly aid to the royal treasury, all -which should be repaid in bounties hereafter--but I fear it would go -but a little way to supply the vacuity in the finances--it would be -but a drop in a draw-well, man; and we must have a general tax, which -would spread the burden lightly and evenly upon all the good people." - -"When your majesty's views are fully developed," replied Gowrie, -seeing that the king paused for an answer, "I will, according to my -bounden duty, offer you in all humility my conscientious advice upon -the subject." - -"Ay, say you so, man?" said the king, with a slight frown upon his -brows; "well, I hope you will, and that your advice and my views may -run together. Go you first to Perth or to Dirleton, my lord?" - -"Not to Perth, may it please your majesty," answered Gowrie; "I have -not yet seen my dear mother, thinking it my duty first to offer my -humble respects to you." - -"There you were right--there you were right," said James; "the king -is, as it were, father to the whole land. When set you out?" - -"This evening, sire," answered the earl; "and if I could obtain your -permission, and that of her majesty, I would fain take this wild girl -with me, as she has not seen me, before this last week, for seven -years, nor her mother for as many months." - -"My leave you have, with my whole soul," replied the king; "and grace -go with her; for she found little here, brought little here, and will -leave little here. As to the queen, I doubt not her majesty will grant -her licence--soul of my body! if she doesn't, the lady is very likely -to take it!" - -Gowrie's cheek turned a little red, for he had been long unused to a -coarseness of speech which was as different from frank honesty as it -was from courtly polish; but he replied not, having steadfastly -resolved to bridle his tongue on all but great and important -occasions, and to avoid every occasion of offence. - -After a momentary pause, during which the king did not seem either -disposed to speak or move, Gowrie said, "Then we have your majesty's -permission to apply to the queen?" - -"Ay, ay, lad!" answered James, in a dull heavy tone, rising, and -moving towards the door; "I dare to say she will not refuse you leave -to take her where you please." And then he muttered between his teeth -as he passed out, "and the de'il gang wi' ye." - -Alexander Ruthven had opened the door for the king's exit, and after -closing it again, he said drily, as a sort of comment on the words he -had heard distinctly enough, "He means me: but I wish he had expressed -his permission more clearly." - -"Meant you! by what, Alex?" demanded Gowrie. - -"By the devil," answered Alexander Ruthven; "for he said to himself as -he was going out, 'The de'il gang wi' ye;' but we can't both be away -at the same time, I know, so I must even stay where I am." - -"Besides, you have had your holiday, Alex," answered Beatrice; "and -like most boys when they return to school, came back no wiser or -steadier than they were before. But I'll run away to the queen, and -ask permission on my bended knees; then, if I get it, I shall be ready -when you will, Gowrie. Oh! how I shall rejoice in a wild gallop over -the hills!" - -"Away!--away, then!" answered her brother; "and if Alex will give me -paper, I will write a letter to a friend in the mean time." - -Away sped Beatrice to the queen's presence, and kneeling down on the -footstool before her, she preferred her petition. - -"You must ask the king, love," said Anne of Denmark, who, with all her -many faults, and not very steady principles, was a kind-hearted and -amiable, as well as highly accomplished woman. "I can but ill spare -you, Beatrice; but far be it from me to keep you from any joyful -expedition; but you must ask the king's permission. You know he is -fond of despotic rule, even in his own household; and though I -struggle every now and then for the rights and liberties of women, -till he is fain to give way for the sake of a quiet house, yet I dare -not altogether take the rule even of my own maidens into my own -hands." - -"But the king's permission has been obtained, dear lady," replied -Beatrice; and seeing a slight shade of displeasure come upon the -queen's face, as if she thought she ought to have been first asked, -the young lady added, "Gowrie asked the king himself, your majesty." - -"Well, that is right," replied Anne of Denmark. "Tell your good -brother for me, that I regret we have had no means, since his return, -of entertaining him at our court; but we shall have balls and pageants -soon; and I trust to show him that we people of the north are not so -far behind his bright Italians. Now, kiss me, child, and go and -prepare." - -Beatrice Ruthven needed no long preparation; but she went first to -make her arrangements with her brother, and it was agreed that he -should go back to his own dwelling in the town, and return for her in -a couple of hours. While speaking together, she caught sight of two -notes he had written during her absence, and with a blush and a laugh -laid her finger on the back of one, as he held it in his hand, ready -to send. "I can see the name, Gowrie," she said. - -"Well, wild girl," he answered; "I will not send it if you dislike it. -It is only a note of invitation to Hume, asking him to meet us at -Dirleton. Shall I tear it?" - -Her only reply was a playful tap on the cheek, and away she ran to get -ready. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - - -It was about three o'clock in the evening when Gowrie and his sister, -followed by eight or nine servants on horseback, set out from the -gates of Holyrood. She looked bright and happy, and Gowrie gazed at -her from time to time with a look of thoughtful affection, tracing in -the beautiful young woman the same lines he well remembered in the -beautiful child. - -"Well, dear Beatrice," he said, "your little heart seems full of -rejoicing, and your cheek looks as fresh as the rose, and your light -limbs, though they be not at the largest, quite ready for any exertion -that may be needed." - -"Oh, I am equal to anything," said Beatrice, in the confidence of -young strength and health. "I think, on this nice jennet which the -queen gave me, and with you, my dear brother, by my side, I could ride -over half Scotland." - -"Perhaps I may try you," said Gowrie, with a smile. - -"What mean you, brother mine?" asked Beatrice, gazing at him. "You -look dark and mysterious." - -"How far can you fly in a night, busy bee?" asked Gowrie. - -"As far as a swallow," answered the young lady, looking up in his -face. - -But Gowrie, after a moment's thought, said, "No, sixty miles is too -far; still we will go on as far as we can, and then stop for the -night." - -"Man of mysteries, what do you mean?" cried Beatrice, in her usual gay -tone. "Whither are you going to take me? To some deep dungeon of one -of your castles in the mountains, to keep me a prisoner there during -your good pleasure?" - -"Yes," answered Gowrie, "I am." - -"But what has your poor sister done?" cried Beatrice, laughing. "I -have divulged none of your secrets. I have discovered none of your -plots. I am not even going to marry without your leave." - -"You have asked indiscreet questions," said Gowrie, assuming a gruff -tone--"indiscreet questions about a lady with black eyes. Is not that -offence enough to a tyrant brother like myself?" - -"Oh, I understand, dear brother--I understand. Let us get on, let us -get on to-night. I long to see her, and to tell her how I will love -her." - -"Hush, hush, hush!" said Gowrie, in a low tone; "if you are as -indiscreet as that, I will not take you. Everything," he continued, -almost in a whisper, "depends upon secrecy; for I must give the king -no hold upon me, Beatrice; and although, perhaps, with the -explanations I can afford in regard to the wealth he supposes her to -possess, he might not be so anxious to obtain her as his ward, yet I -will not put it in his power to refuse me her hand, or to make it an -inducement with me to do anything I think wrong." - -"There you are right," answered Beatrice. "I have learned to know more -of courts and kings than when you went away, Gowrie; and I would not -that any one I love was in the hands of that man for all the wealth in -Europe." A sort of shudder seemed to pass over her as she spoke; but, -after being silent for a moment, she continued, "Do you know, Gowrie, -I am very anxious for one thing, which is, that Alex should withdraw -from the court. I wish you could persuade him to give up his post, and -either go to travel, or betake himself to Dirleton." - -Gowrie turned and gazed at her with surprise. "I am astonished, dear -Beatrice," he said. "I should have thought that, in your situation at -the court, you would have been right glad to have Alexander with you." - -"For my own sake, I should," she answered; "and yet that is not wholly -true either; for I am kept in such a constant state of anxiety, that -his presence is more pain than comfort." - -"But what is the cause? What has he done?" demanded her brother, with -still increasing surprise. "You seemed the best friends possible." - -"And so we are," replied his fair sister. "It is for him that I fear, -for him that I am anxious. As to what he has done, or rather to his -whole conduct, I cannot well speak of it, Gowrie. He has done nothing -wrong, I do hope and believe; but he has been very imprudent. He has -many great and powerful enemies. The king loves him not, and will some -day or another work him ill. Sir Hugh Herries hates him mortally; and -he and young John Ramsay are always bickering. Because Ramsay's -education has not been equal to his own, and his manners are more -rough and less polished, Alex looks down upon him, and makes him feel -it. But it is the king I fear." - -Gowrie asked some more questions, but he could not get a satisfactory -reply; and, in the end, Beatrice said, "Ask Hume, Gowrie--ask Hume. He -will tell you more about it. He must have heard and seen enough." - -At this point of their conversation, however, they were interrupted by -one of the men riding up and saying, "This is the road to Dirleton, my -lord, which you have just passed." - -"I know," answered Gowrie, with a smile. "I have not yet forgotten the -way, Archy; but I have a friend whom I must see to-night. Take three -of the men with you, and ride away to Dirleton. Give that letter to -the countess, and assure her I will be with her the day after -to-morrow. Tell her that business which she wots of calls me over into -Perthshire; but that I will not spare the spur to be with her soon. -The lady Beatrice goes with me, and we will join her together. There, -look not surprised, but go. Leave Wilson and Nichol with me." Thus -saying, the earl turned his horse, and rode away at a quicker pace -towards Queensferry. "You must even abide a bit of sea, Beatrice," he -said; "for we have not time to ride up the river to-night; but we -shall get over in daylight." - -"Oh, I mind it not," answered Beatrice. "Speed, speed, Gowrie, is the -thing now. I will race with you, for all your horse's long legs." - -"Spare your beast--spare your beast," replied her brother, as she was -pushing her jennet into a quick canter. "You would make a bad soldier, -Beatrice, and a worse courier, if you spent all your horse's strength -in the beginning of a long journey. I doubt not that we could reach -Kinross to-night." - -"Oh, farther than that," answered Beatrice. "It is now hardly four -o'clock. We shall be over the ferry in half an hour, and at Kinross by -seven. We might even get on to Perth before midnight." - -The earl smiled. "You miscalculate your time, little lady," he -answered, "and your horse's strength, too. Besides, what should I do -with you in Perth? There is nobody but Henderson and an old woman in -the great house; and they'll be in bed by nine." - -"Let us go to Murray's Inn, then," said his sister; "that will be -open, I'll warrant. If you dare me, I'll soon show you that my -calculations are correct, both as to time and the jennet. I have -ridden forty miles upon her before now, Earl of Gowrie. It is you who -do not know what a Scottish girl and a Spanish horse can do." - -"Well, we shall see," replied the earl; and on they went. - -Queensferry was soon reached, and speedily passed; and during nearly -an hour longer the sun shone upon their way They had been lucky in the -tide. They were lucky in the evening; for the wind, which had been -high, went down before sunset, and, for an afternoon in March, the -weather was mild and pleasant. Having talked of all that was sad or -threatening, Beatrice's gay spirits returned in full tide; and, -keeping her own jennet at a good sharp pace, she would sometimes -playfully whip her brother's horse to make it go on, declaring it was -the laziest beast she ever saw, or else that he was determined not to -take her to Perth that night. Notwithstanding a short halt at the inn -at Blair Adam--where, we are credibly informed, there has ever been an -inn since the days of the arch-patriarch whose name it bears--they -reached Kinross by eight o'clock, and Gowrie admitted that they could -reach Perth easily, if his sister was not tired. - -"I have only one objection," he said, bending down his head, and -dropping his voice, "which is, that we might be detained in Perth till -late to-morrow, and besides, I told the king I was not going thither. -It may attract attention and create suspicion, if I either attempt to -conceal myself, or hurry on instantly after my arrival. I am not very -sure of Henderson's discretion." - -"Nor I of his fidelity," said Beatrice. "But what do you mean, Gowrie? -Is not the dear girl at Perth?" - -"No; at Trochrie, in Strathbraan," replied Gowrie. "Why, I told you, -silly girl, that there was no one at the great house but Henderson and -some old woman." - -"I thought you meant with an exception," answered Beatrice. "But, if -that is the case, we had better not go there at all. I tell you what, -Gowrie, I have a plan that will answer very well. Let us go to Rhynd, -and then up the Tay. At Rhynd we shall find good Mr. M'Dougal, the -minister, poring over his books; and right glad will he be to see the -yearl and his bonny titty Beatrix; and we shall have rare bringing out -of bottles and glasses; and if I am not compelled to drink some strong -waters, it will be by dint of vigorous resistance. Then we shall be -able to go on to-morrow without any one knowing aught about it, for -M'Dougal will ask no questions, and forget we have been there the -moment we are gone. I am thinking you might have taken a shorter road -to Trochrie, though; but I suppose you have grown so Italianized, that -you have forgotten all the byways of Scotland." - -"No, no," answered Gowrie; "but I came this way, that, in case of any -inquiries, we might puzzle the pursuers. The stags teach us, Beatrice, -to cheat the hounds; and so we get lessons from even the beasts we -hunt. But the difference is very small; and we shall arrive in good -time to-morrow. I like your plan well, dear sister, if you know the -way to Rhynd in the dark." - -"That do I well, Gowrie," she answered. "I believe my head was -intended for a geographer's, and got fixed on my shoulders by mistake. -I will send it back if ever I can find the right owner." - -"Ask Hume's leave first," said Gowrie. "I should think he would not -like to part with it." - -And on they rode through the darkness, Beatrice fully justifying the -account she had given of her own geographical talents. Not a step of -the way did she mistake, but even led her brother straight to the best -passage of the little river which joins the Tay near Rhynd, but the -name of which I forget, and thence up to the door of the minister's -manse. Her reception and that of her brother was as joyous and -hospitable as she had anticipated. The old man had known them both -well as children, and had seen Beatrice often since. But I must not -pause to give any detail of how the evening or the night passed; of -how the minister brought out his choicest stores for the earl, and -sought his assistance in translating a difficult passage of Hebrew; of -how he lodged Beatrice in a chamber all covered over with pieces of -quaint embroidery, worked by the hands of a defunct sister; or how he -gave up his own room to the earl, and laid strong injunctions on his -maid-servant to redd it up--otherwise make it tidy--which, to say -truth, it needed not a little. - -Beatrice slept soundly, and though the earl was kept awake for some -time by joyful thoughts of his meeting with her he loved, they were -both on horseback again within half an hour after daybreak; and the -good old man, after seeing them depart, returned into his house, to -spend his time, as usual, between books and bottles, sermons and good -cheer. It would be difficult to say whether nature had not originally -intended him for a monk, if John Knox had not been born a century too -soon, and compelled, what would have made an excellent Benedictine to -become a Presbyterian minister. He was a good man and a kind one, -however, acting by pleasant impulses, with a great deal both of the -corporeal and of the mental in his mixed nature; and, if not -possessing quite sufficient of the spiritual, altogether to curb the -appetites of the one part and the energies of the other, so as to -leave the purely ethereal her full exercise, yet he had a great many -negative virtues and some active ones, which might, in a mass, -compensate for a few not very violent failings. Mr. M'Dougal's -blessing, as his two young guests departed, and his prayers for a -pleasant and happy journey to them, seemed granted at once. All went -gaily and easily with them as they rode on; and when the castle came -in sight, with the wild and romantic scenery around--somewhat bare and -desolate indeed, but beautiful and characteristic, Gowrie strained his -eyes eagerly forward, gazing over the dark masses of gray stone, as if -he would fain have seen through them into the chambers within. By the -side from which he approached, Trochrie could be seen at a -considerable distance. True, it was lost again behind the shoulder of -a hill very soon; but, as he gazed at the walls, he thought he saw -something like a figure, clad in dark garments, move along the -battlements, not of the keep or donjon, but of the lower towers, which -were backed by the body of the principal building. He said not a word, -for love is timid of raillery; and he feared even the gay spirit of -his young sister. But the moment after his doubts were removed, for -the figure at the angle of the western tower stood forth against the -clear sky, and he could see her pause, and, as he thought, turn round -and gaze towards the spot where he and Beatrice were riding. - -"See, Beatrice, see," he cried, "she is upon the ramparts, and looking -out for me, as she promised she would." - -"She has nothing else to do," answered Beatrice, "except to gaze at -wild moors or gray stones, or the few scanty trees left of Birnham -wood. See what a difference there is between gay, wild, enthusiastic -love and calm, sober sense, Gowrie. You are all in a glow because you -think that she is watching for you, and, my life for it, she has been -looking at the corbies building their nests, just for nothing else to -look at." - -"Did you not look for Hume?" asked the earl, somewhat vexed, if one -must speak the truth. - -"Not I," answered Beatrice. "He found me and Alex quarrelling, or -rather, me scolding him, and Alex, pouting--but I do think there is a -woman on the battlements; and now she is moving away again. It may be -a man in a cloak, but yet it looks like a woman too.--Now don't expect -her to come down and meet you at the gate or on the drawbridge, for, -if she has any sense of her own dignity, and the subjection in which -woman should keep man, she will remain just where she is, and know -nothing of your coming till you go to tell her." - -At that moment the hill hid the castle again, and when, passing some -woodland, they came once more within sight of Trochrie, they were -close under the walls. Gowrie looked up, but Julia was no longer to be -seen; but, as he mounted the ascent, his heart beat with joyful -feelings to see Beatrice's light prognostication falsified. Beneath -the deep arch of the castle gateway, which stood wide open, with -portcullis up and drawbridge down, stood a figure which it needed no -second glance to identify. In an instant he was over the bridge, off -his horse, and by her side; and as Beatrice rode up, followed by the -servants, Gowrie took Julia's hand in his, and led her a step or two -forward to meet his sister. - -"She is not so coldhearted as you are, Beatrice," he said, gaily, "and -so did come down to meet us." - -But Beatrice was off her horse in a moment; and certainly her greeting -of her brother's promised bride showed no great coldness of heart. -Casting back the waves of her own bright brown hair, she kissed her -tenderly, saying, "I have teased him sadly, dear Julia, as we came, -just to prevent his impatience from breaking all bounds; but never you -think that I do not love you, whatever he may say. Have I not ridden -well nigh seventy miles to see you, with all the greater pleasure, -because it is so secret that it feels almost like treason, which is -the greatest of all possible delights to a woman. But come, let us -into the castle. You have neither veil nor coif on; and the mountain -air is not delicate, especially for those who have lived long in -southern lands;" and twining her arm through that of her new friend, -she led the way into Trochrie, with all the chambers of which she -seemed well acquainted. - -No servant presented himself as they went; and with open gates and -lowered drawbridge, the castle seemed at the mercy of any one who -might choose to attack it. Gowrie looked round with displeasure. - -"This is dangerous," he said, as they walked on across the outer -court. "Where are the men you brought with you, dear Julia? I should -have thought that Austin would have been more careful." - -"Austin is watching in the tower," said Julia; "and the women are -milking in the field behind; but the rest of the men are gone out, I -believe, to catch game in the valley on the other side of that great -hill. We found the place scantily supplied with provisions, and they -seem to have been accustomed to take such means of getting what they -want." - -Gowrie mused. "This was what I feared," he said; "but we must see that -you are better guarded for the future, love; and I am sure my mother, -if she knew the state of the castle, would have sent up all that was -needful for you." - -"And so she has, indeed," answered Julia. "Several horse loads arrived -this very morning--everything she could think of, indeed, to while -away the time; but, doubtless, the men, accustomed to a more active -life than I am, and not having so much to meditate upon, find it -dull." - -"They must learn better," replied the earl; and with this comment, -they walked on to a large chamber above, which Julia had made her -sitting-room, and decked out as best she could with the books which -Lady Gowrie had sent her, a lute, and a mandolin. - -A slight cloud in the morning often leads in the brighter day. Gowrie -was displeased with the negligence of his followers, and when they -returned soon after, he reproved them sternly for their want of -caution. Only two attempted to excuse themselves--the man who usually -remained in charge of the castle, who, with humble tone, and with the -deference of a clansman to his chief, declared that he had not been -made aware of his lord's wishes or the necessity of caution; and the -man, David Drummond, who had accompanied Julia thither, and who -replied to his lord in a tone of dogged sullenness, which Gowrie bore -with more calmness than either Julia or Beatrice had expected. - -"You must be more upon your guard, Donald," he said, speaking to the -first, "and, moreover, you must have some additional force here. You -must call in the tenants to the guard of the castle, and never suffer -it to be without ten men within at least. Give notice, too, that they -be prepared on the usual signals to come in with every man that they -can muster. The men of Athol, too, will come down to help you in case -of need. I will write to my good sister to-night, for I know not, from -moment to moment, what may happen; and it is my command to you to hold -out to the last against any force which may be sent to surprise -Trochrie, let it come under whatever authority it may. But we will -speak more to-night before I retire to rest. David Drummond, you go -with me to Perth to-morrow--be prepared." - -With these words, the cloud passed away from his brow and from his -mind, and the rest of the evening went by in unmixed happiness. Oh, it -was a dream of delight to a spirit like that of Gowrie--or, rather it -was the realization of a dream as bright as ever filled the mind of -man. Often, often on their way homeward from Italy, when gazing on the -fair face of her he loved with that mixture of ardent passion with the -purer, the higher, the more elevating tenderness which exalts passion -to the dignity of love, he had thought he saw the bright being now -before him sitting with those who were bound to him by the ties of -kindred and of early association and long affection, winning their -love as she had won his, becoming the child of his dear mother, the -sister of his sisters. And now, as she sat by Beatrice, with their -fair hands often locked in each other, and their arms sometimes twined -together, and their eyes gazing into each other's faces to scan the -features they were so ready to love and to print on memory, till a -passing blush or a gay smile was called up by the earnestness of the -glance, he would almost fancy that all dark auguries were swept away, -and that happiness was placed beyond the power of fate. He himself was -very silent with much joy; but Beatrice spoke cheerfully, and led -forth Julia's more timid but more deep-toned thoughts; and the sister -gazed and smiled with strong grave interest at the fresh spirit and -the eloquent originality of the brother's promised bride, and declared -aloud, that it was charming, that it was unlike anything of the earth, -that it was like an angel sent down now into a world of evil and of -care, of which she knew nothing. - -Then as the hours wore on, and night fell, and lights were lighted in -the hall, Gowrie persuaded Julia to sing; and the full rich tones of -the melodious voice pouring forth a finer music than was yet known in -the north, filled the old hall, and made the small panes vibrate -in the leaden frames, calling into being, in Beatrice's heart, -deep-seated emotions, the very germs of which she knew not to exist in -her bosom till occupied by the sunshine of the song. Sometimes she -almost trembled as she heard, and sometimes she well nigh wept; and -even the servants, lured by the sweet melody, peeped in and listened -through the partly opened door. - -Oh, it was a happy evening that, full of every sort of pure enjoyment, -and willingly, right willingly would I pause upon it long, and tell -the words of joy and hope and love that were spoken by all, and try to -depict feelings that brightened the passing hour. Willingly, too, -would I draw back from the darker scenes before me; willingly would I -linger in the sunshine, so bright in contrast with the dark cloud -coming up upon the wind. But the cloud advances--Fate is moving -slowly, but inevitably, forward. It cannot be! We must on! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - - -In the beautiful town of St. Johnstone, of Perth, on the west bank of -the river Tay, and in a line with the streets called Spey-street and -Water-street, the former of which, I believe, now bears the name of -South-street, stood, at the time I speak of, one of the largest and -most magnificent houses in Scotland, which well deserved the name of -The Palace which it sometimes obtained. It was generally called, -however, Gowrie House, or Gowrie Place, and occasionally, by the Earls -of Gowrie themselves, was termed "The Great House," to distinguish it, -probably, from their other mansions, of which they possessed several. -The extent of this building may be conceived, when we recollect that -the great court in the centre of the building was an oblong of sixty -feet in one direction, and ninety in the other. Round this immense -area rose four massive piles of building, raised at various epochs, -and of very different styles of architecture, but united into one -grand and imposing mass of masonry of a quadrangular form, and having -but one break, in the centre of the west front, where stood a large -and handsome gate of hammered iron, the view from which extended down -the whole line of the South-street. The gardens, which were very -extensive, and kept with remarkable care, lay at the back and to the -south, stretching in that direction to the town wall. At the -south-eastern angle of the garden rose a curious and very ancient tower, -called the Monk's Tower, from some tradition which has not reached me. -The parts of the building towards the Tay, and those towards the -south, were of an unknown antiquity, with walls of immense thickness; -and legends were current, even at the time of which I speak, of -persons having been confined by former lords, in secret recesses -within those heavy walls, and left to perish miserably. The northern -and western sides of the quadrangle were far more modern, and had -probably been erected either by the Countess of Huntley, who once -possessed the palace, or by some of the early Lords of Ruthven. By -whomsoever they were built, much pains had been employed to remodel -the internal arrangements of the older building, so as to make it -harmonize, within at least, with newer parts; and each successive Earl -of Gowrie had expended large sums in improving the accommodation which -the great house afforded, so as to meet the advance of his country in -luxury and refinement. Nor was decoration wanting; for in the south -range a number of small chambers had been swept away to form a -gallery, which was one of the finest at the time in Europe; and it had -been the pride of William, the first earl, to collect from all -countries, for this large chamber, pictures by the greatest artists of -the day. - -At each corner of the house was a tower or turret, and both at the -south-east and north-west corner of the great court was a broad stair, -leading to the rooms above. Several smaller stairs opened also into -the court, and one especially, in the south-west corner, led direct to -a large chamber at the western end of the gallery, called the "gallery -chamber," to which was attached a cabinet, named, the earl's study. -The large dining-hall and a smaller one were in the more ancient part -of the building to the east, and the lodge of the porter was by the -side of the great iron gate in front. - -This long description is not unnecessary, as the reader will find -hereafter; but it may be necessary now to proceed with the narrative, -begging the reader, however, to bear in mind the particulars which -have been mentioned. - -Towards the afternoon of the 14th of March, 1600, a man was standing -with his back towards the great gates of Gowrie Place, which were -partly open. The court behind him was vacant, and there were not many -people in the streets, for the labours of the day were not over in the -industrious town, and nobody was to be seen but a man slowly crossing -the South-street, or a girl wending her way along that which led in an -opposite direction. The man who thus stood gazing up and down the -street was a short, somewhat stout man, with a ruddy complexion, and a -light brown beard and hair. He was by no means ill-looking, and yet -there was a certain degree of shrewd cunning in the expression of his -face, especially about the small black twinkling eyes, which did not -prepossess a beholder in his favour. If one might judge by the -half-open mouth and narrow jaw and chin, there was also in his -character that species of weakness by no means incompatible with -cunning. He was habited in a good brown suit of broadcloth, and a -short black cloak, with no sword by his side, but a small dagger in -his girdle, and might well have been taken for one of the substantial -citizens of the town, had it not been for a sort of cringing air for -which the worthy burgesses of St. Johnstone were never famous. From -time to time, he turned and looked back into the court, as if he -expected somebody to appear therein, and once he muttered, "De'il's -in the wife! she's long ere she comes to take the keys." But a minute -or two after, he took a step forward with a joyous air, as a man on -foot entered the South-street, and nodded and beckoned with a smile. - -The man advanced with a quick step towards him, with a "Good day, Mr. -Henderson." - -"Ah, Wattie!" said the man, who had been standing at the door of the -great house, "what has brought you to Perth, and how are you and all -your people, and good Sir George Ramsay, your master?" - -"They're all well, sir," answered the man; "though, to speak truth, I -have not seen Sir George this many a day. I've been with the court, -Mr. Henderson, trying what I could do to better my fortune--all with -my good master's leave, however; and his brother John is doing all he -can to help me." - -"Well, I hope you will have good luck," replied Andrew Henderson, the -Earl of Gowrie's factor, or bailiff. "I wish I could do you any good, -Wattie; but the earl has been so long gone, that he can help little; -and as to Mr. Alexander, the wild lad and I are not such great -friends." - -"You can help me, nevertheless, very much, Andrew," replied the other; -"for you are just the man who must do it, if any one does." - -"How's that--how's that, Wattie?" asked Henderson. "I will do anything -I can, man." - -"Why, the case is just this," answered Sir George Ramsay's man: "the -old supervisor at Scoon is dead; and I'm to have the place, which his -majesty has graciously condescended to promise to Master John Ramsay, -if I can get the earl's factor's good word. Now, who's the factor but -yourself, man?" - -"Then my good word you shall have, Wattie," replied Henderson, -slapping him on the shoulder. "Didn't your wife's cousin Jane marry my -half-brother's second son? I'll write you a letter commendatory, in a -minute, to the honourable comptroller of his majesty's household. But -where have you put your horse, man?" - -"Oh, I just left him at Murray's Inn," replied the other; "not knowing -whether I should find you or not. Come and take a stoup of wine, -Andrew; and you can write the letter there." - -This proposal was readily agreed to, for Andrew Henderson was a man -who by no means objected to that good thing called a stoup of wine. He -called to an old woman who was now in the court, saying, "Here, Nelly, -take the keys; I'm going to Murray's Inn." And the two were soon -seated in the public room of Murray's Inn, as it was called, with -several other persons who were drinking there likewise. George Murray, -the keeper of the inn, was a man of good family, though it is supposed -of illegitimate birth; but what is certain is, that he had the best -wine in the town, and that his house was frequented by all the -principal gentlemen in the neighbourhood. Henderson and Sir George -Ramsay's man were soon supplied with what they wanted, and sat -drinking and talking for about half an hour; at the end of which time -a horse's feet were heard to stop opposite to the inn, and a minute -after, David Drummond, the dull looking servant of the Earl of Gowrie, -entered the room and looked round. The cheerful countenances of Andrew -Henderson and his friend Wattie changed the moment they saw him; and -Henderson exclaimed, "Ah, Davie, is that you, man? What brings you to -Perth? Is the earl coming?" - -"Ay, is he, Henderson," answered the man, looking heavily at Sir -George Ramsay's servant. "He'll be here in five minutes, and sent me -on to tell you. So you must get up and come away to the Great House -directly, for I've been there seeking you." - -Henderson was rising at once; but his friend Wattie laid his hand upon -his arm, saying, "Just write me those few lines to Sir George Murray -first. It will not take you a minute, Andrew." - -"Hold your tongue, you little stupid pock-pudding!" cried David -Drummond, in an insulting tone; "do you think he's going to neglect -his natural lord and master, to attend to such a thing as you are, Wat -Matthison?" - -"Ah, David Drummond, David Drummond," said the other man, with his -eyes flashing fire; "you killed my niece's husband, and you'll come to -be hanged by the neck, for all you think yourself so safe." - -"It shall be for killing you, then," said Drummond, who was a very -powerful man; and he struck him a violent blow with his fist. - -The other, though not so strongly made, instantly returned it; and a -regular battle would have ensued between them, had not the master of -the inn and all the other persons present interfered, and pushed them -by main force into the street. There they kept them apart for a -moment, and tried to pacify them; but soon getting tired of the task -of peacemaking, they left them to themselves, and Drummond rushed upon -Walter Matthison again. The two grappled with each other, and -struggled vehemently for a moment, the spirit and resolution of -Matthison supplying the want of physical strength. - -"Call the bailie! call the bailie!" cried Henderson, loudly. "De'il's -in it, Jock, can you not part them? Here, Murray, help us." - -But at that moment Drummond was seen to put his hand to his girdle, -and the next moment Matthison loosed his hold and reeled back with a -sharp cry, exclaiming, "Oh! the man's killed me!" and before any one -could reach him, he fell back on the pavement with the blood pouring -in torrents from his side. - -David Drummond, without staying to take his horse, or to look what he -had done, ran off as hard as his legs would carry him in the direction -of the Great House, pursued by a number of the people. He reached it -before them, however, rushed through the iron gates, which were open, -into the court, where several horses and men were standing, and then -flinging-to the gates in the face of the pursuers, turned the key in -the lock. This done, he attempted to rush into the house, but was -suddenly met by the Earl of Gowrie himself, who was seen to seize him -by the collar, and point with his hand to what was probably a mark of -blood upon his arm. The next instant, the people who were gazing -through the gates saw the murderer handed over to two of the other -servants, who at once proceeded to strap his arms together with one of -the stirrup leathers, while Gowrie, advancing to the gate, said to the -people near, "I wish, my good friends, some of you would call one of -the bailies to me, and ask him to bring the guard. I have a prisoner -here who must be handed over to his custody." - -"Long live the Earl of Gowrie!--Long live the great earl!--Long live -our noble provost! He will do justice," cried a dozen voices, while -two or three men ran off to bring the bailie. - -"Ah, my lord, this is a sad business," cried Henderson, coming up. -"I'm glad to see your lordship returned safely to your own place; but -it's awful to think that one of our people should shed blood in the -streets before he's been ten minutes in St. Johnstone. It's that wild -beast Drummond has done it, and it seems he has fled hither." - -"There he stands in custody for the deed, Henderson," replied the -earl; "and I give notice to all men that I will visit any offences -committed by my own people even more severely upon them than I would -upon others; and justly too, for most of them have been well nurtured, -and all are well paid and well fed. They have my example before them, -which I trust will never lead them to do wrong, and have always had my -commands to abstain from doing injury to any man. If they fail then, -their crime is the greater; and I will by no means pass it over. Who -is the man he has wounded?" - -"Wounded, my lord!" cried Henderson; "he's as dead as a door nail. -David Drummond there stabbed him to the heart, and he was dead in two -minutes, before one could lift his head up. His name was Walter -Matthison; a good, quiet, harmless man as ever lived. Ay, here comes -Bailie Roy." - -"Some one open the gates," said the earl; and advancing through the -crowd, he met Bailie Roy, a little, fat, pursy man whom he did not -know, with every sign of respect for his office. - -"I have sent for you, Mr. Bailie," he said, "in consequence of a -horrible occurrence which has just taken place in the town, in which -one of my servants, named David Drummond, has, I understand, slain a -man, called Walter Matthison. I have caused the accused person to be -instantly secured, and I now hand him over to you to be dealt with -according to law. You will be pleased to have him removed to the town -jail, and tried for the offence in due course. I myself shall return -to Perth as soon as the king's service permits me, and will hold a -justice court immediately after my arrival. If more convenient, -however, to the magistrates of Perth to proceed to the trial earlier, -I beg that it may be done without either fear or favour, for my -presence is not absolutely necessary; and the prisoner would certainly -meet with nothing but simple justice at my hands." - -"My lord, your lordship is extremely gracious," said the bailie. "The -magistrates will of course wait your lordship's leisure, as they would -not on any account be without the honour of your presence as our lord -provost on such an awful and important occasion. I beg leave to -felicitate your lordship very humbly upon your auspicious return." - -This speech was accompanied by sundry bows to the great man; and then -turning to his own followers, he said, in a more authoritative tone, -"Take hold of the atrocious villain, and away with him.[1] Our -noble lord provost, my friends, will take care that there is no -bully-ragging in the town of Perth." - -The earl was too much vexed and annoyed by all that had taken place to -afford a smile; and as soon as the prisoner was removed, he dismissed -the worthy bailie with a gracious speech, and retired into the house -with his factor, Henderson. Having seated himself in the lesser -dining-room, he inquired more minutely into the circumstances of the -transaction, of which he received an account very nearly, if not quite -true. - -"But who is this Walter Matthison?" he asked, after Henderson had told -him what he had seen with his own eyes. "Was he a married man? Had he -any family?" - -"He was a good, peaceable man, my lord, as ever lived," replied -Henderson, "and an old servant of Sir George Ramsay's, who was always -a kind master to all his people. Married he was too, poor fellow, and -has three or four children." - -"I grieve to hear it," said the earl; "something must be done for -them. Let me have paper and ink. I will write to Sir George directly." - -When the letter was written and sealed, the earl turned his thoughts -to other matters, and gave the orders which were necessary for putting -the Great House at Perth into a condition to receive him at any time -when he might like to come. - -"You must find me out a trustworthy person as porter, Henderson," he -said, "and engage whatever other people may be needful for the service -of the house, cooks, and sewers, and such persons. From what I see--we -must have the help of women's hands also, in order that everything may -be put into a better state, for the place is in a sad dusty condition, -Henderson. I am sorry to see that it has been so neglected." - -"Why, you see, my lord," said the factor, who was one of those men who -never want an excuse, "her ladyship your mother would but allow two -poor old feckless women while you were beyond seas. They could not do -much, poor bodies; but what they could do, they did do, I will say for -them; but I'll see that your lordship's orders are obeyed, and -everything put straight before you come back. Where I'm to get a -porter, I do not know--oh, ay, there's Christie, I forgot him; he may -do well enough--a quiet, stout man, just fit for a porter; and he's -seeking service, too. Would your lordship like to see any of the -accounts to-day?" - -"No, Henderson, no," answered the earl; "I must away to Dirleton as -soon as possible. Let me have a cup of wine. This sad business -distresses me sorely. I love not to have blood shed the very moment of -my entering the town." - -"Nor I either, my lord," said Henderson. "It's a bad sign." - -The last words were spoken in a low tone to himself; and retiring, he -brought the earl a small silver flagon and cup with his own hands. -Gowrie drank; and after giving some farther orders, and waiting till -the horses had consumed their corn, he remounted to ride on; but -hardly had his horse gone fifty yards from the gates, when he was -met by four men carrying a board, on which was stretched the body -of the unfortunate Walter Matthison, followed by a number of the -town's-people. Gowrie immediately stopped, and asked some questions, -by the answers to which he found that the body was being removed to -the house of a cousin of the deceased, named Symes, living in -Water-street. - -"Tell the good man," said Gowrie, "that I grieve much for what has -happened; that I have written to Sir George Ramsay about poor -Matthison's family, and will myself take care that they are provided -for according to their station." - -A murmur of applause and thanks followed, and the earl rode on, having -gained rather than lost in the esteem of his fellow-townsmen by his -demeanour on so painful an occasion. - -It was late at night before he arrived at Dirleton; but his mother was -still up, expecting him, and he was soon pressed warmly to her bosom. -His two young brothers also were there, all eager to claim affection; -but after the first joy of meeting was over, the first question was, -"But where is Beatrice?" - -"The dear girl chose to stay behind," said Gowrie, "to comfort and -cheer another like herself. I have to crave forgiveness, my dear lady -and mother," he continued, kissing the countess's hand, "for having -gone to Trochrie before I came to Dirleton; and I trust you will not -think I failed in duty." - -"It was quite natural, John," said his mother. "Hearts are like trees, -my dear boy: they must be taken from the parent stem, and grafted on -another, in order to bear good fruit. I have loved myself, Gowrie, and -have not forgotten what it is." - -"Love alone would not have carried me thither before seeing you, dear -mother," answered the earl; "but I feared that so strict and careful a -watch as is needful might not be kept up; and my suspicions were only -too correct. I found the castle gates open, and not a man in the house -but my English servant Jute. However, I have now spoken seriously to -Donald Mac Duff, our baron bailie, and taken such measures as to guard -against all chance of surprise. In case of need, Athol will come down -with help, and the clans would not be found wanting. And now, -William," he continued, throwing his arm over the stripling's -shoulder, "many, many thanks, my dear brother, for all your care and -kindness to one dearer to me than myself, and to you, my dear mother, -for your affectionate greeting of her, which made her no stranger in -the land of her fathers, or in the family of her future husband, -though she had never beheld either before. I shall stay with you here -for two or three days, and then go to bring Beatrice to you." - -"It is well you have come, Gowrie," said his mother, "for here is a -summons from the king to attend the council some ten days hence. The -messenger inquired curiously where you were; and we told him you were -gone to Perth, but would be back to-night. The king, perchance, may -send to seek you there." - -"He will find I have been to bonny St. Johnstone," said Gowrie, -laughing, "and to-morrow, by dawn, I will send off a messenger to show -him that I am now here. He will hear of my journey, too, most likely, -from other sources; for I am sorry to say a sad affair took place in -Perth between one of George Ramsay's men and David Drummond, who -stabbed him to the heart." - -"The cankered beast!" cried the old countess, "I wish I had not saved -him to kill another honest man!" - -"In that former business," said the earl, "both were in fault, so -there might be some excuse for him; but now the wrong was all on his -side, as far as I can learn; and so I have left him a prisoner in the -hands of the town. He shall have no favour from me, for he has been -well warned, and is greatly criminal. And now, dear mother, let us -talk of happier things----alas! your hair has turned sadly gray;" and -he smoothed it affectionately upon her brow. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - - -It was a gay sight in the town of Edinburgh, as, on the morning of the -twenty-third of March, all the principal nobles of the land rode, -gallantly attended, to the council for which the king's summons had -gone forth, and many were the persons assembled to see them pass. No -great joy or satisfaction, however, shone upon the countenances of the -good citizens of Edinburgh, for the rumour already had spread through -the city that a new tax was in contemplation to support the -extravagance of the king, and to enrich the minions of the court. -Never was a greater mistake made than that which is attributed to -David Rizzio, who is said to have expressed an opinion, when warned by -Sir James Melville of the peril which menaced him, that the bark of -the Scotch people was worse than their bite. On the contrary, history -proves that the bite, and that a sharp one, came frequently before the -bark. On the present occasion, there were no loud expressions of -popular feeling, except perhaps, when one of those barons in whom the -people had confidence happened to pass; but a dull and menacing sort -of gloom hung over the crowd, and whatever they thought, it was -expressed in low tones to each other. Gowrie was one of the first on -the way, and a shout greeted him when he approached the crowd -assembled near the palace gates, for there the council was held; but -the noise soon died away, and he was riding on, when a half-witted man -ran out from amongst the rest, and laid his hand upon the earl's rein, -saying, "Don't you vote for the tax, Gowrie! Don't you vote for the -oppression of the people. We poor folk can hardly bear it." - -Gowrie said some kind but unmeaning words to the poor man, and passed -quietly on his way, arriving at the gates a few minutes before the -appointed hour. At the door he was met by the king's porter, who -informed him that his majesty had not yet left his apartments; and -with a slow step and very thoughtful countenance, the young earl was -walking across to the foot of the staircase, when young John Ramsay -came hastily forward from the fireplace, by which he was standing, and -accosted him, saying, "My lord the earl, I wish to speak to you." - -"Ah, Ramsay!" said Gowrie, turning round, and holding out his hand, "I -did not see you!" - -The young man, however, drew a little back, and replied with a haughty -and somewhat overbearing air, "There are some matters to be settled -first, my lord, before I know whether we are friends or enemies." - -"It may be just as you please, sir," answered Gowrie calmly, gazing at -him with some surprise; "what is the matter?" - -"I understand, my lord," replied the young man, "that one of your -servants has murdered, in Perth, my brother's man, Walter Matthison--a -person whom I protected." - -The tone was very offensive; and the first answer that rose to -Gowrie's lips was, "Your protection, it seems, proved of little -avail;" but he checked the reply before it was uttered, and merely -said, "I am sorry, Ramsay, that such is too truly the case." - -"Then you will remember, my lord," said Ramsay, "that we will have -blood for blood. No great protection shall avail here, whatever it may -do in France; and serving men shall not wound or slay as good or -better men than themselves, however powerful or wealthy their lord may -be." - -Gowrie's cheek reddened, and his heart beat quick; but he mastered the -feeling of anger, and asked, though in somewhat of a stern tone, "Have -you heard from your brother lately?" - -"No, I have not, my lord," replied Ramsay. "What of that?" - -"Simply that if you had," answered the earl, "I think he would be -sorry both for your words and for your bearing. You have been -deceived, Ramsay," he said, in a milder tone; "certainly, with regard -to what has taken place in France, and I think with regard to what has -taken place at Perth. The murderer of your brother's servant--for I -can call my man, David Drummond, no less--was immediately seized by my -orders, and handed over to the justice of the town. I myself shall sit -as provost at his trial. I have invited your brother to be present, -and let me tell you, John Ramsay, that I say--which is something more -than what you say--that if all the power in Scotland, except the -king's grace, were exerted to save him from justice, he should die if -he be proved guilty, as I believe him to be." - -Thus saying, the earl turned upon his heel, and walked up the stairs, -leaving Ramsay feeling himself painfully rebuked in the presence of a -number of bystanders, who, to say truth, had the ordinary amount of -love for their rivals, the favourites of the court. There are two -things from which the mind of youth usually takes its impressions, its -own prejudices or passions, and the opinions of others. It is an after -operation of the mind, in nine cases out of ten, to seek for and to -ascertain facts, and to form our opinions upon them. Ramsay was -naturally rash, bold, and resolute; and though he afterwards, as Lord -Holdernesse, showed some signs of greater powers, at the time I speak -of they were all in abeyance, and he was ready to receive all the -opinions of others, and tincture them strongly or weakly, according to -the prejudices and passions already existing in his own mind. He -remained near the fire, then, for a full quarter of an hour longer, -gnawing the bitter lip, and angry without cause for anger. At length, -one of the ushers came down and whispered in his ear, "The king is in -at the council, sir. He's been in some time." - -"Pshaw!" said Ramsay, impetuously, and turned his back to the man who -addressed him. - -Another quarter of an hour passed, and various noblemen, who arrived -somewhat late, went up the stairs without Ramsay noticing them. At -length, one of them, who was acquainted with him, hurrying in, -remarked him standing by the fire, and said, "Ah, I am glad to see you -there, Ramsay. I was afraid the king would be gone in to the council, -for I was detained by----" - -"So he is," answered Ramsay, abruptly; and the gentleman hurried up -the stairs without waiting to finish his sentence. - -The young gentleman followed with a slow step; and when he entered the -council chamber, a scene presented itself which I must attempt to -depict. The king was seated in a large arm chair, or throne, a few -steps in advance of the private door through which Ramsay passed. -Before him stretched a long table, or council board, at which were -seated almost all the great nobles of the land. Behind the king's -chair, and nearly filling up the vacant space between it and the wall, -were a number of the gentlemen of the royal household. Amongst these -were Sir George Murray, Sir Hugh Herries, Sir Thomas Erskine, Mr. -Alexander Blair, David Moyses, and nearer to the door, Sir David -Murray of Cospetrie, afterwards created Lord Scoon, a man of more mind -and intelligence than James was usually inclined to tolerate. - -It would appear that the tax which the king wished to inflict upon the -people had been proposed for the consideration of the lords; and that -the debate, if it may be so called, had proceeded some way, for it is -known that the first three or four who spoke briefly expressed their -approbation. At the moment when Ramsay entered, however, the Earl of -Gowrie was on his feet, in the act of addressing the council. But that -he had spoken for some minutes; and that the argumentative part of his -speech was over was evident, for the only words which Ramsay heard -were, "For these reasons, my lords: because the tax would be -burdensome in its nature; because it would be unequal in its pressure; -because the people in this realm have not the means of meeting so -large a claim upon their loyalty; and because the actual necessity of -so great a demand, either for the purpose of maintaining the king's -royal dignity, or for securing the peace and safety of the country, -has not been clearly shown to exist; I, for my part, would humbly -petition his majesty, according to his great wisdom, to devise some -other means more easy to his loyal subjects for meeting the -necessities of the time----and," he added, after a moment's pause, as -if hesitating whether to utter the words which rose to his lips, "and -in his gracious condescension, and in that love and affection which he -is known to bear to all his subjects, to confine his requirements to -the limit of their means, and the most pressing exigencies of the -state." - -The earl sat down, and a murmur of applause ran round the lower end of -the table; but Sir David Murray turned towards Sir Thomas Erskine, and -said, fixing his eyes direct upon the Earl of Gowrie, "Yonder is an -unhappy man. They are but seeking a cause for his death; and now he -has given it."[2] - -Sir Hugh Herries, who was standing near, looked over his shoulder with -a dark smile; and Murray, as if he felt that he had imprudently -committed himself, quitted the room in some haste. - -A moment after, one of the ushers whispered in Ramsay's ear that his -brother was below, and wished to speak with him; and imagining that -the debate was likely to be long, the young gentleman went out, made -an appointment to meet Sir George in the evening, and returned. When -he reached the council chamber, however, he was only in time to open -the private door for the king to retire to his own apartments; but -James, who seemed in high good humour, gave him a sign to follow, as -he had previously done to Sir Hugh Herries; and when they reached the -royal closet, the monarch cast himself upon his thickly-cushioned -seat, and burst into a fit of laughter. - -"Well, bairns," he said, "that's done, in the teeth of Gowrie's earl; -and we shall get the money." - -"You would not have got it, sire, if he could have prevented you," -said Herries, with the true malignity of a court. - -"Ay, man; but we were too strong for him," said James. "He that -wrestles with a king who understands his craft had need be a stalwart -chiel." - -"I hope he may get a fall some day," said Ramsay, bluffly. - -James looked at him with a significant smile, "And so he will, Jock," -he said, "such a fall as may break his neck, perhaps; but we must give -him time. It's always better to let such lads weary themselves out, -keeping a watchful eye upon them, Jock, lest they play us a scurvy -trick. Soul o' my body, man, but he made a fine speech, though; well -delivered, with just enunciation, and every sentence well put -together. Not so bad for the matter either, if it had not been against -his king and his duty. He's a sharp-witted callant, if he was not -somewhat traitorously disposed, like the whole of those Ruthvens, -every mother's son of them." - -"I would soon stop their treason, if I were your majesty," said John -Ramsay; "however, you walk by wisdom and I by indignation, so your -majesty will of course walk best." - -"No doubt of it," answered James; and then, mingling a coarse -familiarity with an affectation of dignity, which only rendered the -one grotesque and the other ridiculous, he proceeded to say, "And now, -Jock Ramshackle, as you have rendered us many and signal services, we -are determined to confer upon you a high honour and dignity, by giving -you a clout upon the shoulder"--or as the king pronounced it, -_shoother_--"so go your ways; tell Tammy Elliot to bring us a sword; -but bid him carry it discreetly on the cushion, with the hilt towards -our hand, and to take care that it does not pop out of itself. They -are but kittle weapons." - -We must leave the learned reader, who may be so inclined, to -retranslate the king's speeches into the fine vernacular in which he -usually spoke; for we have only attempted, though somewhat more than -half a Scot ourself, to put in a word or two of the original dialect, -here and there, for vigour's sake; and, to say truth, we fear if we -had either the capability or the desire of rendering each speech of -his majesty word for word, most of our readers would be puzzled as to -the meaning, and many of them not a little shocked at expressions, -which we have omitted--for reasons which shall be fully assigned at -some future period in a dissertation which we intend to write upon the -oaths and blasphemies of Our late Sovereign Lord, King James, Sixth of -that name of Scotland and First of England, of happy memory. - -Young John Ramsay hurried away with a proud and joyous step to seek -the instrument which was to bestow upon him the honours of chivalry; -and, in the meantime, the king spoke more rapidly, and in a lower -tone, to Herries than was his wont, every now and then pausing and -saying, "Ha, man." To which Herries invariably replied, "Yes, sire, I -understand your majesty. It was the wisest course;" and to this -general approbation of the king's views he added, just as Ramsay was -returning with Sir Thomas Elliot and the sword of state, "But you'll -need cold iron before you've done." - -Ramsay instantly started and turned round, with a glance of keen -inquiry at the king's face, upon which James burst into a fit of -laughter, exclaiming, "Look at the young slothound, how it pricks up -its ears! I'll answer for it, put him on a trail of blood, and he'd -follow it till he pulled his man down." - -The youth coloured, for there was something in the comparison he did -not altogether like; but, kneeling at the king's feet, he received the -honour of knighthood--with the sheathed sword, however, which he did -not altogether like either. The king then dismissed him, with the -directions that he might have given a child, to "go and play himself;" -and for his own part, he remained shut up with Herries for nearly an -hour. At the end of that time, James and his counsellor came forth -together, and walked towards the queen's apartments, the monarch -concluding their conversation by saying, "Bide a wee; you'll see. -We'll frame such a cunning device that the birdie shall walk into the -trap, and if ever he gets out again, it will be the fault of the -fowler's friends, and not his who set the snare. But mind, man, not a -word or a look, as you'd have our favour. We shall ourselves be all -kindness and courtesy; and you must make our looks your glass, that -you may not scare the quarry from the net." - -"Don't be too civil, sire," said Herries, bluntly, stumping after the -king with his club foot. "He must feel that your majesty can't love -him: and I've known many a man put on his cloak when he saw the sun -shine too fair in the morning, because he knew it would rain before -noon." - -"Hout, tout! Would ye school me, man? Faith, you are too bold," said -the king; and he walked on with an air of pique. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - - -In one of the good old houses of the good old town of Edinburgh, and -in a handsome and commodious room, hung with polished leather stamped -with various figures of birds and flowers, in a fashion of which -hardly a vestige now remains, sat Sir George Ramsay and his younger -brother, just after the sun had gone down. The younger was in high -spirits, for, mere lad as he was at the time, he had many of the -weaknesses of the child still in his nature: varying in mood, easily -elated; when checked or disappointed, moody and irritable; when -prosperous, successful, and unopposed, gay, good-humoured, and even -placable. That morning he had been greatly irritated by the news--for -news travelled slowly in those days--that his brother's servant, and -that one of his own favourites too, had been killed by the Earl of -Gowrie's man, David Drummond; and the very calmness with which Gowrie -had met his intemperate insinuations and haughty bearing had not -served to calm him; but the knighthood just received had done more -than any arguments could have effected to soften and improve him; and -now he was talking cheerfully with one of much stronger sense and more -amiable character than himself, who knew him well, and how to direct -his mind to better purposes. - -"Well, George, well," he said, "I am glad to hear what you tell me of -the earl. I have no wish to think ill of Gowrie, and if he has acted -as you mention, perhaps he had a right to be offended at the way I -spoke this morning; and I will apologize. A man who is ready to fight -another at any time, need not fear to apologize; but Newburn stated -the matter very differently." - -"A man of honour need never fear to apologize when he knows himself in -the wrong, whether he be prepared to fight in a bad cause or not, -John," replied his brother, with a quiet smile; "and nobody, I think, -will suspect our house of wanting courage. As for Newburn, he is a -firebrand, and being now deprived of the power of doing mischief -himself by the consequences of one of his own insolences, he seeks -alone to set others by the ears. I have now had the whole story from -good William Rhind, who was in the carriage at the time. Newburn first -looked into the lady's face, with an insulting laugh, and then, when -the curtain was drawn, pulled it violently back, and thrust his head -quite into the carriage." - -"Then he deserved what he got," replied John Ramsay, frankly; "but as -to this other business, you must look to it, George; for I feel sure -that Gowrie is a man who will stand by his own people." - -"Doubtless, when they are in the right," replied the other; "but not -when they are in the wrong. I tell you, he seized the scoundrel with -his own hand, as soon as he saw him flying with the poor fellow's -blood upon him, and instantly gave him into the custody--not of his -own followers, as he might have done, and no one said him nay, but--of -the officers of the town. I forgot to tell you, too, that he has given -a pension upon the lands of Ruthven to the widow, and her two -daughters--fifty marks a year to each." - -"That's noble--that's kind!" exclaimed John Ramsay. - -"It is," said his brother; "but nevertheless, I shall go to Perth on -the day of the trial, not from any doubt of Gowrie's justice, but for -my own honour's sake. Thus, I beseech you, John, listen to no more -tales from Newburn, who would only deceive you. As for my part, I tell -you fairly, cousin or no cousin, he shall never darken my doors again. -I stood by him as long as a gentleman and man of honour could; but in -this business he sought so grossly to pervert the truth, that I will -have no more to do with him." - -Young John Ramsay mused for a minute or two; and his brother, thinking -that he was pursuing the same train of thought, added, "You cannot -deny, John, that his whole conduct through life has been disgraceful." - -"I was not thinking of him, Dalhousie," said the younger brother, with -a laugh; "I was wondering what Gowrie can have done with this same -beautiful lady--this Lady Julia Douglas, and what can have made the -king all in a moment seem to care so little about the matter. Either -his majesty, with his cunning wit, has found out where she really is, -and knows she is out of his power, or else he is waiting for the -return of the messenger he sent to Italy to inquire about her -treasures. The earl's movements have been very strange, as I told you, -and though so strictly watched----" - -But at that moment the door was quietly opened, and a servant said, -"The Earl of Gowrie, Sir George, is waiting at the stairfoot to know -if he can visit you." - -The colour came somewhat warmly into John Ramsay's cheek, for though -he had spoke of an apology, he did not think the opportunity of making -it was so near. His brother, however, instantly started up, and went -down to meet the earl, who took him kindly by the hand, saying, "'Tis -a strange hour to visit you, Ramsay; but I have been engaged all this -day, and hearing you had arrived, I would not let another pass without -coming to see you." - -"Welcome at any hour, my lord," replied Sir George Ramsay; "but how is -it--alone, and on foot?" - -"Even so, George," replied the earl; "had it been a visit of ceremony, -it should have been in the morning, with horses and attendance enow; -but as it is a visit of friendship, alone and on foot is best. I am -now the student of Padua again, and far more happy so than as Earl of -Gowrie." - -While this conversation was passing, they were climbing the somewhat -steep and difficult stairs of a house in the old town of Edinburgh, -with a servant going before to light them; and when they entered the -room where young Ramsay had remained, Gowrie seemed somewhat surprised -to see him, but held out his hand frankly. - -The other took it, not without grace, and feeling that he must speak -then or never, he said, "I have to offer my excuses, my lord, for some -rashness this morning, brought about by representations I now find to -be false, and I trust----" - -"Mention it no more, I pray, Sir John," replied Gowrie, seeing he -paused and hesitated. "I understood full well that you had been -deceived by that idle jade, Rumour, and had I not been in haste to get -over a most painful duty, I would have stayed to explain more fully. -Trust me to do simple justice in the case of the poor man who was so -foully slain at Perth; and when I have done so, never let -misconception of any part of my conduct breed coldness between us -more. And now, let me congratulate you on the honour I hear you have -this day received--none worthier, I am sure, and none who will do more -honour to knighthood." - -Seating himself quietly between the two brothers, Gowrie soon carried -the conversation away from things personal, and from all that could -excite one unpleasant feeling, or even difference of opinion. Having -mingled more in the world at large than either of the two brothers, -having seen more of mankind in every respect, he could always lead -where Sir George was very willing to follow, and mingling from time to -time some classical allusion for the elder, with conversation of hawks -and hounds, and courtly pastimes for the younger of the two, he -brought a brightness over the next half hour, which gained wonderfully -upon John Ramsay. So much indeed did it gain upon him, that he became -alarmed. He felt that he was beginning to like and admire a man whom -he wished to hate; that he could not believe all that he desired to -believe of him; and perhaps that he might learn to love the person -whom he was destined to overthrow. - -There was certainly some impression of the kind upon his mind. I do -not mean to say that it was any superstitious presentiment, for it -might have its rise in natural causes. The monarch to whom he had -devoted himself had so often displayed his jealous antipathy towards -the man beside him, had so frequently pointed to a coming struggle -between the sovereign and the subject, and had so clearly indicated -him, John Ramsay, as the person upon whose courage, faith, and -resolution he relied, that it was not wonderful, he should see in -Gowrie a man whom he was fated, sooner or later, to encounter as an -enemy, and with whom it were better to enter into no bonds of -friendship. - -These feelings impelled him to rise at length, saying, "Well, -Dalhousie, I must away back to the court. We are but servants after -all, though our master be royal; and we must perform our service. I -give you good night, my lord, and am happy that occasion has served -for my explaining conduct which must have seemed rude." - -Gowrie shook hands with him; but he said to himself, as the young man -departed, "Nevertheless, he loves me not, and will love me less when -he comes to think over what he will daily consider more humiliating." - -"Well, Dalhousie," he continued, aloud, "you and I need no -explanations. Your brother is a gallant youth, but young in mind as -well as years. It is a fault time and experience sorely mends, and I -doubt not he will do honour to your noble name." - -"My lord," said Sir George Ramsay, in an eager manner, "pardon my -abruptness, but I have much wished to speak with you alone, and feared -every moment that you would go before my brother." - -"What is the matter?" asked the earl, gazing at him. "I had hoped that -all chance of dissension was at an end." - -"With my brother, assuredly it is so," replied his companion; "he now -knows you better than he did, and all foolish doubts with him are at -an end. But, my dear lord, I wished to warn you that you are not well -at the court. You know I would not speak unadvisedly upon so serious a -subject. The king does not love you." - -"Of that I am well aware," answered Gowrie; "why or wherefore I know -not, and indeed it matters not. But I have done his majesty no wrong. -I have advised him, when called on to advise, as I think best for his -honour, his prosperity, and his peace; and there is no treason in -that, Dalhousie. But, indeed, his dislike began before that--even from -the first day of my arrival. I thwarted some of his plans, Ramsay, and -he does not soon forgive that. But the storm will blow by, and he will -find that I am a loyal subject though a sincere one, and forget his -anger." - -"The matter is more serious than that, earl," said Ramsay. "The king -is jealous of your wealth, your power, your influence at the court of -England, your popularity with the people of Scotland. My lord, I tell -you you are in danger." - -"I cannot think it," replied Gowrie; "I have given no cause for such -animosity. I defy any one to show a disloyal or even a suspicious act, -and I will give them no occasion, Dalhousie. My innocence be my -shield." - -"No disloyal act, if you will, Gowrie," replied Sir George Ramsay, in -the tone of strong friendship, "but as to suspicion, it is different. -The court is full of suspicions, and all aiming at you; and be you -sure, Gowrie, that when suspicion takes possession of the mind of a -coward, it makes him cruel as well as unjust." - -Gowrie mused. "If you can point out the causes of suspicion, Ramsay," -he said at length, "I may perhaps remove them, at least I will try, -provided that I can do so without sacrificing my duty to myself, to my -country, or to my God. I have offended the king by opposing him, but -in truth have done him good service rather than otherwise; and I can -neither regret what I have done, nor promise not to repeat it; but as -to causes of suspicion, I know none." - -"I find," replied Sir George Ramsay, "that the first doubts were -created by your frequent intercourse with the English ambassador in -Paris. Then came the extraordinary honour shown you by Elizabeth -herself----" - -"Exaggeration!" exclaimed Gowrie. "There were no extraordinary honours -shown me. The Queen of England was kind and civil, expressed an -interest in my favour, spoke of my father as I loved to hear, and once -or twice called me cousin; but I am her cousin, as near in blood, -though not in succession, as any relation that she has. King James is -the undoubted heir to her throne. He has no right to be jealous of -me." - -"Your relationship is a dangerous one," said Ramsay; "and when with it -is united the fact of your opposing strongly the views of a vain man, -an obstinate man, and a timid man, you may well fear suspicions. But -they have been increased by other things. You have been very closely -watched since your return to Scotland; and your course has appeared -somewhat mysterious. It is now known that you first crossed the border -near Berwick, then suddenly returned into England, and came round by -Carlisle. Again, you had an English servant with you, whose southern -tongue betrayed his country at once. You sent him with a letter to the -king, and he has since disappeared from your train, for the king -caused him to be sought for, wishing to cross-examine him after his -own peculiar fashion.--Let me go on, that you may have it all before -you. Shortly after your arrival you quitted the court, taking your -fair sister with you, and leading the king to believe that you were -going to Dirleton. Instead of so doing, you crossed the Firth, and -went into Perthshire----" - -"I told the king I was going both to Perth and Dirleton." - -"But you must have gone somewhere else than to Perth," said Ramsay, -"for although it is not known where you did go, yet they have -ascertained that you did not reach Perth till the fourteenth of the -month--in short, that you were two nights absent, neither at Perth nor -Dirleton, and moreover that you did not enter Perth from the side of -Edinburgh." - -"I have other estates I might wish to visit," said Gowrie; "and I did -visit them, Ramsay. But if every movement of a Scottish gentleman is -thus to be watched, life in this land would be very little worth -having." - -"I ask no questions, my lord," said Sir George Ramsay. "I speak but as -a friend anxious for your safety, and wishing you to know all and see -where the danger lies. Upon slight grounds men will build up strong -fabrics of suspicion, especially against those whom they hate and -fear; and although I know not exactly in what direction the king's -doubts point; but I can easily conceive that, from the supposed honour -shown you by the Queen of England, from the appearance and -disappearance of a certain servant, from your various movements, and -the secrecy which has attended them, he may imagine that you are -engaged in some intrigues with Elizabeth, and we all know well how -unjustifiably she has meddled with the affairs of this land." - -"On my honour and soul, Ramsay," answered Gowrie, "I know of none of -her intrigues, if she has been carrying on any. I hold no -communication with her whatsoever. I have heard nought from her, sent -her no information, and never will consent to a foreign sovereign -taking any part whatsoever in the internal affairs of this land--nay, -not to save my head from the block." - -"I do believe you, my noble friend," answered Ramsay; "but still -suspicion, if raised to such a pitch as it has been here, is as -dangerous when false as true, when groundless as just; and I tell you -that you are in danger." - -"Of what?" exclaimed Gowrie. "Does he propose to arrest me, to try me? -Let him do it. He will only bring disgrace upon his own head for -persecuting a loyal subject who has done no wrong. I have never given -the slightest cause, Ramsay. I never will; and I dare him, I dare the -whole world, to find any flaw in my conduct which can give an opening -to a plain and straightforward accusation." - -"That is likely too," answered Ramsay, shaking his head, "and I do not -believe that any straightforward accusation will be made. The times -are past when men could be murdered under form of law; and greatly as -all men must regret the anarchy and confusion which reigned in the -land so long, yet they have acted as a purifying fire, and produced -that freedom which is the best safeguard of justice. But there are -other means, Gowrie, for ridding oneself of an enemy or of a suspected -friend--secret means, much more easy to hide beforehand from the -victim, and to cover over after with the mantle of authority, than the -coarse expedient of manufacturing charges or corrupting judges." - -"Good Heaven!" exclaimed Gowrie; "and is this Scotland?" - -"Ay, even so," answered Ramsay. "I will not suppose that the king -would order or attempt such a thing; but there is many a ready hand -prepared to execute what is believed to be the royal wish, many an -eager eye watching to discover what that wish may be. Recollect what -happened in England when Becket, the proud opposer of the crown, a -churchman, fenced in with all the hedges of Rome, was slain at a mere -hint from the sovereign he had offended. We have as rash men amongst -us as Tracy and his companions; and, in your case, you have none of -the safeguards which Becket had. How many accidents could happen by -which the Earl of Gowrie might lose his life?--a street brawl even, -with which he had nothing to do--a chance shot during a hunting -party--a blow struck in apparent sport; I could name a hundred ways in -which the thing might be accomplished, without danger to the -perpetrator of the deed, or imputation upon the prompter." - -Gowrie rose, and walked up and down the room, thoughtfully; and, after -a short pause, Ramsay continued. "I have spoken my mind freely, my -dear lord, from our boyish friendship, and from sincere esteem. I have -ventured to say things which put in your power, even perhaps my life; -but I know your generous nature too well not to feel sure that my -confidence will never be abused." - -"Be you quite certain of that," answered Gowrie, pausing and taking -his hand. "But what would you have me do, Ramsay? I see the dangers of -which you speak; but I perceive no way of avoiding them." - -"There are but two ways that I know of," answered Ramsay. "If you can -remove the king's suspicions, and convince him of your loyalty and -devotion, the danger will pass away." - -"Remove some of his suspicions, I might," said Gowrie, thoughtfully; -and his mind rested on Julia's situation, and the chance that existed -of his being able to prove, to the king's satisfaction, that she knew -nought of her father's wealth, and had never possessed any part of it. -Could he do so, and obtain the royal consent to his marriage with her, -the mystery attending some of his late movements could be explained at -once. But he resolved at all events, whatever might be the risk, not -to divulge the place of her concealment till she actually was his -wife. He repeated, then, after thinking for a minute or two--"Remove -some of his suspicions, I might, and I will try to do so, if it can be -effected without a sacrifice which not even safety could compensate. -As to proving to him my loyalty and devotion, I know no way but that -which I have already followed--to be loyal and devoted in seeking what -are really his best interests." - -Ramsay shook his head; and the earl replied to this mute -answer--"Well then, Ramsay, I can do no otherwise; if it costs me -life itself I will not abandon the cause of civil and religious -liberty. I will be no consenting party to the oppression of the -people. I will not be the stay of despotism, nor the tool of arbitrary -power. Let him take my life rather than that; for I will not hold the -fee-simple of existence on the tenure of dishonour." - -"There you are right," answered Ramsay; "and your views are mine; but -the difference between us is, that you, by your high position, are -called upon to act and speak in dangerous circumstances, when I may be -still and silent. However, try what you can do to remove the king's -suspicions--to account, at least, for some part of your conduct. Nay, -smile not, my dear lord, for things that seem very simple to you, -magnified by the optic glass of jealousy, grow into vast -importance.--Try, I say, what you can do, but wait a few days, till -the remembrance of this morning's work is somewhat softened. There is -no present danger, I do believe. Such schemes take long in hatching; -and you will have time to see how the king bears with you. If he is -dry and sharp, you may doubt his intentions; if he is wondrous kind -and over familiar, showing you great favour and unwonted friendship, -then be you sure he meditates mischief. That is the time for taking -the alternative,--quitting the court, and keeping yourself out of -harm's way. I will take care that you shall have every information -that is communicated to me, except that which comes under the seal of -secresy; but I beseech you, my dear lord, linger not too long, but -trust in my word that I speak not without good cause, and perhaps -suspect more than I say. For the plucking of such a goodly bird as -yourself," he continued, with a faint smile, "would furnish many a -poor half-moulted fowl of the court with golden feathers for the rest -of life." - -Gowrie thanked him again and again, and then took his leave; and, in a -very thoughtful mood, returned to his own house. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - - -It is a hard task for a frank and honest mind to assume an easy and a -careless air when there are dark thoughts and heavy doubts within. -Gowrie did not return to the court on the day after his conversation -with Sir George Ramsay. He felt that he could not banish the -impression that he had received from his demeanour. On the following -day, however, he did go to Holyrood, and was extremely graciously -received; and for a week more he continued to frequent the court with -other men of his rank and station. The queen always received him with -peculiar favour; and in her circle he met with many of those whom he -loved and esteemed, so that he gradually regained all his -cheerfulness, although he was not inclined to share in the somewhat -boisterous mirth of the king, or to take part in his vulgar -pleasantries, which had full scope and licence on the first of April. -On the third of that month, however, he craved a private audience of -the monarch, and, after some little hesitation, was admitted. - -James was in the midst of books and papers; and his manner, though -exceedingly condescending, was somewhat embarrassed. "We would not put -you off with a poor excuse, my lord," said the monarch, "for we could -not tell what you were wanting; but you have chosen an ill time for a -long confabulation, as we were writing a disquisition for our poor -people of Scotland, and perhaps for the good folks of England too, -upon the nature and property of witches and warlocks, and how to -discriminate them justly." - -"I crave your gracious pardon for my intrusion, sire," replied Gowrie, -"and can well wait your majesty's pleasure. The matter is one entirely -personal to myself, and therefore should not for a moment be allowed -to interfere with your more important avocations. I will, therefore, -by your majesty's leave, retire, and wait upon you at some future -period when you have more leisure." - -"No, no--stay!" said the king. "Let's hear what it's about. We shall -always find great pleasure in doing what we can to show our favour to -you, Earl of Gowrie. Speak, man, speak. What are ye seeking?" - -"Merely your gracious leave and permission, sire, to wed a lady to -whom I am much attached." - -There was a small spot on James's forehead just above the eyebrows, -which the monarch was accustomed to contract when eager and attentive, -and that spot now grew very red. - -"What, with the Lady Arabella Stuart?" he said. "So runs the rumour. -We have heard of it. But you are cousins, my Lord of Gowrie; and we -like not cousins marrying." - -"There would be a thousand other objections to such a union, please -your majesty," Gowrie replied, "all of which I see and appreciate -fully----" - -"Then what the de'il makes ye seek it?" asked James, abruptly, and -evidently in a very angry mood. - -"Such a thing never entered into my contemplation, sire," answered the -earl, "nor did I ever hear that rumour had done me such a needless -honour till this moment. I am in no way ambitious, sire. I neither -seek to augment my fortune, raise my family, nor increase my -influence. That lady's hand may well be bestowed upon some sovereign -prince, but not upon the Earl of Gowrie." - -"Ha, my lord, you speak well," said the king; "but some trick has been -put upon us. We have not long since been told that our good sister and -cousin, the Queen of England, had offered you the lady's hand when you -were at her court of London." - -"Doubtless, sire," replied Gowrie, "gossip and jealousy, together, -have connected many a tale with my short residence there, equally -false with this. The queen never mentioned the Lady Arabella's name to -me; and, as she happened to be absent from the court, I never even saw -her. Had such a thing been proposed, I must at once have declined, -without even troubling your majesty upon the subject, inasmuch as I am -attached to another lady, and contracted to her by promises which I -neither can, nor desire to break." - -James had listened attentively while the earl proceeded, and it was -evident that he felt much satisfaction at what he heard; but he spoke -no more of the Lady Arabella. - -"Promises," he said, when Gowrie paused, "promises before witnesses?" - -"Before one witness at least, your majesty," replied Gowrie. - -"That is not a congregation," said the king. "By word of mouth or by -writing?" - -"By both, sire," answered Gowrie, decidedly. "I am bound to her in -every way that man can bind himself." - -"That is serious, my lord," said James. "You would have acted more -wisely and more dutifully too, if, before undertaking such things, you -had consulted us--not to say asked our consent as pater patriae. It is -serious, good earl, I say; but we'll find a means to liberate you." - -"But, sire, I do not desire to be liberated," replied Gowrie, with a -smile. "I desire to be faster bound than ever, both to the lady and -your majesty, by your graciously consenting to our speedy union." - -"That's a joke, man, but not a good one--" said the king, laughing -grimly; "considering all things, it's not a good one. Now you are all -obedience, you see, and humbly asking my consent, which I dare to say -you would do without, if it were refused." - -Gowrie felt some embarrassment, for he could not bring himself to say -he would not, and yet he did not like openly to set the king's -authority at defiance. James, however, relieved him by saying, "But -who's the lady, man? Let's hear all about her." - -"I met with her in Italy, sire," replied Gowrie. "She was then living, -I may say, in poverty, with her grandfather, the Count Manucci." - -"Ha, ha! now we have it," cried James, laughing loud. "I know all -about the story now. The daughter, or the reputed daughter of black -Morton." - -"His real and lawful daughter, sire," replied Gowrie, "as these papers -will show your majesty. The originals are in the lady's keeping; but -the names of the witnesses put the matter of her birth beyond all -dispute." - -"Ah," said James, taking the papers in his hand, and casting his eyes -slowly over them, "it's good and honest to be lawfully born; but that -is all she'll get by these rags of papers, for the estates of old -Morton were all confiscate to the use of the crown, and were granted -long since, with the advice of our council, to better deserving people -than himself." - -"I fear it is as your majesty says," replied the earl, calmly, "for I -have looked over the papers well, and do not believe that, even this -small act of settlement upon the lands of Whiteburn can be now -maintained." - -"Ha, say ye so, man?" cried the king. "You're a lawyer too, it would -seem, and in this case a good one. I can tell you that the parchment -on which this is drawn is not worth an old bull's hide. However, she -ought to have a goodly tocher, for Morton had been scraping money -together all his life, and as nobody could ever find where he put it, -there's no doubt it was carried off by this lassie's grandfather and -her mother." - -"I can assure your majesty that you are in error there," said Gowrie. -"Count Manucci lived in absolute poverty from the time he quitted -Scotland, having been expelled from Florence, as your majesty probably -knows, on account of his religious opinions. He received a small -pension from the Earl of Angus up to the day of his death, which the -earl would certainly not have paid if the count had obtained -possession of all his uncle's wealth." - -"That looks like truth," cried James. "I should not wonder if Angus -had got the money himself."[3] - -"Of that I know nought, sire," answered Gowrie; "but I can assure your -majesty that the only wealth this dear girl brings with her to me is -herself, and three thousand ducats which her grandfather had saved." - -"Sorry to hear it," said the king. "We could have wished you a -wealthier bride, my lord;" and there he stopped. - -Gowrie remained also silent, anxious to hear what the king's -consideration of the subject would lead him to, and at all events to -get some definite answer upon which he might act. He thought that the -next question might be, where he had left Julia, but he was prepared -with an answer even for that, although he much wished to avoid being -compelled to give it. James, however, notwithstanding his despotic -principles and his anxiety to establish a complete absolutism in -church and state, was constitutionally timid with those of whose -resistance he had had any experience; and he did not like to drive the -earl to refuse an answer. He therefore merely said that which -precluded him afterwards from acting upon the information he had -really obtained, giving the earl greatly the advantage. - -"And so the lady is in Italy?" he observed, after a somewhat -lengthened pause. - -"No, sire, she is not," answered Gowrie. "Her present abode I have -engaged to keep secret, till such time as I may be permitted to -present her to your majesty as my wife. Immediately that such is the -case, and that we can be married, I will go to seek her, with your -majesty's leave." - -"As far as the court of London, I suppose?" said James, somewhat -bitterly. - -"No, sir, not above one quarter as far," replied the earl. "I should -have been very sorry to have given any foreign prince a hold upon me, -even through my affections." - -James remained silent, and seemed to hesitate, for he played with the -points of his doublet, and shuffled about the papers on the table. - -"Well, my lord," he said at length, "the question is one of some -difficulty. We must consider of the subject fully. All those -Douglasses, even to the second degree, are banished men--exiled from -the land; and it cannot be decided just in a moment whether we shall -open the door to any of them. Besides, it might make strife and -contention. Here, you see, is a sort of claim set up to the lands of -Whiteburn, long since bestowed upon our faithful servant, Andrew -Stuart." - -"I will give an undertaking, sire, under my hand, that those claims -shall never be pursued," said Gowrie, "under the penalty of forfeiting -five times their value." - -This wasn't exactly the end, however, at which James wanted to arrive; -and, affecting a little impatience, he exclaimed, "There, then, man, -you've had your answer. We will give the matter our consideration, and -after due deliberation had, we will say yea or nay, as may seem -fitting. There, now, gang your ways, my lord. We have other things in -hand just now." - -Thus unceremoniously dismissed, Gowrie retired from the king's -presence with no slight feelings of impatience and disgust. Delay was -evidently the object, but to what end this delay could serve, seemed -difficult to divine; and during the next ten days he was frequently -tempted to recall the subject to the king's mind, with as urgent -application as that of Buckingham for "the earldom of Hereford and the -moveables." He refrained, however, anxious not to injure his own -cause; and still the king abstained from giving any direct answer, -although, with a varying favour, he treated him one day with somewhat -too familiar kindness, and the next with cold indifference. - -This playing with his expectations wore his mind and depressed his -spirits; and his long absence from her he loved kept him in a state of -irritable impatience, for he had fondly hoped to bear to Julia the -tiding that the king's consent was given. - -He found consolation, indeed, in the frequent society of his sister -Beatrice, who, wise beyond her years, yet gay and sportive as a child, -at once counselled him aright and cheered him on his way. Seeming -never to fear anything, she was nevertheless watchful and alive to all -that passed at the court, which could in any degree affect her -brother; and much information did both she and Gowrie gain from her -gay lover, Sir John Hume. - -Day passed by on day, however; and the king seemed to have totally -forgotten the subject of the earl's application, till at length, in -speaking with his sister, Gowrie said, "I can bear it no longer, -Beatrice. I will away to Perth." - -"If you get to Perth," answered Beatrice, "you will not be long away -from Trochrie, Gowrie." - -"Perhaps not," answered the earl; "but I will write to the king first, -Beatrice. If he refuses his consent, I will do as best I may, though -it may be dangerous, if the law does really make her a ward of the -crown; but I doubt the fact where there are no lands to hold. If he -consents, it is all well; but I must and will have some answer." - -"Be not rash, Gowrie--be not rash," said his sister; "a day very often -brings forth important things." - -"I am for Perth to-morrow," replied her brother, in a determined tone; -"but I will soon return, and perhaps my absence may recall me to the -king's mind more than my presence." - -Without taking any leave of the court, Gowrie set out on the following -morning, and rode with all speed to Perth, where he remained two days -arranging his household, and seeing that everything was prepared for -resuming his residence in his native city. He was then absent for one -whole day and a great part of the next; and the reader need not be -told where he spent his time. - -On his return he was informed that the prisoner, David Drummond, -desired to see him at the town jail; but although the message was -brought by no less a person than Bailie Roy, the junior magistrate of -the town, the earl refused to visit the prisoner. - -"Tell him, good Master Roy," he said, "had he not been one of my own -servants, I would have come to see him at his request; but such being -the case, I will deal with him no way privately before his trial." - -When the worthy bailie departed, Gowrie expected to hear no more of -the matter; but he was surprised, about half an hour after, as he was -walking somewhat sadly in his garden, to see Bailie Roy posting up the -path towards him. - -"I most humbly beg your lordship's pardon," said the good magistrate, -approaching; "but I am forced to intrude upon your private recreation -by another message from that dour divot, David Drummond. He bade me -tell your lordship that if you would not see him he would apply to the -king, and might tell him some things that he would be glad to hear." - -"Then, by all means, let him pleasure his majesty," said Gowrie. "I -would not for the world deprive him of any valuable or agreeable -information. In short, Master Roy, I will not see him; and he should -know me well enough to be sure that when once I have said so I will -not alter." - -Notwithstanding this determined answer, the prisoner's message left -the earl thoughtful and anxious. "The only thing he can tell," thought -Gowrie, "is the retreat of my poor Julia. The king has sent no answer -to my letter. I will wait till noon to-morrow, and then go to demand -one myself--I do not think he would venture to attempt to take her -from my protection by force; but we shall soon see, and, thank God, -everything is prepared." - -No letter came on the day following, and Gowrie set out for Edinburgh -after the noon meal. He arrived too late to visit the court that day, -indeed; and was sitting down with all the evil anticipations of an -impatient spirit under prolonged anxiety, when the clouds were -suddenly dispelled, and a brief gleam of sunshine broke through the -canopy of storm that was fast spreading over him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - - -"Gowrie, Gowrie, Gowrie!" cried the voice of Sir John Hume from the -antechamber, almost as if he had been calling to a dog; and the next -moment the gay knight entered with his face all radiant. "Where are -the once sharp ears of the noble earl?" he continued, "ears that would -have heard the hunter's, halloo, from Stirling to Linlithgow. Why, I -called to you out of my high window in the High Street as you rode by, -till the echo at the Blackford hills shouted out Gowrie; and you -spurred on as if you had stopped your ears with wax, like Don Ulysses -when in danger of the fair ladies on the shore. Would to Heaven all -our mariners would do the same when they first land." - -"I did not hear you, Hume," answered Gowrie, in a grave tone. "In -truth, my friend, my heart is very sad, and my outward faculties have -little communication with the spirit within. But what makes you look -so joyful?" - -"One of the strange revolutions of the court of King Solomon," -answered Hume; "whether his majesty has found out some sovereign -remedy for dispelling the black humours, or for warming and comforting -the spleen; or whether his favourite brack has cast him a litter of -peculiarly fine pups; or whether Queen Elizabeth has declared him heir -to the throne of England, or the Queen of Sheba has sent word to say -she will be here to-morrow, or--But never mind, something or another -has turned the gall and verjuice into honey and sweetness, and -especially towards your dearly beloved family. He ran after Beatrice -to-day to the queen's very knees, vowing he would fasten her shoe, -while I was forced to stand by looking demure; and he actually gave -Alex a hawk--it is not worth a bodle, by the way, but still the gift -was something, considering who it comes from." - -"I wrote to him from Perth," said Gowrie, "beseeching him to give me -an answer to the suit, which I told you I had preferred, and he has -never replied my letter." - -"Done on purpose to fret you," answered Hume; "he said so before the -whole court this very day, and called you a love-lorn gallant." - -"I care not what he calls me," replied the earl, "so that he do but -consent freely." - -"He does consent," replied his friend, "and all your troubles on that -score, Gowrie, are at an end. So smoothe your wrinkled brow, my noble -lord, and give cold care to the wind." - -"Are you quite sure?" demanded the earl, hardly believing the joyful -tidings. - -"Surer than of my own existence; for that I know nothing about," -answered Hume, "had it not been for that overt act, I should have -doubted his majesty's sincerity, for his sunshine is not always -summer. But deeds speak for themselves. I will tell you how it all -happened.--Three days ago he was in an awful mood, and pulled more -points off his hose than he had money in his coffers to put on again; -but just then came in the news of Stuart of Greenallan's death without -heirs, and all his moveables are seised to the crown, besides a large -sum in ready money, which he left by will to the king--knowing he -would take it if he did not. Well, this windfall mollified him -mightily, and he has been improving ever since. But this morning he -has had a dispute with three ministers touching church government, and -Heaven knows what besides, and he quoted all sorts of books that -nobody ever heard of before--long screeds of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, -till I believe, upon my life, the poor bodies were quite, as they -said, _dumfounded_, and fairly gave in. I would wager my best horse -against a tinker's donkey, they did not understand a word, and the -king himself not half of what he poured forth upon them; but they -owned in the end that his majesty was right and they were wrong, for -they could not confute his arguments or reply to his authorities. One -old fellow, indeed, made some fight for it, and answered in Greek and -Hebrew too; but the king had two texts for every one of his, and so he -too was beat in the end. From that moment he has been all frolic; and -this afternoon he held up your letter before dear Beatrice's eyes, and -asked if she knew who that came from. So she answered, gaily, 'From -one of your majesty's sweethearts, I suppose.' 'Faith, no such thing,' -said James, 'but I'll try and make him a sweetheart before I've done, -and that by giving him his sweetheart too. It's from your own brother, -John, saucy lassie--a most disconsolate epistle, because I forgot to -tell him he should have the bonny bird he's so brodened upon. But he -shall have her notwithstanding; and I trust she'll plague him till she -makes him more complutherable.' Then Beatrice burst into a peal of -laughter, so clear, so merry, so joyful, that it set the whole court -off, king and queen and all, till James, wiping his eyes, told her to -'haud her guffaw,' or she should not be married herself for a month -after you; and then she laughed more gaily than before, but petitioned -that she might be permitted to write to you, and tell you of his royal -grace. That, the king would not hear of, saying, 'No, I forbid any one -to write him a scrape of a pen. Then shall we have him coming with a -face as long as a whinger, and his heart full of disloyal repinings, -to know if we are minded to condescend to his request.' But the dear -girl answered, with her own good sense, 'More chance of his heart -being full of sorrow lest he have offended your majesty.' However, the -king would not consent that any one should write to you, saying he -wished to see what you would do, and exacted a promise that neither -Beatrice nor Alex would say a word. Me, he did not so bind; but yet it -were better not to let him know that you have been informed." - -"I am a bad dissembler, John," replied the earl, "and I fear that the -joy in my heart will shine out on my face, do what I will. However, I -will do my best to look sad; but is not this a strange person for a -king--a strange scene for a court?" - -"You would have thought it stranger still, had you but seen the -whole," answered Hume. "All the time he was speaking, he held the hawk -I have told you of on his hand, and kept stroking it down the back, at -which it screamed, and then his gracious majesty called it sometimes -greedy gled, and sometimes courtier, till Herries, who thinks he can -venture anything, asked why he called it courtier." - -"What did he answer?" inquired Gowrie. - -"Why, he put on what he would call a pawky look," replied the other, -"and said, 'Because it is like the horseleech's daughter, doctor. It -aye lifts up its neb, and scrawks for more.'" - -Both Gowrie and Hume laughed gaily at this sally, the one in hearing -and the other in telling; for the young earl's heart was lightened, -and such creatures of circumstance are we, that, with a mind relieved, -a reply seemed to him full of humour, which a minute or two before he -would have thought nought but a coarse and vulgar jest. - -"How did Herries bear the rebuke?" asked Gowrie; "for to him it must -have been a severe one." - -"Oh, with his own bitter humour," answered the knight. "He said, 'Ay, -sir, it is sad how we are led by example. Every one, man and beast, -follows his master.' To which the king replied, good naturedly enough, -'Haud yer peace, ye doited auld carle! If you followed your master -I'se warrant you'd no pluck but be plucked--you'd be the doo and no -the gled.' However, I think that Herries is not so great a favourite -as he once was; and I am not sorry for it, for he was ever an enemy to -both your house and mine, Gowrie, and is one of those cold-blooded, -ever-ready men, who never miss an opportunity to do ill to another by -a quiet insinuation pointed by a jest." - -"I know him not at all," answered Gowrie. "Alexander and Beatrice love -him not; but one need never fear an open enemy. It is the covert -attack, the blow struck behind one's back, the quiet lie spoken, -forsooth, in confidence, that one fears; for they are like the -poisoned weapon of the Italian bravo, which slays, though the wound be -but a scratch." - -"For the present I do not think you need fear him in any way," replied -Sir John Hume; "but go early to-morrow, Gowrie, and take advantage of -the tide of favour at the flow." - -The conversation then took a more general turn. The various characters -of the personages of the court of King James were discussed by the -earl and his friend, and the prospects of the country generally were -spoken of in a lighter and a gayer spirit than the earl could have -shared in an hour before. Some little word--one of those accidental -expressions which often set the mind galloping in a different -direction from that which it was previously pursuing--led the earl's -thoughts suddenly to his brother; and he said, "By the way, Hume, -Beatrice seems to think that Alex is even in less favour than myself -with his majesty, and I could not induce her to explain the matter -fully. She referred me to you, saying you would be able to inform me -what was the cause of James's dislike." - -"The simplest in the world," answered Hume. "The king dislikes him, -because he thinks the queen likes him--too much. The truth is, James -is jealous; and, like all suspicious people, hates the object of his -suspicion, endures his presence at the court simply for the purpose of -entrapping him, and watches for every opportunity to find a motive to -take revenge." - -"But is there any cause for this suspicion?" asked Gowrie, very -gravely. "Can Alex have been mad enough, wicked enough, to have -afforded any just grounds for such jealousy?" - -"On my life I believe not," replied Hume. "The queen makes no secret -of her liking for handsome young men; and Alex is certainly as fine a -looking lad as ever mounted a horse or drew a sword. She contends -strongly, too, for that liberty of action which we northern people do -not conceive a privilege of fair ladies. She will go where she likes, -do what she likes, and see whom she likes, without being responsible -to any tribunal but that of conscience. This is her doctrine; and, by -Heaven, she practises what she preaches. The king may make himself as -absolute as he will out of his own house, but he will not be despotic -there very easily. Then again, her majesty likes the gallant part of -the old chivalry, and thinks that love and devotion are every lady's -due from every courtly gentleman. There must be a touch of romantic -passion in it, too, to please her; and she goes into these little -amourettes in the most light-hearted way possible, without a thought -of evil, I do believe. It is all too open--too bold, to be criminal. -But the king, on the contrary, takes a very different view of these -matters. While he claims to himself the right of the utmost -familiarity of manner and lightness of speech with man, woman, and -child, he would have all ladies as prim and demure as nuns, and as -obedient as a spaniel dog. In point of policy, Alex committed a great -error in attaching himself to the queen instead of to the king, for, -it is sad to say, one cannot be a favourite with both." - -"I would rather he were a _favourite_ with neither," said Gowrie. "He -might serve both, love both, merit the friendship of both; but to be -the minion of either king or queen is not for one of my race." - -"Well, well," answered his friend, "he is still a very young man, but -right at heart, I am sure; and I trust he will see that these -gallantries with the queen, however innocent, are, at the least, -improper." - -"I must make him see it," said Gowrie, and turned the conversation, -which ended soon after by Hume leaving him to his own thoughts. - -The following morning broke cold and cheerless; but at as early an -hour as was consistent with propriety, Gowrie presented himself at the -palace, and was readily admitted to an audience. The king was in the -act of pushing out of the room, with his own hands, in a jocular but -somewhat rude manner, no less a personage than Sir Hugh Herries, -saying, "There, get along with you. You are a saucy body, and were we -not the best natured monarch that ever lived, we should not bear with -your gibes.--Ah, my Lord of Gowrie! Now you've come for an answer to -your letter, I ween?" - -"If it may please your majesty to give me one," answered Gowrie, with -as grave a face as he could put on, while the king retired into his -cabinet again, and took his seat. - -"You see, my lord," said James, with a very serious air, "this is a -matter of much importance, and which requires full consideration and -deliberation on our part. Now I'll warrant that you're for wanting to -cut the matter short, and to be married to the lady directly;" and he -looked up slily in the earl's face. - -"My own inclination would of course lead as your majesty supposes," -replied Gowrie; "and I think, in many points of view, it would be the -best plan; but the lady herself desires that our union should be -delayed till the month of September next, if it please your majesty to -consent for that time." - -"She's a very discreet young lady," said the king. "Feggs! most lasses -would be all agog to be a married woman, and Countess of Gowrie. Well, -my lord, we'll consider of it." - -Gowrie now felt alarmed and mortified. Whether the king had changed -his mind since the preceding night, or whether he was merely sporting -with his feelings for his own amusement, the young lover felt a degree -of impatience which he was afraid would break forth in some angry -words if he stayed longer; and therefore, with a silent bow, but a -heated cheek and disappointed air, he retired towards the door. - -James let him reach it and lay his hand upon the lock, but then -stopped him, exclaiming, "Hoot, man, come hither--don't go away in the -dorts, like a petted bairn. Come hither to your king, who is willing -to act as a good and kind father to you and to all his leal subjects, -if they will let him." - -Gowrie returned with a brighter look. "There, now," continued James, -who in many instances was acute enough; "you are laughing now; and -I'll warrant that your titty, or the lad Alex, has been telling you of -the grace and favour we intend to show you." - -"I can assure your majesty," answered Gowrie, "that I have neither -seen nor heard from my brother or sister during the last four or five -days; but I can perceive, by your majesty's countenance, that you -intend to deal graciously with me in this matter." - -"I'm thinking you're a false chiel," said James, laughing; "and you -think that a fine fleeching speech, about my countenance, as you call -it; but I'll tell you what, earl, if I thought my face would tell what -I'm thinking of when I didn't want it, I'd claw the skin off it with -my own ten fingers; for let me inform you, sir, it's a principal point -of kingcraft to be able to speak with a sober and demure countenance, -whatever the matter in hand may be, whether merry and jocose, or sad -and serious. Men should never be able to tell, by the looks of a -sovereign, whether he be thinking of a burial or a marriage, a birth -or a death." - -"But wise kings, sire," answered Gowrie, "are ever apt to double the -value of the favours they confer by gracious looks and words." - -"That's well said," said the king, with an inclination of his head. -"That's spoken like a prudent and well-nurtured lad; and we do intend -graciously towards you, and will give you proof thereof. We will -consent to your marriage with this lady in the month of September -next, as you suppose; and, moreover, we will give you that consent in -writing, for there are certain conditions which, as you know well, you -yourself agreed to, and which we have embodied here in this paper, as -a sort of proviso, qualifying our consent." - -Gowrie was a little startled by this announcement; but the king soon -relieved him from all anxiety, by showing him the paper, which was to -the effect that he, the king, authorized and consented to the marriage -of John Earl of Gowrie and the Lady Julia Douglas, a ward of the -crown, upon the condition that the Lady Julia Douglas should -previously execute, in due form, a renunciation of all claims, founded -upon any grounds whatsoever, to the lands of Whiteburn, and to all -other estates, money, goods, or chattels whatsoever, once in -possession of the last Earl of Morton. Otherwise the authorization was -to have no effect. The sense was enveloped in an immense mass of legal -verbiage, which would have been totally unintelligible to any one -unacquainted with the language of the Scottish courts; but Gowrie had -made a point of bestowing some study upon the laws of his native land, -and the meaning was quite clear to him. - -"To these conditions I agree at once, sire," he said; "and am willing -to give your majesty an undertaking, under any penalty you please, -that the renunciation specified shall be made." - -James caught readily at this idea; and being fond of showing his skill -in such matters, he at once drew up, with his own hand, the form of -undertaking which was proposed, and to which Gowrie willingly put his -hand, on receiving the written consent of the king to his marriage. - -"And now, my lord, away to Trochrie," cried the king, as Gowrie kissed -his hand, "and bring your bonny birdy out of her nest.--Ay, you may -stare, and look stupified, but if you think you can hoodwink your king -like a gyr falcon on its perch, you'll find yourself mistaken, like -many another man has been.--Well, well, say nothing about it. We -forgive you, man; and if you don't think us the most gracious monarch -that ever lived, you're an ungrateful lad." - -"Indeed, sire, I do think your majesty most gracious," replied Gowrie, -a good deal moved; "and I will do my best to prove my gratitude; but -before I go to Trochrie, I had better have this renunciation drawn up -in due form by some people of the law, that I may at once obtain the -Lady Julia's signature, and lay it at your majesty's feet." - -To this plan James cordially acceded; and Gowrie, taking his leave, -was retiring to share his joy with his sister Beatrice, and to -endeavour to persuade his brother to withdraw from the court, where -his presence was a source of jealousy and dissension, when there was a -gentle tap at the door, and an usher put in his head, saying, "Here is -the Italian merchant, may it please your majesty." - -"Bring him in--bring him in," cried James. "Stay a little, my good -lord; this is a man from the country you know so well, bringing wares -to show us, and we will have your judgment upon his bonny toys." - -Gowrie would fain have escaped, but there was no resource; and the -Italian merchant, as he was called, though in fact he might have -ranked better as a pedlar, was brought into the king's presence. The -young earl instantly recognised a man from whom he himself had -occasionally purchased wares in Padua, which was at that time famous -for its manufactories of silk; and the merchant himself, after -saluting the king, made him a low bow. - -"Ah, you two have met before, I suppose," said the king. "But come, -open your chest, man, and let us see what you've brought." - -The goods were soon produced, consisting principally of ribbons and -laces, which might have better suited the examination of a lady than -of a king; and James selected several articles for purchase with not -the very best taste in the world. He asked Gowrie's opinion upon them -before he concluded his bargain; and the earl, though not a very -excellent courtier, was sufficiently learned in that craft not to -speak disparagingly of the king's taste. At length an exceedingly -beautiful ribbon was produced, wrought with figures of blue and gold, -so thick and massive, that it seemed better fitted for a sword-belt -than anything else; but James fixed eagerly upon it, declaring he -would present it to the queen. He soon after suffered the earl to -depart, keeping the Italian merchant with him; and as soon as the door -was closed, he said, in a familiar tone, "You knew that lad in Italy, -I suppose, my man?" - -The Italian replied in the affirmative; and James, whose curiosity was -inexhaustible, proceeded to question him upon all he knew regarding -Gowrie's history. The good man had no idea whatsoever of doing harm; -but we all know how one tale leads on another, especially under the -hands of one skilful in extracting anecdotes; and although almost all -the Italian had to say was favourable to the earl, though he told how -he had been elected unanimously Lord Rector, at a very early period, -and how his conduct had given such satisfaction, that the university -had placed his portrait in the great hall, yet he went on to add that -he believed the earl had conceived some disgust in the end from the -treatment of one to whom he was much attached. - -James proceeded to question him eagerly on this hint, and soon drew -forth the Italian's version of the history of poor Manucci. Truth and -fiction were mingled in the usual proportion of a tale so told; but -magic and witchcraft were favourite topics with the king; and from the -gossiping style in which it first began, his conversation gradually -deviated into disquisition, and afterwards almost took the form of a -judicial examination, as he questioned and cross-questioned the poor -merchant in regard to Manucci's skill in diabolical arts, and Gowrie's -connexion with him. The good man, anxious to curry favour with the -monarch, and restrained by no very great scruples of conscience, would -probably have said anything that the king liked, and certainly, in the -matter of suggestion, James did not fail to supply him with -indications of his own opinions. - -The belief in such arts as sorcery and witchcraft seems in our eyes at -the present day so ludicrous, that we can hardly bring our minds to -believe that in former times the great mass of all classes, high and -low, were fully persuaded that power could be obtained by mortals over -certain classes of evil spirits. But such was undoubtedly the case at -the time I speak of; and the effect was often most disastrous. In the -present instance, James took care not to inform the Italian of the -conclusions to which he came in regard to Gowrie; and it may be -sufficient in this case to state that when he dismissed the merchant, -he remained with an impression very unfavourable to the young earl, -which, combined with other causes, did not fail to produce bitter -fruit at an after period. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - - -"Can you tell me where I shall find my sister, Ballough?" said the -Earl of Gowrie, addressing the usher of the queen's chambers, after he -left the king. - -"She's gone out with her brother, my lord," replied the officer; "and -I think they took their way to your lordship's lodgings." - -"I do not think it, Ballough," said the earl. "I must have met them; -or at least they must have seen my horses at the gate." - -"They went the other way, my lord," said the man. "I saw them go -towards the physic garden. I heard the Lady Beatrice say that that -would be the quietest road, as they were on foot." - -"Can I pass through there?" asked the earl. - -"Not through this passage, my lord," replied the man, "but if you go -round by the portico, you'll find the little gate open, and that will -lead you straight." - -The earl accordingly dismissed his horses and servants, and took his -way through a part of the gardens of Holyrood, or "the abbey," as it -was frequently called in those days, issuing forth into the more busy -part of the town by a gate at some distance from the palace. The door -itself was closed but not locked; and, as he was approaching it, -he heard a voice saying, "We have not starved your horse, you -foul-tongued southron! Now, ride away as fast as you can go; and mind, -if you say one word, you will be put into one of the dungeons at -Stirling, and treated to a taste of the boot you saw the other day. -There, away with you!" And these words were followed by the loud crack -of a whip. - -"A whole skin is the best coat that ever was made," said a voice which -Gowrie thought he knew well, and passing through the door at the same -moment, he looked eagerly up the street, his eye guided by the -clattering of a horse's feet at a rapid pace. On that side appeared no -other than the figure of his own man, Austin Jute, mounted on the very -horse which he had ridden to Trochrie; and turning sharply round, the -earl saw on the other hand, walking away towards the palace, the stout -form and club foot of Dr. Herries, and another gentleman attached to -the king's household, named Graham. - -Gowrie asked himself what could be the meaning of this. Could Jute be -really betraying him after serving him so long and so faithfully. "I -will not believe it," he said to himself. "The tricks of these courts -would make a man suspicious of his best friend. Yet it is very -strange--but I will wait and see. I shall soon discover, by the man's -manner, if he is concealing anything from me;" and with matter for -musing, he walked on his way. Neither brother nor sister did he meet -as he went on, but found both waiting for him at his dwelling in the -town. - -"We thought to catch you before you set out, Gowrie," said Beatrice, -as soon as she saw him, "for Hume wrote me word this morning that he -had seen you. However, I trust, from your look, that all is safe and -right, and that the king's good humour, which waxes and wanes like the -moon, has not decreased since yesterday." - -Gowrie sat down by her side, and told her all that had occurred, the -whole account being tinged with the joyful hopes of his own heart. -Beatrice looked pleased, but less so than he expected; and she asked, -somewhat abruptly, "And now, Gowrie, what do you intend to do?" - -"To set out for Trochrie as soon as this paper of renunciation is -drawn up," he replied; "and then transplant my wild rose to Dirleton." - -"Take my advice, and do no such thing," answered Beatrice. "Depend -upon it, Gowrie, she's safer where she is. You do not know the king as -well as we do. With him the sunshine often prognosticates worse -weather than the clouds; and I very much doubt his motives in this -matter. That you have got his written consent is a great step, -certainly; and we may well be joyful thereat; but he is famous for -baiting traps; and if he once got her into his power, think what a -hold he would have upon you. It would cost him more men and more money -than he can collect, to take her by force from Trochrie; and he has no -excuse for attempting it; but if once she were at Dirleton, he would -soon find means of bringing her to Edinburgh, and then your freedom of -action would be gone." - -"You are a wise counsellor, Beatrice," replied her brother; "and I -like your advice well. 'Tis only that Trochrie is such a lonely and -desolate solitude for the dear girl, that makes me hesitate." - -"You can easily render it less solitary," said Alexander Ruthven, -laughing. "Go up there yourself, and keep her company." - -"If you will come with me, Alex," replied his brother. - -The young man coloured and looked embarrassed. "I cannot do that now, -John," he answered. "I was a long time absent from my post in the -winter." - -"The truth is, Alex," said Gowrie, frankly, "from all I hear, it seems -to me that it would be better if you were more frequently absent--nay, -if you were to give up this office altogether." - -"What! and have they poisoned your mind, too, Gowrie?" cried the -other, impetuously. "I will not go; for by so doing I should only -confirm the falsehoods they have spread. I will not abandon my own -cause, or show a shame of my own conduct, whatever my friends and -relations may do." - -"You speak too warmly, Alex," said the young earl. "Your relations -have no inclination to abandon your cause; and I trust and believe you -would never give them occasion to feel ashamed of your conduct; but I -only advise you for your own good. Suspicion is a dangerous thing in -the mind of a king, and, whether justly or unjustly founded, is to be -avoided by all reasonable means. Besides, were your royal master and -lady entirely out of the question, no man has a right to furnish cause -for dissension in any family." - -"Oh, if I were out of the way, it would be some other to-morrow," -answered the young man. "The king's suspicion must have some object -upon which to fix." - -"I would have it any other object than yourself, Alex," replied his -brother. "However, I have given you my advice, and you may take it or -not, as you please." - -"I shall certainly not withdraw from the court," replied Alexander -Ruthven, in an impatient tone. "I should consider that I was doing -wrong to the character of another whom I am bound to love and respect. -Therefore, to give me that advice, Gowrie, is but talking to the -winds, for in this case I am sure I am right." - -"I much doubt it," replied the earl, and there dropped the subject, -for he saw that it would be of no avail to pursue it farther. - -Beatrice had remained silent during this brief conversation between -the two brothers, with her eyes bent down on the ground and her cheek -somewhat pale, but the moment it was concluded, she looked up, -recurring at once to what had been passing before. - -"I would offer to go with you, Gowrie," she said, "and cheer your dear -Julia in her solitude; but I think I may be more useful to you both -where I am; for, both on your account and on Alex's, my task must be -to watch narrowly everything that occurs, and give you the first -intimation of danger. Whether Alex will receive a warning I do not -know; but you, Gowrie, I am sure, will listen to the very first hint -that I give you. I may not be able to speak plainly. I may be obliged -to write but a few words; but watch and understand, my dear brother, -and if I say, fly, then lose not a moment." - -"Why should you suppose I will not attend to your warning, Beatrice?" -asked her brother Alexander, with the irritability of one who knows -that others think him in the wrong, and who is not quite sure himself -that he is in the right. - -"How can I suppose you will take a warning," asked his sister, "when -you will take no advice?" - -"Because a warning refers to a matter of fact, advice to a matter of -opinion," answered the young man. - -"Well, well," answered Beatrice, "do not let us dispute, Alex. I -think, with Gowrie, it would be much better for you to go; but you may -be sure, Alex, that if ever I tell you you are in actual peril, which -I can foresee will be the case some day, I do not speak without -perfect certainty. And now good bye, Gowrie. We must not be too long -away, otherwise the king will think that we are plotting together." - -"You see he suspects every one as well as me," said her young brother, -determined to make out a case in his own favour; "and I am sure Gowrie -is as little a favourite as I am myself. Besides, I do believe from -his conduct yesterday, that James is now convinced his previous -suspicions were unjust, and that he desires to make atonement." - -"Pooh, pooh!" answered Beatrice, tossing her head with a somewhat -scornful smile. "The king never made atonement to any one. The king -always thinks he is right, and has been ever right, and will be right -to the end of his life. He never dreams for a moment that he can have -been wrong, though he may take means to lull the objects of his -dislike or his doubts till they are wholly in his power.--But now -come, Alex, do not let us pursue this subject any farther, but return -quietly to the palace." - -Then bidding her elder brother adieu, the lady left him, and, -accompanied by Alexander, walked back almost in silence to Holyrood; -for she herself was full of doubts and anxieties, and Alexander -Ruthven was in that state of irritation which is often produced, -especially in a young mind, by a conflict between a wish to do right -and strong temptations to do wrong. - -I need not pause to detail the passing of the day with Gowrie. The -law's delay is proverbial as one of the banes of human existence in -the blessed land wherein we live.--It was so even in his time; and he -found, on consulting with those who had to deal with such matters, -that the drawing up of the renunciation, simple as it seemed, would -require the labour and attention of several days, in order to couch it -in the full and ample terms which he knew would be required by the -king. He had to give long explanations, and to enter into details -which he had not previously considered, so that the greater part of a -spring day was consumed before he left the dim and dingy den where the -man of law held his abode. On his return to his own house he passed -more than an hour in walking up and down the large and handsome -sitting-room, and meditating over the past and the future. If it be -asked whether his thoughts were sad or bright, I must answer, very -much mixed, as is ever the case with a man of strong sense and active -imagination. But Gowrie, it must be remembered, was in the spring of -life, in that bright season when the song of the wild bird, hope, is -the most loud and sweet and seducing. The circumstances which -surrounded him might alarm or sadden him for the time, but the -cheering voice still spoke up in his heart, and the syren sang not in -vain. At length he ordered lights to be brought, and casting himself -into a chair, took up a book--his favourite Sallust--and began to -read. The pages opened at the Catiline, and the first words struck -him, as strangely applicable to the half-formed resolution which had -been floating vaguely in his mind, of passing life in peaceful -retirement. - -"Omnis homines, qui sese student præstare ceteris animalibus, summa -ope niti decet vitam silentio ne transeant, veluti pecora, quæ natura -prona, atque ventri obedientia, finxit." - -"And yet," he said, "methinks many a man can raise himself above -the brute without mingling in the busy turmoil of the world's -affairs--nay, do more real service to his country and his race in the -silence of deep but peaceful thought than in the noisy contests of -courts and cities." - -Then he went on to read, till he came to the splendid description of -Catiline.--"Lucius Catilina, nobili genere natus, magna vi et animi et -corporis, sed ingenio malo provoque," &c. - -"What a picture of wickedness," he thought, as he read on; "ay, and -what a picture of the state of Rome under the republic, when it was -possible to say of any one man's life, 'Huic, ab adolescentia bella -intestina, cædes, rapinæ, discordia civilis, grata fuere; ibique -juventutem suam exercuit.' Is this the fruit of free and democratic -institutions?" he thought. "Is a state so nearly approaching to -anarchy, the result of popular government? A despotism were better! -But yet it cannot be so. There must be a mean between the licence -which destroys and the authority which oppresses society, when the -people have sufficient power to guard and support their liberties, and -the magistrates of the land are armed with the means of checking -lawless violence without trenching upon lawful freedom. I am not a -free man if there be others in the land who have the power to injure -me unpunished: my freedom is as much controlled by them as it could be -by any king. It is laws which make real freedom, laws justly framed -and firmly executed, laws above kings and subjects both.--But let me -see what he says more." - -He had not time, however, to turn the pages of the book before the -door quietly opened behind him, and a step was heard upon the floor. -He did not turn his head, however; and the person who came in -proceeded round the table to the opposite side of the fireplace, when -Gowrie, suddenly looking up, beheld his servant, Austin Jute. - -"Why, how now, Austin?" he exclaimed. "What has brought you to -Edinburgh? Has anything happened?" - -"Nothing to my lady, sir," replied the Englishman, comprehending very -well that his sudden appearance might alarm the earl for Julia's -safety, "but a good deal to myself; and I thought it much better to -come and tell you, my lord, rather than go back to my duty, for nobody -can tell how much what happens to one man may do for another. I'm not -in Edinburgh by my own good will, you may easily believe, for you told -me to stay, and I would have stayed; but necessity has no law, and -what can't be cured must be endured. If other legs run away with me, -my legs aren't in fault, and might makes right, as people say.--Well, -my lord, I'm going on. I came against my will, as I shall set forth -presently. The way was this: it is just four days ago that we saw -three or four men riding in that long dark valley to the north west, -and old Mac Duff, your baron bailie, was thinking to go forth and see -what they were about; but knowing very well that if he were taken and -the place attacked, I could not command the men, or, at all events, -that they would not obey, which comes pretty near to the same thing, I -rode out alone to reconnoitre. I did not think I could be so easily -taken in, but this is a devil of a country, my lord, for such matters. -I looked sharp enough round, as I thought, all the way I went; but it -was impossible to go in and out amongst all the rocks and big stones, -and I still caught sight of the men I had seen from the tower. When I -came within about half a mile of them, they turned round and began to -ride away, as if they were afraid of being caught, and thinking they -had only been upon some marauding expedition with which I had nothing -to do, I did not ride after them more than a couple of hundred yards; -but when I turned to go home again, I saw five men on foot blocking up -the road behind me. I made a dash at them, thinking to get through, -but they were too much for me, my lord, and they soon had my horse by -the bridle, commanding me to surrender in the king's name. I asked for -their warrant, but they only laughed at me; and the other men on -horseback coming up, they tied my feet under the saddle, and my hands -behind my back. The horsemen rode with me, but the men on foot -disappeared." - -"Did they go towards the castle?" demanded Gowrie, with some anxiety. -"What men did you leave behind?" - -"Oh, the castle is safe enough, my lord," answered Austin Jute. "There -were fifteen men in all in it; and when I went away I said, 'Safe -bind, safe find, Mr. MacDuff. Pull up the drawbridge as soon as I'm -out; and if I'm not back in half an hour, send out for some of your -friends round about.' He'd soon have enough to help him; and there was -plenty of provision in the place, besides the beacon on the top of the -turret, which would bring more in a few hours; but they wanted nothing -at the castle, though no doubt they'd have taken my lady if they could -have caught her. That I found out by what I overheard as they brought -me here." - -"And what happened to you here?" demanded the earl. - -"Why, first they carried me up to a place called the castle, my lord," -answered Austin Jute, "where I was crammed into a dark, cold hole, and -had nothing given me to eat but nasty stuff made of oatmeal and water; -but, at the end of some hours, they took me down to what they called -the abbey, where I was not so well off as before. Bad's the best, they -say, but better bad than worse; and so it was in my case, for now I -was left in the dark without anything to eat or drink at all for a -great many hours, till the sunshine came in at a hole up above, and I -began to whistle to pass the time. Soon after I was taken out, and was -carried to a room where there were five or six people, and a large -curtain across one end of the room. There was a table, too, with -several things upon it, some little and some big, made of iron, and of -very odd unpleasant shapes. One was like a barbecuing spit, only not -so big; and I heard them call it the boot. A stout man was standing by -the table, twice as big as I am, with his jerkin off and his sleeves -turned up. I did not like his look at all. When I was brought in, -those who were at the table began to cross-question me in all manner -of ways as to what I did in Scotland, and how I came to be at -Trochrie; and I beat about the bush a long time, especially when they -asked me about my lady----" - -"Then they knew already she was there?" said the earl. - -"I'm not quite sure, my lord, now," said Austin Jute, frankly. "They -seemed to know at the time; but I believe they took me in. I would not -tell you a lie, my lord, for the world; but I've a strong notion they -made me betray myself, by pretending to know more than they did. I'm -very sorry for it; but what's done can't be undone. A bolt that's shot -must go its own way. However, when I found that, either by what I said -or by what they themselves knew, they were quite sure of the matter, I -refused to answer any more questions as to how she was brought there, -and all the rest. Then they threatened to put the boot on me, as they -called it. I did not like that at all. I should have fancied my leg a -pig being roasted alive; but instead of that they put a thing upon my -thumb, and told me to answer truly, or it should be screwed up." - -Gowrie rose from his seat, and walked up and down the room with his -cheek flushed and his brow contracted; but he said nothing; and, after -gazing at his lord for a moment, Austin Jute continued. "They changed -their course now, however, and began asking if I had been with you in -Italy; so I said I had. Then they inquired where you had hired me; on -which I said, in Padua, five years ago. After that, this question -arose, whether I had known the lady Julia there, and her grandfather, -and how long. It was an unpleasant sort of catechism with that thing -dangling at my thumb; but having heard the king talk at Falkland about -the lady's money, and how much he expected to make by having her in -ward, I saw what they were seeking, and I said to myself, they'll come -to the money in a few minutes. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind -horse, and so I answered, boldly, that I had known her and the old -gentleman ten or twelve years, long before your lordship came to -Padua." - -"But that was false," exclaimed the earl. - -"I can't help that, my lord," replied Austin Jute; "it answered its -purpose. As I had got into a scrape by letting out the truth, there -was only one way of mending it--by letting out some falsehood. Put -them into two scales, and the one will balance the other. If people -ask me questions they have no business to ask, they may get answers -that I have no business to give. However, they asked me how the old -gentleman and the young lady lived in Padua, and knowing I could do no -mischief now, I said, 'Heaven knows. They were poor enough, in all -conscience; but where they got what little they had, I can't tell.' -Then a club-footed man, that sat at the end of the table, said -quietly, 'Then they did not keep up much state;' at which I laughed, -and made him no answer, as if the very thought of such a thing was too -ridiculous; upon which that accursed fellow, with the sleeves turned -up, gave a turn to the thing upon my thumb, and sent a pain running -all the way down to the soles of my feet. I never felt anything like -that. I had well nigh roared with it; but I set my teeth hard and held -my breath; and the man at the end of the table checked the tormentor -for what he had done, and bade him keep his hands off till he was bid. -So the thing was unscrewed; and then they asked me how many servants -the old signor kept, and I humbly inquired whether they meant men or -maids. The answer was, 'Both,' to which I replied, 'One, and she -was an old woman. So it answered both purposes.' The man with the -club-foot called me a saucy knave, and tried to look very angry; but -he laughed notwithstanding, and inquired if I were sure there had been -no more kept; and I answered, 'Not one as long as I had known the -family.' The other questions were all of the same sort, and they tried -to puzzle me very hard; but they could not manage it, though they -talked about a man servant whom they pretended the signor had kept. To -that I had my answer pat, however--that I was ready to swear upon the -Evangelists that there had never been any but one and the same servant -there for ten years. 'Whether it was a man or a woman,' I said, 'it -was impossible for me to say. Their honours knew best; but one thing I -would take my oath of, that it wore petticoats and was called Tita.' -Thereupon there was a great burst of laughter; and the room had a -strange echo in it, for the same sounds came back from behind the -curtain." - -"The party seems to have been a merry one," said the earl, -"considering the circumstances." - -"Nevertheless, they took me back, and plunged me into the same dark -hole, and left me there till this morning, when I was taken out, in an -oddish kind of way, not by a jailor or a guard, but by two gentlemen. -There was a little boy, about as high as my knee, standing by a -garden-gate to which they brought me, and he had my horse in his hand. -So they told me to get up and ride away, as if Satan were behind me, -back to Trochrie, and not to say a word to a living soul, but more -especially to you, my lord, of anything that had happened; and they -threatened me sore, moreover. I did ride away, for I was glad to be -out of their hands; but I remained at the south ferry house till dusk, -and then came back to seek your lordship and tell you all." - -"You have done well, Austin," replied Gowrie, "and are an honest -faithful fellow. I was nearer to you and them, when they mounted you -this morning, than either knew; and I heard something said about -starving your horse." - -"Oh, that was but a snap, my lord, where I had no teeth to bite hard," -replied Austin. "I know that a bitter word is often worse than a sharp -sword. So, having nothing else to say, I told them they had starved my -horse to make him like themselves. I took care to be in the saddle -first, however; but, instead of trying to stop me, one of them gave -the poor beast a cut with his whip, and sent us both about our -business." - -How the king had obtained information that Julia was concealed at -Trochrie was now in part revealed; but only in part, for it was -evident, from Austin's capture and examination, that some hint had -been gained before--how, Gowrie could not divine. The honest servant -was sent back before dawn on the following day, on his way to the -highland castle, and he did not depart without a liberal reward, which -he accepted without ceremony, for there were no affectations about -good Austin Jute. He served faithfully, devotedly, where he attached -himself; he would at any time have perilled life or limb, or -sacrificed every comfort and convenience for a lord he loved; and, to -say nought but truth, I do not think that, in so doing, he ever in his -inmost heart thought of a recompence, but he took it willingly enough -when it was given, and, sad to say, spent it with as little -consideration as he won it. - -Several more days elapsed ere the paper Gowrie required was drawn up -by the men of law, and he twice presented himself at the palace. All -there seemed still fair and smooth; the king's good humour lasted -undisturbed; the queen was ever kind and gracious; Sir Hugh Herries -did not appear at court, and John Ramsay, though distant to Alexander -Ruthven, was warmer in his manner to the earl. - -"Beatrice's doubts are unfounded, I do believe," thought Gowrie, as he -rode away after the second visit; and when he returned to his own -dwelling, he found the act of renunciation waiting for him. Somewhat -less than an hour of daylight still remained, and that time was spent -in reading and considering the document. - -The sun had just set, leaving a bright glow in the April sky, and -Gowrie had risen to gaze at it from a window which looked out towards -the west, when suddenly he heard a hasty foot in the ante-room, and -the next instant Sir John Hume entered in haste. - -"Here, Gowrie," he said, advancing with a small paper folded and -sealed in his hand. "Here is something for you. What it contains I -know not; but Beatrice slipped it into my hand in haste and agitation, -saying, in a whisper, 'To Gowrie, with all speed.'" - -Gowrie took it, tore it open, and found the words, "Away, with all -speed, to Perth!--to-night!" - -"My lord, here is Sir George Ramsay without, desiring to see you," -said a servant, looking in. - -"Admit him," replied the earl, crushing the paper in the palm of his -hand. - -The next moment Ramsay entered, with as much apparent haste as Hume; -but on seeing the latter he paused, assumed a calmer air, and -advancing to the earl, shook hands with him, saying, "It is a fair and -warm afternoon, my lord, what say you to a twilight ride?" - -"Not to-night, Dalhousie," replied Gowrie, gazing at him attentively; -"have you any particular object in your proposal?" - -"Only to have a few minutes' conversation with you, my dear lord," -replied the other, returning his glance with one of equal -significance; "but a moment here in private will do as well;" and he -moved towards a distant window. - -Gowrie followed him, bending down his head; and Ramsay approaching -close, whispered in his ear, "You are in danger, my lord. It were well -you departed at once. Lose no time--I dare not say more." - -Gowrie pressed his hand kindly and gratefully, saying, "Thanks, -Dalhousie, thanks! I had heard the tidings before; but the obligation -to you is no less." - -He spoke openly and aloud; and his friend, laying his finger on his -lip, as if to counsel discretion, retired almost as hastily as he had -come. - -Ere half an hour had passed, the earl was on horseback, and riding -towards Queensferry. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - - -It was a bright, hot summer day, the sky without a cloud, the air -without a breeze. The sports of the morning were over, the hounds had -returned to their kennel, the slaughtered stag was brought in, the -horses were in the stable, the hunters seeking repose. The old palace -of Falkland, where James V. drew the last breath of a life which had -become burdensome, rose stately amidst its gardens and woods; and the -old trees, but few of which now remain in the neighbourhood, then -spread their wide branches over the velvet turf; in some places -approaching so near to the building, as, when the wind waved them, to -brush with their long fingers the palace walls. James himself had gone -in about an hour before, rejoiced with the success, but fatigued with -the exertions, of the chase; and all the ladies of the court were -screening their beauty in the shady halls, from the glare of the full -sun. - -It has often struck me, in looking at the finer paintings of Claude de -Lorraine--and they are not all really fine--and in contemplating the -calm, quiet, sunny scenes they represent, that the painter must have -chosen, by preference, that hour when, under the summer skies of -Italy, all nature seems to be taking a mid-day slumber. Such was the -aspect of the scene about the palace of Falkland on the day of which I -speak. Looking towards the wood, and with one's back towards the -palace, so as to shut out its memorial of active life, one might have -fancied that one was in the midst of some primeval solitude, or else -that the whole world, oppressed with the heat, was sound asleep. No -moving object was to be seen; not a forester or keeper was within -sight; the deer were hidden in the coverts of the wood; the very birds -seemed to avoid the glare; and the court servants themselves--those -busy toilers--were all enjoying the repose afforded by the weariness -of their lords. - -At length, however, after the scene had remained thus quiet for about -half an hour, a very young but very handsome man sauntered forth from -one of the smaller doors of the building, crossed the warm green in -front, turned to one of the old trees, stood for a moment under the -shade, and then walked languidly to another, near an opposite angle of -the palace. He seemed seeking a place for repose, but difficult to -please, for he again left that tree and strolled to its green -neighbour, where, stretching himself on the grass, he laid a book, -which he carried with him, open on the ground, and supporting his -head with his arm, gave himself up to thought. Oh, the thoughts of -youth--the gay, the whirling, dream-like thoughts of youth! How -pleasant is the visionary trance which boys and girls call meditation! -True, youth has its pains as well as pleasures, both eager, intense, -and thrilling; but it wants the fears and doubts of experience, that -bitterest fruit of long life. The cloud may hang over it for an hour, -but the breath of hope soon wafts it away, and it is not till the -storm comes down in its full fury that youth will believe there are -tempests in the sky. - -There he lay and thought, with the branches waving gently over him, -and the chequered light and shade playing on his face and on the open -pages of the unread book beside him. The air was very sultry, even -beneath the shadow of the trees, and he untied the cord which confined -his silken vest at the neck, displaying a skin almost as fair as a -woman's, although exercise, it would seem, was not wanting to give a -browner hue; for even then he looked fatigued as well as heated, and -there was dust upon his hair and upon his dress, as if he had ridden -far and long that day. Weariness, and the hot summer air, with the -playing of the shadows over his face, seemed to render him sleepy. His -eyes looked heavy for a moment or two, the eyelids closed, opened -again, closed once more, and there he lay, sound, sound asleep, not -unlike what we may fancy was the shepherd boy of Latmus, when under -the influence of the fair queen of night. - -Some quarter of an hour had passed, and he still lay sleeping there, -when round that angle of the building near which the tree grew, came -walking, with a slow pace, a man of middle age, with an ungraceful -gait, and of an ungainly appearance. He was habited in a suit of -green, with a large ruff round his neck, and a tall crowned gray hat -and feather; but he wore neither cloak nor sword, and instead of the -latter, bore a small knife or dagger, stuck into his girdle on the -left side. He, like the youth, seemed to have come out of the palace -for fresher air than could be found within; and he, too, appeared in a -meditative mood, for he walked with his eyes bent down, and his hand, -in no very courtly fashion, scratching his breast. Nevertheless, from -time to time, he gave a glance around; and the second time he did so, -his eye fell upon the sleeping youth beneath the tree. With a quiet -step he approached his side, but was instantly attracted by the open -book, and took it up. - -"Ay," murmured he, in a low tone, "love songs! That's just it; fit -food for such a wild, empty-pated callant's brain." - -Thus saying, he laid down the book again, and gazed upon the young -man's face. - -Suddenly he saw something which seemed to displease him mightily. His -cheek flushed, his brow contracted, and he set his teeth hard. Then, -bending down his head, he peered into the open bosom of the lad, and -even partly drew back the collar of his shirt. It was done quietly and -gently, but still it in some degree roused the sleeper, for he lifted -his hand and brushed his throat, as if a fly had settled on him. The -other started back instantly, but the young man did not wake; and the -one who watched him continued to gaze at him sternly, with many a -bitter feeling, it would appear, in his heart. His lip quivered; and -for a moment he held his hand upon the hilt of his dagger, with a -somewhat ominous look, and a cheek which had become pale. Then, -however, he seemed to have made up his mind as to what he should do; -and, stepping quietly back over the soft green turf, he approached one -of the doors of the palace, which was close at hand, and tried to open -it. It was locked, however, and turning on his heel again, with a low -muttered blasphemy, he went round the angle of the building by the way -which he had followed when he came. - -Neither the sleeper, nor he who had lately stood beside him, was aware -that there was another eye upon them both; but the instant the latter -had departed, the door which he had tried in vain opened suddenly, and -the light beautiful form of Beatrice Ruthven darted forth, crossed the -green sward with the quick spring of a roe deer, and stooping over the -sleeping youth, without care or ceremony, she tore from his neck a -thick blue silk ribbon worked with gold. - -The young man raised himself suddenly on his arm, looking surprised -and bewildered; but Beatrice laid her finger on her lips, merely -saying, in a low but emphatic tone, "Into the palace like lightning, -mad boy!" and away she sprang towards the building again, passed the -door, ran through the first passage, and up a narrow staircase to the -entrance of a room on the first floor. There she paused and listened -for a single instant, then threw the door open without ceremony and -ran in. - -Anne of Denmark was seated at a table, writing; but the sudden opening -of the door made her lift her fair face with a look of some surprise -and displeasure; and she said, in a reproving tone, "Beatrice! What -now?" - -Without reply, the fair girl darted forward in breathless haste, and -laid the ribbon on the table before the queen. - -"Quick, madam! put it in the drawer," she said, in a low, hurried -tone. "Your majesty will see why in an instant;" and without waiting -for any answer, she hurried from the room by the same way she had -come, and closed the door. - -There were several drawers in the writing table at which the queen was -seated; and opening one with a hand which trembled slightly, while her -cheek glowed a good deal, she placed the ribbon in it, closed it -again, and tried to resume her writing; but not more than one minute -had passed ere the step of the king was heard upon a staircase at the -opposite side of the apartments from that by which Beatrice had -entered, and a moment after James himself appeared, with a heavy scowl -upon his brow. - -Anne of Denmark looked up, not without some timidity, though she was -by nature very intrepid. There was no expression, however, upon her -countenance which could betray the agitation within; and seeing the -look of anger and malice on James's face, she boldly took the -initiative, saying, "What is the matter, sir? You seem disordered." - -"No, no, my bonny bairn," said James, "there's nothing the matter; -but I was just thinking what clever chiels those Italians are; and I -want to see that ribbon which I bought for you of the merchant man." - -"Certainly, sir," replied the queen, rising, with an unconcerned look, -for she wished to test how far James's suspicions went; "you shall see -it in a moment." - -"No," cried the king, hastily, thinking that the queen was going to -quit the chamber. "You had it in this room, madam, not so long ago -that you need go to seek it. It's here you keep all your gauds and -ornaments." - -"Well, sir," answered Anne of Denmark, "I have no doubt that it is -here still; but I cannot even open the drawers of this table, to look -for it, without rising. I know not what is the matter with your -majesty, but your conduct is very strange." - -"I just want to see the ribbon, madam, that is all; and I think it -must be in this chamber--if anywhere," was James's reply. - -"Doubtless," answered Anne of Denmark, so far agitated as to open the -wrong drawer by mistake. - -"It's no there," said the king, looking into the drawer. "There's -naething there but gloves, and bracelets, and such like clamjamfry." - -"I see it is not, sir," replied the queen, turning over the things -with her hand; "but it may be somewhere else. Do you think any one has -stolen it?" And she opened the drawer in which it really was. - -James did not reply to her question; but not a little astonishment was -painted on his rude coarse countenance, when Anne of Denmark drew -forth the ribbon and laid it in his hand. He continued to gaze at it -for a considerable time, and then put it closer to his eyes, to -examine it more carefully all over, as if he doubted that it was -really that which he had bestowed upon the queen. There it was, -however, precisely the same in every respect; and at length he gave it -her back again, and turning sharply on his heel, quitted the room, -muttering, loud enough for her to hear, "De'il tak me, if like be not -an ill mark." - -A minute or two after, he was seen walking past the tree under which -Alexander Ruthven had been sleeping; but by that time the young -gentleman was gone.[4] One of the ordinary servants of the court -passed his majesty, bowing low, a moment after; and the king called -him up, saying, as he approached, "Go your ways, and rout me out -Doctor Herries and the man retiring," James continued to walk up and -down till he was joined by the person whom he had sent for. They then -turned to the farther part of the gardens, much to the disappointment -of Beatrice Ruthven, who saw all that passed from the window of a room -immediately below that of the queen, and who had hoped to gather, at -least from their demeanour, some indications of what was passing in -regard to her brother. I will not say that she would not have listened -eagerly to their conversation if the opportunity had presented itself; -and perhaps the circumstances in which she was placed might be some -justification of an act otherwise mean and pitiful; for, as the reader -will see in the subsequent chapter, she had accidentally obtained -information of designs the most treacherous against one dear brother, -of whose high principles and noble conduct she could not entertain a -doubt. - -The king and his companion, however, walked away to the other side of -the garden, as I have said, and stayed there for nearly half an hour, -while Beatrice remained in anxious and painful thought. Her head -rested on her hand, as she sat near the open window; and she had taken -no note of how the time passed, when at length the sounds of people -speaking as they walked by below, caught her ear. She would not move -in the slightest degree; she even held her breath, lest she should -lose one sound, and the next instant she distinguished the king's -peculiar tone. The words as yet she could not hear, and still less -those of Herries in his reply, though she recognised his voice at -once. - -The next instant, however, the sounds rose louder, and James was heard -to say, "No, no, that will never do. We should lose our grip of the -old bird, while wringing the neck of the young one; and there would be -such a dust about it, that we should never see our way clear after." - -"There, I think, your majesty is right," said Herries; "but if you -will be advised by me there is a way to----" - -Beatrice lost the conclusion of the sentence, for they moved on -towards the other end of the terrace. She knew, however, that none of -the royal apartments lay in that direction, and that the only door by -which the king could enter led through the great hall, where he must -necessarily encounter a number of the servants and followers of the -court, a thing which James rarely desired. She approached somewhat -nearer the window then, calculating that the two who had passed would -return by the same way; nor was she disappointed, for, in a very few -minutes, she heard the voices again, and the words of the king soon -became audible. They were of no great importance, indeed, and conveyed -no information but that which she already possessed--namely, that both -her elder brothers were the principal objects, for the time, of -James's hatred and suspicion. - -"The de'il helps they Ruthvens, I think," said the monarch. "The one -brother conveys himself away just at the minute when we have got all -ready for him; and the other sends a token I would swear to, fleeing -through the walls of Falkland like a conjuror." - -This was all that Beatrice heard, but after they had passed the -window, Doctor Herries replied, "The devil always helps his own, -sire." - -"And that's well said," answered the king, "for we have information to -be relied upon, that this Earl of Gowrie, when in the city of Padua, -had long and familiar dealings with a reputed sorcerer and magician, -some of whose infernal arts he has doubtless acquired or contracted. -Such matters are difficult of proof, for deeds of darkness hide -themselves from the light. But time discovers many things, and -Sathanus deals with his pets as we do with the birds and beasts which -we keep for our food. He pats them on the back till his time comes, -and then he cuts their weasands." - -Doctor Herries smiled, for he was not so credulous in matters of -demonology as his master; but by this time they had reached one of the -smaller doors of the palace, which stood open, and they went in. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. - - -I must now go back for a period of more than a month. Gowrie on -quitting Edinburgh rode on at a quick pace, hoping to save the tide at -Queensferry; but he did not succeed. The water had sunk low, and the -boat was on the shore. There was no resource but either to ride -farther up in the direction of Stirling, or to wait till the next -morning. Gowrie chose the latter course, though at the chance of being -pursued and overtaken. He did not like the feeling of flight; and -though it might be necessary, and he had already adopted the expedient -as the only means of security, his repugnance was sufficient to turn -the scale, when, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, he had to -consider what was the next step to be taken. All passed quietly at the -little inn, however. No signs or sounds of pursuit disturbed the -night; and by grey of the dawn on the following morning, the earl and -his followers were upon the shores of Fife. A short ride brought them -into Perthshire; and then feeling in safety, the young earl paused at -the first village, to consider what course he had better follow. If he -went on to Perth, he saw that he might be detained there for some -time. It was long since he had seen her whom he loved; and he felt -that yearning of the heart to hold her in his arms again, which those -who have loved truly can well comprehend. He was also somewhat anxious -for her safety after all that had occurred to Austin Jute; but then, -on the other hand, the few brief words which his sister had written, -had indicated Perth as the place where he ought to take refuge; and it -was not improbable that she might either know of some ambush on the -way to Trochrie, or intend to send him further information before he -went. The importance of receiving the speediest intelligence of what -was passing at the court, decided him at length to act contrary to his -own wishes, and he resolved to sleep that night at least in Perth. - -Hardly had he risen on the following morning, when, at one and the -same time, it was announced to him that one of the magistrates of the -town desired to see him, and that a messenger from Dirleton had just -dismounted in the courtyard. The latter was instantly admitted, and -presented the earl with a packet addressed in his mother's hand. On -opening it, however, he found a sealed letter from his sister, and -also a few lines from the countess, informing him that the enclosed -had come that morning from Beatrice, with the request that it might be -forwarded instantly, and by a trusty messenger, to Perth. The letter -from his sister contained the following words:-- - - -"My dear and noble Lord and Brother, - -"I had but time and opportunity to write you a very few words -yesterday evening, which Hume must have delivered safely, as I find -this morning that you have followed counsel, and are gone. I now send -you farther information, not direct to Perth, but by the hands of our -dear lady mother, lest what I write should be stopped by the way. -All is quiet here at this present, but some people are much -disappointed, I believe, in their hearts. The cause of my warning was -as follows.--My maid, Margaret Brown, who is very faithful to me, but -of a very prying and inquisitive disposition, and not without -shrewdness, informed me that danger awaited you, my dear brother. She -had seen that something was going on, it seems, in the abbey, which -excited in her some suspicion; and her cousin, Robert Brown, a menial -servant of the palace, after having been called to the presence of the -king, said to her, unadvisedly, as she was coming to my room to aid me -in changing my dress for the court in the evening, 'Your lady will -have a sore heart before long.' Thereupon the girl, after having -dressed me, employed all her art and ingine to draw forth from the man -what it was he meant, and succeeded so far as to learn that you were -to be arrested the next morning; but in such a sort, without due -warrant or form of law, and with insults and injuries belike, as might -bring you to resistance, when, a fray being created, you might -perchance be killed without there seeming blame to any one. This was -the girl's story. She having got some one of the court to call me out -of the presence, and having always found her faithful and true of -tongue, I wrote hastily the words I sent, and gave them to our friend -Hume, to be delivered to your hand. - -"Thus far is the girl's story confirmed since your departure, that I -have it from a certain source, several people well armed went down to -your house this morning, and others followed them not far behind, even -so much that the street was crowded. On arriving they asked for you of -the porter, but learning that you had gone for Perth on the night -before, and being confirmed of the fact by one who saw you ride away, -they separated and retired, not having told the reason of their -coming. This makes me well satisfied that I warned you as I did, and -assures me that you have not been driven away needlessly by your -loving sister, - - "BEATRICE RUTHVEN." - - -"I must have forgotten Scotland," murmured Gowrie to himself. "Heaven! -what a dream I have been living in!" - -Perhaps what he said was true. We are all apt to forget the evils and -discomforts of a place we have left behind. Memory is fond of pleasant -objects, and plants thick ivy shrubs to rise up and decorate the ruins -of the past. He had forgotten the turbulence and dangers which had -surrounded his early days. He had almost brought himself to fancy -that, as compared with Italy, Scotland was a place of peace, and -security, and freedom, where the assassin's knife, the oppressor's -wrong, the tyrant's sway were comparatively unknown. But the bitter -reality was now before him; and he saw that to be an enemy of the -court was to be but a hunted beast, whom every dog of favour might -pull down and tear at liberty. - -After a few minutes' thought, however, he cast off the impression, and -sent for the bailie, who was waiting to speak with him. This -magistrate was the reverse in everything of his junior, Bailie -Roy--tall, thin, and raw-boned in person, somewhat bluff, and very -laconic of speech; a man to be moved neither by fear or favour, but -strong in his attachments and steady in his sense of right. He made an -ungainly bow in answer to the earl's salutation, and at once dropped -into the seat which he was invited to take. - -"I have come, my lord," he said, "about the prisoner, David Drummond." - -And there he stopped, as if all his say was said. - -"Well, Mr. Bailie, what of him?" rejoined the earl. "I hear he has not -been tried yet. If you will name the day most convenient to the -magistrates, I will come down for the purpose, and hold a court." - -"They were thinking of the twenty-second of the month," answered -Bailie Graham; "aiblins that might not suit your lordship?" - -"Quite well," answered Gowrie. "I will be down, undoubtedly." - -Still Mr. Graham continued to sit and twirl his beaver, as if -labouring with some other question or announcement; and at length he -said, "Your lordship would not see the prisoner?" - -"Certainly not," answered Gowrie. "He has been my own servant; and -even that might be supposed to have some effect upon my judgment; but -I can have no private communication with him while awaiting trial. If -he have anything to request, either to make imprisonment more -tolerable or to provide for his defence, let him demand it publicly." - -"He said he would write to the king, my lord, when he was told of your -answer," replied the bailie; "and he did it." - -"Can he write?" asked the earl, in some surprise. - -"No, not just with his own hand," said Mr. Graham; "but he got a -scrivener to do it for him; and Bailie Roy, one way or another, got -goodman Jobson to tell him what it was he said." - -"I do not wish to hear, Mr. Bailie," said the earl. "It was probably -intended for the king's ear alone." - -"Ay, that it was," said the bailie, drily; "and no doubt his majesty -will think no more of it than it deserves. It's not like to do the -Earl of Gowrie much harm, I should think." - -"I cannot tell," replied Gowrie, coolly; "but the unfortunate man must -have his own way. If the king thinks there is anything important in -his memorial, he will probably have the prisoner examined before the -council." - -"Na, na, my lord, he'll no do that," answered Bailie Graham. "He's -gotten a' that the man can gie; and so he may lie where he is for the -king." - -A few words more explained to Gowrie that James had already sent some -one from Edinburgh to confer with the prisoner in his cell; but that -since then, "sin syne," as the bailie expressed it, no farther notice -had been taken of the unfortunate David Drummond. - -I must not say that Gowrie had no curiosity to know what the prisoner -had said in his letter to the king; but he would not suffer it to -master him, although he had little doubt that the first intimation of -Julia's concealment at Trochrie had been thus communicated to James, -and he did not feel at all sure that many parts of his conduct might -not have been misrepresented by the sullen spirit of revenge which he -had often remarked in the prisoner. - -"It is very possible, Mr. Bailie," he said, "that this man may have -attempted to injure me in his majesty's opinion by false or perverted -statements; but that shall not prevent me from doing all that justice -requires, without the slightest consideration of consequences. We will -proceed, then, to the trial on the day you have named, and I shall not -think it necessary even to let his majesty know the time appointed, -for although it would not become either you or me to stop a letter -addressed to our sovereign, yet the transaction is one with which we -have nothing to do; and we must fulfil our duties as if it had not -taken place." - -"I knew your lordship was right," said Bailie Graham, in broader -Scotch than I shall attempt to transcribe. "Bailie Roy, poor body, -thought it would have been better for you to have seen the man, and -spoke civilly to him till he was hanged; but I said that was not the -way a provost of Perth should act; and so good morning to your -lordship. Let them say what they will of you, this is the way to win -through all." - -Alas! that it should not always be as the worthy merchant said, and -that this history should afford a pregnant example of the reverse. - -Within an hour after the good man had departed from the earl's great -house at Perth, Gowrie himself took his way towards Trochrie, riding -with the spirit of love to hurry him forward. Gay and bright were the -dreams that he dreamed by the way; and a feeling of rejoicing seemed -to fill his heart as he thought that he had cast off the trammels of a -court, and resumed that private station in which he now felt sure that -happiness was only to be obtained. It would seem that fate or chance -takes a delight in throwing obstacles in the way of impatience, -perhaps as a check to its vehemence, and a warning to go more quietly. -Though he set out early from Perth, and might have ridden the distance -to Strathbraan in a few hours, a thousand petty accidents beset the -earl by the way. A ford, which used to be practicable at almost all -seasons, was now found impassable, for there had been rain in the -hills. The earl's own horse cast a shoe, and it had to be replaced -before he could proceed; and lastly, turned by the necessity of -crossing the river higher up, into a more difficult and dangerous -path, one of the horses slipped over a rocky bank, was severely -injured, and the rider taken up insensible. The care of the poor man -occupied some time; and so much was lost in this and other manners, -that the sun had set nearly half an hour when the earl came to the -spot whence the first view of Trochrie Castle was to be obtained. He -looked eagerly forward through the thickening shadows of the night: -the castle itself was lost in the darkness; but a light streamed forth -from two spots, side by side, and Gowrie gladly recognised the -position of the room in which Julia sat. Oh, how cheering, how -gladdening are the lights as we approach after a long absence; what a -tale does that faint distant spot of brightness tell to the heart, of -peace, and love, and calm domestic joy, and all the hopes that gather -round the hearth of home! - -Onward he went then, with renewed impatience, and in ten minutes more -he held Julia gladly to his heart. It was a moment that well repaid -all the cares and anxieties and griefs he had suffered. - -And there they sat side by side, and gazed at each other in silence, -with her dear hand locked in his, and the heart looking out through -the window of the eye; and each had much to say to the other, but -still it was long unsaid, for emotions would have way before words. - -"You look pale and sad, Gowrie," said Julia, at length. "I fear you -have met with disappointment." - -"No, indeed, dear girl," he answered, "I am not sad, nor have I reason -to feel disappointment. My sensations have been very mixed, as all the -feelings produced by the great world are; but now joy certainly -predominates, for I am with you, and bear you some happy tidings. -Then, as to disappointment, dearest Julia, I may experience some at -finding that my fancy had drawn pictures of men and things in this, my -native land, in colours far too bright; but that was my own fault or -my own folly; and in the most essential point of my hopes, I have -succeeded as far as I could expect." - -"Thank Heaven for that!" replied Julia, with no light words; "whatever -be that point, I am sure that it is a noble and a good one." - -"Nay," said Gowrie, "do not praise too much, my Julia. It is a very -selfish one; but, to keep you in no suspense, let me tell you that the -king has given his consent, in writing, to our union in the month of -September next. All difficulties are thus removed, and I must say that -in this he has acted, to all appearance, generously; for he had -learned that you are here, and might not unreasonably, perhaps, have -expressed some anger at my having concealed the fact." - -"I heard from good Austin that he had gained intelligence of my -abode," replied Julia, "and I felt some alarm, especially during your -faithful follower's long and unexplained absence; but I tried to -comfort myself by thinking of all the precautions you had taken when -last you were here; for I can hardly fancy that anything which Gowrie -undertakes can go wrong." - -"Would it were so, truly, my beloved," replied Gowrie, somewhat -gloomily. - -"See this very instance!" exclaimed Julia. "Have you not succeeded -where we had so little hope?" - -"Not succeeded as well as I could wish," answered her lover. "The king -has made it a condition, Julia, that you shall formally renounce all -claim whatsoever upon the estates and property of your father--even -Whiteburn, though settled by deed upon your mother." - -He paused a moment, watching her thoughtful face, and then added, -"Nevertheless, I have promised the renunciation in your name; first, -because I knew it was the only means of winning the king's consent; -and secondly, because I found that it was more than doubtful whether -you could establish your claim by law." - -"I have but one regret in this case, Gowrie," replied the beautiful -girl--"that I come to you poor and dowerless. Oh, if I had all the -wealth which they say my poor father amassed, how gladly would I pour -it out before you!" - -"If that be all, have no regret, my love," replied the young -earl--"right glad am I that you do not possess it. I have wealth -enough for both, my Julia--too much, indeed, it seems; for in this -land wealth and influence do not excite envy alone, but doubt and -suspicion likewise. It is dangerous, I am sure, to be too powerful a -subject under a weak king. However, I have enough, and to spare. If -then, dear one, you will sign the act of renunciation, I will despatch -it to the king to-morrow, and then no objection can be ever raised or -opposition offered." - -"Then I must not go to the court to sign it?" asked Julia, eagerly. - -"Not unless you wish it," replied Gowrie. - -"Thank Heaven for that, too!" she exclaimed. "Wish it! Oh no, Gowrie. -I suppose the time will come when I must go there; but had I my will, -that time would never be. I always dreaded the thought of courts, and -what your dear sister told me of that in which she dwells, made me -more timid and fearful than ever. Oh, promise me, Gowrie, that we -shall spend the greater part of life afar from those nests of envy, -malice, and greediness." - -"That promise I will make with all my heart," replied her lover; "but -tell me, Julia, are you not weary of this desert solitude? Beatrice, -who almost always counsels well, has half persuaded me to keep you -immured here till you are altogether my own; for she sees danger in -your residing anywhere not provided so well for defence as this. She -thinks the king might seize upon you, and use the expectation of your -hand as a means of leading me to a course which my heart and -conscience disapprove, or rather, employ the fear of losing you, to -drive me to acts which I am bound to oppose and to denounce." - -"I have never felt weary one day," answered Julia: "fears I may have -had--anxiety to see you again, I may have felt; but weariness, never; -nor shall I, Gowrie. A few short months will soon pass: you will let -me see you at times; I have beautiful nature before my eyes, books, -music, painting, thought, to fill up the time; and what need I more? -Yes, follow dear Beatrice's counsel. Let me rest here, dear Gowrie, -till all places become alike to me, for thou wilt be with me in all." - -Gowrie pressed her gently to his heart, and then withdrew his arms -again; for he felt that, lonely, protected only by his honour, he must -not let even the warmth of the purest love call up a doubt or a fear -in her young heart. His thoughts and words naturally followed the -course in which his feelings led; and he replied, "I will be with you -often, my Julia, though now I must leave you soon, I fear; but when I -return I will try to bring one of my sisters with me to cheer you." - -But Julia had tasted less of the tree of the knowledge of good and -evil, and she answered, innocently, "I want no cheering when you are -with me, Gowrie. Glad shall I be to see them; and if they be like -Beatrice, my heart will open to them like a humble flower to the -bright sun; but Gowrie's presence is life enough for me. But I have -many things to tell you, too; and yet, I know not why, but I think you -have not told me all." - -"Oh, there are many minor things to mention," answered the young earl, -doubtful whether it were wisest to inform her of the dangers which had -menaced, or to conceal them, now that he was safe, at least for the -time. "What need," he asked himself, "to disturb her mind, and keep -her in constant agitation, whenever I am absent, by fears for me, -whose life has been already menaced? Better let her remain in -ignorance of the perils that beset my path, when she can do nought to -avert them. Could she act, could she counsel, could she direct, I -would conceal nothing from her; but she is here helpless and alone, -unable to do aught but sit and weep over the dangers or the griefs of -others. Shall I make the hours, lonely and dull as they must be here, -sad and apprehensive also? No, no; I will not be insincere; and -whatsoever she asks, will answer her truly; but I will say no more -upon such subjects than needs must be said." - -Perhaps Gowrie went a little further than this, for he purposely led -the conversation away from the subject of his own fate; and all that -Julia learned was, that the king had shown no great love in his -demeanour either for the earl or for his brother. Even this made her -somewhat thoughtful; and to change the subject, Austin Jute was sent -for. He came as fresh, as gay, as ugly as ever; but on this occasion -he had little to tell, for his journey back to Trochrie had passed -without impediment from any other source but his ignorance of the way. -The difficulties he met with from that cause, he described with -considerable humour, telling the answers which had been given to his -inquiries at the different places which he had passed, and imitating -the various dialects of the counties through which he had gone, which -were in those days very strongly marked. He did very well till he came -to the Gaelic, and even then, though he was utterly unacquainted with -the words of the language, he contrived to give some of the sounds so -exactly, that Gowrie could not refrain from laughter. - -Julia rejoiced to see him so gay; and if she had entertained any -suspicion that he was withholding the painful portion of the truth -from her, it was dissipated by the cheerfulness he displayed. - -An hour or two thus went by; but Gowrie would not keep her long from -repose, for he longed to go forth with her on the following morning, -and roam through the valleys, and over the hills, now covered with the -yellow broom and the young shoots of the heath. The weather had become -bright and warm. The fair season was coming on with rapid strides, -when the mountains are softened and decorated by the hand of nature, -and their solemn gloom cheered by the smiles of the sky; and Gowrie -thought of many a plan to make the hours pass pleasantly. "While -here," he said to himself, "the feeling of security will spread a calm -and tranquil atmosphere around us, which we could not obtain in a less -wild and solitary spot. To-morrow, I will take my dear prisoner forth, -and show her some of the beauties of the land to which she is yet a -stranger." - -At an early hour, therefore, he bade Julia adieu for the night, and -retired to the room which he had ordered to be prepared for himself in -the gate tower. There he held a somewhat long conversation with Donald -Macduff, his baron bailie in Strathbraan; and having ascertained from -him that all strangers had withdrawn from the neighbourhood, and that -a keen watch had been kept up ever since Austin Jute's capture, lest -any of the king's people should be lurking about in the valleys -around, he lay down to rest, and slept more soundly than he had done -for many a night before. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII. - - -In a room of no very great dimensions in the fair town of Perth, were -collected a number of persons upon a solemn and serious occasion. A -number of the officers and magistrates of the town were present, -seated on a little sort of platform raised above the rest of the room. -On either side were drawn up the various officers of a municipal court -of justice, as they existed at that time, although I am unable to give -their designations; and towards the door were seen two or three -halbardiers, with their imposing but clumsy-looking weapons over their -shoulders, and dresses of the reign of James V. In a large arm-chair, -in the midst of the magistrates of the town, was seated the Earl of -Gowrie, as provost of Perth and heritable sheriff of the county; and -at a little distance from him, on the same raised place of honour, -appeared Sir George Ramsay, habited in the ordinary costume of the -court. Across the front of the dais was stretched a long narrow table, -at which were seated two or three men in dark garments, with pen and -ink and paper before them, and at the opposite end of the room, with a -fretted and gilt barrier of iron about three feet high in front, -appeared the prisoner, David Drummond, with a stout jailor on either -side. His strong and muscular frame appeared to have suffered little, -if at all, by the confinement he had endured; but his dull and -sinister-looking face was now as pale as ashes, for the earl had just -pronounced upon him that doom of death which he himself had twice -inflicted upon others. Sadly but calmly, after the most convincing -proofs of his guilt, Gowrie had pronounced the fatal words, with his -eye fixed firmly on the man's countenance. - -Drummond gasped as if for breath to speak; but the two jailors laid -their hands upon his arm, and were about to remove him, when the earl -interposed, exclaiming, "Stay, stay; he desires to speak. Let him say -whatever he thinks fit." - -"I appeal to the king!" cried the wretched man--"I appeal to the -king!" - -"There is no appeal from this court," replied Gowrie; "but----" - -"Ah! you fear what I could tell, Earl of Gowrie," cried the criminal. -"It would not suit you that I should have communication with the -king." - -"Unhappy man," replied the earl, with perfect calmness, "you are only -now aggravating your guilt. There is no act of my whole life that I -fear to have proclaimed at the market cross to-morrow. My conscience -acquits me of offence; would that yours could do so. But to prove to -you that I fear nought that you can do or say, and that I wish not to -deprive you of one chance of life, I will fix the day of your -execution, for the crime you have committed, so far off as to afford -you opportunity of using every means to obtain that pardon which you -do not deserve. You have been fairly tried and justly condemned. There -is no appeal but to the king's mere mercy. He has the power of grace -ever in his own hands, and far be it from me to interpose between you -and it. For your execution, therefore, if you cannot obtain grace, I -name the twenty-eighth day of the next month, at noon, and may the -Almighty have mercy on your soul! In the meantime, every means will be -given to you of addressing any petitions or memorials to his majesty -which you may think fit to send; and should I not be present in the -town of Perth, I beg that the magistrate will take care that they be -forwarded by a special messenger, and without any delay. Now remove -him." - -The court then rose, and Gowrie and Sir George Ramsay spoke a few -words together, in the midst of which a servant of the earl's entered -the hall, bearing a sealed packet in his hand. - -"From the king's majesty, my lord," he said; and Gowrie instantly cut -the silk and opened the letter, under the impression that it might -have reference to the cause which had just been tried. Such, however, -was not the case; and folding it up again, he put it in his pocket, -saying, "Come, Ramsay, and rest yourself with me for a day or two. I -am about to make strange changes in my house, and have also to place -my pictures, just arrived from Italy, in which I would have your good -advice." - -"But a few hours, my good lord, can I stay," replied Ramsay; "and I am -afraid my advice would serve you but little. However, such as it is, -command." - -Taking leave of the bailies of the town, and the other officers of the -court, with whom the earl was extremely popular, Gowrie and his friend -withdrew, and walked together through the streets. Several persons -followed them out; but as soon as they were free from the crowd, -Ramsay looked at the earl's face, saying, "I hope your news from the -court, my lord, is more favourable than that which I was unfortunate -enough to bring you when last we met." - -"Oh, the letter was a mere invitation to join the court and hunt at -Falkland, in the early part of June," replied the earl, "and an -acknowledgment of having received a certain law paper, which had been -examined by the king's advocate, and found full and in due form. His -majesty has been very gracious," he continued, with a smile and a -meaning glance, "for the letter is written in his own hand." - -"Do you intend to accept the invitation?" asked Sir George Ramsay. - -"I am doubtful," said the earl. "An invitation from a monarch is well -nigh a command; and I am never disposed to disobey my king where I can -obey with safety to my person and to my honour." - -"Your honour is safe, my dear lord, wherever you are," replied Ramsay. -"Where a man holds life lightly, when compared with integrity, his -honour is ever in his own safe keeping, and no other hand can touch -it. But your personal safety is another question, and I would have you -look to it." - -"Do you know aught, Dalhousie, of fresh designs meditated against me?" -asked the earl, straightforwardly; nor was the answer less explicit. - -"No, I do not," answered Ramsay. "Of fresh designs I know none; but I -may doubt whether the old ones are abandoned; and I have often -thought it a dangerous sort of sport, my good lord, to hunt with a -half-reconciled enemy. The chase has its accidents, which occur most -frequently where many people are assembled. Methinks I would advise -you to hunt but little, and with those people alone upon whose care -and prudence you can rely." - -He spoke in a very meaning tone; and Gowrie answered, "I think your -advice is good; and, moreover, I could hardly contrive to accept his -majesty's invitation consistently with the arrangements already -formed; for my dear mother has consented to come forth from the -retirement which she has long kept, and meet me at Trochrie in a few -days." - -"Then I suppose we shall soon have to congratulate you on an event -which, I trust, may contribute to your happiness," said Ramsay. "The -court has been busy with the story for some time past." - -"Not very soon," answered Gowrie; "at least, to a lover it seems long. -Some three months must yet elapse--and it _is_ long; for what man is -there, Dalhousie, let him read the stars skilfully as he will, let him -be learned, wise, experienced, who shall say all that may happen in -three months? How often does the shaking hand of Fortune spill the -wine out of the overflowing cup of joy even as she is handing it to -our lips!" - -"But too true, my dear lord," replied Sir George; "but I trust in your -case it will not be so, for your fate is, I think, much in your own -hands. If you but avoid dangers where they are known to exist, I think -they will not come to seek you." - -Gowrie mused. "What should be the cause of this enmity?" he said at -length, in a meditating tone. "What have I done to merit it? Is -it that some one is playing false both to the king and me, and -poisoning his ear with lying tales of false disloyalty? Or is it that -between his blood and mine there is a repugnance which cannot be -pacified--that the sad and terrible deed done by my grandfather in his -mother's presence, when his unborn eyes were yet waiting for the -light, has placed enmity between our races even to the present hour? -They say that there are strange mortal antipathies in the blood of -some men towards others, which can never be conquered by any effort of -the person hated; and surely such must be the case even now, for a -more loyal subject, or one who more truly wishes well to his crown, -his state, his person, does not live. What are my offences?" - -"I could tell you some, my lord," replied Sir George Ramsay. "First -and foremost, you are too powerful in the land for a king's love. Your -estates are vast. Your wealth, during a long minority, has mightily -increased; you are allied to all the most powerful and noble in the -land; and you are known to be one who would oppose, without fear, or -change, or wavering, the establishment of arbitrary power in Scotland, -either in the church or state. These are motives strong enough, my -lord, and they are the real ones. What the pretences may be, I know -not; but if you keep yourself aloof from all factions and all parties, -if you abstain, as far as is consistent with your honour and your -station, from all opposition to the king, methinks that the feelings -that have risen up must die away of themselves, like weeds that have -no roots.--But here we are at your great house, my lord, and a grand -mansion is it, certainly." - -"Come, see the pictures I have lately purchased," said Gowrie. "I -shall have scantily room to place them unless I build me a new -gallery. It is with such things as these, Dalhousie--with music, -pictures, books, and thought, that I have employed my mind, and not in -hatching treason or brooding over schemes of disloyalty.--But we will -talk no more of such things. This is the way.--John Christie," he -continued, speaking to the porter, "bid them serve dinner in the -little hall for myself and Sir George, and see that his servants be -well entertained. We are in the gallery when the meal is ready." - -Thus saying, he led the way across the court towards the right hand, -and entering a door in a little projecting tower which stood in one -angle, he conducted his friend up a small staircase which was called -the Black Turnpike, being but scantily lighted by three small -loopholes. At the top of this staircase Gowrie opened a door which led -into a very large and handsome room, containing no furniture except -some tall straight-backed gilt chairs, covered with rich embroidered -velvet. Passing by another door on the right, the earl then took his -way across this spacious chamber to an entrance on the opposite side, -while Ramsay remarked, "This is the gallery-chamber, if I remember -rightly." - -"Yes," replied the earl; "and that door behind us leads to my study, -which I have furnished well with books. I am afraid, however, that I -shall have to change my domicile, for the window looks down into the -street, and the noise often distracts my thoughts." - -"You will soon have other books to read in your lady's eyes, my lord," -replied Sir George Ramsay, with a smile; and passing on, they entered -by a small door that splendid gallery which formed the admiration of -all men who saw it in those times. The walls were hung with pictures -by the older masters of the Flemish, German, and Italian schools. Some -were of a very ancient date, almost contemporary with the revival of -the arts--more curious, perhaps, than beautiful, but yet not without -their beauty too. There were two or three Van Eycks, and one -especially, a fine picture of John of Bruges. But that which most -attracted the attention of Sir George Ramsay, even from the Titians -and the Correggios on the wall, were some large flat wooden cases, -placed upright around, and with the tops removed, showing the pictures -which the earl himself had collected in Italy. Amongst the rest was -one of very large size, on which the clear light from the north shone -strongly. It was rich and powerful in tone, and vigorous in -conception, representing Niobe weeping over her children amidst a -scene of great picturesque beauty, while the vengeful God of Day was -seen retiring in the distance with the work of death completed. Before -it Sir George Ramsay stopped for a moment or two, and gazed with -interest and admiration. When he turned round he found the young earl -standing beside him with his arms crossed upon his broad chest, and -his eyes fixed upon the female figure with a look of stern thought. - -"What a beautiful picture!" exclaimed the knight; "yet it is by a hand -I do not know, and seems fresh from the easel. Who was the artist?" - -"A young man of the name of Guido Reni," replied Gowrie. "It was -painted for me this last year in an incredibly short space of time, -for the artist wanted money; and I gave him his own price. But that -picture, Dalhousie, has a particular interest for me. Do you not think -the Niobe very like my mother?--younger a good deal, but still very -like." - -"It is, indeed," said Ramsay, "particularly in the brow and eyes. -Strange that it should be so, for this Italian most probably never saw -her." - -"Never in his life," replied Gowrie; "and I can only account for it -thus.--I passed several days with this young man in his painting room -at Bologna, and chanced, I remember, to mention my mother, and her -devoted affection for her children. Whether there is any likeness -between myself and her I do not know; but I left him to finish the -picture and send it over when it was complete, and when I opened it a -few days ago, was struck with the extraordinary resemblance.--Come, -here is a Caracci well worth your seeing." - -"And that lad lying dead with his arm thrown back under his head, and -the left hand clutching the grass, is like your brother Alexander," -said Ramsay, lingering before the picture still. But Gowrie had gone -on, and his friend soon followed. There was still much to be seen in -the gallery; but the habit of that day was to dine at a very early -hour; and shortly after, the two gentlemen were summoned to their -meal; and Sir George Ramsay mounted his horse almost as soon as dinner -was concluded. - -Gowrie then retired from the court in which he had seen his friend -depart, to the study which he had spoken of in passing through the -gallery chamber. There, casting himself into a chair, he thought for a -moment or two, but in the end took up a book out of a number lying -near, and began to read. He had not perused a dozen sentences, -however, when the door opened, and, without announcement, Mr. William -Cowper, a gentle and amiable man, one of the ministers of Perth, -entered, saying, "I hope I do not interrupt your studies, my lord." - -"Oh no," answered Gowrie, throwing down the volume. "It is but a -foolish book, called, 'De Conspirationibus adversus Principes,' a -collection of famous treasons, all foolishly contrived, and ending in -defeat by the conspirators having too many men in their councils." - -"Dangerous studies, my lord," replied the clergyman. - -"Not for me, my good friend," answered Gowrie, gravely. "But what -brings you, my dear sir?" - -The conversation then took another turn; but Mr. Cowper, after he had -left the earl, mentioned more than once, though doubtless with no bad -intentions, the studies in which he had found the young lord -engaged.[5] - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - -Now, reader, for a short recapitulation of events which occupied -several weeks. I must be brief, for the stern limits stare me in the -face, and the tale must needs, perforce, draw to a conclusion. First, -then, with the Earl of Gowrie. In a few days he returned to Trochrie, -meeting his mother by the way, and escorting her with kindly care and -tenderness. The best apartments in the castle had been prepared for -her. The summer was of unusual brightness. The day had been one long -lapse of sunny light; and although, when the countess passed the dark -portal of the castle, which she had last entered with a gallant -husband, since torn from her by a bloody death, a shade of gloom, cast -from the cloudy past, fell upon her, yet it passed speedily away, -when, with her hand clasped in that of her son, and the beautiful arms -of his promised bride around her neck, she stood in the old hall, and -looked forward through the perspective glass of hope towards the -future. - -A month passed away in joys and pleasant sports; Gowrie's household -was now completed. The number of his attendants and his tenantry, the -friendship of the neighbouring clans, the support of his relation, the -Countess of Athol--all rendered the residence at Trochrie perfectly -secure against any machinations of his enemies; and fear was banished -from the dwelling. The younger brothers of the house of Ruthven -appeared at the castle from time to time. His sister Barbara, quiet -and nun-like in character, spent the greater part of her time there. -An occasional guest partook of their hospitality. The mornings were -passed in chasing the deer, or in rides amongst the hills; and the -evenings in calmer and more intellectual pleasures. The old countess -would sit and listen, as it were entranced, while her son's promised -bride sang the exquisite songs of other lands, or while Gowrie -himself, with the peculiar charm which is given by high conversational -powers, told brief outpointed anecdotes of countries he had visited, -or great men whom he had known; and, while she gazed upon the -extraordinary loveliness of the one, or the high-toned, manly beauty -of the other, she would say to herself, "These two were certainly -formed by Heaven to be united," and would add, with a half-doubtful -sigh, "and to be happy." - -At the end of about a month, suddenly and unexpectedly, they were -joined at Trochrie by the earl's younger brother, Alexander. He seemed -to shrink from all explanation of the causes of his having quitted the -court; and when his mother made some inquiries as to whether the king -and he were still friends, replied, "Yes. His majesty parted with me -most graciously." - -Gowrie asked no questions; but he divined much. He was kind and gentle -to his brother, however; and the youth seemed to feel his forbearance -deeply, and showed greater reverence and affection than he had ever -done before. His faults were those of youth, passion, and -indiscretion; but his heart was generous and kind, and experience and -example might have made him a great and a good man. - -The period of his stay at Trochrie was the happiest, by far the -happiest, of Gowrie's life; and it went on increasing in brightness, -for the days were rapidly approaching which were to make Julia his. - -As the month of July waned towards a close, it became needful, -however, that some preparation should be made for his approaching -nuptials; and to ascertain whether, as he hoped and trusted was the -case, the feelings of enmity which the king had shown him had been -mitigated by time, he wrote to Beatrice, who was still with the queen -at Falkland, and to Sir George Ramsay, who was likely to obtain -correct information through his brother. Both the answers were -favourable, for James was an accomplished hypocrite whenever it suited -his purpose to be so; and Beatrice replied, "I trust that all danger -is past, and former things forgotten. The king seldom mentions you, my -dear brother, which is a good sign; and when he does so, it is with a -joke, which is a sign still better. He said the other day, that you -were so busy courting your fair lady, that you could not give a -thought to king or cousin; and added, that if he could find out the -day you were to be married, he would go as a guisard, and dance at -your wedding." - -Sir George Ramsay's letter was much to the same effect. - -"I trust," he said, "that time is curing old wounds. If anything is -meditated against you, my dear lord, I will undertake to say, that it -is unknown to my brother as well as to myself, for John is not of a -deceitful disposition, but rather rash and bold. He would not, and he -could not, conceal from me what he knows; and as he mentioned your -name the other day, if any design had menaced you, it would have been -told." - -With such assurances, the young earl's plans were soon formed, and it -was agreed that the dowager countess, with her two younger sons and -Julia, should proceed by one road to Dirleton, avoiding the court at -Falkland, while Gowrie, with Alexander Ruthven, should go for a few -days to Perth, to make preparations for the reception of his bride, -and then join his mother and the rest of the family in East Lothian, -on the ensuing 5th of August. The marriage was appointed to take place -on the 1st of September, the earliest day which their promise to the -old Count Manucci permitted. - -With such plans and purposes, Julia and her lover parted on the 30th -of July, 1600, in the fond anticipation of meeting again before the -week was at an end. Gowrie rode on to Perth; and the news of his -arrival spread through the county, where many of the gentry were now -assembled after having passed the winter and spring in courts and -cities. Multitudes flocked to see and congratulate the young earl on -his return, and on his approaching marriage; and, to say truth, the -crowd of visitors was somewhat inconvenient, considering the many -preparations he had to make, and the shortness of his proposed stay. -On the morning after his arrival, indeed, the inconvenience was -rendered greater than it otherwise might have been, by a circumstance -which seemed at the time merely ludicrous, but which was not without -its significance. Gowrie, on reaching the gates of his own dwelling, -had found them open, and the porter absent. He was somewhat angry at -the neglect, but on speaking to his factor, Henderson, the latter -excused the porter, saying that he had asked leave to absent himself -for a day, which had been granted, as the earl's arrival so soon was -not expected. The fault of the gates being open the factor took upon -himself, and proceeded to lock them with his own keys, before he -departed for the night to his small house in the town of Perth. He -forgot, however, to leave his keys behind him; and when, early on the -following morning, two or three of the neighbouring noblemen presented -themselves at the gates, they could not obtain, and Gowrie could not -give admission, except by a small postern door in the garden wall. -Christie, the porter, did not return till night, and upon being -questioned as to where he had been, replied, "To Falkland, my lord. I -went to see my sister, who is servant there." - -"Saw you the king?" asked his lord; but to this question the man -returned one of those equivocal answers which are often all that can -be obtained from a Scotchman of the lower class, who has no mind to be -cross-questioned. It implied that he had just caught a sight of his -majesty, but certainly did not imply that he had spoken with him. - -Was this the plain truth? I trow not; for James was much accustomed to -trust to his own skill alone in all dangerous negotiations. - -The earl, however, had no suspicion of the truth, and dismissed the -man to his duty, with a slight reproof for having carried the keys -away with him. This occurred on Thursday, the 31st July, and I must -now ask the reader to pass over two days, and follow me to Falkland, -on Saturday, the 2nd August. - -Do you see that little door, opening from a back staircase, and -somewhat high up in the building? It looks like the entrance to the -bedroom of some inferior follower of the court. It is on the third -story, just over the king's closet, and the staircase goes no farther. -Hark! there are voices speaking within! Laughter, too, and merriment. -Is it a party of revellers hiding themselves there, to enjoy a debauch -unobserved? No, it is a king and a king's confederate, talking over -deeds of blood and cruelty. - -"He'll come, he'll come," said James, "just as ae deer comes to the -belling of another. But I'll no write, man--it's better to hold one's -hand from written papers; they come up long after; I'll send him a -message. Now, then, Sir Hugh, let us think who we can best trust. -Tommy Erskine is o'er soft-hearted, or he might be a good man, for -he'll keep the king's counsel, I think. You may just whisper a word of -the matter to him and to Geordie Hume--not Sir John, mind--but tell -them not all; only just an inkling." - -"Ramsay, I suppose, must know the whole?" said Herries; "he's a man of -action, prompt and ready, and hates the whole name of Ruthven." - -"Fye, now, ye silly gowk!" cried James, laughing; "it is just because -he is what you call him, that he shall not know a word before the -time. He'll be prompt enough, and ready for action at a minute's -warning; and his hatred of the Ruthvens will make him fancy any ill of -them the moment they are accused. But I'll tell you, doctor, you must -be there to put him forward the moment I cry out. Have him where he -can see and hear all as soon as it happens." - -"I will take care, sire," replied Herries, with a meaning look. "I -have held a hound in leash before now, and put him on the scent at the -right minute." - -James laughed again, saying, "Well run our buck down this time, I -think, doctor. But we must have some more. I'm not that fond of -trusting such secrets to lords and gentlemen; for they may think their -own turn will come. But there are two or three sturdy fellows in the -hall and the buttery who'll do good service, and hold their tongues -when it's done. Just you jog down the stairs and call me up Robert -Galbraith--stay, I'll put down five or six o'them, that ye may send up -quietly by turns. There's Galbraith, and then we can have the porter, -James Bog, and his brother John, who has the key of the ale-cellar, -and Brown, too. He's a stout fellow, and canny. He does not heed to -ask questions, but does what he's told, only he's o'erfond of the -lasses. We'll have all these." - -Sir Hugh Herries listened with astonishment to the names which the -king mentioned, and at last ventured to say, "Will it not seem -strange, your majesty, to take with you, on your expedition, men of -such stations as your porter here at Falkland and the keeper of the -ale-cellar." - -"Hout, tout!" cried the king, "who's to call it strange if I choose to -do it? May not a king guide his own menial servitors as he likes? and -who's to fash his thoomb with what it pleases us to command? I tell -ye, doctor, these are the best men we could have, and I must take heed -I do not get a gore from the hart I'm hunting." - -"That of course must be cared for, sire, above all things," answered -Herries, who feared that James might suspect his loyalty, as being -somewhat lukewarm, if he estimated the king's danger less than he did -himself; "it were well to have some one well-armed close to you, and -none could be better than Ramsay." - -"I and Christie will see to that," said James, nodding his head -significantly. "Ramsay will no do. He might be scrupulous if he kenned -it was all laid out beforehand, though he'll do the deed in hot blood -right well and willingly, if he thinks his king's in danger. You see, -Sir Hugh, it is not easy to get unlearned, thickheaded, common-witted -men to understand that judges and officers of the law are but -empowered to put offenders to death by authority committed to them by -their sovereign, who, in imparting to others, loses no part of his -power and authority himself; but having tried and condemned a criminal -in his own mind, according to the right which he derives from God, has -every title to say to any of his subjects, 'this man, or that man, is -a traitor, or a murderer, or a thief,' as the case may be; 'put him to -death;' for doing which the king's mere word is his sufficient -warrant. I say it is not easy to get such men as Ramsay to understand -this, though he would quarrel with any Ruthven of them all, and cut -his throat for our service, if we would but give him leave to proceed -according to his false fancies of honour and such like. No, no, man, -he must know nought of our purposes till the time comes, as I have -said. Such counsels are too grave for him, but still I will take care -so to prepare and preoccupy his mind with the knowledge of meditated -treasons that he shall be ready to strike home in our defence when -need is. The men I have told you of, are those we can best trust; and, -perhaps, before the day for the hunting, we may pick out one or two -more of the court folk, to accord greater or less knowledge to, as we -shall deem expedient." - -"But is your majesty sure that the earl is now at Perth?" asked -Herries; "it would not do for you to go and find a warm nest and a -flown bird." - -James chuckled. "See what an unbelieving carle thou art, Hughie," he -said; "the last time, I trusted the matter to you and your cronies; -and sure enough you found what you say, a warm nest and a flown bird; -but I have taken the matter into my own hand now, and made sure of -all. The lad returned to his great house, at St. Johnstone, on -Wednesday last at evening, and there he is carousing like any prince. -All the people are flocking to him from the country round, as if he -were king of Perth, and forgetting that we ourselves are here in -Falkland. The good folk of the town, too, are all mad about him, and -looking for the bridal, as if a king's son were going to wed." - -"Is there no risk of the citizens rising?" asked Herries, in a low -tone. - -James's face instantly fell. "That's right well bethought," he said; -"they, burghers of Perth, were aye a turbulent set. We must have men -enow in the town to keep them down. What's to be done, think you, -doctor?--stay, I've got the pirn. We'll send Davie Murray to his -cousin Tullibardine, and bid the baron meet us with all his folk in -arms, as if just by accident." - -"I fear me, your majesty, that will not pass current," said Herries; -"people don't travel by accident with two or three hundred armed men." - -"Ay, ay! but you forget there's that affair of Oliphant. The notorious -villain has been grinding down the Angus folk like corn between the -stones, and he's now in Perth or thereabout. That will be enough for -Tullibardine. As for the people about the court, we must have another -story ready; but I'se warrant we find one." - -"I hope it will match all the rest," said Herries, with a grim smile; -"for where one has so many pirns on hand they are apt to get tangled. -I've seen many an old wife get clean dumfounded with the power o'them; -and I'm thinking that, at spinning a web, neither your majesty nor I -can match an auld wife." - -"Gae wa', ye disloyal carle!" cried the king, laughing; "to even your -born sovereign to an auld wife! Go your ways, man, I'll make a tale -that shall puzzle them. You send up the folk I have told you; but -Davie Murray, our controller, first; and then the others, one by one. -Let them be like buckets in a draw-well, as one goes down, the other -comes up--no more clavers, but do as I bid." - -Herries retired from the royal presence; but he stopped and thought -for a minute or two upon the stairs. He stopped and wondered, too; for -though he was ruthless enough, he could not regard the business before -him as the king did; and he asked himself, how James could plot the -death of two young, hopeful men, in the pleasant spring of life, full -of gay expectation and the happy blood of youth, as if he were but -laying out the chase of some beast of the field? The secret was, that -he could not, with his acute and logical mind, deceive himself with -James's sophistries as to the justifiableness of the act; and the king -did. - -He descended at length, however, and twelve times that night the small -door at the top of the stairs opened and shut, as one of those who -were to take a part in the perpetration of the contemplated deed went -in and came out. - -At length the king descended himself, his dark and fatal council over, -and lying down to rest, slept as soundly as a sick-nurse. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX. - - -The prayer and the sermon had been long and furious, for Mr. Patrick -Galloway was one of the most vehement men in and out of a pulpit that -even the Scottish church ever produced. "The man of many pensions," as -he was sometimes called, had once been, or appeared to be, a stern and -ardent advocate of church freedom; but he had mightily changed his -views since he became chaplain to a king whose love of liberty was but -small; and all the tremendous energies of the most persevering and -eager of men were now turned to advocate the views of his royal -patron. He now "wrestled and pleaded," as he called it, with peculiar -fervor in his prayer for the safety of his majesty, and his -deliverance from all enemies, and he took for the text of his sermon -merely the opening words of one of the epistles, "James, a servant of -God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are -scattered abroad, greeting." On this theme he descanted for a full -hour, speaking to his courtly auditory as if he were the mouthpiece of -the king, and venturing to exhort all men to passive obedience, in -terms and with arguments which James himself, with all his blasphemous -uses of scripture, would not have ventured to employ. - -Many, nevertheless, listened to his fervid exhortations with that -reverence and kindling enthusiasm which rude and impassioned eloquence -often produces in the minds of the warm tempered and uncultivated, and -amongst those was Sir John Ramsay. Every word that the preacher -uttered went straight to his heart, and roused up therein a sort of -gloomy longing to be of service to his sovereign, which was but too -soon to be gratified. - -After the king's dinner he called for Ramsay, who had hardly finished -his own, and walked out with him, otherwise unattended. The day was -hot, but cloudy, the pace of the king and his favourite slow, and -James's manner peculiarly calm and composed. I will not attempt to -give any idea of the language in which he expressed himself, for -though, as I have elsewhere said, somewhat more than half a Scot -myself, his majesty's knowledge of the vernacular was much greater -than my own, and to say sooth, many of his expressions were not very -decent and not very reverent. I may be permitted, therefore, to -translate the dialogue into English and legible terms. - -The king's first question went to ascertain what Ramsay thought of Mr. -Galloway's sermon. Ramsay expressed his cordial concurrence with every -word which had been uttered, and showed by his reply how eagerly he -had listened. - -"Well, well," said the king, "it was a good sermon, and well -conceived, but it was like a wasting of much powerful exhortation, for -those who most needed it were not present to hear it." - -"I should have thought all men might have profited by it, sire," -replied Ramsay, "as a stirrer up of zeal and of loyalty." - -"Ay, but they were all zealous and loyal about me," answered James; -"and none of those Ruthvens were present except that wild thing -Beatrice, who has more folly than guile in her." - -"I had hoped, sire, that her brothers were coming to a better sense of -duty," answered Ramsay. "Your majesty has shown them great favour -lately." - -"Policy, Jock--policy!" replied the king. "Both being out of reach -together, or only one within arm's length at a time, there was little -use of attempting to strike where the blow was sure to miss. But I'll -show you what to think of their loyalty and sense of duty. Look you -here, John Ramsay, what the man David Drummond writes me--he who was -put to death the other day by sentence of the justice court in -Perth--see you here," and after groping for nearly a minute in his -large breeches pocket, James produced a packet of papers, from which -he selected one, and gave it to his companion. - -Ramsay read it with looks of astonishment and displeasure, and then -returned it to the king, saying, "I wonder, sire, you did not save the -villain's life to be a witness against the traitor, his master." - -"It would have been perverting justice," said the king, "for he died -by a just sentence, although I'm thinking that the earl was not sorry -to stop his tongue with a wuddy. His information served me so far, -however, that I wrote to a good friend and servant of mine at the -English court, and got down this copy of the King of France's letter, -which this young earl brought over with him. Look ye now, and devise -what he means, for to my mind it seems that he plainly points out to -one who has been an enemy to Scotland that this earl who brings the -letter is the ready man for helping her in her plans. See here, lad, -what he says; 'I have been visited by the noble lord, the Earl of -Gowrie, who will lay these at your feet; and as he is exceedingly -desirous of serving your majesty,' &c.--Ay, more desirous of serving -her than of serving his natural king," continued James; "but maybe -he'll be taken in his own trap yet. He would not come to our hunting -here, though we invited him by a letter under our own hand; and now we -understand he has thoughts of inviting us to his place at Perth----" - -"I trust your majesty will not go," cried Ramsay. - -"If we do, it shall be well accompanied," replied the king; "with many -faithful and loyal people like yourself, Jock, who will see that no -harm befals us; and mind you be ready if ever you hear the king's -voice crying, to run and help him." - -"That I will, sire. Doubt me not," answered Ramsay, "and woe be to the -man whom I find attempting to do you wrong." - -"I know it, I know it, Jock," answered the king; "and when I've such -folk as you about me, I do not fear any evil. But good faith, man, we -must get in for the afternoon preaching. I will bide here a little, -but you can go your ways." - -Ramsay at once took the hint, and retired; but James continued walking -to and fro, and, whether by any previous arrangement or not, I cannot -say, some five or six gentlemen of his household and court went out -separately one after another, held each a few minutes' conversation -with the king, and then returned to the palace. To no two of them did -the monarch say exactly the same thing, though the subject was still -the same; and he seemed well satisfied with the answers of all. -Nevertheless, when at last he was joined by Sir Hugh Herries, he said, -in a low tone, "I don't like that cold body Inchaffray. He does not -speak heartily, doctor. I have told him little, and we'll tell him no -more. Has Davie Murray come back yet?" - -"No, sire," answered Herries. "He has not had time, though he rode as -if the de'il were behind him--which perhaps might well be." - -The last words were uttered with a low laugh; and the king turned -sharply upon him, asking, "What do you mean, you fause loon?" - -"They say the king's anger is the devil," answered Herries, with a bow -and a cynical smile. "That's what I mean, sir." - -James himself laughed now, replying, "Then ye're not feared for the -de'il yoursel. But we must get the preaching over, Herries. It had a -fine effect this morning; though I wonder that goose Galloway did not -touch upon the sorcery and magic. I had indoctrinated him well with -it; and he might have made a grand point of it, especially if he had -hinted that there were some people who studied in foreign lands, and -came home atheists, full of charms and diabolical arts, but that their -end was always evil." - -"Perhaps he kept it for another time, sir," answered Herries; "and -indeed I think it might be somewhat too strong just now, to point out -the ill end that some people may come to, for it might make men -believe hereafter that the whole had been prepared beforehand." - -"Awa wi' sic clavers," cried James; "who cares what they say -hereafter? We'll make it good, man; and it's always well to prepare -the way for the history of such an affair. I'll tell you what, Hughie, -I have full proof that this Gowrie lad has had dealings with -necromancers and conjurers of devils, and that's a food which, when -men have been nibbling at, they don't give up easily. So Galloway -might have said it, and told the truth, too.[6] But now, Herries, man, -you must look well to the people who are to go with us. Have as many -as possible, in case of there being a fray. It does not much matter -whether they can be depended on for beginning the thing or not, so -that you be quite sure they will take part with their king when it is -begun." - -James paused for a minute or two in thought, and then said, "As for -Inchaffray, we must get him away. Your cold, long-thinking folk that -always take time to consider before they give an answer, are not for -such work as this; and when I put it to him quietly whether he did not -think that kings, having the right divine to judge all their subjects, -might cause execution to be done by their own power upon those that -the arm of the law was too short to reach, he said, it was a knotty -point, which required deleeberation, for kings might sometimes make a -mistake, though he would not go the length of saying that if they were -proved right in the end, they would not be justified. I will send him -to Stirling the morn, and he'll have time to deleeberate by the way." - -"A small fine upon his estate might do him good," said Herries, "if he -shows himself at all refractory." - -"It's a fine plan, those fines," said James, to whom the hint was by -no means disagreeable. "It punishes these fat, wealthy lords, by -taking a part of their ill-gotten gear from them. It leaves them less -power of doing mischief, and it strengthens the king to keep them -down. Harry the Seventh of England, our good ancestor, knew the value -of fines right well, and he was a wise prince. It's funny to read in -history how he employed his two sponges, Empson and Dudley, to suck up -all the gold that was scattered about the realm; and then, when he -wanted some himself, he gave them a squeeze, and the thing was done. -It's almost a pity that this young Earl of Gowrie has not taken it -into his head, with all these dangerous designs of his, to do some -open act which would have enabled us, doucely and quietly, to levy a -good fat fine upon him; but he's kept so quiet, that he's left us no -way but that we're taking; and that would not have touched his brother -Alex, who is the worst of the two, and deserves death as well as any -one that I know. But fegs, man, there's the old doctor looking out of -the window. I'll warrant you he's waiting for us to come to the -preaching. Rin, Cousland, rin!--but mind ye don't have the lassie -Beatrice jecking at ye, about your bowit foot." - -"She did so this morning," said Herries, as he followed the king; "but -I asked her to let me look into her loof, and then told her that I -could see, by the art of chiromancy, some great misfortune would -happen to her within the month." - -"Ye should not have done that, ye gowk," said the king. - -"Then let her leave my bowit foot alone," said Herries. "I'll warrant -my lady turned very mealy about the haffits, for it scared her, -although she could not tell what I meant." - -James was going to reply; but two or three gentlemen of the court now -approached, probably to tell his majesty that the evening preaching -was about to begin; and James re-entered the palace without saying -more. - - - - -CHAPTER XL. - - -On Monday, the 4th of August, 1600, the Earl of Gowrie, his brother -Alexander, good Mr. Rhind, a gentleman of the name of Oliphant, and -Mr. William Row, a celebrated presbyterian minister, and a man of a -bold, intrepid, and straightforward character, were seated together in -the little dining-hall immediately after the evening meal, which was -usually taken in those days at nearly the same hour as that at which -we sit down to dinner in our own times. The summer's day, and the -twilight which succeeds it, I need hardly tell the reader, is much -longer in the northern latitude of Perth than in the southern parts of -the island; and though supper was already over, it was still broad -daylight. There was some very rare old wine upon the table, one of the -good things of life to which even the strictest ministers of the -Presbyterian kirk had no conscientious objection, and of which I have -remarked, they can generally imbibe a quantity without its having the -slightest effect upon their intellect, which would very much puzzle -the brains of any man habituated to its daily use. Gowrie, however, -was accustomed to drink but little. Of a strong frame, in robust -health, hardly having known a day's illness in his life, he felt no -need of wine; but still his hospitality would, in all probability, -have induced him to stay and press the grape upon his guests, had he -not had many subjects calling for immediate attention. - -"I must now leave you, Mr. Row," he said, "and must take Alex from -you, too, for we have a number of orders to give and matters to -arrange; but my good friend, Mr. Rhind, will be my locum tenens, and -see that you do justice to my cellar. If I find it otherwise at my -return, I shall either think that Rhind has played the host badly, or -that you find the wine of an ill flavour." - -"You are going to Dirleton I think, to-morrow, my lord," said Mr. Row. - -"Not before I have heard your sermon, my dear sir," replied Gowrie, -with a courteous smile. "We shall not set off till after dinner; then -I shall run through Fife, embark upon the Firth of Forth, and be at -Dirleton before night." - -"And when you come back," said the minister, with a shrewd look, "we -shall see a bonny lady in the great house, I'm told." - -"I trust so, my dear sir," replied Gowrie, "and one well qualified, -both by character and education, to esteem and love such men as Mr. -William Row. It is for her reception that I am now so busy in -preparations." - -"Let us not keep you, my good lord--let us not keep you. We will just -take a moderate cup, and then retire." - -"Oh, no, I trust to see you before you go," replied the earl, quitting -the table. "Now, Alex, let us away and make our arrangements." - -Thus saying, the earl left the little dining hall, crossed the larger -hall and a part of the court-yard, and took his way towards the great -staircase which led to the picture-gallery, putting his arm -affectionately through that of his brother, and saying something to -him in a low tone. - -"What!" exclaimed Alexander Ruthven, starting, and looking in his -face; "I did not hear you clearly." - -"I only said, Alex," replied Gowrie, "that it is fit you should see -what is done and ordered; for if I should die before my marriage, or -without children, you will have to complete, as Earl of Gowrie, what I -have begun." - -"Now, Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the young man, warmly. "What should -put such a thing in your head, John?" - -"Nothing but the uncertainty of human life," replied his brother, with -a grave smile. "I might be drowned crossing the Forth to-morrow. My -horse might fall, as poor Craigengelt's did, the other day. A thousand -things might happen, to take me from this busy scene. It is true, -indeed!" he added, "I have thought of such things much lately; and I -suppose it is natural, when the greatest joy of life is before one, to -dread those accidents which so often interpose between expectation and -fruition. Would that the day were here, and my Julia's hand clasped in -mine for ever; but here comes Cranston. I shall leave him behind, to -see that all is executed properly. He is a man of taste and judgment, -and we can rely on him quite well." - -The person who approached was one of the domestics of the Earl of -Gowrie, whom he had engaged since his return from Italy; but it must -not thence be inferred that he was a man either of inferior birth or -education, for many a well born and well instructed person, in those -days, accepted the higher offices in the houses of noblemen of the -rank and wealth of the Earl of Gowrie. Thomas Cranston, we find, was -the brother of Sir John Cranston of Cranston, and from the way in -which he is designated in his trial, it would seem that he had taken -his degree of Master of Arts. - -On his approach, Gowrie addressed him familiarly, and led the way -through the picture gallery to the rooms on the side opposite to the -gallery-chamber and study. The first he entered was a light and well -proportioned room, looking out over the gardens, and catching a -pleasant view of the beautiful Tay. - -"Remember what I have told you, Cranston, about this room," said -Gowrie, casting off the gloomy air which had more or less hung about -him all day. "This is to be my lady's bower, where she can be free -from intrusion, and spend her quiet moments at her ease." - -"I think, my lord, you said the silk hangings of green and white were -to be put up here?" - -"Oh, no, no," exclaimed Gowrie. "You are no lover, Cranston, I can -see. Here, we'll have the colour of the rose; and I pray Heaven, that -her life with me may be so coloured, too. The summer flower, Cranston, -whose blushing bosom will not rival her dear cheek, must decorate her -chamber. No, no; those hangings which we had made here in Perth are -for this room, and for the sleeping-room adjoining. My dressing-room -is the little room beyond, and these two rooms for my mother. In the -other wing, is your abode, Alex, hard by William and Patrick." - -"I hope they will be more quiet than their wont," answered the young -gentleman, "for, to speak the truth, I am of a more quiet temper than -I used to be." - -"You will be here but for a short time at once, and you must bear with -them, Alex," said his brother; "but you are far enough off from them, -too; so that even when you do come from the noisy court, you may find -repose enough." - -"I shall never go to the court again," said the young gentleman, in a -thoughtful tone, walking on with the earl, while Cranston followed, a -step or two behind. "During the last fortnight, Gowrie, I have thought -more than I ever thought in my life before. I see that I have been -wrong, but not, I trust, criminal; and I know that the prayer which -petitions against being led into temptation is a very good one for -me." - -"I will not say I am sorry to hear you so speak," said the young earl; -"and though a knowledge of the danger is, with a strong and high mind, -almost a certainty of victory, yet I will not try to shake your -resolution, for I believe it is a good one--at all events for the -present." - -"I am sure it is, John," replied his brother; "and so, to return to -what I was saying, you see I shall be in Perth till you and the whole -household are tired of me, perhaps." - -"If you remain till I am tired of you, my dear Alex," answered the -earl, kindly grasping his shoulder, "we shall spend our lives -together. But I trust that ere long I shall see you married, too; and -what I can do to advance your fortune, shall be done." - -"I doubt not, Gowrie," replied the younger man, "that what I see of -the happiness of yourself and your fair Julia, will make me eager to -try the same lot--only where shall I find another such as she is?" - -"Oh, easily," answered Gowrie, "though it be a lover speaks, Alex. -What I mean is, you will easily find one as well suited to you as she -is to me--though I could never in life find another such. But let us -finish our task, for our friends below will think us long;" and, in a -far more cheerful mood than before, the earl led the way onward, -giving various directions to Mr. Cranston, till all that he could -recollect at the time was arranged. He then turned to descend the -staircase which led to the north-eastern part of the house, at which -he had now arrived; but, before he went, he paused to ask--"How is -poor Craigengelt, Mr. Cranston? I have had so many people with me -to-day, I have not been able to get to see him." - -"He is better, my lord," replied the other. "I saw him this morning -before dinner, and I shall see him again presently." - -"Tell him I will come and visit him before I go to-morrow," said the -earl; "and he must come over after me to Dirleton when he is well -enough." - -Thus saying, the earl went back to the dining-hall; but the party was -diminished, for Mr. William Row was gone. - -"I must go, too, my lord," said Oliphant, as the earl remarked upon -the absence of the minister, "for the truth is, my cousin, the Master, -is lying concealed in Perth, and we are to ride away at midnight, as -the king's people are seeking him for that affair in Angus." - -"A bad affair it was!" replied the earl, gravely. "I should be sorry -to say anything harsh of your house, but the king is quite right not -to suffer such things." - -"Ay, the Master is a born devil when his blood's up," replied -Oliphant. "I wont justify him, my lord; but he is yet my cousin, you -know, and so I must help him, and now I'll bid your lordship good -night, and may God protect you!" - -"I trust he will!" replied the earl. "Good night;" and sitting down, -he filled a tall Venice glass with wine, and drank it off at a -draught, as if he were tired and thirsty. - -A few minutes after, Mr. Rhind left him, saying he would go and help -to put the books to-rights in the study; and the earl and his brother -were once more left alone together. Gowrie, notwithstanding the -momentary sadness which had come over him just as Oliphant departed, -seemed more cheerful than he had been for many a day. The light and -playful wit which had distinguished him in Italy, sparkled forth anew; -and he spoke gaily and happily of his own prospects, suffering the -bright rays of hope to rest upon the future like sunshine on a hill. - -"It will be very sweet, Alex," he said, joyously, "to spend our lives -together here, afar from those courtly scenes of which you have now -found the hollowness. After all, a court is a dull place, from which -even those who rule it must retire to some small domestic corner for -anything like happiness. Its wit is all restrained, its merriment -measured by line and rule; and its gayest sports, hampered by -fictitious proprieties, always put me in mind of a man I once saw at -Milan, who danced in iron fetters for the amusement of the spectators. -We shall be much happier here. Sometimes we can sail upon the Tay, and -perhaps win the speckled salmon out of the blue water. At other times -we will away to hunt the deer, or mingle with the good citizens in -their sports; and then for idler hours, we shall have books, and -music, and pleasant chat, and let the world wag at its will, knowing -little of its doings. In a varied round of duties, pleasures, and -affections, time may well glide by us quietly, till we find age -creeping on us unawares, and telling us, there is another place before -us where rest is perfected in joy.--But it is growing dark, Alex. We -will have lights for an hour, and then to bed. To-morrow--oh, -to-morrow! Then shall I hold my dear one to my heart again." - -"My lord," said the earl's page, Walter Crookshanks, entering, "here -is Mr. Fleming with a message from the king for Mr. Alexander." - -Gowrie looked towards his brother, whose face turned somewhat pale, -and then replied, "Give him admission, by all means." - -The moment after a well-dressed and graceful young man was ushered -into the room, with whom the earl and his brother both shook hands. - -"Welcome to Perth, Fleming," said the earl, "pray you sit down. You -bear a message from his majesty, I think." - -"Not to your lordship," replied Fleming, taking a seat, "but to Mr. -Ruthven. He greets you well, sir, and bade me say that he requests -your presence at Falkland, to-morrow, at as early an hour as may be, -to see the running of a famous stag which his men have marked down -this evening. You must not be late, for his majesty will be away -sooner than usual." - -"How many legs has the stag, Fleming?" asked Alexander Ruthven, with -an effort to laugh. "Four, I trust?" - -Fleming gazed at him for an instant, apparently in some surprise. -"Ah!" he said at length, "I did not understand you. Four, by all -means. I heard the order for horses and hounds, myself. We are all in -mirth and high glee at Falkland. The king seems to have forgotten all -cares and crosses, and like an over-ripe gooseberry, seems ready to -burst with sweetness. No, no, there is no danger. If you are there -about eight o'clock, you will find the whole court in the saddle. Some -of the ladies even, I have heard, are likely to be out to see the run. -What shall I say to his majesty?" - -Alexander Ruthven looked to his brother, and then replied, "Say that I -am his most devoted servant, and always ready to obey his will.--You -must not go dry lipped, Fleming, however," he continued, seeing the -young gentleman rise, as if to depart. "A cup of this old wine will -refresh you--your horse, too, has not had time to feed." - -"He will carry me back fasting," answered Fleming; "but I must drink -to your good health, and to that of my lord, your brother. The king -never bethought himself of sending for you till three hours ago--foul -fall his memory! when, after talking with your sister the duchess, he -suddenly called out to me, 'Fleming, get on your beast's back, and -ride to Perth as if the de'il had ye. Tell the bairn Alex to come and -run the muckle hart wi' us the morn, and bid him no lose time by the -way. Some one here can lend him a horse, I trow, for his ane beast -will be weary!" - -As he spoke he filled himself a cup of wine; and the earl asked who -was with the king when this was said. - -"The duchess and Lady Mar," said Fleming. "They came into the small -room, at the top of the great staircase, my lord, where I had -ensconced myself to talk awhile with Margaret Hume, if the truth must -be told. But now I will wish you both good night, and away on my long -ride again." - -The earl bade him adieu; and Alexander Ruthven saw him to his horse's -back. Then, returning to his brother, he said eagerly, "What shall I -do, Gowrie? This invitation is strange." - -"Strange as the man who sent it," said Gowrie; "but yet methinks he -can intend you no ill; and, if you refuse to go, it will at once put -enmity between you and the king. If there is any evil designed, it is -clear Fleming has heard nought of it." - -"I must go, I fear," said Alexander Ruthven. "I know not why -I feel such a dread; for it is just like the king, the whole -proceeding--friends with you to-day, at enmity to-morrow, then friends -with you again, if you show that you heed his wrath but little. It is -possible--nay, it is probable, that he intends no ill; but yet, I know -not why, I feel as if I were going to execution. How often have I -flown to that court with joy!--and now how different!" - -"If such be your feelings, Alex, I would not have you go," replied his -brother. "I may perchance be superstitious in this, but I have often -thought that, as we see in beasts sympathies with the elements which -give them warning of coming changes, teaching them to fly to the open -fields when earthquakes are approaching, or look up to the sky and low -with joy when the refreshing shower is soon about to descend, so in -man's nature there may be sympathies with the finer elements that -involve his spiritual nature, giving intimation of coming joy or -peril. My own short experience and reading, narrow though it be, have -tended to confirm this notion; for I have seldom seen or known a bold -spirit seized with an unaccountable repugnance to an act, and do it, -without the consequences being disastrous to himself. Now, were you, -Alex, of a timid nature, given to unreasonable fears, I should make -light of such dreads; but as it is, and as you perhaps are but too -bold in character, they have more weight with me." - -Alexander Ruthven thought for a moment or two deeply, and then -replied, with a sudden start, "No, I will go! I have been scanning my -own heart, Gowrie; and I think I can trace the cause of this dread to -a consciousness which has come upon me lately, that I have been more -faulty, in my thoughts at least, towards the king, than I believed -myself to be when I left Falkland. So faulty will I never be again; -and as the first fruit of a better spirit I will obey his command and -go." - -Thus was it settled, then; and all that remained to be determined was, -who was to accompany Mr. Ruthven on his expedition. - -"Take our cousin Andrew," said the young earl; "he is honest and -faithful, and well looked upon by the king. With your own servant and -one of mine that will be enough.--Henderson, too, is going to Ruthven -to see after the farms; he may as well accompany you part of the way, -and bring me back word if you find any cause of apprehension as you -go. Andrew is at Glenorchie's house hard by. Send him a message, and -he will go, I am sure." The two brothers retired soon after to rest; -but by four on the following morning Alexander was on horseback, and -in a few minutes, accompanied by his cousin Andrew Ruthven, and -followed by Henderson with two other servants, he was on his way to -Falkland. The apprehensions which he had experienced the night before -seemed now to have returned upon him in full force. He spoke little to -any one; and his first words to his cousin, after they had quitted -Perth, were, "I do not love this journey, Andrew. I know not why the -king has sent for me. It is very strange." - -Still, however, he rode on vehemently, as if anxious to know his fate, -let it be for weal or woe, and in the end he outrode all his -companions, coming in sight of Falkland by seven o'clock.[7] - -"The king will not be out for an hour," he said to himself, "and I can -learn from Beatrice whether there be any signs of danger." - -Riding straight east, between the little town of Falkland and the -wood, the young gentleman took his way towards the stables, then -called "The Equerry," intending there to put up his horse and enter -the palace privately; but just as he was approaching the building, to -his surprise and disappointment, he saw the king already mounted, and -an immense train of courtiers and huntsmen, going forth nearly two -hours earlier than usual. There were some old hawthorns growing near, -and dismounting at once, he threw his rein over a branch, and advanced -to the side of James's horse. There kneeling on the soft grass he bent -his head, saying, "I have come at once to obey your majesty's -commands." - -His heart beat for the next words; but James, with a smiling face, -leaned over the saddle, and threw his arm familiarly round the young -man's neck, saying, "That's a good bairn. Well I wot, I wish there -were many to obey as readily and speedily, Alex. Noo, man, get ye on -your beast and come wi' us, we'll show you fine sport the day." - -The young gentleman obeyed at once; the cavalcade took its way to the -wood; the tracks of the buck were soon found, and the hounds put upon -the scent. Twice, I think, in other works I have described a royal -hunt; and here I will refrain, not alone on that account, but because -"the hunting of that day" was not of stag or roe. - -As the noble beast, which was the pretended object of the morning's -chase, forced from his leafy covert, bounded away over the more open -ground, and hounds and hunters dashed after him, the royal cavalcade -was separated into small parties, and Alexander Ruthven asked eagerly -of one of the gentlemen near, where his acquaintance Fleming was that -morning. - -"He was sent off to Leith at six o'clock, poor lad," said Lord -Lindores; "tired as a dog with hard riding last night, he had sore ill -will to go; but the king was peremptory." - -"Alex Ruthven! Alex, bairn, ride close!" cried James, from a little -distance; "what are ye clavering about? Mind the sport--Come hither, -man, come hither!" - -The young gentleman immediately obeyed, and rode up to the king's -side; and throughout the rest of the hunting, whenever he absented -himself for a moment he was recalled almost instantly, if he was seen -to be conversing with any one belonging to the court. So long as he -remained silent and apart, James took no notice, and appeared to be -busily engaged in the chase; but no sooner did Alexander open his lips -to any other than the king himself, the monarch's voice calling him up -sounded in his ears. - -The hunt was long, considering the circumstances, for the deer was -forced by half-past eight, and was not pulled down till ten. All -gathered round the noble beast as he lay upon the ground, and every -one made way for the king to perform, as he so frequently did, the -last disgusting offices of the chase; but, to the surprise of all, and -the consternation of Alexander Ruthven, James remained upon his horse, -saying, "Noo, my lords and gentles, we've another ride before us. -We're awa to St. Johnstone, to visit our loyal friend, the Earl of -Gowrie; but we shall be back before night, so you needna seek your -night-caps." - -"I fear, your majesty," said Alexander Ruthven, "that you will hardly -find my brother at his house. He purposed to go to Dirleton early -to-day." - -"De'il tak it!" cried the king; "but 'tis no matter. We will ride the -faster and catch him, I do not doubt. Here, Alex, bairn, ride by us; -and tell us all about your brother's journey. Ye've seen the leddy, -I'll dar' to say." - -The poor young man, alarmed and confounded, replied, in faltering -accents, that he had; and, in answer to James's questions, he -described his brother's promised bride as accurately as he could find -words to do, in the state of trepidation of his mind at the moment. - -The monarch kept him by his side as much as possible; but in the -course of their long ride they were naturally separated more than -once; and the very first time their conversation was broken off, -Alexander Ruthven took the opportunity of asking Sir George Hume, a -distant cousin of the affianced husband of his sister, what could be -the motive of the king's journey? - -"It is understood he is going to Perth," replied the other, "to seize -the Master of Oliphant, who has been committing cruel oppression in -Angus." - -This information was some relief to the young gentleman's mind, for he -knew that the culprit mentioned had been in Perth the day before; and -riding up to the king's side again, he said, "Perhaps your majesty -will allow me to go forward and give notice of your coming. I may so -catch my brother before he departs, and enable him to prepare for your -reception." - -"No, no," replied the king; "my coming must be kept quite quiet till I -am there. As to the reception, we shall do well enough. You stay and -ride with us." - -The young gentleman fell back again, with a gloomy and apprehensive -countenance; and James, turning to the Duke of Lennox, who was riding -on his other hand, said, in a low tone, "Do you see how scared he -looks? What know you of the lad's nature, my lord duke--is he given to -such high apprehensions?" - -"I only know, your majesty," answered Lennox, "that he is a very -honest and discreet young gentleman, as far as my observation goes." - -James mused for a moment or two, and then said, in a low tone, gazing -with a cunning look in the duke's face, "You cannot guess, man, the -errand I am riding for--I am going to get a pose in Perth." - -"Indeed, sire," said Lennox, drily; "I am glad to hear it. I hope it -may be a large one." - -"I dinna ken," replied the king, in the same low tone; "but the bairn -Alex came to me just when we were going out for the hunting, and told -me that he had got a stranger man locked up at Gowrie Place, whom he -had found in Perth with a pitcher full of gold pieces. He besought me -to come away directly and take it, and to make haste and come -privately, for his brother, the earl, knows nothing of it; and he's -feared that the man might cry out."[8] - -"I do not like the story at all, sire," answered Lennox, with an -exceedingly grave face; "and were I in your majesty's place, I would -not go. The thing is quite childlike and improbable. How should -Alexander seize such a person and confine him in Gowrie House without -his brother knowing it? The house is the earl's; the servants there -are his; he is provost of Perth, and high-sheriff of the county. Were -it not better, sire, to dispatch two or three of us on to tell the -earl, on your part, what his brother has related, and to command him -to bring or send the man and his pot of gold before your majesty?" - -"No, no," answered James; "I will e'en just go myself; but look well -where I go with the bairn Alex, when I am there." - -The Duke of Lennox was silent; but in the course of the ride James -told the same story, and in the same low tone, to several of the other -courtiers. It was heard by every one with looks of suspicion, though -it may be very doubtful whether they imputed the falsehood to the king -or to Alexander Ruthven. - -Even to Sir Hugh Herries his majesty repeated the tale, with a low -chuckle at the same time. - -Herries shrugged his shoulders, with what perhaps might be termed a -look of contempt; but he merely replied, "I wish the tale were more -probable." - -When the head of the royal cavalcade were within two miles of Perth, -but not before, James called Alexander Ruthven to his side, and said, -"You may now send one of your folk forward to tell your brother we are -coming this way, but stay you here yourself." - -"I will send my cousin Andrew, please your majesty," replied Alexander -Ruthven. - -"Well, call him up, call him up," said the king; and the young man's -hope of sending a private message to his brother was disappointed. -Gloomy and sad, he rode a step or two behind the king, till they were -within less than a mile of the town; but then again James, turning his -head, gave him a keen and scrutinizing look, and said, "Now, Alex, -bairn, ye may ride on to your brother." - -The young man struck his spurs deep into his tired horse's flanks, and -dashed past the king with a low bow. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI. - - -The Earl of Gowrie slept well; nor did he wake till past six o'clock. -Even then he felt unwilling to get up, for the last hour had been -filled with pleasant dreams; and they set fancy wandering on the same -track, even after reason had roused herself to grapple with the tasks -of the day. In his sleep he had imagined that he was wandering with -Julia through a pleasant garden; he could not tell where. It was not -certainly in Perth; it was not at Dirleton; it was not any he had ever -seen in Italy or France. The fruits and flowers were of a different -kind from those of Europe--larger, brighter in colour, more -magnificent. The odour which filled the air was at once sweet and -refreshing; and the fountains that rose up here and there, the rivers -which glided through green banks at his feet, were so pure, and clear, -and bright, that the little stones at the bottom seemed like jewels, -as the eye penetrated the waters. There was a murmur, too, of many -sweet sounds in the air--birds singing, and happy voices, and the gush -of fountains, and the low song of the stream--all blended into an -entrancing harmony. There seemed nobody but himself and Julia in that -garden; and they sat together upon the velvet turf of a green bank, -with the shadow of a feathery tree waving over them, with nothing but -joyful sights and pleasant sounds around; and he held her hand in his, -and gazed into her dark and lustrous eyes, and they both murmured, -"This is like Heaven!" - -For some minutes after he woke, he lay and thought of his dream. It is -very pleasant, on a bright summer's morning, with the birds singing -around, and the soft breath of dawn moving the air and agitating the -green branches, and the downy influence of sleep but half withdrawn, -to lie and meditate of happy days. Oh, how the images crowd upon us -then--how joy with joy weaves a wreath more beautiful than gems or -flowers--how we wish that life were indeed a day-dream like that! But -Gowrie was not suffered long to indulge. He heard some one moving in -the ante-room, and the next moment there was a tap at the door. He -rose and opened it, and, somewhat to his surprise, saw his servant, -Austin Jute; for he had thought it was his page come to call him. - -"What is it, Austin?" he asked; "you seem disturbed." - -"Oh no, my lord, not disturbed," replied the good man; "but a short -tale's soon told. I don't like your man Christie, my lord--the porter, -I mean." - -"What has he done that you disapprove of, Austin?" asked the earl, -gravely. - -"Nothing, my good lord," replied the Englishman. "That is to say, -nothing that I can say is wrong; and he is uncommonly civil to me; but -you can't always tell the bird by its feathers. A pig's got a long -snout, and so has a woodcock, but they're two different creatures. -However, to make short of my tale, Master Christie had two visitors in -his lodge this morning before five o'clock; and I'm very much mistaken -if I have not seen the face of one of them when you sent me to the -king at Falkland." - -"He has a cousin amongst the royal servants," said the earl; but -Austin Jute shook his head with a doubtful look. "I never forget a -face," he said; "and very seldom a figure, when I have seen it. Now, -if I'm not much mistaken, indeed, the face I saw this morning, when I -saw it before, was going into the palace at Falkland with a very -different coat underneath it from that which was there to-day. There -was no badge then upon the arm either. They say fine feathers make -fine birds, it is true; and if so, it has sadly moulted; for it was a -finer bird then than now." - -The earl mused for a moment or two, and then said, "That is somewhat -strange, indeed. It shall be inquired into." - -"Ay, things are strange, my lord, till we hear stranger," said Austin -Jute. "I have not told you about the other man yet. I'm not likely, I -think, my lord, to forget a man I once ran through the body." - -"I should suppose not, certainly," replied the earl. "Did you ever -confer that honour upon the second personage you saw to-day?" - -"He was not first or second, my lord," replied Austin, "for I saw them -both at once. Birds of a feather fly together; and these two came up -cheek by jowl. However, if I ran a man through the body eight or nine -months ago in Paris--and people told me I did--he was here this -morning." - -"As you say--stranger still!" replied the earl; "but this shall be -inquired into directly. How came you to observe them?" - -"Why, I was up this morning to see Mr. Alexander off," replied -Austin, "and then I went out to walk through the town. As I was coming -back, I saw two men before me going along at a quick pace, till they -stopped at the gates here. They did not ring the great bell, but -knocked upon the railings with the end of a riding whip, and Christie -came quietly up and opened the gate. I stood at the corner and watched -them, so I had time enough to see what they were like. I did not like -to wake your lordship earlier, but as the people are all beginning to -stir, I thought it better to do so now." - -"You were quite right, Austin," replied the earl. "Now go and send the -page to me. But say not a word of what you have seen to any one." - -"Mum as a mouse, my lord," answered Austin Jute, and withdrew. - -As soon as he was dressed, Gowrie descended into the court-yard, and -crossing it to the great gates, which were open, stood under the -archway close to the porter's room, looking up and down the street, -and giving Christie, who was bustling about within, a fair opportunity -of saying anything he might think fit. The man remained silent, -however, and the earl at length called him to him. - -"Who had you here about five o'clock?" he demanded, as the man came -out, bowing low. - -"Oo, it was just my cousin, Robbie Brown," replied the porter. "He was -on his way to Dundee, and looked in for a minute." - -Gowrie fixed his eyes upon him in silence for a moment; and he could -see the tell-tale colour mount up into the man's cheek. "Who else had -you here?" he demanded, somewhat sternly. - -"Weel, noo, to think o' that!" cried the porter, holding up his hands. -"If I had not clean forgotten to tell your lordship, that a very -worthy gentleman, Ramsay of Newburn, came speering as he gaed by, if I -thought your lordship could see him this evening. But I tellt him that -it was clean impossible, for I kenned you were to ride to Dirleton." - -Gowrie was not deceived. There was falsehood in the man's face. Though -what could be the motive and what the object of all these proceedings -he could not divine, yet he saw that there was something evidently -wrong. Turning upon his heel, he re-entered the house, and, after -thinking for a few minutes, he sent for Mr. Cranston, saying, as soon -as he appeared, "I know not, Cranston, whether Henderson will have -returned before I set out, and as you remain here, I must charge you -with a message to him. Tell him to discharge the porter, Robert -Christie, at once, paying him whatever may be due to him, and giving -till to-morrow to remove from the house, but not to let him be found -here afterwards on any pretence." - -"I will not fail, my lord," replied Cranston. - -"And now send Henry Younger to me, if you can find him, Mr. Cranston," -said the earl, who continued to walk up and down the room till the -servant he had sent for appeared. - -"Younger," he said, as soon as the man entered, "you have been a good -deal with Sir George Ramsay's family. Do you know his cousin Newburn?" - -"Oh, ay, right well, my lord," replied the servant; "a ne'er do weel -mischievous deevil, if ever there was one." - -"Then take your horse, and ride to Dundee as fast as you can go," said -Gowrie. "See if you can find him out there, and bring me word if he be -in the good town, and who he has got with him." - -"Am I to say anything to him from your lordship?" demanded the -servant. - -"No," replied the earl at once. "All I wish to know is if he be there, -and who is with him. I have got nothing to say to him; but on those -two points I require satisfaction." - -The man bowed and retired; and Gowrie proceeded with the ordinary -avocations of the day. Nevertheless, his mind was far from calm and at -ease. Many of those little ominous circumstances which, like clouds of -dust rising before a storm, prognosticate coming evil, though the -connexion cannot be traced, had gathered into the last two or three -days. The porter's sudden journey to Falkland during his absence, his -brother's unexpected summons to the king's presence, the visit at an -early and unusual hour of two persons from the court--all raised up -doubts in his mind as to the king's intentions; and he asked himself -what could James design, and how could he best meet it? Both questions -were difficult to be answered, and he revolved them in vain in his -mind till the hour arrived for his going, according to promise, to the -week-day preaching. In the parish church he found assembled, besides -the good citizens of the town, a number of gentlemen of his own name -and family, who were parishioners of Mr. William Row, the minister of -Forgandenny, who had undertaken to preach that day, the two regular -ministers of Perth being absent attending the provincial synod at -Stirling. Amongst those whom he knew best were the two sons of his -cousin, Alexander Ruthven of Freeland, and, in parting with them at -the church door, he invited them to dine with him that day at twelve, -as well as Drummond of Pitcairns and the Baron of Findown, who were -also present. - -The moment after, the senior bailie of the town approached, and -informed him that there would be some business before the town council -that morning, if his lordship could attend; but Gowrie answered, with -a smile, "I fear, bailie, I cannot come, for Mr. Hay is to be with me -on county business, and though I love the good town well, I must not -give it all my time." - -The worthy magistrate received his excuse in good part, and on -returning to his house, Gowrie found the gentleman he expected already -waiting for him. All who saw him during the morning remarked that he -was very grave; but he went through the whole of the matters which -were brought before him as sheriff of the county, and they were both -many and important, with great accuracy and attention. While Mr. Hay -was with him, and about ten o'clock, his factor Henderson returned, -and the earl eagerly asked, "What news from Falkland? Who found you -with the king?" - -Henderson gave but a vague answer; and thinking he had something -particular to communicate, Gowrie took him into a neighbouring room, -and questioned him there. - -What Henderson replied is not known; but on his return to the chamber -where he had left Mr. Hay, the earl found Mr. John Moncrief, who came -to obtain his signature to some papers. - -"I met your lordship's factor," said that gentleman, after the first -salutation, "a mile or two south of Perth." - -"Was he riding fast or slow?" asked the earl; for the most open and -generous natures will become suspicious by experience of man's -faithlessness. - -"At a foot pace," answered Moncrief. - -"Then I know not how he has got back so soon," answered Gowrie. "I -sent him with my brother Alex to Falkland, with orders to bring me -back word how the king received him, for there was some little -displeasure when they parted. Henderson was ordered to go to Ruthven -too, and he says he has been to both places. Now, I ride as boldly as -any man in the realm, and I could not have done as he has done in the -same time." - -"He told me he had been three miles above the town," replied Moncrief. -"But these are the papers, my good lord, if you will be pleased to -read and subscribe them, for the lady cannot have her rights without -your signature." - -"Then we will not detain your lordship farther," said Mr. Hay, rising. -"The rest of the county business can very well be settled at your -return." - -Gowrie suffered him to depart, for, to say the truth, he was not very -fond of him; but Moncrief he asked to remain and dine, adding, "I -shall set off for Dirleton immediately after dinner. So you must not -expect me to play the good host, Moncrief." - -The papers took long to examine, however, for Gowrie would not affix -his signature till he had read them through, so that it was half-past -twelve before he sat down to table. Just when the second course was -being placed upon the board, the earl's cousin, Andrew Ruthven, -entered the hall, dusty from his journey; and approaching the earl, he -said, in a low tone, "The king and all the court are coming this way, -my lord, and I rode on to tell you. The report is, that he is coming -to seize the Master of Oliphant." - -"But the king is not coming here?" said Gowrie, with a heavy cloud -upon his brow. "The Master of Oliphant was at Dupplin this morning." - -"I cannot tell, my lord," replied his cousin; "the king's words were -very short; all he said being--'Now you may ride on, Andrew.'" - -"Well, well, sit down and take some dinner," said the earl, -thoughtfully. "Have you ridden fast?" - -"I should have ridden faster," answered the other, "but there are such -a rout of Murrays in the street, I could hardly make my way through -them. I think the whole clan has turned in, with the Master of -Tullibardine at their head." - -"What do they here in Perth?" demanded the earl. "Did you speak with -any of them?" - -"Oh, yes," answered his cousin, seating himself at the board. "Some -quite down in Water-street, declared that they came to honour the -wedding of George Murray, who lives half way through the town; and -some said plainly, that they did not know--they came because they were -told." - -"The Master of Tullibardine," said the earl, gloomily, "comes not to -honour the wedding of an inn-keeper. There is something more in this; -and we shall hear farther soon." - -Andrew Ruthven had hardly time to fill his plate from one of the -dishes on the table, and to begin his dinner, when young Alexander -Ruthven entered the room in breathless haste, exclaiming--"Brother, -the king and all the court are near at hand. I left them, a few -minutes ago, not a mile from the town gates." - -He fixed his eye eagerly, anxiously, upon his brother's countenance, -as if he could have said a world more, but had not time or courage to -speak. A shadow, like that of a flying cloud, swept over the earl's -face, deep but transitory--a momentary struggle in the heart, showing -itself by that grave, stern look--and calmed as soon as felt. - -"Would that his majesty had given me notice," he said, "then might I -have received him more worthily. Nevertheless, we must prepare at -once. Gentlemen, we must go and meet the king. Henderson, take heed -that instant preparation be made that the king may dine. Let this room -be prepared for his majesty's meal; the great hall for the lords of -the court; my study near the gallery chamber for the king to take -repose, if he need it after such a day of fatigue. Have everything -ready as fast as possible, and spare neither speed nor money to -prepare befittingly. Cranston, I beg you run down at once, call the -bailies together, tell them the king is coming, and require them to -meet me as speedily as possible at the South Inch. Gentlemen all, you -had better rise and follow me to receive his majesty on his entrance -into Perth." - -"By ---- we had better follow you to keep him out," said Hugh -Moncrief, with a meaning look, and then added, at a reproving glance -from Gowrie's eye, "for he will not go again, I judge, without -exacting more than we can well spare." - -Gowrie took no public notice of his words, but led the way to the -door; and after a brief search for hats, and cloaks, and rapiers, the -whole party passed across the court on foot, and through the gates -into the street. - -Christie, the porter, with a grave face, held the right hand valve of -the great iron gates open; but as soon as the earl and his friends had -passed through, a sinister smile came upon his lip, and murmuring to -himself--"Now, then," he retired into his room. The instant after, -Austin Jute ran through the gates and followed the earl, but did not -overtake him till he was half way down the street. Then advancing, so -as to be in his master's sight, he doffed his hat, saying, "Have you -anything to command me, my lord?" - -Gowrie put his hand to his head, like one almost bewildered, and then -said, "Ay, Austin, ay.--Go on, gentlemen; I follow you. Take horse -directly, Austin," he continued, as soon as the others had passed on; -"speed to Dirleton. You must find your way as best you can. Tell my -mother--tell the dear lady Julia what has happened here. Say that I -cannot be with them to-night, but----" - -He paused, and thought for an instant, and then added, "No! I will -make no promises for to-morrow. God, and God only, knows what may be -to-morrow. Do not alarm them, Austin, more than needful. But still," -he added, solemnly, "do not buoy them up with hopes that may prove -false. Tell them the king comes--tell them I know not why he comes; -and let their own judgment speak the rest. But of all things, let my -mother be upon her guard, and see to the safety of my young brothers. -There's my purse, good fellow, to defray your expenses on the road. -Would there were more in it, for your sake. And now away with all -speed! Here, take my sword; lay it somewhere in the house. The king -shall not say that I wore arms of any kind." - -Austin Jute caught the earl's hand and kissed it, as if he felt that -it was the last time he should ever see him. Then, without a word of -reply, but with a glistening eye, he turned from him, sped back to the -Great House, took the horse he usually rode from the stable, and -without farther preparation rode away. - -In the meantime, Gowrie rejoined his friends and walked on, the party -every moment being increased by some accession from amongst the -magistrates of the town, or the gentry of the place and neighbourhood. -It had thus been swelled to the number of five or six-and-thirty -persons when it reached the side of the large fine piece of meadow -ground in the Tay, called the South Inch, and in a minute or two -after, the royal cavalcade was seen approaching at a slow and stately -pace. It was remarked, however, aloud, not by the Earl of Gowrie or -any of his friends, but by one of the bailies of the town, that -although they had met many of the Murrays in the streets as they went -along, not one of them had joined the party going to receive and -welcome the king. - -"They do not show their loyalty, methinks," said Bailie Roy. - -No reply was made aloud, but Hugh Moncrief, a warm-tempered, -plain-spoken man, who had been watching Gowrie's countenance -attentively, muttered between his teeth, "They may show it by and by -with a vengeance, perchance. I know not what they do here; the town is -full of them!" - -Neither Gowrie nor his brother Alexander made any observation -whatever, but waited in grave silence till James's horse was within -some fifty yards; and then the young earl advanced with his head -uncovered, saying, "Your majesty is welcome to your good and loyal -town of St. Johnstone; and I only regret that I did not earlier know -of your coming, that a better reception might have been prepared for -your royal grace." - -"Oh, we come in no state, my good lord," replied the king. "We love to -take our friends by surprise; and we know that no man in all the realm -will be more willing or better prepared to receive the king than the -Earl of Gowrie. Deed, our poor beasties are very tired, so that our -train has gone spilling itself on the road like an o'erfilled luggie; -but they'll come in by sixes and sevens, no doubt. And now, my lord, -by your good leave, we'll go on and repose ourselves." - -Gowrie gave a glance over the king's train at this intimation of its -numbers being likely to increase before night. It consisted of more -than forty persons already; but, without any observation, he merely -bowed his head and walked by the side of the monarch's horse, James -continuing to speak with him in a gay and jocular tone all the way to -the gates of Gowrie House. - -As soon as the monarch had entered the court, where some eight or ten -of the earl's servants were drawn up, Alexander Ruthven sprang to hold -the horse's head, while Gowrie himself assisted the king to dismount. -The magistrates of the town were then presented to the monarch in -form, having pressed somewhat closely around; but James, treating the -worthy bailies with somewhat scanty courtesy, cut their compliments -short, and was led by the earl through the great hall into the lesser -dining room, which had been hastily prepared for his reception. - -"He's no like a king either in face or tongue," said Bailie Graham, in -a low tone, as he walked away. - -"Ay, but it's a graund thing, the royal presence," said Bailie Roy, -aloud, as he retired. - -So the town council were divided in opinion. - - - - -CHAPTER XLII. - - -From the moment of the king's arrival, Gowrie House, or Palace, was -one continual scene of confusion for nearly two hours. Every instant -some fresh party was arriving, either of the courtiers, who had -tarried behind on the road to refresh their weary horses or to procure -others, or of parties from the country, consisting generally of the -family of Murray of Tullibardine, of which powerful race we are -assured that there were three hundred men in arms in the town before -two o'clock.[9] Some of the latter, as well as all the former, flocked -into the court, and in a quarter of an hour after James had entered -the gates, the young earl found his dwelling no longer, in fact, at -his own disposal. Though courteous and civil to all, every one saw -that he was grave and displeased; nor were his doubts diminished when -one of those small accidental circumstances, which so frequently -betray deep-laid plans, proved to him and his brother that the -monarch's visit proceeded from no sudden caprice or accidental event, -but from design, arranged and concerted with others long before. - -The assumed cause of the presence of so many of the Murrays in the -town of Perth on that day, was the marriage of one of their family in -the city; but the person married was known to be merely the innkeeper; -and, at the best, the presence of so many noblemen on such an occasion -seemed to Gowrie an honour somewhat extraordinary. When, however, a -cousin of the Baron of Tullibardine appeared at Gowrie Palace, -bringing with him a large and beautiful falcon from the country as a -present for the king, the young earl could not doubt that the house of -Murray had been made acquainted with the monarch's proposed visit -before the person who was to entertain him. He had little opportunity, -however, of communicating his suspicions, even to his brother, before -the king's dinner was served, for James kept him constantly at his -side, talking and jesting in a mood unusually joyous and noisy even -for him. He seemed to have forgotten altogether the story of the pot -of gold and the bound prisoner, which he had told to some of his -courtiers by the way, and though nearly an hour elapsed ere the meal -was ready, he quitted not the hall to which he had been first led. - -"I grieve your majesty has to wait so long," said Gowrie, at length; -"but your gracious visit took me completely by surprise, and as I was -about to set out for Dirleton in the afternoon, with most of my -people, my poor house is not provided even as well as usual." - -"It matters not, my good earl," replied the king; "fasting a wee will -do one no harm. Many a godly man fasts for mortification, and -doubtless an enforced fast will do as well. But here come your sewers, -or I am mistaken; and now we shall soon fall to. Alex, bairn, you -shall be our carver while we jest with the earl--though, fegs! my -lord, you would not do for a jester, for you seem as melancholy as a -pippit hen." - -"I am in no way fit for that high office, sire," answered Gowrie, with -the colour mounting in his cheek; "and indeed it would require both -wit and courage to fill it at your majesty's court." - -"How so? how so?" cried James. - -"Because I should think," replied the young earl, "that your majesty -is more than a match for any jester that ever lived, both in the -hardness and the sharpness of your hits." - -"Ay, but you can jest too, I see, earl," said James; and he took the -solitary seat which had been placed for him at the table. - -In the meantime a table had been laid in the great hall for the -numerous unexpected guests who had flocked into the Great House that -day; and it seems it was customary, on such occasions, for the king's -entertainer to see the second course served at the royal table, and -then to invite the courtiers round to dine with him in another -chamber. Gowrie however, doubtful, anxious, and ill-pleased, neglected -the moment at which the invitation should have been given; and the -Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, and others, continued grouped around -the king's table, while Gowrie himself stood at the lower end, and his -brother Alexander, stationed behind the monarch's chair, gave him wine -from time to time, or carved the dishes placed before him. Thus passed -a considerable part, not only of the first but of the second course -also, James talking incessantly to Alexander Ruthven and his brother, -in a very gracious manner, but with somewhat coarse and indecent -language. - -At length, looking up with a sarcastic grin, the monarch said, "I'm -thinking, Alex, bairn, that your brother, the earl, fancies these puir -lads standing round hae tint their hunger by the road side, that he -keeps them sae lang empty." - -"I really beg your pardon, my lord duke," said Gowrie, turning to -Lennox, "but I was so intent upon seeing his majesty duly served, that -I have fallen into the fault for which he justly reproaches me. I -trust we shall find a dinner of some kind in the great hall, though -the honour I have received, being unexpected, I fear it will be but -poorly requited by your entertainment." - -Thus saying, he led the way to the other table, and seeing his guests -placed, and the best dinner which so short a notice permitted his -servants to provide, put before them, he returned to the inner hall, -and took his place, as before, at the lower end of the board. - -He and his brother, with their own servants, were now with the king -alone. A closed door, a blow of a dagger, and James had died and -Gowrie lived; but such a thought never crossed his pure, high mind, -whatever might be then working in the heart of his royal enemy. - -James continued to jest with ribald coarseness, till the second course -was removed, and a rich dessert of the finest fruits which could be -procured from the splendid gardens of Gowrie Place was placed before -him. Then, however, he said, "I feel somewhat weary, Alex, bairn. Show -me a room, man, where I can repose myself in quiet for a while, away -frae a' this din." - -"There is one prepared for your majesty," replied the young gentleman; -"permit me to lead the way." - -"I'll hae a sup o' wine first," said James; and taking a large goblet -or hanap from the hands of Gowrie's brother, he added, addressing the -earl, "My lord, you have seen the fashion of entertainments in other -countries, and now I will teach you the fashion in this country, -seeing you are a Scottish man. You have forgot to drink with me, and -to sit with your guests, and to bid us welcome; but we will now drink -our own welcome." He then quaffed off the beaker, and proceeded--"I -pray you, my lord, go to the other company, drink to them, and bid -them welcome in the king's name." - -"I obey your majesty's orders," answered the earl, gravely; and -without farther comment retired to the great hall, leaving the king -alone with his brother. - -Taking his seat at the head of the table, Gowrie called for wine, and -when his page had filled a cup to the brim he rose, saying, "I am -desired by his majesty to drink this _scoll_ to my lord duke and the -rest of the company;" and then turning to Lennox and Mar, who were -seated next each other on his right hand, he apologized, in more -familiar terms, for any neglect which had appeared in his reception of -his guests. - -"His majesty's coming," he said, "was so sudden and unexpected, that I -had no time to learn my part, and prepare to perform it." - -The wine went round. The conversation became general; and at this -moment Gowrie remarked young John Ramsay caressing a large and -beautiful falcon which he held upon his right hand, while an -enormously tall large man, sitting beside him, seemed resolved, by the -efforts of his immense appetite, to consume all the provisions which -remained upon the earl's board. - -"You have a beautiful bird there, Ramsay," said the earl, speaking -down the table. "Is she as good upon the wing as she looks upon the -hand?" - -"I really don't know, my lord," replied Ramsay. "Murray of Arknay -brought her in upon his fist as a present for the king. So I am -holding her," he added, with a laugh, "while meikle John Murray -devours to the extent of his ability." - -"You'll have to keep her all the day, Ramsay," said the burly man of -whom he spoke. "I've had enough of her, carrying her sixteen miles;" -and then, turning towards Gowrie, he added, "She's as keen a bird, my -lord, and as true as ever was hatched and fledged. I wish you could -see her upon wing. I've only flown her thrice to prove her, intending -to take her to Falkland; but when I heard yesterday the king was -coming here, I scoured her and brought her with me." - -"Pity that I should be the last to know of the king's coming," -said Gowrie, in a meditative tone; and turning to Mar, he said, -"But poor entertainment I've been able to give you, my lord. My good -brother-in-law, the duke, will excuse it for love; but I know not how -to apologize to so many gentlemen who are nearly strangers to me." - -Mar merely bowed his head, for he could not help seeing that their -coming had been as unpleasant as unexpected to his host; and, though -probably not in the king's secrets, he saw clearly that there was -something amiss between the monarch and the house of Ruthven. - -"My Lord of Lindores, I beseech you ply the wine," continued Gowrie. -"It may not be so good as that which you gave me some five or six -months ago, but it will do for want of better." - -"Cannot be better," replied Lindores. "This is wine of eighty-three; -the best vintage they have had in France for a whole century." - -At that moment the king and Alexander Ruthven passed across the lower -part of the hall, taking their way towards the great staircase leading -to the picture-gallery, the cabinet close by which had been prepared -by Gowrie's orders, as the reader has already seen, for the king to -repose himself after dinner. James had his arm round Alexander -Ruthven's neck, in the over-familiar and caressing manner which he not -unfrequently put on towards those who were on the eve of disgrace; and -he was, moreover, laughing heartily. There were some sixty persons in -the hall at the moment, all talking aloud, and most of them with their -faces turned from the door which led into the lesser hall, so that the -monarch's passing was noticed by few. The Duke of Lennox, however, -caught sight of James's figure, and rose, as if to follow him; but -Gowrie said, "His majesty is going to repose for a while in my study -up stairs, which has been made ready for him;" and Lennox at once -resumed his seat. - -Sir Thomas Erskine, however, who was placed considerably farther down -the table, had frequently turned his eyes towards the room in which -the king had been dining; and now he instantly got up and followed -James out of the hall, overtaking him at the foot of the broad -staircase, and entering into conversation with him and Alexander -Ruthven. They ascended the stairs together, and at the top encountered -Christie, the earl's porter, who instantly drew on one side with a low -reverence, but at the same time put his hand to his chin in a somewhat -significant manner. - -Passing then through the gallery without taking any notice of the -pictures, the king, without direction from his host's brother, -proceeded at once towards the door of the gallery chamber, through -which was the only way from that part of the house to Gowrie's study; -and the door having been thrown open for him to go through, James -turned to Sir Thomas Erskine, saying, "Bide you here for us, man."[10] - -Erskine bowed, and stopped at the door; and James, with Alexander -Ruthven, passed through. In the large gallery chamber, standing in the -recesses of the window, were two or three men, dressed as the ordinary -household servants of the king--at least so says tradition. Alexander -Ruthven either did not see them, or took no notice of a circumstance -which had nothing extraordinary in it; but, advancing a step before -the monarch, he opened the door of his brother's cabinet, and James at -once passed in. - -When the young man had his step upon the threshold to follow, however, -he paused for an instant and hesitated, seeing a tall dark man, -completely armed, already in possession of the room. - -"Come in, Alex, bairn--come in," cried James, in a good-humoured tone. - -The young gentleman, not without a feeling of dread, obeyed; and the -door was closed. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII. - - -The court-yard of Gowrie palace--that large court-yard which I have -before described, of ninety feet in length by sixty in width--was -filled with men and horses from a little after one till a late hour in -the afternoon. Gowrie's own attendants had more than they could well -manage to do--the domestic servants in waiting upon the king and the -courtiers, and his grooms and stable-boys in taking care of the -horses. The granaries were thrown open. The servants of the strangers -helped themselves to what they needed; and men who had never been seen -in the place before, were running over the whole building. In vain Mr. -Cranston remonstrated, and endeavoured to preserve a little order; and -while he himself was obliged to be absent from the scene of confusion, -besought Donald Macduff, the earl's baron bailie of Strathbraan, who -had come down with his lord from Trochrie, to stop the people from -entering the palace and swilling the wine and ale at their discretion. -Christie, the porter, seemed to rejoice in the tumult, giving -admission to all who wanted it, to every part of the house, except the -two upper floors. - -"There'll be nothing done," said Macduff, "unless one of them has his -head broke. It's all Christie's fault. He knows that he's to go -to-morrow, and cares not what he does. I'll split his weasand in a -minute with my whinger, if you'll but say I may, Mr. Cranston." - -"No, no--no violence, Macduff," said Mr. Cranston; "especially not to -the king's people;" and he turned away into the house again. - -Macduff stood sullenly on the steps of the hall, gazing with a bitter -heart on the scene before him, till Mr. Alexander Ruthven, of -Freeland, came up and spoke to him in a low tone, saying, "This is -really too bad, Macduff; some order ought to be taken with these -people." - -"The king alone can do it, sir," replied the baron bailie; "and I -doubt that he chooses to do so, otherwise he would have taken better -care at first. I suppose he calls this spoiling the Egyptians." - -"That scoundrel Christie has left all the doors open," said Mr. -Ruthven. - -"Ay, sir, I dare say he knows well what he's about; but I'll go and -speak to him;" and walking up to the porter, followed closely by Mr. -Ruthven, he said, "Hold your laughing, stupid tongue, and turn all -those people out of the house, except the gentlemen. Then lock the -doors, and keep them out." - -"Deed, I shall do no such thing," answered Christie, turning from him -with a dogged look. "I'm no to take my orders from you, I'se warrant, -no better than a highland cateran." - -Macduff laid his hand upon his dagger, and drew it half out of the -sheath; but Mr. Ruthven caught his arm, exclaiming, "For God's sake, -Macduff, keep peace! There's no telling where a broil would end if -begun in such a scene as this. Come away, man--come away;" and he -pulled the highlander by the arm to the other side of the court. -"Watch his movements," he continued, when they were at some distance. -"I doubt that man, Macduff, and it may be well to mark him." - -"Ay, I'll mark him if I get hold of him," replied the other. "He's -gone into his den now; and see, there are three or four others gone in -after him." - -"That's great Jimmy Bog, the king's porter at Falkland," said Mr. -Ruthven. - -"And that broad-shouldered fellow is Galbraith, one of the -door-keepers at Holyrood," said Macduff. "What the de'il does the king -do bringing such folk here? If they had been his grooms, or his -huntsmen, one could understand it. I saw his cellarer about not long -since--I'll tell you what, Mr. Ruthven, I don't like this at all. How -it'll end I can't say, but ill I'm thinking. Here's my lord's house is -not so much his own as that of every loon about the court." - -Mr. Ruthven shrugged his shoulders, and walked away; and Macduff -continued to stand upon the steps with his eyes fixed upon the lodge -or room of the porter. From the back of that room a long and narrow -passage, with windows looking into the court, ran along the western -mass of building till it reached a staircase in the corner, by which -access might be obtained to all the rooms on the first and second -floors. Neither Christie himself, nor those who had followed him into -his room, came out again while Macduff remained watching; but he saw -the head and shoulders of more than one man pass along the range of -windows I have mentioned, and then disappear. All this took place some -quarter of an hour before the king left the table; and shortly after -that, the baron bailie saw the porter coming from the very opposite -side of the building, showing that he must have passed round more than -one half of the house. - -A minute or two after the voice of the earl was heard saying, -"Macduff--Donald, get me the keys of the garden from the porter." - -The officer obeyed, and carrying the keys into the hall, he found -Gowrie himself standing with the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Lord -Lindores, and some other gentlemen, while Sir Hugh Herries stood alone -at a little distance. Macduff would have given much to speak a few -words to his lord; but he did not venture to do so in the presence of -such a number of courtiers, and gave the keys of the garden in -silence. - -"Now, my lord duke, and gentlemen," said Gowrie, "I will lead the -way;" and proceeding through a small door which opened directly into -the garden, he held it open while the others passed, saying to -Cranston, who stood near, "Let us know the moment his majesty comes -down. Come, Ramsay of the Hawk, will you not walk with us?" - -The young gentleman followed in silence; and the earl rejoining his -brother-in-law, the Duke of Lennox, said, in a grave and quiet tone, -"It is long since you have been here, Duke. I trust Gowrie House will -have you more often for a guest." - -"The oftener I am here the more beautiful I think these gardens," -replied the duke. "The scene itself is fine; but I think if you were -to raise a terrace there to the east, you would catch more of the -windings of the Tay, and could extend your view all round the basin -through which it flows." - -"The town would still shut out much," answered Gowrie, "unless I were -to build the terrace as high as the top of the monk's tower. Thence we -catch the prospect all round, or very nearly so." - -"You are making some alterations I see, my lord," said the Earl of -Mar. - -"Oh, they are very trifling," answered Gowrie; "merely some devices of -which I got the thought in Italy, which I am trying to adapt to this -place. It is somewhat difficult, indeed; for that which suits very -well with Italian skies and Italian architecture, would be out of -place in our northern land, and with that old house frowning over it." - -Thus conversing in a quiet and peaceful tone they walked on quite -to the other side of the garden, and stood for a moment or two -under the tall old tower called the Monk's tower, which rose at the -south-eastern corner. While there, the town clock struck three; and -Sir Hugh Herries, with a sudden start, exclaimed, "There is three -o'clock! We had better go back, my lord. I know the king intended to -ride away at three." - -Herries' face was somewhat pale when he spoke; but Gowrie did not -remark it, and replied, "That clock is ten minutes fast by all the -others in the town; but still we can walk back and prepare, for I hope -to give his majesty a few miles convoy on his road." - -Thus saying, they all turned, and returned towards the house, while -Herries, seeming impatient of their slowness, got a step or two in -advance. A moment after they saw Mr. Cranston coming hastily from the -house towards them; and Gowrie hurried his pace at the sight, seeing -that his retainer had something to tell. - -"A report has got abroad in the house, my lord," said Cranston, "that -the king has mounted his horse and ridden away privately with one or -two of the servants." - -"That is just like him," exclaimed the Duke of Lennox. "He served us -so this morning at Falkland." - -"Who told you so, Cranston?" demanded the earl, eagerly. - -"It is in every one's mouth, my lord," replied Cranston; "but I -believe it came first from Christie." - -"Quick, quick! see for my horse, Cranston," cried the earl. "I wished -to escort the king part of the way to Falkland." - -"I bethought me of that, sir," replied the other; "but your horse I -find is in the town." - -"In the town!" exclaimed Gowrie. "What does my horse in the town? See -for another quickly, Cranston. After such poor entertainment as I have -given his majesty, I would not for much show him such an act of -neglect as not to ride with him." - -"Perhaps he's not gone after all," observed John Ramsay. "Which way -did he go? I'll go and see." - -"Ay, do, Ramsay," said the Duke of Lennox; "you can do anything with -him." - -"He went up the broad staircase to the picture gallery and to the -rooms to the west," said Cranston. - -Still holding the hawk, Ramsay ran on before, appearing not to attend -to some words addressed to him in a low tone by Sir Hugh Herries; and -mounting the staircase with a light step, he entered the picture -gallery, the door of which was open. The sight of so many splendid -paintings, of grace, beauty, and colouring, such as he had never seen -before, according to his own account, struck the young man with -amazement; and, forgetting his errand for a moment, he stood and gazed -round with admiration. Then advancing to the western door, which led -into the gallery chamber, he tried it with his hand, but found it -locked. He then listened a moment for any sounds which might indicate -the king's presence in the room beyond--but all was silent; and -descending the stairs again to the court-yard, he said, in an -indifferent tone, "The king is not there." - -"Ramsay--Sir John Ramsay, come hither!" said Herries, calling him to a -corner of the court just under the western tower. "I wish to speak -with you;" and Ramsay, approaching him, seemed to inquire what he -wanted. - -In the meantime Gowrie, with the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, and -one or two other gentlemen, passed through the house, and crossed the -court to the great gates, near which the porter was standing. - -"Come, my man," said Mar, addressing the porter, "what is this story -of the king being away? Tell us the truth." - -"The truth is, the king is still in the house," replied the porter. -"He could not have gone by the back gate without my knowing it, for I -have the keys of all the gates." - -The man's colour varied very much while he spoke; and Gowrie at once -concluded he was telling a falsehood. - -"I believe you lie, knave," he said, fixing his eyes sternly upon the -man. "His majesty is always the first to mount his horse. But stay, my -lord duke, and I will go up and see." - -He accordingly turned and left the party, taking his way to the great -staircase; and Lennox, looking after him, said, in a low voice, to the -Earl of Mar, "There is something strange here, my lord. Know you what -it is?" - -"Not I," answered Mar, in an indifferent tone, but adding, immediately -afterwards, "The king is quite safe, wherever he is. The earl is -unarmed, without sword or dagger." - -"What may that mean?" said Lennox. - -But at that moment some one else came up, and Mar made no answer. In -little more than a minute after, Gowrie came down again in haste, -saying, "The gallery door is locked. The king cannot be there. Let us -to horse and after him. Where can he have gone?" - -And passing through the gates into the street, followed by the other -noblemen, he turned to Sir Thomas Erskine, who was standing with some -of his relations and servants under the windows, and inquired if he -knew which way the king had gone. - -All was now bustle, and confusion ten times more confused than ever, -in the court and round Gowrie Place. Lords and gentlemen were calling -loudly for their horses. Grooms and servants were running hither and -thither. Horses were prancing, neighing, and kicking; and Bailie Roy, -who had lingered about the Great House ever since the king's arrival, -was putting everybody to rights, and drawing down many a hearty -imprecation upon his head for his pains. Ramsay and Herries remained -quietly in the corner of the court; and the two earls, with the Duke -of Lennox, Sir Thomas Erskine, Alexander Ruthven of Freeland, and -several others, were conversing over the king's strange departure, and -considering in what direction they should seek him. - -Suddenly a noise was heard above, proceeding from the south-west -tower. The long window was east furiously open, and the head and -shoulders of the king protruded. - -"Help, help!" cried the king. "Help! Murder! Treason! Help! Earl of -Mar!" - -Lennox, Mar, Lindores, and a number of others instantly rushed through -the gates, across the court to the great staircase, and mounted it as -fast as they could go; but they found the door of the gallery locked, -and could not force it open. - -"Up the black turnpike, Ramsay," said Herries, in a low voice. "Up, -and save the king!--Here, man--here! Up this stairs to the very top, -then through the door to the left." - -Without an instant's pause, even to cast away the hawk, Ramsay, with -his blood boiling at the idea of danger to the king, darted past -Herries up the narrow staircase, three or four steps at a time, till -he came to the very top; and there finding a door, without trying -whether it was locked or not, he set his stout shoulder against it, -and burst it open. He instantly had a scene before him, which I must -pause for a moment to describe. - -James was at the window still shouting forth for help, and at some -little distance behind him, taking no part whatever in that which was -going on, appeared a tall, powerful, black looking man in armour, but -with his head bare. Kneeling at the king's feet, with his head held -tight under James's arm, in the posture of supplication, and with his -hands stretched up towards the king's mouth, as if to stop his -vociferous cries, was the graceful but powerful form of Alexander -Ruthven, who could, if he had pleased, by a small exertion of his -strength, have cast the feeble monarch from the window headlong down -into the street below. He made no effort to do so, or even to free -himself, however; and his sword remained undrawn in the sheath. - -Such was the sight presented to John Ramsay when he entered the room -in fiery haste; and casting the falcon from his hand, he drew his -dagger. - -James instantly loosed his hold of the young man at his feet, and -exclaimed, with an impatient gesture to Ramsay, "Strike him -low--strike him low! He has got on a pyne doublet!" - -He gave no order to apprehend an unresisting man. His command was to -slay him; and Ramsay, starting forward at the king's words, struck the -unhappy youth two blows in the neck and throat, while James, with -admirable coolness, put his foot upon the jesses of the falcon, to -prevent its flying through the open window. - -Ruthven made not an effort to draw his sword, but fell partly back; -and James, then seizing him by the neck, dragged him to the head of -the narrow stairs, and cast him part of the way down, while Ramsay, -rushing to the window, shouted to Sir Thomas Erskine, "Come up, Sir -Thomas--come up these stairs to the very head!" - -Wounded, but not slain, Alexander Ruthven, stunned and bleeding, -regained his feet, and ran down towards the court. Before he reached -it, however, he was encountered by Herries, Erskine, and another of -the king's bloodhounds, and without inquiry or knowledge of what had -taken place, Herries exclaimed, "This is the traitor!" and stabbed him -to the heart. Another blow was struck almost at the same time by -George Wilson; and the poor lad fell to rise no more, with his sword -still undrawn, exclaiming, with his last breath, "Alas! I am not -guilty!" - - - * * * * * * * * * - - -A dead and mournful silence fell upon all. A terrible deed had been -done. A young fresh life had been taken. A kindred spirit had been -sent to its last account. Even Herries paused, and revolved -thoughtfully the act which he had just performed. Even he for one -brief moment, however transitory was the impression, however brief the -sensation, asked himself, as others have asked themselves before and -since, "What is this I have done?--Is there an Almighty God, to whom -the spirits of the departed go to testify not only of all they have -done, but all they have suffered--and must I meet that God face to -face with the spirit of this youth to bear witness against me?--What -sweet relationships, what dear domestic ties have I snapped asunder, -what warm hopes, what good resolutions, what generous feelings, what -noble purposes, put out for ever!" - -But that was not all he felt. There is a natural repugnance in the -mind of man to the shedding of man's blood, which nothing but the -frequent habit of so doing can sweep away. There is a horror in the -deed, which I feel sure the murderer shrinks from the instant the -fatal deed is accomplished; and it was that, more than any reasoning -on the subject, that Herries and his two comrades felt, as they stood -in the semi-darkness, and gazed upon the corpse, so lately full of -life, and health, and energy, and passion. - -Sir Thomas Erskine had not struck him, it is true, and that seemed to -him a consolation; but yet he felt that he had been art and part in -the deed--that he had known what was meditated beforehand, and that, -though his hand was not imbued in the youth's blood, he was as much a -murderer as themselves. - -With a strong mind, Herries made a strong effort to conquer the -sensations which oppressed him; but it cost him several moments so to -do; and moments, in such circumstances, are hours. - -That which first roused him and the rest was the voice of the king, -bringing back in an instant, by its very tone, all the worldly -thoughts which had been scattered to the winds by the sight of the -dead body and the perpetration of the deed. - -"Hout, lad!" cried James, apparently addressing Ramsay, "dinna keep -skirling in that way. He's dead enough by this time; but there are -other traitors to be dealt with--traitors more dangerous and desperate -than this misguided lad. Here, take the birdie, and keep quite still. -We must not scare the quarry before the hounds are upon it. I must be -King of Scotland now or never;" and, approaching the top of the -stairs, he called out, bending somewhat forward, "Wha's doon there? -Hae ye dispatched him?" - -"He's gone, sire, never to return," replied the voice of Herries from -the bottom. - -"Then pu' him up here," cried James, "and come up yersels.--Wha the -de'il's that knocking so hard at the door there?--Come up, come up! -They may be Ruthven folk. We must have help at hand. Where the de'il's -the fellow with the harness gaen?" - -Sir Hugh Herries hurried up the stairs, leaving Sir Thomas Erskine and -the servant of his brother James Erskine, to drag up the body of -Alexander Ruthven; and a hurried consultation took place as to what -was to be done next. - -"Better, for Heaven's sake, sire, call up all the noblemen and -gentlemen from the court," cried Ramsay, while the knocking at the -gallery door still continued. "We are strong enough, when gathered -together, to defend you against all the Ruthvens in Scotland." - -"I ken that, ye fule guse," cried James, with a sinister leer; "four -or five of ye are quite enough for that; but that's no the question, -man. The greater traitor of the two is to be dealt with; and you must -do it, Jock, unless you want a Gowrie for your king. He'll soon be -here seeking his brother. He must not get away alive, or we've missed -the whole day's work." - -"I'll deal with the traitor," cried Ramsay, zealously. "Your majesty -showed me such proofs of his guilt, 'tis a wonder you let him live so -long." - -"That's a good bairn--that's a good bairn," answered James. "Aye, -defend your king.--Somebody look to the door there, that they dinna -break in, but speak no word till you've done execution on the earl. -'Tis he set his brother on," he continued, addressing Ramsay. "The -other had not spirit for it--Ay, here they bring him! There, throw him -down there--The earl'll soon be here; and I'll just stay in the closet -till it's all done.--Here, Geordie Wilson, take my cloak, and cast -over the callant. Then, when his brother sees him, he'll get such a -fright, thinking it's mine ainsel, yell can do with him what ye like." - -Sir Hugh Herries looked almost aghast to hear the king so completely -betray his own counsel; but the rest seemed to notice the matter but -little--Ramsay, with all his fierce passions roused, taking everything -for granted, and the rest ready to obey the king at his lightest word. -George Wilson, the servant, took the king's cloak, and spread it over -the dead body of Alexander Ruthven, from which a dark stream of gore -was pouring forth upon the rushes which strewed the room; and when -this was done, James took a look at the corpse, saying, "A wee bit -more o'er the head, man. He'll see the bonny brown hair." Then, -retreating into the earl's cabinet, he closed the door, calling to -those without to lock it and take the key. - -Sir Thomas Erskine sprang to obey, saying, "Stand on your guard, -Ramsay. They are thundering at that door as if they would knock it -down. It's well I bolted it as well as locked it before I came down." -Then springing across the room to the entrance of the great gallery, -he said, "Who's there, knocking so hard?" - -"It's I, the Earl of Mar," cried a voice from without. "Open directly! -The Duke of Lennox is here, the Lord Lindores, and others." - -"All is right, all is right," said Erskine. "The king is safe; one -traitor slain. Keep quiet, or you will scare the other from the trap. -It is Sir Thomas Erskine speaks--keep quiet, as you wish for favour." - -All was still immediately, and the moment after steps were heard upon -the narrow staircase. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV. - - -What had become of Gowrie while this dark tragedy was enacted above? -He was standing, as I have said, talking with Sir Thomas Erskine and a -considerable party of noblemen and gentlemen, in the street, at a -little distance from his own gate, when suddenly the window above was -thrown open, and the king's head thrust forth. Bailie Roy had sidled -up towards the group of courtiers; and he instantly looked up, while -the Duke of Lennox, at the first sounds of James's outcry, exclaimed, -"That is the king's voice, Mar, be he where he will." - -"Treason! treason!" shouted Bailie Roy. "Treason against the -king!--Ring the common bell!--Call the town to arms!--Treason! -treason!" - -At the same moment, and without an instant's pause, Lennox, Mar, -Lindores, and others, rushed into the court, as I have before stated, -and up the broad stairs, and Sir Thomas Erskine, his brother James, -and George Wilson, the servant of the latter, sprang at Gowrie's -throat, and seized him by the neck, crying, without proof or even -probability, "Traitor, this is thy deed! Thou shalt die!" - -Totally unarmed, and assailed by three strong armed men, the young -earl, notwithstanding his great personal vigour, must have been -overpowered in an instant, and probably would have been slain on the -spot, for he made no resistance, merely exclaiming, with a look of -consternation, "What is the matter?--I know nothing!" - -But at that moment Alexander Ruthven of Freeland started forward to -his aid, and having no sword, struck Sir Thomas Erskine to the ground -with a buffet, while Mr. Cranston and Donald Macduff rushed forth from -the court to the rescue of their lord. Almost at the same time, the -voice of Ramsay was heard shouting to Sir Thomas Erskine from the -window above; and springing up from the ground, Erskine ran into the -court with George Wilson, the servant, and rushed up the narrow -turnpike stairs after Herries, to finish the murderous work which had -begun in the tower. - -Freed from the fell hands which had grasped his throat, Gowrie gazed -round bewildered, exclaiming, "My God! what can this mean?" - -"Arm, arm, my lord!" cried Macduff; "they are for murdering you on -pretence of treason." - -But Gowrie rushed immediately towards the palace gates, exclaiming, -"Where is the king? I go to aid him." - -As he approached, however, the gates were suddenly closed in his face -by his own porter, Christie, and a voice called through the bars, -"Traitor, you enter not here!" - -"Arm, in God's name, or they will take your life!" cried Cranston, -seeing a number of the Murrays and the king's followers gathering -round. - -"That I will," answered Gowrie, now roused to anger. "Away to -Glenorchie's! He will give us arms;" and running with all speed about -a couple of hundred yards down the street, he entered the large old -house of a friend of his family, and seized a sword and steel cap from -amongst many that hung in the outer hall. - -"Here's a better blade, my noble lord!" cried Glenorchie's old porter; -"take them both--one may fail!" - -Thus armed with a sword in either hand, Gowrie rushed out again, -exclaiming, "I will either enter my own house or die by the way." - -"I am with you, my lord," cried Cranston, meeting him; and at the same -moment his page, who was running down the street, exclaimed, "Let me -fasten your salat, my lord; it will fall off." - -Gowrie paused for an instant till the steel cap was clasped under his -chin, and then hurried on to the entrance of the Great House. - -But a change had taken place. The gates were wide open; the servants -and retainers who had followed the king from Falkland, were all either -in the house or at the further side of the court; and without pausing -to ask any question, Gowrie rushed to the narrow stair at the foot of -the southwest tower, and ran up, followed close by his faithful -attendant, Cranston. - -The door at the top, leading into the gallery chamber, was partly -closed, and a shoulder placed against it; but Gowrie pushed it open, -exclaiming, "Where is the king?--I come to defend him with my life," -and at once entered the room with the two naked swords in his hands. -Before him lay a dead body bleeding profusely, and partly covered with -the king's cloak. - -"You have killed the king, our master," cried Herries, "and will you -now take our lives?" - -Gowrie's strength seemed to fail him in a moment--His brain -reeled--and pausing suddenly in his advance, he dropped the swords' -points to the floor, exclaiming, "Ah, woe is me! Has the king been -slain in my house?" - -Without reply, Ramsay sprang fiercely upon him, and, unresisted, drove -his dagger into the young earl's heart. - -Gowrie did not fall at once, but for one instant leaned upon the sword -in his right hand, without attempting to strike a blow. Cranston -sprang forward to support him, and caught him in his arms; but the -earl sank slowly to the ground, and with the indistinct murmur of one -well-loved name, expired. - -The murderers gazed upon their victim for a moment in silence; but it -was no time now for hesitation or inactivity. They were four in -number, it is true, and there remained but one living man opposed to -them in the gallery chamber; but the sound of persons ascending the -turret-staircase was heard, and Erskine rushed upon Cranston with his -sword drawn. - -Cranston, furious at the base treatment of a lord he loved and -reverenced, instantly repelled the attack, and, no mean swordsman, -wounded Erskine in hand and arm; but all the others fell upon him, and -drove him back to the head of the staircase. Succour, however, was -near; for three gentlemen, headed by Hugh Moncrief, who had dined with -the earl that day, alarmed by the tumult, and the vague rumours that -were circulated below, were now rushing up--unhappily, too late--to -the assistance of the noble friend whom they had lost for ever. -Unprepared for meeting immediate hostility, however, they were -encountered at the very entrance of the room by those who were too -ready to receive them, and after a sharp but short encounter were -driven down, as well as Cranston, into the court-yard. Hugh Moncrief, -Patrick Eviot, and Henry Ruthven of Freeland, forced their way into -the street, and joined a small knot of the dead earl's friends -collected under the window; but Cranston, less fortunate, was taken in -the court-yard. - -The situation of the king, however, was less safe than he had imagined -it would be. There was much tumult in the streets of Perth, where the -family of the dead had ever been extremely popular; and when James, -informed that the deed he had long meditated was fully executed, came -forth from the cabinet, it was with a pale face, for seditious cries -were rising up from beneath the windows, and one of the most loyal -towns in Scotland was well nigh in a state of insurrection. - -"Give us our noble provost," cried one, "or the king's green coat -shall pay for it." - -"Come down, thou son of Signor David!" shouted another; "thou hast -slain an honester man than thyself." - -The next minute, however, the head of Robert Brown, one of the king's -lacquies, appeared at the door of the gallery-chamber, to which he had -crept quietly, and casting himself on his knees before James, he said, -"God save your majesty! There are the Duke of Lennox and Earl of Mar, -with eight or ten of your best friends, in the gallery there, but they -can not get in to your help, for the door is locked." - -"God's sake! let them in!" cried James; and strange to say! from -amongst the party present, the key of the gallery door was produced, -and Lennox and the other gentlemen admitted. - -The door was instantly locked again, although the purposes for which -it had been first secured were now accomplished. Fortunately for the -king was such precaution taken; for, almost immediately after, a -number of Gowrie's friends and servants rushed to the gallery, loudly -demanding their lord and kinsman. Vain efforts were made to burst open -the door; swords were thrust through where a crevice gave the means, -and one of the Murrays, leaning against the partition, was wounded in -the leg. The voice of Alexander Ruthven of Freeland was then heard -exclaiming, "My lord duke, for God's sake tell me the truth! How goes -it with my Lord of Gowrie?" - -"He is well," answered Lennox, in a sad tone. "But thou art a fool. Go -thy way: thou wilt get little thanks for thy present labour." - -Still the tumult in the street increased, the common bell of the town -continued ringing, and James became seriously alarmed. - -"Run down, my Lord of Mar--run down," he said, "and take good heed to -the court and all the gates. Drive out all the traitor's people or -slay them, and then set a good guard at each of the gates and in the -gardens. Young Tullibardine is in the town with all his men. Could ye -not find him, meikle John Murray?" - -"I will try, your majesty," replied Murray of Arknay, who had been -wounded in the leg; "but there is Blair of Balthayock, with full fifty -men in the hall. He can keep the gates." - -"Ay, tell him--tell him," cried James; "the lad Christie will show him -all the points of defence. Christie's a good serviceable body, and -shall be weel rewarded. Now, gentlemen," he continued, "let us proceed -to the examination of the dead traitors' persons. We may find -somewhat, perchance, that will tend to the purposes of justice. -Uncover that one first, and see what you can find." - -The cloak was then removed from the body of Alexander Ruthven, and -without stopping to look at his handsome face, now calm in the -tranquillity of death, the courtiers searched his pockets. Little was -found, indeed, except a purse containing a small sum of money, and a -letter, which was handed immediately to the king, for it was in his -own handwriting. - -"That must be put out o' the way," said James, looking at it. "Is -there a fire in the kitchen?" - -"Oh, yes, there must be," replied Ramsay; and after tearing the letter -into very small pieces, the king gave it to his page, saying, "Put -them in the fire, Jock, instanter. But bide a wee--there may be mair." - -"There is nothing more, sire," said the Earl of Mar, and then added, -"His sword has never been drawn--it is rusted in the sheath." - -"That has nothing to do wi' it," cried the monarch, angrily. "Search -the other man--see what ye can find on him." - -"Here is something worth finding," exclaimed Sir Thomas Erskine, who -had unclasped Gowrie's belt, and now held up the scheme of the young -earl's nativity, as drawn out by Manucci, displaying the various signs -and figures which it contained to the by-standers. - -"It's magic!" cried the king, in great delight. "I tell't ye so. He -was a dealer with sorcerers and devils, and would have taken our life -by his damnable arts. I kenned it weel. I tell't ye, Jock Ramsay." - -"And me too, sire," said Herries. "Your majesty's wisdom is never at -fault." - -"See, the body does not bleed!" cried the king; "this is a magical -spell, upon my life. Turn him over, he will soon bleed now this is -taken away." - -And so, indeed, it proved; for as soon as the body was turned over, so -as to bring the wound of which he had died in a different position, -the dark blood poured forth in a torrent. - -While they were gazing at this sight, and the king was again and again -pronouncing that the paper he now held in his hand was a magical -spell, the noises in the street suddenly increased very greatly, but -the tone seemed to be different. - -"De'il's in they folk!" cried the king; "will they pu' the house down? -Look out of the window, my Lord of Mar." - -"These are some friends that are crying now," said Mar, after looking -from the window. "The bailies and their folk have forced their way in -amongst the mob, and seem well affected." Then leaning forth from the -window, he listened for a moment to something that was shouted up from -below. "They desire to see with their own eyes that your majesty is -safe," he continued, turning again to James, "and to receive your -commands from your own lips." - -"Is it safe, man? Is it sure?" demanded the king. "Are they no -feigning?" - -"No, no," replied Mar. "They have got that little Bailie Roy, I think -they call him, at their head." - -"Oo, ay, that wee pookit like body Roy," cried James. "I'm no feared -o' him;" and, advancing to the window, he cried, at the utmost extent -of his voice, "Bailie Roy, Bailie Roy, I am safe and well, praise be -to God! And I strictly command you to cause all the people to disperse -and retire quietly to their lodgings." - -This said, he withdrew his head again; and the good bailie made every -effort in his power to obey the royal injunction and disperse the -people. But his municipal eloquence, and his proclamation at the -market-cross, proved of little effect: an immense crowd continued to -occupy the street before the Great House, and cries and imprecations -upon those who had slain the innocent, continued to rise up from time -to time. - -It is not, indeed, improbable that, but for the imposing numbers which -Blair of Balthayock kept drawn up in the court-yard, with their swords -unsheathed, and which could be seen by the people through the iron -gates, the mob would have burst in, and, as Nisbet says in his -Heraldry, would have cut the court to pieces. - -For more than an hour, James and his principal nobles and favourites -continued in deliberation up stairs, the nature of which only -transpired in vague rumours. It is supposed by some, that this hour -was spent in patching together the somewhat disjointed tale which was -afterwards given to the public on royal authority, and in endeavouring -to make the story which James had previously told in coming from -Falkland, harmonize in some degree with the dark and bloody -transactions which had followed. - -However that may be, there was still, at seven o'clock, so great a -multitude assembled in the street as to render it dangerous for the -king to attempt to pass that way. The porter, Christie, and a man -named Dogie, were sent for to the king's presence, and acting upon a -suggestion they threw out, it was resolved that a boat should be -brought down to the garden stairs, by which James and his principal -courtiers should be conveyed along the Tay to the South Inch, while -the rest of the monarch's retinue should attempt the passage by the -streets; and the young master of Tullibardine should be directed, with -the strong body of horse he had brought into the town, to guard all -approach to the Inch against those who had not a certain pass-word. -This was executed skilfully and promptly; and towards eight o'clock, -under a gloomy sky and heavy rain, James mounted his horse at the -South Inch, and escorted by Tullibardine and the Murrays, rode away -towards Falkland. - -Thus perished the noble, the brave, and true! Thus triumphed the -feeble, the base, and treacherous! Let any man read attentively the -page of history, where too many events like this are recorded, and -then doubt, if he can, the coming of a future state where such things -shall be made equal. - - - - -CHAPTER XLV. - - -Austin Jute rode on towards Dirleton; but he did it with an -exceedingly strong feeling of ill will. He had doubts and -apprehensions in his mind, with regard to the fate of his well-loved -master, which, under any ordinary circumstances, would have bound him -to his side, to share his peril, to labour to avert it, or to fight in -his defence till death. But Gowrie's order had been peremptory; the -necessity of warning the earl's mother and Julia was great; and Austin -Jute, as I have said, rode on, though with a heavy heart. I shall not -trace his journey minutely, but merely notice that he took means to -avoid an encounter with the royal cavalcade in its approach to Perth, -and then made the best of his way to the old family seat of the -Ruthvens and Halyburtons, which, owing to some delay in the passage, -he did not reach till nearly eight o'clock. He was admitted instantly -to the presence of the old countess, who at the moment was standing by -the side of her son's promised bride, watching a portrait of Gowrie -which Julia was painting from memory. Every line of his countenance -was impressed so deeply upon her mind, that, with the perfect -knowledge of the art which she possessed, she had little difficulty in -transferring the image to the canvas. She had but to raise her look, -and fill the vacant air by the power of imagination, and Gowrie, in -all his young and high-toned beauty, stood visible to the mind's eye. - -As Austin Jute entered, the countess turned partly towards him, -saying, "I think I know your errand already, good man. The pleasure of -my son's arrival is to be delayed for a day. Is it not so?" - -"It is to be delayed, madam," replied Austin, in a tone so grave, that -Julia instantly dropped the brush, and started up. - -"What did he say?" she exclaimed, fixing her bright eyes eagerly upon -the servant's countenance. "Austin, Austin, what has happened?" - -"My dear child, do not agitate yourself so much," said Gowrie's -mother, in a soothing tone. "You know the king sent yesterday to ask -William to meet him to-day in Perth;[11] and, of course, with the king -for his guest, Gowrie could not leave his house, even to visit you, -sweet one." - -"There is something wrong," cried Julia, still keeping her eyes fixed -upon Austin's countenance. "I see it there. Something has happened!" - -"No, indeed, dear lady," replied Austin Jute; "nothing has happened -that I know of. The king's coming took my lord by surprise, for he -knew nothing of it till this day at his dinner." - -"Nothing of it!" exclaimed the old countess, her brow contracting a -good deal. "Why, it was announced to my boy William, by four o'clock -yesterday evening.--But let us hope," she continued, "that this is one -of the king's wild jests. He loves to take people by surprise, I have -heard, and to make merry with the embarrassment he causes. Had the -king arrived ere you departed?" - -"No, madam; but he was within a mile of the town," replied Austin -Jute. "My lord sent me to warn you, and----" - -He paused and hesitated; and the old countess finished the sentence -for him, saying, "And to tell us he would come to-morrow. Was it not -so?" - -Austin shook his head. "He was going to do so, my lady," he replied; -"but he stopped himself as the words were on his lips, and said, 'No; -I will make no promises for to-morrow. God, and God only, knows what -may be to-morrow!'" - -Julia sank into a chair, and covered her eyes; and the old countess -put her hand to her brow, and fell into deep thought. - -"Let me not alarm you more than needful, dear ladies," continued -Austin Jute, after remaining silent for a moment or two; "though my -lord seemed quite bewildered by the suddenness of the king's visit, -and perhaps he might think the matter more serious than it really -was----But let me tell you what he said. I can give it you word for -word, for I have repeated it over and over again, to myself, as I came -along. The order was, 'Tell them the king comes. Tell them I know not -why he comes; and let their own judgment speak the rest. But of all -things,' added my noble lord, 'let my mother be upon her guard, and -see to the safety of my young brothers!'" - -"Wise and thoughtful ever," exclaimed the old countess. "Oh, Gowrie, -Gowrie!" - -Julia remained in silence. She wept not, spoke not, hardly seemed to -breathe; and Austin Jute at length demanded, in a low tone, addressing -the countess, "Shall I go back, madam, and obtain tidings?" - -"Oh, do, do!" cried Julia, starting up, and wringing her hands. "Bring -me tidings, bring me tidings!" - -"Stay!" cried the countess, with recovered calmness. "Not you, my good -man. You are known to some of the people there; I will send a -stranger. Go and refresh yourself in the hall; but, first, tell -William Laing to come to me, and bid some of the grooms prepare a -horse for him without delay." - -"We are giving too much way to fear, my child," continued the -countess, addressing Julia, as Austin Jute retired. "We are taking for -granted that some evil is meditated against my son, and without cause. -True, we know the king did at one time suspect him; but we know also -that the suspicion was groundless, and as James has lately shown him -greater favour, we may well conclude that he is satisfied he was wrong -in his doubts." - -Julia went and knelt down on the cushion by the countess's feet, and -laid her broad fair brow upon her knee. "It was predicted to him," she -murmured, in a low voice, "that at this time great peril should befall -him; and we were warned in a strange manner that we should never be -united. Reason with me not, dear lady. I feel I am superstitious now, -though I never was before; and I feel, too, that it is in vain, when -superstition has possession of the mind, to struggle against it. God -grant that my fears may prove vain and idle, and if not, God grant -that we may both have strength to bear up under his will; but my brain -feels on fire, and my heart has hardly power to beat." - -The countess cast her arms around her and kissed her neck, and at the -same moment the servant she had sent for entered the room. - -"Mount directly, William Laing," the countess said, "and ride for -Perth with all speed. Bring us information, without pause or delay, -how fares the earl; but if you get important tidings by the way--mark -me, tidings that you can depend upon--return and let us know, be the -hour what it may. Now away, and lose not a moment by the road. There -is money for you, for you will need a boat." - -As the man was retiring, young William Ruthven entered the room, and -seeing the anxious countenances before him, he exclaimed, in a tone -almost gay, "Why, what is the matter, dearest mother? What is the -matter, sweet sister Julia? I came in all glad to tell you that my new -falcon, Bell, has struck the largest old heron in the county, -and----But this must be something serious," he continued, as Julia -turned away with the tears in her eyes, "Gowrie--What of my brother?" - -"Nothing, nothing," answered the countess. "His southron servant has -just arrived to say that he cannot come to-day, as the king pays him a -sudden visit, which he heard not of till dinner time; and our dear -Julia, whose heart is not accustomed to the rough things of the world, -has taken fright--needlessly, I do hope and trust. Stay with her and -comfort her, William. I have some orders to give;" and going out, she -sent at once for the factor of the Dirleton estates. - -The man came almost immediately; for there was that kind of indefinite -uneasiness, that looking forth for evil through the whole house, which -so frequently precedes calamity; and every servant was alert and -active. - -As soon as the door of the little room to which she had retired was -closed, the countess said, "I know I can trust you, Guthrie. I have -had news I do not like from Perth. The king goes to visit my son -suddenly, and by surprise; and the earl sends me word to be upon my -guard, and watch for the safety of his brothers. Keep four horses -saddled in the stable, and two men ready to fly with the boys, should -need be--at least till we hear more: and now, Guthrie, collect me all -the money you can get. Go to all the tenants nearest at hand, and ask -them for any sums they may have by them, within their amount of rent. -Tell them the countess has need of it. They know I would never press -them but in dire necessity; and they will not grudge it, I think." - -"There is not one of them who will not give his last penny willingly, -my lady," replied the factor, "if it be not old Jock Halyburton of the -mill. I'll go my round, and be back in an hour." - -"Go, then--go, Guthrie," answered the countess; and, leaning her head -upon her hand, she remained for somewhat more than half an hour in -deep, bitter, painful thought. She noticed not that there was the -sound of several feet moving past the door, and the first thing that -roused her from her reverie was a loud, shrill, piercing shriek from -the adjoining chamber. - -Starting up at once she rushed in; but for a moment, by the faint -light which now prevailed, she could gain no clear view of the scene -before her. All she saw was, that there were two men besides her own -sons in the room. The next instant she perceived the form of poor -Julia lying prostrate on the floor near the window, with the lad -William bending tenderly over her, while the younger boy, Patrick, -stood nearer to the door, pale as death, and wringing his hands in -bitter grief. - -"Oh, Henry, you have killed her!--Poor blighted flower!" cried William -Ruthven, as his mother entered. - -"I knew not she was in the room," replied Henry Ruthven of Freeland, -who was one of the two men whom the countess had seen; and nearly at -the same moment his brother Alexander, who was with him, took the old -lady's hand, saying, "Alas! dear lady, this is a bitter day!" - -"Your news?" said the countess, in a tone preternaturally calm and -cold, at the same time seating herself in a chair near. - -The young man hesitated for an instant, and then replied, "I and my -brother Henry here are forced to fly with all speed for having drawn -our swords, dear lady, in defence of your noble sons." - -"Then are my sons no more!" said the countess, solemnly; "their -friends would not fly if they still lived. Oh, accursed race of -Stuart! tyrannical, weak and bloodthirsty, could not the father's -death sate your appetite for vengeance, and must you wreak it upon the -innocent children? May Heaven avert from you the reward due to those -who shed the blood of the unoffending, and visit you only with the -remorse which works repentance! Oh, my poor boys, what had you done to -merit this? But I must not yield--No, I will not shed a tear. Thank -God, I am old, and the separation will but be short. I will remember -my noble son's last injunction, and care for his poor brothers. Lads, -lads, get ready to ride at once, for this is no longer a land for you. -James Stuart will never rest while there is one drop of your blood -unshed, one acre of your lands unseized. Away and prepare! The horses -are saddled in the stable; the gold will be here anon. Ride with them, -Henry and Alex; you will be some protection. And you, poor thing," she -continued, rising and moving across the room to where Julia lay, "your -prophetic heart gave no false augury. Oh, it was the oracle of deep -true love that spoke. Fatherless, motherless, bereft, you shall remain -with me, whom this man would make childless. My home shall be your -home, and you shall be to me as a daughter. Try not to raise her, -William. Let her have a respite from agony. You know not the blessing -you would take from her when you seek to call her back to life and -memory. Weep not, my dear boy--weep not now. Keep your tears for -another hour, as I shall do, and when you are safe afar, then we may -weep for others who are safer than ourselves. Go, go, my boy--prepare; -and you too, Patrick, for you must not let another sun shine upon you -in your native land. Go with them for awhile, good cousins, while they -make ready, and leave me and my maidens to tend this poor child." - -It was nearly an hour before Julia awoke--I was going to say to -consciousness--but that I cannot say. When she opened her eyes she -gazed wildly round her, and pronounced the name of Gowrie in a low -plaintive tone that wrung his mother's heart. - -"Come, my child," said the countess, tenderly; "come with me to your -chamber." - -"Gowrie," said Julia again, in the same tone, gazing vacantly in his -mother's face, "Gowrie!" - -It was all that she ever said. No other word ever passed her lips but -that. She was gentle, tractable, did all that was required of her, but -speak. That she never did after, but to utter one name. All language -seemed lost to her but that single sound; and that grew fainter and -fainter every day, while the rose died away from her cheek, the light, -wandering and wild as it was, faded from her eye, the hand grew thin -and pale. Ten weeks all but a day passed, and Julia found rest and -peace. - -Happy, most happy for her, that reason never returned. She would have -heard of him she loved being pronounced a traitor, though he never -dreamed of treason--she would have heard of his dead body being -mangled by the hand of the executioner--she would have heard of the -faithful friends and servants who had drawn their swords to save -him from assassination, being torn by the torture and dying a -dishonouring death--his lands forfeited--his family proscribed--his -very name forbidden to be used; and--oh solemn mockery of God's -omniscience!--she would have heard of thanks offered up for his -destruction and his murderer's safety. - -There could but have been one comfort--to hear and know that all men -thought him innocent; that the best and noblest of the clergy in his -native land refused, even under pain of deprivation and banishment, to -mock God as they were required, and that far and wide, throughout -Europe, the history of his asserted treason was treated with contempt, -and the tale of his death received with sorrow and with pity. But she -died, and, without ever recovering a glimpse of reason to groan under -the burden or to feel the relief, went down to that calm home where -the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI. - -POSTSCRIPT. - - -It may seem strange to place at the end of a work like the present, -those observations which are usually placed at the beginning, and to -add in a postscript, that general view of a subject which is generally -afforded in a preface. Except in those cases where a right -understanding of the scope and object of the work, and a clear view of -the principles upon which the author writes, are necessary to the -comprehension of that which is to follow, I greatly object to -prefaces. I do not wish to prepossess my reader in favour of my book, -nor to imbue him with my own peculiar ideas in order to gain his -assent to what is to come after. I, therefore, may as well say at the -close, where the reader is more likely to peruse it, what many others -would have said at the commencement, and having formed a very strong -and decided opinion upon a matter of history, in regard to which, -others, inconceivably to me, have adopted a different view, add a few -remarks in justification of my own judgment. - -On the work itself I have little to say, except inasmuch as it is an -essay intended to prove what is really the feeling of the public in -regard to cheap literature. - -I was aware, from the first, that should the experiment not succeed, I -might be met by the reply, that what the public desire is good as well -as cheap literature, and I therefore chose a subject of deep interest, -which I had pondered for some years, which was first brought to my -attention by a gallant officer[12] descended from the family which -figures most conspicuously in the foregoing pages. To those who have -really read the book and arrived fairly at these concluding pages, I -think I may venture to appeal as to whether I have spared labour, -research, and thought upon the work. I know that I have not, and I -believe the evidence thereof will be found in the tale itself. - -I would have done as I have said, had it been merely because the work -was to be given to the public at a cheaper rate than usual; but there -were other strong motives for considering well every sentence I wrote. -An important point of history was involved: a point which has been -rendered dark by the passions and prejudices of partizans, who refused -to judge of it as they would judge of any other matter of evidence -brought before them. - -The question is, whether the young Earl of Gowrie and his brother laid -a plot for entrapping James VI., King of Scotland, to their house at -Perth, for the purpose of murdering him, the king escaping by a -miracle, and causing them to be slain in return: or whether he laid a -plot for surprising them in their house, under the appearance of a -friendly visit, and, by a pre-arranged plan, murdered them in their -own dwelling. - -I have maintained, as the reader has seen, and ever shall maintain, -that the latter was the case. - -When any man is accused of a crime, it must be shown that the crime -was committed, that the accused had a sufficient motive, and that the -act is brought home to him by conclusive evidence. - -The crime of which the Earl of Gowrie and his brother were accused, -was having seduced King James to their house at Perth, with the -intention of putting him to death; for the intention in such cases is -the crime. - -The motive which has been assigned is the desire of succeeding to the -throne of Scotland, as the next heir. This has been tenderly touched -upon, because it was too shallow a pretence not to fail at once before -examination; but it is still clearly indicated as the motive. Gowrie -was only remotely related to James by Margaret Tudor, Queen of -Scotland, the king's great-grandmother, an English princess, whose -blood gave him no claim whatever to the Scottish throne, whatever it -might do to that of England. Moreover, the king had one son then -living, and another was born two months after. So that had the king -been killed on the fatal fifth of August, he would have been as far -from the throne of Scotland as ever. - -The evidence of any crime having been committed by the Earl and his -brother, now comes to be examined; and I do not scruple to say, that -to the eyes of any man of common understanding, it not only proves -that Gowrie and his brother were innocent, but that James was guilty. -First, let it be remarked, that this evidence was all on one side, -that no defence was made on the part of the dead accused, that no -witnesses were examined on their behalf, that those on the other part -were not cross-examined. The king himself was the principal witness; -for his statement must be taken as a deposition. He declared that -Alexander Ruthven, the earl's brother, came up to him when he was -going out to hunt at Falkland, and besought him to come immediately to -Perth, as he, Alexander, had seized and imprisoned in his brother's -house, a stranger with a pitcher full of foreign gold, which he wished -to secure for the king; and that he must come privately, without -letting any one know, for he feared that the man might cry out and -call the attention of the earl, who knew nothing of the fact. James -says he determined to go, (though the tale was too absurd to obtain -credence from any rational being;) but instead of going immediately, -he continued to hunt from seven till ten o'clock; and instead of going -privately, took the whole court, all his usual attendants, and -moreover, two lacquies from the palace, together with the porter at -Falkland, and the keeper of his ale cellar. Of the conversation -between the king and Alexander Ruthven, we have no testimony but that -of James himself. It is true, as he rode towards Perth he related the -tale privately to the Duke of Lennox, when that nobleman at once -expressed his opinion of the improbability of the story; but yet the -king went on. His majesty did not send forward to announce his coming -to the young earl till he was within two miles of Perth; but then he -was met and received, not by Gowrie and his attendants in private and -alone, but by the earl as Lord Provost, at the head of the magistrates -of the town, hurriedly assembled. The king then proceeds to relate -what occurred at the earl's palace, and comments on the young -nobleman's demeanour, which, instead of being courteous, flattering, -and calculated to lull and deceive, was exactly what might be expected -from a man taken unprepared by the sudden and unannounced visit of a -sovereign, when he was about to set out on a journey of some length. -He was distant, silent, and though attentive to the king, anything but -so to the immense train he had brought with him. - -After dinner the king was led by Alexander Ruthven to a chamber near -the picture gallery to repose for a little, and the king says that he -was taken through many rooms, the doors of which were all locked -behind him. The king's prudence must have been sadly at fault to go on -under such circumstances. In the chamber to which he was led, -according to the account of the king, and also that of Ramsay, was a -tall, dark, strong man, armed. The monarch described him particularly, -but implied that he was not one of his own attendants, but a stranger; -yet he remained some time conversing with Mr. Alexander Ruthven -without any apparent alarm, and suffered the young gentleman to go out -and in, he avers, to meet his brother. It is shown by the other -depositions that Gowrie was during the whole of this time, except for -one short moment, either in the hall with the large body of courtiers, -or walking with them in his gardens. At length Alexander Ruthven -assaulted the king, James declares, and attempted first to stab him -with a dagger, and then to bind his hands with two garters, saying, -coolly, "Traitor, thou must die, and therefore lay thy hands together -that I may bind thee." If we are to credit the testimony of Moyses, -one of the king's most faithful servants, there were five hundred -gentlemen in Perth on that day, of whom it would appear full three -hundred were of the family of Murray, sent for to meet the king under -the Master of Tullibardine. The rest were the king's friends and -followers, already completely in possession of Gowrie's palace. Many -of these were in the street just below the room, with the Duke of -Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Lord Lindores, and Sir Thomas Erskine. -Alexander Ruthven must have been a bold man, and not a prudent one, if -he really sought the king's death, to make so cool a proposal rather -than run him through the body with his sword, especially if the armed -man in the room was put there by himself to aid in the assassination. -The armed man, however, according to the king's account, remained -quaking and trembling; and Alexander Ruthven did not draw his sword -during the whole day. James then declares he rushed to the window, -and shouted treason, and when John Ramsay entered the room in -haste--having been informed by some one how to reach it, which none of -the others could divine--he found the younger Ruthven on his knees, -trying to stop the king's vociferation. James did not give orders to -apprehend him for trial, but to stab him, and even pointed out where -he was to be stabbed. The king, then, was locked in the cabinet, while -his friends laid wait for Gowrie to stab him likewise, when he came in -search of his brother. - -The other depositions--with one exception, which I shall notice -presently--go to prove merely the facts which I have mentioned in the -preceding chapters, that Gowrie was taken by surprise, and -discontented with the king's unannounced visit, that he was unarmed -during the whole day, that when the report was spread that the king -was gone, he called for his horse, in order to ride after him with the -rest of the court, unarmed as he was, that he never left his guests -for more than a moment; and, as a very strict investigation has been -made of his occupations during the whole of the early part of the day, -it is shown that he attended the morning service at the parish church, -transacted important business with several parties, invited some -common acquaintances to dinner, dined with them calmly, made no -preparation whatever against the king's coming, and even sent two of -his servants to a distance, though he had but eight or nine in the -house, one of whom was ill in bed. In the testimony of not one of the -credible witnesses is there a word that implicates Gowrie, and there -is much to show that it was well nigh impossible he could have any -share in the attempt of his brother, if any attempt was really made. -At the same time, however, a great deal transpires which shows that -Gowrie was not the injurer, but the injured. No preparation is alleged -for the commission of the crime, no force was collected, no arms laid -up, he himself was totally unarmed, his brother had only an ordinary -sword (for the dagger was said to have been snatched from the armed -man.) Andrew Ruthven, who accompanied his cousin to Falkland, was -totally unarmed, so was George Dewar, one of the Earl's servants. He -had drawn round him no great body of friends. These are all negative -testimonies to his innocence. Then again we find that when he called -for his horse to follow the king with the rest of the court, he -learned that his horse had been removed from his own house. Was this -to prevent his escape? When the very act is said to have been doing -which was intended to deprive his sovereign of life, he went unarmed -and stood under the very window of the room where it was to take -place, with a large party of the king's most attached friends--in the -midst of the royal servants! Ramsay's deposition shows that he, -Ramsay, knew at once how to find his way to the monarch; and Sir -Thomas Erskine's proves that James did not go with Mr. Ruthven alone -to the earl's cabinet, but that he, Erskine, accompanied them, and was -stationed by the king himself at the door of the chamber. It is proved -also by the various depositions, that when Erskine, Ramsay, James and -George Wilson were together in the chamber after Gowrie's death, and -before the bodies were searched, the key of the door into the gallery -was amongst them, and was used to admit the nobles from the other -side, and to exclude the earl's friends. It is not even pretended that -any keys were found upon Alexander Ruthven after his death. - -Moreover, it is proved that the king, who is represented as having -been struggling for life with a traitor, was so cool, that while his -friends despatched his enemy, he put his foot upon the jesses of the -falcon, to prevent it from flying away. - -Setting aside the monarch's own evidence, therefore, the testimony of -all other persons was rather in favour of Gowrie, and against the -king, than otherwise; and the proofs of the monarch having assembled a -large body of men in Perth were easily to be obtained, showing a -preconcerted plan for going to that city before Alexander Ruthven -could, by any possibility, have told the story of the pot of gold. -Moreover, that story was in itself so absurd, and many parts of the -king's statement so unlike truth; and the fact of the earl and his -brother having been slain unresisting, when they could, without -difficulty or danger, have been taken and tried according to law, was -so suspicious, that it must have seemed necessary to all James's -advisers to support his testimony by some corroborative evidence or -circumstance. No one could give any evidence of what took place in the -gallery chamber or its cabinet, but the armed man who was present; but -it would have been something to prove that the armed man was one of -Gowrie's servants. He, therefore, was to be sought for, or at least a -substitute; but unfortunately the king, in his first proclamation, had -given a very accurate account of the man's personal appearance. He was -described by the monarch as a black, grim man, and as his head was -uncovered, and James had some conversation with him, he could not be -mistaken in his complexion. David Calderwood, quoted by Mr. Scott in -his life and death of the Earl of Gowrie, declares that the king first -asserted the man was Robert Oliphant, one of Gowrie's servants. -Oliphant proved, however, that he was not in Perth that day. Two -others were then successively pointed at as the criminal, but they -freed themselves from the imputation. The next person accused was -Henry Younger, likewise one of the earl's servants; but setting out to -establish his innocence, he was met, pursued through the fields, and -put to death by a party of the king's horse. The matter now seemed -settled; the dead body was exposed at the market cross at Falkland, -and Galloway, the king's chaplain, had the assurance to address the -monarch publicly at the cross, saying, "Sir, the man who should have -helped to do the deed could not be taken alive, but now his dead body -lies before you." - -It was soon proved, however, that Henry Younger was at Dundee during -the whole of the 5th of August, and another had to be sought for. - -In this exigency, Andrew Henderson, the earl's factor, volunteered, or -was persuaded, upon promise of pardon, to acknowledge himself the man -whom the king and Ramsay had seen. How this was brought about has -never been known; but he was suffered to make his deposition, and -therein told a story even more incredible than that of the king. He -said that his lord had commanded him to arm himself, to assist in -apprehending a notorious robber, and for that purpose _to suffer -himself to be locked into a closet at the top of the house_, where he -remained for about half an hour--in fact, till the king and Alexander -Ruthven came. - -The other depositions clearly prove that this statement was false, as -well as absurd; for from the time of the king's arrival to the moment -at which James proceeded to the rooms above, and especially during the -last three-quarters of an hour, every moment of which is accounted -for, Gowrie never quitted the monarch's presence, except to go with -the nobles to the adjoining hall, or afterwards to drink to them by -the king's command. The contradictions between Henderson's evidence -and the statement of the king are pointed out both by Lord Hailes and -Robertson, and well summed up by Mr. Scott. The sermons of Bishop -Cowper prove that many persons in Perth denied that Henderson was in -Gowrie's palace at all after the king's arrival; and though that -worthy pastor states he had spoken with persons who saw Henderson -there, he seems not to have given information to the monarch, for whom -he was so zealous, of the names of these parties; for not one of them -was called forward to prove the truth of a tale which nobody believed. -Even James himself threw discredit upon the account, by not naming -Henderson as the armed man, though he published a statement after the -depositions were taken, and indeed with no face could the king have -done so; for he had previously stated that the man was a black, grim -man, and Henderson was a little ruddy man with a light brown beard. -Henderson was, moreover, contradicted by other witnesses upon various -points, and by the king himself upon many. Yet Henderson, we may -suppose, did James good service in some way; for we find that he was -honoured and rewarded with lands and offices, as well as Christie, the -Earl of Gowrie's porter, whose services are unknown, though strongly -suspected; and another domestic, named Dogie, of whose deeds we know -nothing. - -The guilt of the Earl of Gowrie was disbelieved in Scotland all but -universally, and the accusation of magic and sorcery brought against -him was treated with the contempt it merited, except by a few persons -more curious than intelligent. Five ministers of Edinburgh refused to -offer thanks for the king's deliverance, in which they did not -believe; and, three of them suffered severely for their contumacy and -incredulity. The estates of the Earl of Gowrie were forfeited, and -divided amongst favourites, and three of the earl's faithful servants -were executed at Perth, declaring their innocence and his with their -dying breath. An annual thanksgiving was appointed in England and -Scotland, but the English laughed at the farce, and the Scotch were -indignant at the impiety. An annual feast also was held, which Weldon -mentions as follows: "Sir John Ramsay, for his good service in that -preservation, was the principal guest; and so did the king grant him -any boon he would ask that day. But he had such limitation made to his -asking, as made his suit as unprofitable as the action which he asked -it for was unserviceable to the king." - -I have endeavoured, in the account of the last few days of the earl's -life, to keep as near to the truth as possible, only indicating -circumstances not absolutely proved as natural conclusions from -established facts. I have not ventured to represent the scene which -took place in the earl's gallery chamber and cabinet between his -brother and the king, for my account would probably be nearly as wide -of the truth as that of the monarch or the factor, though it might be -less absurd. But I have not felt myself bound to adhere to historical -truth in those parts of a romance which are conventionally established -as fiction. The character of Julia Douglas is purely imaginary; and -were there at present any descendants from the Regent Morton, I would -apologize for the liberties I have taken with their ancestor. The lady -whom it was proposed the earl should marry, was in reality the Lady -Margaret Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Angus; but particular -circumstances, which it would be tedious to dwell upon, prevented me -from mixing her name up with this history; and there were rumours -current, both before and after the earl's death, of another more -powerful but secret attachment, which might probably have frustrated -the views of friends under the influence of a stronger power. - - - -T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos Street, Covent Garden. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: This man, David Drummond, was tried and condemned shortly -after, in the first justice court held by the young earl, and was -executed for his offence, June 28,1600, as appears by the chronicles -of the fair city of Perth.] - -[Footnote 2: This curious anecdote is given in the manuscript memoirs -of the Church of Scotland, by Mr. David Calderwood, a contemporary who -was at this time about five-and-twenty years of age, and a keen -observer of all that was passing.] - -[Footnote 3: It is now the generally received opinion that the Earl of -Angus did obtain possession of the treasures of the regent Morton, and -that he spent the whole of them in acts of liberality to his fellow -exiles.] - -[Footnote 4: This anecdote of court scandal is to be found in -Pinkerton's essay on what he calls the Gowrie conspiracy, in which it -was inserted on the authority of Lord Hailes. The freedom of manners -attributed to Anne of Denmark, both before and after the accession of -her husband to the throne of England, and her fondness for several -ladies of more than doubtful virtue, are mentioned by almost every -writer of the day. All agree, however, that the character of Beatrice -Ruthven, afterwards Lady Hume, one of Anne's earliest favourites, was -perfectly irreproachable.] - -[Footnote 5: This anecdote of Mr. William Cowper is given by -Archbishop Spottiswood, a strong partizan of the king; and it is clear -that he mentioned it with the view of supporting, by some independent -testimony, the extraordinary statement of James himself--a statement -which would not have deceived a child, so absurd, incongruous, and -ridiculous it is, had not the friends and flatterers of the monarch -exerted themselves, with all the zeal of sycophant ambition, to -bolster up a puerile defence of his conduct, by corroborative -circumstances often as false, and sometimes as puerile.] - -[Footnote 6: This same Mr. Patrick Galloway, after the earl's death, -did very imprudently go the length of saying, in a sermon preached at -the market cross of Edinburgh, referring to the murdered nobleman, "He -was an atheist, an incarnate devil, in the coat of an angel, a studier -of magic, a conjurer with devils, some of whom he had under his -command."] - -[Footnote 7: If Henderson ever was at Falkland on that day, as he -afterwards swore, he must have arrived at about half-past seven, and -to have seen anything of what took place could not have quitted the -ground till after eight. Yet he had returned to Perth by ten. He was -met by Mr. John Moncrief, about that time, riding into Perth, and -stopped to speak with him, so that he performed, in two hours, a -journey which had taken Alexander Ruthven three, over the bad and -tortuous roads then existing. But the whole of the man's evidence is -invalidated by his subsequent perjury in regard to the other -transactions of that day.] - -[Footnote 8: The above is actually the story which James not only told -to his courtiers, but afterwards wrote to several neighbouring -princes, and embodied in his narrative of the events of that day, -leaving his hearers and his readers the very unpleasant alternative of -looking upon him either as an idiot or a knave. Lennox, in his -deposition, very barely conceals what he thought of the story and of -the king, for believing, or pretending to believe it.] - -[Footnote 9: Moyses, in his Memoirs, declares that there were no less -than five hundred gentlemen in Perth that day who bore testimony to -the truth of the king's statement, and therefore were certainly not -inimical to James. Yet we are told to believe that in presence of this -imposing force of loyal subjects (assembled, who knows how?) Gowrie -and his brother, with eight servants, attempted the king's life.] - -[Footnote 10: This fact is indiscreetly suffered to appear in -Erskine's deposition, where he says, "When all was over, I said to his -majesty, I thought your majesty would have concredited more to me than -to have commanded me to await your majesty at the door, if you had -thought it not mete to take me with you." That Sir Thomas Erskine knew -more of this foul transaction than he deposed to, is indicated by a -letter from Nicholson, the Queen of England's agent in Scotland, 22nd -September, 1602, in which he mentions that the king was much disturbed -because his queen had revealed to Beatrice Ruthven some secrets told -her by Sir Thomas Erskine.] - -[Footnote 11: This fact is positively asserted in Calderwood's -manuscript Memoirs, quoted by Mr. Scott.] - -[Footnote 12: Lieut. Col. Cowell.] - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Gowrie:, by G. P. R. 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P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James"> - -<meta name="Publisher" content="Simpkin, Marshall, and Co."> -<meta name="Date" content="1848"> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> -<style type="text/css"> -body {margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} - - -p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} -.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} - - - -p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} - -p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} -.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} -.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} - - -.poem0 { - margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; - margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; - margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} - -.poem1 { - margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; - margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; - margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} - -.poem2 { - margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; - margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; - margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} - -.poem3 { - margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; - margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; - margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} - - - - - -figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} - -.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0em;} -.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0em;} -.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em;} -.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0em;} -.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0em;} -.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0em;} - - -.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} -.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} - -.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} - -h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} - -span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} -span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} - -hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} - -hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} - -hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} -hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} - -p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} -p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} - - -</style> - -</head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Gowrie:, by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Gowrie: - or, the King's Plot. - -Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James - -Release Date: November 20, 2015 [EBook #50518] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOWRIE: *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page images provided by -Google Books (University of California, Davis) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> - -1. Page scan source:<br> -https://books.google.com/books?id=djYoAQAAIAAJ<br> -The Works of GPR James, Esq. Volume 17<br> -(University of California, Davis)</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="center"><img src="images/frontispiece.png" alt="frontispiece"></p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>GOWRIE:</h3> - -<h5>OR,</h5> - -<h4>THE KING'S PLOT.</h4> - - -<p class="normal"><h5>BY</h5> -<h4>G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:smaller">LONDON</span>:<br> -SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.<br> -<span style="font-size:smaller">STATIONERS' HALL COURT.<br> -MDCCCXLVIII.</span></p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>THE WORKS</h3> -<h5>OF</h5> -<h3>G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h3> -<br> -<h4>REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR.</h4> -<br> -<h4>WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.</h4> -<br> -<div style="margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; font-size:smaller"> -<p>"D'autres auteurs l'ont encore plus avili, (le roman,) en y mêlant les -tableaux dégoutant du vice; et tandis que le premier avantage des -fictions est de rassembler autour de l'homme tout ce qui, dans la -nature, peut lui servir de leçon ou de modèle, on a imaginé qu'on -tirerait une utilité quelconque des peintures odieuses de mauvaises -mœ urs; comme si elles pouvaient jamais; laisser le cœ ur qui les -repousse, dans une situation aussi pure que le cœ ur qui les aurait -toujours Ignorées. Mais un roman tel qu'on peut le concevoir, tel que -nous en avons quelques modèles, est une des plus belles productions de -l'esprit humain, une des plus influentes sur la morale des individus, -qui doit former ensuite les mœ urs publiques."--<span class="sc">Madame de Staël</span>. -<i>Essai sur les Fictions</i>.</p> -</div> -<div style="margin-left:25%; margin-right:15%; font-size:smaller"> -<p style="text-indent:-10px">"Poca favilla gran flamma seconda:<br> -Forse diretro a me, con miglior voci<br> -Si pregherà, perchè Cirra risonda."</p> -<p style="text-indent:15%"><span class="sc">Dante</span>. <i>Paradiso</i>, Canto -I.</p> -</div> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>VOL. XVII.</h4> -<h3>GOWRIE.</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><span style="font-size: smaller">LONDON</span>:<br> -SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.<br> -<span style="font-size: smaller">STATIONERS' HALL COURT</span>.<br> -<span style="font-size: 8pt">MDCCCXLVIII</span>.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>NOTICE.</h3> - -<p class="normal">The Author is aware that the Frontispiece of this Work is very bad; but -in justice to the Engraver, he thinks it fair to state, that in -consequence of a necessary change in the publishing arrangements, a -space of time totally insufficient was all that could be allowed for -the device of a subject, and the execution of the plate. Another -illustration, for insertion in "Gowrie," will be given in the -succeeding volume of this edition.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5>TO</h5> -<h4>HER GRACE</h4> -<h3>THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND.</h3> -<br> -<br> -<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Madam</span>,</p> - -<p class="normal">Man's mind lives too much upon credit. We borrow our thoughts and -opinions, and too often trade with the intellectual property of -others, when it would be much better for every man to cultivate his -own little field, and bring its original produce to market, if he -would but be content with what God has given him.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the pages which I here present to your Grace, I have plainly and -boldly stated my own opinion regarding one of the darkest transactions -in history; and after much and various reading upon the subject, I am -confirmed in the belief that this opinion is just, though I have -conveyed it in the form of fiction. Many, and indeed most, of our best -historians, have taken an opposite view of the case; but in putting -forth my own, I have not been moved by any ambition of originality, -and indeed can here lay claim to that quality, only in a limited -degree; for others in various ages have advanced the same opinions in -regard to the innocence of the Earl of Gowrie, and the guilt of the -king, which I have expressed in the present work. However that may be, -my own view was taken, and my judgment formed, before I was aware that -any others had entertained the same. I had only read, in short, the -accounts of the Gowrie Conspiracy which had been written by persons -who came to a different conclusion. It was from their own statements, -and more especially from that of King James himself, that I was led to -believe, at an early period, that of which I am convinced now. Nearly -four years ago, I found in the correspondence of Henry IV. of France a -letter from the King of Scotland, giving his own account of this -bloody transaction, and my note upon it at the time was to the -following effect:--"This is more than improbable. It is to suppose -that the earl, his brother, and the king, were all seized with sudden -madness; for nothing else could account for the conduct of either of -the three, if this story were true."</p> - -<p class="normal">I have since read very nearly all that has been written upon the -subject, except other works of fiction, of which I have not seen one, -though I am told there are several; and every particle of historical -evidence which I have met with has tended to impress upon my mind the -firm belief that the last Earl of Gowrie was as amiable, as -enlightened, and as innocent of all offence against the king as any -man in Scotland. His name, his race, his position, and his opinions, -rendered him obnoxious to the king; and he died as in these pages I -have attempted to show. I find, on reading the letters and memoirs of -contemporaries, that very few persons believed him guilty, and that -King James had recourse to all the resources of persecution, in order -to silence the many voices which too loudly proclaimed him innocent.</p> - -<p class="normal">It may seem strange that I introduce such topics into a dedication, -which is generally reserved for expressions of respect and esteem; but -an appeal to the understanding is, I believe, no bad testimony of -respect; and I am quite sure that your Grace will receive it as such; -for I know that in kindly permitting me to dedicate this work to your -name, you neither needed nor desired any public expression of the -respect, the esteem, and the gratitude, with which</p> -<br> - -<p style="text-indent:15%">I have the honour to be,</p> -<p style="text-indent:27%">Madam,</p> -<p style="text-indent:30%">Your Grace's</p> -<p style="text-indent:40%">Most humble servant,</p> -<p style="text-indent:50%">G. P. R. JAMES.</p> -<br> -<br> -<p style="text-indent:-5em; margin-left:5em; font-size:smaller">Willey House, near Farnham, Surrey,<br> -27th June, 1848.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>ADVERTISEMENT.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">In laying before the public in one volume a work of equal extent with -those which are usually produced in three volumes, and in placing in -the general collection of my romances an entirely new composition, I -may be expected to say something of the motives which have induced me -to follow such a course.</p> - -<p class="normal">Some years ago, when a question was agitated amongst Ministers and in -Parliament, as to whether it was expedient or not to give British -authors increased facilities for maintaining their just rights against -foreigners who reprinted their works and used every unscrupulous means -to introduce their pirated editions into various parts of the British -dominions, Government was induced to decide in the affirmative, not -upon the one-sided and partial statement of authors and publishers, -but on a general and very extensive view of the subject, as affecting -the country at large. While the question was under consideration, many -long and important discussions took place, in which I bore a principal -share; and while I endeavoured to support, to the best of my -abilities, the just claims of British authors, the then President of -the Board of Trade, the Right Honourable W. E. Gladstone, with -consummate ability and great scope of view, maintained the general -interests of the public. Although the right of the British author was -never contested, some apprehension was expressed--I believe by Sir -Robert Peel--lest the granting of increased means of protecting that -right might have a tendency generally to increase the price of books.</p> - -<p class="normal">When Mr. Gladstone informed me of this fact, I stated my own opinion -to be directly the reverse, and that by the extension and security of -the market, the price would be rather diminished than increased. I -need not here enter into all the arguments I used to show that such -must naturally be the case, but I stated, at the same time, my -readiness, upon certain acts being passed, to use every means in my -power to avert the evil which Government apprehended, by making an -effort to diminish the price of books. From various causes since that -period, the price has greatly diminished; but I do not mean to assert -that the diminution has been caused alone by the facilities that were -ultimately granted, although they have operated in that direction to a -considerable extent.</p> - -<p class="normal">For my own part, even before all the measures were taken which had -been contemplated, I fulfilled my engagement to Government by -diminishing the price of my next work by one third. The result was -unfavourable, as, indeed, I had anticipated. The increased sale by no -means compensated for the diminution of price. I was a loser to a -considerable extent, and the publisher no gainer by the experiment.</p> - -<p class="normal">I was afterwards told that the diminution was not sufficient to -produce any great effect; and I resolved to make another trial, though -anticipating but one result. Such is my motive for giving one entire -new work of fiction at about one fourth of the sum which is ordinarily -charged. My reason for placing it in this edition is, that the -collection having already some hold upon the public, and the sale -being considerable, the experiment has the better chance of success, -while the effect will be favourable rather than otherwise upon the -collection itself.</p> - -<p class="normal">I need only farther say, that I have no doubt whatsoever of the -result--namely, that the increase of sale will be in no degree -commensurate with the reduction of price; and therefore I shall never -make the experiment again.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>GOWRIE:</h3> -<h5>OR</h5> -<h4>THE KING'S PLOT.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>CHAPTER I.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">On the 15th of August, 1599, a young man was seen standing on one of -the little bridges in the town of Padua. He was plainly dressed in an -ordinary riding habit of that period, having a short black cloak over -his shoulders, a tawny suit of cloth below, and a high crowned hat -with a plume of feathers falling on one side. In most respects his -apparel indicated no higher station than that of a respectable -citizen, and indeed citizens of his age, for he could not be more than -two-and-twenty, very frequently displayed more gaudy feathers, -although the bird they covered might be of inferior race. There were, -however, one or two marks about him which seemed to point out a -superior station. Instead of a large fraise or ruff round his neck, -which was then still common, he wore a falling collar of the richest -and most delicate lace, tied in front of the throat by a silver cord -and tassel; and though the sheath of his long rapier was merely of -black leather, the hilt of the weapon, as well as that of the dagger -to his girdle, was of silver exquisitely wrought. His large buckskin -gloves, too, were edged with a silver fringe, and embroidered upon the -back. In person he was tall and finely formed, with a highly -intelligent and expressive countenance, somewhat stern and determined, -indeed, for one so young, but yet with a strange mingling of lofty -thoughtlessness and careless ease. He was perfectly alone, though on -that day the citizens of Padua were all in full holiday, the bells of -the churches ringing, and the cannon firing from the ramparts. Every -one seemed to have got a companion but himself; and all the streets in -the interior of that city of numberless arcades, were thronged with -groups celebrating the holiday, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, -while he stood alone on the little bridge, as I have said, near the -Ferara gate, which was left to comparative solitude by the populace, -who were flocking to the churches. He remained in the same spot for -more than a quarter of an hour, sometimes leaning his arms on the -parapet of the bridge, and gazing down into the shining water, or -watching the labours of a stout man, less devout than his neighbours, -who still continued his work in one of the boats, with his white -shirt and his bright blue breeches reflected in the painted mirror -below--sometimes looking up the street which led to the bridge, -amongst the arches of which, groups of men and women in gay attire -were seen, appearing and disappearing as they crossed from one side to -the other. The bright sunshine of Italy was pouring in oblique lines -through the openings of the street, and as it caught from time to time -upon the brilliant dresses of the passing inhabitants, the effect was -strange and pleasing; and a city, the narrow streets and dim arcades -of which generally rendered its aspect somewhat gloomy, was now all -life and gaiety. The young stranger did not seem to take part in the -general merriment: not that he looked sad or even grave, for when he -turned his eyes up the street, and caught sight of any of the moving -groups which it presented, a smile came upon his lip, somewhat -sarcastic it is true, as if he regarded with a certain portion of -contempt the rejoicings of the people or the occasion which called -them forth, but yet cheerful and free, as of a mind untroubled which -could afford to find amusement in the little follies of others.</p> - -<p class="normal">When he had remained in that same spot for nearly a quarter of an -hour, the loiterer was joined by another, a much more gaily habited -cavalier. The latter was about the same age, or perhaps a year or two -older, not quite so tall as his companion, though still a tall man, -darker in complexion, and powerfully though lightly made. His step was -free, his look open and sparkling; and though his features were not -strikingly handsome, yet his countenance was exceedingly pleasing, and -not the less striking from some degree of irregularity.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ever exact to time and place, Signor Johannes," said the latter, -grasping the hand of him who had been waiting; "and now, I dare say, -you have been accusing my tardiness and want of punctuality; but, upon -my life, what between folly in the morning, study at mid-day, business -in the afternoon, and emotions in the evening, I have had my hands -full; so be not angry, good my lord."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Heaven forbid," replied the other; "he that were angry with want of -punctuality in you, Hume, would quarrel with a lark for singing, or an -owl for hooting, and might spend his whole time in fretting his spirit -at the nature of his friend. Besides, you made no promise to be here. -I wrote, fixing my own hour, and taking my chance of its suiting you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But why all this mystery, and why this sober suit?" exclaimed the -other, taking hold of his cloak, with a gay laugh; "this smells -strongly of Geneva; and your brown jerkin is worthy of a true disciple -of Beza. In pity, John, do not let him affect the outward man. Be as -rigid as you will in resisting the powers of the Babylonian lady on -your heart and mind, but do not carry your religion into taffeta, or -suffer tenets to interfere with silk and satin. The religion that -kills one innocent joy, is not the religion of Him who more than once -told us to rejoice; and I cannot help thinking, that those who -prescribe particular clothing for particular ceremonies, and those who -proscribe it upon all occasions, are equally foolish and wrong."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so do I," answered his companion; "you will not find me altered -in the least in those things; but the cause of my homely suit, and the -mystery of my coming is the same, and very simple. I did not wish to -be recognised by any of our good teachers here in this learned -university, nor by any of our old companions but yourself. To show -you, however, that I am no fanatic, know that I am even now on my way -to Rome, to see the wonders of the eternal city and his holiness the -Pope, though I shall not certainly ask his blessing, from a very -strong doubt of its doing me any good."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There I agree with you," replied his friend; "though the blessing of -a good man can never do one any harm, and there might be worse men -than Clement; but what have you done with your retinue? Where are all -the servants, where the famous tutor, Dominie Rhind?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Gone on to Monselice," replied the other, "there to wait for my -coming, if they can find room in the little inn, and if not, to travel -farther, to Rovigo. But you have my messenger with you, have you not? -I bade him wait my coming."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Good sooth have I," answered the other, "and the mad knave has kept -the whole of Padua in an uproar for the last three days. What between -jeering the men, making love to the women, and playing with the -children, he has made friends and enemies enough to serve a man a -lifetime."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He is incorrigible!" said his friend, with an air of vexation. "I was -forced to send him away from Geneva, for Beza would not tolerate him, -and I loved not to see the good old man distressed. But the fellow -promised amendment, and he is so attached and faithful, that his -virtues and his vices, like a Spanish olla, are blended into a very -savoury dish, though of the most opposite ingredients. I laid strict -injunctions upon him to be discreet, and above all, never to mention -my name."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That last point of discretion he has most strictly maintained," -replied the more gaily dressed cavalier; "for even to me he has never -pronounced the forbidden word, always expressing his meaning by some -periphrasis, such as 'the noble gentleman you wot of,' 'the worshipful -writer of the letter,' 'him who shall be nameless,' and so forth, ever -eking out the sense with a raised eyebrow and thumb jerked back over -his shoulder, as if he were speaking of the devil, and owned Beelzebub -for his master. But now let us to your inn, where supper and a small -room are provided for you according to your behest, and there you -shall tell me what has brought you back to this fair Italian land, and -I will relate what has occurred to me since last we met."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My errand in Italy is soon told," said his comrade, with a smile. "I -come to buy some pictures to adorn my poor house at Perth. It were a -shame to have dwelt so long in Italy, and not to carry back something -of the Caracci's handiwork. I will see Annibale, and Ludovick too, and -Caravaggio. I have heard, too, of a young painter named Reni--Guido -Reni they call him, who is now making some noise at Bologna. One -picture said to be his I have seen, full of grace and beauty, and if -he so paint he will soon be famous in all the world--why do you -laugh?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because I judge pictures alone brought you not to Padua," replied his -companion; "for in good sooth there are few worth seeing here, except -St. Anthony preaching to the fishes."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A very unprofitable waste of good doctrine," said the other; "but let -us go--yet, we will choose the dull back streets which the students -love not, for I do not wish them to see their late Lord Rector coming -amongst them in masquerade."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, then, under the walls," answered the other; and, leading the -way, he conducted his friend through several of the low and narrow -streets which abutted upon the defences, hardly meeting any one but a -labourer and an old woman or two in miserable rags, seeking amongst -the piles of rubbish, thrown out here and there in the open spaces -between the walls and the houses, for anything that poverty could make -valuable. At length they were obliged to turn into one of the larger -streets; but ten steps therein brought them to a narrow doorway under -one of the arcades, where they entered and mounted a long dirty stair. -At the first landing was a door on the left, through which they passed -into a little ante-room, where at a table was seated a young man -dressed as a servant, but without badge or cognizance, as was usual -with the domestics of great families at that period. If one might -judge from his face, which was ugly enough to be funny, and funny -enough to be beautiful--I do not love paradoxes, but I am driven into -one--he was not a personage very much given to grave contemplations. -Nevertheless, on the present occasion he was so seriously occupied -with the piece of work he had in hand, that for an instant he did not -observe the entrance of the two gentlemen we have mentioned. That -piece of work was indeed a very important and elaborate one, at least -in his opinion--namely, the cutting out, in small blocks of soft wood, -a variety of grotesque heads, in which his inventive genius displayed -itself by producing noses such as never were seen on any human -countenance, eyes of every degree of obliquity, and chins, some -retreating, as if afraid of the portentous nasal organ which -overshadowed them, and some immeasurably protruded, as if to domineer -over the mouth that yawned above. In truth he showed no small skill in -sculpture, although his genius had taken rather an eccentric turn; and -it was evident that he enjoyed his own performance very much, for his -first salutation to his master was a loud laugh, as he contemplated -the extraordinary physiognomy he had just carved. Then, awakening to -the more sober realities of life, he started up, laying down the knife -and wood upon the table, and saying, with a low bow, "Welcome to -Padua, noble sir; better late than never; nothing's lost that is not -at the bottom of the sea. It is a long lane that has never a turning. -A man cannot be too late who has time enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Spare your proverbs, good Master Jute," replied his master, the -stranger who had been waiting on the bridge; "I find that, -notwithstanding all your promises of reformation and sobriety, you -have been setting the whole town in an uproar."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not so, indeed, my noble lord; with the best intentions I have not -had time to get through more than the French quarter. I hurried here -as fast as possible, both to do your will and my own, seeing that I -have been pent up like a brawn in a stye for the last three months; -but still I have not had time enough. As for promises, although, like -pie-crusts, they are made to be broken, and he who vows much performs -little, yet, from a silly fondness for a whole skin and clear -conscience, I never break mine; and I beseech your lordship to -recollect that I only promised to behave well by the shores of Lake -Leman."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well, we will talk more of that hereafter," replied his lord, -following the other gentleman towards the inner room. "I find you have -obeyed my injunction of not mentioning my name. See that you attend to -it still. And now go and order them to bring my supper up, for I have -ridden hard and fasted long."</p> - -<p class="normal">The man made a low bow, and obeyed, while the two gentlemen proceeded -into the neighbouring chamber, and the traveller, casting himself into -a seat, said, with a sigh, the source of which might be difficult to -discover, "So, here I am, once more in Padua."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>CHAPTER II.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The room was a little dingy room lined with black oak, carved into -panels, with some degree of taste and ornament, the house having -formerly belonged to higher personages than those who possessed it at -the time; for Padua, even then, like all persons, places, and things, -on the face of the earth, had seen its mutations; and Patavium had -undergone, since the days of Livy, a thousand different changes, which -had rendered fashionable parts of the city unfashionable, turned the -houses of nobles into the residences of boors, converted Pagan temples -into Christian churches, and, with greater propriety, had converted -amphitheatres into slaughter-houses. Amongst later alterations, the -house which had formerly been inhabited by one of the mercenary -followers of Angelo, had descended to the station of an inn, at first -well frequented and in high repute, but gradually sinking lower and -lower, till it had now become a sort of lodging-house in ordinary for -merchants who visited the town of Padua, and the poorer class of -students, on their first arrival. The chamber, however, was lofty; the -window which looked into the court, large, and opening all the way -down the centre, which was then rare; and the coolness so desirable at -that burning season was to be obtained there, which could not be found -in many a larger and finer apartment in the city. In this room, with -several flasks of fine wine before them, were seated, about half an -hour after sunset, John, Earl of Gowrie, and his friend Sir John Hume. -There were two wax tapers on the table, some plates of beautiful -fruit, perfuming the whole air, and some cakes of a sweet kind of -bread, for which Padua was then famous. The rays of the candles were -quickly lost in the dark wainscoting around, but they threw sufficient -light upon the table and its white cloth, and showed fully the -expressions of the two young men's countenances. Both were still gay, -and laugh and jest had gone on between them during the meal; but every -now and then a look of deep thoughtfulness, almost amounting to -melancholy, crossed the face of the earl, passing away again like the -shadow of a flying cloud cast momentarily on a fine landscape. They -had been speaking of many things while the servant of the earl and -some of the people of the inn had been coming and going. The period of -Lord Gowrie's sojourn at Padua as a scholar had been referred to, and -the high academic honour which had been conferred upon him somewhat -more than a year before, by his election to the office of rector, had -been commented upon by Hume, who laughingly said, "If I had puzzled my -dull brains for seven years, I never could have obtained or merited -such a distinction, John."</p> - -<p class="normal">It was one of Lord Gowrie's graver moments when his friend made this -observation, and he replied gloomily, "Those who eat the fruit early, -Hume, are left with bare boughs in the autumn. I was elected Lord -Provost of Perth before I was fourteen; I fought in a lost battle at -fifteen; and I was rector of this university before I was twenty. -Blighted hopes, or early death, we often find the fate of those who -taste the bitter stream of life so soon."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nonsense," replied his friend; "have you studied the sublime art of -astrology to so little purpose? It is but that you are born under a -fortunate star, and will go on in honour and success until the end."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Small success at the field of Down," replied the earl; "for a more -disastrous rout never befel brave men than there overtook Athol and -Montrose."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But great success to you," answered Hume, laughing; "for you escaped -where many a brave man fell, and were pardoned without inquiry, when -many were mulcted of half their goods--Still, still your fortunate -star was on the ascendant; and the devil, the king, and the popish -lords could not get the better of its influence; and now what brings -you to Padua?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"By and by," said the young earl--"we'll talk of that by and by. Tell -me, first, all that has happened to you, according to your promise."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My life, good faith, has been dull enough," replied Sir John Hume, -"till within the last week, when I have had a little occupation for my -thoughts besides dull problems and hard studies. Do you remember an -old man with a gray beard, who used to wander about towards eventide, -in a long black gown and a velvet cap? Manucci is his name, a -Florentine, who has travelled much in different lands, speaks English -like an Englishman, and French like a Frenchman, and used to look like -Titian's portrait, only more meagre and somewhat less fresh and -lusty."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie had twice nodded his head in token that he knew the person -spoken of; but Hume had still gone on describing, till at length the -young earl said, almost impatiently, "Yes, yes, I know him well. What -of him?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Poor man, he has been in sad trouble," replied his friend; "our -reputation for magic here has risen somewhat too high for our -security. We have had monitories from the holy office, warning our -learned professors against permitting forbidden studies, and enjoining -them strictly to seek out and deliver up to justice all those who -practise black and damnable arts. Arnesi only laughed, and said that -his was a black and white art, for that he dealt in pen and ink, but -that he hoped the white would save the black part of the business. A -number of the older signors, however, whose wits are rather on the -wane, and who still fancy that everything they do not understand -themselves is magic, took up the matter far more seriously, and laying -their wise heads together in small conclave, determined they would -seek out, and hand over to the tender mercies of those who roast the -body to save the soul, every poor creature to whom suspicion could -attach. Manucci had a long gray beard, a rusty black gown, but small -reverence for the learned professors, paid no fees, kept himself apart -in solitary studies, seldom spoke with anybody, and had a keen and -spirit-searching eye. Here seemed a sorcerer at once, quite ready to -their hand. Still such appearances, without proof, would not justify -violence; but they judged that the search for proof would; and as I -was passing the old man's door, near the Trevisogate, I saw the -college beadle and three or four more officers making their way in -against the resistance of the poor old woman who waits upon him, and -who was assuring them with tears that her master was dying in his -bed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Dying!" exclaimed Lord Gowrie, with a start.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, I went in with them," continued Hume, not noticing his friend's -exclamation; "and a pitiful sight I soon beheld."</p> - -<p class="normal">"In the name of Heaven, what?" demanded the Earl of Gowrie, with a -pale cheek and an eager eye; and then feeling how completely the whole -expression of his countenance must have changed, he added, "I was much -interested in that old man. I knew him well, loved him well, and was -going on a long promise to see him this very night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Hume, before he proceeded to finish his story, musing, -as if some intricate problem was placed before him. "Ha! Well, as I -was saying, I went in, following the officers--a few steps behind I -might be, and then, when we came into the little back room, I saw a -bed with a crucifix at the foot, and the old man lying on it, the -image of death. His long beard was stretched upon the decently -composed bed-clothes, hard to say which was the whitest; his left hand -was folded quietly on his breast, and his right was stretched out over -the side of the bed, with tightly pressed upon it the lips of the most -beautiful girl I ever beheld in my life--with one sole exception," he -added.</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie was evidently very uneasy. He played with the hilt of his -rapier, clasping and unclasping his hands upon the sheath; he gazed -eagerly in his friend's face, as if he would fain have interrupted -him, but yet hesitated to do so.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well," continued Hume, "the officers at first seemed a little -touched, but they are folks not easily moved, and the waters of pity -soon subside with them, when agitated for a moment by the unwonted -wind. One of them took him by the shoulder, and said, 'Come, signor, -you must get up, and deliver all your papers. We are sent to examine -everything, by the council of the university, which has strong reason -to believe you guilty of magic and sorcery.'</p> - -<p class="normal">"'My thoughts are there,' said the old man, meekly, pointing towards -heaven; but the young girl by his bedside started up, and gazed at the -officers with wild and frightened eyes. These men, now, were very -zealous Christians; but they thought it a point of piety to interrupt -a dying man's preparation to meet his Maker, and to hurry him away to -death--for nothing else could have followed--before that preparation -was complete."</p> - -<p class="normal">The Earl of Gowrie bent his head upon his hands, covering his eyes -with his fingers; but his friend could see that he shook violently, -either with anger, apprehension, or some other strong emotion. He went -on, however, saying, "I thought it best now to interfere, John, -knowing that I am somewhat a favourite with the good officers of the -university, being too dull or too light to be taken for a conjuror, -and too free with my purse for a dealer in the things of darkness. I -therefore stepped quietly forward, and representing that the old -gentleman was evidently too ill to be moved, suggested that it would -be better to make a preliminary examination of the papers, in which I -offered to assist. I had some difficulty in prevailing; but at length -it was agreed that all suspicious documents should be carried at once -before the senate, and those that were plain and straightforward left, -while one officer remained in the house, to prevent a man from -escaping who could not stir a step. The search was somewhat curious, -and certainly there were sundry writings of which I understood not one -word; but I pressed the old man's hand, and told him in English to -make his mind easy, asking for one word of explanation in regard to -the strange tongues I had found there written. 'Some are Armenian,' he -answered, 'some Syriac, and some Gaelic, which you, at least, should -understand.' Happily I did, for one of the first papers examined was -an old song of our own Highlands, describing the hunting of a stag. I -could have laughed, had the matter not been serious, to see the -puzzled faces of the learned doctors. The Armenian and Syriac they -knew at least by the characters, and afraid of showing their brief -extent of knowledge, they pronounced them all very innocent; but the -Gaelic was in the high road to the Holy Inquisition, though written in -the Latin character, when I begged to see the paper, and read aloud -and laughed, and read and laughed, and read again, with as strong a -twang of the old Erse as I could bring my mouth to utter. A dozen -voices called for an explanation of the strange sounds I was pouring -forth. On which I assured them that the fancied magic was but a poem -in one of the languages of my own land, of which I would give a -translation if they would lend an ear. You know that some such songs -in the mountain tongue are not of the most cleanly. This was one which -soon set the reverend doctors grinning, and I returned in triumph with -messages of peace to the poor man's bedside."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did he die?" demanded the earl, in a tone subdued almost to a whisper -by his eagerness.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, he is better," replied Hume; "for having saved his life in one -way, I now bestirred myself to save it in another. I sat with him -through that livelong night; I tried to cheer and comfort him, and -finding from the beautiful creature who was the companion of my watch, -that of late he had denied himself almost necessary sustenance, what -with poverty, what with study, I sent for wine to my own house, and -forced it upon him, till the flame of life rose up bright once more -above the fresh-trimmed lamp."</p> - -<p class="normal">A curious change had come over the young earl during the utterance of -the last few sentences. "Now I will warrant," he said, with a laugh, -strangely contrasting with the deep emotions he had lately displayed, -"that the inflammable heart of John Hume has taken fire at this fair -girl's bright eyes, and that they have led him every day to the small -house near the Treviso gate?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Hume gazed at him for a moment with a grave look; and then, moving his -chair a little nearer, he laid his hand upon that of Gowrie. "I have -gone every day," he said, "but not for those bright, dark eyes, for I -have not forgotten a pair, blue as the twilight sky, that dwell at -Perth; but I have gone out of pity to the old man--pity for the young -girl--and affection for John Ruthven."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl gazed at him for a moment, then started up, and cast his arms -around him, saying, "You have my secret, Hume; but how you learned it -I know not; for until this hour it has rested in my own bosom, which I -ever fancied the only sure casket for the treasure of one's own -thoughts."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Good faith, my noble lord," answered Hume, "there are other languages -than words. Looks and acts, for those who mark them, speak as plainly -as the best orator. Here, during the last year of your stay at Padua, -each night you stole away in private to visit the house of an old man, -learned, indeed, and doubtless full of mighty secrets in nature and -art, known for an astrologer, and suspected of practices with things -less full of light than the bright stars. Your devotion to knowledge -no one doubted, but such regular attendance at her shrine seemed more -than natural in a young man of twenty; and I sometimes doubted that -you were wooing a fairer and a warmer lady than cool Dame Science. -When you went away from this poor place, too, you were wondrous sad, -and with a sadness different from that with which we part from the -calm pleasures and dull tasks of youth to take part in the eager -strifes of manhood. 'Twas a passionate sadness, not a thoughtful one. -Well, when I saw her who must have been the companion of many of your -hours of study in the old man's house, I easily discovered that they -had not been cold ones; and as I knew that you proposed to return, for -a time at least, to Italy, I studied, for your sake, to show all -kindness to those whom you had loved. Nay, more, I ventured even to -seek a confirmation of my fancies; throwing out your name in -conversation, as we cast a gilded fly upon the water to see if the -shining salmon will spring up to catch it. I said that, to my belief, -it would not be long ere you returned to Italy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What did she say?--How did she look?" demanded Gowrie, eagerly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"At the first mention of your name she sighed," replied Hume, "and her -cheek turned a shade paler than before; but when I talked of your -return, the retreating blood rallied back into her face with double -force, conquering the paleness in its turn, and dying the whole with -crimson."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Gowrie, thoughtfully. "It is strange! I knew not that -it was so!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not know it! Not know what, Gowrie?" exclaimed his friend.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That there was one feeling in her heart towards me," answered the -earl, "which would make her heart's pulse beat with a faster stroke, -or vary the colour in her cheek a shade. You are mistaken, Hume, in -thinking that she was the companion of the hours I spent at old -Manucci's house. I seldom saw her; but gradually there came a passion -into my heart, which made the chance of one of those rare, short -interviews, attraction strong enough to lead me, night after night, to -where they might be had. Not that I did not struggle against growing -love, restraining myself by prudent worldly thoughts; and I would have -quitted Padua sooner, but that my station as Lord Rector held me here. -You, who know me, can well judge, I think, that while thus debating -with my love in my own heart, I would not do that sweet girl such a -wrong as by word or look to seek her love in return."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You could not hide your own, Gowrie," replied Hume; "yours is not a -nature that with a cold exterior can cover over the fiery heart -within. Your actions you may rule, and do so often with great power; -but your looks and tones refuse such rigid sway."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It may be so--it may be so," said the earl; and he leaned his head -upon his hand, and thought. "And so the old man is better?" continued -the earl, after he had remained silent for a few minutes, during which -his friend had not ceased to gaze at him without speaking.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Better, but not well," answered Hume; "what he chiefly needed was -strengthening food and wine; but he had a sore disease for which I -know no cure--old age, I mean--all other things but that we may fend -off or remedy; but that slow creeping sickness of old age may often be -hurried, but never delayed. In short, his last attack has shaken him -much. He sits up, however; and his appetite has returned. A -superstitious notion too has aided to his recovery so far, even when -at the worst. He told his grandchild that he was certain he should not -die before the morrow of the Assumption."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie laid his hand upon Sir John Hume's arm, saying, in a -marked manner, "Because he expected to see me to-night; and I must go -to him, Hume; but before I go, tell me, truly and sincerely, has your -own heart remained firm against the beauties and the graces of this -fair being with whom you have been so much?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"See what a thing is love!" said Hume; "you cannot fancy that any one -can escape the bow which has wounded you. Have I not said, Gowrie, -that I have not forgotten the deep blue eyes in Perth, and never shall -forget them? I am as constant as a fixed star."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What, little Beatrice," exclaimed the earl, "of whom you brought me -such a glowing picture two years ago? but she is still a mere child."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You think her so, because she was one when you left her," answered -Hume; "but let me tell you, Gowrie, when I saw her she was a woman, -and rich in all a woman's graces. Your mother thought that it would be -well to wait a year or two, but nothing now is wanting but your -consent. We have stood even the trial of absence, and are both still -of the same mind."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie pressed his hand, replying at once, "My consent is yours, -Hume, whenever you choose to claim it. It is strange," he continued, -with a smile, "I can but think of Beatrice as the curly-headed child, -who, seven years ago, wiped the blood and dust from my brow when I -came back from the field of Downcastle. Hark! the clock is striking -nine, I must set out."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will go with you nearly to the door," replied his friend; "and you -had better have your man to wait for you. The streets of Padua have -proved somewhat dangerous since you were here; and on the night of a -high festival, the excellent Christians of this part of the world -think it no crime to put a dagger in a friend's back, if they have -saluted the blessed virgin as they passed the church."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, call him in," replied Lord Gowrie; and having rung a small bell -that stood upon the table, they were joined immediately by the earl's -servant.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Get your beaver and your cloak, Austin Jute," said the earl; "we are -going out into the streets, and you must follow. Take broadsword and -dagger too. I know you can use them well upon occasion. Have you them -at hand?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"A good workman never wants tools, my lord," replied the man; "and as -to using them, Heaven send the opportunity, and I'll find the means. A -man that threads a needle, ought to be able to stitch; and I who have -hammered hot iron in my day, should be able to use it cold, though men -say practice makes perfect, and I have had but little in your -lordship's service. However, what is early learned is long retained; -and a hand that is well acquainted with a cudgel remembers its use as -well as the back that bears the beating."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl and his friend both laughed. "There, there," cried Sir John -Hume, "in pity's name, good Austin, content yourself with ready-made -proverbs, and do not eke them out with your own manufacture."</p> - -<p class="normal">"All as old as the King of Spain's wine, worshipful sir," replied the -man; "though all old things are not bad, a new doublet is better than -a worn cloak, and proverbs, like lenten pie, may get musty by keeping. -I shall have my pinking iron on before your worships are down the -stairs; and God send you a safe journey to the bottom, as I shall not -be there to take care of you."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>CHAPTER III.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">When the Earl of Gowrie had parted from his friend at the door of -Hume's lodging, he walked on, followed by his servant, for some four -or five hundred yards farther, till the wider and more fashionable -street deviated into a number of narrow and somewhat intricate lanes, -each, however, having its arcades on either side, with the three or -four upper stories of the houses built over them, so that two people -might have shaken hands from window to window. At the last house of -one of these lanes, where the street terminated at a canal, with a -bridge over it leading to the Treviso gate, the young nobleman -stopped, and using a great bar of iron which hung upon the door, -knocked three times aloud. He had to wait some time, however, before -the door was opened, and was just about to knock again, when an old -woman, with a lamp in her hand dangling by a long chain, appeared to -give him entrance.</p> - -<p class="normal">"How are you, Tita?" he said. "I am sorry to hear that Signor Manucci -has been so ill. Can he see me to-night?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir; he expects you," replied the woman, "and will go into -his own private study to receive you, though the signora thinks it may -hurt him."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young lord's countenance fell at her reply; for he might fancy -that the old man had determined upon receiving him alone, and to say -sooth, he had come to see another also. He followed the woman, -however, up the narrow stairs, telling his servant to wait below; and -he was well pleased to find that his guide turned at once to the -right; for he was acquainted with every step in the house, and knew -that she was conducting him first to a cool little room where Manucci -and his grand-daughter usually sat in the vehement heat of summer. He -was even more fortunate than he expected to be, for when the door -opened, the light within showed him that, for the time, the chamber -was tenanted by one person only, and that the one he most desired to -see. It is a strange passion, love, often agitating the strong in -frame and powerful in mind more than the weak and gentle. It were vain -to deny that the young lord was greatly moved as his eye fell again -upon the fair being whose society the ordinary principles of worldly -prudence had taught him to believe might be dangerous to his peace. -Nevertheless, he advanced straight towards her, holding out his hand -with eager agitated pleasure. Nor could she meet him without emotion, -too plainly visible, notwithstanding all that inherent self-command -which is one of the first qualities in a modest, well-regulated -woman's heart. The colour varied in her check. The finely chiselled -lip quivered in the vain effort to speak; and the dark bright eyes, as -if afraid of their own tale, veiled themselves beneath the long -lashes, avoiding the glance of tenderness of which she had caught a -momentary sight.</p> - -<p class="normal">The instant he had entered the room, the wise old woman left him and -closed the door; and he stood for an instant silent, with the lady's -hand in his. A moment after, he slowly raised her hand, and pressed -his lips upon it. It was in those days but an act of ordinary -courtesy, implying nothing but friendly regard or reverence; but they -each felt that there was a fire in that kiss, and both were more -agitated than at first.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Julia," said the young earl, at length--"Julia, you are much moved; -and so am I, indeed--we have been parted long----"</p> - -<p class="normal">She sank slowly down into her seat again; but she felt that she must -speak to welcome him, or let silence confess all; and she answered, "I -have had much, very much to agitate me lately. It is not wonderful -that I am a good deal moved, in seeing an old friend after a long -absence."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And is that all?" said the earl, almost sadly. "I had hoped it was -something more. May I not trust that the agitation of both has the -same source--that in absence we have learned to know our own hearts, -and to feel that our happiness depends upon each other?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hush! hush!" she said, raising her eyes to his face, with an -expression which was answer enough. "I must not hear you. I must not -reply upon such subjects--at least not now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And why not now?" demanded the earl. "Who can say when the -opportunity may present itself again? Who can say what obstacles may -intervene between us, if we do not seize the moments which fate has -given?--Say, Julia, why not now?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because I have duties to perform," she answered, "from which nothing -should estrange me. The time may come--nay," she added, sorrowfully, -"it must come, and that but too soon, when I shall have no one to -think of but myself, no one to ask or to consult with, in regard to -what I should do; but now I would not, if I could help it, take a -thought away from him who has bestowed for long years all his thoughts -upon me. I have even reproached myself, when I saw him suffering and -sinking before my eyes, for having but too often let those thoughts, -which should have been all his, wander away to other things."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And did they seek me in their wanderings?" asked Gowrie, taking her -hand again, and gazing into her eyes.</p> - -<p class="normal">She answered not, but averted her look, while the rose deepened in her -cheek; and as they thus sat, the door opened suddenly, and the old man -appeared. It made them both start; but Gowrie was strong in honesty of -heart and purpose; and advancing frankly, he took Manucci's hand in -his, saying, "I have longed much to see you, my old friend, and your -dear Julia too. We have been long parted; but my affection for neither -has decreased."</p> - -<p class="normal">Manucci was very feeble; and perhaps with agitation, perhaps with -weakness, he tottered on his feet. Lord Gowrie held him firmly by the -hand, however, drew forward a chair, and supported him till he was -seated.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have many things to speak to you about," said the old man; "many -things which may agitate me and you. But let us not talk about them -just yet. I have been very ill; and the little strength I have left, -would soon be expended if I did not economise it carefully."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have grieved much to hear of your illness," replied the earl, -standing beside his chair and gazing down upon him. "My friend, Sir -John Hume, has told me how much you have suffered, and how you have -been persecuted."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The latter is nothing," replied the old man. "Every man, not behind -his age in knowledge, and who from that point casts his view farther -forward than the rest, judging of the consequences of each fact by -experience of the past, corrected by a full acquaintance with the -present, will ever seem criminal in the eyes of the fools who -disbelieve, and of the knaves who believe and dread. Persecution was -to be expected when I held myself aloof from idlers who consumed their -time in mere amusement, and from learned busy-bodies, who wasted it in -vain and fruitless studies; but that illness was a sturdy, stern, and -less conquerable foe. He has battered down the outworks, and the -shattered fortress must soon surrender."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yet you look better than I expected," replied the earl. "Indeed, at -your age, which you have often told me is great, few men look better."</p> - -<p class="normal">He might, indeed, well say so, for the old man's eye, as he sat there, -was clear and bright; and a hue, very like that of returning health, -was in his cheek. He was a tall man, and had once, apparently, been a -very powerful one. His frame, indeed, was a little bowed. His beard -and hair were snowy white; and the skin was wrinkled, except upon the -high forehead and the bald crown of the head. All the signs of age, -indeed, were there, except that the teeth were fine and apparently -undecayed, and that the hand--which, with the exception, perhaps, of -the ear, shows the advance of age more distinctly than any other part -of the frame--looked not so knotted and bony as it often appears at a -late period of life.</p> - -<p class="normal">The conversation easily and gradually deviated into topics of a calm -and tranquil kind. The young earl spoke of many things which had -occurred to him since he left Padua. They might afford little matter -of amusement to the reader of the present day; but they were -interesting to the ears which heard him. The old man, too, had his -tale of the changes which had taken place in Padua; but he more -frequently referred to the results which had followed his own -researches in matters of science. Deeply read, for that period, in -natural philosophy--mingled as it was at the time, before the immortal -Bacon had established a juster system of investigation, with the -dreams of alchymy and judicial astrology--he discussed many subjects -familiar to the ears of Lord Gowrie, whose whole family had a strong -and unusual taste for inquiry into the secrets of nature. The old man -seemed to be revived by his young friend's presence; and he soon -recovered that cheerful gaiety which had greatly distinguished him in -earlier years. Still, however, the earl remarked, that from time to -time his eyelid would drop and his voice become low, as if with -fatigue, and at length he said, in a kindly tone, "You are tired, my -good old friend. It will be better for me to bid you good night now, -and come to talk of other matters with you to-morrow."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no!" cried Manucci; "it must be to-night, or never. I have waited -for you, Earl Gowrie, for I told you if you would return on this -night, I would read you the scheme of your nativity--point out to you, -as clearly as man's voice can show, the course by which you may avoid -the perils and secure the advantages of life, and tell you what must -absolutely happen--what is still dependent upon courage and conduct. -For this I have studied, and pondered, and tried the indications of -the stars again and again; but the hour is not yet come, and you must -wait till the clock strikes twelve. Then I will speak; for to-morrow, -perchance, I shall not have strength to do so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, I trust your strength will every day increase," replied the -earl; but the old man shook his head, and cast a grave and melancholy -glance upon the beautiful girl who sat near him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The things of this life are waning away," he said; "and in truth, it -is time that I should depart. Eighty years are a heavy load; and the -burden is still increasing. There were men, as you have heard, who -would fain have eased me of it; but as it contained a few things that -are valuable, I was unwilling at that moment to part with it, like all -other men, clinging to my treasure though it bent down the shoulders -that bore it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Methinks a life of study and the calm enjoyment of tranquil thought -may well lighten the burden of years," replied the earl; "and but for -the apprehension and annoyance caused by these foolish men, your -existence, my good friend, has been tranquil and peaceable enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">The old man smiled sadly. "We always fail," he said, "when we judge of -the fate of others. Life is double, Gowrie, an internal and an -external life; the latter often open to the eyes of all, the former -only seen by the eye of God. Nor is it alone those material things -which we conceal from the eyes of others, which often make the -apparently splendid lot in reality a dark one, or that which seems sad -or solitary, cheerful and light within. Our characters, our spirits -operate upon all that fate or accident subjects to them. We transform -the events of life for our own uses, be those uses bitter or sweet; -and as a piece of gold loses its form and its solidity when dropped -into a certain acid, so the hard things of life are resolved by the -operations of our own minds into things the least resembling -themselves. True, a life of study and of thought may seem to most men -a calm and tranquil state of existence. Such pursuits gently excite, -and exercise softly and peacefully, the highest faculties of the -intellectual soul; but age brings with it indifference even to these -enjoyments--nay, it does more, it teaches us the vanity and emptiness -of all man's knowledge. We reach the bounds and barriers which God has -placed across our path in every branch of science, and we find, with -bitter disappointment, at life's extreme close, that when we know all, -we know nothing. This I have learned, my young friend, and it is all -that I have learned in eighty years, that the only knowledge really -worth pursuing is the knowledge of God in his word and his works--the -only practical application of that high science, to do good to all -God's creatures."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Still study is not wasted," said the earl, "when it leads to such an -elevated result, when it teaches us in the creature to see the -Creator, and in the events of existence to behold his will, and surely -the fruit of such conclusions must be peaceful."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tend to peace they must," replied the old man; "for they must quiet -strong passions, moderate vehement desires, teach us to bear -afflictions with fortitude, and to temper our anxieties with hope; but -yet, noble lord, neither philosophy nor religion can alter the -constitution of our minds. We may know that God is good and merciful. -We may know that in the end all must be well; but we still see that on -this earth there is a world of sorrow, and we may shrink under the -anguish ourselves, or tremble at seeing it approach those we love."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fear not for me," said the beautiful girl who was seated beside him, -seeing his eyes turned with a sad look towards her; "oh, let not one -anxiety on my account add to the burden of years, and make your last -days cheerless. Though those may deny me who are bound to protect me, -thank God, I can render myself independent of them. The education you -have given, the arts you have taught, would always enable me with my -own hands to win my own bread----" and then she added, in a low tone, -catching a look almost reproachful on the earl's face, "should it be -needful."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Which it shall never be," replied the earl at once, "so long as I -have a hand and heart to offer, and means----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hush! hush!" exclaimed the old man, turning his eyes almost sternly -from the one to the other; "no such rash words. You know not what you -speak of. At all events wait till you know what fate maybe before you; -and then, with the deliberate forethought of a man, act as becomes a -man, and not as a rash boy."</p> - -<p class="normal">The effect of his words upon Julia were not such as might have been -expected, perhaps; for whether the severer part had found an antidote -in what her lover had said before, or whether, from some secret source -in her own heart, the waters of hope swelled forth anew, she seemed -from that moment to cast away the deeper tone of thought and feeling -which had characterized her conversation and demeanour during the -evening, and to resume the light-hearted spirit of youth which had -spread such a charm around her in the first years of her acquaintance -with Lord Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay," she said, laying her hand upon the old man's arm, "all other -things apart, is it not true that I can win my own bread by my own -hands? Can I not paint well enough to gain the few scudi that are -needful for my little sustenance? Can I not compose music which brings -tears at least into your eyes? Can I not write as well as many a one -who lives by his pen? Can I not illuminate missals, or embroider, or -work baskets, if needs must be? Would I not long ago have done all -this for your support as well as mine, if you would but have let me?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"You would indeed," he answered, "but that I could not have. Not that -I hold it degradation in any one, my child, by their own industry to -remedy the niggardliness of fortune; but I could not bear to see you -labour for me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, man's pride!" exclaimed Julia; "what an obstacle it is to peace -and happiness. Here," she continued, turning to Lord Gowrie, with a -sparkling look--"here has he, for many a year, supported, instructed, -educated me; and now he will not let me repay a small portion of the -debt I owe him by labouring for him now, although he knows right well -that to do so would be my greatest joy, that the object would be -happiness and the means amusement. But you look tired," she said, -gazing affectionately in the old man's face; "let me go and bring you -some refreshment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Call Tita," replied the old man; "she will bring it; and now let us -speak of ordinary things."</p> - -<p class="normal">A small tray was soon brought in, with some fruits, and bread, and -wine; and the conversation was renewed in a gayer spirit, Julia -striving by her light and happy tone to cheer the old man, and banish -the gloom which seemed to hang about him. The time thus passed -rapidly; and some few minutes before midnight the old man rose, saying -to the earl, "I go before for a moment. Follow me speedily. She will -show you the way, but remember, in the meantime, no rash words."</p> - -<p class="normal">When he was gone, the earl and Julia stood for a moment gazing at each -other; and then Gowrie took her hand, saying, "Notwithstanding his -prohibition, thus far, at least, I must speak----"</p> - -<p class="normal">But she laid her left hand on his shoulder, lifting her bright eyes -swimming in tears to his, and interrupted him. "Not now, Gowrie," she -said; "I am no dissembler, nor are you. My heart is open to you, and -yours to me. If we were to speak for years we could say no more, and -anything like promises are vain at this moment, for nothing shall ever -part me from him but death. Now come. His lamp is lighted by this -time; and I fear to trust myself with you here alone, not from doubt -of you, but of my own firmness; and a few more words would make me -weep. I see the dark day coming, Gowrie; and, as I said before, I -would not, for the joy of heaven, rob him of one thought or care, so -long as his life shall last."</p> - -<p class="normal">As she spoke she led the way to the door without withdrawing her hand -from her lover; and thus, hand in hand, they went along the corridor -which led to the old man's study. There Julia left him, and the earl -went in.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER IV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The room which the Earl of Gowrie entered was a small one of an -octagonal shape, having tall lancet windows on every side but one. It -had probably, at some period long past, been the interior of one of -those small projecting turrets which we still occasionally see -ornamenting the angles of the ancient castellated houses of the -Italian nobility. The bridge leading towards the Treviso gate, and the -small canal were underneath; the city walls rose up black beyond; but -the turret was high above, and through the windows, on every side but -that next to the city, were seen twinkling the bright and -multitudinous stars of heaven. In the centre of the room was a large -oaken table bearing a lamp, the flame of which was peculiarly bright -and perfectly white in colour, and over the rest of the table were -cast in strange confusion a number of curious objects. There were -books--some closed, but some open, and displaying characters with -which the young earl was perfectly unacquainted. One page was covered -all over with cyphers alternately of red and blue; and one was traced -with many mathematical figures, which, although the earl was well -versed in that science, seemed to him strange and new. Another -manuscript lay near, which he saw at once was written in Hebrew, but -there were others in which the lines ran from corner to corner of the -page, with such a multitude of strokes and flourishes, that the -letters themselves could hardly be distinguished. Scientific -instruments were there too, tossed about amongst the papers, with the -uses of many of which the young lord was unacquainted. There were -triangular glasses filled with sand, and glass globes, connected -together by a tube of the same substance, half filled with mercury. -Squares and triangles of brass covered over with curious signs were -there likewise; and round about the room, beneath shelves loaded with -ponderous volumes, were several globes, and instruments of a rude -construction for observing the stars. In one corner stood a small -furnace, with crucibles and retorts, and various other implements of -chemical or alchemical science; and on a small pedestal of black -marble between two of the windows was raised a crucifix of ebony and -ivory, supported by two heads of cherubim, exquisitely sculptured in -white marble, the one looking up towards the cross with a bright -smile, the other with the eyes bent down, as if weeping, and the whole -expression sad. At the foot of the crucifix lay a human skull.</p> - -<p class="normal">At the moment the earl entered, the old man, Manucci, was seated on -the side of the table opposite to the door, with a reading desk -bearing up a large vellum-covered book before him, and a paper covered -with a strange-looking diagram on the table. He had a pen in one hand, -and a pair of compasses in the other; and without noticing, even by a -look, the young earl's entrance, he turned his eyes from time to time -to the book and then to the paper again, and once or twice inscribed a -figure of a curious form at the side of the diagram. Twice he paused -and listened, as if in expectation of some sound, and then laying down -the pen, he leaned his head upon his hand, and remained in silent -meditation.</p> - -<p class="normal">At length the large bell of the Franciscan church of St. Antony struck -the hour of midnight, and all the other clocks in the city proclaimed -that a day was ending and beginning.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now," said Manucci, addressing the earl, "come hither, and sit beside -me. Here is the scheme of your nativity, drawn out carefully according -to the dates that you have given me. Of the past I will not speak; -for, as you have often told me the events which have occurred to you -at various periods of your life, perhaps in drawing deductions from -the aspect of the stars, my judgment might be somewhat guided by the -knowledge I already possessed. It is sufficient, however, that to any -one who is acquainted, even superficially, with this science, it would -plainly appear, that the aspect of the stars in the month of October, -1593, menaced you with great danger, and that in '94, towards the end -of the year, you were clearly destined to quit your native land. Of -the future, however, I must speak more strongly; for times of great -trial to you are coming. Look at these menacing aspects, and judge for -yourself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know so little of the science," replied the earl, "that I cannot -pretend to form a just opinion; but it seems to me, from the little I -do know, that here," and he laid his finger on a part of the diagram, -"is the promise of much happiness, honour, and peace, and love."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay," said Manucci, "but look farther. Here is honour, and peace, and -love, but hardly has the sun of next year touched his extreme point -north, when see what menacing aspects appear. Almost every planet is -in opposition in your house. Do you not see?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do, indeed," answered the earl; "but yet it is nearly -unintelligible to me. I beseech you read it, according to your skill."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is dark and yet clear," said the old man. "This, however, I can -tell with certainty, that the greatest point of peril in your whole -life, lies between the end of June next year and the anniversary of -this day. The danger shall come upon you in the midst of peace and -tranquillity, when all things seem to promise fair. If you escape that -period, the rest of existence shall be bright and happy, your life -shall be long and prosperous, and fortune shall smile upon you to the -end; but there is great peril there."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But how shall I avoid it?" asked the earl. "Can you give me no -indication for my guidance? Can you not tell me what is the nature of -the peril, from whom or whence it comes?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Manucci mused. "It is not war," he said, "for Mars is low down. I -should say that policy had to do with it, that the danger is more of -conspiracy than of war."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young earl smiled; but Manucci went on, in the same sort of musing -way. "Love, too," he said, "has a share in the evil, though indirect; -but conspiracy assuredly, from the menacing aspect of Saturn. Avoid, I -beseech you, avoid all meddling with the politics of your native land; -scrupulously and carefully eschew treason, or anything that may be so -construed; listen not even to the words of conspirators, take no part -in their counsels, drive them forth from your presence if they seek to -tempt you, and so I trust you may escape the peril; but if not, you -will certainly fall, for the anger of a king evidently threatens you; -and the cause of danger is conspiracy, goaded on by love."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Safely and surely can I promise," answered the earl, "for I have long -made up my mind to avoid all plots, and to take no share of any kind -in aught but the ordinary business of the day. My family have suffered -too much already from their dealings with that foul fiend, Policy, -which ever proves the ruin of those who give themselves up to her, who -soothes them with hopes but to deceive them, and raises them up but to -dash them down. Neither have I ever seen or heard of one benefit -procured for the country by the blood of all the patriots who have -fallen in defending their fellow citizens' rights, still less by that -of those who have suffered base personal ambition to lead them into -schemes of treason and disloyalty under the pretence of redressing -grievances. There comes a pitch of tyranny sometimes, it is true, when -it is necessary to dare all and to risk all for security, liberty, and -repose; but it very, very seldom happens, in the ordinary course of -events, that anything can be gained by revolt, which can compensate -even for a few days of turbulence, anarchy, or civil war. Nothing of -the kind exists at present, or is likely to exist, to justify anything -like conspiracy or rebellion. Make your mind easy then, as far as I am -concerned; for I can safely promise to avoid everything which can -afford even a reasonable cause of suspicion."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thank God that it is so," answered Manucci, solemnly; "but ever keep -in mind what I have said. Think of it every day. Remember it on every -occasion; for I have told you that the peril will come suddenly, and -probably, therefore, the temptation also. If you attend to my warning, -and thus escape the danger, you will have to thank me for long years -afterwards. Therefore now sit down here in my seat, and copy -accurately that which is there written. Keep it constantly about you, -refer to it often, and thus will you ever be upon your guard."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If your warning prove effectual," replied Lord Gowrie, "I shall owe -you, my dear friend, much indeed; and I only wish you would tell me -how I can repay the service."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps I may--perhaps I may," said the old man; "but copy that -quickly, then we will talk more."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie sat down to copy the paper; but it occupied him during a -longer time than he had imagined, and in the meantime, a little scene -had taken place in the kitchen of the house, which ultimately took a -direction towards the same subjects which closed his conference with -Manucci.</p> - -<p class="normal">Left alone in the dark, worthy Austin Jute waited with exemplary -patience till the old woman who had opened the door, returned with a -lamp, and invited him to come and take some supper with her in the -kitchen.</p> - -<p class="normal">"One cannot have too much of a good thing," said the Englishman, for -such he was, in his own tongue; "but then again, another proverb says, -'Enough is as good as a feast;' and to speak the truth, I have supped; -but 'a full bag is better than an empty sack;' and, for that matter, -no one knows when he has had enough, and therefore I cannot be -supposed to be a judge in a case of conscience."</p> - -<p class="normal">This reasoning was addressed to himself rather than to the old lady -who stood by his side, listening to all he had to say with an air of -the most perfect unconsciousness, waiting for the time when it should -be his pleasure to explain himself in Italian.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, ma'am, I will come," he replied, in the latter language, which, -by the way, he spoke remarkably well. "My stomach says it would not -object to any reasonable quantity of good food, and still less to a -cup or two of good wine. I will follow you, and if----"</p> - -<p class="normal">But the servant, accustomed to see many strange people, and to hear -many foreign languages, seemed to comprehend his meaning as much by -his looks as his words, and beckoning him to come on before he had -ended his sentence, she led the way towards her refectory. The fare -she spread before him was not very abundant nor very rich, but it was -refreshing, for fruit was ever cheap at Padua, and of such consisted -the principal part of their meal. Austin Jute was a man to make -himself easily at home wherever he came, and though, to say truth, he -might have been well pleased if his companion had been younger and -prettier, nevertheless he was soon in full talk with the old woman; -and when a little bell rang above for refreshments there, he helped -her to arrange the dishes and place the glasses with their long -stalks, as willingly and cheerily as if she had been sixteen.</p> - -<p class="normal">"There now, Tita," he said, as she lifted the tray, "put the other -side with the bottles next to you. Always, in life and on a tray, -place the load where it is easiest borne. Two hands are enough when we -know how to use them, but four are better when work is plenty: so I'll -go and open the doors for you, for there seem many in your house."</p> - -<p class="normal">As may well be supposed, Master Austin was now in high favour with the -good dame; for age receives as a boon what youth exacts as a tribute; -and when she rejoined him after carrying in the supper, she said, in a -low voice, "Well, your lord is certainly one of the handsomest, -noblest-looking cavaliers I ever saw; and so frank and friendly in his -way. He always speaks to me as if I were an old friend, and not a poor -servant."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Like master, like man, my dear," replied Austin Jute; "birds of a -feather flock together. Like sticks to like. That is the reason my -master and I are so fond of each other; but I hope there is somebody -else fond of him too, for I saw, as you came out, such a beautiful -pair of eyes outshining the lamp, that I now understand very well why -my lord came back to Padua, and why he used to come hither almost -every night when he was here before, with that dull-looking fellow, -Martini, after him, like an ill-conditioned cur running at the heels -of a fine horse."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I never liked that man," said the old woman, seating herself on her -stool in the kitchen. "I am glad your lord has not brought him -to-night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He could not bring him if he had wished it," replied Austin; "he -would have tumbled to pieces by the way. He was hanged two months ago -at Geneva, for robbing a gentleman who was in the same inn with us. My -master would never believe he was a rogue till he saw him hanging, -though, when he fell out of the ferry-boat into the Po, and floated -like a bad egg, I told the noble earl, that he who is born to be -hanged will never be drowned. They hanged him at last, however, and -made the proverb good."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I dare say they were quite right," said the old woman, in a -moralizing mood; "though people who are set to do justice, often do -great injustice. Do you know, they came and wanted to drag my good old -master away, who is as honest a man and as good a Christian as any in -Padua; and they would have done it, too, and most likely put him to -the rack, if it had not been for the courage and kindness of one of -your countrymen, a student here, called Hume, and the wit and -lightness of the Signora Julia."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes, I heard of all that Signor Hume did," replied Jute, "for he told -my master while I was sitting in the ante-room, with nothing but a -thin door between; for you know, Tita, though everything is made for -one purpose, most of them will serve two. But what did the young lady -do?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"The moment she heard the noise," replied the old woman, "she ran and -shut the door across the passage which leads to the study. So they -found nothing but some scraps of old papers that were in the room -where my poor master was ill in bed; for that door shuts so close that -no one can tell it from the wainscot, and having no keyhole, but a -spring lock, they thought the passage ended there. If they had got -into the study there would have been fine to do, for there are all -manner of strange things there, which are as innocent and as holy as -the <i>bambino</i>, I will vow; but nobody understands them but my master, -and everything people don't understand they think wicked."</p> - -<p class="normal">This sage and just observation did not lead Austin Jute from the track -he was following; for, to say sooth, curiosity was one of his -failings, and the sight of so beautiful a face as he had seen in the -room above, had stimulated that very ticklish quality till he could -not resist it. "Ah, she is a charming creature, I am sure," he said; -"it is true, all is not gold that glitters; and handsome is who -handsome does. The devil will take an angel's form at times. The frock -does not make the monk; but still she looked so sweet and sad, I am -sure she is very amiable. Many a one, Donna Tita, looks gay and -cheerful, and many a one looks pleasant and merry, and is but a sour -devil after all; but it is a good heart that looks sad for other -people's sorrows. Besides, my master would not be so fond of her if -she were not an angel. But who is she? Is she the old signor's -daughter?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"And is your master so fond of her, then?" said the old woman, without -answering his question. "Are you sure he has never been straying after -other women, all this long time while he has been away?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not once, upon my word," replied Austin, with a solemn air, laying -his hand upon his left breast. "Lord bless you, since he knew the -signora, he has become as discreet as a bell-wether. Why, he sent me -out of Genoa for six weeks, just for pinching the cheek of Ninette -Bar, the daughter of the innkeeper, and putting my lips too near those -of Rosalie, the smith's niece. It is true that I had to break the head -of Jerome, and whack Rosalie's lover in self-defence; for it came to -crabstick. But as for my lord, he passed all his time at the house of -an old gentleman called Beza, where fewer women got in than get into a -monkery--though he used to have as gay a heart as the gayest once on a -time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then why did he go away, and stay away so long, if he is so fond of -her?" asked the old lady, who had her own share of curiosity as well -as Austin Jute.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay! gads my life! you must ask that of the earl himself," replied -the man, "for I am not his father confessor. Perhaps the lady was -cold, for you women will have your whimsies. Dear creatures, you would -not be half so charming without."</p> - -<p class="normal">The compliment oblique is almost always sure to go deeper than the -direct; and good Tita, though she had long lost any external claims to -the title of a charming creature, included herself comfortably in the -general category, and felt her heart open towards her companion. "No, -no," she answered, "she is not cold--to him, at least; and how should -she be, when she scarcely ever saw a young man before? He is not so -bad looking either, and a kind heart too; and as for whimsies, dear -child, she has none, and never had. She lay in my arms when she was -two years old, and that is sixteen years since."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my life, the old gentleman must have taken to matrimony late in -life, to have a daughter of eighteen, when he is eighty," said Austin -Jute, laughing.</p> - -<p class="normal">The shot took effect.</p> - -<p class="normal">"His daughter, you foolish knave!" cried the old lady, "she is not his -daughter!--His daughter's daughter, if you will."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, there would be no great harm in it, if she were his daughter," -answered Jute; "so you need not look so angry, my dear; many a man -marries at sixty for the consolation of life, or at least of the -little bit of life that remains. Better late than never, men say. I -would rather come in at the end of the dinner than see no dinner at -all. It is never too dark to see one's way, if one has but a lantern; -and if we have gone on wrong from the beginning, why should we not try -to get right at the end?--And so the young lady's name is not Manucci, -after all?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Her mother's was," answered Tita. "Poor thing, I remember her well. -When she gave the child into my hands," she said, "Take care of her, -Tita, for she will soon have no mother to do so, and no father has she -ever known."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, ho!" said Austin Jute, with a peculiar expression of countenance; -but the old woman's black eyes flashed fire. "Out, knave!" she said, -without allowing him to finish the sentence; "would you slander a -saint in heaven?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The next moment, however, her face resumed its ordinary expression, -and she said, "I spoke foolishly. I should have told you, the babe's -father died on the day that she was born. The mother never held her -head up after; and she kept her word with me too truly; for scarcely -four months were gone by, ere we laid her in Campo Santo."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Poor thing!" said Austin Jute, in so natural a tone of pity, that all -remains of anger were banished from Tita's heart. "How did the lady's -husband die? Was it in battle or of disease?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"By the axe, young man--by the axe," replied Tita, sharply; "a -plaything with which people in your country sport even more than we do -here in Italy--at least I have heard so; for I know nothing of any -other land but my own; but I have heard the Signor say that there has -been sufficient innocent blood shed upon the scaffold in England and -Scotland to bring down a curse upon the country."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my life, he said true," replied Austin Jute; "for I have seen a -few heads roll in my own day, and have always thought it a pity that -people cannot find some other means of putting those out of the way -who stand in their light, but by cutting them on the back of the neck. -Were men's heads no better than turnips, we could not treat them more -carelessly than we do in our little island. Poor child, her -misfortunes came early; and I hope and trust that she got over them -all at once. People must eat black bread, they say, at one time of -their life; and it is better to swallow it before we have tasted any -other, than to eat the white bread first, and then have the other -after."</p> - -<p class="normal">"God send that it be so with her," said the old woman, "for a dearer, -sweeter girl never lived."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And, after all, what is her name?" said Austin Jute, in that quiet -sort of easy tone which so often leads on confidence; but good old -Tita answered quietly, with a shrewd glance of the eye, "Julia, to be -sure--the Lady Julia. That has been enough for me all my life; and it -should be enough for you too, I think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Enough is as good as a feast," answered Austin Jute; but as he saw he -could gain no more information he dropped the subject, and began to -wonder at the length of his lord's visit.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER V.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">"It is done," said the earl, "and, I think, accurately."</p> - -<p class="normal">The old man bent over the paper, and examined every line. "Saturn is -wanting in the third house," he replied; "and you have left out the -sextile there."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie corrected the error, then folded the paper carefully, and -put it in his bosom. When he had done so, he turned his eyes to -Manucci's face, and saw that the old man was very pale, while a -dropping heaviness of the eyelid and a quivering of the lip seemed to -the young lord to indicate great weariness.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I wish much to speak to you, my good old friend," he said, "upon -matters of great moment; but I see that you are weary, and I must not -begin now, for our conversation might be long."</p> - -<p class="normal">"We must begin now and end now, Gowrie," said the old man, looking at -him gravely; "for who shall say what a day will bring forth? I have -learned this in eighty years, if nothing else, that the present only -is ours, the past is gone beyond our recall, the future is in the hand -of God. Then let no man think that he can command to-morrow, for -health or sickness, strength or weakness, fortune or adversity, are -all as unstable as the wind, changing how and why we know not. I have -much to say to you too, and on the same subject, I believe. You would -speak of Julia, is it not so?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is," answered Lord Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And you love her. I have seen it before this night. I have caught -your eyes watching her anxiously, as if you loved, yet hesitated; as -if the thoughts of the world's opinion, and friends' advice, and -courtly favour, and ambitious dreams perchance, came like dull vapours -from the earth, clouding the star of love. You went away; and I let -you go, without one word to stay you; for no man can be worthy of her, -so long as one such doubt remains in his bosom. Are they all gone -now?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"All that I have ever entertained," replied Lord Gowrie, in a tone of -some mortification; "but you have done me some wrong, my good friend, -in your own fancies. Very few of such considerations as those you -imagined have had influence with me. I loved, but I saw no surety of -being loved in return. I knew not how strong my love was till I went -away; and I judged that it was but right to her to make myself -sure--before I strove to win her affection--that my own was durable -and true. I had often heard of boyish passion soon forgot, of love -that waxes and wanes in a few short months, and if I have learned no -other point of philosophy, I have learned to doubt the human heart -till it is tried. As for worldly considerations, you do me wrong. No -thoughts of court favour, of ambition, of avarice, ever crossed my -mind. I am wealthy enough, powerful enough, high enough in station to -set such things at nought: nor did the world's opinion influence me; -but I thought it might be wiser and better too, if, ere I acted -decidedly in any way, I opened my heart to my own dear mother, one of -royal race, but who has withal a royal heart, and knows that the true -wealth is the wealth of the mind, the highest nobility that of the -spirit. Such were the only worldly feelings I bore with me when I went -away; but I will not deny that long before that, when I found passion -rising in my heart towards her, I did struggle against my growing -love, though I struggled in vain. I am candid with you, my old -friend--I tell you all; but now that I have the hope of being loved in -return, every other consideration is cast away."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Every other?" asked the old man, gazing at him thoughtfully.</p> - -<p class="normal">"All, all!" replied the earl. "This is no time to ponder or to pause, -no time to seek either consent or counsel. You have been very ill, -nearly at the gates of death, were threatened with persecution, might -have been torn from her in a moment, and she left desolate, -friendless, defenceless. What should I have thought of myself--how -should I have felt, if, when I returned, I had found you dead or in -prison, and this dear girl cast upon the world? This must never be -again, my old friend--if she will give me her heart, share my station -and my fortune, and trust to this arm for her defence."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Spoken nobly, and like yourself," replied the old man. "That she -loves you, I doubt not; for, though unconsciously, perhaps, yet you -did seek her love. That you love her well and truly, I am very sure; -otherwise you would not be here to-night, Gowrie, for you came not -alone to learn your fate from me. But yet I must think both for you -and for her; and I will place the greatest trust in you that ever was -placed in man, because I know you to be full of honour, and that she -is firm in honesty and purity of heart. Yet I will exact some promises -from you both--promises which, solemnly given, you will not dare to -break."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I never yet broke one knowingly," replied Lord Gowrie; "and I never -will. Where her fate is concerned, believe me, my good friend, a -promise given would be but the more sacred."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And you are then resolved to marry her?" said Manucci.</p> - -<p class="normal">"If she can give me her whole heart," replied the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Do you ask no question as to her birth, her station, her family?" -said the old man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"None," replied the earl. "Love, they say, my good friend, is blind; -but mine has not been so. Before my feelings towards her deserved that -name, I had many opportunities of observing; and my eyes were then, at -least, open. Small traits, which might have escaped many, told me -great secrets of her heart and character. Her love and her devotion to -yourself, seeming to merge all feelings in her duty towards you; her -prompt obedience to your lightest wish, flying before command, and -seeming to divine your unspoken thoughts; her tenderness towards all, -even towards the wicked and the cruel, censure losing itself in pity -for those who are not happy enough to be good; that true modesty which -is without vain affectation, and, ignorant of evil, places no watchful -guard against false appearances. All these, and many more things of -the kind, I marked, and often thought, these are the qualities which -will only have greater scope and shed brighter lustre in a wife; and -when to these was added, each day, the perception of some new grace of -person or of mind, was it possible not to love, Manucci?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have, indeed, watched closely, and judged well," replied the old -man; "and, with one who can so justly estimate, I have no fear of my -dear child's happiness. Now listen; and, though weary, I will tell you -sufficient to show you that, even according to the world's usual -judgment, you have not chosen so far amiss. By the side both of father -and of mother, she is your equal in rank. Though an exile from my -native city, I am of a race which can count its generations back -almost to the days of ancient Rome. That she is the child of my only -daughter you know, for you have often heard me say so; and, by the -father's side, she is descended from a race, if not royal, as you have -said of your mother, often more powerful than the kings they served. -They, too, are of your own land; and their blood has mingled with that -of your own ancestors. Your family and hers have fought, and plotted, -and achieved, and sat together on many a field, in many a cabinet, at -many a council board. Her father, indeed, she never knew, for he died -by the hand of the executioner on the day when she was born; his lands -were confiscated and given to another; and I fled from Scotland with -her mother and herself, trusting that, at some future time, and by a -more wise and just sovereign, that portion which was secretly settled -on my poor child, as her dowry, and which no confiscation could touch -by law, might be restored to its true owner. These papers, which I -will give to you, will tell the rest and prove the whole; and now -listen to me, Lord Gowrie--you must soon return to your own land----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not to leave her here," replied the earl, interrupting him; "that I -cannot do, my friend."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Peace, peace," said the old man; "you must hear before you can -understand. She shall go with you--but not as your wife, impatient -boy--under the charge of your honour, and under your solemn promise to -me, not even to seek to wed her till one of two things has come to -pass. You shall endeavour, to the utmost of your power, to restore to -her the estates which were reft from her and from her mother by the -hand of oppression. The papers I am about to give you will prove her -title, and all that she demands is justice. If you succeed, then in -God's name, if you so will, make her your wife; but if not, you shall -wait patiently till after the last day of September in the next year. -Then the danger will be over."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what will become of you, my good friend?" demanded the earl. "I -should never desire Julia to make such a sacrifice as that: nor would -she, I am sure, accede, even if I were to demand it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Before that time," replied the old man, "my head will rest upon an -earthy pillow. The blood is freezing in these wintry veins, and it -will soon cease to flow. You said you were going farther on--to Rome, -to Bologna, to Florence. Go on; and by the time you return, she may -need protection and support. I know that I shall die within these two -months; and although the precise period I know not, yet depend upon -it, you will be still in Italy when that event happens. Then take her -away at once from scenes which must have their bitterness, place her -in honourable ward with your mother, who, if I know her right--and I -remember her well--will be zealous in the cause of the orphan daughter -of her husband's friend; and when her rights are established, or the -day of danger for yourself is passed, then be to her as fond and true -a husband as your noble father was to Dorothea Stuart. Will you -promise me all I demand?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will," answered the earl. "I do most solemnly; but as yet, my good -friend--" and a slight shade of doubt came upon his face, "I am not -sure that she herself will consent. I think--I trust she will; but -there is no promise between us, no assurance upon her part, that she -can love me as I love her. I must see her, I must ask her, before my -heart is fully at ease. I will come to-morrow, for doubtless she has -retired to rest ere now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"See her at once," said the old man, with a smile. "Her answer will -soon be given, or I know her not. Nor will she seek her pillow while I -am waking. See her now. It were better, I think, that you proceeded on -your journey to-morrow, so that when the hour comes, you may be ready -to act at once."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My journey can be postponed, or given up altogether," replied the -earl. "It would be one full of care and anxiety, if I thought that she -might be left here suddenly, without friends or support. I speak -plainly, because, my noble friend, I know that you fear not death, and -are prepared for its coming. Were I to follow out the plan I had -proposed, she might be left here for weeks without comfort or -assistance."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," answered Manucci, "I will not have it said, that your love -for this dear child made you linger on here when you had other objects -before you. As to her fate, fear not for that. I see what you dread; -but there you are misled. I am very poor, it is true; but I have made -myself poorer than I am, in order that she may be richer when the -moment comes. In that cabinet are two thousand golden ducats, saved -from my small means by the utmost parsimony. That will be sufficient, -and more than sufficient, till she is under the protection of your -mother. She must not go back to her native land altogether as a -beggar; and she must hire one or more maidens to attend upon her by -the way. Neither must she, my good lord, be dependent upon you; for -that might give occasion for busy tongues to bruit about rash -suspicions. Let her pay her own servants; let her defray her own -expenses; there will be still enough and to spare. Now go and speak -with her. I will wait you here."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young earl rose with a faint smile, and moved towards the door; -but ere he reached it he turned, and approaching the old man, grasped -his hand, saying, "Many, very many thanks for all your confidence; but -yet there is one more boon which I must ask, and I shall not be -satisfied unless you grant it. My friend, Sir John Hume, whom you -already know well, the affianced husband of my young sister Beatrice, -will remain here for a fortnight longer. Should need be, Julia must -trust in him, till I can reach her. He is the soul of honour, and -kindly and gentle in feeling. But I must also leave a servant here, -who shall attend every day at your house, and if events should require -it, will either stay to assist his master's promised bride or seek and -find me, with wit and diligence such as few can show. His character is -a very mixed one, with faults and virtues in excess; but he has proved -his devotion to me many a time, and of his honesty I am well assured. -Say you agree to this! Then I shall go in peace."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, so be it," answered the old man.</p> - -<p class="normal">And leaving him for the time, the young earl hurried away towards the -room whither he had been first conducted. His first steps along the -passage were eager and impetuous. It seemed as if he could not too -soon hear the words which were to decide his fate; but as he -approached the door, his feet relaxed their speed; and he paused -thoughtfully, with his hand lifted towards the lock. What was it that -made him hesitate? Let his own words answer. "No, no, studied speech -is vain," he said at length. "I will pour my heart into hers, and if -the feelings within it but find voice, no eloquence can match them."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, or rather thinking, he opened the door and went in. Julia -was seated at the table with a book before her, on which her eyes -rested not, with the lamp casting its pale light on the fair white -forehead, the jetty hair, the long fringed eyelids, and the sweeping -arch of the mouth. Her eyes were turned away, gazing on vacancy; but -the first step of her lover in the room roused her from her reverie, -and with a start, sudden but graceful, she rose, exclaiming, "Where is -he?--Is he ill?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, dearest Julia," replied the earl; "but I have come from him to -you, to speak a few words, which, with your answer, must decide our -fate for life."</p> - -<p class="normal">As he spoke he took her hand, and led her back towards the chair from -which she had risen; but she shook her head mournfully, without -resuming her seat, and said, "Have I not answered already? I have told -you that I cannot, that I must not speak now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, listen to me," said the earl, "for I seek not to take you from -him, nor even to bind you to quit him; but he and I have now spoken of -all; and we have made promises to each other, which it remains but for -you to ratify; for upon you depends the execution of his plans, as -well as the fulfilment of my hopes."</p> - -<p class="normal">She bowed her head in silence and with tearful eyes, looking like -a flower bent down with heavy dew, and the earl gazed at her -tenderly--almost sadly, for a moment. "I am about to leave you again, -dear Julia," he said, at length; "but I go this time with very -different feelings from those which I experienced when last we parted. -I then knew not all that was in my own heart; I knew nothing of yours. -I felt love without being aware how powerful it was, and without even -hoping it was returned. But now I comprehend all the strength of my -own attachment; and I do entertain hopes which it is for you to -confirm or to destroy. Painful as it is, I must mingle sad images even -with the expression of my brightest hopes. A time must come, Julia, -and you yourself see that it is coming fast, when you will be left -alone, bereft of kindred support. I have offered, I have promised, to -supply to you the place of him whom death may soon, and must -eventually, take away. Nothing that you can now say can make that -promise void. It shall be executed fully, sincerely, with my whole -heart and my whole energies; but it is you who must decide how it is -to be executed by me--whether as the promised husband, plighted to you -till death, with mournful happiness soothing your sorrows, sharing -your grief, and with a right indefeasible to protect and comfort you, -till your lot is blended by the marriage vow with his----"</p> - -<p class="normal">The colour had come warmly up into her cheek as he spoke; and Gowrie -paused an instant, doubting what were the emotions in which the blush -had its source; "Or--" he added, "or as the true and sincere friend, -fulfilling towards you the promise made to one loved, esteemed, and -mourned by both; but, with deep and bitter disappointment in his -heart, pouring shadow and darkness over his whole afterlife."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia started, gazed at him for an instant, and then exclaimed, "Oh -no, Gowrie, no!--Can you have doubted?--Can you really have painted -such a picture to your own fancy?--Can you think me so ungrateful--so -base?" And she let her forehead fall upon his shoulder, while his arm -stole round her waist.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thanks, dearest girl, thanks!" he said; "but tell me--tell me, Julia, -is it with your whole heart?"</p> - -<p class="normal">She looked up, with her cheek burning, and replied, in a voice hardly -audible, "Do not doubt it! When he is gone, there will be none to -share with you;" and Gowrie pressed her tenderly to his bosom.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Enough, enough," he said; "now I shall be quite happy."</p> - -<p class="normal">Oh, vain words! Oh, rash anticipations! What mortal has ever had the -right to infer that he shall be happy, even for an hour? Any man may -learn, how much stronger hope is than fear in the human heart, by -examining whether his expectations of joy, or his apprehensions of -sorrow, have been most frequently disappointed.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER VI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was a dull and heavy day in the month of September. The sky had -been covered each evening, for the last week, with dark flocculent -clouds, high up in air, but still leaden and lowering, and now the -rain descended in the city of the ten colleges in a perfect deluge. -The country round Padua rejoiced, for the summer had been very dry and -hot, and the land yearned for the dew of heaven; but the streets of -the town were almost impassable, except under the arcades on the west -side--where any street was fortunate enough to have a west side--for -there was a strong wind blowing, which drifted the large drops under -the arches to the east, and a torrent flowed down the middle of each -street, increased every two or three yards by a gushing spout -projecting from the house top.</p> - -<p class="normal">There was, however, sunshine in one of the dwellings of the town, for -Julia's heart was happier than she almost liked to own. She sat with a -letter before her from Gowrie, announcing that he would be speedily -back in Padua; and she herself was writing to him, telling him part of -the feelings which arose in her own bosom--for she had not yet taken -courage to tell him all--and conveying to him the glad tidings that -her aged relation had entirely recovered from his late serious -illness, and was looking better than she had seen him for many a -month.</p> - -<p class="normal">Manucci himself was sitting beside her, busy with some abstruse -problem, and from time to time raising his eyes to watch her write, or -to mark the varied expressions which passed over her beautiful face, -with that calm and heavenly satisfaction which spreads through the -breast of age--when the mind is well regulated and the heart -generous--at witnessing the hopes of youth and the joys which no -longer can be shared.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia wrote on. The old man bent his head over the papers; and a few -minutes after Tita entered to tell her master that a man with sea-fish -was at the door, and to ask if he would purchase any. She spoke to -him, but he did not answer; and Julia suddenly turned round and gazed -at him. He was very pale, and his head rested upon one of the great -wings of the chair. Starting up with a low cry of fear, his grandchild -ran round, and raised his head. The eyes were closed, but he still -breathed hard and noisily. His limbs, however, were motionless, and he -was evidently insensible. Assistance was called, and he was removed to -his room and laid upon his bed. Tita ran away at once, first for a -physician and then a priest; and both came nearly at the same time. -The man of art applied the remedies usual in those days, while the -good priest watched narrowly to take advantage of the first return of -consciousness to perform his functions likewise. Extreme unction was -given while he was still insensible; and about two hours after the -attack Manucci opened his eyes for a moment, and the priest eagerly -advanced the crucifix towards him. Whether the motion was voluntary or -involuntary who can tell? but old Manucci raised his hand, and it fell -upon the cross. It was the last effort of expiring life. The next -moment a sharp shudder passed over his frame, and he was a corpse.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He has died like a good Catholic," said the priest, who was a man of -a kindly and a liberal heart.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia wept, but replied not; and the old man, coming round to the side -of the bed where she stood, tried to comfort her to the utmost of his -power. She pressed his hand gratefully, but still remained in silent -tears; and the priest, drawing the physician apart, they conferred -together for several minutes in a low tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The sooner the better," said the physician, "lest the suspicions that -have been abroad should make them stop it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You're a witness he died as a good Catholic, with his hand upon the -cross," rejoined the priest.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am," answered the physician; "but it will be better to say as -little, either of his death or anything else, as possible, till the -funeral is over, otherwise we shall have a scandal, and perhaps a -disturbance."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are right, you are right," said the priest. "My dear child," he -continued aloud, turning towards Julia, who was kneeling by the dead -man's bedside, while Tita stood weeping at the foot, "you had better -come with me into another room. There is nothing here but the clay. -The spirit which you loved has departed in peace to our Father which -is in heaven. There are sad duties to be performed; but trouble not -yourself with them. I and your friend here, Signor Anelli, together -with good Tita, will care for all that;" and approaching her side, he -took her hand and gently led her away.</p> - -<p class="normal">The funeral was performed as secretly as possible and as speedily; and -it is always speedy in Italy; and Julia sat alone in the little room, -where she had been writing when the old man was struck by the hand of -death. The two letters were still open upon the table; and, as her eye -fell upon the very last sentence she had been writing, in which she -spoke of Manucci's recovered health, the tears flowed fast and long.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must write him another tale now," she said, tearing the letter; and -then rising, she inquired whether Austin Jute, whom Gowrie had left to -assist her in case of need, was in the house, for Hume had by this -time left Padua.</p> - -<p class="normal">The man was in her presence in a moment, and Julia told him that she -wished him to set out immediately to seek his lord at Bologna, and -tell him what had occurred.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Disobedience is a great sin, dear lady," replied Austin Jute; "but I -must either disobey you or my lord. He told me to leave you on no -account whatever; and to say sooth, I believe, as things go, I can be -of better service here than at Bologna, for Sir John Hume has gone to -join my master, and there is no one but me to take care of you. If you -will write a few lines, however, dear lady, I will see that it goes by -a sure messenger."</p> - -<p class="normal">Nor was Austin Jute wrong in his conclusions, though at that moment he -did not choose to tell the lady all he had heard. Rumour had been busy -in Padua, and of course from the moment it was generally known that -old Signor Manucci was dead, some one of her hundred tongues was -busied in manufacturing a new falsehood every instant. Citizens and -shopkeepers talked. Tutors and professors laid their heads together. -The heads of the colleges met and consulted, and thought fit to call -in the advice of a commissary of the holy office. They had made such a -bustle about it, however, before that secret and discreet functionary -had anything to do with the matter, that a report of what was going on -had spread far and wide. Austin Jute had his ears and his eyes open; -and, as he knew many of the servants of the colleges, he soon learned -much that was taking place, and determined to watch all the more -eagerly over her who had been committed, in some degree, to his -charge. Such were the motives of his answer to Julia; and ere evening -he had cause to rejoice that he had not undertaken her mission, for -one oversight, or rather act of neglect, on the part of the -inquisitor, afforded him an opportunity of turning his stay in Padua -to the greatest advantage. Some one suggested, in the meeting of the -heads of colleges, that it would be expedient, before proceeding -further, to examine the priest who had attended Manucci on his death -bed. The commissary of the holy office was either tired, hungry, or -busy; and he left the worthy doctors of the university to make that -investigation themselves. Had the good father been examined by the -inquisitor, he would have dared as soon chop off his right hand as -give any intimation of what was likely to take place. For the mere -scholastic dignitaries he had no such fear or reverence; and the -moment he quitted them, he hastened to the house near the Treviso -gate. The first person he saw was Tita, but immediately behind her -stood Austin Jute; and a short conference was held by the three, so -brief, indeed, that the old servant did not catch half of the good -priest's meaning, for he was too much alarmed to remain more than a -few moments.</p> - -<p class="normal">As soon as he was gone, Austin laid his hand upon the old woman's arm, -saying, "Not an instant is to be lost. We must take Time by the -forelock. We shall never catch him if he once gets on. I must go and -prepare means. You go and bring the young lady down into the garden, -and by the steps to the gate. Tell her to take whatever money she has, -gold, or jewels, or anything else, and as few clothes as possible, -packed in a small space. Lock and bar the door of the house as soon as -I am gone, but keep the garden gate upon the latch, and mind you do -not open the front door, whatever knocking or hammering you may hear."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what is it, what is it?" exclaimed Tita. "I did not understand -what the good father meant."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That your sweet lady will be handed over to the inquisition within -half an hour, if you do not do as I tell you, and quickly," replied -Austin. "Remember, a minute lost is never regained. Time and tide wait -for no man.--Haste, haste, Tita. But stay! It were well if the lady -had some disguise. Where could one get a novice's gown and veil?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not nearer than at the stall by St. Antony's," replied the old woman; -"but I've got my festa gown and a large black hood, that would cover -her head and shoulders. The gown is too big, but no matter for that, -it'll go on the easier."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Away, then. Dress her in it, and bring her down. But mind, lock and -bar the door, and open to no one." Thus saying, he set out at full -speed.</p> - -<p class="normal">With trembling hands Tita fulfilled his directions in regard to -securing the front entrance of the house. As soon as that was -accomplished she hastened to her young mistress, whom she found -writing a few sad lines to Gowrie. The agitation and terror in the -woman's face at once caught Julia's attention; and she started up, -exclaiming, "What is it now? What new misfortune has happened?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, dear lady, you must fly!" said Tita. "Austin Jute, my young -lord's man, says there is not a moment to be lost; and he understands -what the good father said better than I do. I only heard him say they -were coming here immediately to search; but Austin says you must get -all the money you have, and everything that is valuable, and put on -some disguise, and come down as fast as possible to the garden gate, -where he will join us; they will put you in the inquisition else."</p> - -<p class="normal">The beautiful girl seemed to comprehend her danger at once; and the -thought of being deprived of liberty, and cut off from all power of -communicating with the only being on earth whom she now sincerely -loved, brought a look of terror into her face.</p> - -<p class="normal">"A disguise!" she exclaimed. "Where shall I find a disguise? I have -none but my ordinary clothes."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Never mind that. I will bring that in a minute," replied Tita; "only -you get ready without delay. Get the money and the jewels, and all -that is worth carrying, and don't open the door on any account till I -come down, however they may knock."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, she ran away to her own room, and soon descended with her -gala dress, which was that of a Lombard peasant. By this time her -naturally sharp wits had recovered from the first effect of fear and -agitation, and now she was all promptness and decision. Throwing the -dress she had brought over her young mistress, she fastened the bodice -as tight as she could, and gathered together the large folds of the -petticoat. But before she covered her head with the black hood, which -she had likewise brought, she could not forbear gazing at her for an -instant, and kissing her cheek, saying, "Bless thee, my child. Thou -art as beautiful a little peasant as any in all the Veronese." The -rest of the preparations were soon made. Some few articles of dress -were packed in a small bundle; the money taken from the drawer in -which it had been placed; and a heart cut in red cornelian, and set -round with large diamonds--the only trinket which Julia possessed, -with the exception of the gold pins for her hair, and a brooch to -clasp her mantle--was taken from a casket and placed in her fair -bosom. All this being arranged, they hurried down the stairs towards a -door leading into the garden, their steps being accelerated by a -considerable noise in the usually quiet street. In the passage of the -house, however, Tita stopped, saying, "I had better take the key," and -approaching the door, she drew the key forth quietly, and hastened -after her mistress, who was by this time at the small door leading -into the garden.</p> - -<p class="normal">I should, perhaps, have mentioned before, some particulars respecting -the situation of the house, in explanation of the directions which -Austin Jute had given. It was, as I have said before, the last house -in the street, and close to the bridge which led over the little -canal, towards the Place d'armes within the Treviso gate. As that gate -had been one of much importance in former times, a good deal of pains -had been taken to strengthen it against an enemy, and at the side of -the canal, a work of earth, faced with masonry, with a regular -platform and parapet, had been formed, commanding the bridge on one -side, and the Place d'armes on the other. As quieter times had come, -this work, abutting upon the house of Signor Manucci, had been -neglected; and the space within, had been cultivated by him as a -little garden. The whole level was considerably higher than that of -the water, and a short flight of steps arched over, descended from the -garden to a small sally port in the wall, which led to a narrow path -not more than two feet wide, by the side of the canal, at a spot -distant some sixty or seventy yards from the bridge. The house itself -was, in fact, included in the fortification; and the turret, in which -the poor old man's study had been placed, overlooked the wall and the -country round, and had probably, in former times, served the purpose -of a watch tower. The little garden, however, except at one point, was -only visible from the turret when a person stretched his head far out -of the windows in the massy walls; neither could the steps be seen -which led to the sally port.</p> - -<p class="normal">With all these particulars Austin Jute, whose disposition was -naturally inquisitive, had made himself thoroughly acquainted; but he -had forgotten to warn the fugitives not to cross that one part of the -garden which was visible from the windows above; and Julia, as soon as -she had passed the door, was running straight across, when Tita -stopped her, calling, "Under the wall, my dear--under the wall, and -behind the fig tree and the mulberries.--I will lock this door -though.--Heaven! we are not a minute too soon. They are knocking in -the street there, as if they would have the door down. Well, let them -try. It will take them some time, I warrant, for it is good strong -oak, clasped with iron."</p> - -<p class="normal">With this reflection she followed her young mistress, and keeping -amongst the shrubs as much as possible, they reached the top of the -steps, and descended to the sally port. That was soon unlocked, and -there they remained for nearly a quarter of an hour in a sort of -semi-darkness, hearing faint and dull the sound of heavy blows -proceeding from the street, as the officers of the university and the -holy office, when they found that no gentler means were effectual in -obtaining admission, had recourse to sledge-hammers to effect an -entrance. At the end of that time a loud crash was heard, and Tita -whispered, "They've got in now."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia trembled very much, but a comparative silence succeeded, which -lasted some five minutes more, and Tita tried to cheer her, saying, -"Perhaps, after all, they wont find their way to the study this time -either. I pulled to the door in the passage as I came along, and the -spring's not easily seen."</p> - -<p class="normal">Hardly had the words been pronounced, however, when the sound of -voices coming through the windows above showed that her hope was -fallacious; and Julia said, in a low tone, "Had we not better go out -to the bank of the canal?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," replied Tita; "we shall hear them if they come into the -garden, for they must knock that door down, too, or force the lock."</p> - -<p class="normal">A moment after the latch of the sally port was lifted, and the door -opened. "Come out! come out!" said the voice of Austin Jute; and, like -lightning, Julia darted through the door, and stood beside her lover's -servant on the bank of the canal.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I'll lock this door, too," said Tita, taking out the key and placing -it on the other side.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Safe bind, safe find," said Austin; "but the proverb is not true at -the other side of the house, for they've dashed the door in, and the -whole street is filled with a mob. So much the better for us. There -will be fewer people in the other places."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But which way shall we take?" asked Tita; "if we go to the bridge, we -must cross the end of the street; and all the neighbours know me right -well."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That would never do," replied Austin. "Take the other way to the -bridge higher up. Then we can cross there, and come back to the gate -from the other side. It's longer; but it cannot be helped. The -farthest about is sometimes the nearest way home. I have bought three -asses, and they have just gone through the gates, to wait for us at -the little wine-shop half a mile on."</p> - -<p class="normal">Tita took a few steps in the direction which he indicated, leading the -way, for the path was not wide enough to admit of two abreast; but -then she stopped suddenly, saying, "I think two asses would do, Signor -Austin."</p> - -<p class="normal">"How do you mean?" asked the man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, I mean that it will be much better for me not to go away from -the city," said Tita; "if they find us all gone, and should afterwards -catch the Signorina, they will be sure to say that she ran away -because she knew she was guilty of something. Now, a plan is come into -my head, and as soon as I've seen you out of the gates, I'll just go -round by the market, buy a basketful of things, and go back with the -key, as if I knew nothing that has happened."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But, Tita, they may shut you up in prison," cried Julia.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, my dear, they wont," replied the old woman, calmly; "they'd only -have to feed me there if they did, so they'll know better. I can tell -them, with a safe conscience, that you were gone before they ever came -to the house; and if they ask where, I'll say you took the Treviso -way. The truth is, my child, I am not fit now for running anywhere in -a hurry; and if I were to go with you, I should only delay you, and -perhaps lead to your being found out, for many people all round know -old Tita, and there is scarcely any one in the town has ever seen you. -I know you will think of me when you are away; and when you are safe -and happy again, perhaps you may send for the old woman who nursed you -in your youth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That I will, Tita," replied Julia; "but I am terrified to leave you -with these people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No fear, no fear, my child," answered the old woman. "They can say -nothing against me, for I went to confession every week. But you would -never go, you know, my child, because neither you nor the signor -thought it did any good; and, indeed, I don't think you had anything -to confess. They can't hurt me; and they wont, I'm sure, for I'm -neither too wise for them nor too good for them, and have always done -what the priest told me; said my prayers, and counted my beads; and if -that is not being a good catholic, I don't know what is."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But you must have some of this money, at least," said Julia, as Tita -was walking on again.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Give me two ducats," said the old woman; "that'll keep me a long -while."</p> - -<p class="normal">But Julia insisted on her taking much more; and when that was settled, -they proceeded on their way, without difficulty or obstruction. It was -not without some tears that Julia parted with her faithful old -servant, nor without much emotion that she went forward on an untried -path of life, protected by a man whom she had known only a few weeks; -but there seemed no other course before her, and she strove not to -show any doubt or dread. The asses were found ready at the spot where -they had been appointed, and telling the man who brought them, that -"the other girl" would not come, Austin Jute placed his fair companion -on the pad with which one of them was furnished, bestrode the other -himself, and led the way for about a mile farther on the Treviso road. -Then, however, he turned to the left, and, circling round the city, -endeavoured to regain the highway to Bologna.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the meantime good Tita re-entered the town by one of the other -gates, bought herself a new basket as she went along, and leisurely -took her way to the market, where she stopped at several of the -stalls, and, as the following day was a fast-day, bought herself a -portion of fish and vegetables sufficient for the frugal meal of one -person, and no more. She laid the key between the articles of food and -the side of the basket, and was, with the same calm, deliberate step, -proceeding homeward, when a man, who was passing through, exclaimed, -with looks of wonder and surprise, "Ha, Tita, you take matters -wonderfully quietly! Do you not know that they have broken into your -house, upon a charge of sorcery against your old master, and are now -seeking for proofs amongst his papers, I understand. Orders have been -given, they say, to apprehend your young lady, for all men admit that -she never came to confession or absolution, and some would have one -believe that she is but, after all, a familiar spirit, which your -master consented to have dealings with, in order to get at unheard-of -treasures."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I had her in my arms when she was two years old," said Tita, -sturdily; "and she was more like flesh than spirit, and good Christian -flesh, too."</p> - -<p class="normal">This answer seemed irrefragable to the good townsman, who replied, -"Well, you know best; I never saw her."</p> - -<p class="normal">And Tita replied, with a toss of the head and a scornful air, -"Unheard-of treasures, forsooth, when the poor old man died as poor as -a rat! Sorcery must be a poor trade I trow, and the devil be very -uncivil to his friends and acquaintances."</p> - -<p class="normal">With this answer, she walked quickly homeward, as if she had heard, -for the first time, of what had occurred. When she reached the door of -the house, she found the whole passage filled with people, many of -whom were anxious to get up the stairs, and see the inside of a -sorcerer's dwelling, in good company; but the officers of the -inquisition, the beadles and servants of the university, and some -half-dozen of the company of soldiers to which the garrison of Padua -was now reduced, kept back the people with brandished partizans and -staves, till at length a shout was raised by some one who knew her, of -"Here is old Tita! here is old Tita! A fagot and a tar-barrel for the -old witch!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Now Tita had sufficient experience in the ways of the world to know -that the attacking party always has a certain advantage; and, -consequently, making her way through the crowd as best she could, she -assailed the officers, high and low, with great volubility. Could they -not wait for her coming back, she said, when she had only gone out for -half an hour? What was the need of breaking down the door, when they -had only to wait a minute or two, and it would have been opened for -them? But they must needs be making work for the smith and the -carpenter.</p> - -<p class="normal">She insisted, as if it was a right she demanded, instead of a fate -that was certain to befall her, to be carried immediately before the -illustrissimi up stairs; and even when in their presence, she assumed -all the airs of towering passion, and poured forth, upon the -commissary of the inquisition himself, such a torrent of vituperation, -that for a moment or two he was utterly confounded. As he recovered -himself, however, he reprehended her with dignity, and demanded how -they could tell she would ever come back at all. To which Tita -adroitly rejoined, "What right had you to suppose I would not? Had not -I got the key with me?" and she instantly produced it from the basket -which she carried on her arm.</p> - -<p class="normal">Whether logic was not in its most palmy state in Padua at the time, or -whether the functionaries of the holy office were not accustomed to -deal in the most logical manner with questions brought before them, I -know not; but assuredly, the commissary regarded the anger, the -apostrophe, and the key, as very convincing proofs of Tita's ignorance -and innocence. He nevertheless proceeded to question her in regard to -the departure of the Signora Julia, who, he informed her, was gravely -suspected of having aided her late grandfather in unlawful studies, of -which pursuits, on his part, they had discovered irrefragable proofs.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Lord bless you, illustrious signor," replied the old woman, with a -very skilful sort of double dealing, not exactly falsifying the matter -of fact, but giving it a colour altogether different from that which -it naturally bore, "my young lady went out before I did. Why, she set -off on the road to Treviso some time ago; and she is gone to see a -gentleman to whom she is to be married, I understand; but I don't know -much about the matter, for she does not talk to me greatly about such -things; and all I know is, that a better young lady or a better -Christian does not live. As to my poor master's dealing in magic, I -don't believe a word of it; for I never saw a ghost or a spirit about -the house, and I am sure it would have frightened me out of my wits if -I had. I'll tell everything I know, and show every cranny about the -house for that matter, for I've swept it every bit from end to end -many a time, and I never saw anything about the place except what I've -heard gentlemen call philosophy, which I thought was something they -taught at the university, God forgive me!"</p> - -<p class="normal">This reply produced an unwilling smile, and the great readiness which -Tita expressed to tell all she knew perhaps saved her from many after -questions, for but a few more were asked; and then the commissary and -those who were joined with him departed, sweeping away all the papers, -and many of the instruments of poor Manucci, Tita following them to -the very street, and teazing them vociferously to have the door -mended.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER VII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was a sultry autumnal day--one of those days of early autumn when -the summer seems to return and make a fierce struggle to resume its -reign, when the leaves are yet green, or just tinted with the yellow -hue of decay, when the grape is still ruddy on the bough, and the fig -looks purple amongst its broad green leaves. The air had seemed -languid and loaded all the day, as if a sirocco had been blowing, -though the wind was in the west, and a hazy whiteness spread over the -wide plains through which wander the Po, the Mincio, and the Adige. -The silver gray cattle strayed lazily through the fields, sometimes -lifting their heads, and bellowing as if for fresh cool air, sometimes -plunging amongst the sedges, or actually swimming in the streams. Not -a bird was seen winging its way through the air, the very beccaficos -were still amongst the vines, and the horses of a large party of -travellers who were approaching the banks of the Po, hung their heads, -and wearily wended on, oppressed more by the languid heat of the day -than by the length of the way they had travelled.</p> - -<p class="normal">The travellers themselves, however, seemed gay and full of high -spirits: the three gentlemen who rode in front jesting lightly with -each other, though one was an elderly man of a staid, though somewhat -feeble looking countenance: and the servants behind chattering in -various languages with no very reverent lowness of tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Do you remember, Hume," said one of the former, as they rode on, "our -first journey by night through these plains?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes," replied the other, "and your plunging your horse into the -Mincio, vowing we had all got off the high road."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because we had nothing but fire-flies to light us," replied Gowrie, -"and Mr. Rhind took the first we saw for falling stars."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Though there were no stars in the sky to fall," cried Hume; "or if -they had fallen, they would have been caught in the thick blanket of -cloud, and tossed up again."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, my young friend," said meek Mr. Rhind, "they were the first I -ever saw, you know, and every man may make a mistake."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I wonder you did not take them for the burning bush," said Hume, a -little irreverently; "for, my dear Rhind, you had had the Old -Testament in your mouth from the moment we left Mantua, and you had -paid our bill to the Moabitish woman who cheated us so fearfully. You -called her by every gentile name you could muster, simply because she -would have twenty <i>scudi</i> more than her due."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, I own I loved her not," replied Mr. Rhind.</p> - -<p class="normal">"But she did not want you to love her!" retorted Hume; "she wanted -Gowrie to love her, and he would not; so she charged the twenty scudi -for the disappointment; and all she wanted <i>with you</i> was to pay the -money."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Which I certainly would not have done, if I could have helped it," -replied Mr. Rhind.</p> - -<p class="normal">"But you could not, my dear sir," said Lord Gowrie; "depend upon it, -Rhind, there is no striving against woman, circumstances, or an -innkeeper's bill; and it is only waste of words and time to contest a -point with either."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am sorry you find it so, my dear lord," replied Mr. Rhind, somewhat -tartly, for he had been rather hardly pressed by his young companions' -gay humour during the morning. Lord Gowrie only laughed, however, for -his heart was very light. He was returning to her he loved; he had -known few sorrows since his very early years, and each step of his -horse's foot seemed, to hope and fancy, to bring him nearer to -happiness. He could have jested at that moment good-humouredly with a -fiend; and certainly Mr. Rhind did not deserve that name. The young -earl, however, saw clearly that his former preceptor was somewhat -annoyed, and he consequently changed the subject, stretching out his -hand, and saying, "Behold the mighty Po. I know not how it is, but -this river, about the part where we are now, though less in course and -in volume than either the Rhine, the Rhone, or the Danube, always -gives me more the idea of a great river than they do. Perhaps it may -be even from the lack of beautiful scenery. With the others we lose -the grandeur of the river in the grandeur of its banks. Here the broad -stream comes upon us in the dead flat plain, without anything to -distract the attention or engage the eye. I am inclined to believe -that a river, as a river, is always more striking when there is no -other great object to be seen."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And yet to me," said Hume, "the ocean itself, simply as the ocean, -without storms to lash it into magnificent fury, or rocky shores to -hem it in, like a defending and attacking army, but seen from a plain -sandy shore upon a calm day, is not half so sublime a sight as poets -and enthusiasts would have us believe. There is a great deal of -quackery in poetry, don't you think so, Gowrie? Poets bolster -themselves and one another up with associations and images, till they -believe things to be very sublime, which abstractedly are very -insignificant. I remember once standing upon a low beach, and putting -the whole sea out, by holding up a kerchief at arm's length. I have -never since been able to think it sublime except during a storm."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Take care how you try other things by such standards," said Gowrie; -"I am afraid, my dear Hume, that the same kerchief would have equally -reduced the finest, the noblest, and the best of all the things of -earth. It is he who extends his vision, not he who contracts it, that -learns to judge things most finely, and also, I believe, most really."</p> - -<p class="normal">As these words were passing, they were slowly approaching the banks of -the great river, which at that spot is broader perhaps than at any -other point of its course. The land on either side was bare and dusty, -and the heat became more and more intense from the want of verdure -around. At length a proposal was made that instead of crossing at once -in the ferry boat, and pursuing their journey on horseback from the -other side, they should hire a boat and drop down to Occhiobello, -leaving the horses and grooms to rest for an hour or two at Massa, and -then follow down the stream in the course of the evening, when the -weather would be less sultry. The proposal came from Mr. Rhind, who -was evidently a good deal fatigued; and the Earl of Gowrie, ever -anxious to contribute as much as possible to his old tutor's comfort, -acceded at once, although the plan might cause a few hours' delay, and -he was anxious to hasten on as fast as possible, impelled by love and -the expectation of speedily meeting her for whom his affection seemed -but to increase by absence. There was some difficulty, indeed, in -procuring a boat; for although the large ferry-boat, which, like -Charon's, had carried over many a generation, was lying at its -accustomed mooring place, yet no small boats were near, and they had -to ride slowly down the bank of the stream for more than a mile before -they came to a village where they could procure what they wanted. -There, however, they engaged a small skiff of a rude kind, then -commonly used by the peasantry; the three gentlemen embarked without -any of their attendants; and the boatmen, after a little consultation -amongst themselves, put off from the shore.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What were you talking about just now while you were looking at the -sky every minute?" asked Lord Gowrie, in Italian, addressing the -master of the boat.</p> - -<p class="normal">"We were saying that we should not get back without a storm, signor," -replied the man. "I should not wonder if we had to stay at Occhiobello -to-night, for when the Po is angry she is a thorough lion."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope the storm will not come before we land," said Mr. Rhind, who -was of a timid and unadventurous nature.</p> - -<p class="normal">His two young companions only laughed, teazing him a little with -regard to his fears, for they were at that age when a portion of -danger is the sauce of life, giving a higher flavour to enjoyment. The -boatmen assured the old gentleman that the storm would not come till -evening; and away they went down the full quick stream, having for the -first half hour the same hot and glaring sun above them, shining with -undiminished force through the thin haze which lay upon the landscape. -If they expected to find fresher air upon the water they were -mistaken, for not a breath of wind rippled the current of the stream, -and the reflection of the light from its broad glassy current rendered -the heat more intense and scorching than on the land. Sir John Hume -amused himself by taking Mr. Rhind to task for the bad success of his -plan; but Lord Gowrie good-humouredly remarked, that at all events -they were saved the trouble of riding. The boat dropped down the -stream more rapidly than usual, for there was a large body of water in -the river at the time, and the current was exceedingly fierce; but at -the end of about a quarter of an hour the wind suddenly changed to the -southeast, and blowing directly against the course of the eager -waters, tossed them into waves as if on the sea. The change was so -sudden--from almost a perfect calm, with the bright smooth glassy -river hastening on unrippled towards the Adriatic, to a gale of wind -and a wild fierce turbulent torrent--that good Mr. Rhind was nearly -thrown off his seat, and showed manifest symptoms of apprehension. The -boatmen showed no alarm, however, and Lord Gowrie and Sir John Hume -contented themselves with looking up towards the sky, which in the -zenith was becoming mottled with gray and white, while to windward -some heavy black masses of cloud were seen rising rapidly in strange -fantastic shapes. The air was as sultry as before, however, and after -blowing for about a quarter of an hour sufficiently hard to retard the -progress of the travellers very much, the wind suddenly fell -altogether, and a perfect calm succeeded. The waters of the river -still remained as much agitated as ever, and Lord Gowrie called the -attention of Hume to a very peculiar appearance in the sky to the -south.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Do you see that mass of leaden gray cloud, Hume?" he said, "lying -upon the black expanse behind. See how strangely it twists itself into -different forms, as if torn with some mortal agony."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Agony enough," answered Sir John Hume, "for the poor cloud looks as -if it had the cholic; but I have remarked that it always is so when -the wind is in the southeast. We shall see presently if there be -thunder or anything else, for it is nothing strange to witness a -conflict of the elements at this season of the year, especially in -this dry and arid country, where the sun seems to reign supreme, -without one green blade of grass to refresh the eye, or one cheering -sound to raise a heart not utterly deprived of feeling for its fellow -creatures."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman spoke in English; but the elder boatman, a man who -had numbered many years, and who with his three sons was now still -following the profession in which he had been bred in his early youth, -seemed to remark the direction of his eyes, and to divine the subject -of his thoughts and conversation. "Ah, sir," he said, "I should not -wonder if there were an earthquake before night. You are staring at -that queer-looking cloud; and I have rarely seen such a fellow as -that, working away as if it were twisting itself into all sorts of -shapes rather than begin the devastation, without its ending in -something very sharp."</p> - -<p class="normal">The two young men, who comprehended every word, though spoken in the -broad Mantuan dialect, looked at each other in silence; but Mr. Rhind, -who, notwithstanding his long residence in Italy, had with difficulty -mastered the common terms of the language, remained silent, merely -observing, "Well, it is pleasant that the wind has gone down, although -the river is still tossing about in a strange way; I am half-inclined -to be sick as if I were at sea."</p> - -<p class="normal">Half an hour passed without the prognostication of the fisherman being -fulfilled. The same lull in the air, the same agitation of the water -continued; Occhiobello was in sight, and the sun was sinking far away -over the Piedmontese hills, surrounded by a leaden purple colour, in -which it was difficult to say whether the dull stormy gray or the -crimson glow of evening predominated. In the south, the same heavy -clouds were seen, somewhat higher than when the wind fell, cutting -hard upon the blue sky overhead; and the large mass of vapour, the -peculiar appearance of which I have already mentioned, lay contorting -itself into a thousand different forms every moment. On the right -bank, not far behind them, when they looked back, the travellers could -see their horses and servants coming at an easy pace down the course -of the stream, the slow progress of the boat having given an advantage -to the party on land; and in front, a little more than half way -between them and Occhiobello, a row boat was perceived crossing the -broad river from the left bank to the right, apparently with great -difficulty, and heavily laden.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is Mantini's boat," said one of the boatmen to the other.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, he'll get himself into a scrape some day," said the old man. "You -see he's got horses in it now!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"How is that likely to get him into a scrape?" asked Lord Gowrie. "Is -the boat not fitted for horses?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh yes, signor," replied the man; "but it is not that I spoke of. The -law says, no boat shall carry horses, oxen, or asses, except the -regular ferry boats."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Few would get across, then, by any other conveyance," said Sir John -Hume; "for this infernal tossing is beginning to make me think that -none but asses, would go in a small boat when they could get a big -one. Come, row on, row on, my men; for if you lose time grinning at my -joke, I shall not take it as a compliment."</p> - -<p class="normal">The men put their strength to the oar, and the boat flew on a good -deal more rapidly; for a gay good-humoured manner will always do more -with an Italian than either promises or commands. The boat before them -was rather more than half way across the river, while they, in the -mid-stream, were rapidly approaching it, when suddenly the old -boatman, starting up, pushed his way to the stern between the earl and -Mr. Rhind, and thrust his oar deep in the water, somewhat in the -fashion of a rudder, exclaiming, "It is coming, by St. Antony! keep -her head on, boys--keep her head on!" and looking out along the course -of the stream, Lord Gowrie saw a wave rushing up against the current, -not unlike that which, under the name of the Mascaré, proves so -frequently fatal to boats in Dordogne. Towards the middle of the -river, the height of this watery wall, as it seemed to be, was not -less than seven or eight feet, though near the banks it was much less, -and all along the top was an overhanging crest of foam, snow-white, -like an edge of curling plumes. A loud roar accompanied it; and the -fierce hurricane, which was probably the cause of the phenomenon, -seemed to precede the billow it had raised by some forty or fifty -yards; for the heavy-laden boat which they had seen, and which, having -approached much nearer the bank, was much less exposed to the force of -the rushing wave than their own, was in an instant capsized by the -violence of the blast, and every one it contained cast into the -rushing water.</p> - -<p class="normal">Horses and men were seen struggling in the stream; and with horror the -earl beheld a woman's garments also. "Towards the bank!--towards the -bank!" he cried, "to give them help;" but the boatmen paid not the -least attention, and scarcely had the words quitted his mouth when the -wind struck their boat also. One of the young men, who had been -standing up, was cast headlong into the bottom of the bark; those who -were seated could hardly resist the fury of the gale; and the next -instant the wall of water struck them with such force, that instead of -rising over it, as the old boatman had hoped, the skiff filled in a -moment, and went down.</p> - -<p class="normal">For an instant the Earl of Gowrie saw nothing but the green flashing -light of the wave, and heard nothing but the roaring of the water in -his ears; but accustomed from his infancy to breast the dangerous -billows of the Firth of Tay, he struck boldly out, rising to the -surface, with very little alarm for himself or for his companion Hume, -whom he knew to be a practised swimmer also. His first thought was for -his good old preceptor; but he soon saw that Mr. Rhind was even in a -better condition than himself, having somehow got possession of an -oar, over which he had cast his arms, so as both to hold it fast, and -to keep his head and shoulders out of water. The old boatman and his -two sons were seen at some little distance striking away towards the -shore; and Hume, never losing his merriment even in the moment of the -greatest peril, shouted loudly, "Get to land, Gowrie--get to land! I -will pilot Rhind to the bank, if he will but keep his helm down, and -his prow as near the wind as possible."</p> - -<p class="normal">As Hume was much nearer to the worthy tutor, Lord Gowrie followed his -advice; but the first two strokes which he took towards the land, -drifting, as he did so, part of the way down the stream, showed him at -a few yards' distance a scene of even greater interest than that which -actually surrounded him. It was that of the boat which had been -capsized by the first rush of the hurricane. It had not sunk at once -as his own smaller craft had done, and one or two men were clinging to -a part of it which appeared above the water. Close by, a horse's head -and neck protruded above the stream; and the hoofs were seen beating -the water furiously, in the poor animal's violent efforts to reach the -land. Considerably nearer to the earl was a group of three persons, -two men and a woman. One of the men, only a few feet distant from the -others, and apparently but little practised in the art of swimming, -was struggling furiously, with energetic efforts, to reach a better -swimmer, who was not only making his own way towards the shore, but -supporting coolly and steadily with his left hand the head and -shoulders of the girl beside him. She herself was dressed in the garb -of a peasant; but a feeling of terror indescribable seized upon the -earl, when in the face of the man who supported her he recognised the -features of his own servant, Austin Jute. He saw in an instant that if -the drowning man once caught hold of them, all three must inevitably -perish; and swimming towards them as fast as possible, he shouted, "To -the shore, Austin--to the shore! Don't let him reach you, or you're -lost!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here, take her, my lord," cried Austin Jute--"take her, and leave me -to settle with him. Drowning men catch at a straw; and he has got hold -of one of the tags of my jerkin--in God's name take her quick, or -he'll have us all down!"</p> - -<p class="normal">As he spoke the earl reached his side. He asked no questions, for one -look at the girl's face before him was enough. The dark eyes were -closed. The long black hair floated in ringlets on the water, and the -face was very pale, but the small fair hands were clasped together on -the breast, as if with a strong effort to resist an almost -overpowering inclination to grasp at the objects near.</p> - -<p class="normal">"She lives," thought the earl, cheered by that sign; and placing his -hand under her shoulders he bade the servant let go his hold. Then, -with no more exertion than was needful to support himself and her in -the water, and to guide them in an oblique line towards the shore, he -suffered the stream to bear them on. The only peril that remained was -to be encountered in passing the boat, where the horse was still -struggling furiously; but that was safely avoided, and then, confident -in his own strength and skill, the earl made more directly for the -bank, and reached it just as the sun was disappearing in the west. For -one so young, Lord Gowrie had known in life both very bitter sorrow -and very intense joy; but nothing that he had ever felt was at all to -be compared with his sensations at the moment when, after staggering -up the bank with Julia in his arms, he placed her on the dry turf at -the foot of a mulberry tree, and gazed upon her fair face as she lay -with the eyes still closed.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Julia," he said, "Julia;" and then everything gave way to joy as she -faintly opened her eyes and unclasped her hands. The bright purple -light of evening was streaming around them, and glancing through the -vine leaves which garlanded the trees. There was no one there but -themselves; and with warm and passionate joy he kissed her fair cheek -again and again, and wrung the water from her hair, and bound the long -tresses round her ivory brow, while, with wild words of tenderness and -love, he poured forth the mingled expression of joy and apprehension -and thankfulness. For a moment or two she did not speak. I know not -indeed whether it was terror, or exhaustion, or the overpowering -emotions of the moment that kept her silent; but even when she could -find words they were at first but two, "Oh, Gowrie!"</p> - -<p class="normal">A moment after they were joined by Sir John Hume and Mr. Rhind, and, -looking up the stream, Gowrie saw a group of several persons on the -bank, busy apparently in helping sufferers out of the water.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did you see my man Austin, Hume?" asked the earl, after some other -words had passed, of that quick and whirling kind by which moments of -much agitation are followed.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh yes, he is safe," answered Hume. "Indeed, you need not have asked -the question, he'll not drown easily, though another fellow near him -did his best to prevent him keeping his head above water."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It was that which alarmed me for him," replied the earl; "and I owe -him too much this day, Hume, not to feel anxious for his safety. Are -you sure he reached the shore?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Quite sure," replied his friend, "and I trust that there are not many -lost from amongst us. Fair lady," he continued, taking Julia's hand, -"I rejoice indeed to see you safe, and if Gowrie will take my advice, -and you can find strength to walk, he will lead you at once to the -little town down there, where you can dry your wet garments and obtain -some refreshment and repose."</p> - -<p class="normal">As the young knight spoke, Mr. Rhind turned an inquiring glance to -Lord Gowrie's face, as if he would fain have asked who the beautiful -creature before him was, and what was her connexion with his former -pupil. The earl did not remark the expression, however; but Julia -called his attention away by touching his hand and making a sign to -him to bend down his head. He did so at once, and after listening to a -few whispered but eager words, he said aloud, "No, we will not go to -Occhiobello. There is a village up there; it will do well enough. Have -you strength to go, Julia? If not, we will either get or make a litter -for you."</p> - -<p class="normal">She rose, feebly, however, and though feeling faint and giddy, -declared that she was quite capable of walking. "Let us see first," -she added, "if all the people are saved. It would darken the joy of -our own escape if any of the rest were lost."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here comes your man Jute," said Sir John Hume, addressing the earl. -"He will tell us how the others have fared."</p> - -<p class="normal">They walked on a little way to meet the man who was approaching; and -as soon as he was within ear shot the earl called to him, inquiring if -all were safe.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Two have gone to the bottom, my good lord," replied Austin; "the -master of our own boat for one, and the same fellow who tried so hard -to drag me down with him. For the former I am sorry enough; for he -seemed a good cheerful-minded man; but for the latter I don't care a -rush; and, to say truth, I believe he may be as well where he is. He -followed us down to the boat, my lord," continued Jute, in a whisper -to the earl, "and jumped in, willy nilly, just as we were putting off. -I've a great notion he had no good will to my young lady, for he kept -his eyes fixed upon us the whole time, as if ready to make a spring at -us as soon as we got out of the boat."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You must tell me more by and by," said the earl. "Now let us -forward."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, with Julia's arm drawn through his own, he walked slowly -on towards the group which was standing on the bank, while Hume -followed, conversing with Mr. Rhind, whom he seemed to be teazing by -exciting his curiosity in regard to Julia, without satisfying him by a -single word. Such broken sentences as, "Oh, very beautiful indeed. -Don't you think so?--Quite a mystery altogether--I can tell you -nothing about it, for I know nothing--Gowrie has known her a long -time--Her name? Lord bless you! my dear sir, I don't know her name, I -hardly know my own sometimes--" reached Gowrie's ear from time to -time, and brought a serious smile upon his lip. At length, however, -they approached the group upon the bank, and found the whole of the -Italians much more taken up with grief for the various losses they had -sustained than with joy at their own escape from a watery grave. The -brother of the man Mantini, who had been drowned, was sitting upon the -sand, pouring forth a mixture of strange lamentations, sometimes for -the boat, sometimes for his brother. The other old fisherman and his -two sons were wringing their hands, and bemoaning the ruinous accident -which had befallen them. The old man could not be comforted; and his -sons seemed to increase the paroxysms of his grief from time to time -by recapitulating the various perfections of their little craft, and -the sums of money which had been expended upon her. Lord Gowrie, -however, contrived very speedily to tranquillize their somewhat -clamorous grief by saying, "Do not wring your hands so, my good man; -you lost your boat in my service, and the best you can buy or build to -replace it, you shall have at my cost. Show us now the way to that -village, for I see no path towards it; and come and see whether you -can procure some lodging for us there during the night. I dare say you -know most of the good people there, and can tell us where we can find -rest and provisions."</p> - -<p class="normal">The old man declared that the best of everything was to be found at -the village, though there was a better inn, he said, at Occhiobello, -which was not above three quarters of a mile farther.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That makes all the difference to the lady," replied the earl; "and we -shall do very well at the village for the night."</p> - -<p class="normal">He then approached the younger Mantini, and attempted to comfort him -as he had done the other boatman, by promising to pay the amount of -his loss.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That wont buy back my brother," said the man, sadly. "I should not -have cared a straw about the old boat if it had not been for that."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is God's doing, not man's," replied the earl; "and man cannot -undo it. This should be some comfort, for he deals better for us than -we could deal for ourselves; but think of what I have said, and let me -know the expense of a new boat, this night at the village there. Can -you tell who was the other unfortunate man who has been drowned?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"His name I don't know," answered the boatman; "but when I wanted to -keep him out of the boat, which was too heavy laden as it was, he -whispered that he was a messenger of the holy office, and told me to -refuse him a passage at my peril. He brought a curse into our boat, I -trow, or we should not have had such a storm; but there is no use of -my sitting here and watching the water. Two horses and two men have -gone down beside the boat, and no one will ever rise again till the -last trumpet calls them out of the grave. I may as well go with you to -the village as sit here watching the water that rolls over them all;" -and getting up, he followed the rest of the party with his hands -behind his back, in dull and silent grief.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER VIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Do you know well, dear reader, any of those large villages which are -scattered over what may be called the Mantuan plain? They deserve not, -indeed, the name of towns, though they often approach them in size. I -mean such places as San Felice, Gonzaga, Bozzolo, Sanguinetto, and -others of that class, which now present a number of small scattered -stone houses, with gardens generally around them, and a road running -through the midst; and here and there a much larger house falling -rapidly to decay, with no windows to keep out the storm or the -tempest, and very often the roof completely off, while the tall square -tower, which is certain to be found stuck somewhere about the -building, rises one, if not two stories above the rest. The church is -generally placed upon any little rising ground, sometimes at one -extreme of the village, sometimes in the middle, with the priest's -cottage close by; but in any of these at the present day, you might as -well look for an inn as for the shop of a diamond merchant, unless you -chose to call by that name the little hovel, surrounded by a garden, -where, on festival days, the peasantry go to drink their glass of -Rosolio and water, wine, lemonade, or, since the Austrians have -bestrid the land, vermouth.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the days I speak of, however, when journeys were almost always -performed on horseback, and cross-roads shared more liberally with -highways in the patronage of travellers, those larger houses which I -have mentioned were all inhabited by wealthy contadini, who often -combined with their ordinary occupation of farmers the more lucrative -calling of inn-keeping. The large farms which they held furnished -abundance of provisions for any accidental guests, and the upper parts -of the house, though scantily decorated, were kept ready for the -reception of travellers, in case the blessing of heaven, the plague in -a neighbouring town, or the bad reputation of the high road, brought -the wayfarers to villages in preference to cities. Very different, -indeed, were the customs and habits of such inns at that time, from -those which have prevailed within the last century, or, perhaps, even -more; for though not more than two hundred and fifty years have -passed, yet from the end of the sixteenth to the beginning of the -seventeenth century, were times of great change in the habits and -manners of all the nations of Europe; and at the small village inn in -Italy, instead of seeing waiters, tapsters, or drawers, or even -barmaids and chambermaids, all running eagerly to receive the -unexpected guest, the landlord would rise up from under his fig tree -or his olive, with a courteous salutation, and his sons and daughters -would be called upon to attend his guests.</p> - -<p class="normal">Such was the reception of the Earl of Gowrie and his companions, at -the little inn in the village which I have described upon the banks of -the Po. One of the first houses they met with was a large building, -such as I have described, with its tall square tower of five stories -at one corner, the whole situated at the distance of a hundred yards -from the road, with a farm-yard in front. On the left of that -farm-yard was a vineyard, rich with grapes; and from a pole leaning -over the wall, hung suspended a garland, as indication sufficient that -hospitable entertainment was to be found within. The host himself was -seated under a tree in the vineyard, <i>pigliar la fresca</i>, as he called -it himself; but no sooner did he see the party enter the court-yard, -than up he started, notwithstanding his age and his fat, both of which -were considerable, and hurrying forward to do the honours to his -guests, called loudly for Bianca and Maria, and Pietronillo, to assist -in making the visitors comfortable. The whole house was bustle and -confusion in a moment; and although it could not afford accommodation -to all, yet the Earl of Gowrie and his own immediate companions found -every thing they could desire. Austin Jute was immediately sent back -to bring his fellow-servants, who were coming down the river with the -horses; and the boatmen were lodged in the neighbouring houses, to -fill the pitying ears of the villagers with moving tales of disasters -undergone.</p> - -<p class="normal">Such details were not wanting to excite the interest, and in some -degree the wonder of the host, his daughters, and his son. There was -something in the air, the countenance, and even in the dress of the -gentlemen who made the house their temporary residence, which seemed -to show that they were foreigners; yet two of them spoke the language -with the most perfect purity even of accent, and not the slightest -tone of their fair companion indicated that she was not a native of -the country. But then, in her case, her dress was that of a mere -Paduan peasant on a gala day, while her language, her manners, and her -whole appearance, denoted a much higher station, and from time to time -she spoke to her companions in another tongue, without the slightest -appearance of difficulty or hesitation. The pretty country girl, too, -who aided her to change her wet garments for others which she kindly -and willingly supplied, brought down the report that every part of her -dress but the mere gown and bodice, were of the very finest materials, -and that she had taken from her bosom a trinket shaped like a heart, -surrounded with what seemed to her, jewels of inestimable value.</p> - -<p class="normal">The rooms which were assigned to the travellers were somewhat -difficult to allot, for each, as was and is still very common in -Italian houses, opened into the other; and the young earl had -determined that thenceforth Julia should be guarded by himself. When -he pointed out, therefore, as they passed through them, the end -chamber of the whole suite as that which was best suited to her, and -took possession of the next for himself, good Mr. Rhind's severe -notions seemed a little shocked, and though he did not venture to make -any observation, he looked exceedingly grave.</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie took no notice, though he did not fail to remark the -change of expression, for from the few private words which had passed -between himself and Julia, he felt that the time had come when it -would be necessary very speedily to give whatever explanation he -thought needful. It could not, indeed, be afforded at the moment, but -a few minutes after, stopping one of the daughters of the host, he -said, "Stay a moment, Bianchina. The signora may be alarmed at -sleeping in a strange house alone. You must kindly take the other bed -in her chamber."</p> - -<p class="normal">"With much pleasure, sir," replied the girl, and tripped away. This -being arranged to the satisfaction of Lord Gowrie, and even to that of -Mr. Rhind, there remained another feat to be accomplished, which was, -to obtain a quiet unwatched private conversation with Julia, in which -he might learn all that had befallen her. The few words which she had -spoken on the bank of the river had given him a general knowledge of -the greater misfortunes which had happened, but to a heart that loved -as his did, the smallest particular, the most minute detail was -interesting. He longed to hear her tell all, to comfort her for all, -and his imagination, which was quick and eager, painted all that she -had endured--the sorrow, the terror, the agitation. He grieved -bitterly that he had not been present to protect and to console her at -the time when such evils had over-shadowed and such difficulties -obstructed her path of life, and he thirsted to pour the balm of -sympathy and affection into the gentle heart so bruised.</p> - -<p class="normal">Many an obstacle presented itself, however, during the next hour, to -any private communication. The whole house was in a bustle; beds were -to be made, rooms arranged, supper prepared. Julia had to change her -dripping garments and to obtain others; the earl to give various -orders, and to bestow the promised compensation upon the boatmen; the -host, his son, his daughters, and a maid were running from room to -room, and chattering with everybody; the servants who had been left to -follow with the horses arrived to increase the numbers and the -confusion, and some time after Austin Jute made his appearance, -bearing the little packet which Julia had carried with her from Padua.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing is lost," he observed, "but what is at the bottom of the sea. -Search saves seeking. All deep things have a bottom."</p> - -<p class="normal">It was easier to obtain speech of him than of Julia at that moment, -and the earl soon learned all that Austin himself knew--the death of -good old Manucci, the wild and absurd rumours which had spread after -his decease, and the risk which the beautiful girl herself had run of -being committed to prison upon the charge of taking part in the old -man's supposed unlawful arts, and being imbued with heretical notions. -The means taken to effect her escape were then detailed, and Austin -Jute went on to say, "We got on very well that night, my lord, and -reached a little country inn which I remembered well, at Battaglia, -where, although the accommodation was poor enough, I thought we should -be in safety. I was forced to tell many a lie, it is true, and say -that the young lady was my sister, which the people believed, because -we spoke nothing but English to each other, although the family -likeness is not very great, and she was dressed like an Italian girl. -The next morning, however, I found that there were people out in -pursuit of us. One of the sparrow-hawks had stopped at the inn in the -night to refresh his horse and himself; and refreshing himself -somewhat too much, he chattered about his errand, for when the wine is -in, the wit is out, my lord. The people of the place were all agog -about it, for they had not had a bit of sorcery and heresy for a long -time; and from their talk I found that he was going towards Rovigo to -give orders at the ferries and the bridges for apprehending us. That -forced us to turn out of our way, and cross the Adige higher up; but I -made up for lost time by selling the two asses, and buying two good -horses, and we crossed the country between the Adige and the Po quick -enough. The difficulty was how to get over this great river, for I did -not doubt that our picture had been painted at every passage house; -and besides, I had seen, two or three times, a man who seemed to me -watching us. I went along the bank, therefore, till I found the boat -in which we did try to cross just ready to start with some of the -peasants. For a high bribe the man agreed to take us and our horses, -though it's against the law; but just as we were putting off, down -came the black looking fellow whom I had seen several times following, -jumped off his horse, tied the beast to the boat post, and forced his -way into the boat. All the rest you know, my lord, and all I can say -is, if he was upon a bad errand, the fellow has gone to answer for it. -He tried hard to drown me, but I would not let him."</p> - -<p class="normal">Such was Austin Jute's brief tale; and in a few minutes after, the -boatman, Mantini, came in to receive what had been promised him. His -calculation regarding the value of the boat which had been lost seemed -to be just and even moderate; and after having paid him his demand, -the earl added ten Venetian ducats more.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot recall your brother to life, my good friend," said Gowrie, -"nor can I compensate for his loss to you and others; but if he has -left any children, distribute that small sum amongst them, on the part -of a foreign gentleman who sincerely commiserates their misfortune."</p> - -<p class="normal">The rough boatman, with the quick emotions of the south, caught his -hand and kissed it, saying, "God bless you, sir!" He then turned away -towards the door, but paused before he reached it, and coming back, he -said in a low voice, "I hear you know the signora who was in our boat; -and I think, from the way you looked at her, that you love her. If so, -start to-morrow morning at daybreak, avoid Ferara and all this side of -Italy, and get into the Parmesan, or some place where they will not -look for you."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl gazed at him for a moment in silence, and then replied, "This -is indeed a valuable hint, my good friend, if you have just cause for -suspecting any evil intended against us. So far I will acknowledge you -are right: the young lady is well known to me, and her safety is -dearer to me than my own."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I <i>have</i> just cause, signor," replied the man. "The river has -delivered the signora from one of those who were pursuing her, but -there are others watching for her at Ferara, and all along the course -of the stream. The man who came into our boat just as we were putting -off--he who was drowned, I mean--told me, in a whisper, that he was a -messenger of the holy office, and bade me run to Occhiobello at once, -to ask the podesta for assistance to apprehend the lady and the man -who was with her, as soon as we landed from the boat. It was that made -me say he brought a curse with him, for he seemed to rejoice as much -at the thought of catching a poor young thing like that, as others -would at making her happy. I heard all about the plans they had laid -for taking her; and he said it was the duty of every one to give -instant information. I shall give none, and you are safe for me; but -there are other people here who will be chattering, and the noise of -the loss of the two boats, and the drowning of two men, will bring -plenty of inquiries to-morrow morning. If I can put them on a wrong -scent, however, I will."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl thanked him warmly for his information, and then held a -hurried consultation with Hume, to which, at the end of a few minutes, -Austin Jute was called. It was evident, no time was to be lost in -preparing for a very early departure on the following morning. Horses -had to be purchased, to supply the place of those which had been -drowned; and it seemed also needful to procure a different dress for -Julia, as it was now clear that the persons in pursuit of her had -obtained information of the costume in which she had left Padua; and -moreover, her travelling in the garments of a peasant girl, with three -gentlemen in a high station in society, would assuredly attract -attention at every inn where they stopped. Where or how this change of -apparel was to be obtained, proved a very puzzling question; for -although the use of ready-made garments was in that day much more -common than at present, yet it was not to be expected that the village -could supply such, nor that even Occhiobello possessed a shop where -anything of the kind could be obtained.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will go and talk to one of the girls of the house about it," said -Hume. "There is supper being served, I see. You go in, Gowrie, and -partake, while I seize upon Bianchina or her sister, and try to -discover what is to be done."</p> - -<p class="normal">He was more fortunate than might have been anticipated, for he found -the two daughters of the innkeeper together, and quite willing to -enter into conversation or gossip upon any subject he chose. -Nevertheless, it was not very easy to explain to them what he wanted, -without explaining, at the same time, Julia's dangerous and painful -situation; but when he had at length accomplished the task, well or -ill, the younger girl looked at her sister with an expression of -intelligence.</p> - -<p class="normal">"So," she said, "the lady wants a dress, does she? and that is all. -Well, I think that can be easily procured for her. Don't you remember, -Bianca, the Venetian lady who was here last year, and left a coffre -behind her?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well," replied the other sister, looking shrewdly at Sir John Hume, -"I thought, when first I set eyes on her, that the signora was not -peasant born. Now, I'll warrant me, she has stolen away in disguise -from home, some dark night, to meet her lover here; and the wild river -had well nigh given them a mournful bridal bed--'tis very strange that -all the elements seem to make war against love. I never yet heard of -any of these stolen matches going forward without being crossed for a -while by storms and accidents."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir John Hume thought it might be no bad policy to suffer the turn -which the light-hearted girl had given to the fair Julia's flight and -disguise, to remain uncontradicted; and he replied, laughing, "Well, -thou art a little divineress. Don't you think I'm a proper man for any -fair lady to run away from home to mate with?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," answered the girl, with a shrewd glance; "it is not you she -came to mate with; it is your friend; and you stand by, like the dog -by his master's chair, watching the good things provided for him, and -only taking what scraps he gives you--Ha! ha! gay signor, have I -touched you?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"By my faith you have, and hit hard," replied Sir John Hume; "but I -will have a kiss for that, Bianchina, before we part."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It must be in the dark, then," cried the girl, laughing, "for fear I -should see your face and not like it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But about this Venetian lady's goods and chattels, my two pretty -maids," said the young knight, recurring to the subject. "We cannot -break her coffre open and steal her apparel."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Trouble not your brain with that, gay signor," answered the girl -Maria. "We will not make you take part in robbery."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Unless you steal my heart, and I lose it willingly," replied the -knight.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No fear of that; it is not worth stealing," replied the girl. "If it -has been bestowed on every country girl you meet, it must be well nigh -worn out by this time. As to the apparel, it belongs to us, now. That -sweet lady's case was much of the same sort as this one's. She fled -from a hard father at Venice, and came hither to meet her lover, and -fly with him to Bergamo; but, by some mischance, it was nine whole -days before he found her, and all that time we hid her close, though -the pursuers tracked her almost to our door. We used to sit with her, -too, and comfort her, and talk of love, and how fortune often favoured -it at last, after having crossed it long. At the end of the nine days, -the young marquis came and found her; but as they were obliged to fly -for their lives on horseback, the coffre was left behind; and when she -got home and was married, she wrote to bid us keep it for her love, -and divide the contents between us. They are not garments fit for such -as we are; long black robes, which would cover our feet and ankles, -and trail upon the ground, mantles and hoods, and veils of Venice -lace. We cut up one velvet cloak, to make us bodices for holidays, but -that is all we have taken yet; and we can well spare the lady garments -enough for her journey, and more becoming her than those which now she -wears."</p> - -<p class="normal">This was very satisfactory news to the young Earl of Gowrie, when his -friend joined him at supper, after parting from the two gay girls -above, with an adieu better suited to the manners of that day than to -our notions in the present times. As soon as supper was over, he -hastened with his friend and Julia to conclude the bargain for the -contents of the Venetian lady's coffre; and, to say truth, though -good-humoured, lively, and kind-hearted, the innkeeper's two daughters -showed a full appreciation of that with which they were parting, and -did not suffer it to go below its value. To make up, however, for this -little trait of interestedness, Maria and Bianchina set instantly to -work with needles and thread and scissors, to make the garments fit -their new owner; and leaving Julia with them, after a whispered -petition that she would join him soon in the gardens, the earl went -down again to the eating room, purposing at once to enter in -explanation with Mr. Rhind, in order to save grave looks or -admonitions for the future.</p> - -<p class="normal">He found his former tutor, however, sound asleep, worn out with the -fatigues and anxieties of the day, and soothed to slumber by a hearty -supper and a stoup of as good wine as the village could afford.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Faith, Gowrie," said Sir John Hume, "I could well nigh follow old -Rhind's example; but I may as well stroll through the village first, -and see what is going on. There is nothing like keeping watch and -ward. Will you come?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl, however, declined, and strolled out into the gardens, which -extended to the banks of that little river which, taking its rise -somewhat above Nonantola, joins the Po not much higher up than -Occhiobello.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER IX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The moon was clear in the heaven, the skies in which she shone were of -that deep intense blue which no European land but Italy or Spain can -display; there was an effulgence in her light, which mingled the rays -with the deep blue woof of the night heavens so strongly, that the -stars themselves seemed vanquished in the strife for the empire of the -sky, and looked out but faint and feeble.</p> - -<p class="normal">In a small arbour covered with vines, on the bank of the stream, sat -the lady Julia and her lover. The bright rays of the orb of night -floated lightly on the water, changing the dark flowing mass into -liquid silver, while a hazy light poured through the olive, the fig, -and the vine, giving a faint mysterious aspect to the innumerable -trees, and enlivening various spots upon the dull, cold, gray earth, -with the yellow radiance of the queen of night.</p> - -<p class="normal">I believe it is as fruitless as difficult to try to analyse the -feelings of the human heart, when that heart is strongly moved by the -impulses implanted in it by nature, called into activity by accidental -and concurring circumstances. That nature has laid down a rule, and -that the heart always acts upon it with more or less energy, according -to its original powers, I do strongly believe; but it seems to me -fruitless, or at all events but little beneficial, to investigate why -certain bosoms, especially those of southern climates, are moved by -more warm and eager feelings than others. The operation of man's mind -and of his heart are as yet mysteries; and no one who has ever written -upon the subject has done more than take the facts as they found them, -without at all approaching the causes. We talk of eager love; we speak -of the warm blood of the south; we name certain classes of our -fellow-beings, excitable, and others, phlegmatic; but we ourselves -little understand what we mean when we apply such terms, and never try -to dive into the sources of the qualities or the emotions we indicate. -We ask not how much is due to education, how much to nature; and never -think of the immense sum of co-operating causes which go to form that -which is in reality education. Is man or woman merely educated by the -lessons of a master, or the instructions and exhortations of a parent? -Are not the acts we witness, the words we hear, the scenes with which -we are familiar, parts of our education? Is not the Swiss or the -Highlander of every land educated in part by his mountains, his -valleys, his lakes, his torrents? Is not the inhabitant of cities -subjected to certain permanent impressions by the constant presence of -crowds and the everlasting pressure of his fellow-men? Does not the -burning sun, the arid desert, the hot blast, teach lessons never -forgotten, and which become part of nature to one class of men; and -frozen plains, and lengthened winters, and long nights, other lessons -to the natives of a different region? Give man what instruction you -will, by spoken words or written signs, there is another education -going on for ever, not only for individuals, but for nations, in the -works of God around them, and in the circumstances with which his will -has encompassed their destiny.</p> - -<p class="normal">Perhaps no two people upon earth had ever been educated more -differently than the two who sat together in that garden, and yet, -strange to say, in the character of each had been produced traits -which, while they left a strong distinction, disposed to the most -perfect harmony. Gowrie, born amidst rich and wild scenery, had passed -his earliest days in troublous and perilous events. Constant activity, -manly exercises, dangerous sports, and wild adventures, had been -alternated with calm study; and acting on a mind of an inquiring and -philosophic turn, and a frame naturally robust, had increased and -early matured the powers of each. Thus had passed his days to the age -of seventeen, and then a perfect change had taken place in his course -of life. Removed to Padua, he had devoted himself for some years -solely to the cultivation of his understanding; and had followed -eagerly, and with extraordinary success, inquiries not alone into the -lore of ancient days, but into those physical sciences which were then -known but to a few, and often perilous to the possessor. Love had come -at length to complete the education of the heart, just when the -education of body and mind was accomplished.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia, on the contrary, had been snatched, at a period beyond her -memory, from the dangers and difficulties which had surrounded her -infancy. She had passed the whole period of early youth in calm and -quiet studies, directed to unite every grace and accomplishment with -strength of mind and firmness of principle. No tender, no gentle -affection had been crushed; her spirit had been embittered by no -harshness; her heart had been injured by no disappointment; no -rankling memory of any kind was in her bosom, and her affections had -been cultivated as well as her understanding. Bright and cheerful, -deep-feeling, and true by nature, a sense of duty had been given her -as a guide and not a tyrant; and her attachments and her enjoyments, -limited to a very small sphere, had gained intensity from their -concentration upon few objects.</p> - -<p class="normal">And there they now sat, side by side, with her hand locked in his, -telling and hearing the tale of the first great griefs which she had -ever known. Youth forms but a faint idea of mortality till the dark -proofs are placed tangibly before its eyes. We know that those we love -must die; but hope still removes the period, and draws a veil over the -terrors of death. She had sometimes sat and thought of it--especially -when her old relation had pointed out that the great enemy of the -mortal frame was approaching more and more closely to himself--but she -had never been able to realize the grim features as they appeared to -her now, when she had seen them near; and now, when she spoke of the -loss of him in whom, for so many years, all her feelings and her -thoughts had centered, she leaned her head upon Gowrie's shoulder, and -the tears flowed fast.</p> - -<p class="normal">It was natural--it was very natural that she should cling with but the -stronger affection to him who now sat beside her. The first strong -love of woman's heart had been given to him, and that is intense and -absorbing enough; but he was now the only one; there was no partition -of affection with any other being in the world; neither brothers nor -sisters, nor parents nor friends, shared her thoughts or divided her -attachment. The cup of love was full to the brim. Not one drop had -been spilt; and it was all his own.</p> - -<p class="normal">Nor were his feelings less intense towards her, though different; for -man's part is ever different in the great moving passion of youth. To -protect, to defend, to befriend, is his allotted portion of the -compact between man and woman; and to feel that he was all in all to -her, that she had none to look to but him, that then and for ever her -fate rested on his power and his will, that his arm must be her stay, -his spirit her guide, his love her consolation, rendered the deep -passion which her beauty, her grace, her gentleness first kindled, but -the more warm and ardent. It was pure, and high, and noble, too. He -forgot not at that moment the promises which Manucci had exacted from -him. He proposed not to himself or her to break them. He told her all -that had passed; and though he expressed regret that such delay must -interpose before he could call her his own, and showed how much -easier, safer, and happier their course would be, if she could at once -give him her hand at the altar, yet he expressed no desire at that -time to deviate from the conduct pointed out. Pledged to follow it, it -seemed to him but as a road traced on a map, which, though circuitous, -would lead in the end to happiness, and from which they could not turn -aside without losing their way entirely. It was only how they could -best tread that path that they considered; and there, indeed, much was -to be thought of and provided for. The first object was to place the -fair girl in safety; for although a sad smile came upon her -countenance at the absurdity of the accusation, when she spoke of the -suspicions entertained against her, yet those were days when innocence -was no safeguard, and the unreasonableness of a charge was no -security. The only course to be followed seemed that which had been -pointed out by the boatman, Mantini--namely, to ascend the river as -rapidly as possible, without venturing into the Venetian territory, -and then to pass straight through Piedmont and France, to England.</p> - -<p class="normal">"We shall have time enough, as we go, dear girl," said the young earl, -"to examine the papers which your grandfather gave me, and to judge -what our course must be when we reach Scotland. The first thing to be -thought of, however, is security, and therefore we had better set out -by daybreak. Doubtless, my good man Austin can procure a couple of -horses before that time, and if not, two of those which bear the -baggage must carry a saddle, and the packages follow by some other -conveyance."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will be ready when you bid me," replied Julia, "and do what you bid -me, Gowrie; but there was one injunction which he whom I have lost, -laid upon me, when he told me to accompany you to Scotland. He bade me -engage some women to go with me as servants, saying that it might seem -strange if I journeyed with you all alone.--I know not why it should -seem strange," she continued, raising her eyes to his face; "for whom -have I to trust in but you? and who, but you, has any right to protect -and guide me?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie smiled, and kissed the fair small hand he held in his; but he -answered at once, "He was very right, dear Julia. It <i>would</i> seem -strange; and men might make comments more painful even to me than to -you. The harsh, hard world neither sees, nor tries to see, men's -hearts; but wherever there is the opportunity of evil, supposes that -evil exists. Our poor friend was right; maids you shall have to go -with you; but it is impossible to engage them here: nor, indeed, would -it be prudent to attempt it. At Mantua, or Piacenza, we shall be more -free to act; and in the meantime I will tell good old Mr. Rhind of the -exact situation in which we are placed, to prevent him from coming to -any wrong conclusions--I mean the gentleman who sat next Sir John Hume -at supper; he was formerly my tutor, and will return with us to -England."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, yes; tell him--tell him," replied the lady, eagerly. "He gazed at -me often during the meal, and I felt the colour coming to my cheek, I -knew not why. It seemed as if he doubted me, and did not like my -presence with you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, it is not exactly so," replied her lover. "He is a good and -gentle-minded man, only somewhat too much a slave to the world's -opinion. As soon, however, as he knows all, he will be quite -satisfied, and aid us to the best of his power. And now, dear Julia, -seek your rest; for you will have but little time to repose; and we -must make quick journeys and long ones till danger is left behind."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl did not calculate altogether rightly upon Mr. Rhind's ready -acquiescence. Whether it was that he had been suddenly awakened in the -midst of his sleep by the landlord lighting the tapers in the eating -hall, or whether it was that the portion of wine he had taken, though -not sufficient to affect his intellect, had been enough to affect his -temper, I cannot tell; but certain it is, that he assumed a tone with -his former pupil which roused some feelings of anger.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I wish to speak with you, my lord," he said, as soon as Lord Gowrie -entered the room alone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And I with you, my dear sir," answered the young earl. "What is it -you desire to say?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, there is something very strange here, my lord," said the other, -while Gowrie seated himself. "You are suddenly and unexpectedly, as it -seems, joined by a young woman of very great beauty, with whom you are -evidently very well and intimately acquainted, but whom I have never -seen or heard of before. Now, my dear lord, neither my character nor -my principles will permit me----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Stop one moment," said the earl, interrupting him. "I wish to guard -against your saying anything that may be offensive to me, and which -you would yourself regret hereafter. Already you have used the term -'young woman,' when you should have said 'young lady,' for her -manners, as well as her appearance, should have taught you what her -station is. However, as I came here to explain to you my own position -and hers, I may as well go on, and save you needless questions. She is -a lady of birth equal to my own, with whom, as you say, I am well -acquainted, and have been so long. She is plighted to me to be my -bride; and but for the loss of her nearest, and indeed only kinsman in -this country, I should have gone on to find and claim her at Padua, -and would there have introduced you to her under more favourable -circumstances."</p> - -<p class="normal">He paused in thought for a moment, doubtful as to whether he should -tell Mr. Rhind the absurd suspicions under which her whom he loved had -fallen; for he knew his good tutor well, and did not believe that -those suspicions would appear so ridiculous in the eyes of his -companion as they were in his own.</p> - -<p class="normal">Mr. Rhind, however, instantly took advantage of his silence to reply. -"What you tell me, my lord, alarms me more than ever. What will your -lady mother--what will all your friends and relations think of your -marrying a strange Italian--a runaway, as it seems, from her home and -her family, a follower, of course, of Popish superstitions and -idolatries, a worshipper of the beast, a disciple of the antiChrist of -Rome? I must desire and insist----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"You will insist upon nothing with me, Mr. Rhind," replied Gowrie, in -a low, but somewhat stern tone. "Pray do not forget yourself; but -remember that your authority over my actions has long ceased to -exist--had, indeed, ceased before I made this lady's acquaintance. Old -friendship, respect for your virtues, and personal affection, may -induce me to condescend so far as to give you explanations of my -conduct and my purposes; but it must be upon the condition that you -lay aside that tone altogether."</p> - -<p class="normal">Mr. Rhind found that he had gone a little too far; but yet he did not -choose altogether to abandon his purpose, and he replied, "Well, my -lord, my part can very soon be taken. It is true, as you say, that you -are your own master; but still I have a duty to you and to your family -to perform, which I must and will fulfil, and, having done so, we can -then part upon our several ways if you think fit. That duty is to -represent to you the consequences of a course----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Of which you know nothing," answered the earl, "being utterly and -entirely ignorant of the whole facts, and assuming a number of -positions, every one of which is false. Your logic and your prudence -have both failed you, my good sir; and as you still speak in a tone I -dislike, I think it will be much better to drop a discussion which -seems only likely to end in a diminution of both my respect and my -friendship."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are very hard upon me, my lord," replied Mr. Rhind. "I am not -conscious of having deserved such treatment, and all I can say is, if -I have done so, I am ready to make any atonement in my power, as soon -as you show me that such is the case."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That I can show you instantly," answered Lord Gowrie; "for I am sorry -to say that you have undoubtedly erred in every one of your -conclusions, and should have known me better than to suppose that I -would act in a manner derogatory to my character, to my station, and -to the faith in which I have been brought up."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The passions of young men," said Mr. Rhind, gravely, "will often lead -them to act contrary even to their own judgment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I might reply to that observation somewhat severely," said the earl, -conquering a strong inclination to retaliate; "but I will not do so, -and will merely show you, how you have suffered prejudice to warp your -own judgment. You have said the lady is an Italian. On the contrary, -she is my own countrywoman, the daughter of a house as noble as my -own. You have said that she is a papist, a worshipper of the beast, a -follower of the antichrist of Rome. These are harsh words, sir; and -they are all false. She is a protestant. Her father was a protestant, -her mother, her grandfather. As to the latter, by whom she was -educated, he was driven from his native country on account of his -testimony against the superstitious vanities of that very church of -Rome--do not interrupt me.--You have said that she is a runaway from -her family and friends. There you are as much in error as in all the -rest. She has fled to me, on the death of her only surviving relation -in this country, to escape persecution; and one of the principal -charges upon which that persecution is founded, is that she could -never be brought to attend upon the superstitious observance of -confession, or ask absolution at the hands of a mortal like herself. -And now, my good sir, having heard the facts, let me tell you my -intentions. I have undertaken to escort this young lady back to her -native country of Scotland; to claim for her, and if possible to -restore to her the estates of which she has been unjustly deprived; -and I have promised to make her my wife at the end of about twelve -months from this time. All this I will perform to the letter. Nay -more, I should conceive it a duty, in the situation in which she is -placed, to urge her at once to give me her hand, had I not bound -myself solemnly to refrain till the period I have mentioned is past. -This promise I will also keep, though in keeping it I render the rest -of the task I have undertaken more delicate and difficult; but of -course I shall consider it a duty to take every means in my power, by -all tokens of outward reverence and respect, to shield her, not only -from reproach but from suspicion, while travelling under my protection -to her native land. You may aid me to do so if you will, and in so -doing, I believe you will be performing a Christian act; but still, if -after what I have said you entertain any hesitation, I do not press -you to do so, and leave you to act perfectly as you think fit."</p> - -<p class="normal">Mr. Rhind had bent down his head, feeling, with a good deal of -bitterness, that he had placed himself greatly in the wrong; and that -although he might still entertain great objections to the course which -the young earl was determined to pursue, and be anxious to urge upon -him considerations to which he attached great importance, his -arguments would seem weak and without force, after the injustice of -his first conclusions had been so completely proved. There was a -little struggle in his breast between mortified vanity and the -consciousness of having shown himself rash and prejudiced; but various -prudential considerations arrayed themselves on the side of humility, -and he answered, in a low and deprecatory tone, "I grieve most -sincerely that I have done the young lady wrong; and I rejoice most -sincerely, my lord, to find that whatever other objections may exist, -your affections have been fixed upon one so sincerely attached to the -protestant faith. My only apprehension now is, as to what your lady -mother may think of such an engagement entered into without her -knowledge and consent."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Leave me to deal with my mother, my dear sir," replied the earl; "I -know her better than you do, and entertain no fear of the result. She -is far too wise a woman to assume authority where she possesses none, -but that which affection and reverence give her. Nay, more, she is too -kind and too noble not to approve of what I have done and what I -intend to do, when she finds that no reasonable objection stands in -the way of my affection, and that the object of my love is in herself -worthy of it. Do I understand you right that it is your purpose to -bear me company as heretofore, and to assist me in escorting this -young lady to her own land with decency and propriety?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Most assuredly, my dear lord," replied Mr. Rhind, "if you will accept -my services; and I do hope and trust that you will not mention to the -young lady the prejudices I somewhat rashly entertained, for it might -lose me her favour, and make her look upon me as an enemy instead of a -friend."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie smiled, and gave him his hand, saying, "Make your mind -quite easy on that score. I will make no mischief, my dear sir. And -now we had better all perhaps seek repose, as it will be needful for -us to set off by daylight to-morrow, and to alter our whole course, -taking the way towards Piacenza, as I dare not cross any part of the -Venetian territory, lest my beautiful Julia should fall into the hands -of the hateful Inquisition."</p> - -<p class="normal">"God forbid!" exclaimed Mr. Rhind, to whom the Inquisition was an -object of the utmost terror and abhorrence. "If she run such risks for -conscience sake, well may the dear lady merit the love and reverence -of all good men."</p> - -<p class="normal">The treaty of peace thus concluded, the earl and his former tutor -parted for the night; and Gowrie proceeded to inquire what had become -of Hume, and to ascertain the result of Austin Jute's efforts to -procure horses for their journey of the following day.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER X.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">On one of the spurs of the Apennines, where that large chain, which -forms as it were the spine of Southern Italy, approaches most closely -to the Mediterranean at its northern extremity, just about half way -between the fair town of Piacenza and the frontiers of Piedmont, there -stood in those days, and there stands still, an inn, to which the -inhabitants of the neighbouring city frequently resort in the summer -months, to enjoy the cool upland air and the beautiful scenery. It is -situated a little higher up than Borgonovo, and then bore the name of -La Festa Galante. The scenery round is wild and uncultivated, but full -of picturesque beauty, with myrtle-covered hills sloping down gently -to the wide plains of Lombardy, which lie stretching out to an immense -extent till sight is lost in the blue distance. Ten days after the -events which I have related in the last chapter, the Earl of Gowrie -and his fair companion were seated on the slope of the hill, at about -a quarter of a mile from the inn, gazing down with delight on the -splendid landscape beneath them, while the setting sun poured his last -rays over the mountains and the plain, and gilded the steeples and the -towers of Piacenza, making the city look much nearer than it really -was. The distance might be some seventeen or eighteen miles, and the -period of the year had passed when the inhabitants of the town were -accustomed to come thither to escape the heated streets and crowded -thoroughfares. There were no other guests in the house but the earl -and his party; and a more quiet and secluded spot could not well have -been chosen for fugitives to rest after a long flight, or lovers to -pass a few days of happy repose. The proximity of another state, too, -by crossing the frontier of which security could soon be obtained, -might be one reason why the earl had selected that spot as a place of -temporary sojourn after the fatigues and anxieties which Julia had -lately endured, for Voghera was not farther distant than Piacenza, and -the actual boundary was within two miles of the inn.</p> - -<p class="normal">All was calm and still around them. Mr. Rhind sat reading a little -farther down the hill. A servant girl, who, with a sort of adventurous -spirit which often characterizes the peasantry of that part of the -country, had agreed to quit her home at Borgonovo, and accompany the -strangers into distant lands, was plying the busy needle within call. -The sleepy evening sunshine and the blue shadow crept in longer and -longer lines over the short turf and the scattered myrtle bushes, and -overhead, stretched out like a canopy, the broad dark branches of four -or five gigantic pines, while, at a little distance along the face of -the hill, was seen peeping out a Palladian villa, with large chesnut -trees, serving rather to break the hard straight lines than to conceal -that a house stood there. The villa indeed was uninhabited, for its -owner had retired into the city for the cooler and more rainy months -of winter; but still it gave to a scene unusually wild that air of -habitation and society which, under most circumstances, is pleasant -from the associations produced.</p> - -<p class="normal">Their conversation was not gay, but it was cheerful--far more cheerful -than it had been since last they met; for memory of the dead had -darkened the horizon behind them, and frequent apprehension had spread -clouds over the prospect before. At several places where they had -stopped by the way, causes of alarm had occurred; and even at Piacenza -they had found reason to doubt their security. A man, who had known -Mr. Rhind in Padua, had met him in the streets, and told him a -distorted tale of poor Manucci's death and Julia's flight, declaring -boldly that the old man had been addicted to unlawful arts, and that -it was suspected his granddaughter had aided him in their pursuit. He -added, however--what neutralized in the mind of his hearer the effect -of his tale, as far as poor Julia was concerned--that she was clearly -guilty, because she had never been known to come to confession or seek -absolution of the priest. Now, however, both Gowrie and her he loved -felt in security, for he had taken measures to guard against surprise; -and the memory of the loss she had lately sustained had been somewhat -softened by time and the rapid passing of many stirring events. Gowrie -strove to cheer her, to remove apprehension, to efface the traces of -the first deep sorrow she had known; and though gaiety would have -jarred with her feelings, yet a cheerful tone mingled with deep -thought, will often find its way to a heart which would reject direct -consolation and fly from painful merriment.</p> - -<p class="normal">On the preceding day she and Gowrie had read together the papers which -had been intrusted to him by Manucci, and the perusal had been sad; -for there she found the tale of all that her parents had suffered, and -though she could not but rejoice to feel that no disparity between her -own rank and that of her husband could make his friends look cold upon -her, yet the impression--at least the first impression--was -melancholy.</p> - -<p class="normal">He had marked it at the time, and would not recur to the subject now, -but spoke of other things of a lighter nature, but which had more or -less connexion with deeper and stronger feelings.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is indeed a fair spot of earth, this pleasant land of Italy," he -said, as they gazed over the scene before their eyes; "and yet, my -loved Julia, there is always something sad in it to my sight. The -memories of the glorious past contrast so strongly with the painful -realities of the present, that I can never enjoy these bright scenes -without wishing that a happier lot had been assigned to those who -inhabit them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But there are bright things here still," replied Julia; "if the glory -of arms is gone, the glory of arts still survives."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And policy has succeeded liberty," said Gowrie, with a faint smile; -"but let us not, love, dwell upon regrets. How gloriously the rays of -the setting sun are painting, almost with ethereal splendour, that -high <i>campanile</i> and the old castle by its side, while the purple -shadow, resting upon the village below, marks it out upon the -illuminated bosom of the hill. There may be more peace, perhaps, under -that obscurity, than in the sun-lighted towers above. I am resolved, -dear girl, to seek no glories. See!--even now the splendour is passing -away, and the gorgeous fabric is almost lost to sight. No, no! content -and happiness are jewels better worth the seeking than all that -ambition can offer or power can give."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thank Heaven you feel so," answered Julia; "but tell me, Gowrie, -something of your own land--of my land too--of our land. I fear me, -from the way in which you admire the scenes we pass through here, that -it wants that beauty which charms you so much."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" answered Gowrie; "it has beauties of its own, far different, -but not less great. Its skies are often full of clouds, and its air of -mists; rugged and stern are many of its features, and its winds are -cold and strong. But those clouds give infinite variety to all they -pass over; and if it be not a land of sunshine, it is at least a land -of gleams. The shadow and the light wreath themselves in airy dance -over the prospect, and the purple heath and yellow broom supply to us -the myrtle and the gentia, hardly less fragrant, and in nought less -beautiful. Then, the grey mists--let them not scare you--for when they -rise in the morning rays from out the valleys, winding themselves -round the tall hills, they look like a grey cloak trimmed with gold -wrapping the limbs of the giant genius of the land. Then, though the -features of the landscape are, as I have said, bold and rude, they -attain in the sublime what they lose in the beautiful, and striking -the imagination elevate the mind.--Yet there are many beauties too, -soft and gentle and pleasant to look upon; for it is not all the deep -dim lake, the rocky mountains, the roaring cataract; but there are -scenes as sweet and placid as any even in this bright land; and where -you find them, they seem like a smile upon a warrior's face in a -moment of peace and repose."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I shall love it, I am sure," replied Julia; "for though I have seen -but little of this wide world, yet I have often gazed at beautiful -pictures with feelings that I can hardly describe--a love and a -longing to penetrate into the deep glades, to roam amongst the rocky -hills, to trace the glistening river through the woods, to see how the -lake ends amongst the mountains, to solve all the mysteries which the -painter has left to be the sport of fancy. But I have ever, though -pleased with both, loved those pictures best which show me grand and -striking scenes. They seem to lift up my heart more directly unto God. -The rocks and mountains seem the steps of his temple, his altar on the -summit of the hills. But what like is your own place at Perth?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Our place," said Gowrie, pressing the small hand that lay in his; -"'tis a large old house in one of the most beautiful cities in the -land, with wide chambers and long galleries.--But look, my Julia, -there is a horseman coming along the road from Borgonovo, and spurring -hither at great speed. It must be my good fellow Austin, who is -watching there; and lo! there are two others following at a somewhat -slower pace. Hola, Catharina, call out the men! We need not fear the -coming of two men, if there be no more behind. I think that second -figure looks like Hume. He does not ride in the Italian fashion. But -still he could hardly have reached Padua, and followed us hither so -soon. The first is certainly Austin, and he spares not the spur."</p> - -<p class="normal">They stood and watched him, while some three or four servants, well -armed, as was the custom of that day, came out and ranged themselves -near their lord. In the meantime, the first horseman was lost to their -sight, plunging in amid some brown woods which lay at the bottom of -the slope. Then, re-appearing, he rode more slowly up the steep hill, -while the other two who followed were in turn concealed by the wood.</p> - -<p class="normal">In a few minutes, Austin Jute sprang to the ground by his lord's side, -saying, "Sir John Hume, my lord, is coming up; and I rode forward to -warn you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You should not have left the village, Austin," said the earl; "I bade -you stay, unless you saw cause for apprehension."</p> - -<p class="normal">"True, my lord," answered the man; "but I have other tidings too. Bad -tidings make the messenger ugly, so I told the good first. I fear you -will have to move in the cool of the evening, for there is a fat -dominican, a slink official, and two servitors, down there below, who, -I wot, seek no good to the signora. I talked with them easily, and -made myself as simple as a dove for their benefit. But there need be -no hurry and no fear, lady," he continued, seeing Julia's cheek turn -somewhat pale, with that sick-hearted feeling which comes upon us -amidst the anxieties of the world, when we have known a brief period -of repose, and the fiend of apprehension appears at our side again. -"Cheer up, cheer up! there are only four of them, and we more than -double their number. They wont get much help from the podesta, who is -an atheist, thank Heaven! Besides, full barrels roll slow, and they -are now filling themselves with both meat and drink. It was their -first call, and I bestowed on each of them a bottle of a wine which I -knew to be heady on an empty stomach."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here comes Hume," said the earl. "Keep watch on that point of rock, -Austin. In half an hour it will be dark; and methinks they will not -travel after sun-down."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If they do," answered Austin Jute, "I will undertake to rob them of -their breviaries, and make them think a single man a whole troop of -banditti; for, being cruel, they must be cowards--at least I never saw -those two bad things apart."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing of the kind, if you please, Jute," replied the earl, who had -little doubt, from long knowledge of his servant's character, that he -was very likely to execute in frolic what he proposed in jest. "Go -where I have told you, and watch the road well till night falls, or -till I tell you to return."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I suppose, if I see them trotting up, I may ride down to bid God -speed them, my lord?" said Jute, taking two or three steps away. "I -heard one of the learned professors at Padua say, 'Always meet a -coming evil;' and he added some Latin, which I don't recollect."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl did not reply, but turned to greet his friend Hume, who, as -gay and light-hearted as ever, shook his hand with a jest, saying, -"Here is a letter for you, Gowrie; may it bring good news, though it -came last from an evil place. Dear lady, you may well look lovely, for -you have turned the heads of all the doctors of Padua, only it -unluckily happens that the effect of beauty, like that of the sun, is -changed by what it shines upon, bringing forth fruits and flowers in -the garden and the field, and hatching viper's eggs upon a dunghill. -They all declare you are an enchantress; and though Gowrie and a great -many more may think the same thing, it is in a very different sense."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They do me great wrong," answered Julia, sadly; "and they did wrong -to him who is gone, for his whole mind was turned to doing good to his -fellow-men, and certainly never dreamed of evil. If all people were as -innocent of guile as he was, we should have a more peaceable world."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They are not very peaceable in Padua," replied Hume, "for there has -been a riot, and many broken heads. I have to thank it, perhaps, for -being here, however, for the worthy council of asses had well nigh -made up their minds to cause my arrest for having pronounced Gaelic, -Gaelic; and I do believe, if they did not understand Italian, they -would pronounce it magic also. Well, what news, Gowrie? If your -epistle be as placable as mine from the same hand, your affairs will -go smoothly, and happiness have a green turf to canter over. For my -part, I shall go through the rest of Europe like a shot out of a -culverin, till I stop rolling, at dear Beatrice's pretty little feet."</p> - -<p class="normal">While he had been speaking, Lord Gowrie had been examining the -contents of the letter which his friend had given him; and although -his eye had been straining eagerly on the page with a look almost -approaching to anxiety, as is the case with most men of strong -feelings, when they receive written tidings from distant friends, -there was a smile upon his lip which showed that the contents were not -unsatisfactory. We may as well look over his shoulder, however, while -he stands there with the letter in his hand, and read the words that -it contains for ourselves. Thus, then, the epistle ran:--</p> -<br> - -<p style="margin-left:10em; text-indent:-5em;">"To the Earl of Gowrie, our dear Son, with love and affectionate -greeting:</p> - -<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Son</span>,--Your letter of the 16th of August, by the hands of a trusty -messenger, reached us with speed; and seeing that there are therein -contained things of weight, anent which your mind is disquieted till -you shall hear from us, I write at once to let you know the mind of -your granduncle and myself. Having proved yourself on all occasions -wise and prudent, even beyond your years, you do well to write freely -of your purposes to those who have your love and interest much at -heart, notwithstanding that you are now of an age both to judge and -act for yourself without control. We doubt not, my dear son, that you -show your discretion in the choice you have made, and that the lady -Julia, of whom you write, is worthy of all commendation. We might have -wished you in such a matter to choose one known to us all, and with -whose friends we might have dealt in the ordinary way; but, as you -have made your choice, and love beareth hardly contradiction, we are -glad to find that she is one of your own countrywomen, of suitable -rank, and well nurtured, and also that she hath resisted stoutly all -lures to defection in a land of idolatry and well nigh heathenism. It -is comfortable, too, to find that you are not so hurried on by rash -and intemperate affections as to propose to wed this lady at once, but -inclined rather to wait till she has been brought amongst your own -friends, and has sought, if not recovered, the lands which you say are -her due: not that we need heed much whether she come to you, my son, -with a rich dowry or not, so that the other qualities be suitable; but -we are glad to find that both you and she are inclined to act with -discretion rather than hasty passion. Thus you will understand that I -have conceived a good opinion both of her heart and her understanding, -not only by what you write, which might be warped by the love of a -young man, but by her own acts, which speak in her praise. You may, -therefore, kiss her for me, as her dear mother, and tell her that she -shall have under my roof the care and kindness which is shown to her -other children by your fond parent,</p> - -<p style="text-indent:50%">"<span class="sc">Dorothea Gowrie</span>."</p> - -<p class="normal">"<i>Post Scriptum</i>.--I trust that your coming will be speedy, for it is -now many years since mine eyes beheld my son. Sir John Hume marries -your sister Beatrice, who is now in attendance upon the Queen's -Majesty. I have written to tell him he hath my consent, and put this -letter within his in one packet, not knowing where you may be when the -messenger reaches Padua."</p> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Without answering Sir John Hume, Gowrie gently took Julia in his arms, -and kissed her lips, saying, "I am commissioned, dear love, to give -you this kiss for one who is ready and well pleased to receive you as -a daughter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I wish dear Beatrice were here, with all my heart," said Sir John -Hume, "then such tokens might become the fashion.--In Heaven's name -what are you staring at, dearly beloved Rhind? Did you never hear of a -kiss being sent in a letter before? and if the Countess of Gowrie -chooses to do such duty to her fair future daughter-in-law by deputy, -not being able to perform it herself at a thousand miles' distance, -who could she choose better for the office than her own son?--But -come, Gowrie, your mad-pated fellow has told you doubtless that you -have black neighbours near; and you have now to choose whether you -will set out to-night or wait till morning. Look, there is a star -beginning to glimmer up there. The evening is warm and fair, and we -can reach Voghera before the gates close. What say you, fair lady?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, let us go," answered Julia. "I shall not feel in safety till I -have left this land behind me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, then, let us to horse at once," said Gowrie. "We can go on with -some of the men; and the rest can follow with the baggage after. -Methinks they wont subject doublets and cloaks to the holy office, so -that we can leave them in safety."</p> - -<p class="normal">The plan was no sooner proposed than executed. The host's bill was -paid, the horses saddled, and the three gentlemen of the party, with -Julia and the girl who had been hired to accompany her, set out just -as the sun had sunk below the horizon. The stars looked out clear and -bright upon their path, and with a glad heart Julia passed an old -tower, even then deserted, which marked the boundary of the -territories of Piacenza and Voghera, then, as now, under distinct and -separate rule. Her spirits rose; and though she had been somewhat -silent during the first few miles of the ride, she now questioned Sir -John Hume, who was on her right hand, regarding all he had seen at -Padua. He answered gaily and lightly, evading her questions, for he -did not like to tell her that the house which had been so long her -home had been completely pillaged on the day that she fled from Padua. -She soon saw that he was unwilling to satisfy her; and fancy filled up -but too truly the mere vague outline that he gave. With regard to her -poor old servant Tita, however, she was determined to hear more; and -there the young gentleman had less scruple in affording her every -information.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, as to dearly beloved Tita," he said, "she has done exceedingly -well. She fairly and boldly encountered and defeated all the old women -in black gowns that the university could send against her. She bullied -the professors, rated the inquisitor, and nearly scratched the eyes -out of the faces of the officers. She told old Martinelli to his -beard, that if people had not suspected him of unlawful studies he -never would have tried to cast the imputation upon others; and as to -her old lord and young lady, they had much less to do with evil -spirits than others she could mention, who, people said, kept books -written with blood, and used to raise up the image of a child out of a -pot of boiling water. The old fool got frightened out of his wits, and -made his exit from the house as fast as possible, not knowing what she -would charge him with next, and fearing that part of the storm which -he had helped to raise might fall upon himself. Every one after was -afraid to meddle with bold Tita, and she remained mistress of the -field. She is now very comfortably established in a small house by the -market-place, and is looked upon with great reverence as one of the -heroes of Padua."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is really strange how men can be so mad and foolish," said the -earl. "Spirits must be very weak and powerless to submit themselves to -the sway of feeble old men, or half-crazed old women."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Or have a very strange taste in female beauty," rejoined Hume, "to -fall in love with wrinkles, gray hair, and more beard than is becoming -on a lady's chin; but these events promise to raise a grand scholastic -dispute in Padua, for already the parties are arraying themselves for -and against the existence of magic at all. Antonelli has announced a -lecture on the non-existence of magic, and when one of the doctors -hinted that such an opinion was heretical, he turned the tables upon -the persecutors, by giving the two parties the names of magicians and -anti-magicians, so that Martinelli and his faction are now universally -known by the title of the magicians, much to their horror and -confusion."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But we have the warrant of Scripture," said Mr. Rhind, gravely, "for -asserting that magic has really existed. Balaam, the son of Balak, -when he was called to curse the children of Israel, distinctly spoke -of it as an art which he himself practised."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Are you sure it was not Balaam's ass?" asked Sir John Hume, laughing; -"I am sure no one would practise it in the present day but an ass. I -don't know what they did then."</p> - -<p class="normal">Mr. Rhind, however, though silenced, was not satisfied. He had -listened to the whole conversation with great attention; and combining -what he then heard with words which had at times dropped from both the -earl and Julia, he perceived the nature of the charge against her, and -felt sadly oppressed in mind thereby. It is true he had seen nothing -in her but beauty, sweetness, and rational devotion; he had discovered -that she always carried with her a Bible in the English tongue; but -still fully impressed, as most men were in his day, with a belief that -such a thing as magic really existed, he felt grieved and uneasy on -account of his pupil's long intimacy with Manucci, who, he now found, -had been accused of practising unlawful arts. He tried on the -following morning, by what he thought skilful questions, to extract -more information from Sir John Hume; but he was, by nature, so simple, -that Hume foiled him at every turn by a repartee, and the same night, -eager to hurry on towards Scotland by longer and more rapid journeys -than Julia could undertake, the young knight left his companions to -follow, and hastened on towards France, leaving Mr. Rhind to brood -over his own conclusions with bitterness and apprehension.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It may seem perhaps a paradox to say that expectation is enjoyment. -Nevertheless it is so on this earth. Fruition is for heaven. With the -accomplishment of every desire, there is so much of disappointment -mingled, that it cannot be really called enjoyment, for fancy always -exercises itself upon the future; and when we obtain the hard reality -for which we wished, the charms with which imagination decorated it -are gone. Did we but state the case to ourselves as it truly is, -whenever we conceive any of the manifold desires which lead us on from -step to step through life, the proposition would be totally different -from that which man for ever puts before his own mind, and we should -take one step towards undeceiving ourselves. We continually say, "if I -could attain such an object, I should be <i>quite contented</i>." But what -man ought to say to himself is, "I believe this or that acquisition -would give me happiness." He would soon find that it did not do so; -and the never ceasing recurrence of the lesson might, in the end, -teach him to ask what was the source of his disappointment?--Was it -that other circumstances in his own fate were so altered, even while -he pursued the path of endeavour, as to render attainment no longer -satisfactory?--was it that the object sought was intrinsically -different when attained from that which he had reasonably believed it -to be while pursuing it?--or was it that his fancy had gilded it with -charms not its own, and that he had voluntarily and blindly persuaded -himself that it was brighter and more excellent than it was? Perhaps -the answer, yes, might be returned to all these questions; but yet I -fear the chief burden of deceit would rest with imagination, and that -man would ever find he had judged of the future without sufficient -grounds, and had suffered desire to stimulate hope, and hope to cheat -expectation. Yet, perhaps, if he would but turn back and look behind, -when disappointment and success had been obtained together, he would -find that the pleasures tasted in the pursuit, especially at the time -when fruition was drawing nearer and nearer, would, in the sum, make -up the amount of enjoyment which he had anticipated in possession. I -will go to a certain town, says man, and there I will spend this sum -in my purse, in buying things which are necessary to my comfort and -satisfaction. He travels on the road. He spends his money here, he -spends his money there; and when he arrives, he finds that he has not -sufficient to purchase one-half of what he proposed to buy. Yet he -enjoyed himself by the way, and has no cause to complain.</p> - -<p class="normal">If we thus decorate, as I have stated a few sentences ago, the object -of desire with charms not its own, we may well say that we enjoy in -anticipation even while the pursuit continues, and more especially do -so where success seems to us certain, though remote. In the case of -Lord Gowrie it was truly so. He looked to his union with Julia as a -consummation of happiness; and he longed for the passing of the time -till she should be his own for ever; but yet the days were very bright -which he passed beside her in the interval. Hope went on before them -and they followed; but they gathered many a flower by the way. Bound -by his promise, he knew that a certain interval must elapse before -their fate could be inseparably united. There was no use in hastening -their movements. There was no object in hurrying on towards his native -land. He felt inclined to linger amongst fair scenes, and in a climate -where winter comes slowly and departs soon, by the side of her he -loved, with little restraint but what his own feeling of right imposed -upon him, with a sense of deep happiness in the present, and -expectation to brighten the hereafter.</p> - -<p class="normal">In Piedmont and Savoy, all danger was at an end; for while the -southern and eastern parts of Italy were still under that system of -tyranny and superstition which strove to control the thoughts as well -as the actions of men, the states bordering on France had cast off the -bondage in a considerable degree, and the power of the most cruel and -arbitrary tribunal that ever was founded by man was no longer -recognised.</p> - -<p class="normal">Still there was something due to opinion, especially to the opinion of -those he reverenced and loved. Doubts might naturally arise if he -halted without any reasonable motive by the way; if he detained her -who was to be his bride before she was his bride, in any lengthened -sojourn, almost alone with him, in distant lands. They went slowly, -therefore; but they still proceeded. They stopped sometimes during a -whole day for rest; and for that purpose they chose the most beautiful -scenes they could find--scenes which harmonised with the feelings of -their own hearts. It would have been too much to expect that two -beings, loving as they loved, should ride post through the most -beautiful parts of Europe. Their journeys, too, were slow and short. -They sought to enjoy everything worth enjoying that presented itself. -They loved to see, and to comment, and to delight--to pour into each -other's bosoms every thought as it arose, and to blend, as it were, -their minds together as their hearts were already blended. For the -deeds that were enacted round them--and there were many at that time -of surpassing interest--they cared very little. What was to them what -princes or potentates said or did? What was to them the shifting -scenes of policy or war? They had a world apart within themselves, in -which every feeling and every thought was centred. As they approached -the mountains of Savoy, however, they heard some rumours of military -movements, which caused alarm in the mind of Mr. Rhind. He was a very -peaceable man, and somewhat timid; but Lord Gowrie treated the matter -lightly, and Julia seemed hardly to comprehend that there was any -danger to unwarlike persons in the strife of monarchs. Their progress, -however, was rendered even slower than before, by other circumstances. -Mountains to climb presented themselves at every step; roads were bad -and dangerous, towns became few, and accommodation difficult to be -procured. The art of the engineer had not at that time triumphed over -the barriers which nature had placed between land and land, and the -first fall of snow, though scanty, had added to the difficulties of -the way.</p> - -<p class="normal">The modern reader would derive little amusement or instruction from a -detailed account of the passage of the Alps, in the reign of -Elizabeth. Suffice it, that after a long and fatiguing day's journey, -the party of Lord Gowrie arrived, towards sunset, at the small town of -Barraux. Julia was weary and exhausted, Mr. Rhind was hungry and -low-spirited, and nothing was to be obtained at the inn, in the way of -food, but some brown bread and some small fish out of the Isere. -Nevertheless, youth and hope and love made a great difference between -the two younger and the elder of the travellers. The tendency, I fear, -of all the experience of age, is selfish; and it is strange that the -nearer we approach towards the period of quitting earth, the more we -prize its comforts. True, indeed, there are some who preserve the -finer things of the unworn fresh heart even unto the end; but, of all -the many trials to which man's soul is subject in this state of -probation, I cannot but think that a tendency to that apathy for what -is great and fine, and to that concentration of the mind upon the body -which are incident to old age and long experience of life, is amongst -the greatest. Mr. Rhind could not enjoy at all, though the scene -around him, as the reader who may have wandered that way will know, -was full of objects both to soothe and to elevate. He consoled himself -with the wine, which was very good, while Julia and Gowrie wandered up -to the base of the old castle on the hill, to get one last look of the -beautiful soft valley through which the Isere wanders on, with gentle -cultivated hills hemming it round, and blue gigantic mountains -towering up beyond, while the sun, set to them, still tipped the peaks -with purple and with gold.</p> - -<p class="normal">They returned slowly to their light supper, which was preparing during -their absence, and shortly after, Julia retired to rest. Mr. Rhind was -not long ere he left the room also; but it was a large old rambling -house, which had formerly been a priory of the suppressed order of the -Temple, standing near the centre of the little bourg--I think the -reader can see it still--and Mr. Rhind could not find his room. He -came back, and disturbed the earl in a reverie, to ask which it was; -and the landlord had to be summoned to show him. If Gowrie was sleepy -before, the inclination to slumber had now passed away; and he sat for -some time longer in meditation. The landlord looked in at length; and -remembering that he was keeping up a race of people devoted to early -hours, he rose, got a taper, and retired to his own chamber. Then -setting down the light, he looked around, and again fell into a fit of -thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">There are times when--we know not why--the spirit of the mind, if I -may use a strange term, seems completely to triumph over the mere -corporal part of our nature, to conquer its sensations, to make light -of its necessities, to overcome its habitual resistance almost without -an effort--times when soul seems to possess the whole, when every -faculty is subdued to thought. Vain is it to struggle against it--vain -to say I will read, I will sport, I will sleep. Thought replies, no; -and for the time we are her slave. Such was the case with Gowrie that -night; and though he gazed round the chamber as I have said, what it -contained made merely an impression upon the eye, which reached not -the mind within.</p> - -<p class="normal">It was a large, wide, old-fashioned chamber, the walls of which had no -hangings, although two wide pieces of a tapestry, with which the whole -room had probably formerly been decorated, were drawn across the -windows. On one side of the room was a large bed, almost lost in the -extent of the floor, and having curtains of a dingy green hue, and of -a silk stuff, the manufacture of which had even then long passed away, -formerly called cendal. There was a small round table in the middle of -the room, a mirror in a black oak frame standing forth from the wall, -supported by two iron bars, a washing-table in the corner, and two or -three chairs. That was all that it contained; and, as I have said, it -was very large and very gloomy. Nevertheless, although the year was -approaching winter, there was something close and oppressive in the -atmosphere. It felt as if the windows had not been opened for many a -year. Gowrie did not remark it, but sat down at the table and fell -into thought again. He remained thus for more than an hour. I have -called it thought, but yet it was of that trance-like character -wherein all things seem more like impressions than ideas, when dead -affections rise up from the tomb of memory in the shape of living -existences, and from the future the shadows of unborn events, clad in -the forms of actual realities, present themselves for warning or -encouragement. There is no continuity, there is no arrangement, there -is no operation of the intellect. Mind sits as a spectator while -the pageant passes, called up before our eyes by some unnamed -power.--What?</p> - -<p class="normal">Who can say? There are things within us and without us that we know -not of--that the hardest handed metaphysician has never been able to -grasp.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the midst of such fits the body will sometimes renew the struggle, -and strive to regain its power, especially if anything affects it -strongly. The earl seemed to feel the oppressive closeness of the -room. He rose, went to the window near the bed, pulled down the -tapestry, and threw open the rattling small-paned casement. It looked -to the east; and the bright moon, within a few days of the full, -peeped in from above the Alps, pouring a long line of splendour over -the floor. He knew not, indeed, that he had moved. The external eye -might see the casement and the moon, and the faint line of mountains -flooded with silver light; but the mind saw not. It had other visions; -and leaning his arms upon the bar on which played the part of the -casement that opened, he remained buried in the same reverie. Its tone -was melancholy--not exactly sad, but of that high grave stern cast -which seems to rob the things of earth of all their unreal brightness, -stripping off the gilding and the gauds, and leaving the hard leaden -forms alone, while another light than that of the world's day spreads -around, as if streaming from a higher sphere, and showing all the -emptiness and the nakedness of the illusions of the earth.</p> - -<p class="normal">How long he had remained thus I know not, and he himself did not know, -but something--what he could never tell--made him suddenly turn round.</p> - -<p class="normal">How shall I tell what followed? Was it an illusion of the fancy? Was -it a dream? Was it a reality?--Who shall say? But there before him was -a face and form well known, though never seen in life. It was that of -a tall dark pale man, with traces of sickness on his face, a bloody -dagger in his hand, and marks of gore upon his arm. His portrait hung -in the earl's palace at Perth, though with a more glowing cheek, and -in unspotted robes. But there he stood before him now, as if the grave -had given up its dead, his father's father, the slayer of the hapless -Rizzio. There was the same haggard look, the same ashy cheek, the same -rolling eye with which he had sunk into a seat in the presence of his -queen when the dreadful deed was done, and the full horror of the act -was poured upon his conscience. There the same gasping movement of the -lips with which he called for water to allay the burning thirst which -was never to be quenched but by the cold cup of death. A pale hazy -light spread around him, and he seemed to raise his hand with a -menacing gesture. He spoke, or Gowrie thought he spoke, in tones low -and stern, "Shall the blood of Douglas and of Ruthven mingle once -more?" he said. "Shall the child of him who denied all participation -in the act he prompted, and left his betrayed friend to perish in a -distant land, unite her fate to the heir of him who was destroyed! -Beware, boy, beware! Upon the children's children the blood of the -slain shall call for vengeance; and the unborn of the dark hour shall -seek a fatal retribution!"</p> - -<p class="normal">As he spoke, the earl's head seemed to become giddy with awe and -surprise, the figure vanished, all that the room contained became -indistinct; and when Lord Gowrie again opened his eyes, he found -himself lying across the bed with his clothes on, and with the morning -light streaming brightly through the casement.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The landlord of the inn at Barraux had been up before any of his -guests; and anxious to show that his larder was not always so ill -provided as it had been the night before, he had contrived to procure -materials for a very substantial breakfast, to strengthen the -travellers for their day's journey. It was well dressed, too, after -the fashions of that day, and good Mr. Rhind did ample justice to its -merits both by eating and lauding it, gaily declaring that the morning -made up for the evening, and that, according to the popish -superstition, the landlord might claim the merit of some works of -supererogation over and above those necessary to atone for the sins of -the night before.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie himself was in no very jesting mood. He made, it is true, every -effort to shake off the impression produced upon his mind by the -strange events lately passed. It was a dream, he thought--an idle -dream, or else a hallucination. He had been very much fatigued, had -obtained but small refreshment, and yet he had sat up thinking, -wasting time which would have been better employed in repose. Over -fatigued, he had dropped asleep without knowing it, had fallen upon -the bed, and imagination, set free from all restraint, had conjured up -appearances strangely connected with the previous subject of his -thoughts. He strove to eat, to talk, to jest playfully as usual, but -he was not very successful in the attempt, and the demeanour of his -fair Julia soon put a stop to the effort. She was exceedingly -thoughtful, grave, almost sad. She eat little, spoke less, and when -the horses were brought round to the door, mounted with a deep sigh.</p> - -<p class="normal">After they had ridden some little way, the earl asked, in a low tone, -if anything had disturbed her.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing of importance," she answered, glancing her eye towards Mr. -Rhind, who was riding near; "but I will tell you more very soon."</p> - -<p class="normal">She spoke so low that their worthy companion did not hear what she -said; but even if he had heard, it is probable that he would not have -altered his position in the cavalcade, for Mr. Rhind was a very slow -man at taking a hint, and seemed to have no conception that his former -pupil might sometimes find the society of her he loved pleasanter -without ear-witnesses. A favourable hill, however, afforded, about -half an hour afterwards, as they rode on towards Chamberry, the -opportunity that the lovers desired. Mr. Rhind was not fond of riding -fast, either up hill or down. He had conscientious scruples as to -spurring his horse, and never used a whip when he could help it. Thus, -when the cavalcade began the ascent, he suffered his beast to drop -slowly behind, and in the end took out a little vellum-covered volume -from his pocket, and began to read.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, dearest Julia, let us quicken our pace," whispered Gowrie. "We -shall be at the top of the hill very soon, and Rhind will rejoin us -some half league after we have reached the bottom of the descent." The -lady shook her rein. The horses sprang on. The servants, more discreet -than Mr. Rhind, followed at an easy trot, and by the time that Gowrie -and Julia had reached a spot about one third of the whole distance -from the top of the hill, they found themselves some two or three -hundred yards before any of their attendants.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now tell me, dearest," said the young earl, "what is it has made you -so grave and sad this morning? There is no one within ear-shot."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is nothing, really nothing," replied Julia. "You will think it -very ridiculous, I fear, when I say that the only cause of my being -grave, if I have been so, was an idle dream; but I love to tell you -all, Gowrie, to have no thought hidden from you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ever, ever do so," replied the earl, warmly; "but what was this -dream, love? I fear it must have disturbed your rest, and you much -needed repose."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must have been asleep some time," she answered; "but indeed, -Gowrie, it was a thing of no moment--merely a dream--and yet if I tell -you, it may make you grave and sad too."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, now you excite my curiosity the more," replied her lover. "Pray -tell me all, dear girl."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well," she answered, with a faint smile, "I was very tired, and glad -to lie down to rest. The little maid we hired at Borgonovo, who slept -in the same room, was very weary too, so that her fingers would hardly -do their office in unlacing my bodice. How soon she was asleep I do -not know, for the moment my head rested on the pillow my eyes were -closed in slumber. I cannot tell how long I slept quietly and -undisturbed; but then I seemed to wake. The room was the same. The -aspect of all things round me was unchanged; but there was a light in -the chamber, and at the distance of about a pace from my bedside I saw -a standing figure of a man, distinct and clear, but yet so thin and -shadowy, that it seemed as if every part were penetrated with the -light in the midst of which he stood--a coloured shadow resting on the -pale blue glare."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What was he like? Who was he?" demanded Lord Gowrie, eagerly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He was very pale," answered Julia, "with a face that seemed to -express suffering and sorrow more than strong passions. His hair, cut -short in the front, was jetty black, mingled here and there with gray, -and falling in dark masses of large curls behind. He was tall, about -your own height, Gowrie, and seemingly powerful in form, but with the -shoulders a little bowed, as if worn by sickness. He was dressed in -armour, but the head was bare; and a cloak was cast over his arm, -concealing his right hand. His eyes were bright and flashing; and the -face and upper part of the body seemed more real and corporeal than -the lower limbs, which I could hardly see. There was a small scar upon -his face, between the mouth and the cheek, as if----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"The same," murmured Lord Gowrie, "the same! Did he not speak?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," answered Julia, "he seemed to speak, or I dreamed it. He -stood gazing at me long indeed in silence, while I lay trembling with -fear. I tried to ask him what he did there--what he wanted. I tried to -rouse the house--to wake the maid who was sleeping near me; but my -tongue seemed tied, no sounds proceeded from my lips, and I strove in -vain to rise in bed. In the meantime he stood silent, gazing at me; -and at last he said twice, 'Poor thing! poor thing! Do you not know,' -he asked, 'that the blood of Morton and the blood of Ruthven can never -be mingled together till the gore that the one shed and the other -falsely denied is fully avenged?--Beware! beware! Hurry not on your -own fate. Pause! Refrain till the blow has fallen, let it fall where -it will----.' Do not look so gloomy, Gowrie--it was but a dream, for -the agony of mind I suffered broke the spell, and with a low scream I -started up. The maid woke instantly, and as I looked round I found -that all was darkness. The poor girl asked what was the matter, and I -told her then, as I have just said to you, that it was only a dream. I -asked her, however, if she had seen the doors closely locked. She -assured me that she had, and got out of bed to see, when she found -that it was so, and all was fast and safe. My rest had been disturbed, -however, and I did not sleep again for some time, which is perhaps -what made me somewhat dull and heavy; but still it was but a dream."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A very strange one," answered Lord Gowrie, and fell into a fit of -thought. His meditations, however, were less of Julia's dream than of -what his own conduct ought to be. He felt unwilling to alarm her, or -to create any doubts or suspicions in her bosom as to the course -before them; but yet her frank confidence required return; and he felt -that after she had told him all, he ought to withhold from her -nothing.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the meantime she rode on by his side, with the tresses of her -glossy hair somewhat shaken by the exercise, falling here and there on -her beautiful face. The dark eyes were bent down with the long -eyelashes resting on her cheek, as if she would not interrupt his -meditations by a look; but at length the earl said, "This is a strange -dream, indeed, dear Julia; and the occurrence is the more strange, -inasmuch as something very similar happened to me last night also."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia started, and looked up. "Oh, what?" she exclaimed.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The selfsame person appeared to me likewise," replied her lover. "I -know him well by your description, too accurate to be mistaken; but -that which is perhaps the most strange of all is, that to me he -appeared as I have never seen him represented, but as I have heard him -described, and to you, who have neither seen him nor his picture, -exactly as his portrait stands in my gallery at Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what did he say to you? What was the import of your dream?" asked -Julia.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am not so certain it was a dream," replied Lord Gowrie; "would that -I were; but his warning to me was very similar to that addressed to -yourself. You have told me all, dear Julia, and I must not withhold -anything from you; but still, while speaking with perfect confidence -to each other, we must not let anything like superstitious fears -affect our conduct or turn us from our course. Your heart and mine, -dear girl, are inseparably linked for weal and woe. God grant, for thy -sake, that the happiness may predominate; but I feel that neither -could know what happiness is were we ever to part."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no, no!" murmured Julia, in a low tone, letting the reins fall -upon her horse's neck, and clasping her hands together, while her head -bowed down as if something oppressed her almost to fainting--"Oh, no, -no! That hour were death."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie soothed her by assurances of eternal love, and then proceeded -to tell her all that had occurred to him during the preceding night. -He spoke of it, too, as of a delusion of the imagination; but Julia -fell into thought which lasted several minutes after he had done. At -length she looked up with a brighter glance. "If you remember," she -said, "the night before last we were looking over together those -papers concerning my birth, and we spoke much of my father and your -ancestor who slew the unhappy Rizzio. The subject rested long in my -mind; and perhaps on you also it had no slight effect. Do you not -think, Gowrie, that in passing through the scenes we have lately -traversed, with things exciting the imagination at every step, weary -and exhausted too, fancy was likely to reproduce for us, in sleepy or -drowsy hours, the phantoms which had haunted us throughout the day?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps so," answered her lover, glad to catch at any solution of a -mystery so dark and painful--"perhaps so, my Julia; and yet these -dreams are very like realities sometimes. The people in my land--in -our land--are given much to superstition, and I would far rather -imagine that I had yielded to those impressions implanted in us during -youth, than believe that such a warning should in our case be -requisite or given."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But do you believe, Gowrie, that such a thing is now permitted as -that the spirits of the dead should revisit earth in the forms which -they bore while living?" Julia asked, gravely, and then added, "he who -was my instructor from my earliest years had no faith in such events."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Much has been said, much ever will be said," answered Gowrie, "upon -that, in regard to which little can ever be known on this side of the -grave. Philosophy, my Julia, says one thing, and something in man's -own breast ever says another. Our knowledge tells us that we can never -see that which has no substance, that we cannot hear that which has no -voice. The spirit within says, 'There are means of communication -between me and my unimprisoned brethren. The eye is my servant in my -communication with earthly things, the ear is but the portico of the -audience chamber of the mind, where the voices of earth are heard; but -for things not of earth there is another sight, another hearing. The -sovereign mind communicates with them direct, and not through her -ministers.'"</p> - -<p class="normal">He spoke gravely, for the subject was one of those in regard to which -we are inclined to apply the aids of philosophy to confirm opinions -formed already without their help. Few persons in the world, and very -few, indeed, in Scotland, at that time, were without faith in dreams -and apparitions; and what is, indeed, very strange, those who were the -most sceptical of the truths of revealed religion, were often the most -credulous of the tales of superstition.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia, however, saw that he was sad, and she made every effort to -conquer the gloom which her strange dream had cast upon her own mind; -for there can be no doubt that it had made its impression--not, -indeed, that she received it as a real warning from another world, for -her mind had been differently tutored in early years; but still it had -filled her thoughts with gloomy images, and she had given way to them -more than was customary with her. Now, however, she strove to resume -her natural cheerfulness, and quietly, easily, with that simple art -which nature teaches to a kind heart, led the conversation away, -without any abrupt transition, from the subject which seemed to give -pain to him she loved.</p> - -<p class="normal">They were now at the bottom of the hill; and although they had ridden -more rapidly down than was perhaps very prudent, they drew in their -horses' reins when they reached the level ground, in order to let Mr. -Rhind rejoin them. He was riding slowly along, still reading; but a -sound, which startled the whole party, and their horses also, soon -caused him to quicken his pace, in order to get to Lord Gowrie's side -again. 'Tis a strange power which strong minds have over weak ones. By -circumstances, power and authority may be placed in the hands of the -weak, and they may exercise them till the exercise becomes habitual; -but in every moment of difficulty or danger, the strong mind assumes -the sway, and the weaker one takes refuge under its shelter. Mr. Rhind -had known Lord Gowrie from his infancy, had received rule over him -when he was a boy, had been placed with him to guide him when he was a -youth. He hardly looked upon him as more even now; he hardly -comprehended that his tutorship was finished; but the instant that a -peril presented itself, or an embarrassment occurred, instead of -protecting and guiding, he sought protection and guidance from his -former pupil.</p> - -<p class="normal">I left the reader waiting for a sound, or at least for some -description of that sound which startled the whole party. It was that -of a cannon-shot, not very far distant either; and before Mr. Rhind -could reach the young earl's side, or any one could ask any questions, -another and another succeeded, till the number reached to -four-and-twenty.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Good gracious, my dear lord, we have got into the midst of the -hostile armies," exclaimed Mr. Rhind.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The king must have made more rapid progress than I expected," replied -Lord Gowrie, in a calm, quiet tone. "Those guns must be from -Montmeillant or Chamberry."</p> - -<p class="normal">"From Montmeillant, my lord," said Austin Jute, who had ridden up. -"The sounds come from the east."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But the wind blows down the valley," answered the earl. "What shall -we do, dear Julia? Are you afraid?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"What is the choice?" she asked.</p> - -<p class="normal">"To go on by Chamberry and the Pont Beauvoisin to Lyons, or retread -our steps towards Grenoble, and take the longer way. It is evident -that a part of the King of France's army is before us; but we cannot -tell what is taking place on the Grenoble road."</p> - -<p class="normal">"May I go on and reconnoitre, my lord?" said Austin Jute. "I can bring -you back information, and perhaps a pass. They say it is better to be -at the end of a feast than at the beginning of a fray, and perhaps it -may be so; but I like a little bit of the fray, too, provided it last -not too long."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That may be the best plan," said his master. "Tie something white -round your arm, and prick on; we will follow slowly."</p> - -<p class="normal">Before this scheme could be executed, however, a party of some eight -or ten horsemen came dashing round the rocky turn of the road, and -cantered down into the meadow which lay on the bank of the stream, -before they saw the party of the young earl. They were all in arms -except two, and evidently belonged to one or other of the contending -forces. The next moment, however, the eyes of one of those who bore no -defensive armour rested on the group under the hill; and turning his -rein suddenly thither, followed by all his companions, he was soon in -front of the party of travellers, and shouting in a loud, but gay and -jesting tone, "Stand, give the word!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The system of warfare carried on in Scotland, at the time we speak of, -was not of the most civilized character--generally a war of partisans, -which is always a bloody war. Mr. Rhind had known no other; and, -consequently, he was in a state of most exceeding alarm. Julia was -much less so, for the tranquil air of the young earl showed her at -once that nothing was to be feared. The earl's servants, too, who, -with their master, had seen a good deal of the world, seemed perfectly -quiet and at their ease; and Austin Jute whispered in a low tone to -one of the men, "By my fay, that is a splendid horse the fellow is -riding, somewhat heavy about the shoulder and the legs, but a noble -beast in a charge, I'll be bound."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Remain quietly here," said the earl, addressing those who surrounded -him. "I will go forward and speak with this gentleman. Stay here, dear -Julia; there is not the slightest danger."</p> - -<p class="normal">The person whom he approached, and who had reined in his horse, after -calling to the strangers to stand and give the word, was a man of the -middle age, or perhaps a little more, for he had certainly, by ten -years at least, passed that important division where the allotted life -of man separates itself into two halves. Oh, thirty-five, thirty-five, -thou art an important epoch, and well might be, to every man who -thinks, a moment of warning and apprehension. Up to that period, in -the ordinary course of events, everything has been acquisition and the -development of different powers. Thenceforward all is decay--slow, -gradual, imperceptible, perhaps, at first, but sure, stealthy, and -increasing with frightful rapidity. The stranger might be forty-six or -forty-seven years of age, but he looked a good deal older. His beard -and moustachios were very gray, especially on the left side; his face -was wrinkled a good deal at the corners of the eyes; and his very -handsome forehead--the only truly handsome part of his face--was -wrinkled also, with an expression rather of quiet and dignified -gravity than with age. His other features were by no means good; the -mouth sensual, though good-humoured; the nose aquiline, and somewhat -depressed at the point; and the eyes twinkling and keen, with an -expression of somewhat reckless merriment. There was a very peculiar -satyr-like turn of the eyebrow, too, which was gray and bushy, with a -thick tuft about the centre, where it ran up into a peak from the -nose. The dress of this officer--for officer he certainly appeared to -be--was of very plain materials, consisting of a brown cloth suit, -with no ornament whatever, except a gold chain round his neck. Above -his pourpoint he wore a sort of sleeveless coat, or rather small -mantle with arm-holes, trimmed with sable fur; and the fraise round -his neck was of plain linen, and so small as to be quite out of the -fashion of the times. His leather gloves extended to his elbow, and -his large coarse heavy boots came in front higher than the knee. There -were pistol holders at his saddle-bow, a long heavy sword by his side, -and the whole figure was surmounted by a broad-brimmed hat, with a -tall white plume of feathers, which kept waving about in the wind.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Who are you, sir?" he said, in French, as the earl approached him, -"and whither are you going? Are you aware that you are within the -limits of the camp besieging Montmeillant?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I was not, indeed," replied the earl; "but being peaceably disposed, -and having no connexion with either party in the hostilities which I -understand are going on, I suppose there will not be any difficulty in -passing by the Pont Beauvoisin into France?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my life, I cannot tell that," replied the other. "It will much -depend upon what is your country, what is your business, and whence -you came from last."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have come from Italy," replied the young earl, "passing quietly -through Piedmont; and my business----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Stay, stay," said the stranger. "You have come through Piedmont, have -you? Now that is not the country, of all others, from which France -courts visitors just now. Have you seen the Duke of Savoy lately?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I never saw him in my life," replied the earl, "unless I see him -now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no," said the stranger, "that you certainly do not. By your -speech I should take you for an Englishman. Is it so? If it be, pass, -in God's name, for if I tried to stop you, I should have my good -sister Elizabeth coming over to chastise me with her large fan. Ventre -Saint Gris! it does not do to enrage the island lioness."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, sire," replied the earl, "I am not one of her majesty's subjects, -being a native of a neighbouring country called Scotland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha, ha!" cried the other, laughing. "What, one of the flock of my -dearly beloved cousin, King James? Heaven bless his most sagacious -majesty. How went it with him when last you heard?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Right well, sire," replied the earl; "but it is some time since I -heard any news except referring to my own private affairs."</p> - -<p class="normal">"May I crave your name and business, good sir?" said the King of -France, who, while he had been speaking with Gowrie, had been eyeing -the young nobleman's little troop. "'Tis somewhat late to travel for -mere pleasure, especially with ladies in one's company."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Business I have, unfortunately, none," answered the young earl, -gravely, "except to make my way back as fast as possible to my own -land, with my fair cousin, who takes advantage of my escort even at -this late season, seeing that she otherwise might not meet with an -opportunity for some time. My name, sire, is John Ruthven, Earl of -Gowrie."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha! noble lord," said Henry, with a less constrained air. "I have -heard of you before,--an intimate of my old friend Beza's, if I -mistake not. You passed through France some five or six years ago on -your way to Padua, at least some one of your name did so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The same, sire," answered the earl; "I trust it will be your gracious -pleasure to afford me a pass and safe conduct."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Assuredly," answered the king, with a gay and laughing air; "but you -must come and dine with me, cousin, if it be but for the service that -your name will do me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know not how it can benefit your majesty," said Gowrie, anxious to -proceed as rapidly as possible.</p> - -<p class="normal">"As a terror to favourites," replied Henry, with a meaning look. "The -name of Ruthven, methinks, should keep them in great awe. But I will -take no refusal. You and your fair cousin too, and any gentleman who -may be of your party, must come and partake of a soldier's dinner in -his tent. I left the king behind at Lyons; and, on my life, I like the -old trade better than the new. Ay, and even found more peace of mind, -cousin, when I had daily to fight for my breakfast, than when I sit -down in a palace, surrounded by men, some hungry for my treasures, and -some thirsty for my blood."</p> - -<p class="normal">"As the season is drawing towards a close," replied Lord Gowrie, -without actually venturing to decline the king's invitation, "I am -anxious, sire, to proceed as rapidly as possible towards England."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fie, man!" exclaimed the king; "have I not said I will take no -refusal? Why, if I let you pass without some sign of hospitality, your -cousin and mine, worthy King James, the northern Solomon--though his -descent from David might be less honourable than clear--would think -that I had some ill-will to his high wisdom. And now I will ride back -with you. You, Monsieur de Chales, ride on to Rosni. Tell him I will -come to-morrow, unless he has taken the place in order to prevent me. -He is as jealous of his king as a spoilt woman. Come, my Lord Gowrie, -introduce me to this fair cousin of yours. We have wanted gallantry to -keep her waiting so long."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he spurred on, accompanied by the young earl, who, -obliged to give way, resolved to assume something of the king's own -humour, and said at once, as they rode up, "Sire, allow me to present -to you my cousin, the Lady Julia Douglas. Julia, this is that great -king of whom you have heard; who not only conquered his own throne, -but the affection of his own people; the one by the sword of war, the -other by the sword of justice."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I kiss your hand, fair lady," said the king. "The Lady Julia Douglas! -What, one of the bleeding hearts? I trust, my lord count, that her -heart is safe in your keeping."</p> - -<p class="normal">"In which case your majesty will not try to steal it from me," -answered the young earl, to whom Henry's character for somewhat -vehement gallantry was not unknown.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no; honour amongst thieves," answered the king. "Were I an -officer of Cupid's court I might stop you, having taken you in the -very act of carrying off your booty; but being merely a poor -pickpocket myself, I am not justified in interfering. Come, let us -forward," he continued, seeing that the colour had risen somewhat high -in Julia's cheek; and turning his horse, he rode on in the direction -of Chamberry.</p> - -<p class="normal">A young lover is always like a miser with a jewel of great price. He -may feel certain of the strength of the bolts and bars which secure -his treasure; he may be confident that it is safe; but yet he never -feels entirely at his ease, when he knows that robbers are abroad; and -undoubtedly Gowrie was somewhat less than pleased to see the gallant -attentions of the king to his fair promised bride as they rode along. -Henry saw his uneasiness, and was amused, though the earl concealed it -well; and with some good-humoured malice--for I believe in this -instance it was no more--the monarch strove to persuade his two young -guests that they might well spend a few days with him in Chamberry. -"You," he said, turning to the earl--"you, sprung from a race of -soldiers, and who have probably been in arms yourself, can you make up -your mind to leave a spot where high deeds are being performed?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I feel myself obliged to do so," replied the young earl, adding, with -a smile, to point his double meaning, "If there were nothing else, -this lady's presence would, of course, hurry my departure from the -scenes in which your majesty takes so much delight."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Parbleau! there is no danger," cried the king. "Our camp is filled -with ladies. The town of Chamberry is in our hands. 'Tis but the -citadel holds out for honour; and Madame de Rosni gives a ball in the -city this very night.--What say you, fair lady? Will you not stay and -grace her entertainment?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It must be as a prisoner if I do, sire," replied Julia; "for duty -calls me on to Scotland as fast as possible, and, to tell truth in no -very courtly fashion, inclination too."</p> - -<p class="normal">"On my life," cried the king, laughing, "you must be both disciples of -Rosni's. That hard-headed Huguenot will speak his mind however -unpalatable; and I find that the Scotch are as blunt, though they -cannot be more honest. Well, well," he continued, with a sigh, "as you -will not consent to cheer us by an importation of fresh thoughts and -fresh faces, I must even let you go, although I do believe I should be -justified in treating you both as rebels, and shutting you up as -prisoners, the one in the camp, and the other in the old Carthusian -convent, to do penance for your offence--I acting as father confessor -of course."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia looked anxiously to Gowrie, who replied, with a laugh, "That -would be a breach of the law of nations, sire. Francis the First -suffered his enemy, Charles the emperor, to pass unscathed; and as -your majesty deigns to call me cousin, good faith, I will only treat -with you as crown to crown."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I call many a man cousin who is less so than yourself," replied the -king, seeing that he could not succeed in detaining them. "If I -remember right, your grandmother, or great-grandmother, was sister to -Mary Queen of France, and to Henry, the excellent King of England, -eighth of that name, who had an admirable expedient for ridding -himself of troublesome wives. Upon my life, I wish it were an -inheritance of kings. Parbleau! it would be a more valuable privilege -than that of curing the evil by our touch, which they say we kings -possess. I would rather touch my own sore and cure it, than that of -the lame beggars who crowd about the cathedral doors at Rheims."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Methinks your majesty would not use it even if you did possess it," -said Julia.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why not, fair lady?" cried Henry, quickly, for the subject was one -which always excited him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I mean the sharp touch which King Henry used to cure the ill of which -you speak," replied Julia.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, perhaps not that," said Henry, musing. "I am not cruel; and I do -not love such sharp remedies even with hard, iron-tempered men. I have -a notion, too, that ladies' necks were made for other things than to -bear an axe--to bear gay jewels and bright glittering chains, I mean. -That same fondness of the axe you speak of, especially in the case of -women, seems a particular characteristic of the Tudor race. Thank God, -it has not come hither. I do not think I should like the practice, -even on the worst of women; and by my faith, the dagger and the bowl, -which we have been rather fond of here in former years, is not to my -taste either. If I were to choose, I would rather be the victim than -the executioner. God deliver me from being either!"</p> - -<p class="normal">There was something in the conversation, and the course which it had -taken, which brought a fit of deep thought upon Henry; and for the -next twenty minutes he said little or nothing; then looking up, he -pointed forward with his hand, saying, "There is fair Chamberry; but -it is some miles distant yet; and as you must needs go forward -to-night--which, after all, is perhaps better--I will send on to bid -them have my homely dinner ready, and a few spoonfuls more pottage -than is ordinarily supplied to the king's table. I can tell you, -cousin, the kings of France are almost sure to find their way to -Abraham's bosom, for there is much more of Lazarus than of Dives in -their condition on this earth. Things are rather better now, thanks to -Rosni; but in times past I have often wanted a dinner, and even now, -as you may see, and will see, I am neither clothed in purple and fine -linen, nor fare sumptuously every day."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XIV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Although Henry IV. was much accustomed to call things by their own -names, the tent which he had spoken of was a handsome house in the -town of Chamberry, his camp the wide circuit of the city itself, -though, to say sooth, there were other tents, and another camp without -the walls. The purveyors of the royal household had not, it is true, -been much more careful in providing "cates divine" for the monarch's -table than they usually had been in times past. Perhaps no general -officer in his army fared so ill as Henry IV., for he was too -good-humoured to take notice of any little derelictions, and cared -less for an offence against his own person than one against the state. -Perhaps he was wrong; I believe he was: for a man who tolerates -disobedience of orders or default of duty in one instance, gives -encouragement to the same fault in another. But still men of great -genius have many roads open before them to the same ends; and the -rigid rule which one considers necessary to the attainment of his -objects, may be dispensed with by another without danger.</p> - -<p class="normal">It may be true as an axiom, that the French nation can never remain -peaceable and prosperous--considering their peculiar national -characteristics--except under a tyrant. It may be true that Henry IV., -had he been a tyrant, would never have perished by the knife of -Ravaillac. It may be true, that no <i>strong-minded</i> tyrant ever fell -either by the hands of the assassin or the judgment of his people; -that it is the combination of weakness of character with despotic -theories, that has been the downfall of every monarch who has -succumbed to public indignation or private vengeance:--"The roar of -liberated Rome" itself was merely the exultation of a people who had -been cowed for years by a madman and a fool, at their liberation from -a yoke as pitiful as it was oppressive. But there is a power in love, -when excited by a being whose sterner and stronger qualities command -respect, which is powerful over great masses; and although Henri -Quatre passed over many small faults in those who surrounded him, I -believe his vigour and determination in great things would have -secured him against anything like popular caprice or versatility; and -that the only thing which he had to fear, as a consequence of his -good-humoured lenity in regard to personal offences, was the cowardly -means of private assassination.</p> - -<p class="normal">However that may be, the king's table, on the day of which we have -been speaking, was certainly more poorly provided than that of many -private gentlemen of modern fortune. The pomp and circumstance of a -court waited around; but yet his scanty meal was no way royal, and the -king felt a little mortified that such penuriousness had been -displayed before a stranger.</p> - -<p class="normal">Immediately after dinner, Henry left the fair Julia with Madame de -Rosni and some other ladies, and called Gowrie away to a small cabinet -of the house in which he had taken up his quarters. Seating himself, -he motioned his young guest to a chair, and then said, "I take it for -granted, my lord, that what you have said is actually the case, and -that you have not seen our good cousin of Savoy, nor know anything of -his affairs; but that you are simply travelling homeward with the -beautiful bird in your trap, intending, of course, to make her your -bride when you reach your native land?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie merely bowed his head, saying, "I assure your majesty, I know -nothing of the Duke of Savoy whatever."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then," replied Henry, "there may be one, perhaps, whom you may -be well pleased to know--I mean Elizabeth, Queen of England. I will -therefore write her majesty a few lines in your favour; and you will -do well, when you reach Paris, to see her ambassador, Sir Henry -Neville, in order that he may second my recommendation. I can see the -time coming," continued the king, "when favour in England may be -highly beneficial to a Scottish nobleman. If you should attain it, use -it discreetly, for you have to deal with two people who have their -peculiarities. The one, with strong sense, has small sincerity, with -infinite policy combines many weaknesses, who can be a bitter enemy, -but not an honest friend, and who will always sacrifice to expediency -those who have served her--and there are none others--for their own -ends. It will be right for you to be well with her, but not too well. -The other has the greatest wit of any man I know, and the least -wisdom. Cunning as a fox, his policy is as wily as that of the beast, -and as pitiful. But his hatred is very dangerous, for it is strong in -proportion to his weakness, and will pursue paths as obscure as his -logic or his religion. To the latter personage you must have access -from your own rank; to the former I will give you a letter, which will -prove of good or bad effect on your own fortunes as you shall use it. -Wait a moment, and I will write. You have done me some wrong in your -own thoughts to-day; but I do not bear malice long; and I will not -tell the maiden queen that you were half afraid to trust yourself with -her brother of France, having a fair maiden in your company."</p> - -<p class="normal">The king looked at him with a meaning smile as he spoke; but Gowrie -instantly replied, "It was doing your majesty no wrong to suppose that -you have great power over all hearts, and to be anxious to preserve -one at least from your sway."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Out, flatterer!" said the king; "do you think I do not know mankind, -when I have dealt with them, fought with them, negotiated with them, -and played at cards with them for seven-and-forty years? I knew what -was going on in your young heart better than you did yourself, and -would have teased you a little longer, but that I know myself too, -and am aware that it is dangerous sporting where a fair girl is -concerned--at least, with Gascon blood in one's veins. So you shall -go, and God speed you. I knew your father in my youth, when he was -here in France, and I would have saved his life if he had fled to me -at once, as he should have done. You are a sad race of rebels, you -Ruthvens; but all my best friends have been rebels in their day, and -therefore I must not exclude you."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the king began to write with a rapid and careless hand, -while the young earl, in whom some part of what he had said had -wakened painful memories, sat with his eyes bent upon the ground, and -his mind buried in thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">Henry's letter, though somewhat quaint and formal, as his epistles to -Queen Elizabeth usually were, was conceived in a gay and light tone, -and intended beyond all doubt to do the young earl service with the -royal lady to whom it was addressed. After the usual form of -superscription, he went on to say, "I have learnt of your Majesty to -deal promptly with enemies, and therefore, though most unwilling to -have recourse to arms against our good cousin of Savoy. Being desirous -to live peaceably with all men, yet finding that he mistook us for -children, I judged it right to lead here, into the heart of his -territories, an army which, I think, is bringing him rapidly to a -better judgment. We have taken a number of his towns and castles, and -are now here in the very heart of the mountains, with Chamberry and -Montmeillant in our hands, and nothing but the citadels holding out. -In the midst of these successes, I have been visited by the noble -lord, the Earl of Gowrie, who will lay these at your feet; and as he -is exceedingly desirous of serving your Majesty, I trust my letter to -his care, being well assured of his honour and fidelity. Moreover, as -doubtless your Majesty well knows, he is bound to honour and serve -your royal person, even by the ties of blood, being descended, though -remotely, and by the female line, from that great prince who -terminated by the sword on Bosworth field the dissensions of York and -Lancaster. I doubt not that for his own sake you will grace him with -your favour, and whatever may be wanting in his own deserts to the -eyes of one who judges not lightly, I trust you will grant him, for -the sake of your Majesty's brother and grateful servant." -"HENRY."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, a few words to good Sir Henry Neville," said the king, looking -up; "and then I will dismiss you, Gowrie, to your journey, that you -may say, you had nothing but good at the hands of the King of France."</p> - -<p class="normal">He then wrote a letter, in rather a different strain, to the English -ambassador in Paris, recommending the young earl to his care and -notice, and begging him to forward to the utmost of his power, -consistently with his duty to his royal mistress, whatever views the -earl might have at the English court. Then starting up, he said, "Now -call the page, Gowrie, and let him bring wax and silk to seal these -epistles, after which we will to horse with all speed, for I must on -the way too. I have played Henry of France long enough to-day. I must -now play Henry of Navarre again, for I intend to have Charbonnieres -before to-morrow night."</p> - -<p class="normal">The letters were soon sealed, and once more Lord Gowrie and his party -set out upon their way, the king himself accompanying them with a -small troop some three or four miles on their road. He then took leave -of them with a gallant speech to the fair Julia, and a gay jest with -the young earl; and wending onwards slowly, those whom he thus left -made the best of their way to Lyons, where some repose became -absolutely necessary.</p> - -<p class="normal">As this book is not intended for an itinerary, I shall not dwell upon -the events of their farther journey, which was very much like all -other journeys in that day, when very few facilities were offered to -the traveller for proceeding at a rapid pace to the end of his -journey. Inns, indeed, were infinitely more numerous in France than -even at present, for the very slowness of progression rendered it -necessary that halting places should be provided at short distances; -and, of course, those inns were sometimes very good, and sometimes -very bad, according to the quality of the landlord, and the class of -guests whom he was accustomed to receive. Although it is probable -that, from the most barbarous ages down to the present time, some -sorts of machines on wheels, usually called carriages, have been used -amongst European nations, and that persons travelled in them from one -part of a country to another, yet very few persons in France at that -period ever adopted such a mode of conveyance, but performed their -journeys on horseback, when they were capable of so doing. I am not -aware, indeed, whether the horses which were provided for travellers -at different stations all along the high roads, were even fitted for -draft; and the usual plan, when either dignity or infirmity induced -any one to travel in a carriage, was to proceed with his own horses, -or to hire of the peasantry beasts of draft, which could usually be -obtained at any of the small towns on the road. For travellers -journeying with their own horses, the best inns were of course always -open; and the appearance of the party of the Earl of Gowrie secured -reverent reception from landlords and attendants. Nevertheless, the -inconvenience and fatigue to which the fair Julia was subjected during -her long journey were so great, that at Lyons Gowrie determined to -purchase a carriage and four horses for herself and her maid, and in -this conveyance they proceeded on their way, escorted by the rest of -the party on horseback. The length of time spent on the journey, -however, was by this means rendered much greater than it otherwise -would have been, for--tell it not in these days of railroads--the -utmost they could accomplish on the average was three-and-twenty miles -in the day.</p> - -<p class="normal">Who is there now-a-days who would not declare such a journey very -tiresome? but yet, if the truth must be told, neither Lord Gowrie nor -his fair companion found it so. Bee-like, they extracted pleasure from -every flower on the way; and an impression seemed to have taken -possession of them, which we but too rarely obtain in life, that the -present may be rendered, if we please, the happiest part of existence. -There were no particular clouds in the horizon of the future. There -was nothing tangible which could make them dread the coming days; but -they felt that they were very happy in the society of each other; and -though they both longed for the hour when their fate would be -permanently united, every other change but that presented itself to -imagination as something fearful. Long as the journey from Lyons to -Paris was, it was at length accomplished; and as they approached the -barriers of the great city, Lord Gowrie rode on with a single servant, -to seek and prepare lodgings for his whole party. He commended Julia -to the care of Mr. Rhind, but spoke a few words, before he rode away, -to Austin Jute, directing him where to seek him in the city, and -trusting, if the truth must be told, more to his wit and capacity than -to any knowledge of the world possessed by his former tutor.</p> - -<p class="normal">The carriage passed the gates of Paris without difficulty, and went -slowly on through the tortuous streets of the capital of France, the -way being so narrow in many places, that the servants who rode with -the vehicle were obliged to drop behind. Mr. Rhind had taken a place -in the coach at the barrier; but he could not refrain here and there -from drawing back the leathern curtains which covered that open space -which is defended by windows in more modern vehicles, but which was -then altogether destitute of glass. The motive he assigned to himself -and Julia for so doing was to see that the driver went right to the -Place Royale, where they were to meet the young earl; but, in truth, -the worthy gentleman's knowledge of Paris was much too limited to -enable him to give any accurate directions in case the man had gone -wrong, and perhaps curiosity might have as great a share in the act as -caution. However that may be, the proceeding proved unfortunate. The -sea remains long agitated after a storm, and the civil wars which had -desolated France for so many years had left a great deal of licence in -the capital, which not all the firmness and energy of the king had -been able to repress. Just as the carriage was turning out of the Rue -St. Antoine towards the river, and while the servants were yet behind, -a gay company of young men rode by at the very moment Mr. Rhind was -about to close the curtain again. The look which one of them gave into -the vehicle called the colour into Julia's cheek. It might be -difficult to explain what there was in the expression which caused the -blood to rush so quickly into her face--she never could explain it -herself; but she felt that it was insolent, if not insulting. The -curtain, however, was immediately drawn, and she thought the annoyance -past, when suddenly the clatter of a horse's feet at the side of the -carriage was heard, the curtain was pulled rudely back from without, -and the same face which she had before seen was thrust partly into the -carriage.</p> - -<p class="normal">The stranger said something in a laughing tone, but Julia heard not -what it was, and almost at the same moment she saw an arm stretched -out, and a clenched fist strike the intruder a violent blow on the -side of the head, while the voice of Austin Jute exclaimed in English, -"Take that, for showing so much more impudence than wit. Never thrust -your snout where you can't get it out."</p> - -<p class="normal">A scene of strange confusion instantly followed, of which she could -only behold or comprehend a small part. She saw Austin Jute off his -horse, and the stranger in the same situation. But then Mr. Rhind drew -the curtain tight, and tied the thongs. There was a clashing of -swords, however, and the combatants seemed to run round and round the -vehicle, which, by this time, had stopped, till at length there came a -low cry and a deep groan, and then the voice of Austin exclaimed -aloud, speaking to the driver, "On!--on to the Place Royale as quick -as possible!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">We must now change the scene for a while, and carry the reader to a -very different part of the world. In a small cabinet in the old castle -of Stirling, sat a young man between nineteen and twenty years of age. -It was clear, and even a warm day, though the season was winter. No -snow, however, had yet fallen; the fields were still green; and the -beautiful scene that stretched out beneath the eye, with the tall -highlands mounting to the sky on the one side, with the fair lowland -scene spread out for miles on the other, displaying all the windings -of the Forth on its course towards the sea, little needed the leafy -foliage of the spring or summer to render it exquisitely beautiful. It -is probable, indeed, that he who built the high turret in which the -cabinet was situated, had little thought of affording a beautiful -scene to those who occupied it, for its destination was that of a -watch tower, and from its peculiar position it commanded the widest -possible view to be obtained of the country on three sides. The young -man whom I have mentioned, paid as little attention to the fair -landscape stretched beneath his eyes as the builder of the tower may -be supposed to have done, though he sat near one of the four small -windows which it contained, and the casement was wide open. In his -hand--as he had cast himself back, resting against the stone-work of -the window, with his head leaning forward, and his feet crossed over -each other--was a small piece of paper, closely written in a female -hand, and oft he gazed upon it, and oft he smiled, and once he raised -it to his lips and kissed it. There was something that pleased him -well in that paper. Oh, false and treacherous hopes of youth, how -often do ye prove sweet poisons, which we quaff gaily to our own -destruction! I once saw a curious piece of ancient sculpture, -representing a child playing with a serpent, and I have often thought -that the sculptor must have intended to typify the hopes of youth.</p> - -<p class="normal">Still he gazed, and smiled, and played with the paper, and fell into -thought. What was it the enchantress promised him? What was the golden -dream which, for the hour, possessed the palace of the soul? I know -not. Woman's love belike, for he was as fair a youth to look upon as -ever mortal eye beheld--exceedingly like his brother, the Earl of -Gowrie, but of a lighter and a gayer aspect.</p> - -<p class="normal">Hark! There is the sound of a foot upon the short flight of steps that -lead up to the turret from the large chamber below! It is not the step -of her he loves. It is not hers, the giver of the gay day-dream in -which he has been indulging; for see, he suddenly hides the paper, and -looks towards the door with a glance of surprise if not alarm. And yet -it is a woman's foot, light and soft falling; and the form that now -appears at the door is surely young enough and bright enough to waken -all the tenderest emotions of the heart.</p> - -<p class="normal">But no! There is a slight gesture of pettish impatience, and he -exclaims, "What, Beatrice! What do you want now? Really, you tiresome -girl, one cannot have a moment's time for thought."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thought, Alex?" cried the young lady, with a laugh; "I wish to Heaven -you would think, or think to some purpose. I have come to make you -think if I can. Nay, nay, no signs of impatience, for I intend to -lecture you; and you must both hear and consider what I have to say. -Though I be a year younger, yet I am older in court and experience -than you are. Oh, if you get up that way I shall lock the door;" and -she did as she threatened, adding, "What do you laugh at?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"At your sauciness, silly girl," answered Alexander Ruthven. "Where -should you get experience, and what right have you to assume all the -airs of sage old age?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I got my experience in this court," answered Beatrice, "where I have -been for eighteen months, and you but three; and as for age, Alex, a -woman of eighteen is as old as a man of four or five-and-twenty. So -now sit you down there, like a good boy, and listen to what I am going -to say to you."</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven cast himself down in the seat again, with an air in -which a certain affectation of scornful merriment overlaid, but could -not conceal altogether, an expression of irritable mortification. -"Well," he said, "here I am. Pray to what do your sage counsels tend, -sister of mine?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"They tend to your happiness, your safety, your honour, Alex," -answered the Lady Beatrice, a little sharply, for though she had come -with the kindest as well as highest purposes, her brother's tone hurt -her.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, gad's my life!" replied Alexander Ruthven, "I do believe that no -man upon earth would suppose this to be the gay, bird-hearted Beatrice -Ruthven."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If so, what must be the brother's conduct which has so changed me, -which has made the gay, grave, the light-hearted, heavy?" demanded -Beatrice.</p> - -<p class="normal">Her words now seemed to strike him more than those which she had -previously uttered, for there was a deep melancholy in her tone, which -gave their meaning additional point. "Well, Beatrice," he said, laying -his hand on hers, "you are a dear good girl, I believe, and love me -truly. Tell me what it is in my conduct that you object to?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice instantly threw her arms round his neck and kissed him. "This -is like my own dear brother," she said; "and now I'll be Beatrice -again. But to the point. Do you know, Alex Ruthven--do you know that -you are flirting with a queen till it is remarked by many?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The youth's cheek turned fiery red. "Pooh, pooh!" he cried, "this is -all folly! Can I not, in common courteous gallantry, profess my -devotion to my sovereign's wife without any evil construction? Surely -the difference between our stations is so great as to leave no ground -either for danger or suspicion."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The difference of station is so great as to free her from all danger -of evil," replied Beatrice; "and I trust there are higher and holier -principles too which would keep you, Alex, from the same; but neither -those principles nor that difference will free either of you from -suspicion, nor will it free you from danger even of your life, if you -and she go on as you have been doing."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, what have I done, and what ought I to have done?" demanded the -young man, almost sullenly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I can tell you better what you ought not to have done," answered his -sister. "You ought not to take private moments for stooping over the -queen's chair, and whispering words into her ear with low tones and -sweet smiles. You ought not, in any mask or pageant at the court, to -seek her out, and find her instantly, as if you had some secret way of -discovering which she is, amongst a hundred different disguises. You -should not have pages coming to you with billets to be delivered -secretly. I could tell you a dozen more things you should not do; but -methinks this is enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man's countenance had changed expression several times while -she spoke; but at last he answered, angrily, "Do you consider, -Beatrice, that you censure your royal mistress as well as me?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed his sister. "I am her lady of honour; and -her honour is dear to me as my own. No, no, what she does, and what -she permits, is, I do believe, from a knowledge of the vast difference -between her and you--the barriers between the sovereign and the -subject, which she never dreams that you will venture to overstep. She -knows not the danger to herself and you, even of that which is done in -all innocence; and you, who should know it better, go rashly on, I -trust with a pure heart, but still with an evil aspect to the world. -Nay more, Alex, I tell you, you are watched by eager and jealous eyes, -and that your name--which never should be--is ever coupled in men's -mouths with the queen's. Beware, beware in time, my dear brother."</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven put his hand to his head and gazed down on the -ground with an expression no longer that of anger, but rather of -sorrow, and almost of despair. "I knew not it would come to this," he -said. "Heaven and earth! what is to be done?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I thought you knew it not," said his sister, "and therefore, my dear -brother, I was resolved to warn you. As to what is to be done, I think -nothing can be more easy. Get leave of absence for a while, and when -you return, be careful of all your words and looks. Of your purposes -and acts, I believe--nay, I am sure--there is no need to warn you to -be careful. But remember, my brother, and ever bear it in mind, that -though you yourself and though the queen may be perfectly blameless, a -court is always filled, not alone with the suspicious, but with the -malevolent. It must ever be so in a place where one man can only rise -by another man's downfall. If your purposes be true and noble, and I -will not doubt they are so, and if your conduct be but prudent, the -task before you is an easy one."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man waved his hand and turned away his head. "More difficult -than you know," he said, gloomily. "Oh, how difficult!"</p> - -<p class="normal">He seemed as if he were about to go on, but at that moment some one -suddenly laid a hand upon the lock of the door, and tried to open it. -The young man and his sister both started, and looked at each other -with an expression difficult to describe. Beatrice turned very pale, -her brother very red, for each fixed in their own mind upon a person -in that court as the yet unseen visitor; and in the imagination of -both it was the same. Another instant, however, undeceived them. The -door was shaken violently, and the voice of the king exclaimed, in -broad Scotch, "Hout! What's this? Wha's lockit in here? Alex Ruthven, -what need to steek the door, man?" At the same time he continued to -shake the door furiously, as if seeking to force his way in.</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice instantly started forward and turned the key, and the door at -once flew open, nearly knocking her down. In the door-way appeared -James himself, with his coarse countenance flushed, and a heavy frown -upon his brow, while a little behind was seen one of his favourites at -that time, named Doctor Herries, and another form, the sight of which -made Beatrice's heart beat quick. Without noticing the young lady, -James took a stride into the room, and looked all round, with his -large tongue lolling about in his mouth, and the tip appearing between -his half-open teeth. It was evident that he expected to see some other -person besides those which the room contained; but there was no place -of concealment of any kind, and no means of exit except the door near -which he stood. The furniture itself was so scanty, that one glance -was sufficient to show him he had been mistaken. Prefixing one of -those blasphemous oaths in which he so frequently indulged, he -exclaimed, "What the de'il is the meaning o' this? Why should brother -and sister lock the door upon themselves?"</p> - -<p class="normal">By this time, however, Beatrice had recovered her self-possession, and -she replied, with a low curtsey, "It was nothing, your majesty, but -that Alex and I have had a little bit of a quarrel; and I was -determined to have it out with him. He wanted to run away, and so I -locked the door."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I think that's a flaw, lassie," replied the king, coarsely; "but gin -you've quarrelled with your billy, tell me what it's about, and I'll -soon redd ye."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's all redd up already, sire," answered Beatrice. The king, -however, was determined to hear more, and pressed her closely; but -Beatrice, without any want of respect, answered him with spirit. "I am -not going to tell of my brother, sir," she said. "When brother and -sister quarrel, it is better, like man and wife, that they should -settle their quarrels themselves; and ours is settled. So, with your -majesty's good leave, I'll not begin the matter again."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay," murmured the king to himself, in a bitter tone. "These Ruthvens -are all rebels. By----" he continued, turning to Doctor Herries, "I -thought he had got some one else locked in here than his sister, and -that there were more sweet words than bitter ones going on."</p> - -<p class="normal">Dr. Herries, a coarse hard-featured man, with a club foot, shrugged -his shoulders, saying, in a low voice, "Your majesty is seldom wrong -in the end; but you had better not let him see all that you suspect, -and give him some reason for coming."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oo, ay," said the king. "It had gane clean out o' my head. Weel, -Alex, my bairn," he continued, in a cajoling tone, which he not -unfrequently assumed when seeking to cozen some one, against whom he -meditated evil, into a belief that he was well disposed towards him, -"I was just bringing you this good knight here, who came this morning -with letters from your mother. 'Deed, his business, it seems, is mair -with your saucy titty than yoursel; but I thought it just as weel to -let you know what was going on before I put they two together."</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice coloured till the blood mounted over her whole forehead, but -Alexander Ruthven answered somewhat sullenly, "I thank your majesty, -and am well pleased to see Sir John Hume. As for my sister, she is her -own mistress, and sometimes wants to be mine, too."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There now," said the king, laughing, "the bairn's in the dorts; but -what he says is true enough, as Sir John may find out some day. She'd -fain manage us all. So now I shall leave you three together, for I've -got a world of work to do. A crowned heed is no a light ane."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he retired with his club-footed favourite, taking a look -back at the door to see the expression of the faces he left behind; -but well knowing his majesty's habits, all parties guarded their looks -till he was gone, and the door shut. Even then they were silent till -the heavy step of Doctor Herries was heard crossing the room below, -for the king's propensity to eaves-dropping was no secret in Stirling -Castle.</p> - -<p class="normal">As soon as they were assured that he was gone, Sir John Hume, even -before he exchanged greetings with her he loved, turned to young -Ruthven, exclaiming, "In Heaven's name, Alex, what is the matter with -the king?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I don't know," answered Alexander Ruthven. "He does not make me the -keeper of his secrets."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But this secret somehow affects you," replied Hume; "and it is worth -looking to, my friend, for James's enmities are very deadly, and his -fears often as much so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What makes you think that he has any ill will towards me, Hume?" -asked the young man, who, if the truth must be told, had been not a -little alarmed by all that had taken place.</p> - -<p class="normal">"His whole conduct," answered Hume. "He kept me below nearly half an -hour talking the merest nonsense in the world--a heap of learned trash -about Padua and Livy, just like the daudling nonsense of old Rollock -of the High School, when he fell into his dotage. And yet he fidgeted -about the whole time, pulling the points of his hose in a way that -showed me he was uneasy. Then he called a page, and whispered to him -some message; and then he began again upon Livy, and roared out a -whole page of crabbed Latin, and asked me if I could translate it. -Just at that minute the boy came back again, and said aloud he could -not find her Majesty, upon which up started James, saying, 'We'll find -some one, I'll warrant. Come along, Cowdenknows. Come along, Herries. -You must come and see the work;' and then he said, as if he had -forgotten to say it before, 'I'll take you to Alex Ruthven, John -Hume.' All this time he was rolling away towards the door, like an -empty barrel trundled through the streets by a cooper's man. I never -saw him go so fast before in my life--muttering all the way, too, till -he came to this door; and he seemed in such a fury when he found it -locked, that I did not know what was to happen next; and a bright -sight for me was the face of this dear lady when I came in. Bright as -it always is," he added, taking Beatrice's hand and kissing it, "it -never looked so bright as then."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, nay, Hume," said Beatrice, "let us talk of more serious matter, -and seriously. What you say makes me very uneasy. I saw the king was -angry about something, and your account proves that his anger was not -light. Give us your counsel. What is best to be done?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven had cast himself down again, and seemed buried in -bitter thought; but his sister's words roused him, and he started up, -exclaiming, "What I will do is decided. I will away to the king, and -ask leave of absence--absence!" he murmured to himself--"a bitter -boon! He well may grant that;" and without waiting for reply or -comment, he hurried from the room.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And now, dear girl," said Hume, as soon as he was gone, "let us speak -of happier themes. Is my Beatrice changed, or does the heart of the -woman still confirm the promise of the girl?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Don't you see I am changed?" answered Beatrice, gaily. "I am half an -inch taller, and a great deal thinner. My mother was quite right to -say that she had no notion of a girl marrying till she had done -growing."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, but is the mind changed?" said Hume: "you have changed, my -Beatrice--from lovely to lovelier."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fie!" exclaimed Beatrice. "You might have made it a superlative, and -said loveliest, at once; but if you think I have become more beautiful -in person, why should you think I am uglier in mind? And would it not -be so, John Hume, to cast old love lightly away like a crumpled -farthingale? No, no; you know right well that Beatrice does not -change; and, therefore, all the time that you are asking such silly -questions, you call her your Beatrice, to show that you are quite -sure."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And you are my own dear Beatrice, ever," said the young knight, -throwing his arm round her, with a smile; "and if there was the least -little bit of doubt engendered by two long years of absence, it was -the least little bit in the world."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There, that will do," said Beatrice, turning away her head, but not -very resolutely. "But now, tell me about my dear brother Gowrie. Where -is he? What is he doing? When is he coming back?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"When last I left him, he was at Voghera," replied her lover. "What he -was doing, was making love; and when he will be back depends upon the -state of the roads, the courage of Mr. Rhind, and the strength of the -fair lady who bears him company."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Making love?" said Beatrice. "I heard something of this from my -mother. A fair Italian, is not she? Beautiful, I will answer for it: -for John knew what beauty is, even when a boy; but I do not think that -he would be taken by beauty alone. Heaven and earth! I must get -somebody to teach me a few more phrases of Italian than I have. Can -the dear girl speak French, do you know?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot tell," answered Hume, laughing; "for I never spoke to her in -anything but English, which she speaks nearly as well as you do, -Beatrice, and better than I do. There is Florentine blood in her -veins, it is true; and the warm south shines out in her eyes, and -glows upon her cheek; but she is Scottish by birth, and half Scottish -by parentage. More I cannot tell you, Beatrice, for more I do not -know. She is protestant, too, Gowrie says; and certainly I never saw -her tell beads or heard her say Pater-nosters. She was likely to have -got roasted for the omission; but that, I trust, will secure her a -warm reception here."</p> - -<p class="normal">"From me and mine, at least," replied Beatrice. "But if you mean from -the court, I do not know what to say. The king has his own notions of -religion as well as of government. They are both much the same, and -both somewhat strange. I believe he would willingly have the whole -land papist, if he might but be the pope. Indeed, he insists upon -being the pope of his own church, and makes every one bow the head to -his infallibility."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He'll find that a hard matter in Scotland," said Sir John Hume, -gravely; "and I almost fear that Gowrie's humour will not suit all he -finds here--at least, what I hear on my return makes me think so. I -understand the king has forbidden three or four ministers to preach, -because they would not defend his actual supremacy. The days of old -John Knox seem to be quite forgotten."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not quite," answered Beatrice. "There are those who remember them, -though the king does not. God guard that Gowrie may have the prudence -to keep quiet, for the king will have his way. There are some men who -oppose him, and many who laugh at him; but by one means or another, he -makes them all bend to his will sooner or later; and there is -generally harm comes of it, if people do not yield readily."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Everybody is tired of the feuds we have had," answered Hume; "and -therefore men give way to things they disapprove; but Gowrie's is a -spirit not easily bowed, and I doubt that he will ever be a favourite -here."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Heaven grant that he never may," replied the lady; "for it is a place -of peril, depend upon it, Hume, and one out of which I shall be right -glad to be."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That may be when you will, dear Beatrice," answered Hume. "You have -but to say the day, and free yourself from the bonds that tie you to a -court."</p> - -<p class="normal">"In order to fetter myself with others," said Beatrice, gaily; "but it -is not so easy as you suppose, John. When my mother's letter came to -the queen, telling her majesty that she consented to our marriage, the -king vowed, with a great many hard oaths, that he would not have it -for a twelvemonth."</p> - -<p class="normal">At this announcement, Sir John Hume became very wroth, and ventured to -break the precepts of the wise king in regard to speaking ill of -princes; but his angry exclamations were cut short by the return of -Alexander Ruthven, with the tidings that he had obtained leave of -absence very readily, and was about to set out. "What must be done, -had better be done quickly," he said; and then with a meaning look he -added, "Excuse me to her Majesty, Beatrice, for I shall not be able to -see her before I go."</p> - -<p class="normal">It is probable that the young man did not in truth seek to deceive his -sister; but certain it is, that some two hours after, when the king -had gone out on horseback, Beatrice, as she looked forth from one of -the windows, saw Anne of Denmark walking, unattended, between the -castle wall and Heading Hill, a little mound just beyond the limits of -the castle. I have said unattended, but not unaccompanied, for by her -side was a form very like that of Alexander Ruthven; and Beatrice, as -she saw it, pressed her hands together tightly, murmuring, "Rash boy!"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XVI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">In the year 1599, the Place Royal at Paris was a new and fashionable -part of the world; but nevertheless, one of the best houses, forming -an angle with the street which led down from the Rue St. Antoine, had -been taken by an Italian speculator, to be let out in apartments as a -sort of inn, or, as it would now be called, hotel, though the more -modest title of auberge was all that it then assumed. Next door to -this house, was the hotel of the English ambassador, Sir Henry -Neville; and before the porte cochère of each of the two houses was -assembled a little knot of four or five persons: in the one instance -composed of servants gazing vacantly out into the Place; and in the -other, of the master of the house, some of his waiters, and the Earl -of Gowrie, with the servant whom he had taken with him from the gates. -The young earl and the host, with whom he had just arranged for the -reception of his party, were looking up the street, and waiting for -the arrival of the carriage, when suddenly they saw it approaching at -a much more rapid pace than they expected, and a tumultuous assemblage -of several persons following, while Austin Jute, at a quick trot, rode -on before. The moment he arrived in the square, he sprang from his -horse, and throwing the rein loose, approached his master, saying, in -English, "I am sorry to tell you, my lord, that a young man has just -thought fit to insult the Lady Julia, so I ran him through the body; -and now they are following with a guard to catch me. I had therefore -better be off, and find your lordship out afterwards."</p> - -<p class="normal">He spoke rapidly, without any of his usual proverbs; but his young -lord replied, "Stay, stay, Austin; if you are not in fault, I will -protect you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I could not help myself, sir," replied the man. "He thrust his head -into the carriage. I boxed his ears. He drew his sword; and I defended -myself. There are plenty who can prove it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let him come in here," said one of the English ambassador's servants, -who had been listening. "If he's an Englishman, here's the proper -place for him. This is the embassy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Run in there, Austin," said the young earl. "Tell your story to Sir -Henry Neville, if he be within, and say that I will see him in a few -minutes. Let him know that you are a subject of her Majesty the queen, -and he will give you protection."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come along, come along! there is no time to stand talking," cried the -English servant; and, hurrying after him, Austin Jute ran under the -porte cochère, and the gates were closed just as the carriage drove -into the Place, and stopped at the door of the inn. The servants who -had remained with the vehicle were four in number; and they had -without difficulty contrived to cover Austin Jute's retreat, by riding -between the wheels of the carriage and the houses of the narrow -street, though pressed upon by two mounted gentlemen, who followed -them with drawn swords and menacing words. The moment the carriage -entered the Place, however, the horsemen who were pursuing dashed -round the vehicle and the servants, and just caught sight of the -closing gates of the English embassy. At the same time, coming down -the street, as fast as they could run, were five or six of the town -guard, with large unwieldy halbards on their shoulders, which, of -course, greatly impeded their advance.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did he go in there?" shouted one of the horsemen, as soon as he saw -Austin's riderless horse in the Place, and the gates of the English -embassy closed.</p> - -<p class="normal">The words were addressed to no one in particular; but he looked -straight to the Earl of Gowrie as he spoke. The young nobleman took no -notice of him, however, but calmly handed Julia out of the vehicle, -saying, "Go straight in with Mr. Rhind, dear one. Everything is ready -for you;" and then, seeing that she was very pale, he added, "Do not -be alarmed. There is no danger. Austin has taken refuge at the English -ambassador's.--Go in with the lady, and show her the apartments, sir," -he said, speaking to the landlord. "I will follow immediately."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But, my dear lord," said Mr. Rhind, who had by this time got out of -the carriage----</p> - -<p class="normal">"Go in, go in," said Gowrie, interrupting him, as he saw the two -horsemen coming up towards them, and the guard entering the Place. "Go -in, my dear sir, and do not leave her till I come. Now, gentlemen," he -continued, turning to the strangers, as soon as he saw that Julia was -safe in the hotel, "you seem to have business with me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Sacre bleu!" cried one of the others; "does that carriage belong to -you, sir?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It does," replied Lord Gowrie, quite calmly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then, one of your companions has just killed a gentleman, our -friend," rejoined the stranger, furiously; "and we will have vengeance -upon him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I understand," replied Gowrie, in the same unmoved tone, "that one of -my servants--seeing a person, whom I will not honour by calling him a -gentleman, insult a lady--punished him as he deserved, and then, in -his own defence, ran him through the body. Is this the case or not?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your servant!" exclaimed the Frenchman, without giving a direct -answer, but mixing a few very indecent expletives with his speech; -"was it a coquin of a servant who ventured to draw his sword upon a -gentleman?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is impossible to know a gentleman but by his actions," replied the -young earl; "and whether he were gentle or simple, my servant would -certainly punish any one who insulted a lady under his protection, -well knowing, sir, that I would justify him and support him either -with my sword or with my means; and let me add more, that whoever or -whatsoever you may be, I shall look upon those who take part with him -who committed the insult, as having shared in it, and treat them -accordingly."</p> - -<p class="normal">The Frenchman to whom he spoke instantly sprang to the ground; and -perhaps more serious results would have ensued, had not the guard with -their halbards come up, and thrust themselves between the earl and his -opponent, both of whom had their hands upon their swords.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Where is he? where is he?" was the cry; and the officer of the guard -seemed much inclined to lay hands upon Gowrie himself, not having a -very correct notion of the personal appearance of him he was to -apprehend.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are mistaken, my good sir," said Lord Gowrie; "the person you are -in search of apparently, has taken refuge at the house of the English -ambassador, being a subject of that crown. At present, I am but -scantily informed of what has occurred. Is the person he fought with -dead, and who is he?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"He is not dead, but he will die certainly," said the officer; and the -Frenchman, who had dismounted, as I have stated, finished the reply by -saying, "He is a Scotch lord, who has been brought up with us at this -university, the Seigneur de Ramsay."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know no Scottish lord of that name," said the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"We must have the homicide out, however," observed the officer of the -guard; and approaching the gate of the embassy, he knocked hard for -admission.</p> - -<p class="normal">It was common, in all large Parisian houses at that period, to have a -small iron grating inserted in the great gates, at the height of a -man's head, through which, in times of danger, letters or messages -might be received by those within, without opening the doors. This, at -the English embassy, was covered in the inside with a thick shutter of -wood, which, on the loud knocking of the officer of the guard, was -withdrawn, showing the face of a burly porter behind the grate.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What do you want?" demanded the porter.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I want the body of a man who has taken refuge here after committing -homicide," replied the officer.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You can't have him, either body or soul, unless his excellency gives -him up," answered the porter, gruffly.</p> - -<p class="normal">There is in every man's mind, I believe, a store of the comic, which, -though often battened down under strange and little-penetrable -hatches, is sometimes arrived at, even in a very obdurate bosom, by -the simplest of all possible processes. The Earl of Gowrie was in no -very jesting mood. He was vexed at the scrape his servant had got -into; and he was vexed to think that the life of a human being had -been endangered, if not lost. He was vexed, moreover, then, that -Julia--his Julia, should have been insulted by any one on her first -entrance into the French capital. But yet the braggadocio tone of the -French cavalier had somewhat amused him; and the reply of the sturdy -English porter, delivered in very indifferent French, almost made him -laugh, notwithstanding the seriousness of the subject. He had -approached close to the gate with the officer, who, for the moment, -seemed completely rebuffed by the reply; and knowing well that the -matter could not end there, Gowrie interposed, to procure a more just -and reasonable arrangement. He did not choose to use the English -language, lest any suspicion should be excited in the minds of the -Frenchmen around; but speaking French almost as well as he did his -native language, he said, "Be kind enough, my good friend, to tell Sir -Henry Neville that the Earl of Gowrie is at his gate, and would fain -speak with him; but as French gentlemen are very apt to take their own -prepossessions for realities, and to suspect, whenever they are in the -wrong themselves, that others are in fault, it will be better, if he -does me the honour of admitting me, that he should admit this officer -of the prevot, and also this gentleman, who styles himself the friend -of the wounded man."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I demand that the culprit should be delivered up," said the cavalier, -fiercely. "The privileges of no ambassador can shelter a murderer; and -as to prepossessions, we all know that you Englishmen are the natural -enemies of France, and that you have never aided any party in this -country but for the purpose of promoting dissensions, and thereby -nullify the efforts of Frenchmen for the honour and glory of their -native land."</p> - -<p class="normal">"His majesty, your king, might well be grateful to you for the -observation, sir," replied the earl; "and my opinion of a Frenchman's -prejudices is not altered thereby; but as my proposal is a fair one, I -am quite willing to abide by it if it suits you. If not, I shall -demand entrance for myself alone, which I think will not be refused -me, as a distant relative of the ambassador's sovereign."</p> - -<p class="normal">The latter words of the earl's reply had no slight effect upon the -officer of the guard, who thenceforth addressed the young earl as -"monseigneur," and took pains to explain to him that he was only -acting in the strict line of duty. The two French cavaliers stood -apart, consulting between themselves, till the porter returned, after -carrying Gowrie's message to Sir Henry Neville.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am to permit three to enter," he said; "but while I do so, the rest -must stand back to at least thirty paces from the gate, that I may -open the wicket in safety."</p> - -<p class="normal">The guard, and Gowrie's men, who had crowded round, were ordered to -withdraw to the prescribed distance; and the command having been -obeyed with no great alacrity, a small wicket in the gate was opened, -through which Gowrie passed at once, taking precedence of the others -as his right, from a knowledge that it is always dangerous to yield a -single step to a Frenchman, who is certain never to consider it as a -courtesy, but to look upon it as an acknowledgment of his superiority. -The officer of the guard followed; and then came the stranger, looking -back for a moment to some half-dozen idlers who had gathered round, -with a strong inclination to call upon them to assert the honour of -France, whether impugned or not impugned. Although Gowrie saw the -glance, and easily comprehended what was passing in the worthy -gentleman's bosom, his mind was put perfectly at ease by the array -which he saw drawn up in the court-yard of the embassy. Those days -were not as these, when powdered lacqueys, in the gold and silver lace -which their masters will not condescend to wear, with two or three -attaches and a few clerks hired on the spot, are the only guards of a -diplomatist accredited by one court to another. Men went prepared for -any contingency, and buckler and broadsword were as common in the -suite of an ambassador as paper and pen and ink. Full forty men, well -armed and stout in limb, were drawn up in the court of the embassy, -while the secretary of the envoy himself waited at the foot of the -stairs, on the left hand, ready to conduct the earl and his companions -to the minister's cabinet. To the Earl of Gowrie he was particularly -deferential and attentive, while to the French cavalier who followed, -and whom he addressed as Monsieur de Malzais, he was coldly polite. -After passing through two or three handsome saloons, the whole party -was ushered into a small room surrounded with book-shelves; and a -tall, elegant, dignified looking man rose up from a table to receive -them, laying down a book which he had been reading, with the most -perfect appearance of tranquillity and ease. His eye instantly rested -on the Earl of Gowrie, being in truth well acquainted with the persons -of the two others, and advancing towards him, he took his hand, and -welcomed him to Paris with many expressions of esteem and regard.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have had a letter from his majesty, the King of France," he said, -"informing me of your lordship's approaching arrival; and I only -regretted that I did not know how I might serve you in anticipation of -your coming, so that all might be prepared for you. Pray, my lord, be -seated;" and placing a chair for him, he remained standing till the -earl had taken his seat.</p> - -<p class="normal">We can hardly bring our minds in the present day to believe that all -this ceremonious respect, this ostentatious display of reverence for a -fellow man, could have any effect upon the view which reasonable -beings would take of a simple question of justice. But there was very -little of the old Roman left in the sixteenth century. When men sold -their loyalty and compounded for their treason, it was not to be -supposed that justice was unmarketable. Cromwell, with all his faults -and all his crimes, was the first who thoroughly purified the seat of -justice, and taught the world that, in one country at least, neither -rank nor wealth, nor even long conceded privilege, could prove a -shield against the sword of justice. The immunities claimed by and -granted to ambassadors were then enormous, and the influence of high -rank often amounted to elevation above the law. The officer of the -guard, though a man sensible of his duties and willing to perform -them, was not less subject than others to the general feelings of the -age and country in which he lived; and Monsieur de Malzais, though -resolute even to obstinacy and bold to rashness, was habitually -impressed with the reverence thus thought due to high station; and -though they had both entered the room with a determination to require -that Austin Jute should be at once given up to justice, the honours -shown to his master by the ambassador of the haughtiest queen in -Europe, rendered their demand very moderate in tone, and not very -persevering in character.</p> - -<p class="normal">To the surprise of both, however, Gowrie himself pressed for immediate -investigation. He had been brought up in a sterner school, in which -that spirit prevailed which afterwards shone forth with so strong a -light in the higher and purer of the puritan party in England.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not request your excellency," he said, after the officer of the -guard had stated his object, and Monsieur de Malzais had preferred his -charge, "to throw your protection over my servant, unless a clear case -of justification can be made out in his favour; and then only so far -as to shield him from long imprisonment and perhaps suffering, till it -is ascertained whether the gentleman he has wounded lives or dies. I -doubt not that the laws of the land will do justice between man and -man, though the one be a mere servant and the other a person moving in -a more elevated station of life, and I shall myself stay to see that -it is so. But, in the first instance, as your own countryman and as my -servant, I think you have every right to inquire whether he did, as he -says, injure this gentleman in his own defence or not."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I shall certainly do so," replied Sir Henry Neville; "for I should -not be fulfilling my duty to my sovereign, were I to suffer one of her -subjects to undergo unnecessary imprisonment for an act which he was -compelled to perform. I shall deal with the case, my lord, exactly as -if it were that of one of my own servants. If I find he has been -guilty of a crime, I shall give him up at once to justice; if I find -he has not, I shall protect him against all and every one, as far as -my privileges extend. To this neither you yourself nor these gentlemen -can object."</p> - -<p class="normal">Whatever might be their abstract notions of the sovereignty of the -law, neither of the Frenchmen did venture to object, and Austin Jute -was called into the presence of the ambassador, and told his story in -his own words, which were translated by the secretary for the benefit -of those who did not understand the English tongue.</p> - -<p class="normal">"We were riding along quietly enough, your excellency," he said, "much -more like sheep that have got into a strange fold than anything else, -when three gentlemen, of whom that was one," and he pointed to -Monsieur de Malzais, "rode up and passed the carriage. We made way for -them to go by, for they say, 'when you meet a fool in an alley, give -him the wall;' but then they said something amongst themselves and -laughed, and one of them wheeled his horse with a demivolte, and poked -his head in at the carriage window, holding back the curtain. As it -must have been done on purpose, unless he and his horse were both -taken giddy, which was not likely, for it is rare for two animals to -be seized with dizziness at the same time, I reminded him of the way -he ought to go by a knock on the side of the head. He did not like -that sort of direction, and jumping off his beast, or tumbling off, as -the case may be, he drew his sword and poked at me in a way that would -have made the daylight shine through me if I had not slipped off on -the other side. An open enemy is better than a false friend; and now I -knew what I was about. A cat in a corner is a lion; so having no means -of escape, I drew cold iron too, and we both poked away at each other -till he got a wound and fell. Thereupon, thinking to make my heels -save my head, I got on my beast again and came hither."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did this gentleman here present, or any of the others, attempt to -part you and your opponent?" asked Sir Harry Neville.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No," answered Austin Jute; "that gentleman called out, 'Well lunged, -Ramsay,' or some such name--'punish the dog.' I know French enough to -understand that."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, sir, what do you say to this?" asked Sir Harry Neville, turning -to Monsieur de Malzais. "If the man's story is true, it would seem -that the provocation came on the side of your friend; that he was -justly punished for insulting a lady, and that then he drove this good -man to defend himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But his story is not true," replied the Frenchman, in a somewhat -hesitating tone; "the Seigneur de Ramsay did not insult the lady. He -only looked into the carriage, as any gentleman might do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's a lie!" said Austin Jute, who had a very tolerable knowledge -of the French tongue. "He looked into the carriage as no gentleman -would do, and pulled back the curtain with his hand. There were plenty -of people to prove it. Ask Mr. Rhind, and the other servants."</p> - -<p class="normal">A part of this reply only was translated to Monsieur de Malzais, who -was answering warmly; but Gowrie interposed, saying, "I will send for -Mr. Rhind, who was in the carriage, and also for some of the servants. -I have spoken with none of them myself. This man has had time to speak -with none of them either, and therefore their account will be -unbiassed."</p> - -<p class="normal">The persons whom he mentioned were speedily brought to the embassy, -and fully and clearly confirmed the account of Austin Jute. Mr. Rhind -testified that the curtain of the carriage had been rudely and -insolently drawn back, and the head of a stranger thrust into the -vehicle; and the servants proved that the wounded man had drawn his -sword, and made a thrust at their companion, before Austin Jute had -even unsheathed his weapon. That first lunge, they said, would most -probably have proved fatal, had not Austin dexterously slipped from -his horse, and so avoided it.</p> - -<p class="normal">While they proceeded in giving their evidence, the secretary -translated their replies almost literally; and although the French -gentleman did not actually look ashamed, yet he seemed very much -puzzled how to meet their testimony. He had recourse, however, to a -means not uncommon with persons in his predicament, declaring there -was evidently a conspiracy to shield the offender, which called a -smile upon the lips of Sir Henry Neville, who replied, in a quiet -tone, "You have had so many conspiracies in France lately, Monsieur de -Malzais, that you fancy almost every transaction is of the same -nature. It seems to me, and I doubt not also to the officer of the -guard, that no time has elapsed sufficient for these people to make -themselves perfect in exactly the same account of the whole -transaction. It will therefore be my duty to protect this poor man, -who seems to have done nothing but what he was bound to do in defence -of his lady and of his own life. My house must therefore be his place -of refuge, from which he shall not be taken except by violence, which, -I presume, nobody will think of attempting."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Assuredly not, your excellency," replied the officer of the guard; -"my view of the case is the same as your own; but neither you nor I -are judges in this land; and I only consent to abstain from any -farther proceedings against this person, till it is ascertained -whether the gentleman he has wounded lives or dies. Should the latter -event occur, I must apply to higher authorities for directions as to -my future conduct."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That as you please, sir," replied the ambassador; "but be assured, -that under no circumstances will I give him up, unless I have express -directions so to do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And in the meantime he will of course escape," said Monsieur de -Malzais.</p> - -<p class="normal">The ambassador made no reply, but rose and turned upon his heel with a -look of some contempt; and the French gentleman, with the officer of -the guard, retired.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, Master Austin Jute," said Sir Henry Neville, "you may depend -upon my protection so long as you keep yourself within the limits of -this house, its courts, and garden; but if you venture out upon any -pretext, you are very likely to get into the little Chatellet, in -which case you might find yourself some day stretched out considerably -beyond your usual length, upon an instrument called the rack, and -perhaps might never be heard of afterwards; for there are often -curious things done in this country in the name of justice. Be warned, -therefore, and do not go abroad."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Don't be afraid, sir," answered Austin Jute; "I will never stretch my -feet beyond the length of my sheet. I know when to let well alone. -When the waters are out, it is better to be on the top of a hill than -in the bottom of a valley. If the maid had kept the pitcher in her -hand, it would not have got broken; so, with many thanks, I will -follow your advice to the letter."</p> - -<p class="normal">With these quaint saws the good youth withdrew, accompanied by the -rest of the Earl of Gowrie's servants, who had been summoned to give -evidence; and as soon as they were gone, Sir Henry Neville said, with -a smile, "I trust this young man will not die, my lord, for it might -occasion us some trouble, although his character is well known here in -Paris."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Who is he?" demanded Lord Gowrie. "There are so many Ramsays in -Scotland, that it is impossible to distinguish one from another, -unless one knows the name of the estate belonging to the person."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not believe he has any estate to distinguish him," replied the -ambassador; "but he is a cousin of Sir George Ramsay of Dalhousie, -whose brother John is page to your own sovereign, King James. This -young man, proving of an unruly disposition, and likely to bring -disgrace upon himself and his very honourable family, was sent hither -by Sir George, one of the finest and highest-minded men I know, to -study at the university here. He has rendered himself, however, more -famous for rashness, violence, and insolence, than for learning or -talent; and I believe the reports of his conduct which have reached -Scotland have given great pain to his elder cousin, though the younger -still remains much attached to him, and has promised, they say, to use -his influence at the court of the king for this young man's -advancement. But now, my good lord, by your leave I will accompany you -to pay my respects to your fair lady. I was not, indeed, aware that -your lordship was married."</p> - -<p class="normal">The colour somewhat mounted into Gowrie's cheek; but he replied, "Nor -am I, Sir Henry. The lady whom I have the honour of escorting back to -Scotland,--her grandfather, with whom she resided, having very lately -died in Italy--is my cousin, the Lady Julia Douglas."</p> - -<p class="normal">Perhaps the slight shade of embarrassment apparent in the earl's -manner, in making this announcement, might excite the ambassador's -curiosity; but he was too good a diplomatist to suffer any trace of -what was passing in his mind to appear in his demeanour, and repeating -his wish to be presented to the lady, he accompanied Gowrie to the -inn. By this time all trace of the little disturbance which had -occurred had vanished from the Place Royale; and gay groups of -Parisians were beginning to assemble there, to walk up and down, and -converse, make love, or observe each other, as was customary during -the evening of each fine day. After being introduced to Julia, with -whose exceeding beauty he seemed greatly struck, the ambassador -proceeded to discuss with Gowrie that nobleman's plans. He advised him -strongly to remain in Paris till the result of Ramsay's wound was -known, adding, in a low voice, for the young earl's own ear, "I can -almost forgive Ramsay's attempt to get another sight of a face and -form like that, when once he had seen them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I shall not forgive him so easily," answered the earl; "for no lady -under my care and escort shall be insulted with impunity."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I beseech you, let the matter drop, my good lord," replied Neville; -"if the young man dies, there is an end of it; if he recovers, he has -surely been punished enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He shall apologise, however," said the earl, in a thoughtful tone; -"though I am not disposed to be harsh with him. Perhaps, indeed," he -continued, "he may have received a lesson from the hand of my servant -which may do him good. I know Sir George Ramsay well, at least I did -so in my boyhood; and if there be one drop of his blood in this young -man's veins, there must be some good qualities at bottom."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let us trust that the bad blood has been let out," said the -ambassador, "and that the good remains behind, and that he may recover -to make a better use of life than he has hitherto done. I will send in -a short time to inquire how he is going on, and will let you know the -answer I receive. In the meantime I take my leave, and will do my best -to provide for your amusement during your sojourn in Paris."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XVII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Austin Jute was soon quite at home at the house of the English -ambassador. His talents were of a very universal kind; and they had -been sharpened by certain citizen-of-the-world habits, which he had -acquired in the roving life he had led for some years. He had first -come over to France with the Earl of Essex, as servant to one of the -gentlemen of his household; and that gentleman having been killed in -one of the many skirmishes which were then taking place, Austin had -been left, like a masterless horse on the field of battle, to run -about the world as he liked. Doubtless the earl himself would have -either provided for his return to England, or taken him into his own -service, had Austin applied properly. But Austin did not, for he had -no affection for the Queen of England's favourite, although -susceptible of strong attachments; and with a score or two of crowns, -which he had accumulated one way or another, he set out to see the -world, and, if possible, improve his fortunes. He was rarely at a -loss, in whatever circumstances he might be placed; for though very -unlike a cat in disposition, he had the quality attributed to the -feline tribe of always falling upon his feet. Ready, willing, bold, -active in mind and body, a shrewd observer, a ready combiner, with a -very retentive memory of everything he saw or heard, and great -confidence in his own luck, Austin Jute might have gone through life -with the greatest possible success, had it not been for a certain -light-hearted love for the fair sex, which often got him into quarrels -with more serious lovers, and a quickness of disposition, which -rendered those quarrels much more serious than they might otherwise -have been. Whenever he was not personally concerned, and he had to -manage any affairs for others, he was generally exceedingly prudent -and shrewd; at other times, however, he was rash to the greatest -possible degree, and seemed to find a pleasure--a vain pleasure, -perhaps--in multiplying scrapes around him, with the most perfect -confidence of being able to get out of them some way or another.</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus, in gaiety of heart, he had wandered half through -Europe--sometimes being obliged to make a very precipitate retreat -from one or other of the small states into which the continent was -then divided, but as frequently obtaining as much honour and success -as he could have anticipated--when a succession of misadventures, -unusually long and serious, brought him to Padua without a crown in -his pocket. He was there relieved in the midst of poverty, which had -depressed, and sickness which had nearly extinguished his light -spirit, by several of the English and Scottish students, and thus fell -under the notice of the Earl of Gowrie, who, finding him clever, and -having cause to believe him honest, engaged him in his service, at -first in a very inferior position, from which he had risen by strong -proofs of zeal, attachment, and honesty, to the highest point in his -master's favour and confidence.</p> - -<p class="normal">With all his fellow-servants, too, he was a very great favourite, for -he had not the slightest inclination to domineer, to exact, or to -exclude; and the curious sort of miscellaneous education which he had -received, or rather, which he had bestowed upon himself, gave him a -superiority that they were quite willing to acknowledge. He could -write, and he could read, which was more than many persons in a much -higher station could do at that time. He could play upon the fiddle -and the flute, and the hurdy-gurdy. He could carve all sorts of things -in wood. He had as many curious receipts as are to be found in the -"True Gentlewoman's Delight." He could catch all sorts of birds and -beasts by strange devices of his own. He could fence, use the sword -and buckler, or play at single stick like a master of the art of -defence. He could ride well, and was never known to appear either -tired or sleepy.</p> - -<p class="normal">He had not been a couple of hours in Sir Henry Neville's house, before -a multitude of his small talents displayed themselves for the benefit -of the ambassador's servants; and his frank good humour soon gained -him plenty of friends in the household. Unlike most Englishmen, who -seem to look upon every man as an enemy till he has proved himself -otherwise, Austin Jute appeared to regard the whole human race as a -friend, which is, perhaps, the greatest of all secrets for smoothing -the way of life; and on the evening of the day of his arrival, he sat -in the hall at the embassy, carving a little sort of box or casket out -of a piece of yew, in which he produced the most extraordinary -devices, whistling all the time airs so wild and merry, that many of -the servants collected around to listen, and others looked over his -shoulder, examining the progress of his work.</p> - -<p class="normal">While thus employed, one of the attendants came into the hall, saying, -"The news isn't good, Master Jute. The people say he will not get over -the night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, he knows best what he's about," answered Austin Jute, quietly. -"Every man must die once; and but once can a man die. He has got what -he deserved from me, and nothing more. He must manage the rest as he -likes himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But it may be awkward for you, if he does die," answered the man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not a whit," replied Austin Jute. "My luck is not at so low an ebb. -Fortune comes tripping, they say; and a stumble's no great matter so -there be not a fall. I say devoutly, 'God save the worthy gentleman!' -But if he dies, he dies; and it is no fault of mine--I wish him well."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But who is the lady who was in the carriage?" asked another of the -servants; for curiosity, the passion of all semi-civilized people, was -even stronger then in capitals than it is now in country towns. "They -say she is not your lord's wife."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No," answered Austin Jute, "but she is his cousin, which is better, -as the world goes. She will be his wife hereafter, if Heaven so will -it, and she live long enough to reach the first stage of woman's -decline."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, I see not how that is a decline," said the servant. "It is -promotion, I think; and all ladies think so too."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why was Sarah better than Hagar," asked Austin Jute, laughing, -"except that the one was the free woman and the other bond woman? Now, -according to our rites and ceremonies, the wife is the bond woman, and -therefore, matrimony in a woman's case is the first stage of decline. -It is maid--wife--mother; and then widowhood or death gives the poor -thing liberty again. She is first free, then the slave to one, then -the slave to many, and if ever she regains her liberty, it is by -Heaven's will."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If they are going to marry," said the blunt Englishman who spoke, "I -wonder they don't marry at once, and go back home, man and wife. It is -what we simple people would do. It would save trouble and save -speculation."</p> - -<p class="normal">"True," answered Austin Jute; "but there are impediments in all -things, Master Jacob. Look you here, now. The lady has just lost her -grandfather by death, who was as good as a father to her, or better. -Now, it is improper for a lady to marry in mourning, and improper for -a lady to travel all alone with a gentleman, without being married to -him. Now, which is worst, think you, Master Jacob?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"All alone with a gentleman without being married to him," replied the -Englishman, "for that, one can cure one's self."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so one can cure the other," replied Austin Jute; "and therefore -the lady does not travel all alone with my lord; for, besides her -maid, who is a very nice young woman, she has got with her my master's -old tutor, Mr. Rhind, who is a very nice old woman. Thus all decencies -are made to meet; and they can jog along as coolly as Noah and his -wife did over the waters of the flood, though, Heaven mend me! I do -not think I could do the same."</p> - -<p class="normal">Perhaps the task was not so easy to Gowrie as his good servant -thought, and to say truth, all considerations of prudence prove -frequently but very weak bonds against inclination. He strove to -strengthen them indeed as far as possible, and though the presence of -worthy Mr. Rhind was often an annoyance as well as a restraint, yet he -tried not to escape from it. Mr. Rhind, however, whose sense of -propriety was somewhat capricious, and who was now so much accustomed -to see Gowrie and Julia together, as to think it not so strange as he -had done at first, would frequently, during their stay in Paris, go -forth to see this object or that, which was worthy of attention, and -the lovers would be left alone together in circumstances dangerous to -their resolution. It was thus one evening, after about seven days' -residence in Paris, that the worthy tutor was absent, and Gowrie sat -by Julia's side. The windows were closed, the hangings drawn, the -bright fire of wood sparkled and glimmered on the broad hearth, the -taper light was dim and shadowy; and they sat dreaming over the -future, or meditating over the past, while Fancy's timid wing dared -hardly rest over the present, lest she should settle there and be -unable to rise again.</p> - -<p class="normal">It was a cold evening, the frosty air made the fire sparkle; there -came sounds of joyous voices from without, rousing sympathies and -hopes and visions of happiness. A gay girl's tongue was heard passing -the windows, sinking into silence almost as soon as heard; but the -words "<i>Oui, oui, je t'aime, je t'aimerai toujours</i>," sounded distinct -upon the ears of those within. It was the key-note of the heart, and -in each bosom it echoed, "<i>Oui, oui, je t'aime, je t'aimerai -toujours</i>."</p> - -<p class="normal">She was very lovely as she sat there, leaning back in the large chair, -with her tiny feet stretched out towards the fire; every line full of -grace; one small fair hand resting white upon the dark drapery falling -over her knee, the other locked in Gowrie's, and her head slightly -bending forward, with the bright dark curls flowing over her brow and -cheek, and her full dark eyes bent upon the fire, seeing pictures in -the strong light and shade.</p> - -<p class="normal">"<i>Oui, oui, je t'aimerai toujours</i>," said Julia's heart, and Gowrie's -repeated it; and the thoughts of both wandered far away, plunging -through the future like a swallow into the depths of air. Whither did -Gowrie's wander? Far, far away, as I have said, and calm judgment -strove in vain to regulate its flight. There was something stronger -still than reason in his breast. Love--passion was for the time the -master, and fancy was but passion's slave. He let her range, but it -was for his good pleasure, and reason's voice was all unheard.</p> - -<p class="normal">At length the lover started up with a thrilling frame and an agitated -voice, exclaiming, "This is, indeed, too hard!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"What, Gowrie, what?" demanded Julia, rising with some alarm at the -sudden exclamation which broke the stillness, for they had not spoken -for some minutes.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie clasped her in his arms, and whispered in a low tone, bending -down his head till it rested on her shoulder, "Thus to love you, thus -to be ever near you, and to be forbidden to call you mine till long, -long months of dark uncertainty are past.--Oh, Julia, why should we -not be united at once? He who is gone could never foresee all the -difficulties and even dangers in which his prohibition may place us. I -feel sure that had he done so, he never would have exacted such a -sacrifice. One half of our journey is still before us. We must still -remain here many days, perhaps weeks; and oh, dear girl, if you can -feel or even conceive that which I feel, you will know that this -struggle is almost more than mortal can bear, especially when I see -the difficulties and dangers increasing ever before us, which would be -all removed by our immediate union. What should prevent you from -giving me this dear hand at once?" and he covered it with ardent -kisses.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing but our promise, Gowrie," replied Julia, with a burning cheek -and a deep sigh; "but, oh, let us not break our word. I will do -whatever you will. You are all to me now. I have none but you; and -what you can ask I will not refuse, for I know you will not ask -anything that is wrong. But oh, remember and consider what it was we -promised, how solemnly we promised, and that that promise was given to -the dead."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But if the dead could see," answered Gowrie, "would not the -circumstances in which we are actually placed appear so different to -those which were contemplated, as to justify a deviation from our -engagement?" And as he spoke he pressed her closer to him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know not," answered Julia, without an effort to free herself from -his embrace, "nor can we ever know, till we join him where all doubts -end; but yet, Gowrie, he was not one to overlook aught in his -foresight of the future. Nothing has occurred which he might not -naturally foresee. We love dearly, we feel strongly, we are anxious to -be united, we have been delayed on our journey, we have been exposed -to some insolence and some inconvenience. More, even, may be before -us; but all this could not but be displayed to the eyes of one who had -well nigh eighty years of the world's experience, and whose memory of -every event in life was as perfect as that of youth. Besides, Gowrie, -it was a promise, and I have ever held a promise to be the most sacred -of all things. Did I know that I had ever broken one, let whatever be -the motive, let whatever be the justification, I should never know -pure happiness after--I should live in regret and fear--there would be -a spot upon the past and a cloud upon the future. I should feel that I -had been untrue, and fear retribution."</p> - -<p class="normal">She raised her bright dark eyes to his face, with an appealing, almost -an imploring look, and then added, in a low tone, "But be it as you -will, Gowrie. My fate is in your hands, and I am ready to suffer -anything--even that, for your sake."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Enough, enough, dearest!" said Gowrie, with a sigh; "you shall suffer -nothing for my sake that I can spare you. But oh, dear girl, you know -not the pain which the fulfilment of this promise costs. Did you never -dream, Julia, that you were parched with thirst, and saw a cool stream -flowing before your eyes, but that when you bent down to drink, the -pure wave receded before your lip, leaving you more thirsty than -before? Thus often do I fancy it may be with me, and that our union -may still be delayed by circumstances, till some unexpected fate -snatches me from you, or you from me, for ever, when a few dear words -spoken at the altar might put our happiness, in that respect, beyond -fate."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia bent down her head, with bright drops swimming in her eyes, for -such sad pictures were not unfrequently present to her own -imagination; but she answered, "It would be a clouded happiness, -Gowrie; for we should both feel that we had done wrong. I have never, -indeed, dreamt such a dream as you mention; but yet I understand well -what you mean, and sometimes fears and doubts take possession of me -also. Yet I reproach myself when I give way to them; and I am sure -that they would increase a thousand fold were we to break our -promise. I should then tremble every hour lest our dear-purchased -happiness--bought by a falsehood--should be taken from us, and that -the union too soon attained, would be too soon ended."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are wiser and better than I am," said Gowrie, gently relaxing the -embrace in which he held her, and kissing her tenderly--"and it shall -be as you will, my love."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, neither wiser nor better," answered Julia; "but women are -accustomed to ponder upon such things, and think of them, I imagine, -more deeply than men, who act often from sudden impulses."</p> - -<p class="normal">Though grave and sad, Gowrie could not refrain from smiling at the -very different view she took of human character from that which either -prejudice or experience gives to man. Yet, after a moment's thought, -he replied, "The world does not judge so, my Julia; and yet, perhaps, -you are in some degree right. Women give more weight to feeling and -thought, and men to interest and passion, in balancing the right or -wrong of actions in the mind. But hark! there is a foot in the -ante-room;" and he led her back to her seat.</p> - -<p class="normal">The next instant there was a gentle tap at the door, and on Gowrie -saying, "Come in," the person of Austin Jute appeared.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Austin, Austin!" cried his master, "I commanded you strictly not to -stir from Sir Henry Neville's house till this unfortunate affair was -terminated."</p> - -<p class="normal">"True, my noble lord," replied Austin, "but the <i>till</i> has happened. -Not, indeed, that I could have staid longer, pent up in one house like -a jackdaw in a cage, if it had cost me my life to go out. Had the -doors been locked it might have been a different thing, for one soon -learns to do without what one cannot get; but with what one longs for, -always before one's eyes, one is sure to try for it."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie turned his eyes, with a smile, to Julia, but did not speak; and -the man went on, saying, "All yesterday I looked out of the window of -the porter's room, because I did not choose to trust myself to look -out of the door; and this morning, as I crossed the fore-court, I -found myself sidling up towards the gate, whether I would or not, like -a young crab left upon the sands. To-morrow I should have been out, I -am sure, had I not had a message to-night to tell me that Master -Ramsay had taken a sudden turn the night before in the right way, and -was now out of danger. He sent himself to tell me, which was civil, -and he told the messenger to bid me come to see him to-morrow, when I -should be quite safe."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie mused; but after a moment's thought he said, "I trust this -youth has some grace left. Nevertheless, Austin, you had better not go -until I have seen and taken counsel with Sir Henry Neville. This might -be a mere scheme to entrap you. I say not that it is so, for I do not -know the habits of this place well enough to judge; but it is exactly -such a stratagem as men would have recourse to in Italy; and I must -have the advice of one who knows better the customs of Paris than -either of us."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, they are very different from the Italians," said Austin Jute; but -then, remembering Julia's parentage, he stopped short, and the next -moment Mr. Rhind entered the room.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XVIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">As early on the following morning as possible, Gowrie visited Sir -Henry Neville, and was received with every mark of kindness and -distinction. He propounded at once his questions regarding Ramsay and -Austin Jute, but received a reply which somewhat surprised him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, there is no danger to your servant," said the ambassador. -"Neither Ramsay himself nor any one else in Paris, I think, would -venture to send such a message to my house for the purpose of -entrapping any one. Besides, I have the same information myself; but -yet I think I would not let the servant go."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Will you explain why not?" said Gowrie. "I was in hopes that the fact -of Ramsay's sending this message at all, was a proof that the rash -intemperance of which you formerly spoke, proceeded merely from the -unchastised passion of youth, and that he has better qualities in his -nature than he has hitherto suffered to appear."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust it is so," replied Neville; "but yet there remains a great -deal to be beaten out of him. The truth is, my dear lord," he -continued, with a laugh, "that the message first came to me, and -though, perhaps, kindly intended towards your servant, was still -somewhat insolent in its tone. He sent to say that he was recovering, -and that the man who had wounded him need fear no chastisement--that -was the word he used; and he then went on to say, that the man might -come to him in safety, when he would assure him of his pardon. We -rough islanders, my lord, are accustomed to think that no pardon is -necessary where no offence has been committed; and therefore I judge -that you had better not let your man go. It might only lead to evil -consequences; for I do not think, from Master Austin's look and -manner, that he is one to submit to haughty or injurious words without -a rejoinder."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He certainly shall not go," answered Gowrie, "since such was the -message. However, I shall myself soon quit Paris, and therefore, Sir -Henry, if you will favour me with the letters which you have promised -me for the English court, I will deliver them with pride and pleasure, -as it is, of course, my intention to present my humble duty to her -Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as I pass through London."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You shall have them this very evening," answered Neville; "but yet I -wish you would stay for a couple of days longer; for I know that you -are a great lover of music, and there is a very delicate concert to be -given the day after to-morrow. There are three of the most excellent -performers on the violin that ever were heard, besides some famous -singers from Italy; and they will perform several rare and beautiful -pieces by a new composer of great genius."</p> - -<p class="normal">Lord Gowrie promised at once to stay for the high treat offered to -him; but he took his leave without informing Sir Henry Neville that he -had other objects in delaying his departure. Had the message of Ramsay -been that which he had imagined when he visited the ambassador, the -young earl would have quitted Paris on the following day; but the tone -in which he now found it was conceived, induced him to adopt another -course, and proceeding at once to his own chamber without seeing -Julia, he sat down and wrote the following note:--</p> - - -<p class="center">"To Master Ramsay of Newburn, greeting:--</p> - -<p style="text-indent:7%">"Sir,</p> - -<p class="normal">"His excellency Sir Henry Neville, English ambassador at this court, -has communicated to me your message to my servant, by whom you were -wounded. I rejoice to hear that you are in a way of recovery, which, I -trust, will be soon complete. It was my purpose to have quitted this -capital long ago, but in the circumstances which exist, I shall remain -here for some days longer, in order to give you an opportunity of -doing that which, doubtless, you will be naturally disposed to do. We -are all subjected to error, especially in youth; but when a man of -good breeding has committed a fault towards another, he is always -desirous of apologizing for it. I am informed, by no less than five -eye-witnesses, that while I had ridden on before my carriage, you -offered an insult to a lady under my care and escort, which was, in -fact, an insult to myself. Doubtless you are inclined to write an -apology for this conduct, as that which has passed between my servant -and yourself can be considered as no atonement to</p> - -<p style="text-indent:30%">"Your most humble servant,</p> - -<p style="text-indent:65%">"<span class="sc">Gowrie</span>."</p> -<br> - -<p class="normal">When he had read the letter over, sealed, and addressed it, the earl -dispatched it by an old and somewhat matter-of-fact servant, who had -accompanied him from Scotland to Italy. He gave no especial directions -in regard to its delivery; and the man, in the ordinary course, would -probably have left it at the lodging of his young countryman, had he -not been forced to take with him, both to show him the way, and to -interpret for him, a lacquais de place, who had been engaged by the -earl since his arrival in Paris. The lacquais de place of those days -was a very different animal from that which bears the title at -present, when every drunken courier, who has been discharged for bad -behaviour, and whose character is too well established to obtain -permanent employment, places himself at the door of a hotel, and calls -himself a lacquais de place. The one who had been hired by Lord Gowrie -was a brisk, impudent, meddling fellow, full of the most consummate -French vanity, and determined to have his say upon every occasion. He -must needs see the letter which was to be delivered; and when he got -to the door, he did not fail to impress upon the good old man, that it -was necessary he should deliver the letter to the Seigneur de Ramsay -in person, and obtain an answer of some kind, to which the Scotchman, -always well inclined to meet a countryman in foreign lands, did not in -the slightest degree object. Some difficulty, indeed, was made in -admitting him; but when he announced that he came with a letter from -the Earl of Gowrie, the difficulty ceased, and he was ushered into the -room of the wounded man.</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay of Newburn was lying on his bed dressed in a warm robe de -chambre, as if he had been only allowed to get up during the morning. -He was a powerful and a handsome man of one or two-and-twenty years of -age, with good features, but by no means a prepossessing expression. -His face was very pale from loss of blood, and from the illness -consequent upon his wound; but his eye was bright and hawk-like, and, -with his black hair, neglected since his wound, and falling in ragged -masses over his forehead, it gave a wild, fierce look to his worn -countenance. As soon as the servant entered, he motioned his own -attendant to withdraw, and said in a low, hollow tone, "They tell me -you are the Earl of Gowrie's servant. You are not the man who wounded -me?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, sir," replied the other. "He is still at the embassy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have got a letter for me, have you not?" asked Ramsay, keeping -his eyes fixed upon his face.</p> - -<p class="normal">The man presented it; but Ramsay went on without opening the letter, -saying, "You are a countryman of mine, by your tongue."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes, sir," answered the servant. "I come from fair Perth itself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is a beautiful town," said Ramsay. "I suppose you have been long -in the service of the earl?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I was in the service of his brother before him," replied the man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, I am very sorry there should have been any disagreement between -the earl and myself," continued Ramsay. "Pray, who is the lady who is -with his lordship?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot justly say, sir," answered the man; and then, seeing a -curious sort of light coming into the other's eyes, he added, "She's a -far-away cousin of my lord's. The Lady Julia Douglas, they call her. -My lord met with her in Italy, where some of her relations dying, he -agreed to see her safe back to Scotland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then she is not an Italian, as some of my people told me?" rejoined -the young man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no," cried the servant. "She speaks fine English; and I've never -heard her speak anything else, except to the servants at times."</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay mused, and then inquired if the earl was going direct back to -Scotland.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He'll stay a while in London town, they say," rejoined the man; "but -I can tell nothing for certain. My lord does not talk much of what he -intends to do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Will you draw back that curtain from the window?" said the wounded -man, "that I may see what the earl writes;" and his request being -complied with, he opened the letter and read. The first words seemed -to please him well, for a smile came upon his lip. It had somewhat a -sarcastic turn, indeed; but the usual expression of his face was -sneering. The next words, however, clouded his brow; and as he read -on, it became as black as a thunder cloud. When he had done, he -remained with his teeth hard set, and the letter still in his hand, -apparently musing over the contents, while quick, almost spasmodic, -changes of expression came over his face, and from time to time he -muttered something to himself, the sense of which the servant could -not catch. Gradually, however, the irritable movements seemed to -cease; and he looked at the letter again, not reading it regularly, -but glancing his eye from one part to the other, in a desultory -manner. His brow then became smoother, though it cost him an apparent -effort to banish the frown, and the sneer which hung about his upper -lip he could not banish.</p> - -<p class="normal">"If your lord takes his departure so soon," he said, "I fear I cannot -have the honour of paying my respects to him. Is it quite certain that -he goes in three days?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have not heard, sir," replied the man, "and so I can't say; but if -he has told you so in the letter, depend upon it he'll do it: for he -is not one to change his mind lightly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then," said Ramsay, with a somewhat peculiar emphasis, "I must -wait another opportunity."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will tell him so, sir," said the old servant; but the young man -exclaimed, "No, no, you need not tell him exactly that; merely say I -regret my inability to wait upon him, and that I am unable to write. -You may say, moreover----"</p> - -<p class="normal">He did not finish the sentence, but fell into thought again, tossing -himself uneasily on his bed, till the servant, thinking that he had -done, took a step towards the door, saying, "Well, I'll tell him, sir, -just what you say."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Stay, stay," said Ramsay; "I have something to add. You may say to -the noble lord, for me, that I am sorry I offended the lady, but that -I did not at all intend to insult her. The curtain was drawn rudely in -my face by a man in the inside of the carriage; and I pulled it back -as a reproof to him, without thinking of her at all."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, sir, you know best," replied the man, who, though not very -brilliant, did not think that this account accorded well with what he -himself had seen. "I'll tell the earl just what you say."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Pray do," said Ramsay; "and say, moreover, that I shall soon have the -honour of seeing his lordship in Scotland, as I intend to return -thither as soon as I can travel. Your master is well acquainted, I -think, with my good cousin, Sir George."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, ay," answered the man. "I have seen Ramsay of Dalhousie many a -time, both at Perth and at Dirleton, and young Jock Ramsay, too, his -brother, who used to come to play with Mr. Alexander. They used to -quarrel and fight very often; but that is the way with boys."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They quarrelled, did they?" said Ramsay of Newburn, with a smile. -"Doubtless they'll be better friends as men. And now, tell my man to -give you a draught of strong waters, but don't let it make you forget -to deliver my message to your lord."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no, sir; no fear of that," answered the man, and withdrew.</p> - -<p class="normal">When he was gone, Ramsay writhed upon his bed, as if in pain, and he -murmured to himself, "Ay, that bitter cup is quaffed; but I'll make -those who have forced it upon me taste a bitterer. But how--but how? I -shall never have strength to wield a sword like a man again. The -villain has crippled me for life. I can fire a shot, though; and, my -good lord of Gowrie, I will not forget you."</p> - -<p class="normal">Then he fell into thought again, and meditated in silence for nearly -half an hour, while various changes of expression came over his -countenance, all dark, but of different shades. At length some thought -seemed to please him, for he laughed aloud. "Ay," he said, "that were -better. Then, however matters go, I am the gainer. He has made me -truckle to his leman. I'll try if I cannot make him bend his haughty -head before those who once already have trampled on the necks of -Ruthvens. Let him beware both of words and actions, for he shall be -sharply looked to. The proud peat! Let him stay in London with the -crooked old Englishwoman. I'll be in Scotland before him, and he shall -find her protection blast rather than save him. If I know my cousin -John aright, I can so work these ends together as to make this earl -regret having done shame to a Ramsay. What I have not strength to do -boldly, I will try to do shrewdly, and there will be some pleasure in -seeing him help to work out my objects against himself. There is -Stuart, too; if we can once get him mixed in the affair, the king will -not be long out of it. Then, Gowrie, look to yourself, for James never -forgives those whom he fears."</p> - -<p class="normal">He continued thus muttering to himself for some time longer; but what -has been already detailed will be sufficient to show that Ramsay -entertained that sweet and gentlemanlike passion of revenge, which was -at the time exceedingly dear and pleasant to most of his countrymen. -It is so, indeed, with all nations in a semi-barbarous state, and in -such a state was Scotland undoubtedly at that time. Torn by factions, -frequently a prey to civil strife, when not actually a prey to -anarchy, ruled by the strongest and the readiest hand which could -clutch and hold the reins of government, she had long seen her -children rising to power and wealth on each other's heads, and the -pathway to honours marked out by a stream of blood. Ambition went hand -in hand with revenge; and the terrible rule seemed fully established -in the land, "to forget a benefit as soon as possible, but never to -forgive an injury."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XIX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">I must pass over, with a very brief and general statement, the events -which occurred to the personages connected with this tale during -several months. There is always in tale-telling, unless the action be -compressed within a very short space, a period during which the -interest would flag, if the regular passing of each day was noticed, -and the small particulars detailed. Were life filled with those -striking events which move and interest the reader, with those -passions to which the sympathetic heart thrills, with those grand -scenes of action which excite the imagination, or with those lesser -incidents which amuse and entertain, the human frame, like an -over-sharpened knife, would be ground down upon the whetstone of the -world, and existence be curtailed of half its date. It is my belief, -that patriarchal age was secured to the earlier inhabitants of earth -as much by the long intervals existing between the periods of intense -excitement, to which they were sometimes subjected, and by the calm -and careless ease of the intervening periods, as by any of the many -other causes which combined to extend the space between birth and -death to well nigh a thousand years. True, they were not close pent up -in cities--true, they were continually changing air and scene--true, -that excess in anything was little known--true, that they were nearer -to the great architype, fresh from the hands of his God, and framed -for the immortality of which sin deprived him--true, that long -centuries of vice, folly, contention, and misfortune had not then -brought forth the multitudinous host of diseases continually warring -against the mortal body, diminishing its powers of resistance from -generation to generation; but still I believe that the want of -excitement, which can only be known where men are spread wide and far -apart over the face of the earth, was absolutely necessary to that -vast prolongation of life. The mind and body did not mutually grind -down each other. Still, the more peaceful periods in any man's history -are those which the least interest his fellow-men, and during the time -which elapsed between Gowrie's departure from Paris and his arrival in -Scotland, no adventures or impediments occurred which can justify much -detail. That departure was delayed for a day or two beyond the period -which he had at first fixed; and though the weather was now becoming -sharp and cold, yet those few days produced a favourable change, and -rain and fog gave way to clear skies and broad sunshine. The days, -however, were brief, and the journeys necessarily short; so that a -week elapsed between his departure from Paris and his arrival at -Calais. Four days more brought him to Loudon, and now a new scene -opened upon him.</p> - -<p class="normal">Furnished with letters from Sir Henry Neville to the principal -statesmen of the court of Queen Elizabeth, he was received with every -demonstration of respect and esteem in the English capital, and two -days after was presented to the queen herself. I find little record in -history of what followed; but one historian, whose views, it must be -remarked, were strongly biassed by peculiar feelings of partizanship, -declares that the honours shown by the English sovereign to the young -earl were of the most marked and extraordinary kind. It is sometimes, -in the present day, not easy to account for the course of policy -pursued by Elizabeth in her conduct to the subjects of the -neighbouring crown; but we must not doubt well-authenticated facts -because we cannot penetrate their motives. The writer whom I have -mentioned states, in speaking of the Earl of Gowrie, that the queen -"ordered that guards should attend him, that all honours should be -paid him which were due to a Prince of Wales and to her first cousin, -and that he should be entertained at the public expense all the time -he should remain at her court."</p> - -<p class="normal">I can scarcely imagine that this account is not exaggerated. We find -that she showed no such honours to others, who stood much in the same -degree of affinity to herself as he did; and unless she wished -needlessly to alarm the King of Scotland, no cause can be supposed for -such conduct. That she treated Gowrie with great distinction, however, -is undeniable, and even marked her favour for him more strongly than -her old affection for his grandfather could account for. This course -was very dangerous to the young earl himself, for the court of England -at that time was thronged by spies of the Scottish monarch; and even -the most familiar friends and counsellors of Elizabeth conveyed -information to James of all that could affect his interest, to the -most minute circumstances. The natural desire of what is called -currying favour, of course, gave some degree of colour to the accounts -transmitted; and there is every reason to believe, from an examination -of the State Paper Office, that such intimations alone were given as -had a tendency to put the monarch on his guard, without discouraging -his hopes or diminishing his energies. The way for his advent to the -throne had been prepared long beforehand; whether from the general -considerations of policy, from personal ambition, or from avarice, -such men as Cecil had chosen their course, and were determined to -remove or overawe all competitors, and to insure the accession of the -King of Scotland. I am inclined to believe--without considering them -as anything more than mere mortals--that the purest spirit of -patriotism inspired those who thus acted. Every man of common sense -must have seen that most important ends were to be obtained by uniting -the crowns of Scotland, Ireland, and England upon one head; nor could -any one doubt that--apart from all considerations of the personal -character of the man--the means of maintaining his claims, of crushing -all competitors, and of establishing his power upon a firm and secure -basis, were more completely in the hands of the King of Scotland than -of any other person who could aspire to the English throne. His faults -were all personal, which never enter sufficiently into the -calculations of politicians; his advantages were those of position, -which almost always have too much weight with those who influence the -fate of empires. By personal character, no man was ever less fitted to -fill the throne of a great country, or to unite discordant races under -one sway, than James I.: by political position, no one could compete -with him in pretensions to the throne of England. Happy had it been -for Great Britain had such not been the case, for the vices of the man -more than compensated the advantages of the prince, and the weakness -of his successors consummated what his own wickedness began; but no -one can blame those who chose according to the lights they possessed, -and who smoothed the way for that which naturally appeared the best -for the whole nation at the time.</p> - -<p class="normal">The reports which reached Scotland of the honours shown to the Earl of -Gowrie in the English capital, generated, in a jealous and irritable -mind, covetous of extended and despotic rule, a feeling of doubt and -dread most dangerous to its object; and the busy and gossiping spirit -of a small court did not fail to increase the unpleasant impressions -thus produced, by a thousand rumours, which had no foundation in -truth. Reports were circulated and credited, that Queen Elizabeth had -actually designated the Earl of Gowrie as her successor, and even -that, in order to unite two great claims to the crown which she held, -she had made all the arrangements for a marriage between that nobleman -and the Lady Arabella Stuart; one who, like himself, was not very -remote from the direct succession. These facts have been omitted -altogether, or slurred over by modern historians, in noticing that -part of history in which this young nobleman appears; but that such -rumours existed in England and Scotland can be proved from -contemporary authorities; and we can easily conceive the feelings with -which such a man as James was thus prepared to view one whose -influence was already redoubtable, on his return to his native land.</p> - -<p class="normal">Could he have seen the private life of the earl, it is probable that, -although he might still have remained inimical, the king's fears would -not have assumed the character of hatred. From various motives, which -every one can conceive, Julia was not disposed to mingle with the -gaieties of a foreign court, or, before she was received and -recognised in her own land, to assume the position she was entitled to -in the society of the neighbouring state. She felt it no privation, -indeed--she sought it not--she cared not for it; but even if she had, -she would have forborne, and she had full compensation in the -tenderness of him she loved. Gowrie appeared at the court of England -alone: he put not forth on her behalf, claims which were to be decided -in a different country, and by different laws; and on the only -occasion when the queen jestingly alluded to his fair companion, he -replied, with that courtly reverence towards the sovereign to which -Elizabeth was accustomed, and that due respect for Julia's situation -from which he never deviated, "It is painful, madam, to be torn by two -duties and two inclinations. You may easily suppose it would be -grateful for me to linger here at your majesty's feet, but my duty, -both by kindred and by promise, is to escort my cousin back to -Scotland, in order to establish rights of which she has been too long -deprived. I trust, however," he added, with the air of gallantry which -pervaded Elizabeth's court, "that ere long I shall be enabled to -return, not alone to bask in the beams of your favour, but to ask a -share for one who, I may humbly say, is more worthy than myself of -that honour for which princes might well contend with pride."</p> - -<p class="normal">He spoke with that serious gravity, and yet with that unembarrassed -ease, which greatly struck the sovereign whom he addressed; and she -replied, in her somewhat abrupt manner, "God's my life, cousin, I have -a great inclination to see this same fair creature, and would do so -too with all honour, either in private or in public, did I not know -that it would do her no good service where she is going. Commend me to -her, however, and tell her we regard her and yourself with favour, and -will do our best to serve you both should need be."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl conveyed the message to her he loved; but Julia smiled almost -sadly, as she replied, "I fear me, Gowrie, that I am not fitted for -courts, at all events by inclination. Calm and peaceful quiet with him -I love is all that I desire in life. Nevertheless, understand me, I -would not for the world keep back him whose fame and whose character I -am bound to regard even before my own peace, from the path of honour -and renown, for anything that earth can give. I am ready, when you -require it, to mingle with courts and crowds, to take my share in -whatever may be for your benefit--nay, should need be, to buckle on -your armour with my own hands for the battle-field, and bid God speed -you in the right, while I remain alone to weep and pray for your -deliverance and success. Heaven send me strength when the hour of -trial comes; but in strength or in weakness I will not shrink from my -duty towards you."</p> - -<p class="normal">About ten days after, when the frost, which was then reigning with -great severity, had broken up, rendering the roads more passable, -Gowrie took his departure from London, and proceeded by slow journeys -towards Scotland. He was detained for somewhat more than a week at -York by a fresh fall of snow; but as soon as that had melted away -under the increasing warmth of the spring, he resumed his way, and -passed the border in the end of February, 1600.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was a cold, clear, frosty afternoon, in the month of January, 1600, -when two gentlemen, both young, but one considerably older than the -other, walked together up and down a trim but formal piece of garden -ground, beneath the walls of one of the old fortified houses of the -day, not very many miles distant from the fair city of Edinburgh, and -in the county of Mid Lothian. The hour was late, the sun was below the -sky, bright stars were beginning to peep out above, and the garden was -only defended from the keen blast by a wall of uncemented stones, -although the castle itself was a very solid piece of masonry.</p> - -<p class="normal">Still the two gentlemen continued to walk on, with the crisp frost -crackling under their feet, whenever they fell upon the long grass at -the side of the path, or upon the dry leaves which had dropped from -the trees, few and far between, which graced the little enclosure.</p> - -<p class="normal">The elder of the two was a man of about six or seven-and-twenty years -of age, of the middle height, or perhaps somewhat less, slight in -appearance, from the extreme accuracy of all his proportions, though -in reality much stronger than many men of a more powerful look. His -features were slightly aquiline, but chiseled with wonderful delicacy. -The hair was dark, but the eye clear and blue, with that calm, firm, -but mild expression, which we are inclined to attach to vigor of -character when united with gentleness of heart. His mien and air were -particularly distinguished by a sort of easy dignity, which rendered -it impossible to see him without feeling that there was not only a -gentleman of high race and associations, but a man of remarkable -powers of mind, of which he was conscious, but not vain.</p> - -<p class="normal">The companion of this personage was in years a mere youth, but in form -a strong and active man. He was darker in complexion than the other, -taller, more muscular, and the well-grown beard showed that boyhood -was no more. His countenance was also very handsome; but there was in -it a stern and fiery look, which reminded one of a fierce warhorse -when checked by the rein; and occasionally as he talked, there would -come a scowling frown upon his brow, which rendered the expression -very different from that of his companion. Nevertheless, there was -traceable in the features a strong resemblance, so that in the angry -moments of the one, which indeed were rare, or the gayer and gentler -moments of the other, there was no difficulty in pronouncing them two -brothers.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, John," said the elder of the two, as they turned in their walk, -"I wish much you would abandon your intention of riding back to-night. -I would fain put eight-and-forty hours between your rash impetuosity -and your meeting again with your former friend. You seem so little -moved by reason, that I would see what time can do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I tell you, Dalhousie," said his brother, "I am not going to quarrel -with him. Indeed, he will take care how he gives me occasion, I think. -But I and Alexander Ruthven can never more be friends. His pride is -insufferable, and his favour with the queen, be it good and honest, as -some would have us think, be it dishonest and disloyal, as others -suspect, can give him no claim to reverence from others as good as -himself, or better perhaps."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Is there no pride at the bottom of your own feelings towards him, -John?" asked his brother, with a smile; "and is there not, perhaps, a -little jealousy of that same favour that you speak of, which makes you -look upon it in an unfair light? Ruthven's sister is the queen's -dearest friend; and is it at all unnatural that a portion of her -regard for the sister should be extended to the brother?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not know," answered John Ramsay, quickly; "I am not so nice in -my scanning as you are, George; but one thing I do know, which is, -that I do not love to see my lord and master made to look like a fool -in his own court by one of his own servants. If there be nothing evil -in this familiarity but that, it is surely bad enough; but if there be -more, they had better not let me see fair signs of it; for I would -drive my dagger into his heart as readily as his grandfather drove his -into Rizzio's."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fie, fie! You are too rash, boy," said Sir George Ramsay; "neither -zeal nor courage are worth much, John, unless tempered by discretion; -and again I say, you give too much way to passion, and suffer it to -give a colour to all you see; just as you used to quarrel with -Alexander Ruthven, when a boy, without any reasonable cause, so do you -now suspect and dislike him as a man without just grounds."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I never loved him," answered the other, moodily. "I dislike all the -Ruthvens--I always have disliked them, with their stately grandeur and -proud airs."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because you are proud yourself, John," said his brother; "and because -your pride has been somewhat offensive at times, they have not liked -you. Did you ever see any of them show pride towards me?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because you are not proud enough," replied the young man, sharply.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am as proud as any man ought to be," replied his brother, in a -reproving tone; "too proud to do a base action--too proud to give way -to a grovelling thought--too proud to entertain a mean suspicion. I am -proud, too, of my name and race, proud of the deeds of my ancestors, -and proud enough, I trust, never to tarnish their renown by any -unworthy act of their descendant."</p> - -<p class="normal">With one of those impulses which move hasty men, the youth seized his -brother's hand and pressed it warmly. "I know you are, Dalhousie," he -said; "forgive me, my dear brother. I may be somewhat too proud; but I -do not ever really doubt that you are proud enough for all that is -noble, too proud for anything that is mean. But you have not lately -seen so much of what is passing at the court as I have; and believe me -the sight is not pleasant."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then, John, stay another night away from it," answered his -brother; "you acknowledge that the king does not expect you till -Friday. One day will take you to Edinburgh and to Stirling, ride as -slow as you will."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Be it as you wish," replied John Ramsay, "but I must set out -to-morrow somewhat early.--Hark! There are horses' feet coming along -the frosty road. Who can it be, I wonder, at this late hour?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Some of our good cousins come to rest for the night," said Sir George -Ramsay, with a smile; "it can be no one on business of much -consequence, by the slowness of the horses' tread."</p> - -<p class="normal">He was mistaken, however, for the result of the meeting which was -about to take place was of infinite consequence to the fate of his -brother and himself. The two walked leisurely along the little path -which led back to the house, and passing through a small postern door, -proceeded to the gates to welcome the coming guest. All that they -could see, when they looked out along the road, was a dim figure on -horseback, at the distance of about two hundred yards, and something -like another horseman behind. Both were coming very slowly, although -the coldness of the night might well have rendered quicker progression -agreeable both to man and horse. As the travellers were evidently -approaching the house for the purpose of stopping there, Sir George -Ramsay called out some of the servants; and the moment after, his -brother, looking intently forward, said, "It is very like Andrew's -figure, but riding bent and listless, as I have seen him when he is -drunk."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope he has not chosen that condition to present himself on his -return," said Sir George. "Halloo! Who comes?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"'Tis I, Sir George," answered the voice of Ramsay of Newburn, "faint -and weary, and needing much your hospitality."</p> - -<p class="normal">It was evident, from the way in which he spoke, that the young -gentleman was perfectly sober; and Sir George merely replied, "Come -in, Andrew, come in. You shall be right welcome. Here, William, take -Newburn's horse."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Lend me your arm, good fellow," said the guest, slowly dismounting. -"I am not over supple, nor so strong as I once was."</p> - -<p class="normal">His own servant rode up with the saddle-bags at the same moment; and -being assisted from his horse, he was led into the house, where lights -were burning in what was called the great chamber. Both Sir George -Ramsay and his brother were struck and moved with the ghastly paleness -of their cousin's countenance, and everything was done that kindness -could devise to refresh and revive him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, now," said Sir George, after he had drunk a cup of that fine -Bordeaux wine which was to be found nowhere in greater perfection than -in Scotland, "there is some colour coming into your cheek again. You -will do well now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My cheek will never bear the rose again, Dalhousie," replied his -cousin. "It was once red enough, but its ruddiness is gone for ever."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nonsense!" exclaimed John Ramsay; "why, what is the matter with thee, -man? Hast thou seen a wraith?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, and felt one too, in the shape of a drawn sword," replied the -other. "I have been run through the body by a churl in the streets of -Paris. 'Tis now some two months ago, and I am well, they tell me. But -where is my strength gone? Where the quickness of my hand, which could -always keep my head, till that hour?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"But how did all this happen?" demanded Sir George Ramsay. "Some -foolish quarrel, I'm afraid, Andrew."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Good faith, foolish enough," answered the young man; "but I am cured -of folly for life, George;" and he proceeded to give his own account -of the adventure which had befallen him with good Austin Jute.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I was riding through the streets of Paris," he said, "with two young -friends, when we had to pass a large old country carriage, in which I -espied a very pretty face--you know I always loved pretty faces. I -might gaze at it somewhat earnestly perhaps for a moment longer than -was needful; and I am not sure that I did not rein in my horse a -little, when lo, up rides one of the servants who was behind the -carriage, and struck me a blow, which made me miss the stirrups, and -left me scarcely time to save myself from falling under the horse's -feet."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A lounder on the side of the head," said John Ramsay, half inclined -to laugh; but his cousin went on gravely.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should not have had the blood of a Ramsay in my veins," he said, -"if I had not taken sword in hand to avenge such an insult. But, good -faith, the fellow was as quick as I was, and a good swordsman too, -though I have seldom met my match. The street was narrow and crowded, -however, the carriage in the way, horses all about us, and somehow I -slipped my foot, and the next instant found his sword running like a -hot iron through my chest and out of my shoulder bone. Here--it went -in here," he continued, laying his hand upon the spot, "and passed out -here, going clean through flesh and bone. I dropped instantly, and was -carried away to my lodging, where I lay upon a sick bed for many a -day, and rose only to find that I have lost the full use of my sword -arm for ever. I may hold a pen perhaps, like a clerk, but as to manly -uses they are gone."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what became of the man who hurt you?" demanded Sir George Ramsay; -"if your tale be quite correct, Andrew, his conduct was most -unjustifiable."</p> - -<p class="normal">He laid a strong emphasis on the word, if, for he knew his cousin -well, and there was a conviction in his mind that something had been -kept back. Ramsay of Newburn, however, did not appear to remark the -peculiar tone in which the words were pronounced, but replied, "It was -unjustifiable, I think, Dalhousie; but he had great protectors. -The English ambassador stood his friend, and the ambassador's -intimate--your friend, the Earl of Gowrie--talked high, and opposed -the pursuit of justice. Between them they would not suffer the man to -be secured, even till it was ascertained whether I lived or died."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what had Gowrie to do with it?" asked Sir George, while his -brother's brow grew dark, and his teeth tight set together. "I should -have thought that Gowrie, of all men, would have been inclined to -resent an injury done to a Ramsay; and the earl has a strong sense of -justice--he had, even as a boy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not where his own followers are concerned," replied his young cousin; -"and this man was his own servant. I know not what became of his sense -of justice in this case; but the matter is as I told you. He defended -the man against all pursuit; and had I died I have no doubt that he -and his dear friend and counsellor, the English ambassador, would have -found means to shelter the offender altogether."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George Ramsay mused, still doubting much; but John got up and -walked about the room, and, after a momentary pause, his cousin -continued, "He had even the kindness, when I was lying on a sick bed, -to send a demand that I should make an apology to the lady whom I -gazed at."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You did not do it!--I trust you did not do it!" exclaimed John -Ramsay, vehemently.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust you did," said Sir George, looking up. "An apology is due to -any lady we have offended, whoever asks it; and I cannot but think, -from what I have seen of the young earl myself, and from what I have -heard through others, that he would not have demanded an apology had -there been no cause of offence."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You always judge me harshly, Dalhousie," said his cousin, somewhat -bitterly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Faith, not I," answered the young knight. "I judge men as I find -them, Andrew. I know Gowrie's nature and temper well, and I know -yours, too, my good cousin.--But what did you do? Did you make the -apology?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I could do nothing else," answered the other. "I was ill on a sick -bed; I felt that the powers of my right arm were gone for ever; I knew -not what might happen if I refused, with such influence as there was -arrayed against me. Otherwise, I would have made him eat my sword -first. As it was, I only said that I was sorry if I had offended the -lady, and that I had no intention of insulting her; but with that he -contented himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George Ramsay smiled. "I can see Gowrie in it all," he said; -"resolute in what he thinks is right, but mild and easily appeased."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Out upon it!" exclaimed his brother, and darted impatiently from the -room.</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George did not seem to notice his departure in the least, but went -on with what he was saying. "But what I do not understand is, that he -should send you a message. Surely he wrote, Newburn? Have you still -the letter?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes," answered his cousin. "I will show it to you some other time. It -is in my baggage."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should like to see it much," said Sir George. "Now, tell me truly, -Andrew, did you do nothing else than gaze? I know you well, my good -cousin. You are gay and rash, have a somewhat evil opinion of all -women, and believe that admiration, even when implying insult, must -still have something pleasing in it for them. Did you add no words to -the look?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not one, upon my honour," replied his cousin, boldly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And no act either?" asked Sir George; and then seeing a sort of -hectic glow come into his cousin's pale face, he added, quickly, "You -did--I see it there--What was it?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I really do not know what right you have to tax me so," replied -Andrew Ramsay, colouring still more.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will tell you," answered Sir George, in a calm, but stern tone. -"You have told me some passages which have lately taken place, -implying that you have been injured. Now, if wrong has been done my -cousin, and the very consequences of that wrong prevent him from -redressing it himself, I take up his quarrel as the head of his house. -But I must first be sure that wrong has been done you. I must see the -case clearly, and therefore I ask you what it was you did. Do not -conceal anything from me, Andrew, for depend upon it I will know the -whole, and that very soon."</p> - -<p class="normal">The other grew white and red by turns, but his elder cousin had -habitually great command over him, and he answered in a low and -somewhat sullen tone, "I only pulled back the curtain of the carriage -a little, to see her more plainly, nor should I have done that if it -had not been rudely drawn in my face."</p> - -<p class="normal">"So now we have the truth," said Sir George; "and I will tell you how -I read your story, Andrew. You and some young companions--gay -libertines, mayhap--in riding through the streets of Paris, met a -carriage containing a young lady of great beauty. You stare rudely in, -as I have seen you do a thousand times; the curtain is drawn to shut -out an insolent gaze, and you pull it back again with a sort of coarse -bravado. These are the plain facts of the case, I take it, and even by -your own showing I cannot but see that Gowrie was quite right."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You seem to have got his own story by heart, Sir George," replied his -cousin, "and throw it somewhat unkindly in the teeth of a kinsman who, -wounded, weak, and sick, comes to seek your hospitality."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am sorry for your wound, Andrew," said the knight, "and trust you -may soon recover health and strength. As for the story, I have never -heard one word of it but from your own lips. The writing was not very -legible, but you cannot deny that I have managed to decipher it. And -now let us change the subject a little. Who is this lady in whom -Gowrie takes such an interest?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know no--this leman, I suppose," replied the young man, with a -scoff.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not what you suppose, Andrew, but what you have heard. You cannot -have been mixed up in such an affair without having learned more of -the object of your admiration. Who did people say she was?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, she was given out to be his cousin, whom he was bringing from -Italy," replied Ramsay of Newburn. "They said that she had been living -with relations there, who were lately dead, and that Gowrie, like a -true Paladin Orlando, was bringing her straight back, defying all men -in her cause by the way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what was her name?" asked Sir George. "You must have heard her -name."</p> - -<p class="normal">"His servants called her, the Lady Julia Douglas," answered his -cousin. "I never heard of such a person. Did you?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George Ramsay mused, saying slowly, "No--no, not exactly--yet at -the time of Morton's death there were rumours of a private marriage -with an Italian lady--there were many Italians about the court at the -time--Ha! here comes John back again--Have you ever heard, John, any -rumours of the Regent Morton having left a daughter? I think I -remember something of it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," answered John Ramsay. "I have heard Stuart talk of the -matter. He was employed himself to search for the supposed widow and -child; for they got about a story that the regent had married an -Italian in the end of his life, but dared not own it for fear of the -ministers, who would have put him on the stool of repentance, or -preached at him by the hour, which would have been just as bad. Stuart -could hear nothing of them, except that an old Italian count, with his -daughter and young child, had fled to Leith as soon as Morton was -arrested, and had taken ship there for France some weeks after his -execution. They supposed that this was Morton's wife and child, and -that she had carried away with her all the vast treasures he had -scraped together."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George Ramsay shook his head; but saying, "It must now be supper -time; I will call for it," he left the room without any further -observation on the subjects of which they had been talking.</p> - -<p class="normal">The moment he was gone and the door closed, John Ramsay gave a -peculiar glance to his cousin, saying, "I must hear more of this -matter, Andrew--but alone, alone. Dalhousie's cold prejudices drive me -mad. I cannot keep my temper with him when he talks of these Ruthvens. -I have much to say to you, too."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And I much for your ear, John," said his cousin, hurriedly. "Find out -where your brother's people lodge me, and come to my room, after I -have gone to bed and all is quiet; I shall retire soon, upon the plea -of weariness; but I shall not sleep till you come, for I have those -things in my breast which are enemies to slumber."</p> - -<p class="normal">They had not time to say much more before Sir George Ramsay returned, -and it was immediately after announced that supper was served in the -hall. Thither, then, they took their way; and over the good cheer and -the rich wine all painful subjects seemed forgotten, till Ramsay of -Newburn rose, and alleging that he was weary, retired to rest.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was nearly midnight when the door of the small room which had been -allotted to Ramsay of Newburn, opened, and, with a lamp in his hand -and a quiet stealthy step, his cousin John entered, and seated himself -at the foot of his bed. "I could not come before, Andrew," he said, -"for Dalhousie has been walking up and down the hall an hour beyond -his usual bed-time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Never mind, never mind," answered the other. "I can rest, but I -cannot sleep, John. I never sleep now till two or three o'clock, and -shall not do so, till I see those punished who deserve it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My longings go in the same way," said John Ramsay; "but my brother -has been telling me that you pulled back the curtain of the lady's -carriage in order to stare in at her. You should not have done that, -Andrew. I cannot call upon Gowrie for reparation after that."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Pshaw! give not one moment's heed to private quarrels, John," -answered his cousin, in a frank tone. "I might be wrong in the -business; and Lord Gowrie was certainly overbearing and unjust. I have -apologized, however, to the lady--not to him, and that matter is -settled; but there are other matters behind."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Of a more public nature, I suppose, from what you say of private -quarrels," observed John Ramsay; "and I know right well that Alexander -Ruthven has run up a score which he may find it difficult to wipe off; -but the earl has nothing to do with that. Happily for him, he has been -so long absent that he cannot be suspected either of intrigues at -court or treason to the state."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Be you not sure of that, John," replied the other. "Would I had as -free access to the king as you have, I would soon put his majesty upon -his guard against this haughty young lord, who is now wending back to -plot here as his ancestors did before him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will soon bring you to the king's presence if you have any charge -to make against him," said his cousin. "If you accuse him boldly and -with good proof, you will not want supporters who will bear all before -them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, but I have no direct charge to make, my good cousin," replied -Ramsay of Newburn; "and clear proofs are difficult to obtain."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said John Ramsay, his countenance falling. "I thought, from -your words, that you were very sure of your game--I mean, sure that -this man is plotting."</p> - -<p class="normal">"As sure as I lie here and you sit there," answered his cousin; "but a -man may be very sure himself, and yet not be able to make others so. -The most dangerous traitors are always those who conceal their designs -most carefully; and Gowrie is such. Calm and tranquil in speech, -thoughtful and prudent in act, he never commits himself till his -purposes are matured."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, Begbie of the Red Hill, who saw him in Italy, told me he was -frank and free, and fond of jest and harmless sport," replied John -Ramsay.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Begbie's a fool," answered the other, impatiently; "and for fools the -earl can put on what character he likes. I saw Begbie as he came back -through Paris, and he told me how the earl had shown him, at Geneva, -little paper balls, which at his command rose into the air, and -skimmed quite across the lake, and small figures of ducks and geese, -that floated in a vessel of water, and came to whatever side he called -them. Why, there is not a mountebank in France or England but would -show him such wonders, and yet the fool took it all for magic, and -half believed the earl to be a sorcerer."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But if you have no charge against him," said his cousin, returning to -the point, "I see not what can be done with the king."</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay of Newburn mused. "If we knew a serpent to be in the garden," -he said, at length, "and saw the grass moving towards a dear friend -who lay sleeping there, should we not do well to wake him, even though -we could not perceive the reptile under the covering through which it -moved?" he asked, at length, in a slow emphatic tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Assuredly," answered John Ramsay; "but we must be quite sure that -there is a snake there, and afterwards seek for the beast to destroy -it, otherwise our friend may be angry with us for breaking his -slumber."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Exactly so," rejoined the other; "and I think we can at least show -that there is a snake in the grass, though perhaps not exactly where -it lies. As to seeking the beast and destroying it, that must be done -hereafter, if we find it venomous, as I believe it is."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, come, to leave all such figures," said John Ramsay, "let me -hear of what the king is to be warned. He is too wise and shrewd to -listen to every tale that can be told, especially when he knows that -the teller loves not the race against whom it bears. How shall I show -him, or how will you show him, Andrew, that there is a snake in the -garden? That is the question."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I can do but little," answered his cousin. "Wild and reckless, -seeking pastime and pleasure, and thoughtlessly getting into every -kind of difficulty, I have neither reputation nor favour to back my -words against the influence of a man so great; who has, moreover, a -brother and a sister prime favourites at the court. You can do much, -John; and I will tell you all I know, both that you yourself may see -that there is just cause, and that your warning to the king may not -prove vain."</p> - -<p class="normal">"As to his brother," exclaimed John Ramsay, the object of whose -greatest animosity at that moment was Alexander Ruthven, "he may -indeed be a favourite at the court; but he is no favourite with the -king."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That matters not," answered his cousin. "My word would go for little, -and even yours, perhaps, John, may not go for much; but I have no duty -to perform, and you a great one. Yet I would not have you hardly and -imprudently accuse the earl before we have stronger proofs."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then what would you have me do?" demanded the young man, interrupting -him impetuously.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will tell you what," answered his more wily cousin. "I would have -you point out to the king, how dangerous it is for some of his prime -nobles to sojourn for weeks at the court of the Queen of England--the -murderer of his mother, the unceasing enemy of his whole race--at the -court of her who has ever promoted treason and rebellion in his -kingdom, and received the banished traitors of Scotland as her best -friends. I would point out to the king, how dangerous this is," he -repeated, "especially when the person who does sojourn there is, -within a short remove, as near the throne of England as himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I see--I see," answered John Ramsay. "I understand what you mean."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I would, then," continued his cousin, "ask the king if he is aware -that the Earl of Gowrie has spent some weeks in Paris, almost in the -sole society of Sir Henry Neville, the English ambassador, seeing him -every day at his own house, and going but once to visit the -representative of his own monarch."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But is this true? Did he do it?" inquired the other, eagerly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is quite true, and can be proved by a dozen witnesses," answered -his cousin. "I have a statement of the fact in the saddle-bags which -lie there, given me by the master of the inn where the earl lodged in -Paris. He did this, and even more. I would then ask the king if he is -aware that honours almost royal were shown to this youth at the -English court; that the guard turned out at his presence; that -chamberlains and officers went down to meet him at the foot of the -stairs on his approach; that the queen always styled him, cousin, and -sometimes spoke of him as the nearest heir to her crown? I would ask -if his majesty were aware of the nature of those private conferences -which John Earl of Gowrie held with Robert Cecil and the Earl of -Essex, besides numerous others of the court, whom the king may think -more in his interests than they really are? I would also inquire -whether King James had heard of a project for marrying the Earl of -Gowrie to the Lady Arabella Stuart, and suffering the crown of England -to fall quietly on his head?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"By Heaven! if all these things be true, he should be arrested for a -traitor the moment he sets foot in Scotland," cried John Ramsay, his -impetuous spirit jumping at conclusions far beyond those which his -cousin's words implied, or to which his intentions reached; "and I -will do it myself, if no one else will do so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no!" exclaimed the other. "You are too impetuous, John. The -arresting him on his arrival would but put all the other parties -concerned upon their guard, and enable him by their means to conceal -his treason by a skilful defence. Besides, the king dare not for his -life make the acts of his good sister of England matter of accusation -against her 'fair cousin of Gowrie.' Fie, man; for a courtier, thou -art but little of a politician. Tell his majesty what I say. Ask him -the questions which I have put. He hath information large enough, I -will warrant; but if he want more, let him demand it of me. I have -ligged for a fortnight in London, weak almost to death, and neglected -by every one, but a few trusty friends, who brought me all the secrets -of the court. There I heard of nothing but Gowrie, Gowrie. His star -was in the ascendant; and I have doubts, strange doubts about his -journey onward."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Think you he will not come?" demanded John Ramsay, fixing his eyes -upon him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not know," answered his cousin, thoughtfully; "but if he do, it -will be for some purpose of which it were well to beware.--If he -stay," he continued, very slowly, "he stays to be King of England. If -he come back hither, it may be but to settle his affairs before he -returns, or perhaps--but I would not carry my thoughts to the daring -length to which it has been hinted he might carry his ambition. He has -no claim upon the crown of Scotland, even were the king removed. The -nobles of the land would never suffer it! What though his descent from -Margaret Tudor may give him some show of title to the English throne; -here he has no show of right whatsoever, and I will not believe it. Do -not mention what I have said on this head, John," he continued, taking -his cousin's hand and pressing it; "do not mention it, on any account. -All the rest I can prove; but this is merely the rash suspicion of one -who knows not our habits and our customs, and whom I am bound in -honour not to name. He is a great man, too," he continued, -thoughtfully, "but one whose views of policy and ambition have, I -cannot but think, too wide a range--Do not mention it, on any -account."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will put the king upon his guard, at all events," said John Ramsay, -thinking himself very politic in giving no definite answer as to what -he would tell and what he would withhold, while he was in reality -meditating the very course on which his cousin sought to guide him. -"It is frightful to think what might be the result if this young man -had the ambition and the daring of his ancestors. Why, the king's life -itself----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no!" cried Andrew Ramsay, interrupting him, "I do not think he -would venture such an act as that. The worst I do believe he would -attempt, might be to seize his majesty's person, and send him prisoner -to England, like his mother."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He should feel my dagger first," answered the young man with whom he -spoke; "but I do not know, Andrew, how far these men's ambition may -go. You cannot tell what has been taking place at our own court. If -Gowrie is aspiring in one way, his brother Alexander is not less so in -another. I will tell you what, Andrew," he continued: "there was a -time last autumn when the king hurried away from his cabinet with -Herries and John Hume, and took his road, as fast as he could go, -towards the rooms where Alex Ruthven is lodged. I know not upon what -information he acted; but I followed him to the foot of the stairs, -and when I heard that the door above was bolted, and the king shook it -till it was like to come down, I thought, Andrew----" he continued, -dropping his voice, and pressing his hand tight upon his cousin's arm, -"I thought that the next sound I should hear would be the death cry of -a Ruthven."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No bad noise," said Andrew Ramsay, drily; "but you told me something -of your suspicions by letter, John. How has this matter gone on -since?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"From bad to worse," answered the young man. "He went away for a -while, and then returned; and since then he has been more daring than -ever."</p> - -<p class="normal">The conversation thus proceeded for about half an hour longer, when -the clock struck one, and John Ramsay rose, saying, "Well, I will away -to bed; but we shall meet to-morrow, before I depart for Edinburgh."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If you go to-morrow I will ride with you," answered his cousin, "for -I am bound thither too. We can talk farther by the way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"So be it, then," answered John Ramsay; and with a few more words, to -arrange their plans, they parted for the night, the younger man to -sleep, after a short space given to agitated thought, the elder to -meditate somewhat scornfully, though well pleased, upon the easy tool -which passion renders the most impetuous and unruly, when duly and -skilfully directed.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">I love not to leave Gowrie and Julia so long, and yet they are very -happy without me. Doubtless they could do without Mr. Rhind either, as -he sits there in the window of the old-fashioned inn, with its deep -bay and its small lozenges of glass, and its heavy frame of lead and -iron. Julia looks up at Gowrie, and smiles, and his eyes glance -cheerfully. There must be some jest between them, light and happy, -with none of the world's bitterness--the jest of two lovers' hearts. -Would that I knew what it is; but the words are spoken in a whisper, -for Mr. Rhind is there with his everlasting little volume bound in -vellum, and I may as well leave them at Berwick, too, and go on -before, to see what reception was preparing for them in a distant -place.</p> - -<p class="normal">I must convey the reader with me to the old royal palace of Falkland, -without, however, giving any detailed account of a building, a much -better description of which than any I can afford may be found in many -an antiquarian record. Suffice it that it was large, roomy, and then -in a high state of preservation. It was also surrounded by an -extensive deer-park, called "The Wood of Falkland," which was perhaps -its highest attraction in the eyes of King James VI., whose only -virtue was the love of hunting.</p> - -<p class="normal">The season, as every reader, whether skilled in woodcraft or not, must -know, was not one in which St. Hubert permits the horned tenants of -the forest to be chased by man, for it was as yet but the month of -February. But that season of the year was a dull one for the Scottish -monarch; and after being deprived of his favourite pastime, he -sometimes found the exercise even of his "Kingcraft," as he termed the -art of government, so tedious as to require relief, and the labours of -learned dullness, in which at other times he indulged, very wearisome.</p> - -<p class="normal">When this was the case, he would often retire for a day or two, either -to Falkland or to Stirling, with a few chosen attendants or -companions, to see how his "<i>beasties</i>" were going on, or rather to -revive the memories of the sport in which he delighted, by the sight -of gray woods in their winter bareness, and of the antlered objects of -his pursuit stalking about familiarly through the glades at a period -when they knew, by experience or tradition, they were free from the -hostility of men and dogs. The king had that sort of tender admiration -for the objects of his sanguinary pursuit, that strange mixture of -affection and cruelty, which is not uncommon in the human tiger -throughout the world. The libertine, with the creature of his -pleasure, whom he chases but to destroy, affords merely a modification -of the same selfishness, and no one could probably have entered into -James's feelings more fully than good old Buffon himself, who begins -his description of the stag with the kindly words, "Voici l'un de ces -animaux innocents, doux et tranquilles, qui ne semblent être faits que -pour embellir, animer la solitude des forêts, et occuper loin de nous -les retraites paisibles de ces jardins de la nature;" and then he -gives an account of the best and most approved means of tearing it to -pieces.</p> - -<p class="normal">However, it was in one of the alleys of the park or wood of Falkland -that King James wandered on, in the latter end of February, 1600. -Where he first entered the wood, the underwood was not very thick, and -the sharp winter, just drawing to a close, had torn from the branches -to which they clung many of the leaves which, like shipwrecked -mariners, had held feebly on long after their brethren had been swept -away. By his side, or rather half a step behind, was a young man, -dressed, like the monarch himself, in Lincoln green, and some fifty -paces further back was a well-armed attendant. The period at which the -stags are dangerous had long passed, indeed; but still James was not -usually ill pleased to have aid ever at hand in case of need, for he -was accustomed to say himself, "there are more vicious beasts in the -world than harts and hinds." His pace was quick, though, as usual, -shambling and irregular, and as he went he rolled his eyes about in -every direction in search of some of the beasts of the chase.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Whist, whist, Jock," he said at length, pausing, and pointing with -his finger; "there's a fine fellow--an old stag, upon my life, as fat -as the butterman's wife. De'il's in the beastie! he's casting his head -gear already. Do you see, man, one side is as bare as my hand? We -shall have an early summer and a hot one. Whenever the old stags, or -the stags of ten, cast their horns before March, you may be sure there -will be an early season. The young ones are always a bit later; but -that's an old hart coming his ninth year. I'll warrant he's been down -every morn to neighbour Yellowly's farm at the water, by the grease -upon him. Let me catch you in the month of June, my man."</p> - -<p class="normal">The king then went on to instruct his young companion in various parts -of science connected with his favourite amusement, giving him all the -French and Scotch and English terms for different proceedings in -woodcraft, and for the qualities and distinctions of the deer.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man listened with all due submission and apparent attention, -though, to say truth, he was somewhat impatient of the lecture, and -thought that he understood the subject, practically at least, as well -as the king himself. There was another source of impatience also in -his bosom, for the truth was, he eagerly sought an opportunity of -speaking upon a different topic; while the profound reverence for the -kingly office, in which he had been educated, prevented him from -introducing it himself, till the monarch's own words gave him some -fair opening. He had watched his opportunity for weeks, but something -had always intervened to prevent his executing his purpose; and now -when he had fully expected to find the moment he sought, during the -expedition to Falkland, it seemed likely to be snatched from him by -James's long-winded dissertation upon hunting. He could almost have -burst forth with some impatient exclamation as the king went on -discussing and describing, and mingling his disquisitions with quaint -scraps of Latin most strangely applied; but the opportunity was nearer -than the young man thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You see, Jock," said the king, "a young stag, or a stag entering ten, -or even a stag of ten, may be forced and run and brought to bay easily -enough; but an old stag is a wily beast, ever on his guard, and ready -at every minute to give the dogs and the hunter the change. He knows -well where his enemies lie, which way they will take, what they will -do, and how to circumvent them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He must be very like your majesty, then," said the young man, with a -low bow, adding, "at least, I hope so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha, man, what's that?" cried the king, looking round; but before John -Ramsay could answer, the king had plunged into woodcraft again. "In -the season when people cannot hunt," continued James, "he'll come out -to the edge of the wood, or into the fields, and nibble the young -corn. I've known one rout out an old wife's kail-yard; but as soon as -the month of May begins, back goes the sleek fellow into the very -heart of the woods and parks, and then you have to track him step by -step, mark all his footprints, and sometimes in hot weather trace them -contrariwise over the dry ground, in order to put the dogs on where -the scent lies. Eh, man, he's a wary beast, and takes every means to -hide his comings in and his goings out."</p> - -<p class="normal">"So do some of your Majesty's enemies," said the young man, with -peculiar emphasis; and James's attention was now fully caught.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha! say you so, Jock?" cried the monarch, with a start. "There's -something thou hast to say, lad--out with it, in God's name. You love -your king well, I do believe. Come, tell the whole--keep farther back, -Sanderson," he continued, raising his voice, and speaking to the man -who followed. "Now, Jock, now, let's hear it all, and if you do your -duty faithfully you have the king's favour."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My duty I will do whether or no," answered the young man, bluntly. "I -love your majesty too well to keep anything back from you, even should -it make you think me indiscreet; and I know that your wisdom will soon -see that which my poor wit cannot divine. I have had some doubts, as -to whether I may not be doing wrong, in my own thoughts, to a noble -gentleman; but if I tell you just what I have heard, which is my -bounden duty, your majesty will soon see and judge which is the right -of it all."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's a good lad--that's a good lad," repeated the king. "We will -soon clear the matter up when we know the whole, and act according to -judgment and reason. Kings were appointed of God, the judges of all -things upon earth; but how should they judge if they do not hear? Now -tell me, man, who it is you suspect. There are in every kingdom a -great many fools who are always getting into mischief from want of -wit, and a great many born devils always egging them on."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I don't know that I've a right to say that I <i>suspect</i> the Earl of -Gowrie," replied the young man; but the king instantly interrupted -him, exclaiming, with a violent oath, "Why, what the de'il do you know -about Gowrie? I had thought that all his tricks were known to myself -alone--but what have you to say concerning him?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"If your majesty knows all his proceedings," answered John Ramsay, "I -have nought to say. The matter is in good hands."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But how can you tell I know all about the matter, Gabie?" asked the -king, impatiently. "Speak out, man--speak out."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then, I would humbly ask your majesty," continued Ramsay, -remembering the instructions he had received, "whether you are aware -that during the whole time the earl was in Paris, he was in continual -connexion with the English ambassador, Sir Henry Neville, seeing him -every day, and that he only thought fit to wait upon your majesty's -ambassador once?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, did he so?" said James, musing. "He may find that he cannot -lightly his own born sovereign without scathe. How got ye knowledge of -this, man? You've no been in Paris yourself, unless you can be in two -places at once."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I had a cousin there at the time, your majesty, and he tells me that -the thing was commonly remarked and talked about. Then I understand -that her majesty, the Queen of England, showed somewhat more honour -and grace to this Earl of Gowrie than one of your majesty's subjects -should willingly have received."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, poor fellow, he couldn't help that," said the king, with a -curious grin at his own affectation of candour. "If our good titty and -aunt, Queen Elizabeth, like the other wild jade, Fortune, will thrust -honours upon a man who does not want them, he must take them as they -come. But what did she do that was worthy of mark?"</p> - -<p class="normal">John Ramsay, in reply, recapitulated all that his cousin had told him; -and, more from James's manner than any words that escaped him, judged -the communication gave the monarch a slight uneasiness. The king, as -was common with him when internally agitated, hurried his sort of -limping pace into the thicker wood, pulling the sides of his breeches -at the same time, and mumbling inward comments, of which not one word -could be distinctly heard. Then sitting down on a broad stone bench, -which stood at the side of the avenue, near a spot where a lateral -alley branched off, he impatiently bade his companion go on, although -the young man was already speaking as fast as he could.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The only thing more I have heard, sire," said John Ramsay, who had by -this time well-nigh finished his tale, "is that the earl was in -constant communication, and that of a secret kind, with Sir Robert -Cecil, the Earl of Essex, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Lord Cobham."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The devil is in those fellows," said the king, abruptly. "They betray -every one, first their own mistress, and then their own friend. -They've softened all down to me; but I saw through them, lad, even -before what you have told me. They could not blind my eyes so as -to prevent my finding out that there was more under their fine -speeches.--But you've got something else to say, Jock. I see it in -your face, man.--Out with it!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It was only this, your majesty," replied the young man, "and I don't -know, indeed, whether it is necessary to say it, for your wisdom needs -no guidance; but the fact is, all the information I have received, -comes from my cousin Newburn."</p> - -<p class="normal">"None the worse for that, man, I dare say," said the king. "Why should -not your cousin Newburn tell truth, as well as another, Jock -Ramshackle?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have thought, since I spoke with him, sire," answered Ramsay, "that -he may be a little prejudiced, for he and the earl, it seems, are not -on the best terms, one of the earl's men having nearly killed him in a -dispute about a lady travelling under the earl's escort. Besides, my -brother Dalhousie is a great friend of the earl's, and thinks very -well of him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tell your brother not to take his lot with him," said James, sharply. -"He does not know what he mints at; and he'll bring himself to bad -bread before he's done.--A lady, did you say? What lady might that be, -I should like to know? Odds life! I trust he'll bring none of his -Italian limmers here, or he'll have the kirk session on his back."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They say she is a cousin of his own," said Ramsay, in a doubtful -tone, "and that one of her relations in Italy dying, while the earl -was there, committed her on his death bed to the earl's charge. They -call her the Lady Julia Douglas."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Whew!" cried the king, adding a long whistle, as if he were calling -back a falcon. "So, my bonny bird, we shall get you at last. The Lady -Julia Douglas! Why, this is the very lass, I'll pawn my ears, that -Arran, poor body, was looking for so felly some eighteen years ago. -Mayhap we shall hear something now; we shall get some inkling of all -Morton's treasures which we could never lay hand on. This must be -thought of quickly. We must have the lady in our own ward, Ramsay, for -we are sair pressed for siller just now. I'll away to Edinburgh this -very night, and see to this matter. Why, that man Morton had gathered -together, what by scarting and what by nipping, enough to replenish -the treasury of Scotland for a twelvemonth, and yet when he went to -take the last kiss of the maiden of Halifax, he had not money enough -in his pouch to pay the hangman. All that he had was forfeited to the -crown, being attainted as a traitor; but he had either hidden all his -gold away, or else the Italian lady and her father had carried it away -with them, for we could never find so much as a crown piece, and I can -tell you it sat ill upon my stomach and Arran's too. He was a feckless -poor body, that Arran, or he'd have never let the old count and his -daughter and the bairn get away. But we must watch for this good earl -and the pretty lady, and we'll soon find out where the money is."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Shall I set out at once, sir, with a party of the guard?" asked -Ramsay, ever ready for action. "I'll arrest the earl the moment he -sets foot in Scotland, if your majesty will but warrant me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fie, now, lad. What a rash fool thou art!" said James, in a -good-humoured tone. "No, no, boy. We must trust things that require to -be done fair and softly to older and cooler heads than thine. There -must be no violence, no show of force; but we must get the lady into -our own ward cannily and quietly, and then deal with the earl -afterwards, as he comports himself. I tell thee what, Jock," he -continued, stretching out his hand, and pinching the young man's -cheek, "I would not have all the wealth of the old regent Morton go to -swell the riches of Gowrie for one half of Perthshire. They are too -rich and powerful already, those Ruthvens; and I'll have no new -Douglases rising up in the land to outshine their king and beard him -too. They used to call Dalkeith the lion's den, when Morton had it; -but I'm not fond of such wild beasts, and these Ruthvens are a bit of -the same breed. No, no; we'll take care of the lady, and provide for -her marriage; but it shan't be to a Ruthven."</p> - -<p class="normal">As the king spoke he rose, as if he were going to walk away, but the -next moment he stopped, and turned round to his young companion, -saying, "Now mind, Jock, what I'm going to bid you, and see that you -obey. Hold your tongue about all that has passed between you and the -king. Say not a word to any one, whatever you may see or hear; and -above all things keep your hands, and your tongue too, off young Alex -Ruthven, whom you are always bickering with, I'll take my own time, -man; and depend upon it, if I want anything that requires a strong -hand and a bold heart, and love and affection to a sovereign, I'll -send for you, Jock; so you keep quiet and bide your time, as I shall -bide mine. Kingcraft teaches a man patience, Jockie Ramshackle; but -you'll need an awful quantity of drilling."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the king moved on along the avenue, till he came to the -corner of the cross alley which I have mentioned, where he suddenly -started and turned pale, on seeing a man, and that man a stranger, -approaching with an easy, sauntering step, and within some five or six -yards of him. With the impulse of courage, Ramsay, who was a little -behind, placed himself at once at the king's side, although he could -not but see there was no danger, for the stranger was quite unarmed; -and James, at the same time, becoming conscious of that fact also, -recovered his courage, and said, in a low tone, "Whist, man! wha the -de'il is this, I wonder? Haud your tongue--he's going to speer -something at us."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I say, old gentleman," said the stranger, "I wish you would tell me -my way out of this place, for I've lost myself, and cannot get back to -the palace."</p> - -<p class="normal">Now it is to be remarked, that James was not at this time an old -gentleman, being then in his thirty-fourth year; but his hair was -somewhat gray already, and the strange and awkward form of dress which -he affected--quilted, loose, not always in very good repair, and here -and there somewhat greasy--gave him the appearance of being at least -twenty years older than he really was. Ramsay's cheek reddened at the -man's familiar address to his sovereign; but James made him a sign to -be quiet; and the stranger went on in the same cavalier tone, saying, -"It's a long lane that has never a turning; but this has so many -turnings, that it is as bad as the labyrinth of Didymus."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Dædalus, you mean, young man," answered the king; "and you yourself -make an ugly sort of Theseus, though I am not quite so frightful as -the Minotaur."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I never heard of that gentleman," answered the stranger; "but I dare -say he was ugly enough. However, handsome is who handsome does; and if -he behaved well in his capacity, no one could blame him for not being -pretty. You cannot have more of a cat than its skin, or comb a monkey -that has got no hair. However, I want very much to find my way out of -this place, for like many another pretty piece of work that man gets -into, it is easier in than out."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should like to know how you did get in," answered James, who was -exceedingly amused. "You must have got over the wall, I think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not I," answered the man; "I came round by the stables, and through -the back court; but what signifies it to you how I got in?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It signifies very much," cried Ramsay, fiercely, for his blood had -continued boiling during the whole conversation, at what he considered -the man's insolence.</p> - -<p class="normal">But James interposed, exclaiming, "Hout, lad, keep your breath to cool -your porridge. How can the man tell that I am the head keeper? He's -clearly a stranger here, by his tongue."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, if you are the head keeper, that makes all the difference," -answered the other. "I know what belongs to parks as well as any one; -and the head keeper is always a very reverend gentleman in my eyes. A -man should never quarrel with his bread and butter; and I've often got -a capital venison steak for being civil to the head keeper. So, sir, -I'll tell you I got quite honestly in, as you can learn yourself, if -you go back with me to the palace. I've brought a letter from my lord -to his majesty the king, and as I've long had a great wish to see him, -I told a lie, and said I was to deliver it myself; but the people at -the palace told me that his majesty was busy in his cabinet on affairs -of state."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The lying loons!" muttered James, with a laugh.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so," continued the other, "I just put up my horse at the hostel, -and walked through the gates into the park."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so you had a great desire to see the king, had you?" said James. -"What might that be for? Why should you want to see him more than any -other man?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"For three reasons," answered the other; "because they say he is as -wise as King Solomon; because he's fond of proverbs; and because he's -the greatest hunter upon earth since Nimrod."</p> - -<p class="normal">James chuckled, till his quilted doublet shook; and then he asked, -"Who told you all this?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, my lord, the Earl of Gowrie," answered the man; and the king -instantly turned a sharp and meaning glance to Ramsay's countenance.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so he told you," he said, "that the king was as wise as Solomon? -Faith, my man, though I love the king, who is my master, as well as -any man in the realm can love him, yet I think your lord was a little -bit mistaken to tell you so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He didn't exactly tell me so," answered Austin Jute, whom the reader -has already discovered, "but he told others so within my hearing."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then he followed the counsel of King Solomon himself," answered -James; "and he must be a wise man, too. He spoke not ill of princes, I -mean, otherwise would the birds of the air have carried the matter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, Heaven forbid that he should speak ill of his own born -sovereign," answered Austin Jute, "or think ill of him either; but I -pray you, good sir, without more conference, tell me my way out, for I -fear that the king may go forth; and I have got to ride far to-night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What, you ride toward Berwick by the gloaming, I'se warrant?" said -James.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, not so," replied Austin Jute. "I'm away across the country to -Carlisle, and hope to meet my lord just as he crosses the border."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, comes he by Carlisle?" said the king; "but it's a wild country -thereabout, my man. Aren't you afraid to ride without any arms?"</p> - -<p class="normal">As he spoke, he moved down the avenue, back towards the palace; and -Austin Jute followed, saying, "I have got sword and buckler at the -hostel, and know how to use them at a pinch, I trust. He who bides a -blow may spare a buffet; but you see, sir, I thought it was not right -for a man of my condition to approach the king's palace with arms on -my back, so I left all those things at the hostel till I had delivered -the letter.--Now there goes a fine stag, upon my life! I would fain be -as near him some fine summer's day, with a bow in my hand, and liberty -to shoot."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should like to see thee right well," said the king; "and if thou -comest here to me at Falkland some summer day, thou shalt have leave -and licence to pick out three fat bucks, and kill them, if thou canst, -with three arrows, but the first shaft that fails, so ceases thine -archery."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Agreed, agreed," cried Austin Jute, tossing up his cap in the air, -and catching it again. "Thank thee, master keeper. If I pick thee not -out some fine venison, or if I miss one buck, say there is no archer -left in Lincolnshire; and thou shalt set up the horns over thy door, -and give a pasty to the poor men of the village, that once in their -lives they may taste king's meat."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Soul and body! and so I will," cried the king, taking part in his -enthusiasm; "and thou shalt have two crowns into the bargain, for each -buck thou killest."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Two crowns!" cried Austin Jute, taking a step back, and gazing at his -companion. "That's good pay, master keeper, considering that the -umbels are my own by old forest law."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the king, "'twas a rash promise; but I like to see -a good shaft shot as well as any man--don't look round, lad, for I'm -taking thee straight to the palace--there you see the windows. Never -mind that man; he's only one of the under keepers."</p> - -<p class="normal">And as they passed the attendant, who had followed the king in his -walk, the man dropped behind, and took up his station at the same -distance as before.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I've a notion," said Austin Jute, with his cap in his hand, "that -eagles would be taken for rooks by foolish men, if they hid themselves -in rooks' feathers."</p> - -<p class="normal">"So thou hast brought a letter from the Earl of Gowrie," said James, -without noticing the quaint observation, though it sufficiently -indicated that his real rank was now suspected. "Well, he is a right -loyal and well disposed young lord, I have heard. Have you got the -letter with you?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is here, sir," answered Austin Jute, producing it.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let me see it, let me see it," said the king.</p> - -<p class="normal">The man hesitated for a moment, and then dropped upon his knee, -saying, "I beseech you, sir, to pardon me; but I have strange doubts I -must have offended--unwittingly, as you will well believe--if you be -really, as I now think, the king's majesty. But your attendants -assured me confidently that you were busy in your cabinet on matters -of great moment; otherwise I should never have ventured into your -royal park."</p> - -<p class="normal">"God's blessing on the vermin!" said the king, "for they have made me -a merry minute or two. Give me the letter, man. I am the king; and for -your mistakes you have our grace and pardon, for a dusty doublet may -well cheat a man of no great conveyance."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he opened the letter and read. The tenour was as follows:</p> -<br> - -<p style="text-indent:5%">"Please your Majesty,</p> - -<p class="normal">"If the bestowing of great benefits should move the receivers thereof -to be thankful to the givers, I have many extraordinary occasions to -be thankful to your Majesty; not only being favoured with the benefit -of your Majesty's good countenance at all times myself, but also, that -it hath pleased your Majesty to advance my brother and my sister to -great grace at your royal court. Being anxious to give some more -certain sign and vive testimony to your Majesty of my devotion to your -royal person, I am now hastening to cast myself at your feet, in the -hope that it may please you to command me in anything whereby your -Majesty may have a proof of my prompt and faithful obedience in all -things that may tend to your Majesty's satisfaction, together with the -weal and prosperity of the realm.</p> - -<p class="normal">"In the meantime I repose myself still in your Majesty's constant -favour, till God grants that I shall see your Majesty in so good a -state as I wish, which will give me the greatest contentment of all.</p> - -<p class="normal">"So earnestly craving Heaven to bless your Majesty with all felicity -and satisfaction in health, and with an increase of many prosperous -days, I kiss most devoutly your Majesty's hands.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your Majesty's most humble subject, and obedient servant in all -devotion,"</p> -<p style="text-indent:60%">"<span class="sc">Gowrie</span>."</p> -<br> - -<p class="normal">"A right loyal and faithful letter," said the king. "Now walk straight -forward into the house, my friend. Fill thy stomach at the larder. Get -thee a good cup of wine at the buttery, and away with thee at once, to -tell thy lord that the king is well pleased at his return, and waits -impatiently to consult with him and other good lords upon many things -concerning the good of the state. Tell him, however, that he will not -find us here at our palace at Falkland, but at our poor house in -Edinburgh--which, if he have any grace left," he added, in a low voice -to Ramsay, "he will not like to walk about so well. Bid him make haste -and come to us straight, for we are anxious for his presence, and -desirous to show him favour.--Away with you, my man!"</p> - -<p class="normal">The king waited till Austin Jute had taken somewhat more than a -hundred paces along the avenue, and then said in a low voice, to -Ramsay, "This earl is a false loon, Jock. See here what he says--that -he is willing to show prompt obedience in all things that may tend to -our satisfaction, together with the weal and prosperity of the realm. -That's just their hypocritical talk when they intend to play the -traitor. They always find something which is required for the weal and -benefit of the realm, which may thwart their own natural prince, whom -God appointed to rule over them, and made his vicegerent upon earth. -He'd never have put in these words, Jock, if he were not minded to do -all he can to cross us. A dour divot, just like all those Ruthvens. I -can smell him out as well as my brack Barleycorn can smell the foot of -one of those beasties."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope your majesty will let him feel that it is so," said Ramsay, -"and teach him that he cannot cross his king with impunity."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no, lad. I shall handle him after my own way," said the king. -"Have you never seen a bairn stroking bawdrans up the wrong way? So -I'll just cross the grain with him in all kingly courtesy, then we -shall soon see whether he turns dorty upon us, and then will be the -time to wind off the pirn. But come along, Jockie, it's time that we -should get home, for I must see to this lassy he's got with him. It -may be she, I think--it may not; but if it be, it's high time to care -for her."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the king walked on hastily, and, by a small side-door, -entered the palace. Immediately after, some of his attendants were -called to his presence, and questioned regarding the account which -Austin Jute had given of himself. All they could tell, however, was -that he had brought a letter from the Earl of Gowrie, and had said -that he had been to Holyrood, but finding the king absent at Falkland, -had come on direct. On this James made no comment, but, somewhat to -the surprise of his attendants, ordered everything to be prepared for -immediate departure for Edinburgh.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Austin Jute's horse was a strong one, but it was hardly strong enough -for his purpose. Austin Jute's own frame was hardened by much -exercise, but it was barely firm enough to endure what he imposed upon -it. He left the presence of the king with a very quiet though a quick -step; and had the eye of James traced him along the avenue, he would -have seen that easy, jaunty, somewhat self-satisfied air, which was -natural to him--and is to most men who have always a proverb under -their hand for a walking-stick--not in the least diminished by his -late interview. But, alas! that which was natural to him at other -times was now assumed. He would not have drooped a feather at that -moment for the world. Even when he had reached the little hostel or -inn, which had been set up as near the gates of the palace as decency -permitted, and to say truth, by the connivance of the king's -comptroller, somewhat nearer than in strictness it should have been, -he maintained his gay and quite-at-ease demeanour: laughed with the -good man of the house, eat something which had been prepared for him -during his absence, and seemed to be trifling away his time, when -suddenly a large clock, which then graced the front of the palace, -struck one, and Austin started up with a look of surprise.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Gads, my life!" he exclaimed, "is that one o'clock?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oo, ay," replied the host, "that's the knock's just chappit ane."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then I'm an hour behind," cried Austin; and paying his score with due -attention, he mounted and rode away, merely asking, in a common-place -tone, which was his shortest road towards Carlisle.</p> - -<p class="normal">His movements were all reported in the palace before half an hour was -over; but when it was found that he had made inquiries about the -Carlisle road, no further questions were put. But Austin Jute did not -long continue on the road he first took. He had learned by some -experience in his various travels to foil pursuit, even in countries -that he did not know; and he was soon riding on a bridle path towards -Lesslie, going on at a quick but not a violent pace, anxious to -advance as rapidly as possible, but not to knock up his beast before -he reached his journey's end.</p> - -<p class="normal">To all human creatures whom he met on the road, to innkeepers, and -even inn-keepers' daughters, he was uncommonly taciturn; but with his -horse he held long conversations, which seemed to comfort the poor -animal greatly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, you got over that last mile bravely, Sorrel," he would say; "a -good heart's worth a peck of provender. But a peck you shall have at -the very next village. If we cannot get oats we can get meal, that's -one comfort, in Scotland. Thank Heaven, you are no way dainty, and I -dare say would drink a stoup of Bordeaux wine if we could find it. -Perhaps we may, too, at the next town. We never know where good luck -lies."</p> - -<p class="normal">He kept his word, and the horse justified his good opinion; for the -wine was procured, and the beast drank it, seeming as much revived -thereby as if wine were made to cheer the heart of beast as well as -man.</p> - -<p class="normal">On, on, the pair went, however; and as they passed over one of those -wild moors, neither then nor now unfrequent in the land of cakes, -Austin began to tell the good stout horse all about his interview with -King James, in the full confidence he would never repeat it.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I think I managed that right well, Sorrel," he said. "The covetous -thief never dreamt that I knew him all the time, and had heard every -word he said for a long while before. By cock and pie, if he had, I -should have had both my ears slit, I'll warrant; the right ear for -eaves-dropping, and the left for calling him 'old gentleman.'--You -answer never a word, Sorrel. That's poor encouragement for a man to -tell a merry tale. If thou wouldst but give a horse-laugh or anything, -I would say thou art a witty beast and understandest a joke. But thou -art weary, poor fellow," he added, patting the horse's neck, "and yet -thou must go many a mile further ere morning. A merciful man is -merciful to his beast; but I must not be merciful to thee, or my dear -lord and lady may suffer, and thou wouldst not like that, Sorrel. -Well, well, take the hill easily, then; I will get off and walk by thy -side. Here's a pool of water, thou shalt have a drink."</p> - -<p class="normal">In this sort went he on; and it is not too much to say, that by such -cheerful conversation and a great number of little attentions, he kept -up both his own spirit and the horse's.</p> - -<p class="normal">It is no slight distance from Falkland to Berwick, take it which way -one will; but when the distance was aggravated by having to cross the -Firth of Forth, an operation disagreeable both to man and beast, it -may easily be conceived that Austin's expectation of reaching Berwick -before the next morning was a bold one. His journey also had been -increased by the detour he had made at first setting out, and by a -ride of five-and-twenty miles or more in the morning. He reached -Kinghorn, however, about half-past three; and there, after sundry -inquiries as to his best course, hired one of those large and -excellent boats for which the place was famous, to put him over to -Prestonpans. The wind was low but favourable, the sea calm, and -neither Austin nor his horse suffered so much as might have been -expected; but still, the poor animal showed no great inclination to go -farther forward that night. He eat his provender, however, with a good -appetite, that surest sign of a horse not being near the foundering -stage; and after an hour and a half's rest, the traveller set out once -more by the light of the stars. Sorrel bore up well to Haddington, but -between that place and Dunbar, his pace grew slower and more slow, -till at length it fell into a walk.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, I will not hurry thee, Sorrel," said Austin, "thou hast gone -good sixty miles to-day, besides two ferries, and if we get to Dunbar -'tis but thirty more to Berwick. It cannot be eight o'clock yet, and -thou shalt have some hours' rest."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he dismounted, and walked by the beast's side for the -next five miles, till the sound of the ocean beating with a heavy -murmur on the shore showed him that the town of Dunbar was near; and -in a moment after he saw a light here and a light there, at no great -distance before him. Mounting his horse, he rode quietly in, and -stopped a sober citizen, who, with a lantern in his hand, was taking -his way through the unlighted streets.</p> - -<p class="normal">In answer to his inquiry for the best inn, the good man, as usual, -directed him "straight on," adding the invariable "you cannot miss -it."</p> - -<p class="normal">He was so far right, however, that Austin did not miss it, and riding -into the open yard, was soon in possession of the landlord and his -myrmidons.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ae, ye've a tired beast there," said the good man, "and we must find -a stall for him, though we've more than we can well lodge already; for -the great Earl of Gowrie came in an hour or two ago with all his -people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, not with all of them," answered Austin Jute, "for I am one; and I -hope and trust that the earl has not gone to bed yet, for I have kind -greetings to him from the king's majesty, which I ought to give as -soon as may be."</p> - -<p class="normal">"In bed!" cried the landlord. "Fie! His supper's just put on, and the -auld man has hardly finished his thanks yet for the good meat."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If that's the case I'll let him have his meal in peace," answered -Austin, "and after I have seen to poor Sorrel, you shall take me where -the other servants are, that I may have some meat too; for, to say -sooth, I've had but one cup of bad wine and a morsel since daylight."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is the way servants treat their lords," thought the host; "here -is this man has a message even from the king himself, and he must -first fill his beast's stomach, and then his own before he delivers -it."</p> - -<p class="normal">But he did good Austin Jute injustice, for without a strong motive he -would have gone fasting to bed, rather than have provided for his own -wants--whatever he might have done for his horse's--before he -fulfilled his duty to his master. But, to say truth, he had a -disinclination to the presence of Mr. Rhind when his tale was to be -told, and having, with that acuteness which the lower orders exercise -more frequently upon the higher than the higher imagine, acquired a -thorough knowledge not only of Mr. Rhind's character but of all his -little habits, he calculated very accurately what would be his -proceedings. "He has had a long ride," thought Austin; "he will eat a -good supper; he will drink a good cup of wine; and then he will go to -bed directly. I must spend my time as best I may till then, and when -the coast is clear, go in and tell my tale. It must be a long one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Don't you say a word of my arrival, good host," he continued, perhaps -gathering from the landlord's countenance what was passing in his -mind, and "fooling him to the top of his bent." "Servants must feed, -you know, as well as their masters, and if they know I'm here, I may -be sent for, and kept an hour before I get a bit of meat and a crust -of bread between my grinders."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the host, with a sigh; and after Austin had seen -the corn duly poured out under Sorrel's nose, he was led into the inn -kitchen, where he was at once received with such a shout of -gratulation by his fellows, as to show the host that his new guest was -a favourite with his equals, whatever he might be with his superiors.</p> - -<p class="normal">Austin eat his supper in peace and merriment, jesting gaily with all -around him, but still carrying on a course of under-thought in his own -mind till his meat was finished, and then the landlord thought fit to -hint that it might be as well for him to deliver his message, hoping -perchance to hear the terms thereof; and the words of a king were -great in the eyes of a Scottish host in those days.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your lord has all but done, I can tell you, my man," he said.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, all but and well nigh," said Austin; "has the old gentleman gone -to bed yet? Supper is not over till he's gone, I think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, he's not gone yet," answered the host, "but he's just dawdling -over some nuts."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, then, he'll entertain my lord till I've taken another cup," -replied Austin Jute; and he set himself to work again to make his -companions laugh, with an affectation of insolence he did not really -feel.</p> - -<p class="normal">A minute or two after, however, the landlord returned, saying, "The -old gentleman's gone now--and I'm thinking you had better not let your -lord know how long you've been here."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh dear, yes, I shall," replied the servant, starting up at once. "I -never hide anything from him, Master Host, whatever you may think;" -and away he went, without pause or hesitation.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXIV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The supper had been gay and cheerful, the materials better than might -have been expected in a small country inn of Scotland at the beginning -of the seventeenth century; and Julia and Gowrie were alone once more, -for Mr. Rhind had now become quite accustomed to his position, and -forgetting all his sage decorums, consulted little but his own ease. -The night was cold and clear, the fire in the large open chimney -blazed bright and cheerfully, and a gay and happy sensation, as if the -presentiment of coming joy, was in the heart both of the lady and of -her lover. When they crossed the border, indeed, and re-entered the -native land of both, their feelings had been different; a sort of -dread had come upon Julia's mind--that kind of oppressive sensation -which often overpowers us when some great fact, to which we have long -looked forward, is accomplished, deciding our destiny for ever, and -yet leaving the results hidden in darkness till they are evolved by -time. When Gowrie had said, "Here we are, in Scotland," the land of -her fathers, where they had ruled, and bled, and suffered--the land -where her own fate was to be worked out; where the brightest happiness -which the wildest flight of her young fancy could reach, or the -deepest grief which a fearful heart could portray, was to be enjoyed -or endured; an overpowering impression of great things, past and to -come, fell upon her for an instant, and she could hardly sit her -horse.</p> - -<p class="normal">The feelings of Gowrie were somewhat similar. After a long absence, -he, too, was returning to his native land. With him, too, there was -much that was painful in the history of the past. In this land his -father had perished on the scaffold; from it that father's father had -fled an exile to linger out a few short years of sickness in a foreign -country; while many and many a relation and friend had here wetted the -scaffold with their blood. What was before himself? he asked; and as -he crossed the frontier, he strove to cast his eye forward, as if to -penetrate the dark and heavy veil which hides the future of all mortal -fate: nor did he do so without dread.</p> - -<p class="normal">Such feelings, however, had passed away. The morning had been clear, -though cold. The scenes through which they passed were fair enough, -and there was that blue freshness in the hues of the bright wintry -landscape which compensates, in some degree, for the warmer colouring -of the summer. All had gone well, too, on the road. Nothing had -occurred to harass or disturb. The delicate complexion of the -beautiful girl, nurtured under a softer sky, had acquired a brighter -glow in the bracing influence of the northern air, and she looked -lovelier than ever in Gowrie's eyes; while, as she turned a look to -him, he seemed to ride with that prouder air which one ever feels -inclined to assume when, after a long absence, we again tread the land -of our birth and of our love.</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus, by the time they reached the inn for the night, all dark fancies -had been swept away; and now they sat with their feet to the bright -lire, and with their hearts overflowing with those words of love which -had been repressed during the day by the presence of another.</p> - -<p class="normal">Austin Jute, Austin Jute, stay where you are for an hour! Break not -yet the spell of happy dreams--cloud not yet the gleam of wintry -sunshine. Let no shadow cross their path!</p> - -<p class="normal">But it must not be. There was a tap at the door, and Lord Gowrie -raised his head, and looked round with some surprise, saying, "Come -in."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have ventured to intrude upon you, my lord," said Austin Jute, -"having a message from his majesty, the king----"</p> - -<p class="normal">At that moment he was followed into the room by the good host, who at -once began to bustle with cups and platters; but Gowrie turned, -saying, as he saw his servant stop suddenly, "You can leave those -things, Master Fairbairn. I will send for you when I want them -removed."</p> - -<p class="normal">The man retired slowly and ill pleased, and Gowrie made a sign to -Austin to go on; but the man paused for an instant, and then -approached the door, saying, in a low voice, "By your leave, my good -lord, I will see that there be no eaves-droppers."</p> - -<p class="normal">There was no one at the back of the door; but the light that streamed -out shone upon the figure of the landlord at the end of the passage. -Austin stood for a moment and stared at him with a full, determined, -pertinacious gaze, till the man, somewhat disconcerted, walked slowly -and sulkily down the stairs.</p> - -<p class="normal">Then returning close to his lord's chair, and shutting the door behind -him, Austin said, "I have a great deal to tell you, my lord, and have -made haste to get back."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The king's message first, good Austin. What said his majesty?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, fine things, my lord," answered Austin Jute. "It's a bad mercer's -where there's no silk, and a poor court where there are no courtesies. -The king was full of delectable speeches upon your lordship's graces -and fine qualities; and he bids you hasten on to his presence with all -speed, as he wishes to consult you upon many things."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What, then, you saw his majesty in person?" said Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, did I," answered Austin Jute, "and heard him, too, and that -before he knew it. Thus I had the sauce to my salmon ready made--that -is to say, the interpretation of his majesty's speeches before they -were spoken."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Explain, explain," said Gowrie, somewhat eagerly. "I trust that thou -hast committed no new imprudence, Austin?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh no, my good lord," answered the man. "I never commit any -imprudences on your account: it is only on my own I venture. I would -not play at pitch and toss with your fortunes as I do with mine for -half your lordship's estate. But the matter is this: I went to -Edinburgh as you told me, but at the palace--Holyrood, as they call -it--I found that the king had gone the day before to another place -called Falkland, and making myself familiar with the porter, I heard -all about it, as how King James V. had died there----But that as -nothing to do with the matter; so on with my tale. Well, this morning -early, I set off for Falkland with the letter, taking----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"This morning early?" said Gowrie. "Thou hast had a long journey for a -winter's day----Stay, stay, my Julia. This may be news for you also."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is, indeed, my lord," answered Austin Jute, with a bow to the -lady; "and I have, as your lordship said, had a long journey, for I -took my way round that my horse and myself might have as little water -as possible. Well, I got to Falkland about ten o'clock, and a fine -place it is, better than Eltham a great deal. When I got there, I left -my horse and my sword at the inn, brushed the dust off my jerkin, and -went away to the palace. Well, I asked to see the king."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Asked to see the king!" exclaimed Gowrie, almost angry; "in Heaven's -name, man, what were you thinking of! Do you suppose that the king -sees every servant who brings a letter of compliment from a gentleman -of his court? You should have given it to an usher, or some other -officer."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my life, my lord, I know not what possessed me," answered Austin -Jute, "unless, indeed, it was that the porter at Holyrood told me the -king had got a gentleman of the name of Ramsay with him, and the name -of our friend in Paris was Ramsay too. So I wanted to see what was -going on--I always want to know what is going on. However, the people -at the palace told me that the king was very busy in his cabinet, -transacting affairs of state. I answered, I would wait his majesty's -pleasure, or come back again in an hour. Thereat the men laughed, -which was not very civil, and told me I had better come back. Taking -them at their word, I left the door, and was going back to the inn, -when seeing some horses led about near one corner of the building, I -concluded that there must lie the stable, and always having a love for -horses, I went away thither to see if there was anything worth looking -at. I found nobody there; but saw a door open, with a view into a park -beyond, so I judged I might as well take a walk."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my life, I wonder thou hast come back with thine ears on," said -Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"One is born with luck, though years bring learning," replied Austin -Jute; "and luck befriended me, my lord, all the way through. First I -came to a garden with some fine trees in it. I did not know there were -any such in Scotland; and then I walked across a wild piece of ground -towards a thick wood I saw some way off, about a third of a mile or -so. Well, it was a mighty pleasant wood, with a great many of the -brown leaves still hanging upon the underwood, and alleys and avenues -cut very nicely. I wandered here and I wandered there, till at last, -when I wanted to get out, I could not find the way; and suddenly, just -as I was going out of one alley into another, I heard two people -speaking, and I stopped----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"To eavesdrop," said Gowrie, with a glowing cheek; "for shame of -yourself, sir!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, it is a bad habit, my lord," said Austin; "but all servants -have it; and in this instance it is lucky I gave way to it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tell me nothing about it," said Gowrie. "I will not have it said----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"My lord, you must hear," replied the man, firmly. "If you drive your -dagger into me the next minute, you shall hear what I have to say, for -this dear lady's safety and your own, and the happiness of both, -depend upon it. If people will take double ways with you, you must -take double ways with them; and I tell you the king is putting on a -fair face to you, but intends you ill."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia dropped her head upon her hand, with a cheek which had lost the -rose; and Gowrie, after a pause, said, "If such be the case, speak on. -I must not refuse intelligence that may affect her."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's about her almost altogether, my lord," replied Austin Jute, "for -there was a great deal had gone before, which I did not hear. However, -I know that what seemed the younger voice said, 'If your majesty will -give me a warrant I will apprehend the earl as he comes.' Now mind, my -lord, I can't give you the exact words all through, but I'll give you -their meaning. Well, when this voice had spoken, a fat thick voice -answered, like that of a man with plums in his mouth; and it called -the other a fool, and said he didn't understand policy, and a great -deal more, and that he would deal fair and softly with your lordship -till he had got occasion against you--I should have told you that this -wasn't the first thing I heard, because it has all got mixed up in my -head together; but I heard the young one say, 'They call her the Lady -Julia Douglas,' which showed me it was you they were talking of, and -my lady here; and besides, one of them said something about hating -those Ruthvens."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Make your tale short--make your tale short," said the earl. "What -more said the king about the lady? As for myself, I will take care he -shall have no occasion against me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, he said, my lord, that the lady and her mother had carried off -from Scotland all the treasures of a gentleman he called Morton, who -had been attainted for treason."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Alas! alas!" said Julia, "I've often heard my grandfather say that we -fled with little more than would carry us to Italy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What more--what more?" demanded the earl; and Austin Jute proceeded -to give very accurately the substance of all that had been said by the -king and Ramsay during the latter part of their conversation.</p> - -<p class="normal">"In his ward!" exclaimed Gowrie. "She shall never be in his ward, if I -can help it. No, no, my Julia. Your father's wealth was his ruin, for -to seize it was the object of those who destroyed him. What he did -with it has never been discovered; and now, fancying that you must -either possess it or know where it is concealed, this avaricious king -of ours would fain get you into his power. Heaven only knows what then -might happen. But that shall never be!--What more said he, Austin?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay, not much, my good lord, but what he did say was not sweet;" and -then, after detailing the rest, he added, "At those words I heard them -get up, and begin to walk along, crushing the crisp leaves under their -feet. So I went on and met them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You were mad," cried Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh no, my lord, never wiser," answered Austin Jute. "I put on a gay -sort of sauntering air, and called out to the king as soon as I saw -him, 'Halloo, old gentleman! I wish you would show me how to get out, -for I have lost my way.' The young man looked as if he would have -cracked my skull, but the old one took it as a good joke."</p> - -<p class="normal">Moved as he was, Gowrie could not forbear from smiling faintly. "And -how did all this end?" he asked.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, sir, I treated him with no sort of ceremony for some time," said -Austin Jute; "talked with him familiarly about the king, and for fear -of getting you into a scrape, owned it was a lie that I had told at -the palace about having orders to deliver your letter to the king -himself, and said that I wanted very much to see the king, because I -had heard from you he was as wise as Solomon, and the greatest hunter -upon earth. We chatted very friendly for some time, I can tell you; -and then he thought fit to let out that he was the king, never -dreaming, I will answer for it, that I knew it quite well all the -time. When he had got your letter, nothing could be more civil or -complimentary than his majesty was. He bade you hasten your coming, as -I told you before, and sought to know which road you took, so I told -him by Carlisle, just to give your lordship time. If it does not suit -you to bear me out, you can just say that it was a lie of mine, or a -mistake, or anything you please. My ears are quite at your lordship's -disposal."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No," said Gowrie, thoughtfully--"no. Something must be determined at -once. Go out into the passage, Austin, and see that nobody comes -near.--No eaves-dropping, remember!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Upon my honour, my lord," replied the man, and took his departure.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, Gowrie, what is to be done?" exclaimed Julia.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie pressed her to his breast with feelings difficult to describe. -"In truth, love, I hardly know," he said. "I must think calmly for a -moment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Had I not better return at once to England," she asked, "and remain -there till you can satisfy the king that I know nothing of this -coveted wealth, or till we can be united?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie walked up and down the room for a minute, strongly tempted, but -he did not yield.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, love, no," he said; "if you go, I must go too. I will not leave -you unprotected in another land; and, moreover, it might be dangerous -even to myself. Listen, dearest Julia;" and seating himself beside -her, he laid his hand upon hers, saying, "While we were in London, -some subtle dark words were dropped by the ministers of Elizabeth, as -to my having the power of being of great service to her majesty in my -native land. I gave no encouragement to such conversation, and it -ceased; but if she had you in her power, might not she try to use the -strong love which she knows I bear you, to drive me to acts contrary -to my duty and my allegiance? Trust you with her, I dare not. Trust -you in James's hands I will not; for I doubt him, Julia--I doubt him -much. He prides himself on dissembling; and his acts all show that he -aims at absolute power. What is to be done, is the question, and only -two courses seem open to us--either for you to give me your hand -at once, when Gowrie's arm will find means to protect Gowrie's -wife.--Nay, look not so sad; I know your scruples, dear one, and there -is another course to choose. We have in this country of Scotland a -district, as you know, called the Highlands, where law is little -known, and to which the king's power can hardly be said to extend. -Just upon the borders of that district, I have a mountain castle -called Trochrie, where, I think, beyond all doubt, you would be in -greater safety than in England. At all events, it would require an -army to bring you forth; and I do not believe that James would think -fit to do any violent act. It may be as well, however, that you should -remain there in secret till I can prove to the king that neither his -own avarice, nor the greediness of his favourites, would be served by -taking you from me. The castle shall be well prepared for defence, -however; and with justice on my side, and the good friends I have, I -could hold out against him for ever. I will do no disloyal act myself, -but I will endure no tyranny."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, let me thither," cried Julia, with a bright smile of hope coming -upon her face again. "I will keep myself so carefully that he shall -never dream that I am there. I will take exercise in the early -morning, or in the evening twilight, so that people shall fancy I am a -spirit; and the rest of the day I will pass my time in my lonely tower -with my two maidens, like some enchanted lady that we read of in those -books of magic chivalry."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is very hard to doom you to such a fate, my Julia--to send such a -flower as you to bloom in such a desolate wilderness."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hard!" said Julia, enthusiastically--"hard, when it is for you, -Gowrie! Have I not been accustomed to solitude too? It will but be -living over again, for a short time, amidst the beautiful scenes of -nature, with free fresh air and changing skies around me, the same -life that I led so long in Padua, amongst close houses in a dull town. -And then, perhaps," she added, with a smile, "Gowrie may sometimes -steal away from courts to see me; and when I think the time of his -coming draws nigh, what joy it will be to look out from some high -window of the castle, over moor and fell, to see if I can perceive my -dear knight coming across the distant plain."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is a fair picture you have drawn, dear girl, of a less fair -reality," answered Gowrie; "but I will try, dear girl, to make it as -bright for you as may be. Often, often will I come to see you, till -the dear hour when I can call you my own. And I will bring some of my -sweet sisters, too, to cheer you. We will store the old castle with -pleasant books and instruments of music; and when I come you shall -sing me the songs of the sweet south, till all darker things are -forgotten. Still, still I could hardly consent to your plunging into -such a scene, were not the bright season coming when our Highlands -look the fairest, when the yellow broom and the purple heath succeed -each other on the hills, and the bright sunshine softens the -ruggedness of the scene. During the six long months which must elapse -ere, according to our promise, you can give me your hand, the year -still goes on brightening for us in Scotland. In truth, I see no other -course we can pursue."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nor I," she said, eagerly. "Let me set out to-morrow early, Gowrie; -and in the meantime you hasten back across the border again, take the -way round by Carlisle, as the man said you were coming by that road, -and so lull the king's suspicions, if he entertains any."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But you cannot go alone, my Julia," answered her lover. "That will -never do. Stay; my mother is at Dirleton with my young brothers. I -have thought of a plan that will answer. You shall go thither under -the escort of good Austin Jute and my servant David Drummond. She can -then forward you on your way to Trochrie with Austin and some of her -own people. Part of the way were better made by sea, for the waves -will leave no trace of your passing, and the weather is now fair. To -Dirleton you can go to-morrow, and on the following day proceed; but -alas! I must not go with you, I fear."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia bent her head a little, gazing on the ground, and then said, in -a low voice, "Will she receive me willingly, Gowrie?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"As her own child," replied Gowrie, warmly; "I will answer for it, -love."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Though I am a stranger, an intruder, one who even now is bringing -danger on her beloved son!" said Julia, almost sadly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You know not Dorothea Stuart," answered Gowrie. "Were the pursuers -close upon your steps, my love, were every danger and misfortune -following you close, it would only render you dearer to her--it would -only make her whole soul rise to serve you. However, I will write to -her this very night, telling her all I wish, and the reasons thereof. -You shall carry the letter with you; and if everything is not -performed as zealously and punctually as if I were there myself, my -mother is changed indeed, and has lost all love for me. Now, dearest -Julia, retire to rest; you shall be roused in time, and everything -shall be prepared for your departure: alas! that I must add, for our -parting, too; but it shall not be a long one, dear girl. Whenever -occasion serves that I can get away without observation, I will be on -the way to Trochrie, for my heart will lie buried there with you, and -even in the midst of crowds I shall be solitary."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia could not answer, for her heart was too full--it was like a cup -brimming over, and the least thing that shook her would have spilt the -precious drops within. One silent pressure of the hand, and they -parted for the night; but when she was gone, Gowrie stood and mused -with sad and painful thoughts, and ere she sought her pillow she bent -her head and wept.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">There was a fine old house, as we should call it now, but which was -then in great part a modern one, although the beating and buffeting of -angry winds, and the dark breath of the storm, had blackened it ere -more than sixty years had passed since the foundation-stone was laid. -It was built in a style of which there are very few specimens in -England, though several in France; but that is easily accounted for, -inasmuch as during the greater portion of the short period assigned to -that particular style, contentions of one kind or another had existed -between the court of London and that of Paris, and the communication -between England and Italy was extremely limited. Very different had -been the case with Scotland, the connexion between which country and -France had been cemented by many ties, while an infinite number of the -young noblemen of the north completed their education either at Paris -or at one of the universities of Italy. The Tudor architecture in -churches is well known; and although there is something in the breast -of every man of taste which tells him that there is a want of purity -of conception and grandeur of design therein, yet it is very beautiful -in its kind. So much, however, can hardly be said in favour of the -social architecture of the period; and perhaps less still, in point of -really good taste, were the pretensions of that Italian style, in -which one front of Dirleton House was constructed. The windows were -large and many, divided by stone mullions, and having pilasters -between, light and airy, but of no order under the sun, and panels -covered with rich and fantastic arabesques.</p> - -<p class="normal">The whole had an air of lightness and richness, notwithstanding its -incongruous and unmeaning details; but at the hour of which I speak, -and at which a little cavalcade consisting of seven horses approached -the front, nothing could be seen of the elaborate ornaments, and the -whole building lay in the midst of the grey woods that surrounded it, -a large and sombre pile of building, with a cheerful light streaming -through two or three of the casements. Weary with travelling, anxious -and apprehensive, Julia looked up to Dirleton House with a cold -feeling of dread and gloom. Vain had been Gowrie's assurances of a -kind reception: she felt that she was a wanderer--a fugitive, claiming -protection and aid, even to their own peril, from persons on whom she -had no claim, and who were strangers to her in all the kindly -relations of the heart. Her timidity became more and more great as she -approached the principal entrance of the house, which projected before -the rest, with a sort of terrace and flight of steps of its own. Fancy -was very busy, and showed her the strange looks with which she would -be at first received, the stately lady of royal race, the two or three -tall and lordly striplings, her sons, all gazing upon her as a -stranger, and wondering what brought her there.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will send in the letter first," she thought; "they will then know -who I am, at least; and I shall soon see by my reception whether I am -a welcome guest or not. It will be bad enough at the best----Here, -Austin," she said, when, having ridden up to the terrace by one of the -two slopes at the sides, the man sprang to hold her rein, and assist -her to dismount,--"here, Austin, take this letter in. Deliver it into -the Countess of Gowrie's own hand, and tell her that I wait her -pleasure without."</p> - -<p class="normal">The man looked surprised, but took the letter, and approached the -great door, by the side of which hung an immense massive iron ring, -notched all over the inner side, with a small iron bar beside it -suspended from a chain, Austin gazed at this strange-looking -instrument by the faint light, and felt it with his hand, but could -make nothing of it. He was looking for some other means of making -their presence known within, when the other servant, David Drummond, a -heavy, sinister-looking man, started forward, and taking hold of the -ring, soon produced a sound, by running the iron bar over the notches -in the inside, sufficient to call two or three servants to the door.</p> - -<p class="normal">Austin was immediately admitted, and disappeared from Julia's sight, -while the other servant shook hands with an old friend, one of the -domestics of the countess, and seemed to explain who the fair guest -was, for the porter came instantly forward, and with a civil tone, but -in such broad Scotch that she could scarcely understand him, asked if -she would not alight and come in, as he was quite sure his mistress -would be very glad to see her.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will alight," said Julia, accepting his assistance, "for I am very -weary of my horse's back; but as to the rest, I will wait;" and -springing to the ground, she leaned her arm upon the saddle, the tired -beast standing quite still by her side.</p> - -<p class="normal">She had not long to remain in uncertainty, however, for hardly two -minutes had passed when she heard a female voice, as some one -approached the door from within, exclaiming, "Where's my bairn? -Where's my dear child?" and immediately after a tall and commanding -woman, somewhat past the middle age, issued forth with a quick step, -and approached her. Her gray hair, falling from under a black velvet -coif, and mingling with a lace veil attached thereunto, her long black -velvet garments, in the fashion of the reign of Queen Mary, her fine, -though worn countenance, her tall figure, and her quick step and eager -look, all struck poor Julia with a feeling of awe, which was only -dissipated by the warm and tender embrace in which the countess folded -her, kissing her repeatedly, and saying, "And did ye doubt, poor -thing, that Gowrie's mother would not take ye to her heart? Come, -come, my bairn, you do not know me yet; but Dorothea Ruthven is no -false friend or fleeching courtier, to say one thing and mean another. -Come you in, and rest all your cares upon a mother's bosom; for, God -willing, I will be a mother to you as to my own bairns."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, she took her by the hand, and led her through the wide -vestibule into a small but richly decorated room on the ground floor. -Then stopping in the midst, where the full light from a large sconce -filled with wax candles fell upon them both, she turned to look upon -her fair companion for the first time.</p> - -<p class="normal">As if struck and astonished by what she beheld, the old countess -suddenly loosed her hold, and clasping her two hands together, she -exclaimed, "Ae, but you're bonny!" Then instantly throwing her arms -round her, she pressed her to her heart again.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia wept with agitation and joy, and the gentle clasping of her -small soft fingers upon the old countess's hand conveyed without words -all that was passing in her heart.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now sit down, my dear child," said Lady Gowrie, taking her own seat, -and pointing to another close by her; "you're weary and frightened, I -dare say, for I see from the first few lines of Gowrie's letter that -something has not gone quite right with all your plans; but you must -not let that put your heart down, my bonny bird, for this is a wild -land, and if we were to let little things scare us, we should live in -terror all our lives. My two young lads have gone out, and not come -back yet, but they will be right glad when they return to find their -new sister, and then we'll have our supper, and you shall go to bed -and sleep."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, read Gowrie's letter first, before you are so kind, dear lady," -said Julia, wiping the tears from her eyes; "you will see that my -coming with him has first brought embarrassment upon him on his return -to his native land, and perhaps you may not love me so well -afterwards."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not a bit less, my child," said the old countess, in a firm, but sad -tone. "I have ever loved those I loved, best when misfortune came upon -them. Did I not love his father well," she continued, raising her eyes -to heaven, "the day the axe fell? And yet, woe is me! bitter was that -day of love, indeed! Well-a-well, I will read my boy's letter; but -mind, my dear, you are to call me mother, for a mother I will be to -you, come fair or come foul;" and wiping away the tears from her eyes, -she held the letter nearer to the sconce, and read.</p> - -<p class="normal">While she went on, Julia gazed at her with a look of anxious interest; -but her longing to know what would be the lady's feelings on hearing -all the particulars of her situation, was soon lost in scanning the -worn but noble feelings, and tracing the strong likeness between her -and her son.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fie, fie!" cried the old lady, at length, when she had read the -somewhat long epistle to an end; "this is but a scratch, and you and -Gowrie have taken it for a wound. Our good king is fond of gold, and -he has those about him who are fonder still; but when they find that -you have none, my child, they'll leave you at peace right willingly. -It will all come to nothing, you'll see. However, in the meantime, -like a dutiful mother," she continued, with a smile, "I must do what -my son bids me, though I'm loath to part with you so soon. But first I -must take care that the servants are tutored to speak carefully. All -my own people I can depend upon; can you on yours, my child?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust so," replied Julia; "the two girls can speak no English, so -they are safe; and of the men, one is faithfulness itself. The other I -do not know so well, but he has been with Gowrie long, I believe, and -came with us all the way from Italy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What's his name?" asked the countess; and when she heard it was David -Drummond, she shook her head with a rather doubtful look. "He's what -we call a dour creature," she said, "but faithful to his trust, I -believe. He killed a man here in a fray, and I sent him over to John -to get him out of harm's way. John warned him well, that if he played -so with his hands again, he should suffer; but I believe he is honest, -only ill to manage when he takes a grudge at any one. I will have the -people up into the vestibule, and tell them to be secret. They've been -used to things that would teach fools discretion."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, she rose, and taking a small silver bell from the table, -went out into the vestibule, where Julia heard the bell ring, and -after a short pause the sound of many feet moving. Then came the voice -of the countess speaking loud and slow. A few short sentences, with -long pauses between, concluded her harangue; but in a moment after -there was a considerable movement and bustle; and when Lady Gowrie -returned, she had on either side a fine tall lad, bearing a strong -resemblance to her eldest son. Each of the boys gazed forward with -natural eagerness to see their future sister in-law, and the colour -mounted somewhat more warmly into Julia's face; but all embarrassment -was over in a moment, for one after the other advanced with frank -grace, kissed her fair cheek, and called her Julia and sister.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, William, my boy," said the countess, "we must have supper soon -and to bed betimes, for Julia must on upon her way early to-morrow, -and you must go to guard her, with five or six of the men and her own -people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Early to-morrow!" cried the lad, in great surprise; "I thought that -she was going to stay with us here. Where is she going?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ask no questions, lad," said his mother, gravely; "it does not become -youth to inquire, but rather to obey. You will have your directions -to-morrow ere you set out; and those you must entirely keep to -yourself till you come to the end of your journey. Now go and order -them to set on the supper. Your dear sister is tired and hungry, I -doubt not."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, indeed, dear mother," replied Julia; "fear has taken all appetite -from me to-day."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fear, poor frightened bird!" said the old lady. "We must strengthen -your heart with mountain air--not to make it harder, but more firm. -Fear nothing here, my dear, for we will guard you well. You come of an -eagle's race, and he who checques at you is but a goshawk."</p> - -<p class="normal">While she had been speaking, her son William had left the room, and in -a minute or two it was announced that supper was served. Putting her -arm through that of her fair guest, the countess led her to a small -hall, where supper was found upon the table; but as they went the -elder lady said, in a low voice, to her young companion, "You shall -have a little chamber next to mine, and your two maidens beyond. I -will wake you before daylight, for ever since Gowrie's death I rise at -four. But, in truth, you must warn the girls yourself that you set out -early, for though I could once speak French I have lost it now, and -Italian I could never conquer."</p> - -<p class="normal">Weariness of body and of mind performed for Julia the part of peace; -and she slept as soon as her head touched the pillow. Her sleep was -disturbed and full of dreams, however; and on the following morning -she woke with a start and a feeling of terror, when some one knocked -at her chamber door. For a moment or two she knew not where she was; -but she was soon recalled to the recollection of all the circumstances -of her fate, by the voice of the Countess of Gowrie warning her that -it was time to rise for her journey. All that kindness could do was -performed to soothe, comfort, and encourage her; and her lover's -mother affected to laugh at her fears, though she bewailed the -necessity of her going at that season of the year into the wild and -solitary scenes where she was about to take up her abode.</p> - -<p class="normal">In her directions to her son William, the old countess was very -particular, remaining closeted with him for nearly half an hour. No -one was informed of the ultimate end of the journey about to be taken -but Julia and himself; and instead of directing their course by land -towards Trochrie, the party proceeded in a straight line towards the -sea, and took boat, thereby increasing the length of the journey some -thirty or forty miles. The servants, who were acquainted with the -country, might well be somewhat surprised when they found where they -landed, and in what direction they afterwards bent their course; but -not the slightest expression of astonishment was seen upon the -countenance of any one, and not one word of comment was uttered -amongst them. With much unquestioning obedience they followed where -their young master led, in a manner which perhaps was only seen in -Scotland at that time. Towards Julia, William Ruthven was all -brotherly kindness and attention, cheering her to the utmost of his -power, and attempting, in his young zeal, to amuse her with tales of -the different places through which they passed. But it is sad to say, -that almost every little history--such had been for many years the -state of Scotland--ended with a tragedy; and he soon found that the -subject on which Julia was most inclined to speak was that of his -brother Gowrie. He indulged her, then, by many a question with regard -to the earl's stay in Italy, and to their journey home; and thus -indeed he did contrive to while away several hours, till at length, on -the evening of the third day, they arrived in sight of a large and -somewhat gloomy-looking building, which William Ruthven pointed out as -the castle of Trochrie. During the whole of the latter part of their -journey the mountains had been rising up before them, and all the -beautiful scenery of Athol, with which every English traveller is well -acquainted, presented itself to Julia's sight. The day was peculiarly -favourable, too, though that which preceded it had been dark and -lowering. The sun, journeying towards the north, had made, as it were, -an effort to dispel the clouds; and, towards evening, the heavy masses -of vapour floating away upon the light wind, only served to cast dark -shadow upon some points of the landscape, while the rest remained -covered with bright gleams; and the sinking sun flooded the glens with -light, and sparkled in the streams and waterfalls. At the distance of -about a mile from the castle a man was sent forward to have the gates -opened, and as they rode over the drawbridge, which had been lowered -to give them admission, William Ruthven said, in a kind tone, "Welcome -to Trochrie, dear Julia."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia knew not why, but a cold shudder crept over her frame at the -words; and looking up at the dark arch under which she was passing, -she asked herself involuntarily, "In what case shall I pass these -gates again?"</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXVI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">We must now turn to follow the course of the Earl of Gowrie, who -hurried to horse as soon as he could force himself to part with Julia, -the 28th of February, and he spared not the spur till he had reached -Carlisle. The distance was not far short of a hundred miles, although -knowing the country well, till he reached the borders of Cumberland he -took the shortest cuts towards his destination. Nevertheless, by -twelve o'clock on the following day, he had reached the city of the -British chief, and halted there for three hours, to rest those horses -which were capable of going on, and to purchase three or four others, -to supply the place of those which were knocked up. The journey was -then resumed, at a slow and orderly pace; and the earl once more -approached the frontier of Scotland, on the western side. Such rapid -progress as he had made during the last thirty hours was not at all -suited, of course, to the habits of good Mr. Rhind; and that worthy -gentleman was left behind, with a request that he would tarry for a -day or two at Dunbar, and then proceed slowly to Edinburgh, preserving -perfect silence as to the events which had lately taken place; which, -it must be remarked, puzzled him greatly, as the earl was not inclined -to enter into lengthened explanations on the subject. On the -discretion of the servants who accompanied him, the earl thought he -could depend; and he consequently satisfied himself with giving them -merely two commands--namely, to avoid mentioning to any one their -previous journey to Dunbar, and if asked what had become of the lady -who had accompanied them to England, to state that he, the earl, had -sent her to a place of security some way before they reached Carlisle. -This having been done, they rode on towards Langholm, where the earl -proposed to pass the night. On his arrival, however, at the only inn -which that place contained, he found the court-yard in a bustle with -numerous horses and servants, and perceived also two or three of the -king's guard loitering about. The announcement that the place was -quite full, therefore, did not surprise him; and, in answer to his -inquiries, the host informed him that the Lord Lindores had just -returned with his suite, after having visited the border that morning.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie smiled at the name of one of the especial companions of the -king; and finding, in answer to a quiet inquiry, that the noble lord -had arrived from Edinburgh late the night before, he was confirmed in -the suspicion, that the object of Lindores' coming had been to claim -the wardship of Julia in the king's name.</p> - -<p class="normal">Innocent of all offence himself, however, he did not scruple to send -up a message to the courtier nobleman, requesting that he would spare -him a part of the accommodation of the inn; but one of Lord Lindores' -servants had been beforehand with him in communicating his arrival, -and before the host, whom Gowrie charged with his message, could leave -his side, the gentleman to whom it was to be delivered was seen -descending the stairs, which, as was then very customary in Scottish -inns, came down at once on the outside of the house, from a covered -gallery above, into the court-yard. His dress and appearance were -sufficient to indicate his rank, although Gowrie had not seen him from -his boyhood; but Lord Lindores, forgetting his prudence, advanced at -once towards the young earl, holding out his hand, and saying, "Ah, my -noble Lord of Gowrie, how goes it with your lordship? Welcome back to -Scotland after a long absence."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Many thanks, my lord," replied Gowrie, shaking hands with him. "My -absence has indeed been long enough for old friends to forget me. But -I find your lordship has engaged the whole house; can you not spare me -a room or two?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should be sadly wanting in courtesy else," replied the other, whose -eye, during the whole conversation, had been wandering over Gowrie's -followers. "We will put some of the men into the cottages or houses -near. What will you require?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Only a room for myself," replied the earl, who was somewhat amused by -the puzzled look upon his companion's face--"only a room for myself, -and an ante-room for two or three of my servants. The rest must shift -as they can. We will not put you to inconvenience."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That will be soon arranged," replied Lord Lindores; "and as my supper -will be ready in a few minutes, your lordship must honour me by -partaking thereof. I will just speak a word or two to some of my men, -telling them to seek lodgings elsewhere, and rejoin you in a moment."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie remained near the foot of the stairs till his return, with an -air of the most perfect indifference; but he did not fail to observe -what seemed eager question and answer pass between his brother peer -and one of the men who had been in the court-yard when he arrived.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, noble earl, permit me to show you the road," said Lord Lindores, -returning; and he led the way up stairs to a small guest-chamber, -prepared for the evening meal, but which was also ornamented by a -truckle bed. After some ordinary compliments, Lord Lindores fell into -thought for a moment or two, and then looking up, he said, "Had I not -thought that your lordship would not arrive in Scotland till -to-morrow, I should have prepared better for your accommodation; for, -to say the truth, I was led to expect the pleasure of seeing you on -the border if my business detained me here a day or two."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed! How so?" demanded Gowrie, looking up; for he, too, had fallen -into thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, very simply," replied the other lord. "His majesty, when sending -me yesterday to inquire into some of the affairs upon the border, -informed me that he had had a letter from your lordship, and, as you -were returning by Carlisle, I should most likely meet you somewhere -here. He bade me greet you well on his part, and say that he was -anxious for your arrival."</p> - -<p class="normal">"His majesty is ever gracious," said Gowrie, drily; "I trust to kiss -his hand the day after to-morrow at the farthest."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He taught me to believe, my noble lord, that I should find a fair -lady in your company," said his companion, assuming a jocular look and -tone; "the most beautiful of the beautiful, I understand; a gem that -you have brought us from southern lands."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no," answered Gowrie, in a light and easy tone; "his majesty has -been misled. Such a lady as you describe did travel part of the way -hither under my convoy; but I left her behind before I reached -Carlisle."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Lord Lindores, with a look of mortification and -surprise. "But perhaps the journey was too fatiguing, and she will -follow you?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no!" answered Gowrie, with a laugh. "She is very well where -she is, I doubt not, and will remain there for some time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"On my life," cried the other, resuming his jocular tone, "I think -your lordship is jealous of us poor lords of Holyrood."</p> - -<p class="normal">"To be sure I am," answered Gowrie, at once; "and fully resolved I am -not to bring her to that court till I bring her as my wife. You see, -my good lord, I am frank with you; but you will own that there is -cause to fear that I might lose my bride, if I carried her amongst -such gay cavaliers as the Lord of Lindores."</p> - -<p class="normal">His companion, who had already seen the middle age, laughed gaily; for -I know neither age nor circumstance in which vanity will not do its -work. He seemed perfectly deceived, however, and indeed was so, -concluding that Gowrie, from some cause, suspecting the king's -purpose, had left his fair companion on the other side of the border. -He was not well satisfied, indeed, with the result of his mission, for -he had calculated upon gaining considerable credit with the king by -skilfully executing a somewhat delicate task. Their meal passed over -gaily, however; and Lindores, who was somewhat of a bon vivant, had -taken care that the table should be supplied with better wine than -could be procured at Langholm. Of this he partook abundantly, and -hospitably pressed his guest to do the same; but Gowrie was upon his -guard, and contrived to avoid the glass, without his companion -noticing that such was the case. In the meantime, Lindores, imagining -that each large double bottle was shared equally between him and the -earl, drank more than his due proportion, and passed through most of -the stages of inebriety, from loquacity to drowsiness. In the former -stage, however, the wine being in and the wit out, he laughed joyously -at the thought of the king's disappointment, and told his companion, -as a profound secret, the end and object of his journey to the border.</p> - -<p class="normal">On the following day early, the earl and Lord Lindores set out -together for Edinburgh; but Gowrie thought fit to stop for the night -at Selkirk, while his companion pushed on somewhat farther, in order -to bear to the king the news of his disappointment in person. He -arrived in the capital at a somewhat early hour the next day, and -proceeded at once to the palace, where James's ill-humour knew no -bounds.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is just like those Ruthvens," he said, in the presence of Sir -Hugh Herries and John Ramsay, who were in the king's closet when -Lindores told his story. "They are all as wise as serpents, but not as -innocent as doves; and this lad is at the head of them. If he were not -at heart a rebel to his own liege sovereign, wherefore should he leave -the lass in England? Does it not give our good aunt Elizabeth a hold -upon him, which no foreign sovereign should have over one of our -subjects? Can she not twist him thereby what way she likes? Maybe his -treason is already consummate, and he has left the girl behind him as -a pignus or pledge for his carrying it out to our destruction. We must -deal softly with him, nevertheless," he continued, seeing that his -words had sunk deeply into the minds of those around him, and having, -perhaps, the example of Henry II. before his eyes--"we must deal -softly with him, till we find occasion against him; mind that, lads, -and let not one of ye cross him, so as to make the matter into a -private quarrel. He has many friends and great wealth, so we must go -gently to work with him till the time comes."</p> - -<p class="normal">Notwithstanding his injunctions to others, the king could not -altogether restrain his own demeanour, but remained sullen and -irritable all day. He inquired twice whether the earl had arrived in -Edinburgh; and when told that he had come to the house of one of his -relations, whither a number of the old friends of his family flocked -to meet and congratulate him, he exclaimed, "The fickle fools! They go -as blithesome to a burial."</p> - -<p class="normal">The following morning, as he was seated with the queen, receiving some -of the nobles of the court, with the Duchess of Lennox, Gowrie's -sister, on one side of Anne of Denmark, and Beatrice Ruthven behind -her chair, some loud shouts, uttered in the streets of the town, made -themselves heard even in the royal apartments.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What are the fools skirling at now?" cried the king; "is it another -Tolbooth fray?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not so, your majesty," replied Lord Inchaffray, who had just entered; -"as I rode hither a moment ago, the young Earl of Gowrie was passing -up the street with a large number of noble gentlemen, his friends; and -some hundreds of people were running after his horse's heels, shouting -and wishing him joy on his return."</p> - -<p class="normal">James's brow darkened immediately, and lolling his tongue in his -cheek, with a bitter and meaning smile, he said, loud enough for -several persons to hear, "There were as many people who convoyed his -father to the scaffold at Stirling."</p> - -<p class="normal">The Duchess of Lennox instantly turned deadly pale, and fell, so that -she would have struck her head against the queen's chair, had she not -been caught in the arms of her sister Beatrice.</p> - -<p class="normal">The court was immediately thrown into strange confusion; and the king, -as if totally unconscious that the illness of the young duchess was -produced by his own act, exclaimed, "De'il's in the woman! What's the -matter with her? The rooms not so hot."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But your majesty's words were sharp," said Beatrice; "my sister is -not accustomed to hear the death of a father she loved made sport of."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are saucy, mistress, I think," said the king, frowning upon her.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And your majesty unkind," said Beatrice, boldly; but Anne of Denmark -interfered, and caused some of the gentlemen present to assist in -conveying the duchess to another room.</p> - -<p class="normal">James himself felt in some degree, it would appear, that he had acted -in a cruel and discourteous manner, for he said, in a low but somewhat -apologetic tone, "Fegs! I forgot she was the earl's daughter. One -cannot always remember, in this good land of ours, who is of kin to -those who have had their heads chopped off."</p> - -<p class="normal">He then turned to other subjects, seeming soon to forget altogether -what had occurred; and when, a few minutes afterwards, Gowrie himself -was introduced, unconscious of all that had taken place, the king -received him with the utmost cordiality and kindness, displaying -remarkably, on this occasion, that detestable hypocrisy which he -considered one of the essential parts of kingcraft. If anything, his -manner was too condescending and gracious, approaching to a degree of -familiarity more repugnant to the feelings of the young earl than -haughtiness could have been. After having given him his hand to kiss, -he pinched his ear, called him a truant, and insisted upon examining -him in what he called the humanities, much to the annoyance of most of -the gentlemen of his court, many of whom understood neither the Latin -nor Greek languages, and some of whom did not understand their own. -The earl's replies gave his majesty satisfaction, at least apparently; -and he went so far as to pronounce him a good scholar and a credit to -the country.</p> - -<p class="normal">This gracious speech he followed up by commanding him to come to his -breakfast on the following morning, and there he commenced a -conversation with the earl, who was standing behind his chair, the -coarseness of which, in point of language, prevents it from here being -written down, but the nature of which may be divined, when I state -that it referred to the murder of David Rizzio, and the fright which -that horrible event had occasioned to the unfortunate Mary when about -to become the mother of the very monarch who spoke.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie felt that the choice of the subject was intended as an insult -to himself, from the part which his grandfather had borne in that -lamentable transaction; but he repressed all angry feeling, not alone -from respect for the royal authority, but also because he had a deep -internal conviction that the conduct of his ancestor on that occasion -could not be justified, and that the king had a fair subject of -reproach against his family, which, upon every Christian principle and -every honourable feeling, should have been restrained to silence, -considering all that had passed since, but which might naturally be -remembered, if not rankle, in a weak grovelling mind. He made no reply -whatever then, and left the conversation to seek another course, when -suddenly, to his surprise, Colonel Stuart entered the room, and was -greeted by James as an invited guest.</p> - -<p class="normal">The spirit of his race now rose in his bosom. He saw before him, -invited apparently to meet him there that morning, the man who, when -his father, after an imperious order from the king to quit the realm -within fourteen days, lingered for a few hours longer at Dundee to -settle the affairs of his family, and to hire a ship to carry him -abroad, pursued him to the very port where he was about to embark, and -brought his head to the block. His patience could not endure any more, -and drawing back a step, he said, "I think, your majesty, it may be -better for me now to retire."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, come, my Lord Gowrie," said the king, "I will not have you look -down upon Colonel Stuart. He is a worthy gentleman, and has done this -crown good service. Neither will I have you seek quarrel with him in -regard to passages long gone."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Sir," answered the earl, with a low bow, "I will never seek that man, -but it is not fit that he should cross my path. As to seeking quarrel -with him, <i>aquila non capit muscat</i>. I now beseech your majesty to -pardon me for retiring;" and he withdrew slowly from the royal -presence.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXVII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The whole court of Holyrood was now busied principally with one -subject. It is the vice of all petty courts to have their whole -attention taken up with personal quarrels and small passions, not the -less venomous for their minuteness. The Earl of Gowrie was not a -favourite--that had become evident within one week after his return -from the continent; and although he neither held nor coveted any place -about the king's person, all those who were mounting the frail ladder -of courtly favour marked the coldness between the king and himself -with satisfaction, and augured the fall of those members of his family -who had obtained appointments in the royal household. At all events, -as far as he was personally concerned, Gowrie prepared to cut the -matter very short, by taking leave of the king within ten days after -his arrival in Edinburgh, upon the plea of visiting his mother, and -examining the condition of his own estates. Still he himself, and his -relations with the court, continued to occupy the thoughts of men. -From his wealth, from his connexions, and from his extensive property, -he was much too important a person to have his movements, his -demeanour, or his intentions considered lightly; and, far superior to -most of his fellow peers, both in acquired knowledge and intellectual -scope, he had shown so decided a leaning to that rational freedom -which was repugnant to all James's ideas of authority, that courtiers -readily learned to hate him because their royal master showed that he -feared him. Nevertheless, with the great majority of his equals in -rank he was very popular, and by the poorer classes he was universally -and dangerously beloved. The people cheered him when he appeared in -public, even while the courtiers were drawing back from his brother -and sister, in terror of the plague-spot of disfavour. Yet the effect -of his coming had been very different upon different men who had been -united in opinion before his arrival. Sir Hugh Herries, commonly -called Doctor Herries, who had a strong personal dislike both to the -earl's brother Alexander and to the Lady Beatrice, and who had -extended this feeling of animosity to the earl himself and all his -family, seemed but to be confirmed in his rancorous ill-will by the -presence of Gowrie himself. Nor did he at all attempt to conceal it, -replying to any observations the earl addressed to him, in few words -and with a repulsive tone; and calling him in private, proud, -overbearing, and ambitious, although he himself had personally no -cause to accuse him of such faults.</p> - -<p class="normal">John Ramsay, on the contrary, grew grave and thoughtful. He did not -seek the earl's society, but he did not avoid it; and the kind and -friendly tone which Gowrie assumed towards him, treating him as the -brother of an old and dear friend, his frank and open manner, and some -instances of calm and generous forbearance, when the young man gave -way to the impulses of a rash bold temper, appeared at once to pain -and to soften him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He is a noble creature," he said, one day, speaking to Herries, who -had been decrying the young lord. "He may be ambitious, he may be -proud, and he must bear the brunt of his faults if they lead to acts; -but he is a noble creature, Sir Hugh; and when I look at him, I cannot -help thinking that he is like a gallant stag that has been marked out -for the slaughter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is very likely," answered Herries, with a cold sneer. "One -generally chooses the finest beasts to lay the hounds at their heels; -but I've a notion, Ramsay, that a stag which carries its head so high -might become dangerous if one did not run him down before his antlers -were fully grown."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps so," answered Ramsay; "more's the pity;" and he turned away -and left him.</p> - -<p class="normal">While this brief conversation was passing, Gowrie was seated with his -brother and sister in a small room of the palace, talking quietly with -them just before his departure. They were all careful in what they -said, and the subject of the king's conduct and demeanour to the earl -since his return was never mentioned, for James's ubiquity was well -known in the palace, and no one was sure where the monarch might be at -the moment.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, Gowrie," said Beatrice, "I shall try to get leave of absence -for a day or two while you are at Dirlton, and come and see you and my -mother; for there are a thousand things I want to talk to you about, -which I have never been able to speak of in this place, and never -should if we were to live here till we are gray-headed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Of no great moment, I dare say, dear Beatrice," replied the earl, "or -you could have come to talk over them all at my lodging in the -High-street."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You men are all alike," said Beatrice, laughing; "you think all women -such frivolous creatures, that we can never have anything important to -say. Now, if I were to speak to you of the lady with the dark eyes, -whom you were bringing over from Italy, and who has never yet appeared -amongst us, would not that seem of moment, my lord and brother?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hume has been telling tales," said Gowrie, laughing.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not a whit," answered Beatrice; "it is your own dear mother who told -the tales four or five months ago. She sent me your dutiful and humble -letter, my lord--I suppose to teach me to behave myself. But what have -you done with the dear girl? I long to see her soon.--Where have you -hid her?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"In a place of great security, child," replied her brother, gaily, but -still upon his guard; "and you shall see her, too, as soon as I have -proved to his majesty--who has taken it into his head that she has got -all the Earl of Morton's treasures--that her whole dowry consisted of -two thousand gold ducats, and that she and her grandfather have been -living in actual poverty ever since they fled from Scotland, nineteen -years ago."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what could put it into the king's wise head that she had got the -regent's wealth?" asked Beatrice.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Such a thing was not as unlikely as you think," replied Gowrie. "The -king has a shrewd scent for such things; and so convinced was he that -it was the case, he sent Lindores to meet me on the road from -Carlisle, and claim my poor Julia as a ward of the crown. Lindores was -vastly mortified when he found I had left her behind; and the same -night, to console himself, he got drunk, and told me the whole story -in his cups."</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice laughed, and Alexander Ruthven laughed; but Gowrie went on, -saying, "I cannot venture to speak to his majesty on the subject -myself, and I have looked in vain for him to speak to me. I have -thrown the ball at his foot a dozen times, but he would not kick it; -though I have a shrewd notion, Beatrice, he would rather have me wed a -dowerless girl like this, than marry a rich bride."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hie, Alex, boy! Alex!" cried the voice of the king, certainly not -very far from the door. "Alex Ruthven, I say, is your good brother -gone?" and James himself entered the room unattended.</p> - -<p class="normal">Every one instantly rose; and the king rolled on towards a seat, with -that peculiar ungainly shamble which was more conspicuous when he was -either moved by any strong emotion or wished to appear peculiarly -gracious. It was almost always a certain sign that the monarch was -dissembling favour when he approached any one with that roll very -strongly apparent.</p> - -<p class="normal">The only one in the room, however, whose clear sight and long -observation enabled her to judge the truth, was Beatrice Ruthven, and -she stood and gazed sidelong at the king, while Gowrie hastened to -advance a chair.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Weel, ye've an unkie cosy family council here," said James, seating -himself; "but, my good lord earl, there's something I wish to say to -you before you go--just in a private friendly kind of way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now comes the matter of my fair Julia," thought Gowrie, and he -replied, "I am happy to be here to receive your majesty's commands."</p> - -<p class="normal">But James had made up his mind not to utter one word upon the subject -which Gowrie thought he was about to touch upon, till the earl spoke -himself; and whether he had heard any part of the preceding -conversation or not--which will ever be a mystery--he kept his -resolution. "What I was about to say is this, my lord," he said. "We -are now at the twelfth of March, and on the twenty-third of the month -we propose to hold a council of our peers, to lay before them the -necessities of the state, which can only be subvented by the devising -of some new tax or subsidy from our faithful people, which may enable -us to carry on the work of government more at our ease--and very -little ease do we get for crowned kings, as the devil in hell kens, -who gives us so many troubles," continued James, in his more familiar -tone. "Now, my good lord, what I wish to say is, I must have your -advice and assistance in this matter, with other noble lords, like -yourself, and therefore I trust you will be back in time to give us -counsel, as you are sworn."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Most assuredly, sire," replied Gowrie; "I will not fail to obey your -majesty's summons whenever it is sent. I shall be found at Dirleton, -or at my poor house in Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Moreover," continued the king, seeming hardly to notice the reply, "I -trust you will, as folks say, lend the king your shoulder in this -matter; for I can tell you, my lord, that we are sorely pinched and -straightened at this present, more than befits a king to be; and -trusting to your loyalty and affection, we believe that you will -farther us to the extent of your ability."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If it cost me half my estate, I will, sire," replied Gowrie, frankly; -"it shall never be said that my king was in need, and I refused to do -my share as far as my private fortune would go."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well said--well said!" replied James; "I always knew you for a loyal -and faithful subject. But I fear, my good lord, that what any good -friend to the crown would do in his individual capacity--not that I -mean to refuse any free gift or kindly aid to the royal treasury, all -which should be repaid in bounties hereafter--but I fear it would go -but a little way to supply the vacuity in the finances--it would be -but a drop in a draw-well, man; and we must have a general tax, which -would spread the burden lightly and evenly upon all the good people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"When your majesty's views are fully developed," replied Gowrie, -seeing that the king paused for an answer, "I will, according to my -bounden duty, offer you in all humility my conscientious advice upon -the subject."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, say you so, man?" said the king, with a slight frown upon his -brows; "well, I hope you will, and that your advice and my views may -run together. Go you first to Perth or to Dirleton, my lord?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not to Perth, may it please your majesty," answered Gowrie; "I have -not yet seen my dear mother, thinking it my duty first to offer my -humble respects to you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There you were right--there you were right," said James; "the king -is, as it were, father to the whole land. When set you out?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"This evening, sire," answered the earl; "and if I could obtain your -permission, and that of her majesty, I would fain take this wild girl -with me, as she has not seen me, before this last week, for seven -years, nor her mother for as many months."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My leave you have, with my whole soul," replied the king; "and grace -go with her; for she found little here, brought little here, and will -leave little here. As to the queen, I doubt not her majesty will grant -her licence--soul of my body! if she doesn't, the lady is very likely -to take it!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie's cheek turned a little red, for he had been long unused to a -coarseness of speech which was as different from frank honesty as it -was from courtly polish; but he replied not, having steadfastly -resolved to bridle his tongue on all but great and important -occasions, and to avoid every occasion of offence.</p> - -<p class="normal">After a momentary pause, during which the king did not seem either -disposed to speak or move, Gowrie said, "Then we have your majesty's -permission to apply to the queen?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, ay, lad!" answered James, in a dull heavy tone, rising, and -moving towards the door; "I dare to say she will not refuse you leave -to take her where you please." And then he muttered between his teeth -as he passed out, "and the de'il gang wi' ye."</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven had opened the door for the king's exit, and after -closing it again, he said drily, as a sort of comment on the words he -had heard distinctly enough, "He means me: but I wish he had expressed -his permission more clearly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Meant you! by what, Alex?" demanded Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"By the devil," answered Alexander Ruthven; "for he said to himself as -he was going out, 'The de'il gang wi' ye;' but we can't both be away -at the same time, I know, so I must even stay where I am."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Besides, you have had your holiday, Alex," answered Beatrice; "and -like most boys when they return to school, came back no wiser or -steadier than they were before. But I'll run away to the queen, and -ask permission on my bended knees; then, if I get it, I shall be ready -when you will, Gowrie. Oh! how I shall rejoice in a wild gallop over -the hills!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Away!--away, then!" answered her brother; "and if Alex will give me -paper, I will write a letter to a friend in the mean time."</p> - -<p class="normal">Away sped Beatrice to the queen's presence, and kneeling down on the -footstool before her, she preferred her petition.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You must ask the king, love," said Anne of Denmark, who, with all her -many faults, and not very steady principles, was a kind-hearted and -amiable, as well as highly accomplished woman. "I can but ill spare -you, Beatrice; but far be it from me to keep you from any joyful -expedition; but you must ask the king's permission. You know he is -fond of despotic rule, even in his own household; and though I -struggle every now and then for the rights and liberties of women, -till he is fain to give way for the sake of a quiet house, yet I dare -not altogether take the rule even of my own maidens into my own -hands."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But the king's permission has been obtained, dear lady," replied -Beatrice; and seeing a slight shade of displeasure come upon the -queen's face, as if she thought she ought to have been first asked, -the young lady added, "Gowrie asked the king himself, your majesty."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, that is right," replied Anne of Denmark. "Tell your good -brother for me, that I regret we have had no means, since his return, -of entertaining him at our court; but we shall have balls and pageants -soon; and I trust to show him that we people of the north are not so -far behind his bright Italians. Now, kiss me, child, and go and -prepare."</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice Ruthven needed no long preparation; but she went first to -make her arrangements with her brother, and it was agreed that he -should go back to his own dwelling in the town, and return for her in -a couple of hours. While speaking together, she caught sight of two -notes he had written during her absence, and with a blush and a laugh -laid her finger on the back of one, as he held it in his hand, ready -to send. "I can see the name, Gowrie," she said.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, wild girl," he answered; "I will not send it if you dislike it. -It is only a note of invitation to Hume, asking him to meet us at -Dirleton. Shall I tear it?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Her only reply was a playful tap on the cheek, and away she ran to get -ready.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was about three o'clock in the evening when Gowrie and his sister, -followed by eight or nine servants on horseback, set out from the -gates of Holyrood. She looked bright and happy, and Gowrie gazed at -her from time to time with a look of thoughtful affection, tracing in -the beautiful young woman the same lines he well remembered in the -beautiful child.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, dear Beatrice," he said, "your little heart seems full of -rejoicing, and your cheek looks as fresh as the rose, and your light -limbs, though they be not at the largest, quite ready for any exertion -that may be needed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, I am equal to anything," said Beatrice, in the confidence of -young strength and health. "I think, on this nice jennet which the -queen gave me, and with you, my dear brother, by my side, I could ride -over half Scotland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps I may try you," said Gowrie, with a smile.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What mean you, brother mine?" asked Beatrice, gazing at him. "You -look dark and mysterious."</p> - -<p class="normal">"How far can you fly in a night, busy bee?" asked Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"As far as a swallow," answered the young lady, looking up in his -face.</p> - -<p class="normal">But Gowrie, after a moment's thought, said, "No, sixty miles is too -far; still we will go on as far as we can, and then stop for the -night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Man of mysteries, what do you mean?" cried Beatrice, in her usual gay -tone. "Whither are you going to take me? To some deep dungeon of one -of your castles in the mountains, to keep me a prisoner there during -your good pleasure?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes," answered Gowrie, "I am."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what has your poor sister done?" cried Beatrice, laughing. "I -have divulged none of your secrets. I have discovered none of your -plots. I am not even going to marry without your leave."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have asked indiscreet questions," said Gowrie, assuming a gruff -tone--"indiscreet questions about a lady with black eyes. Is not that -offence enough to a tyrant brother like myself?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, I understand, dear brother--I understand. Let us get on, let us -get on to-night. I long to see her, and to tell her how I will love -her."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hush, hush, hush!" said Gowrie, in a low tone; "if you are as -indiscreet as that, I will not take you. Everything," he continued, -almost in a whisper, "depends upon secrecy; for I must give the king -no hold upon me, Beatrice; and although, perhaps, with the -explanations I can afford in regard to the wealth he supposes her to -possess, he might not be so anxious to obtain her as his ward, yet I -will not put it in his power to refuse me her hand, or to make it an -inducement with me to do anything I think wrong."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There you are right," answered Beatrice. "I have learned to know more -of courts and kings than when you went away, Gowrie; and I would not -that any one I love was in the hands of that man for all the wealth in -Europe." A sort of shudder seemed to pass over her as she spoke; but, -after being silent for a moment, she continued, "Do you know, Gowrie, -I am very anxious for one thing, which is, that Alex should withdraw -from the court. I wish you could persuade him to give up his post, and -either go to travel, or betake himself to Dirleton."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie turned and gazed at her with surprise. "I am astonished, dear -Beatrice," he said. "I should have thought that, in your situation at -the court, you would have been right glad to have Alexander with you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"For my own sake, I should," she answered; "and yet that is not wholly -true either; for I am kept in such a constant state of anxiety, that -his presence is more pain than comfort."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But what is the cause? What has he done?" demanded her brother, with -still increasing surprise. "You seemed the best friends possible."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so we are," replied his fair sister. "It is for him that I fear, -for him that I am anxious. As to what he has done, or rather to his -whole conduct, I cannot well speak of it, Gowrie. He has done nothing -wrong, I do hope and believe; but he has been very imprudent. He has -many great and powerful enemies. The king loves him not, and will some -day or another work him ill. Sir Hugh Herries hates him mortally; and -he and young John Ramsay are always bickering. Because Ramsay's -education has not been equal to his own, and his manners are more -rough and less polished, Alex looks down upon him, and makes him feel -it. But it is the king I fear."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie asked some more questions, but he could not get a satisfactory -reply; and, in the end, Beatrice said, "Ask Hume, Gowrie--ask Hume. He -will tell you more about it. He must have heard and seen enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">At this point of their conversation, however, they were interrupted by -one of the men riding up and saying, "This is the road to Dirleton, my -lord, which you have just passed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know," answered Gowrie, with a smile. "I have not yet forgotten the -way, Archy; but I have a friend whom I must see to-night. Take three -of the men with you, and ride away to Dirleton. Give that letter to -the countess, and assure her I will be with her the day after -to-morrow. Tell her that business which she wots of calls me over into -Perthshire; but that I will not spare the spur to be with her soon. -The lady Beatrice goes with me, and we will join her together. There, -look not surprised, but go. Leave Wilson and Nichol with me." Thus -saying, the earl turned his horse, and rode away at a quicker pace -towards Queensferry. "You must even abide a bit of sea, Beatrice," he -said; "for we have not time to ride up the river to-night; but we -shall get over in daylight."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, I mind it not," answered Beatrice. "Speed, speed, Gowrie, is the -thing now. I will race with you, for all your horse's long legs."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Spare your beast--spare your beast," replied her brother, as she was -pushing her jennet into a quick canter. "You would make a bad soldier, -Beatrice, and a worse courier, if you spent all your horse's strength -in the beginning of a long journey. I doubt not that we could reach -Kinross to-night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, farther than that," answered Beatrice. "It is now hardly four -o'clock. We shall be over the ferry in half an hour, and at Kinross by -seven. We might even get on to Perth before midnight."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl smiled. "You miscalculate your time, little lady," he -answered, "and your horse's strength, too. Besides, what should I do -with you in Perth? There is nobody but Henderson and an old woman in -the great house; and they'll be in bed by nine."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let us go to Murray's Inn, then," said his sister; "that will be -open, I'll warrant. If you dare me, I'll soon show you that my -calculations are correct, both as to time and the jennet. I have -ridden forty miles upon her before now, Earl of Gowrie. It is you who -do not know what a Scottish girl and a Spanish horse can do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, we shall see," replied the earl; and on they went.</p> - -<p class="normal">Queensferry was soon reached, and speedily passed; and during nearly -an hour longer the sun shone upon their way They had been lucky in the -tide. They were lucky in the evening; for the wind, which had been -high, went down before sunset, and, for an afternoon in March, the -weather was mild and pleasant. Having talked of all that was sad or -threatening, Beatrice's gay spirits returned in full tide; and, -keeping her own jennet at a good sharp pace, she would sometimes -playfully whip her brother's horse to make it go on, declaring it was -the laziest beast she ever saw, or else that he was determined not to -take her to Perth that night. Notwithstanding a short halt at the inn -at Blair Adam--where, we are credibly informed, there has ever been an -inn since the days of the arch-patriarch whose name it bears--they -reached Kinross by eight o'clock, and Gowrie admitted that they could -reach Perth easily, if his sister was not tired.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have only one objection," he said, bending down his head, and -dropping his voice, "which is, that we might be detained in Perth till -late to-morrow, and besides, I told the king I was not going thither. -It may attract attention and create suspicion, if I either attempt to -conceal myself, or hurry on instantly after my arrival. I am not very -sure of Henderson's discretion."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nor I of his fidelity," said Beatrice. "But what do you mean, Gowrie? -Is not the dear girl at Perth?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No; at Trochrie, in Strathbraan," replied Gowrie. "Why, I told you, -silly girl, that there was no one at the great house but Henderson and -some old woman."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I thought you meant with an exception," answered Beatrice. "But, if -that is the case, we had better not go there at all. I tell you what, -Gowrie, I have a plan that will answer very well. Let us go to Rhynd, -and then up the Tay. At Rhynd we shall find good Mr. M'Dougal, the -minister, poring over his books; and right glad will he be to see the -yearl and his bonny titty Beatrix; and we shall have rare bringing out -of bottles and glasses; and if I am not compelled to drink some strong -waters, it will be by dint of vigorous resistance. Then we shall be -able to go on to-morrow without any one knowing aught about it, for -M'Dougal will ask no questions, and forget we have been there the -moment we are gone. I am thinking you might have taken a shorter road -to Trochrie, though; but I suppose you have grown so Italianized, that -you have forgotten all the byways of Scotland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," answered Gowrie; "but I came this way, that, in case of any -inquiries, we might puzzle the pursuers. The stags teach us, Beatrice, -to cheat the hounds; and so we get lessons from even the beasts we -hunt. But the difference is very small; and we shall arrive in good -time to-morrow. I like your plan well, dear sister, if you know the -way to Rhynd in the dark."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That do I well, Gowrie," she answered. "I believe my head was -intended for a geographer's, and got fixed on my shoulders by mistake. -I will send it back if ever I can find the right owner."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ask Hume's leave first," said Gowrie. "I should think he would not -like to part with it."</p> - -<p class="normal">And on they rode through the darkness, Beatrice fully justifying the -account she had given of her own geographical talents. Not a step of -the way did she mistake, but even led her brother straight to the best -passage of the little river which joins the Tay near Rhynd, but the -name of which I forget, and thence up to the door of the minister's -manse. Her reception and that of her brother was as joyous and -hospitable as she had anticipated. The old man had known them both -well as children, and had seen Beatrice often since. But I must not -pause to give any detail of how the evening or the night passed; of -how the minister brought out his choicest stores for the earl, and -sought his assistance in translating a difficult passage of Hebrew; of -how he lodged Beatrice in a chamber all covered over with pieces of -quaint embroidery, worked by the hands of a defunct sister; or how he -gave up his own room to the earl, and laid strong injunctions on his -maid-servant to redd it up--otherwise make it tidy--which, to say -truth, it needed not a little.</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice slept soundly, and though the earl was kept awake for some -time by joyful thoughts of his meeting with her he loved, they were -both on horseback again within half an hour after daybreak; and the -good old man, after seeing them depart, returned into his house, to -spend his time, as usual, between books and bottles, sermons and good -cheer. It would be difficult to say whether nature had not originally -intended him for a monk, if John Knox had not been born a century too -soon, and compelled, what would have made an excellent Benedictine to -become a Presbyterian minister. He was a good man and a kind one, -however, acting by pleasant impulses, with a great deal both of the -corporeal and of the mental in his mixed nature; and, if not -possessing quite sufficient of the spiritual, altogether to curb the -appetites of the one part and the energies of the other, so as to -leave the purely ethereal her full exercise, yet he had a great many -negative virtues and some active ones, which might, in a mass, -compensate for a few not very violent failings. Mr. M'Dougal's -blessing, as his two young guests departed, and his prayers for a -pleasant and happy journey to them, seemed granted at once. All went -gaily and easily with them as they rode on; and when the castle came -in sight, with the wild and romantic scenery around--somewhat bare and -desolate indeed, but beautiful and characteristic, Gowrie strained his -eyes eagerly forward, gazing over the dark masses of gray stone, as if -he would fain have seen through them into the chambers within. By the -side from which he approached, Trochrie could be seen at a -considerable distance. True, it was lost again behind the shoulder of -a hill very soon; but, as he gazed at the walls, he thought he saw -something like a figure, clad in dark garments, move along the -battlements, not of the keep or donjon, but of the lower towers, which -were backed by the body of the principal building. He said not a word, -for love is timid of raillery; and he feared even the gay spirit of -his young sister. But the moment after his doubts were removed, for -the figure at the angle of the western tower stood forth against the -clear sky, and he could see her pause, and, as he thought, turn round -and gaze towards the spot where he and Beatrice were riding.</p> - -<p class="normal">"See, Beatrice, see," he cried, "she is upon the ramparts, and looking -out for me, as she promised she would."</p> - -<p class="normal">"She has nothing else to do," answered Beatrice, "except to gaze at -wild moors or gray stones, or the few scanty trees left of Birnham -wood. See what a difference there is between gay, wild, enthusiastic -love and calm, sober sense, Gowrie. You are all in a glow because you -think that she is watching for you, and, my life for it, she has been -looking at the corbies building their nests, just for nothing else to -look at."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did you not look for Hume?" asked the earl, somewhat vexed, if one -must speak the truth.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not I," answered Beatrice. "He found me and Alex quarrelling, or -rather, me scolding him, and Alex, pouting--but I do think there is a -woman on the battlements; and now she is moving away again. It may be -a man in a cloak, but yet it looks like a woman too.--Now don't expect -her to come down and meet you at the gate or on the drawbridge, for, -if she has any sense of her own dignity, and the subjection in which -woman should keep man, she will remain just where she is, and know -nothing of your coming till you go to tell her."</p> - -<p class="normal">At that moment the hill hid the castle again, and when, passing some -woodland, they came once more within sight of Trochrie, they were -close under the walls. Gowrie looked up, but Julia was no longer to be -seen; but, as he mounted the ascent, his heart beat with joyful -feelings to see Beatrice's light prognostication falsified. Beneath -the deep arch of the castle gateway, which stood wide open, with -portcullis up and drawbridge down, stood a figure which it needed no -second glance to identify. In an instant he was over the bridge, off -his horse, and by her side; and as Beatrice rode up, followed by the -servants, Gowrie took Julia's hand in his, and led her a step or two -forward to meet his sister.</p> - -<p class="normal">"She is not so coldhearted as you are, Beatrice," he said, gaily, "and -so did come down to meet us."</p> - -<p class="normal">But Beatrice was off her horse in a moment; and certainly her greeting -of her brother's promised bride showed no great coldness of heart. -Casting back the waves of her own bright brown hair, she kissed her -tenderly, saying, "I have teased him sadly, dear Julia, as we came, -just to prevent his impatience from breaking all bounds; but never you -think that I do not love you, whatever he may say. Have I not ridden -well nigh seventy miles to see you, with all the greater pleasure, -because it is so secret that it feels almost like treason, which is -the greatest of all possible delights to a woman. But come, let us -into the castle. You have neither veil nor coif on; and the mountain -air is not delicate, especially for those who have lived long in -southern lands;" and twining her arm through that of her new friend, -she led the way into Trochrie, with all the chambers of which she -seemed well acquainted.</p> - -<p class="normal">No servant presented himself as they went; and with open gates and -lowered drawbridge, the castle seemed at the mercy of any one who -might choose to attack it. Gowrie looked round with displeasure.</p> - -<p class="normal">"This is dangerous," he said, as they walked on across the outer -court. "Where are the men you brought with you, dear Julia? I should -have thought that Austin would have been more careful."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Austin is watching in the tower," said Julia; "and the women are -milking in the field behind; but the rest of the men are gone out, I -believe, to catch game in the valley on the other side of that great -hill. We found the place scantily supplied with provisions, and they -seem to have been accustomed to take such means of getting what they -want."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie mused. "This was what I feared," he said; "but we must see that -you are better guarded for the future, love; and I am sure my mother, -if she knew the state of the castle, would have sent up all that was -needful for you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so she has, indeed," answered Julia. "Several horse loads arrived -this very morning--everything she could think of, indeed, to while -away the time; but, doubtless, the men, accustomed to a more active -life than I am, and not having so much to meditate upon, find it -dull."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They must learn better," replied the earl; and with this comment, -they walked on to a large chamber above, which Julia had made her -sitting-room, and decked out as best she could with the books which -Lady Gowrie had sent her, a lute, and a mandolin.</p> - -<p class="normal">A slight cloud in the morning often leads in the brighter day. Gowrie -was displeased with the negligence of his followers, and when they -returned soon after, he reproved them sternly for their want of -caution. Only two attempted to excuse themselves--the man who usually -remained in charge of the castle, who, with humble tone, and with the -deference of a clansman to his chief, declared that he had not been -made aware of his lord's wishes or the necessity of caution; and the -man, David Drummond, who had accompanied Julia thither, and who -replied to his lord in a tone of dogged sullenness, which Gowrie bore -with more calmness than either Julia or Beatrice had expected.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You must be more upon your guard, Donald," he said, speaking to the -first, "and, moreover, you must have some additional force here. You -must call in the tenants to the guard of the castle, and never suffer -it to be without ten men within at least. Give notice, too, that they -be prepared on the usual signals to come in with every man that they -can muster. The men of Athol, too, will come down to help you in case -of need. I will write to my good sister to-night, for I know not, from -moment to moment, what may happen; and it is my command to you to hold -out to the last against any force which may be sent to surprise -Trochrie, let it come under whatever authority it may. But we will -speak more to-night before I retire to rest. David Drummond, you go -with me to Perth to-morrow--be prepared."</p> - -<p class="normal">With these words, the cloud passed away from his brow and from his -mind, and the rest of the evening went by in unmixed happiness. Oh, it -was a dream of delight to a spirit like that of Gowrie--or, rather it -was the realization of a dream as bright as ever filled the mind of -man. Often, often on their way homeward from Italy, when gazing on the -fair face of her he loved with that mixture of ardent passion with the -purer, the higher, the more elevating tenderness which exalts passion -to the dignity of love, he had thought he saw the bright being now -before him sitting with those who were bound to him by the ties of -kindred and of early association and long affection, winning their -love as she had won his, becoming the child of his dear mother, the -sister of his sisters. And now, as she sat by Beatrice, with their -fair hands often locked in each other, and their arms sometimes twined -together, and their eyes gazing into each other's faces to scan the -features they were so ready to love and to print on memory, till a -passing blush or a gay smile was called up by the earnestness of the -glance, he would almost fancy that all dark auguries were swept away, -and that happiness was placed beyond the power of fate. He himself was -very silent with much joy; but Beatrice spoke cheerfully, and led -forth Julia's more timid but more deep-toned thoughts; and the sister -gazed and smiled with strong grave interest at the fresh spirit and -the eloquent originality of the brother's promised bride, and declared -aloud, that it was charming, that it was unlike anything of the earth, -that it was like an angel sent down now into a world of evil and of -care, of which she knew nothing.</p> - -<p class="normal">Then as the hours wore on, and night fell, and lights were lighted in -the hall, Gowrie persuaded Julia to sing; and the full rich tones of -the melodious voice pouring forth a finer music than was yet known in -the north, filled the old hall, and made the small panes vibrate -in the leaden frames, calling into being, in Beatrice's heart, -deep-seated emotions, the very germs of which she knew not to exist in -her bosom till occupied by the sunshine of the song. Sometimes she -almost trembled as she heard, and sometimes she well nigh wept; and -even the servants, lured by the sweet melody, peeped in and listened -through the partly opened door.</p> - -<p class="normal">Oh, it was a happy evening that, full of every sort of pure enjoyment, -and willingly, right willingly would I pause upon it long, and tell -the words of joy and hope and love that were spoken by all, and try to -depict feelings that brightened the passing hour. Willingly, too, -would I draw back from the darker scenes before me; willingly would I -linger in the sunshine, so bright in contrast with the dark cloud -coming up upon the wind. But the cloud advances--Fate is moving -slowly, but inevitably, forward. It cannot be! We must on!</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXIX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">In the beautiful town of St. Johnstone, of Perth, on the west bank of -the river Tay, and in a line with the streets called Spey-street and -Water-street, the former of which, I believe, now bears the name of -South-street, stood, at the time I speak of, one of the largest and -most magnificent houses in Scotland, which well deserved the name of -The Palace which it sometimes obtained. It was generally called, -however, Gowrie House, or Gowrie Place, and occasionally, by the Earls -of Gowrie themselves, was termed "The Great House," to distinguish it, -probably, from their other mansions, of which they possessed several. -The extent of this building may be conceived, when we recollect that -the great court in the centre of the building was an oblong of sixty -feet in one direction, and ninety in the other. Round this immense -area rose four massive piles of building, raised at various epochs, -and of very different styles of architecture, but united into one -grand and imposing mass of masonry of a quadrangular form, and having -but one break, in the centre of the west front, where stood a large -and handsome gate of hammered iron, the view from which extended down -the whole line of the South-street. The gardens, which were very -extensive, and kept with remarkable care, lay at the back and to the -south, stretching in that direction to the town wall. At the -south-eastern angle of the garden rose a curious and very ancient tower, -called the Monk's Tower, from some tradition which has not reached me. -The parts of the building towards the Tay, and those towards the -south, were of an unknown antiquity, with walls of immense thickness; -and legends were current, even at the time of which I speak, of -persons having been confined by former lords, in secret recesses -within those heavy walls, and left to perish miserably. The northern -and western sides of the quadrangle were far more modern, and had -probably been erected either by the Countess of Huntley, who once -possessed the palace, or by some of the early Lords of Ruthven. By -whomsoever they were built, much pains had been employed to remodel -the internal arrangements of the older building, so as to make it -harmonize, within at least, with newer parts; and each successive Earl -of Gowrie had expended large sums in improving the accommodation which -the great house afforded, so as to meet the advance of his country in -luxury and refinement. Nor was decoration wanting; for in the south -range a number of small chambers had been swept away to form a -gallery, which was one of the finest at the time in Europe; and it had -been the pride of William, the first earl, to collect from all -countries, for this large chamber, pictures by the greatest artists of -the day.</p> - -<p class="normal">At each corner of the house was a tower or turret, and both at the -south-east and north-west corner of the great court was a broad stair, -leading to the rooms above. Several smaller stairs opened also into -the court, and one especially, in the south-west corner, led direct to -a large chamber at the western end of the gallery, called the "gallery -chamber," to which was attached a cabinet, named, the earl's study. -The large dining-hall and a smaller one were in the more ancient part -of the building to the east, and the lodge of the porter was by the -side of the great iron gate in front.</p> - -<p class="normal">This long description is not unnecessary, as the reader will find -hereafter; but it may be necessary now to proceed with the narrative, -begging the reader, however, to bear in mind the particulars which -have been mentioned.</p> - -<p class="normal">Towards the afternoon of the 14th of March, 1600, a man was standing -with his back towards the great gates of Gowrie Place, which were -partly open. The court behind him was vacant, and there were not many -people in the streets, for the labours of the day were not over in the -industrious town, and nobody was to be seen but a man slowly crossing -the South-street, or a girl wending her way along that which led in an -opposite direction. The man who thus stood gazing up and down the -street was a short, somewhat stout man, with a ruddy complexion, and a -light brown beard and hair. He was by no means ill-looking, and yet -there was a certain degree of shrewd cunning in the expression of his -face, especially about the small black twinkling eyes, which did not -prepossess a beholder in his favour. If one might judge by the -half-open mouth and narrow jaw and chin, there was also in his -character that species of weakness by no means incompatible with -cunning. He was habited in a good brown suit of broadcloth, and a -short black cloak, with no sword by his side, but a small dagger in -his girdle, and might well have been taken for one of the substantial -citizens of the town, had it not been for a sort of cringing air for -which the worthy burgesses of St. Johnstone were never famous. From -time to time, he turned and looked back into the court, as if he -expected somebody to appear therein, and once he muttered, "De'il's -in the wife! she's long ere she comes to take the keys." But a minute -or two after, he took a step forward with a joyous air, as a man on -foot entered the South-street, and nodded and beckoned with a smile.</p> - -<p class="normal">The man advanced with a quick step towards him, with a "Good day, Mr. -Henderson."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, Wattie!" said the man, who had been standing at the door of the -great house, "what has brought you to Perth, and how are you and all -your people, and good Sir George Ramsay, your master?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"They're all well, sir," answered the man; "though, to speak truth, I -have not seen Sir George this many a day. I've been with the court, -Mr. Henderson, trying what I could do to better my fortune--all with -my good master's leave, however; and his brother John is doing all he -can to help me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, I hope you will have good luck," replied Andrew Henderson, the -Earl of Gowrie's factor, or bailiff. "I wish I could do you any good, -Wattie; but the earl has been so long gone, that he can help little; -and as to Mr. Alexander, the wild lad and I are not such great -friends."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You can help me, nevertheless, very much, Andrew," replied the other; -"for you are just the man who must do it, if any one does."</p> - -<p class="normal">"How's that--how's that, Wattie?" asked Henderson. "I will do anything -I can, man."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, the case is just this," answered Sir George Ramsay's man: "the -old supervisor at Scoon is dead; and I'm to have the place, which his -majesty has graciously condescended to promise to Master John Ramsay, -if I can get the earl's factor's good word. Now, who's the factor but -yourself, man?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then my good word you shall have, Wattie," replied Henderson, -slapping him on the shoulder. "Didn't your wife's cousin Jane marry my -half-brother's second son? I'll write you a letter commendatory, in a -minute, to the honourable comptroller of his majesty's household. But -where have you put your horse, man?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, I just left him at Murray's Inn," replied the other; "not knowing -whether I should find you or not. Come and take a stoup of wine, -Andrew; and you can write the letter there."</p> - -<p class="normal">This proposal was readily agreed to, for Andrew Henderson was a man -who by no means objected to that good thing called a stoup of wine. He -called to an old woman who was now in the court, saying, "Here, Nelly, -take the keys; I'm going to Murray's Inn." And the two were soon -seated in the public room of Murray's Inn, as it was called, with -several other persons who were drinking there likewise. George Murray, -the keeper of the inn, was a man of good family, though it is supposed -of illegitimate birth; but what is certain is, that he had the best -wine in the town, and that his house was frequented by all the -principal gentlemen in the neighbourhood. Henderson and Sir George -Ramsay's man were soon supplied with what they wanted, and sat -drinking and talking for about half an hour; at the end of which time -a horse's feet were heard to stop opposite to the inn, and a minute -after, David Drummond, the dull looking servant of the Earl of Gowrie, -entered the room and looked round. The cheerful countenances of Andrew -Henderson and his friend Wattie changed the moment they saw him; and -Henderson exclaimed, "Ah, Davie, is that you, man? What brings you to -Perth? Is the earl coming?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, is he, Henderson," answered the man, looking heavily at Sir -George Ramsay's servant. "He'll be here in five minutes, and sent me -on to tell you. So you must get up and come away to the Great House -directly, for I've been there seeking you."</p> - -<p class="normal">Henderson was rising at once; but his friend Wattie laid his hand upon -his arm, saying, "Just write me those few lines to Sir George Murray -first. It will not take you a minute, Andrew."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hold your tongue, you little stupid pock-pudding!" cried David -Drummond, in an insulting tone; "do you think he's going to neglect -his natural lord and master, to attend to such a thing as you are, Wat -Matthison?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, David Drummond, David Drummond," said the other man, with his -eyes flashing fire; "you killed my niece's husband, and you'll come to -be hanged by the neck, for all you think yourself so safe."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It shall be for killing you, then," said Drummond, who was a very -powerful man; and he struck him a violent blow with his fist.</p> - -<p class="normal">The other, though not so strongly made, instantly returned it; and a -regular battle would have ensued between them, had not the master of -the inn and all the other persons present interfered, and pushed them -by main force into the street. There they kept them apart for a -moment, and tried to pacify them; but soon getting tired of the task -of peacemaking, they left them to themselves, and Drummond rushed upon -Walter Matthison again. The two grappled with each other, and -struggled vehemently for a moment, the spirit and resolution of -Matthison supplying the want of physical strength.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Call the bailie! call the bailie!" cried Henderson, loudly. "De'il's -in it, Jock, can you not part them? Here, Murray, help us."</p> - -<p class="normal">But at that moment Drummond was seen to put his hand to his girdle, -and the next moment Matthison loosed his hold and reeled back with a -sharp cry, exclaiming, "Oh! the man's killed me!" and before any one -could reach him, he fell back on the pavement with the blood pouring -in torrents from his side.</p> - -<p class="normal">David Drummond, without staying to take his horse, or to look what he -had done, ran off as hard as his legs would carry him in the direction -of the Great House, pursued by a number of the people. He reached it -before them, however, rushed through the iron gates, which were open, -into the court, where several horses and men were standing, and then -flinging-to the gates in the face of the pursuers, turned the key in -the lock. This done, he attempted to rush into the house, but was -suddenly met by the Earl of Gowrie himself, who was seen to seize him -by the collar, and point with his hand to what was probably a mark of -blood upon his arm. The next instant, the people who were gazing -through the gates saw the murderer handed over to two of the other -servants, who at once proceeded to strap his arms together with one of -the stirrup leathers, while Gowrie, advancing to the gate, said to the -people near, "I wish, my good friends, some of you would call one of -the bailies to me, and ask him to bring the guard. I have a prisoner -here who must be handed over to his custody."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Long live the Earl of Gowrie!--Long live the great earl!--Long live -our noble provost! He will do justice," cried a dozen voices, while -two or three men ran off to bring the bailie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, my lord, this is a sad business," cried Henderson, coming up. -"I'm glad to see your lordship returned safely to your own place; but -it's awful to think that one of our people should shed blood in the -streets before he's been ten minutes in St. Johnstone. It's that wild -beast Drummond has done it, and it seems he has fled hither."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There he stands in custody for the deed, Henderson," replied the -earl; "and I give notice to all men that I will visit any offences -committed by my own people even more severely upon them than I would -upon others; and justly too, for most of them have been well nurtured, -and all are well paid and well fed. They have my example before them, -which I trust will never lead them to do wrong, and have always had my -commands to abstain from doing injury to any man. If they fail then, -their crime is the greater; and I will by no means pass it over. Who -is the man he has wounded?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Wounded, my lord!" cried Henderson; "he's as dead as a door nail. -David Drummond there stabbed him to the heart, and he was dead in two -minutes, before one could lift his head up. His name was Walter -Matthison; a good, quiet, harmless man as ever lived. Ay, here comes -Bailie Roy."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Some one open the gates," said the earl; and advancing through the -crowd, he met Bailie Roy, a little, fat, pursy man whom he did not -know, with every sign of respect for his office.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have sent for you, Mr. Bailie," he said, "in consequence of a -horrible occurrence which has just taken place in the town, in which -one of my servants, named David Drummond, has, I understand, slain a -man, called Walter Matthison. I have caused the accused person to be -instantly secured, and I now hand him over to you to be dealt with -according to law. You will be pleased to have him removed to the town -jail, and tried for the offence in due course. I myself shall return -to Perth as soon as the king's service permits me, and will hold a -justice court immediately after my arrival. If more convenient, -however, to the magistrates of Perth to proceed to the trial earlier, -I beg that it may be done without either fear or favour, for my -presence is not absolutely necessary; and the prisoner would certainly -meet with nothing but simple justice at my hands."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My lord, your lordship is extremely gracious," said the bailie. "The -magistrates will of course wait your lordship's leisure, as they would -not on any account be without the honour of your presence as our lord -provost on such an awful and important occasion. I beg leave to -felicitate your lordship very humbly upon your auspicious return."</p> - -<p class="normal">This speech was accompanied by sundry bows to the great man; and then -turning to his own followers, he said, in a more authoritative tone, -"Take hold of the atrocious villain, and away with him.<a name="div4Ref_01" href="#div4_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> Our -noble lord provost, my friends, will take care that there is no -bully-ragging in the town of Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl was too much vexed and annoyed by all that had taken place to -afford a smile; and as soon as the prisoner was removed, he dismissed -the worthy bailie with a gracious speech, and retired into the house -with his factor, Henderson. Having seated himself in the lesser -dining-room, he inquired more minutely into the circumstances of the -transaction, of which he received an account very nearly, if not quite -true.</p> - -<p class="normal">"But who is this Walter Matthison?" he asked, after Henderson had told -him what he had seen with his own eyes. "Was he a married man? Had he -any family?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"He was a good, peaceable man, my lord, as ever lived," replied -Henderson, "and an old servant of Sir George Ramsay's, who was always -a kind master to all his people. Married he was too, poor fellow, and -has three or four children."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I grieve to hear it," said the earl; "something must be done for -them. Let me have paper and ink. I will write to Sir George directly."</p> - -<p class="normal">When the letter was written and sealed, the earl turned his thoughts -to other matters, and gave the orders which were necessary for putting -the Great House at Perth into a condition to receive him at any time -when he might like to come.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You must find me out a trustworthy person as porter, Henderson," he -said, "and engage whatever other people may be needful for the service -of the house, cooks, and sewers, and such persons. From what I see--we -must have the help of women's hands also, in order that everything may -be put into a better state, for the place is in a sad dusty condition, -Henderson. I am sorry to see that it has been so neglected."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, you see, my lord," said the factor, who was one of those men who -never want an excuse, "her ladyship your mother would but allow two -poor old feckless women while you were beyond seas. They could not do -much, poor bodies; but what they could do, they did do, I will say for -them; but I'll see that your lordship's orders are obeyed, and -everything put straight before you come back. Where I'm to get a -porter, I do not know--oh, ay, there's Christie, I forgot him; he may -do well enough--a quiet, stout man, just fit for a porter; and he's -seeking service, too. Would your lordship like to see any of the -accounts to-day?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, Henderson, no," answered the earl; "I must away to Dirleton as -soon as possible. Let me have a cup of wine. This sad business -distresses me sorely. I love not to have blood shed the very moment of -my entering the town."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nor I either, my lord," said Henderson. "It's a bad sign."</p> - -<p class="normal">The last words were spoken in a low tone to himself; and retiring, he -brought the earl a small silver flagon and cup with his own hands. -Gowrie drank; and after giving some farther orders, and waiting till -the horses had consumed their corn, he remounted to ride on; but -hardly had his horse gone fifty yards from the gates, when he was -met by four men carrying a board, on which was stretched the body -of the unfortunate Walter Matthison, followed by a number of the -town's-people. Gowrie immediately stopped, and asked some questions, -by the answers to which he found that the body was being removed to -the house of a cousin of the deceased, named Symes, living in -Water-street.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tell the good man," said Gowrie, "that I grieve much for what has -happened; that I have written to Sir George Ramsay about poor -Matthison's family, and will myself take care that they are provided -for according to their station."</p> - -<p class="normal">A murmur of applause and thanks followed, and the earl rode on, having -gained rather than lost in the esteem of his fellow-townsmen by his -demeanour on so painful an occasion.</p> - -<p class="normal">It was late at night before he arrived at Dirleton; but his mother was -still up, expecting him, and he was soon pressed warmly to her bosom. -His two young brothers also were there, all eager to claim affection; -but after the first joy of meeting was over, the first question was, -"But where is Beatrice?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"The dear girl chose to stay behind," said Gowrie, "to comfort and -cheer another like herself. I have to crave forgiveness, my dear lady -and mother," he continued, kissing the countess's hand, "for having -gone to Trochrie before I came to Dirleton; and I trust you will not -think I failed in duty."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It was quite natural, John," said his mother. "Hearts are like trees, -my dear boy: they must be taken from the parent stem, and grafted on -another, in order to bear good fruit. I have loved myself, Gowrie, and -have not forgotten what it is."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Love alone would not have carried me thither before seeing you, dear -mother," answered the earl; "but I feared that so strict and careful a -watch as is needful might not be kept up; and my suspicions were only -too correct. I found the castle gates open, and not a man in the house -but my English servant Jute. However, I have now spoken seriously to -Donald Mac Duff, our baron bailie, and taken such measures as to guard -against all chance of surprise. In case of need, Athol will come down -with help, and the clans would not be found wanting. And now, -William," he continued, throwing his arm over the stripling's -shoulder, "many, many thanks, my dear brother, for all your care and -kindness to one dearer to me than myself, and to you, my dear mother, -for your affectionate greeting of her, which made her no stranger in -the land of her fathers, or in the family of her future husband, -though she had never beheld either before. I shall stay with you here -for two or three days, and then go to bring Beatrice to you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is well you have come, Gowrie," said his mother, "for here is a -summons from the king to attend the council some ten days hence. The -messenger inquired curiously where you were; and we told him you were -gone to Perth, but would be back to-night. The king, perchance, may -send to seek you there."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He will find I have been to bonny St. Johnstone," said Gowrie, -laughing, "and to-morrow, by dawn, I will send off a messenger to show -him that I am now here. He will hear of my journey, too, most likely, -from other sources; for I am sorry to say a sad affair took place in -Perth between one of George Ramsay's men and David Drummond, who -stabbed him to the heart."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The cankered beast!" cried the old countess, "I wish I had not saved -him to kill another honest man!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"In that former business," said the earl, "both were in fault, so -there might be some excuse for him; but now the wrong was all on his -side, as far as I can learn; and so I have left him a prisoner in the -hands of the town. He shall have no favour from me, for he has been -well warned, and is greatly criminal. And now, dear mother, let us -talk of happier things----alas! your hair has turned sadly gray;" and -he smoothed it affectionately upon her brow.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was a gay sight in the town of Edinburgh, as, on the morning of the -twenty-third of March, all the principal nobles of the land rode, -gallantly attended, to the council for which the king's summons had -gone forth, and many were the persons assembled to see them pass. No -great joy or satisfaction, however, shone upon the countenances of the -good citizens of Edinburgh, for the rumour already had spread through -the city that a new tax was in contemplation to support the -extravagance of the king, and to enrich the minions of the court. -Never was a greater mistake made than that which is attributed to -David Rizzio, who is said to have expressed an opinion, when warned by -Sir James Melville of the peril which menaced him, that the bark of -the Scotch people was worse than their bite. On the contrary, history -proves that the bite, and that a sharp one, came frequently before the -bark. On the present occasion, there were no loud expressions of -popular feeling, except perhaps, when one of those barons in whom the -people had confidence happened to pass; but a dull and menacing sort -of gloom hung over the crowd, and whatever they thought, it was -expressed in low tones to each other. Gowrie was one of the first on -the way, and a shout greeted him when he approached the crowd -assembled near the palace gates, for there the council was held; but -the noise soon died away, and he was riding on, when a half-witted man -ran out from amongst the rest, and laid his hand upon the earl's rein, -saying, "Don't you vote for the tax, Gowrie! Don't you vote for the -oppression of the people. We poor folk can hardly bear it."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie said some kind but unmeaning words to the poor man, and passed -quietly on his way, arriving at the gates a few minutes before the -appointed hour. At the door he was met by the king's porter, who -informed him that his majesty had not yet left his apartments; and -with a slow step and very thoughtful countenance, the young earl was -walking across to the foot of the staircase, when young John Ramsay -came hastily forward from the fireplace, by which he was standing, and -accosted him, saying, "My lord the earl, I wish to speak to you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, Ramsay!" said Gowrie, turning round, and holding out his hand, "I -did not see you!"</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man, however, drew a little back, and replied with a haughty -and somewhat overbearing air, "There are some matters to be settled -first, my lord, before I know whether we are friends or enemies."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It may be just as you please, sir," answered Gowrie calmly, gazing at -him with some surprise; "what is the matter?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I understand, my lord," replied the young man, "that one of your -servants has murdered, in Perth, my brother's man, Walter Matthison--a -person whom I protected."</p> - -<p class="normal">The tone was very offensive; and the first answer that rose to -Gowrie's lips was, "Your protection, it seems, proved of little -avail;" but he checked the reply before it was uttered, and merely -said, "I am sorry, Ramsay, that such is too truly the case."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then you will remember, my lord," said Ramsay, "that we will have -blood for blood. No great protection shall avail here, whatever it may -do in France; and serving men shall not wound or slay as good or -better men than themselves, however powerful or wealthy their lord may -be."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie's cheek reddened, and his heart beat quick; but he mastered the -feeling of anger, and asked, though in somewhat of a stern tone, "Have -you heard from your brother lately?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, I have not, my lord," replied Ramsay. "What of that?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Simply that if you had," answered the earl, "I think he would be -sorry both for your words and for your bearing. You have been -deceived, Ramsay," he said, in a milder tone; "certainly, with regard -to what has taken place in France, and I think with regard to what has -taken place at Perth. The murderer of your brother's servant--for I -can call my man, David Drummond, no less--was immediately seized by my -orders, and handed over to the justice of the town. I myself shall sit -as provost at his trial. I have invited your brother to be present, -and let me tell you, John Ramsay, that I say--which is something more -than what you say--that if all the power in Scotland, except the -king's grace, were exerted to save him from justice, he should die if -he be proved guilty, as I believe him to be."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the earl turned upon his heel, and walked up the stairs, -leaving Ramsay feeling himself painfully rebuked in the presence of a -number of bystanders, who, to say truth, had the ordinary amount of -love for their rivals, the favourites of the court. There are two -things from which the mind of youth usually takes its impressions, its -own prejudices or passions, and the opinions of others. It is an after -operation of the mind, in nine cases out of ten, to seek for and to -ascertain facts, and to form our opinions upon them. Ramsay was -naturally rash, bold, and resolute; and though he afterwards, as Lord -Holdernesse, showed some signs of greater powers, at the time I speak -of they were all in abeyance, and he was ready to receive all the -opinions of others, and tincture them strongly or weakly, according to -the prejudices and passions already existing in his own mind. He -remained near the fire, then, for a full quarter of an hour longer, -gnawing the bitter lip, and angry without cause for anger. At length, -one of the ushers came down and whispered in his ear, "The king is in -at the council, sir. He's been in some time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Pshaw!" said Ramsay, impetuously, and turned his back to the man who -addressed him.</p> - -<p class="normal">Another quarter of an hour passed, and various noblemen, who arrived -somewhat late, went up the stairs without Ramsay noticing them. At -length, one of them, who was acquainted with him, hurrying in, -remarked him standing by the fire, and said, "Ah, I am glad to see you -there, Ramsay. I was afraid the king would be gone in to the council, -for I was detained by----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"So he is," answered Ramsay, abruptly; and the gentleman hurried up -the stairs without waiting to finish his sentence.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman followed with a slow step; and when he entered the -council chamber, a scene presented itself which I must attempt to -depict. The king was seated in a large arm chair, or throne, a few -steps in advance of the private door through which Ramsay passed. -Before him stretched a long table, or council board, at which were -seated almost all the great nobles of the land. Behind the king's -chair, and nearly filling up the vacant space between it and the wall, -were a number of the gentlemen of the royal household. Amongst these -were Sir George Murray, Sir Hugh Herries, Sir Thomas Erskine, Mr. -Alexander Blair, David Moyses, and nearer to the door, Sir David -Murray of Cospetrie, afterwards created Lord Scoon, a man of more mind -and intelligence than James was usually inclined to tolerate.</p> - -<p class="normal">It would appear that the tax which the king wished to inflict upon the -people had been proposed for the consideration of the lords; and that -the debate, if it may be so called, had proceeded some way, for it is -known that the first three or four who spoke briefly expressed their -approbation. At the moment when Ramsay entered, however, the Earl of -Gowrie was on his feet, in the act of addressing the council. But that -he had spoken for some minutes; and that the argumentative part of his -speech was over was evident, for the only words which Ramsay heard -were, "For these reasons, my lords: because the tax would be -burdensome in its nature; because it would be unequal in its pressure; -because the people in this realm have not the means of meeting so -large a claim upon their loyalty; and because the actual necessity of -so great a demand, either for the purpose of maintaining the king's -royal dignity, or for securing the peace and safety of the country, -has not been clearly shown to exist; I, for my part, would humbly -petition his majesty, according to his great wisdom, to devise some -other means more easy to his loyal subjects for meeting the -necessities of the time----and," he added, after a moment's pause, as -if hesitating whether to utter the words which rose to his lips, "and -in his gracious condescension, and in that love and affection which he -is known to bear to all his subjects, to confine his requirements to -the limit of their means, and the most pressing exigencies of the -state."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl sat down, and a murmur of applause ran round the lower end of -the table; but Sir David Murray turned towards Sir Thomas Erskine, and -said, fixing his eyes direct upon the Earl of Gowrie, "Yonder is an -unhappy man. They are but seeking a cause for his death; and now he -has given it."<a name="div4Ref_02" href="#div4_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Hugh Herries, who was standing near, looked over his shoulder with -a dark smile; and Murray, as if he felt that he had imprudently -committed himself, quitted the room in some haste.</p> - -<p class="normal">A moment after, one of the ushers whispered in Ramsay's ear that his -brother was below, and wished to speak with him; and imagining that -the debate was likely to be long, the young gentleman went out, made -an appointment to meet Sir George in the evening, and returned. When -he reached the council chamber, however, he was only in time to open -the private door for the king to retire to his own apartments; but -James, who seemed in high good humour, gave him a sign to follow, as -he had previously done to Sir Hugh Herries; and when they reached the -royal closet, the monarch cast himself upon his thickly-cushioned -seat, and burst into a fit of laughter.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, bairns," he said, "that's done, in the teeth of Gowrie's earl; -and we shall get the money."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You would not have got it, sire, if he could have prevented you," -said Herries, with the true malignity of a court.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, man; but we were too strong for him," said James. "He that -wrestles with a king who understands his craft had need be a stalwart -chiel."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope he may get a fall some day," said Ramsay, bluffly.</p> - -<p class="normal">James looked at him with a significant smile, "And so he will, Jock," -he said, "such a fall as may break his neck, perhaps; but we must give -him time. It's always better to let such lads weary themselves out, -keeping a watchful eye upon them, Jock, lest they play us a scurvy -trick. Soul o' my body, man, but he made a fine speech, though; well -delivered, with just enunciation, and every sentence well put -together. Not so bad for the matter either, if it had not been against -his king and his duty. He's a sharp-witted callant, if he was not -somewhat traitorously disposed, like the whole of those Ruthvens, -every mother's son of them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I would soon stop their treason, if I were your majesty," said John -Ramsay; "however, you walk by wisdom and I by indignation, so your -majesty will of course walk best."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No doubt of it," answered James; and then, mingling a coarse -familiarity with an affectation of dignity, which only rendered the -one grotesque and the other ridiculous, he proceeded to say, "And now, -Jock Ramshackle, as you have rendered us many and signal services, we -are determined to confer upon you a high honour and dignity, by giving -you a clout upon the shoulder"--or as the king pronounced it, -<i>shoother</i>--"so go your ways; tell Tammy Elliot to bring us a sword; -but bid him carry it discreetly on the cushion, with the hilt towards -our hand, and to take care that it does not pop out of itself. They -are but kittle weapons."</p> - -<p class="normal">We must leave the learned reader, who may be so inclined, to -retranslate the king's speeches into the fine vernacular in which he -usually spoke; for we have only attempted, though somewhat more than -half a Scot ourself, to put in a word or two of the original dialect, -here and there, for vigour's sake; and, to say truth, we fear if we -had either the capability or the desire of rendering each speech of -his majesty word for word, most of our readers would be puzzled as to -the meaning, and many of them not a little shocked at expressions, -which we have omitted--for reasons which shall be fully assigned at -some future period in a dissertation which we intend to write upon the -oaths and blasphemies of Our late Sovereign Lord, King James, Sixth of -that name of Scotland and First of England, of happy memory.</p> - -<p class="normal">Young John Ramsay hurried away with a proud and joyous step to seek -the instrument which was to bestow upon him the honours of chivalry; -and, in the meantime, the king spoke more rapidly, and in a lower -tone, to Herries than was his wont, every now and then pausing and -saying, "Ha, man." To which Herries invariably replied, "Yes, sire, I -understand your majesty. It was the wisest course;" and to this -general approbation of the king's views he added, just as Ramsay was -returning with Sir Thomas Elliot and the sword of state, "But you'll -need cold iron before you've done."</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay instantly started and turned round, with a glance of keen -inquiry at the king's face, upon which James burst into a fit of -laughter, exclaiming, "Look at the young slothound, how it pricks up -its ears! I'll answer for it, put him on a trail of blood, and he'd -follow it till he pulled his man down."</p> - -<p class="normal">The youth coloured, for there was something in the comparison he did -not altogether like; but, kneeling at the king's feet, he received the -honour of knighthood--with the sheathed sword, however, which he did -not altogether like either. The king then dismissed him, with the -directions that he might have given a child, to "go and play himself;" -and for his own part, he remained shut up with Herries for nearly an -hour. At the end of that time, James and his counsellor came forth -together, and walked towards the queen's apartments, the monarch -concluding their conversation by saying, "Bide a wee; you'll see. -We'll frame such a cunning device that the birdie shall walk into the -trap, and if ever he gets out again, it will be the fault of the -fowler's friends, and not his who set the snare. But mind, man, not a -word or a look, as you'd have our favour. We shall ourselves be all -kindness and courtesy; and you must make our looks your glass, that -you may not scare the quarry from the net."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Don't be too civil, sire," said Herries, bluntly, stumping after the -king with his club foot. "He must feel that your majesty can't love -him: and I've known many a man put on his cloak when he saw the sun -shine too fair in the morning, because he knew it would rain before -noon."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hout, tout! Would ye school me, man? Faith, you are too bold," said -the king; and he walked on with an air of pique.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">In one of the good old houses of the good old town of Edinburgh, and -in a handsome and commodious room, hung with polished leather stamped -with various figures of birds and flowers, in a fashion of which -hardly a vestige now remains, sat Sir George Ramsay and his younger -brother, just after the sun had gone down. The younger was in high -spirits, for, mere lad as he was at the time, he had many of the -weaknesses of the child still in his nature: varying in mood, easily -elated; when checked or disappointed, moody and irritable; when -prosperous, successful, and unopposed, gay, good-humoured, and even -placable. That morning he had been greatly irritated by the news--for -news travelled slowly in those days--that his brother's servant, and -that one of his own favourites too, had been killed by the Earl of -Gowrie's man, David Drummond; and the very calmness with which Gowrie -had met his intemperate insinuations and haughty bearing had not -served to calm him; but the knighthood just received had done more -than any arguments could have effected to soften and improve him; and -now he was talking cheerfully with one of much stronger sense and more -amiable character than himself, who knew him well, and how to direct -his mind to better purposes.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, George, well," he said, "I am glad to hear what you tell me of -the earl. I have no wish to think ill of Gowrie, and if he has acted -as you mention, perhaps he had a right to be offended at the way I -spoke this morning; and I will apologize. A man who is ready to fight -another at any time, need not fear to apologize; but Newburn stated -the matter very differently."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A man of honour need never fear to apologize when he knows himself in -the wrong, whether he be prepared to fight in a bad cause or not, -John," replied his brother, with a quiet smile; "and nobody, I think, -will suspect our house of wanting courage. As for Newburn, he is a -firebrand, and being now deprived of the power of doing mischief -himself by the consequences of one of his own insolences, he seeks -alone to set others by the ears. I have now had the whole story from -good William Rhind, who was in the carriage at the time. Newburn first -looked into the lady's face, with an insulting laugh, and then, when -the curtain was drawn, pulled it violently back, and thrust his head -quite into the carriage."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then he deserved what he got," replied John Ramsay, frankly; "but as -to this other business, you must look to it, George; for I feel sure -that Gowrie is a man who will stand by his own people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Doubtless, when they are in the right," replied the other; "but not -when they are in the wrong. I tell you, he seized the scoundrel with -his own hand, as soon as he saw him flying with the poor fellow's -blood upon him, and instantly gave him into the custody--not of his -own followers, as he might have done, and no one said him nay, but--of -the officers of the town. I forgot to tell you, too, that he has given -a pension upon the lands of Ruthven to the widow, and her two -daughters--fifty marks a year to each."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's noble--that's kind!" exclaimed John Ramsay.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is," said his brother; "but nevertheless, I shall go to Perth on -the day of the trial, not from any doubt of Gowrie's justice, but for -my own honour's sake. Thus, I beseech you, John, listen to no more -tales from Newburn, who would only deceive you. As for my part, I tell -you fairly, cousin or no cousin, he shall never darken my doors again. -I stood by him as long as a gentleman and man of honour could; but in -this business he sought so grossly to pervert the truth, that I will -have no more to do with him."</p> - -<p class="normal">Young John Ramsay mused for a minute or two; and his brother, thinking -that he was pursuing the same train of thought, added, "You cannot -deny, John, that his whole conduct through life has been disgraceful."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I was not thinking of him, Dalhousie," said the younger brother, with -a laugh; "I was wondering what Gowrie can have done with this same -beautiful lady--this Lady Julia Douglas, and what can have made the -king all in a moment seem to care so little about the matter. Either -his majesty, with his cunning wit, has found out where she really is, -and knows she is out of his power, or else he is waiting for the -return of the messenger he sent to Italy to inquire about her -treasures. The earl's movements have been very strange, as I told you, -and though so strictly watched----"</p> - -<p class="normal">But at that moment the door was quietly opened, and a servant said, -"The Earl of Gowrie, Sir George, is waiting at the stairfoot to know -if he can visit you."</p> - -<p class="normal">The colour came somewhat warmly into John Ramsay's cheek, for though -he had spoke of an apology, he did not think the opportunity of making -it was so near. His brother, however, instantly started up, and went -down to meet the earl, who took him kindly by the hand, saying, "'Tis -a strange hour to visit you, Ramsay; but I have been engaged all this -day, and hearing you had arrived, I would not let another pass without -coming to see you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Welcome at any hour, my lord," replied Sir George Ramsay; "but how is -it--alone, and on foot?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Even so, George," replied the earl; "had it been a visit of ceremony, -it should have been in the morning, with horses and attendance enow; -but as it is a visit of friendship, alone and on foot is best. I am -now the student of Padua again, and far more happy so than as Earl of -Gowrie."</p> - -<p class="normal">While this conversation was passing, they were climbing the somewhat -steep and difficult stairs of a house in the old town of Edinburgh, -with a servant going before to light them; and when they entered the -room where young Ramsay had remained, Gowrie seemed somewhat surprised -to see him, but held out his hand frankly.</p> - -<p class="normal">The other took it, not without grace, and feeling that he must speak -then or never, he said, "I have to offer my excuses, my lord, for some -rashness this morning, brought about by representations I now find to -be false, and I trust----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Mention it no more, I pray, Sir John," replied Gowrie, seeing he -paused and hesitated. "I understood full well that you had been -deceived by that idle jade, Rumour, and had I not been in haste to get -over a most painful duty, I would have stayed to explain more fully. -Trust me to do simple justice in the case of the poor man who was so -foully slain at Perth; and when I have done so, never let -misconception of any part of my conduct breed coldness between us -more. And now, let me congratulate you on the honour I hear you have -this day received--none worthier, I am sure, and none who will do more -honour to knighthood."</p> - -<p class="normal">Seating himself quietly between the two brothers, Gowrie soon carried -the conversation away from things personal, and from all that could -excite one unpleasant feeling, or even difference of opinion. Having -mingled more in the world at large than either of the two brothers, -having seen more of mankind in every respect, he could always lead -where Sir George was very willing to follow, and mingling from time to -time some classical allusion for the elder, with conversation of hawks -and hounds, and courtly pastimes for the younger of the two, he -brought a brightness over the next half hour, which gained wonderfully -upon John Ramsay. So much indeed did it gain upon him, that he became -alarmed. He felt that he was beginning to like and admire a man whom -he wished to hate; that he could not believe all that he desired to -believe of him; and perhaps that he might learn to love the person -whom he was destined to overthrow.</p> - -<p class="normal">There was certainly some impression of the kind upon his mind. I do -not mean to say that it was any superstitious presentiment, for it -might have its rise in natural causes. The monarch to whom he had -devoted himself had so often displayed his jealous antipathy towards -the man beside him, had so frequently pointed to a coming struggle -between the sovereign and the subject, and had so clearly indicated -him, John Ramsay, as the person upon whose courage, faith, and -resolution he relied, that it was not wonderful, he should see in -Gowrie a man whom he was fated, sooner or later, to encounter as an -enemy, and with whom it were better to enter into no bonds of -friendship.</p> - -<p class="normal">These feelings impelled him to rise at length, saying, "Well, -Dalhousie, I must away back to the court. We are but servants after -all, though our master be royal; and we must perform our service. I -give you good night, my lord, and am happy that occasion has served -for my explaining conduct which must have seemed rude."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie shook hands with him; but he said to himself, as the young man -departed, "Nevertheless, he loves me not, and will love me less when -he comes to think over what he will daily consider more humiliating."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, Dalhousie," he continued, aloud, "you and I need no -explanations. Your brother is a gallant youth, but young in mind as -well as years. It is a fault time and experience sorely mends, and I -doubt not he will do honour to your noble name."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My lord," said Sir George Ramsay, in an eager manner, "pardon my -abruptness, but I have much wished to speak with you alone, and feared -every moment that you would go before my brother."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What is the matter?" asked the earl, gazing at him. "I had hoped that -all chance of dissension was at an end."</p> - -<p class="normal">"With my brother, assuredly it is so," replied his companion; "he now -knows you better than he did, and all foolish doubts with him are at -an end. But, my dear lord, I wished to warn you that you are not well -at the court. You know I would not speak unadvisedly upon so serious a -subject. The king does not love you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Of that I am well aware," answered Gowrie; "why or wherefore I know -not, and indeed it matters not. But I have done his majesty no wrong. -I have advised him, when called on to advise, as I think best for his -honour, his prosperity, and his peace; and there is no treason in -that, Dalhousie. But, indeed, his dislike began before that--even from -the first day of my arrival. I thwarted some of his plans, Ramsay, and -he does not soon forgive that. But the storm will blow by, and he will -find that I am a loyal subject though a sincere one, and forget his -anger."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The matter is more serious than that, earl," said Ramsay. "The king -is jealous of your wealth, your power, your influence at the court of -England, your popularity with the people of Scotland. My lord, I tell -you you are in danger."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot think it," replied Gowrie; "I have given no cause for such -animosity. I defy any one to show a disloyal or even a suspicious act, -and I will give them no occasion, Dalhousie. My innocence be my -shield."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No disloyal act, if you will, Gowrie," replied Sir George Ramsay, in -the tone of strong friendship, "but as to suspicion, it is different. -The court is full of suspicions, and all aiming at you; and be you -sure, Gowrie, that when suspicion takes possession of the mind of a -coward, it makes him cruel as well as unjust."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie mused. "If you can point out the causes of suspicion, Ramsay," -he said at length, "I may perhaps remove them, at least I will try, -provided that I can do so without sacrificing my duty to myself, to my -country, or to my God. I have offended the king by opposing him, but -in truth have done him good service rather than otherwise; and I can -neither regret what I have done, nor promise not to repeat it; but as -to causes of suspicion, I know none."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I find," replied Sir George Ramsay, "that the first doubts were -created by your frequent intercourse with the English ambassador in -Paris. Then came the extraordinary honour shown you by Elizabeth -herself----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Exaggeration!" exclaimed Gowrie. "There were no extraordinary honours -shown me. The Queen of England was kind and civil, expressed an -interest in my favour, spoke of my father as I loved to hear, and once -or twice called me cousin; but I am her cousin, as near in blood, -though not in succession, as any relation that she has. King James is -the undoubted heir to her throne. He has no right to be jealous of -me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your relationship is a dangerous one," said Ramsay; "and when with it -is united the fact of your opposing strongly the views of a vain man, -an obstinate man, and a timid man, you may well fear suspicions. But -they have been increased by other things. You have been very closely -watched since your return to Scotland; and your course has appeared -somewhat mysterious. It is now known that you first crossed the border -near Berwick, then suddenly returned into England, and came round by -Carlisle. Again, you had an English servant with you, whose southern -tongue betrayed his country at once. You sent him with a letter to the -king, and he has since disappeared from your train, for the king -caused him to be sought for, wishing to cross-examine him after his -own peculiar fashion.--Let me go on, that you may have it all before -you. Shortly after your arrival you quitted the court, taking your -fair sister with you, and leading the king to believe that you were -going to Dirleton. Instead of so doing, you crossed the Firth, and -went into Perthshire----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I told the king I was going both to Perth and Dirleton."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But you must have gone somewhere else than to Perth," said Ramsay, -"for although it is not known where you did go, yet they have -ascertained that you did not reach Perth till the fourteenth of the -month--in short, that you were two nights absent, neither at Perth nor -Dirleton, and moreover that you did not enter Perth from the side of -Edinburgh."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have other estates I might wish to visit," said Gowrie; "and I did -visit them, Ramsay. But if every movement of a Scottish gentleman is -thus to be watched, life in this land would be very little worth -having."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I ask no questions, my lord," said Sir George Ramsay. "I speak but as -a friend anxious for your safety, and wishing you to know all and see -where the danger lies. Upon slight grounds men will build up strong -fabrics of suspicion, especially against those whom they hate and -fear; and although I know not exactly in what direction the king's -doubts point; but I can easily conceive that, from the supposed honour -shown you by the Queen of England, from the appearance and -disappearance of a certain servant, from your various movements, and -the secrecy which has attended them, he may imagine that you are -engaged in some intrigues with Elizabeth, and we all know well how -unjustifiably she has meddled with the affairs of this land."</p> - -<p class="normal">"On my honour and soul, Ramsay," answered Gowrie, "I know of none of -her intrigues, if she has been carrying on any. I hold no -communication with her whatsoever. I have heard nought from her, sent -her no information, and never will consent to a foreign sovereign -taking any part whatsoever in the internal affairs of this land--nay, -not to save my head from the block."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do believe you, my noble friend," answered Ramsay; "but still -suspicion, if raised to such a pitch as it has been here, is as -dangerous when false as true, when groundless as just; and I tell you -that you are in danger."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Of what?" exclaimed Gowrie. "Does he propose to arrest me, to try me? -Let him do it. He will only bring disgrace upon his own head for -persecuting a loyal subject who has done no wrong. I have never given -the slightest cause, Ramsay. I never will; and I dare him, I dare the -whole world, to find any flaw in my conduct which can give an opening -to a plain and straightforward accusation."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is likely too," answered Ramsay, shaking his head, "and I do not -believe that any straightforward accusation will be made. The times -are past when men could be murdered under form of law; and greatly as -all men must regret the anarchy and confusion which reigned in the -land so long, yet they have acted as a purifying fire, and produced -that freedom which is the best safeguard of justice. But there are -other means, Gowrie, for ridding oneself of an enemy or of a suspected -friend--secret means, much more easy to hide beforehand from the -victim, and to cover over after with the mantle of authority, than the -coarse expedient of manufacturing charges or corrupting judges."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Good Heaven!" exclaimed Gowrie; "and is this Scotland?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, even so," answered Ramsay. "I will not suppose that the king -would order or attempt such a thing; but there is many a ready hand -prepared to execute what is believed to be the royal wish, many an -eager eye watching to discover what that wish may be. Recollect what -happened in England when Becket, the proud opposer of the crown, a -churchman, fenced in with all the hedges of Rome, was slain at a mere -hint from the sovereign he had offended. We have as rash men amongst -us as Tracy and his companions; and, in your case, you have none of -the safeguards which Becket had. How many accidents could happen by -which the Earl of Gowrie might lose his life?--a street brawl even, -with which he had nothing to do--a chance shot during a hunting -party--a blow struck in apparent sport; I could name a hundred ways in -which the thing might be accomplished, without danger to the -perpetrator of the deed, or imputation upon the prompter."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie rose, and walked up and down the room, thoughtfully; and, after -a short pause, Ramsay continued. "I have spoken my mind freely, my -dear lord, from our boyish friendship, and from sincere esteem. I have -ventured to say things which put in your power, even perhaps my life; -but I know your generous nature too well not to feel sure that my -confidence will never be abused."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Be you quite certain of that," answered Gowrie, pausing and taking -his hand. "But what would you have me do, Ramsay? I see the dangers of -which you speak; but I perceive no way of avoiding them."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There are but two ways that I know of," answered Ramsay. "If you can -remove the king's suspicions, and convince him of your loyalty and -devotion, the danger will pass away."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Remove some of his suspicions, I might," said Gowrie, thoughtfully; -and his mind rested on Julia's situation, and the chance that existed -of his being able to prove, to the king's satisfaction, that she knew -nought of her father's wealth, and had never possessed any part of it. -Could he do so, and obtain the royal consent to his marriage with her, -the mystery attending some of his late movements could be explained at -once. But he resolved at all events, whatever might be the risk, not -to divulge the place of her concealment till she actually was his -wife. He repeated, then, after thinking for a minute or two--"Remove -some of his suspicions, I might, and I will try to do so, if it can be -effected without a sacrifice which not even safety could compensate. -As to proving to him my loyalty and devotion, I know no way but that -which I have already followed--to be loyal and devoted in seeking what -are really his best interests."</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay shook his head; and the earl replied to this mute -answer--"Well then, Ramsay, I can do no otherwise; if it costs me -life itself I will not abandon the cause of civil and religious -liberty. I will be no consenting party to the oppression of the -people. I will not be the stay of despotism, nor the tool of arbitrary -power. Let him take my life rather than that; for I will not hold the -fee-simple of existence on the tenure of dishonour."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There you are right," answered Ramsay; "and your views are mine; but -the difference between us is, that you, by your high position, are -called upon to act and speak in dangerous circumstances, when I may be -still and silent. However, try what you can do to remove the king's -suspicions--to account, at least, for some part of your conduct. Nay, -smile not, my dear lord, for things that seem very simple to you, -magnified by the optic glass of jealousy, grow into vast -importance.--Try, I say, what you can do, but wait a few days, till -the remembrance of this morning's work is somewhat softened. There is -no present danger, I do believe. Such schemes take long in hatching; -and you will have time to see how the king bears with you. If he is -dry and sharp, you may doubt his intentions; if he is wondrous kind -and over familiar, showing you great favour and unwonted friendship, -then be you sure he meditates mischief. That is the time for taking -the alternative,--quitting the court, and keeping yourself out of -harm's way. I will take care that you shall have every information -that is communicated to me, except that which comes under the seal of -secresy; but I beseech you, my dear lord, linger not too long, but -trust in my word that I speak not without good cause, and perhaps -suspect more than I say. For the plucking of such a goodly bird as -yourself," he continued, with a faint smile, "would furnish many a -poor half-moulted fowl of the court with golden feathers for the rest -of life."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie thanked him again and again, and then took his leave; and, in a -very thoughtful mood, returned to his own house.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It is a hard task for a frank and honest mind to assume an easy and a -careless air when there are dark thoughts and heavy doubts within. -Gowrie did not return to the court on the day after his conversation -with Sir George Ramsay. He felt that he could not banish the -impression that he had received from his demeanour. On the following -day, however, he did go to Holyrood, and was extremely graciously -received; and for a week more he continued to frequent the court with -other men of his rank and station. The queen always received him with -peculiar favour; and in her circle he met with many of those whom he -loved and esteemed, so that he gradually regained all his -cheerfulness, although he was not inclined to share in the somewhat -boisterous mirth of the king, or to take part in his vulgar -pleasantries, which had full scope and licence on the first of April. -On the third of that month, however, he craved a private audience of -the monarch, and, after some little hesitation, was admitted.</p> - -<p class="normal">James was in the midst of books and papers; and his manner, though -exceedingly condescending, was somewhat embarrassed. "We would not put -you off with a poor excuse, my lord," said the monarch, "for we could -not tell what you were wanting; but you have chosen an ill time for a -long confabulation, as we were writing a disquisition for our poor -people of Scotland, and perhaps for the good folks of England too, -upon the nature and property of witches and warlocks, and how to -discriminate them justly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I crave your gracious pardon for my intrusion, sire," replied Gowrie, -"and can well wait your majesty's pleasure. The matter is one entirely -personal to myself, and therefore should not for a moment be allowed -to interfere with your more important avocations. I will, therefore, -by your majesty's leave, retire, and wait upon you at some future -period when you have more leisure."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no--stay!" said the king. "Let's hear what it's about. We shall -always find great pleasure in doing what we can to show our favour to -you, Earl of Gowrie. Speak, man, speak. What are ye seeking?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Merely your gracious leave and permission, sire, to wed a lady to -whom I am much attached."</p> - -<p class="normal">There was a small spot on James's forehead just above the eyebrows, -which the monarch was accustomed to contract when eager and attentive, -and that spot now grew very red.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What, with the Lady Arabella Stuart?" he said. "So runs the rumour. -We have heard of it. But you are cousins, my Lord of Gowrie; and we -like not cousins marrying."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There would be a thousand other objections to such a union, please -your majesty," Gowrie replied, "all of which I see and appreciate -fully----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then what the de'il makes ye seek it?" asked James, abruptly, and -evidently in a very angry mood.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Such a thing never entered into my contemplation, sire," answered the -earl, "nor did I ever hear that rumour had done me such a needless -honour till this moment. I am in no way ambitious, sire. I neither -seek to augment my fortune, raise my family, nor increase my -influence. That lady's hand may well be bestowed upon some sovereign -prince, but not upon the Earl of Gowrie."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha, my lord, you speak well," said the king; "but some trick has been -put upon us. We have not long since been told that our good sister and -cousin, the Queen of England, had offered you the lady's hand when you -were at her court of London."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Doubtless, sire," replied Gowrie, "gossip and jealousy, together, -have connected many a tale with my short residence there, equally -false with this. The queen never mentioned the Lady Arabella's name to -me; and, as she happened to be absent from the court, I never even saw -her. Had such a thing been proposed, I must at once have declined, -without even troubling your majesty upon the subject, inasmuch as I am -attached to another lady, and contracted to her by promises which I -neither can, nor desire to break."</p> - -<p class="normal">James had listened attentively while the earl proceeded, and it was -evident that he felt much satisfaction at what he heard; but he spoke -no more of the Lady Arabella.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Promises," he said, when Gowrie paused, "promises before witnesses?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Before one witness at least, your majesty," replied Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is not a congregation," said the king. "By word of mouth or by -writing?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"By both, sire," answered Gowrie, decidedly. "I am bound to her in -every way that man can bind himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is serious, my lord," said James. "You would have acted more -wisely and more dutifully too, if, before undertaking such things, you -had consulted us--not to say asked our consent as pater patriae. It is -serious, good earl, I say; but we'll find a means to liberate you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But, sire, I do not desire to be liberated," replied Gowrie, with a -smile. "I desire to be faster bound than ever, both to the lady and -your majesty, by your graciously consenting to our speedy union."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's a joke, man, but not a good one--" said the king, laughing -grimly; "considering all things, it's not a good one. Now you are all -obedience, you see, and humbly asking my consent, which I dare to say -you would do without, if it were refused."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie felt some embarrassment, for he could not bring himself to say -he would not, and yet he did not like openly to set the king's -authority at defiance. James, however, relieved him by saying, "But -who's the lady, man? Let's hear all about her."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I met with her in Italy, sire," replied Gowrie. "She was then living, -I may say, in poverty, with her grandfather, the Count Manucci."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha, ha! now we have it," cried James, laughing loud. "I know all -about the story now. The daughter, or the reputed daughter of black -Morton."</p> - -<p class="normal">"His real and lawful daughter, sire," replied Gowrie, "as these papers -will show your majesty. The originals are in the lady's keeping; but -the names of the witnesses put the matter of her birth beyond all -dispute."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah," said James, taking the papers in his hand, and casting his eyes -slowly over them, "it's good and honest to be lawfully born; but that -is all she'll get by these rags of papers, for the estates of old -Morton were all confiscate to the use of the crown, and were granted -long since, with the advice of our council, to better deserving people -than himself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I fear it is as your majesty says," replied the earl, calmly, "for I -have looked over the papers well, and do not believe that, even this -small act of settlement upon the lands of Whiteburn can be now -maintained."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ha, say ye so, man?" cried the king. "You're a lawyer too, it would -seem, and in this case a good one. I can tell you that the parchment -on which this is drawn is not worth an old bull's hide. However, she -ought to have a goodly tocher, for Morton had been scraping money -together all his life, and as nobody could ever find where he put it, -there's no doubt it was carried off by this lassie's grandfather and -her mother."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I can assure your majesty that you are in error there," said Gowrie. -"Count Manucci lived in absolute poverty from the time he quitted -Scotland, having been expelled from Florence, as your majesty probably -knows, on account of his religious opinions. He received a small -pension from the Earl of Angus up to the day of his death, which the -earl would certainly not have paid if the count had obtained -possession of all his uncle's wealth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That looks like truth," cried James. "I should not wonder if Angus -had got the money himself."<a name="div4Ref_03" href="#div4_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> - -<p class="normal">"Of that I know nought, sire," answered Gowrie; "but I can assure your -majesty that the only wealth this dear girl brings with her to me is -herself, and three thousand ducats which her grandfather had saved."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Sorry to hear it," said the king. "We could have wished you a -wealthier bride, my lord;" and there he stopped.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie remained also silent, anxious to hear what the king's -consideration of the subject would lead him to, and at all events to -get some definite answer upon which he might act. He thought that the -next question might be, where he had left Julia, but he was prepared -with an answer even for that, although he much wished to avoid being -compelled to give it. James, however, notwithstanding his despotic -principles and his anxiety to establish a complete absolutism in -church and state, was constitutionally timid with those of whose -resistance he had had any experience; and he did not like to drive the -earl to refuse an answer. He therefore merely said that which -precluded him afterwards from acting upon the information he had -really obtained, giving the earl greatly the advantage.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And so the lady is in Italy?" he observed, after a somewhat -lengthened pause.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, sire, she is not," answered Gowrie. "Her present abode I have -engaged to keep secret, till such time as I may be permitted to -present her to your majesty as my wife. Immediately that such is the -case, and that we can be married, I will go to seek her, with your -majesty's leave."</p> - -<p class="normal">"As far as the court of London, I suppose?" said James, somewhat -bitterly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, sir, not above one quarter as far," replied the earl. "I should -have been very sorry to have given any foreign prince a hold upon me, -even through my affections."</p> - -<p class="normal">James remained silent, and seemed to hesitate, for he played with the -points of his doublet, and shuffled about the papers on the table.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, my lord," he said at length, "the question is one of some -difficulty. We must consider of the subject fully. All those -Douglasses, even to the second degree, are banished men--exiled from -the land; and it cannot be decided just in a moment whether we shall -open the door to any of them. Besides, it might make strife and -contention. Here, you see, is a sort of claim set up to the lands of -Whiteburn, long since bestowed upon our faithful servant, Andrew -Stuart."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will give an undertaking, sire, under my hand, that those claims -shall never be pursued," said Gowrie, "under the penalty of forfeiting -five times their value."</p> - -<p class="normal">This wasn't exactly the end, however, at which James wanted to arrive; -and, affecting a little impatience, he exclaimed, "There, then, man, -you've had your answer. We will give the matter our consideration, and -after due deliberation had, we will say yea or nay, as may seem -fitting. There, now, gang your ways, my lord. We have other things in -hand just now."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus unceremoniously dismissed, Gowrie retired from the king's -presence with no slight feelings of impatience and disgust. Delay was -evidently the object, but to what end this delay could serve, seemed -difficult to divine; and during the next ten days he was frequently -tempted to recall the subject to the king's mind, with as urgent -application as that of Buckingham for "the earldom of Hereford and the -moveables." He refrained, however, anxious not to injure his own -cause; and still the king abstained from giving any direct answer, -although, with a varying favour, he treated him one day with somewhat -too familiar kindness, and the next with cold indifference.</p> - -<p class="normal">This playing with his expectations wore his mind and depressed his -spirits; and his long absence from her he loved kept him in a state of -irritable impatience, for he had fondly hoped to bear to Julia the -tiding that the king's consent was given.</p> - -<p class="normal">He found consolation, indeed, in the frequent society of his sister -Beatrice, who, wise beyond her years, yet gay and sportive as a child, -at once counselled him aright and cheered him on his way. Seeming -never to fear anything, she was nevertheless watchful and alive to all -that passed at the court, which could in any degree affect her -brother; and much information did both she and Gowrie gain from her -gay lover, Sir John Hume.</p> - -<p class="normal">Day passed by on day, however; and the king seemed to have totally -forgotten the subject of the earl's application, till at length, in -speaking with his sister, Gowrie said, "I can bear it no longer, -Beatrice. I will away to Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If you get to Perth," answered Beatrice, "you will not be long away -from Trochrie, Gowrie."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps not," answered the earl; "but I will write to the king first, -Beatrice. If he refuses his consent, I will do as best I may, though -it may be dangerous, if the law does really make her a ward of the -crown; but I doubt the fact where there are no lands to hold. If he -consents, it is all well; but I must and will have some answer."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Be not rash, Gowrie--be not rash," said his sister; "a day very often -brings forth important things."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am for Perth to-morrow," replied her brother, in a determined tone; -"but I will soon return, and perhaps my absence may recall me to the -king's mind more than my presence."</p> - -<p class="normal">Without taking any leave of the court, Gowrie set out on the following -morning, and rode with all speed to Perth, where he remained two days -arranging his household, and seeing that everything was prepared for -resuming his residence in his native city. He was then absent for one -whole day and a great part of the next; and the reader need not be -told where he spent his time.</p> - -<p class="normal">On his return he was informed that the prisoner, David Drummond, -desired to see him at the town jail; but although the message was -brought by no less a person than Bailie Roy, the junior magistrate of -the town, the earl refused to visit the prisoner.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tell him, good Master Roy," he said, "had he not been one of my own -servants, I would have come to see him at his request; but such being -the case, I will deal with him no way privately before his trial."</p> - -<p class="normal">When the worthy bailie departed, Gowrie expected to hear no more of -the matter; but he was surprised, about half an hour after, as he was -walking somewhat sadly in his garden, to see Bailie Roy posting up the -path towards him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I most humbly beg your lordship's pardon," said the good magistrate, -approaching; "but I am forced to intrude upon your private recreation -by another message from that dour divot, David Drummond. He bade me -tell your lordship that if you would not see him he would apply to the -king, and might tell him some things that he would be glad to hear."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then, by all means, let him pleasure his majesty," said Gowrie. "I -would not for the world deprive him of any valuable or agreeable -information. In short, Master Roy, I will not see him; and he should -know me well enough to be sure that when once I have said so I will -not alter."</p> - -<p class="normal">Notwithstanding this determined answer, the prisoner's message left -the earl thoughtful and anxious. "The only thing he can tell," thought -Gowrie, "is the retreat of my poor Julia. The king has sent no answer -to my letter. I will wait till noon to-morrow, and then go to demand -one myself--I do not think he would venture to attempt to take her -from my protection by force; but we shall soon see, and, thank God, -everything is prepared."</p> - -<p class="normal">No letter came on the day following, and Gowrie set out for Edinburgh -after the noon meal. He arrived too late to visit the court that day, -indeed; and was sitting down with all the evil anticipations of an -impatient spirit under prolonged anxiety, when the clouds were -suddenly dispelled, and a brief gleam of sunshine broke through the -canopy of storm that was fast spreading over him.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">"Gowrie, Gowrie, Gowrie!" cried the voice of Sir John Hume from the -antechamber, almost as if he had been calling to a dog; and the next -moment the gay knight entered with his face all radiant. "Where are -the once sharp ears of the noble earl?" he continued, "ears that would -have heard the hunter's, halloo, from Stirling to Linlithgow. Why, I -called to you out of my high window in the High Street as you rode by, -till the echo at the Blackford hills shouted out Gowrie; and you -spurred on as if you had stopped your ears with wax, like Don Ulysses -when in danger of the fair ladies on the shore. Would to Heaven all -our mariners would do the same when they first land."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I did not hear you, Hume," answered Gowrie, in a grave tone. "In -truth, my friend, my heart is very sad, and my outward faculties have -little communication with the spirit within. But what makes you look -so joyful?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"One of the strange revolutions of the court of King Solomon," -answered Hume; "whether his majesty has found out some sovereign -remedy for dispelling the black humours, or for warming and comforting -the spleen; or whether his favourite brack has cast him a litter of -peculiarly fine pups; or whether Queen Elizabeth has declared him heir -to the throne of England, or the Queen of Sheba has sent word to say -she will be here to-morrow, or--But never mind, something or another -has turned the gall and verjuice into honey and sweetness, and -especially towards your dearly beloved family. He ran after Beatrice -to-day to the queen's very knees, vowing he would fasten her shoe, -while I was forced to stand by looking demure; and he actually gave -Alex a hawk--it is not worth a bodle, by the way, but still the gift -was something, considering who it comes from."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I wrote to him from Perth," said Gowrie, "beseeching him to give me -an answer to the suit, which I told you I had preferred, and he has -never replied my letter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Done on purpose to fret you," answered Hume; "he said so before the -whole court this very day, and called you a love-lorn gallant."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I care not what he calls me," replied the earl, "so that he do but -consent freely."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He does consent," replied his friend, "and all your troubles on that -score, Gowrie, are at an end. So smoothe your wrinkled brow, my noble -lord, and give cold care to the wind."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Are you quite sure?" demanded the earl, hardly believing the joyful -tidings.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Surer than of my own existence; for that I know nothing about," -answered Hume, "had it not been for that overt act, I should have -doubted his majesty's sincerity, for his sunshine is not always -summer. But deeds speak for themselves. I will tell you how it all -happened.--Three days ago he was in an awful mood, and pulled more -points off his hose than he had money in his coffers to put on again; -but just then came in the news of Stuart of Greenallan's death without -heirs, and all his moveables are seised to the crown, besides a large -sum in ready money, which he left by will to the king--knowing he -would take it if he did not. Well, this windfall mollified him -mightily, and he has been improving ever since. But this morning he -has had a dispute with three ministers touching church government, and -Heaven knows what besides, and he quoted all sorts of books that -nobody ever heard of before--long screeds of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, -till I believe, upon my life, the poor bodies were quite, as they -said, <i>dumfounded</i>, and fairly gave in. I would wager my best horse -against a tinker's donkey, they did not understand a word, and the -king himself not half of what he poured forth upon them; but they -owned in the end that his majesty was right and they were wrong, for -they could not confute his arguments or reply to his authorities. One -old fellow, indeed, made some fight for it, and answered in Greek and -Hebrew too; but the king had two texts for every one of his, and so he -too was beat in the end. From that moment he has been all frolic; and -this afternoon he held up your letter before dear Beatrice's eyes, and -asked if she knew who that came from. So she answered, gaily, 'From -one of your majesty's sweethearts, I suppose.' 'Faith, no such thing,' -said James, 'but I'll try and make him a sweetheart before I've done, -and that by giving him his sweetheart too. It's from your own brother, -John, saucy lassie--a most disconsolate epistle, because I forgot to -tell him he should have the bonny bird he's so brodened upon. But he -shall have her notwithstanding; and I trust she'll plague him till she -makes him more complutherable.' Then Beatrice burst into a peal of -laughter, so clear, so merry, so joyful, that it set the whole court -off, king and queen and all, till James, wiping his eyes, told her to -'haud her guffaw,' or she should not be married herself for a month -after you; and then she laughed more gaily than before, but petitioned -that she might be permitted to write to you, and tell you of his royal -grace. That, the king would not hear of, saying, 'No, I forbid any one -to write him a scrape of a pen. Then shall we have him coming with a -face as long as a whinger, and his heart full of disloyal repinings, -to know if we are minded to condescend to his request.' But the dear -girl answered, with her own good sense, 'More chance of his heart -being full of sorrow lest he have offended your majesty.' However, the -king would not consent that any one should write to you, saying he -wished to see what you would do, and exacted a promise that neither -Beatrice nor Alex would say a word. Me, he did not so bind; but yet it -were better not to let him know that you have been informed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am a bad dissembler, John," replied the earl, "and I fear that the -joy in my heart will shine out on my face, do what I will. However, I -will do my best to look sad; but is not this a strange person for a -king--a strange scene for a court?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"You would have thought it stranger still, had you but seen the -whole," answered Hume. "All the time he was speaking, he held the hawk -I have told you of on his hand, and kept stroking it down the back, at -which it screamed, and then his gracious majesty called it sometimes -greedy gled, and sometimes courtier, till Herries, who thinks he can -venture anything, asked why he called it courtier."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What did he answer?" inquired Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, he put on what he would call a pawky look," replied the other, -"and said, 'Because it is like the horseleech's daughter, doctor. It -aye lifts up its neb, and scrawks for more.'"</p> - -<p class="normal">Both Gowrie and Hume laughed gaily at this sally, the one in hearing -and the other in telling; for the young earl's heart was lightened, -and such creatures of circumstance are we, that, with a mind relieved, -a reply seemed to him full of humour, which a minute or two before he -would have thought nought but a coarse and vulgar jest.</p> - -<p class="normal">"How did Herries bear the rebuke?" asked Gowrie; "for to him it must -have been a severe one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, with his own bitter humour," answered the knight. "He said, 'Ay, -sir, it is sad how we are led by example. Every one, man and beast, -follows his master.' To which the king replied, good naturedly enough, -'Haud yer peace, ye doited auld carle! If you followed your master -I'se warrant you'd no pluck but be plucked--you'd be the doo and no -the gled.' However, I think that Herries is not so great a favourite -as he once was; and I am not sorry for it, for he was ever an enemy to -both your house and mine, Gowrie, and is one of those cold-blooded, -ever-ready men, who never miss an opportunity to do ill to another by -a quiet insinuation pointed by a jest."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know him not at all," answered Gowrie. "Alexander and Beatrice love -him not; but one need never fear an open enemy. It is the covert -attack, the blow struck behind one's back, the quiet lie spoken, -forsooth, in confidence, that one fears; for they are like the -poisoned weapon of the Italian bravo, which slays, though the wound be -but a scratch."</p> - -<p class="normal">"For the present I do not think you need fear him in any way," replied -Sir John Hume; "but go early to-morrow, Gowrie, and take advantage of -the tide of favour at the flow."</p> - -<p class="normal">The conversation then took a more general turn. The various characters -of the personages of the court of King James were discussed by the -earl and his friend, and the prospects of the country generally were -spoken of in a lighter and a gayer spirit than the earl could have -shared in an hour before. Some little word--one of those accidental -expressions which often set the mind galloping in a different -direction from that which it was previously pursuing--led the earl's -thoughts suddenly to his brother; and he said, "By the way, Hume, -Beatrice seems to think that Alex is even in less favour than myself -with his majesty, and I could not induce her to explain the matter -fully. She referred me to you, saying you would be able to inform me -what was the cause of James's dislike."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The simplest in the world," answered Hume. "The king dislikes him, -because he thinks the queen likes him--too much. The truth is, James -is jealous; and, like all suspicious people, hates the object of his -suspicion, endures his presence at the court simply for the purpose of -entrapping him, and watches for every opportunity to find a motive to -take revenge."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But is there any cause for this suspicion?" asked Gowrie, very -gravely. "Can Alex have been mad enough, wicked enough, to have -afforded any just grounds for such jealousy?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"On my life I believe not," replied Hume. "The queen makes no secret -of her liking for handsome young men; and Alex is certainly as fine a -looking lad as ever mounted a horse or drew a sword. She contends -strongly, too, for that liberty of action which we northern people do -not conceive a privilege of fair ladies. She will go where she likes, -do what she likes, and see whom she likes, without being responsible -to any tribunal but that of conscience. This is her doctrine; and, by -Heaven, she practises what she preaches. The king may make himself as -absolute as he will out of his own house, but he will not be despotic -there very easily. Then again, her majesty likes the gallant part of -the old chivalry, and thinks that love and devotion are every lady's -due from every courtly gentleman. There must be a touch of romantic -passion in it, too, to please her; and she goes into these little -amourettes in the most light-hearted way possible, without a thought -of evil, I do believe. It is all too open--too bold, to be criminal. -But the king, on the contrary, takes a very different view of these -matters. While he claims to himself the right of the utmost -familiarity of manner and lightness of speech with man, woman, and -child, he would have all ladies as prim and demure as nuns, and as -obedient as a spaniel dog. In point of policy, Alex committed a great -error in attaching himself to the queen instead of to the king, for, -it is sad to say, one cannot be a favourite with both."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I would rather he were a <i>favourite</i> with neither," said Gowrie. "He -might serve both, love both, merit the friendship of both; but to be -the minion of either king or queen is not for one of my race."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well," answered his friend, "he is still a very young man, but -right at heart, I am sure; and I trust he will see that these -gallantries with the queen, however innocent, are, at the least, -improper."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must make him see it," said Gowrie, and turned the conversation, -which ended soon after by Hume leaving him to his own thoughts.</p> - -<p class="normal">The following morning broke cold and cheerless; but at as early an -hour as was consistent with propriety, Gowrie presented himself at the -palace, and was readily admitted to an audience. The king was in the -act of pushing out of the room, with his own hands, in a jocular but -somewhat rude manner, no less a personage than Sir Hugh Herries, -saying, "There, get along with you. You are a saucy body, and were we -not the best natured monarch that ever lived, we should not bear with -your gibes.--Ah, my Lord of Gowrie! Now you've come for an answer to -your letter, I ween?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"If it may please your majesty to give me one," answered Gowrie, with -as grave a face as he could put on, while the king retired into his -cabinet again, and took his seat.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You see, my lord," said James, with a very serious air, "this is a -matter of much importance, and which requires full consideration and -deliberation on our part. Now I'll warrant that you're for wanting to -cut the matter short, and to be married to the lady directly;" and he -looked up slily in the earl's face.</p> - -<p class="normal">"My own inclination would of course lead as your majesty supposes," -replied Gowrie; "and I think, in many points of view, it would be the -best plan; but the lady herself desires that our union should be -delayed till the month of September next, if it please your majesty to -consent for that time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"She's a very discreet young lady," said the king. "Feggs! most lasses -would be all agog to be a married woman, and Countess of Gowrie. Well, -my lord, we'll consider of it."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie now felt alarmed and mortified. Whether the king had changed -his mind since the preceding night, or whether he was merely sporting -with his feelings for his own amusement, the young lover felt a degree -of impatience which he was afraid would break forth in some angry -words if he stayed longer; and therefore, with a silent bow, but a -heated cheek and disappointed air, he retired towards the door.</p> - -<p class="normal">James let him reach it and lay his hand upon the lock, but then -stopped him, exclaiming, "Hoot, man, come hither--don't go away in the -dorts, like a petted bairn. Come hither to your king, who is willing -to act as a good and kind father to you and to all his leal subjects, -if they will let him."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie returned with a brighter look. "There, now," continued James, -who in many instances was acute enough; "you are laughing now; and -I'll warrant that your titty, or the lad Alex, has been telling you of -the grace and favour we intend to show you."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I can assure your majesty," answered Gowrie, "that I have neither -seen nor heard from my brother or sister during the last four or five -days; but I can perceive, by your majesty's countenance, that you -intend to deal graciously with me in this matter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I'm thinking you're a false chiel," said James, laughing; "and you -think that a fine fleeching speech, about my countenance, as you call -it; but I'll tell you what, earl, if I thought my face would tell what -I'm thinking of when I didn't want it, I'd claw the skin off it with -my own ten fingers; for let me inform you, sir, it's a principal point -of kingcraft to be able to speak with a sober and demure countenance, -whatever the matter in hand may be, whether merry and jocose, or sad -and serious. Men should never be able to tell, by the looks of a -sovereign, whether he be thinking of a burial or a marriage, a birth -or a death."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But wise kings, sire," answered Gowrie, "are ever apt to double the -value of the favours they confer by gracious looks and words."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's well said," said the king, with an inclination of his head. -"That's spoken like a prudent and well-nurtured lad; and we do intend -graciously towards you, and will give you proof thereof. We will -consent to your marriage with this lady in the month of September -next, as you suppose; and, moreover, we will give you that consent in -writing, for there are certain conditions which, as you know well, you -yourself agreed to, and which we have embodied here in this paper, as -a sort of proviso, qualifying our consent."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie was a little startled by this announcement; but the king soon -relieved him from all anxiety, by showing him the paper, which was to -the effect that he, the king, authorized and consented to the marriage -of John Earl of Gowrie and the Lady Julia Douglas, a ward of the -crown, upon the condition that the Lady Julia Douglas should -previously execute, in due form, a renunciation of all claims, founded -upon any grounds whatsoever, to the lands of Whiteburn, and to all -other estates, money, goods, or chattels whatsoever, once in -possession of the last Earl of Morton. Otherwise the authorization was -to have no effect. The sense was enveloped in an immense mass of legal -verbiage, which would have been totally unintelligible to any one -unacquainted with the language of the Scottish courts; but Gowrie had -made a point of bestowing some study upon the laws of his native land, -and the meaning was quite clear to him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"To these conditions I agree at once, sire," he said; "and am willing -to give your majesty an undertaking, under any penalty you please, -that the renunciation specified shall be made."</p> - -<p class="normal">James caught readily at this idea; and being fond of showing his skill -in such matters, he at once drew up, with his own hand, the form of -undertaking which was proposed, and to which Gowrie willingly put his -hand, on receiving the written consent of the king to his marriage.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And now, my lord, away to Trochrie," cried the king, as Gowrie kissed -his hand, "and bring your bonny birdy out of her nest.--Ay, you may -stare, and look stupified, but if you think you can hoodwink your king -like a gyr falcon on its perch, you'll find yourself mistaken, like -many another man has been.--Well, well, say nothing about it. We -forgive you, man; and if you don't think us the most gracious monarch -that ever lived, you're an ungrateful lad."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed, sire, I do think your majesty most gracious," replied Gowrie, -a good deal moved; "and I will do my best to prove my gratitude; but -before I go to Trochrie, I had better have this renunciation drawn up -in due form by some people of the law, that I may at once obtain the -Lady Julia's signature, and lay it at your majesty's feet."</p> - -<p class="normal">To this plan James cordially acceded; and Gowrie, taking his leave, -was retiring to share his joy with his sister Beatrice, and to -endeavour to persuade his brother to withdraw from the court, where -his presence was a source of jealousy and dissension, when there was a -gentle tap at the door, and an usher put in his head, saying, "Here is -the Italian merchant, may it please your majesty."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Bring him in--bring him in," cried James. "Stay a little, my good -lord; this is a man from the country you know so well, bringing wares -to show us, and we will have your judgment upon his bonny toys."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie would fain have escaped, but there was no resource; and the -Italian merchant, as he was called, though in fact he might have -ranked better as a pedlar, was brought into the king's presence. The -young earl instantly recognised a man from whom he himself had -occasionally purchased wares in Padua, which was at that time famous -for its manufactories of silk; and the merchant himself, after -saluting the king, made him a low bow.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah, you two have met before, I suppose," said the king. "But come, -open your chest, man, and let us see what you've brought."</p> - -<p class="normal">The goods were soon produced, consisting principally of ribbons and -laces, which might have better suited the examination of a lady than -of a king; and James selected several articles for purchase with not -the very best taste in the world. He asked Gowrie's opinion upon them -before he concluded his bargain; and the earl, though not a very -excellent courtier, was sufficiently learned in that craft not to -speak disparagingly of the king's taste. At length an exceedingly -beautiful ribbon was produced, wrought with figures of blue and gold, -so thick and massive, that it seemed better fitted for a sword-belt -than anything else; but James fixed eagerly upon it, declaring he -would present it to the queen. He soon after suffered the earl to -depart, keeping the Italian merchant with him; and as soon as the door -was closed, he said, in a familiar tone, "You knew that lad in Italy, -I suppose, my man?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The Italian replied in the affirmative; and James, whose curiosity was -inexhaustible, proceeded to question him upon all he knew regarding -Gowrie's history. The good man had no idea whatsoever of doing harm; -but we all know how one tale leads on another, especially under the -hands of one skilful in extracting anecdotes; and although almost all -the Italian had to say was favourable to the earl, though he told how -he had been elected unanimously Lord Rector, at a very early period, -and how his conduct had given such satisfaction, that the university -had placed his portrait in the great hall, yet he went on to add that -he believed the earl had conceived some disgust in the end from the -treatment of one to whom he was much attached.</p> - -<p class="normal">James proceeded to question him eagerly on this hint, and soon drew -forth the Italian's version of the history of poor Manucci. Truth and -fiction were mingled in the usual proportion of a tale so told; but -magic and witchcraft were favourite topics with the king; and from the -gossiping style in which it first began, his conversation gradually -deviated into disquisition, and afterwards almost took the form of a -judicial examination, as he questioned and cross-questioned the poor -merchant in regard to Manucci's skill in diabolical arts, and Gowrie's -connexion with him. The good man, anxious to curry favour with the -monarch, and restrained by no very great scruples of conscience, would -probably have said anything that the king liked, and certainly, in the -matter of suggestion, James did not fail to supply him with -indications of his own opinions.</p> - -<p class="normal">The belief in such arts as sorcery and witchcraft seems in our eyes at -the present day so ludicrous, that we can hardly bring our minds to -believe that in former times the great mass of all classes, high and -low, were fully persuaded that power could be obtained by mortals over -certain classes of evil spirits. But such was undoubtedly the case at -the time I speak of; and the effect was often most disastrous. In the -present instance, James took care not to inform the Italian of the -conclusions to which he came in regard to Gowrie; and it may be -sufficient in this case to state that when he dismissed the merchant, -he remained with an impression very unfavourable to the young earl, -which, combined with other causes, did not fail to produce bitter -fruit at an after period.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">"Can you tell me where I shall find my sister, Ballough?" said the -Earl of Gowrie, addressing the usher of the queen's chambers, after he -left the king.</p> - -<p class="normal">"She's gone out with her brother, my lord," replied the officer; "and -I think they took their way to your lordship's lodgings."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not think it, Ballough," said the earl. "I must have met them; -or at least they must have seen my horses at the gate."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They went the other way, my lord," said the man. "I saw them go -towards the physic garden. I heard the Lady Beatrice say that that -would be the quietest road, as they were on foot."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Can I pass through there?" asked the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not through this passage, my lord," replied the man, "but if you go -round by the portico, you'll find the little gate open, and that will -lead you straight."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl accordingly dismissed his horses and servants, and took his -way through a part of the gardens of Holyrood, or "the abbey," as it -was frequently called in those days, issuing forth into the more busy -part of the town by a gate at some distance from the palace. The door -itself was closed but not locked; and, as he was approaching it, -he heard a voice saying, "We have not starved your horse, you -foul-tongued southron! Now, ride away as fast as you can go; and mind, -if you say one word, you will be put into one of the dungeons at -Stirling, and treated to a taste of the boot you saw the other day. -There, away with you!" And these words were followed by the loud crack -of a whip.</p> - -<p class="normal">"A whole skin is the best coat that ever was made," said a voice which -Gowrie thought he knew well, and passing through the door at the same -moment, he looked eagerly up the street, his eye guided by the -clattering of a horse's feet at a rapid pace. On that side appeared no -other than the figure of his own man, Austin Jute, mounted on the very -horse which he had ridden to Trochrie; and turning sharply round, the -earl saw on the other hand, walking away towards the palace, the stout -form and club foot of Dr. Herries, and another gentleman attached to -the king's household, named Graham.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie asked himself what could be the meaning of this. Could Jute be -really betraying him after serving him so long and so faithfully. "I -will not believe it," he said to himself. "The tricks of these courts -would make a man suspicious of his best friend. Yet it is very -strange--but I will wait and see. I shall soon discover, by the man's -manner, if he is concealing anything from me;" and with matter for -musing, he walked on his way. Neither brother nor sister did he meet -as he went on, but found both waiting for him at his dwelling in the -town.</p> - -<p class="normal">"We thought to catch you before you set out, Gowrie," said Beatrice, -as soon as she saw him, "for Hume wrote me word this morning that he -had seen you. However, I trust, from your look, that all is safe and -right, and that the king's good humour, which waxes and wanes like the -moon, has not decreased since yesterday."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie sat down by her side, and told her all that had occurred, the -whole account being tinged with the joyful hopes of his own heart. -Beatrice looked pleased, but less so than he expected; and she asked, -somewhat abruptly, "And now, Gowrie, what do you intend to do?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"To set out for Trochrie as soon as this paper of renunciation is -drawn up," he replied; "and then transplant my wild rose to Dirleton."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Take my advice, and do no such thing," answered Beatrice. "Depend -upon it, Gowrie, she's safer where she is. You do not know the king as -well as we do. With him the sunshine often prognosticates worse -weather than the clouds; and I very much doubt his motives in this -matter. That you have got his written consent is a great step, -certainly; and we may well be joyful thereat; but he is famous for -baiting traps; and if he once got her into his power, think what a -hold he would have upon you. It would cost him more men and more money -than he can collect, to take her by force from Trochrie; and he has no -excuse for attempting it; but if once she were at Dirleton, he would -soon find means of bringing her to Edinburgh, and then your freedom of -action would be gone."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are a wise counsellor, Beatrice," replied her brother; "and I -like your advice well. 'Tis only that Trochrie is such a lonely and -desolate solitude for the dear girl, that makes me hesitate."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You can easily render it less solitary," said Alexander Ruthven, -laughing. "Go up there yourself, and keep her company."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If you will come with me, Alex," replied his brother.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man coloured and looked embarrassed. "I cannot do that now, -John," he answered. "I was a long time absent from my post in the -winter."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The truth is, Alex," said Gowrie, frankly, "from all I hear, it seems -to me that it would be better if you were more frequently absent--nay, -if you were to give up this office altogether."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What! and have they poisoned your mind, too, Gowrie?" cried the -other, impetuously. "I will not go; for by so doing I should only -confirm the falsehoods they have spread. I will not abandon my own -cause, or show a shame of my own conduct, whatever my friends and -relations may do."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You speak too warmly, Alex," said the young earl. "Your relations -have no inclination to abandon your cause; and I trust and believe you -would never give them occasion to feel ashamed of your conduct; but I -only advise you for your own good. Suspicion is a dangerous thing in -the mind of a king, and, whether justly or unjustly founded, is to be -avoided by all reasonable means. Besides, were your royal master and -lady entirely out of the question, no man has a right to furnish cause -for dissension in any family."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, if I were out of the way, it would be some other to-morrow," -answered the young man. "The king's suspicion must have some object -upon which to fix."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I would have it any other object than yourself, Alex," replied his -brother. "However, I have given you my advice, and you may take it or -not, as you please."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I shall certainly not withdraw from the court," replied Alexander -Ruthven, in an impatient tone. "I should consider that I was doing -wrong to the character of another whom I am bound to love and respect. -Therefore, to give me that advice, Gowrie, is but talking to the -winds, for in this case I am sure I am right."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I much doubt it," replied the earl, and there dropped the subject, -for he saw that it would be of no avail to pursue it farther.</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice had remained silent during this brief conversation between -the two brothers, with her eyes bent down on the ground and her cheek -somewhat pale, but the moment it was concluded, she looked up, -recurring at once to what had been passing before.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I would offer to go with you, Gowrie," she said, "and cheer your dear -Julia in her solitude; but I think I may be more useful to you both -where I am; for, both on your account and on Alex's, my task must be -to watch narrowly everything that occurs, and give you the first -intimation of danger. Whether Alex will receive a warning I do not -know; but you, Gowrie, I am sure, will listen to the very first hint -that I give you. I may not be able to speak plainly. I may be obliged -to write but a few words; but watch and understand, my dear brother, -and if I say, fly, then lose not a moment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why should you suppose I will not attend to your warning, Beatrice?" -asked her brother Alexander, with the irritability of one who knows -that others think him in the wrong, and who is not quite sure himself -that he is in the right.</p> - -<p class="normal">"How can I suppose you will take a warning," asked his sister, "when -you will take no advice?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because a warning refers to a matter of fact, advice to a matter of -opinion," answered the young man.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well," answered Beatrice, "do not let us dispute, Alex. I -think, with Gowrie, it would be much better for you to go; but you may -be sure, Alex, that if ever I tell you you are in actual peril, which -I can foresee will be the case some day, I do not speak without -perfect certainty. And now good bye, Gowrie. We must not be too long -away, otherwise the king will think that we are plotting together."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You see he suspects every one as well as me," said her young brother, -determined to make out a case in his own favour; "and I am sure Gowrie -is as little a favourite as I am myself. Besides, I do believe from -his conduct yesterday, that James is now convinced his previous -suspicions were unjust, and that he desires to make atonement."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Pooh, pooh!" answered Beatrice, tossing her head with a somewhat -scornful smile. "The king never made atonement to any one. The king -always thinks he is right, and has been ever right, and will be right -to the end of his life. He never dreams for a moment that he can have -been wrong, though he may take means to lull the objects of his -dislike or his doubts till they are wholly in his power.--But now -come, Alex, do not let us pursue this subject any farther, but return -quietly to the palace."</p> - -<p class="normal">Then bidding her elder brother adieu, the lady left him, and, -accompanied by Alexander, walked back almost in silence to Holyrood; -for she herself was full of doubts and anxieties, and Alexander -Ruthven was in that state of irritation which is often produced, -especially in a young mind, by a conflict between a wish to do right -and strong temptations to do wrong.</p> - -<p class="normal">I need not pause to detail the passing of the day with Gowrie. The -law's delay is proverbial as one of the banes of human existence in -the blessed land wherein we live.--It was so even in his time; and he -found, on consulting with those who had to deal with such matters, -that the drawing up of the renunciation, simple as it seemed, would -require the labour and attention of several days, in order to couch it -in the full and ample terms which he knew would be required by the -king. He had to give long explanations, and to enter into details -which he had not previously considered, so that the greater part of a -spring day was consumed before he left the dim and dingy den where the -man of law held his abode. On his return to his own house he passed -more than an hour in walking up and down the large and handsome -sitting-room, and meditating over the past and the future. If it be -asked whether his thoughts were sad or bright, I must answer, very -much mixed, as is ever the case with a man of strong sense and active -imagination. But Gowrie, it must be remembered, was in the spring of -life, in that bright season when the song of the wild bird, hope, is -the most loud and sweet and seducing. The circumstances which -surrounded him might alarm or sadden him for the time, but the -cheering voice still spoke up in his heart, and the syren sang not in -vain. At length he ordered lights to be brought, and casting himself -into a chair, took up a book--his favourite Sallust--and began to -read. The pages opened at the Catiline, and the first words struck -him, as strangely applicable to the half-formed resolution which had -been floating vaguely in his mind, of passing life in peaceful -retirement.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Omnis homines, qui sese student præstare ceteris animalibus, summa -ope niti decet vitam silentio ne transeant, veluti pecora, quæ natura -prona, atque ventri obedientia, finxit."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And yet," he said, "methinks many a man can raise himself above -the brute without mingling in the busy turmoil of the world's -affairs--nay, do more real service to his country and his race in the -silence of deep but peaceful thought than in the noisy contests of -courts and cities."</p> - -<p class="normal">Then he went on to read, till he came to the splendid description of -Catiline.--"Lucius Catilina, nobili genere natus, magna vi et animi et -corporis, sed ingenio malo provoque," &c.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What a picture of wickedness," he thought, as he read on; "ay, and -what a picture of the state of Rome under the republic, when it was -possible to say of any one man's life, 'Huic, ab adolescentia bella -intestina, cædes, rapinæ, discordia civilis, grata fuere; ibique -juventutem suam exercuit.' Is this the fruit of free and democratic -institutions?" he thought. "Is a state so nearly approaching to -anarchy, the result of popular government? A despotism were better! -But yet it cannot be so. There must be a mean between the licence -which destroys and the authority which oppresses society, when the -people have sufficient power to guard and support their liberties, and -the magistrates of the land are armed with the means of checking -lawless violence without trenching upon lawful freedom. I am not a -free man if there be others in the land who have the power to injure -me unpunished: my freedom is as much controlled by them as it could be -by any king. It is laws which make real freedom, laws justly framed -and firmly executed, laws above kings and subjects both.--But let me -see what he says more."</p> - -<p class="normal">He had not time, however, to turn the pages of the book before the -door quietly opened behind him, and a step was heard upon the floor. -He did not turn his head, however; and the person who came in -proceeded round the table to the opposite side of the fireplace, when -Gowrie, suddenly looking up, beheld his servant, Austin Jute.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, how now, Austin?" he exclaimed. "What has brought you to -Edinburgh? Has anything happened?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing to my lady, sir," replied the Englishman, comprehending very -well that his sudden appearance might alarm the earl for Julia's -safety, "but a good deal to myself; and I thought it much better to -come and tell you, my lord, rather than go back to my duty, for nobody -can tell how much what happens to one man may do for another. I'm not -in Edinburgh by my own good will, you may easily believe, for you told -me to stay, and I would have stayed; but necessity has no law, and -what can't be cured must be endured. If other legs run away with me, -my legs aren't in fault, and might makes right, as people say.--Well, -my lord, I'm going on. I came against my will, as I shall set forth -presently. The way was this: it is just four days ago that we saw -three or four men riding in that long dark valley to the north west, -and old Mac Duff, your baron bailie, was thinking to go forth and see -what they were about; but knowing very well that if he were taken and -the place attacked, I could not command the men, or, at all events, -that they would not obey, which comes pretty near to the same thing, I -rode out alone to reconnoitre. I did not think I could be so easily -taken in, but this is a devil of a country, my lord, for such matters. -I looked sharp enough round, as I thought, all the way I went; but it -was impossible to go in and out amongst all the rocks and big stones, -and I still caught sight of the men I had seen from the tower. When I -came within about half a mile of them, they turned round and began to -ride away, as if they were afraid of being caught, and thinking they -had only been upon some marauding expedition with which I had nothing -to do, I did not ride after them more than a couple of hundred yards; -but when I turned to go home again, I saw five men on foot blocking up -the road behind me. I made a dash at them, thinking to get through, -but they were too much for me, my lord, and they soon had my horse by -the bridle, commanding me to surrender in the king's name. I asked for -their warrant, but they only laughed at me; and the other men on -horseback coming up, they tied my feet under the saddle, and my hands -behind my back. The horsemen rode with me, but the men on foot -disappeared."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Did they go towards the castle?" demanded Gowrie, with some anxiety. -"What men did you leave behind?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, the castle is safe enough, my lord," answered Austin Jute. "There -were fifteen men in all in it; and when I went away I said, 'Safe -bind, safe find, Mr. MacDuff. Pull up the drawbridge as soon as I'm -out; and if I'm not back in half an hour, send out for some of your -friends round about.' He'd soon have enough to help him; and there was -plenty of provision in the place, besides the beacon on the top of the -turret, which would bring more in a few hours; but they wanted nothing -at the castle, though no doubt they'd have taken my lady if they could -have caught her. That I found out by what I overheard as they brought -me here."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And what happened to you here?" demanded the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, first they carried me up to a place called the castle, my lord," -answered Austin Jute, "where I was crammed into a dark, cold hole, and -had nothing given me to eat but nasty stuff made of oatmeal and water; -but, at the end of some hours, they took me down to what they called -the abbey, where I was not so well off as before. Bad's the best, they -say, but better bad than worse; and so it was in my case, for now I -was left in the dark without anything to eat or drink at all for a -great many hours, till the sunshine came in at a hole up above, and I -began to whistle to pass the time. Soon after I was taken out, and was -carried to a room where there were five or six people, and a large -curtain across one end of the room. There was a table, too, with -several things upon it, some little and some big, made of iron, and of -very odd unpleasant shapes. One was like a barbecuing spit, only not -so big; and I heard them call it the boot. A stout man was standing by -the table, twice as big as I am, with his jerkin off and his sleeves -turned up. I did not like his look at all. When I was brought in, -those who were at the table began to cross-question me in all manner -of ways as to what I did in Scotland, and how I came to be at -Trochrie; and I beat about the bush a long time, especially when they -asked me about my lady----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then they knew already she was there?" said the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I'm not quite sure, my lord, now," said Austin Jute, frankly. "They -seemed to know at the time; but I believe they took me in. I would not -tell you a lie, my lord, for the world; but I've a strong notion they -made me betray myself, by pretending to know more than they did. I'm -very sorry for it; but what's done can't be undone. A bolt that's shot -must go its own way. However, when I found that, either by what I said -or by what they themselves knew, they were quite sure of the matter, I -refused to answer any more questions as to how she was brought there, -and all the rest. Then they threatened to put the boot on me, as they -called it. I did not like that at all. I should have fancied my leg a -pig being roasted alive; but instead of that they put a thing upon my -thumb, and told me to answer truly, or it should be screwed up."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie rose from his seat, and walked up and down the room with his -cheek flushed and his brow contracted; but he said nothing; and, after -gazing at his lord for a moment, Austin Jute continued. "They changed -their course now, however, and began asking if I had been with you in -Italy; so I said I had. Then they inquired where you had hired me; on -which I said, in Padua, five years ago. After that, this question -arose, whether I had known the lady Julia there, and her grandfather, -and how long. It was an unpleasant sort of catechism with that thing -dangling at my thumb; but having heard the king talk at Falkland about -the lady's money, and how much he expected to make by having her in -ward, I saw what they were seeking, and I said to myself, they'll come -to the money in a few minutes. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind -horse, and so I answered, boldly, that I had known her and the old -gentleman ten or twelve years, long before your lordship came to -Padua."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But that was false," exclaimed the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I can't help that, my lord," replied Austin Jute; "it answered its -purpose. As I had got into a scrape by letting out the truth, there -was only one way of mending it--by letting out some falsehood. Put -them into two scales, and the one will balance the other. If people -ask me questions they have no business to ask, they may get answers -that I have no business to give. However, they asked me how the old -gentleman and the young lady lived in Padua, and knowing I could do no -mischief now, I said, 'Heaven knows. They were poor enough, in all -conscience; but where they got what little they had, I can't tell.' -Then a club-footed man, that sat at the end of the table, said -quietly, 'Then they did not keep up much state;' at which I laughed, -and made him no answer, as if the very thought of such a thing was too -ridiculous; upon which that accursed fellow, with the sleeves turned -up, gave a turn to the thing upon my thumb, and sent a pain running -all the way down to the soles of my feet. I never felt anything like -that. I had well nigh roared with it; but I set my teeth hard and held -my breath; and the man at the end of the table checked the tormentor -for what he had done, and bade him keep his hands off till he was bid. -So the thing was unscrewed; and then they asked me how many servants -the old signor kept, and I humbly inquired whether they meant men or -maids. The answer was, 'Both,' to which I replied, 'One, and she -was an old woman. So it answered both purposes.' The man with the -club-foot called me a saucy knave, and tried to look very angry; but -he laughed notwithstanding, and inquired if I were sure there had been -no more kept; and I answered, 'Not one as long as I had known the -family.' The other questions were all of the same sort, and they tried -to puzzle me very hard; but they could not manage it, though they -talked about a man servant whom they pretended the signor had kept. To -that I had my answer pat, however--that I was ready to swear upon the -Evangelists that there had never been any but one and the same servant -there for ten years. 'Whether it was a man or a woman,' I said, 'it -was impossible for me to say. Their honours knew best; but one thing I -would take my oath of, that it wore petticoats and was called Tita.' -Thereupon there was a great burst of laughter; and the room had a -strange echo in it, for the same sounds came back from behind the -curtain."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The party seems to have been a merry one," said the earl, -"considering the circumstances."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, they took me back, and plunged me into the same dark -hole, and left me there till this morning, when I was taken out, in an -oddish kind of way, not by a jailor or a guard, but by two gentlemen. -There was a little boy, about as high as my knee, standing by a -garden-gate to which they brought me, and he had my horse in his hand. -So they told me to get up and ride away, as if Satan were behind me, -back to Trochrie, and not to say a word to a living soul, but more -especially to you, my lord, of anything that had happened; and they -threatened me sore, moreover. I did ride away, for I was glad to be -out of their hands; but I remained at the south ferry house till dusk, -and then came back to seek your lordship and tell you all."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have done well, Austin," replied Gowrie, "and are an honest -faithful fellow. I was nearer to you and them, when they mounted you -this morning, than either knew; and I heard something said about -starving your horse."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, that was but a snap, my lord, where I had no teeth to bite hard," -replied Austin. "I know that a bitter word is often worse than a sharp -sword. So, having nothing else to say, I told them they had starved my -horse to make him like themselves. I took care to be in the saddle -first, however; but, instead of trying to stop me, one of them gave -the poor beast a cut with his whip, and sent us both about our -business."</p> - -<p class="normal">How the king had obtained information that Julia was concealed at -Trochrie was now in part revealed; but only in part, for it was -evident, from Austin's capture and examination, that some hint had -been gained before--how, Gowrie could not divine. The honest servant -was sent back before dawn on the following day, on his way to the -highland castle, and he did not depart without a liberal reward, which -he accepted without ceremony, for there were no affectations about -good Austin Jute. He served faithfully, devotedly, where he attached -himself; he would at any time have perilled life or limb, or -sacrificed every comfort and convenience for a lord he loved; and, to -say nought but truth, I do not think that, in so doing, he ever in his -inmost heart thought of a recompence, but he took it willingly enough -when it was given, and, sad to say, spent it with as little -consideration as he won it.</p> - -<p class="normal">Several more days elapsed ere the paper Gowrie required was drawn up -by the men of law, and he twice presented himself at the palace. All -there seemed still fair and smooth; the king's good humour lasted -undisturbed; the queen was ever kind and gracious; Sir Hugh Herries -did not appear at court, and John Ramsay, though distant to Alexander -Ruthven, was warmer in his manner to the earl.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Beatrice's doubts are unfounded, I do believe," thought Gowrie, as he -rode away after the second visit; and when he returned to his own -dwelling, he found the act of renunciation waiting for him. Somewhat -less than an hour of daylight still remained, and that time was spent -in reading and considering the document.</p> - -<p class="normal">The sun had just set, leaving a bright glow in the April sky, and -Gowrie had risen to gaze at it from a window which looked out towards -the west, when suddenly he heard a hasty foot in the ante-room, and -the next instant Sir John Hume entered in haste.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here, Gowrie," he said, advancing with a small paper folded and -sealed in his hand. "Here is something for you. What it contains I -know not; but Beatrice slipped it into my hand in haste and agitation, -saying, in a whisper, 'To Gowrie, with all speed.'"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie took it, tore it open, and found the words, "Away, with all -speed, to Perth!--to-night!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"My lord, here is Sir George Ramsay without, desiring to see you," -said a servant, looking in.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Admit him," replied the earl, crushing the paper in the palm of his -hand.</p> - -<p class="normal">The next moment Ramsay entered, with as much apparent haste as Hume; -but on seeing the latter he paused, assumed a calmer air, and -advancing to the earl, shook hands with him, saying, "It is a fair and -warm afternoon, my lord, what say you to a twilight ride?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not to-night, Dalhousie," replied Gowrie, gazing at him attentively; -"have you any particular object in your proposal?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Only to have a few minutes' conversation with you, my dear lord," -replied the other, returning his glance with one of equal -significance; "but a moment here in private will do as well;" and he -moved towards a distant window.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie followed him, bending down his head; and Ramsay approaching -close, whispered in his ear, "You are in danger, my lord. It were well -you departed at once. Lose no time--I dare not say more."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie pressed his hand kindly and gratefully, saying, "Thanks, -Dalhousie, thanks! I had heard the tidings before; but the obligation -to you is no less."</p> - -<p class="normal">He spoke openly and aloud; and his friend, laying his finger on his -lip, as if to counsel discretion, retired almost as hastily as he had -come.</p> - -<p class="normal">Ere half an hour had passed, the earl was on horseback, and riding -towards Queensferry.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It was a bright, hot summer day, the sky without a cloud, the air -without a breeze. The sports of the morning were over, the hounds had -returned to their kennel, the slaughtered stag was brought in, the -horses were in the stable, the hunters seeking repose. The old palace -of Falkland, where James V. drew the last breath of a life which had -become burdensome, rose stately amidst its gardens and woods; and the -old trees, but few of which now remain in the neighbourhood, then -spread their wide branches over the velvet turf; in some places -approaching so near to the building, as, when the wind waved them, to -brush with their long fingers the palace walls. James himself had gone -in about an hour before, rejoiced with the success, but fatigued with -the exertions, of the chase; and all the ladies of the court were -screening their beauty in the shady halls, from the glare of the full -sun.</p> - -<p class="normal">It has often struck me, in looking at the finer paintings of Claude de -Lorraine--and they are not all really fine--and in contemplating the -calm, quiet, sunny scenes they represent, that the painter must have -chosen, by preference, that hour when, under the summer skies of -Italy, all nature seems to be taking a mid-day slumber. Such was the -aspect of the scene about the palace of Falkland on the day of which I -speak. Looking towards the wood, and with one's back towards the -palace, so as to shut out its memorial of active life, one might have -fancied that one was in the midst of some primeval solitude, or else -that the whole world, oppressed with the heat, was sound asleep. No -moving object was to be seen; not a forester or keeper was within -sight; the deer were hidden in the coverts of the wood; the very birds -seemed to avoid the glare; and the court servants themselves--those -busy toilers--were all enjoying the repose afforded by the weariness -of their lords.</p> - -<p class="normal">At length, however, after the scene had remained thus quiet for about -half an hour, a very young but very handsome man sauntered forth from -one of the smaller doors of the building, crossed the warm green in -front, turned to one of the old trees, stood for a moment under the -shade, and then walked languidly to another, near an opposite angle of -the palace. He seemed seeking a place for repose, but difficult to -please, for he again left that tree and strolled to its green -neighbour, where, stretching himself on the grass, he laid a book, -which he carried with him, open on the ground, and supporting his -head with his arm, gave himself up to thought. Oh, the thoughts of -youth--the gay, the whirling, dream-like thoughts of youth! How -pleasant is the visionary trance which boys and girls call meditation! -True, youth has its pains as well as pleasures, both eager, intense, -and thrilling; but it wants the fears and doubts of experience, that -bitterest fruit of long life. The cloud may hang over it for an hour, -but the breath of hope soon wafts it away, and it is not till the -storm comes down in its full fury that youth will believe there are -tempests in the sky.</p> - -<p class="normal">There he lay and thought, with the branches waving gently over him, -and the chequered light and shade playing on his face and on the open -pages of the unread book beside him. The air was very sultry, even -beneath the shadow of the trees, and he untied the cord which confined -his silken vest at the neck, displaying a skin almost as fair as a -woman's, although exercise, it would seem, was not wanting to give a -browner hue; for even then he looked fatigued as well as heated, and -there was dust upon his hair and upon his dress, as if he had ridden -far and long that day. Weariness, and the hot summer air, with the -playing of the shadows over his face, seemed to render him sleepy. His -eyes looked heavy for a moment or two, the eyelids closed, opened -again, closed once more, and there he lay, sound, sound asleep, not -unlike what we may fancy was the shepherd boy of Latmus, when under -the influence of the fair queen of night.</p> - -<p class="normal">Some quarter of an hour had passed, and he still lay sleeping there, -when round that angle of the building near which the tree grew, came -walking, with a slow pace, a man of middle age, with an ungraceful -gait, and of an ungainly appearance. He was habited in a suit of -green, with a large ruff round his neck, and a tall crowned gray hat -and feather; but he wore neither cloak nor sword, and instead of the -latter, bore a small knife or dagger, stuck into his girdle on the -left side. He, like the youth, seemed to have come out of the palace -for fresher air than could be found within; and he, too, appeared in a -meditative mood, for he walked with his eyes bent down, and his hand, -in no very courtly fashion, scratching his breast. Nevertheless, from -time to time, he gave a glance around; and the second time he did so, -his eye fell upon the sleeping youth beneath the tree. With a quiet -step he approached his side, but was instantly attracted by the open -book, and took it up.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay," murmured he, in a low tone, "love songs! That's just it; fit -food for such a wild, empty-pated callant's brain."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he laid down the book again, and gazed upon the young -man's face.</p> - -<p class="normal">Suddenly he saw something which seemed to displease him mightily. His -cheek flushed, his brow contracted, and he set his teeth hard. Then, -bending down his head, he peered into the open bosom of the lad, and -even partly drew back the collar of his shirt. It was done quietly and -gently, but still it in some degree roused the sleeper, for he lifted -his hand and brushed his throat, as if a fly had settled on him. The -other started back instantly, but the young man did not wake; and the -one who watched him continued to gaze at him sternly, with many a -bitter feeling, it would appear, in his heart. His lip quivered; and -for a moment he held his hand upon the hilt of his dagger, with a -somewhat ominous look, and a cheek which had become pale. Then, -however, he seemed to have made up his mind as to what he should do; -and, stepping quietly back over the soft green turf, he approached one -of the doors of the palace, which was close at hand, and tried to open -it. It was locked, however, and turning on his heel again, with a low -muttered blasphemy, he went round the angle of the building by the way -which he had followed when he came.</p> - -<p class="normal">Neither the sleeper, nor he who had lately stood beside him, was aware -that there was another eye upon them both; but the instant the latter -had departed, the door which he had tried in vain opened suddenly, and -the light beautiful form of Beatrice Ruthven darted forth, crossed the -green sward with the quick spring of a roe deer, and stooping over the -sleeping youth, without care or ceremony, she tore from his neck a -thick blue silk ribbon worked with gold.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man raised himself suddenly on his arm, looking surprised -and bewildered; but Beatrice laid her finger on her lips, merely -saying, in a low but emphatic tone, "Into the palace like lightning, -mad boy!" and away she sprang towards the building again, passed the -door, ran through the first passage, and up a narrow staircase to the -entrance of a room on the first floor. There she paused and listened -for a single instant, then threw the door open without ceremony and -ran in.</p> - -<p class="normal">Anne of Denmark was seated at a table, writing; but the sudden opening -of the door made her lift her fair face with a look of some surprise -and displeasure; and she said, in a reproving tone, "Beatrice! What -now?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Without reply, the fair girl darted forward in breathless haste, and -laid the ribbon on the table before the queen.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Quick, madam! put it in the drawer," she said, in a low, hurried -tone. "Your majesty will see why in an instant;" and without waiting -for any answer, she hurried from the room by the same way she had -come, and closed the door.</p> - -<p class="normal">There were several drawers in the writing table at which the queen was -seated; and opening one with a hand which trembled slightly, while her -cheek glowed a good deal, she placed the ribbon in it, closed it -again, and tried to resume her writing; but not more than one minute -had passed ere the step of the king was heard upon a staircase at the -opposite side of the apartments from that by which Beatrice had -entered, and a moment after James himself appeared, with a heavy scowl -upon his brow.</p> - -<p class="normal">Anne of Denmark looked up, not without some timidity, though she was -by nature very intrepid. There was no expression, however, upon her -countenance which could betray the agitation within; and seeing the -look of anger and malice on James's face, she boldly took the -initiative, saying, "What is the matter, sir? You seem disordered."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no, my bonny bairn," said James, "there's nothing the matter; -but I was just thinking what clever chiels those Italians are; and I -want to see that ribbon which I bought for you of the merchant man."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Certainly, sir," replied the queen, rising, with an unconcerned look, -for she wished to test how far James's suspicions went; "you shall see -it in a moment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No," cried the king, hastily, thinking that the queen was going to -quit the chamber. "You had it in this room, madam, not so long ago -that you need go to seek it. It's here you keep all your gauds and -ornaments."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, sir," answered Anne of Denmark, "I have no doubt that it is -here still; but I cannot even open the drawers of this table, to look -for it, without rising. I know not what is the matter with your -majesty, but your conduct is very strange."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I just want to see the ribbon, madam, that is all; and I think it -must be in this chamber--if anywhere," was James's reply.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Doubtless," answered Anne of Denmark, so far agitated as to open the -wrong drawer by mistake.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's no there," said the king, looking into the drawer. "There's -naething there but gloves, and bracelets, and such like clamjamfry."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I see it is not, sir," replied the queen, turning over the things -with her hand; "but it may be somewhere else. Do you think any one has -stolen it?" And she opened the drawer in which it really was.</p> - -<p class="normal">James did not reply to her question; but not a little astonishment was -painted on his rude coarse countenance, when Anne of Denmark drew -forth the ribbon and laid it in his hand. He continued to gaze at it -for a considerable time, and then put it closer to his eyes, to -examine it more carefully all over, as if he doubted that it was -really that which he had bestowed upon the queen. There it was, -however, precisely the same in every respect; and at length he gave it -her back again, and turning sharply on his heel, quitted the room, -muttering, loud enough for her to hear, "De'il tak me, if like be not -an ill mark."</p> - -<p class="normal">A minute or two after, he was seen walking past the tree under which -Alexander Ruthven had been sleeping; but by that time the young -gentleman was gone.<a name="div4Ref_04" href="#div4_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> One of the ordinary servants of the court -passed his majesty, bowing low, a moment after; and the king called -him up, saying, as he approached, "Go your ways, and rout me out -Doctor Herries and the man retiring," James continued to walk up and -down till he was joined by the person whom he had sent for. They then -turned to the farther part of the gardens, much to the disappointment -of Beatrice Ruthven, who saw all that passed from the window of a room -immediately below that of the queen, and who had hoped to gather, at -least from their demeanour, some indications of what was passing in -regard to her brother. I will not say that she would not have listened -eagerly to their conversation if the opportunity had presented itself; -and perhaps the circumstances in which she was placed might be some -justification of an act otherwise mean and pitiful; for, as the reader -will see in the subsequent chapter, she had accidentally obtained -information of designs the most treacherous against one dear brother, -of whose high principles and noble conduct she could not entertain a -doubt.</p> - -<p class="normal">The king and his companion, however, walked away to the other side of -the garden, as I have said, and stayed there for nearly half an hour, -while Beatrice remained in anxious and painful thought. Her head -rested on her hand, as she sat near the open window; and she had taken -no note of how the time passed, when at length the sounds of people -speaking as they walked by below, caught her ear. She would not move -in the slightest degree; she even held her breath, lest she should -lose one sound, and the next instant she distinguished the king's -peculiar tone. The words as yet she could not hear, and still less -those of Herries in his reply, though she recognised his voice at -once.</p> - -<p class="normal">The next instant, however, the sounds rose louder, and James was heard -to say, "No, no, that will never do. We should lose our grip of the -old bird, while wringing the neck of the young one; and there would be -such a dust about it, that we should never see our way clear after."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There, I think, your majesty is right," said Herries; "but if you -will be advised by me there is a way to----"</p> - -<p class="normal">Beatrice lost the conclusion of the sentence, for they moved on -towards the other end of the terrace. She knew, however, that none of -the royal apartments lay in that direction, and that the only door by -which the king could enter led through the great hall, where he must -necessarily encounter a number of the servants and followers of the -court, a thing which James rarely desired. She approached somewhat -nearer the window then, calculating that the two who had passed would -return by the same way; nor was she disappointed, for, in a very few -minutes, she heard the voices again, and the words of the king soon -became audible. They were of no great importance, indeed, and conveyed -no information but that which she already possessed--namely, that both -her elder brothers were the principal objects, for the time, of -James's hatred and suspicion.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The de'il helps they Ruthvens, I think," said the monarch. "The one -brother conveys himself away just at the minute when we have got all -ready for him; and the other sends a token I would swear to, fleeing -through the walls of Falkland like a conjuror."</p> - -<p class="normal">This was all that Beatrice heard, but after they had passed the -window, Doctor Herries replied, "The devil always helps his own, -sire."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And that's well said," answered the king, "for we have information to -be relied upon, that this Earl of Gowrie, when in the city of Padua, -had long and familiar dealings with a reputed sorcerer and magician, -some of whose infernal arts he has doubtless acquired or contracted. -Such matters are difficult of proof, for deeds of darkness hide -themselves from the light. But time discovers many things, and -Sathanus deals with his pets as we do with the birds and beasts which -we keep for our food. He pats them on the back till his time comes, -and then he cuts their weasands."</p> - -<p class="normal">Doctor Herries smiled, for he was not so credulous in matters of -demonology as his master; but by this time they had reached one of the -smaller doors of the palace, which stood open, and they went in.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">I must now go back for a period of more than a month. Gowrie on -quitting Edinburgh rode on at a quick pace, hoping to save the tide at -Queensferry; but he did not succeed. The water had sunk low, and the -boat was on the shore. There was no resource but either to ride -farther up in the direction of Stirling, or to wait till the next -morning. Gowrie chose the latter course, though at the chance of being -pursued and overtaken. He did not like the feeling of flight; and -though it might be necessary, and he had already adopted the expedient -as the only means of security, his repugnance was sufficient to turn -the scale, when, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, he had to -consider what was the next step to be taken. All passed quietly at the -little inn, however. No signs or sounds of pursuit disturbed the -night; and by grey of the dawn on the following morning, the earl and -his followers were upon the shores of Fife. A short ride brought them -into Perthshire; and then feeling in safety, the young earl paused at -the first village, to consider what course he had better follow. If he -went on to Perth, he saw that he might be detained there for some -time. It was long since he had seen her whom he loved; and he felt -that yearning of the heart to hold her in his arms again, which those -who have loved truly can well comprehend. He was also somewhat anxious -for her safety after all that had occurred to Austin Jute; but then, -on the other hand, the few brief words which his sister had written, -had indicated Perth as the place where he ought to take refuge; and it -was not improbable that she might either know of some ambush on the -way to Trochrie, or intend to send him further information before he -went. The importance of receiving the speediest intelligence of what -was passing at the court, decided him at length to act contrary to his -own wishes, and he resolved to sleep that night at least in Perth.</p> - -<p class="normal">Hardly had he risen on the following morning, when, at one and the -same time, it was announced to him that one of the magistrates of the -town desired to see him, and that a messenger from Dirleton had just -dismounted in the courtyard. The latter was instantly admitted, and -presented the earl with a packet addressed in his mother's hand. On -opening it, however, he found a sealed letter from his sister, and -also a few lines from the countess, informing him that the enclosed -had come that morning from Beatrice, with the request that it might be -forwarded instantly, and by a trusty messenger, to Perth. The letter -from his sister contained the following words:--</p> -<br> - -<p style="text-indent:7%">"My dear and noble Lord and Brother,</p> - -<p class="normal">"I had but time and opportunity to write you a very few words -yesterday evening, which Hume must have delivered safely, as I find -this morning that you have followed counsel, and are gone. I now send -you farther information, not direct to Perth, but by the hands of our -dear lady mother, lest what I write should be stopped by the way. -All is quiet here at this present, but some people are much -disappointed, I believe, in their hearts. The cause of my warning was -as follows.--My maid, Margaret Brown, who is very faithful to me, but -of a very prying and inquisitive disposition, and not without -shrewdness, informed me that danger awaited you, my dear brother. She -had seen that something was going on, it seems, in the abbey, which -excited in her some suspicion; and her cousin, Robert Brown, a menial -servant of the palace, after having been called to the presence of the -king, said to her, unadvisedly, as she was coming to my room to aid me -in changing my dress for the court in the evening, 'Your lady will -have a sore heart before long.' Thereupon the girl, after having -dressed me, employed all her art and ingine to draw forth from the man -what it was he meant, and succeeded so far as to learn that you were -to be arrested the next morning; but in such a sort, without due -warrant or form of law, and with insults and injuries belike, as might -bring you to resistance, when, a fray being created, you might -perchance be killed without there seeming blame to any one. This was -the girl's story. She having got some one of the court to call me out -of the presence, and having always found her faithful and true of -tongue, I wrote hastily the words I sent, and gave them to our friend -Hume, to be delivered to your hand.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thus far is the girl's story confirmed since your departure, that I -have it from a certain source, several people well armed went down to -your house this morning, and others followed them not far behind, even -so much that the street was crowded. On arriving they asked for you of -the porter, but learning that you had gone for Perth on the night -before, and being confirmed of the fact by one who saw you ride away, -they separated and retired, not having told the reason of their -coming. This makes me well satisfied that I warned you as I did, and -assures me that you have not been driven away needlessly by your -loving sister,</p> - -<p style="text-indent:50%">"<span class="sc">Beatrice Ruthven</span>."</p> -<br> - -<p class="normal">"I must have forgotten Scotland," murmured Gowrie to himself. "Heaven! -what a dream I have been living in!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Perhaps what he said was true. We are all apt to forget the evils and -discomforts of a place we have left behind. Memory is fond of pleasant -objects, and plants thick ivy shrubs to rise up and decorate the ruins -of the past. He had forgotten the turbulence and dangers which had -surrounded his early days. He had almost brought himself to fancy -that, as compared with Italy, Scotland was a place of peace, and -security, and freedom, where the assassin's knife, the oppressor's -wrong, the tyrant's sway were comparatively unknown. But the bitter -reality was now before him; and he saw that to be an enemy of the -court was to be but a hunted beast, whom every dog of favour might -pull down and tear at liberty.</p> - -<p class="normal">After a few minutes' thought, however, he cast off the impression, and -sent for the bailie, who was waiting to speak with him. This -magistrate was the reverse in everything of his junior, Bailie -Roy--tall, thin, and raw-boned in person, somewhat bluff, and very -laconic of speech; a man to be moved neither by fear or favour, but -strong in his attachments and steady in his sense of right. He made an -ungainly bow in answer to the earl's salutation, and at once dropped -into the seat which he was invited to take.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have come, my lord," he said, "about the prisoner, David Drummond."</p> - -<p class="normal">And there he stopped, as if all his say was said.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, Mr. Bailie, what of him?" rejoined the earl. "I hear he has not -been tried yet. If you will name the day most convenient to the -magistrates, I will come down for the purpose, and hold a court."</p> - -<p class="normal">"They were thinking of the twenty-second of the month," answered -Bailie Graham; "aiblins that might not suit your lordship?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Quite well," answered Gowrie. "I will be down, undoubtedly."</p> - -<p class="normal">Still Mr. Graham continued to sit and twirl his beaver, as if -labouring with some other question or announcement; and at length he -said, "Your lordship would not see the prisoner?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Certainly not," answered Gowrie. "He has been my own servant; and -even that might be supposed to have some effect upon my judgment; but -I can have no private communication with him while awaiting trial. If -he have anything to request, either to make imprisonment more -tolerable or to provide for his defence, let him demand it publicly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He said he would write to the king, my lord, when he was told of your -answer," replied the bailie; "and he did it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Can he write?" asked the earl, in some surprise.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, not just with his own hand," said Mr. Graham; "but he got a -scrivener to do it for him; and Bailie Roy, one way or another, got -goodman Jobson to tell him what it was he said."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not wish to hear, Mr. Bailie," said the earl. "It was probably -intended for the king's ear alone."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, that it was," said the bailie, drily; "and no doubt his majesty -will think no more of it than it deserves. It's not like to do the -Earl of Gowrie much harm, I should think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot tell," replied Gowrie, coolly; "but the unfortunate man must -have his own way. If the king thinks there is anything important in -his memorial, he will probably have the prisoner examined before the -council."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Na, na, my lord, he'll no do that," answered Bailie Graham. "He's -gotten a' that the man can gie; and so he may lie where he is for the -king."</p> - -<p class="normal">A few words more explained to Gowrie that James had already sent some -one from Edinburgh to confer with the prisoner in his cell; but that -since then, "sin syne," as the bailie expressed it, no farther notice -had been taken of the unfortunate David Drummond.</p> - -<p class="normal">I must not say that Gowrie had no curiosity to know what the prisoner -had said in his letter to the king; but he would not suffer it to -master him, although he had little doubt that the first intimation of -Julia's concealment at Trochrie had been thus communicated to James, -and he did not feel at all sure that many parts of his conduct might -not have been misrepresented by the sullen spirit of revenge which he -had often remarked in the prisoner.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is very possible, Mr. Bailie," he said, "that this man may have -attempted to injure me in his majesty's opinion by false or perverted -statements; but that shall not prevent me from doing all that justice -requires, without the slightest consideration of consequences. We will -proceed, then, to the trial on the day you have named, and I shall not -think it necessary even to let his majesty know the time appointed, -for although it would not become either you or me to stop a letter -addressed to our sovereign, yet the transaction is one with which we -have nothing to do; and we must fulfil our duties as if it had not -taken place."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I knew your lordship was right," said Bailie Graham, in broader -Scotch than I shall attempt to transcribe. "Bailie Roy, poor body, -thought it would have been better for you to have seen the man, and -spoke civilly to him till he was hanged; but I said that was not the -way a provost of Perth should act; and so good morning to your -lordship. Let them say what they will of you, this is the way to win -through all."</p> - -<p class="normal">Alas! that it should not always be as the worthy merchant said, and -that this history should afford a pregnant example of the reverse.</p> - -<p class="normal">Within an hour after the good man had departed from the earl's great -house at Perth, Gowrie himself took his way towards Trochrie, riding -with the spirit of love to hurry him forward. Gay and bright were the -dreams that he dreamed by the way; and a feeling of rejoicing seemed -to fill his heart as he thought that he had cast off the trammels of a -court, and resumed that private station in which he now felt sure that -happiness was only to be obtained. It would seem that fate or chance -takes a delight in throwing obstacles in the way of impatience, -perhaps as a check to its vehemence, and a warning to go more quietly. -Though he set out early from Perth, and might have ridden the distance -to Strathbraan in a few hours, a thousand petty accidents beset the -earl by the way. A ford, which used to be practicable at almost all -seasons, was now found impassable, for there had been rain in the -hills. The earl's own horse cast a shoe, and it had to be replaced -before he could proceed; and lastly, turned by the necessity of -crossing the river higher up, into a more difficult and dangerous -path, one of the horses slipped over a rocky bank, was severely -injured, and the rider taken up insensible. The care of the poor man -occupied some time; and so much was lost in this and other manners, -that the sun had set nearly half an hour when the earl came to the -spot whence the first view of Trochrie Castle was to be obtained. He -looked eagerly forward through the thickening shadows of the night: -the castle itself was lost in the darkness; but a light streamed forth -from two spots, side by side, and Gowrie gladly recognised the -position of the room in which Julia sat. Oh, how cheering, how -gladdening are the lights as we approach after a long absence; what a -tale does that faint distant spot of brightness tell to the heart, of -peace, and love, and calm domestic joy, and all the hopes that gather -round the hearth of home!</p> - -<p class="normal">Onward he went then, with renewed impatience, and in ten minutes more -he held Julia gladly to his heart. It was a moment that well repaid -all the cares and anxieties and griefs he had suffered.</p> - -<p class="normal">And there they sat side by side, and gazed at each other in silence, -with her dear hand locked in his, and the heart looking out through -the window of the eye; and each had much to say to the other, but -still it was long unsaid, for emotions would have way before words.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You look pale and sad, Gowrie," said Julia, at length. "I fear you -have met with disappointment."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, indeed, dear girl," he answered, "I am not sad, nor have I reason -to feel disappointment. My sensations have been very mixed, as all the -feelings produced by the great world are; but now joy certainly -predominates, for I am with you, and bear you some happy tidings. -Then, as to disappointment, dearest Julia, I may experience some at -finding that my fancy had drawn pictures of men and things in this, my -native land, in colours far too bright; but that was my own fault or -my own folly; and in the most essential point of my hopes, I have -succeeded as far as I could expect."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thank Heaven for that!" replied Julia, with no light words; "whatever -be that point, I am sure that it is a noble and a good one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nay," said Gowrie, "do not praise too much, my Julia. It is a very -selfish one; but, to keep you in no suspense, let me tell you that the -king has given his consent, in writing, to our union in the month of -September next. All difficulties are thus removed, and I must say that -in this he has acted, to all appearance, generously; for he had -learned that you are here, and might not unreasonably, perhaps, have -expressed some anger at my having concealed the fact."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I heard from good Austin that he had gained intelligence of my -abode," replied Julia, "and I felt some alarm, especially during your -faithful follower's long and unexplained absence; but I tried to -comfort myself by thinking of all the precautions you had taken when -last you were here; for I can hardly fancy that anything which Gowrie -undertakes can go wrong."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Would it were so, truly, my beloved," replied Gowrie, somewhat -gloomily.</p> - -<p class="normal">"See this very instance!" exclaimed Julia. "Have you not succeeded -where we had so little hope?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not succeeded as well as I could wish," answered her lover. "The king -has made it a condition, Julia, that you shall formally renounce all -claim whatsoever upon the estates and property of your father--even -Whiteburn, though settled by deed upon your mother."</p> - -<p class="normal">He paused a moment, watching her thoughtful face, and then added, -"Nevertheless, I have promised the renunciation in your name; first, -because I knew it was the only means of winning the king's consent; -and secondly, because I found that it was more than doubtful whether -you could establish your claim by law."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have but one regret in this case, Gowrie," replied the beautiful -girl--"that I come to you poor and dowerless. Oh, if I had all the -wealth which they say my poor father amassed, how gladly would I pour -it out before you!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"If that be all, have no regret, my love," replied the young -earl--"right glad am I that you do not possess it. I have wealth -enough for both, my Julia--too much, indeed, it seems; for in this -land wealth and influence do not excite envy alone, but doubt and -suspicion likewise. It is dangerous, I am sure, to be too powerful a -subject under a weak king. However, I have enough, and to spare. If -then, dear one, you will sign the act of renunciation, I will despatch -it to the king to-morrow, and then no objection can be ever raised or -opposition offered."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then I must not go to the court to sign it?" asked Julia, eagerly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not unless you wish it," replied Gowrie.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Thank Heaven for that, too!" she exclaimed. "Wish it! Oh no, Gowrie. -I suppose the time will come when I must go there; but had I my will, -that time would never be. I always dreaded the thought of courts, and -what your dear sister told me of that in which she dwells, made me -more timid and fearful than ever. Oh, promise me, Gowrie, that we -shall spend the greater part of life afar from those nests of envy, -malice, and greediness."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That promise I will make with all my heart," replied her lover; "but -tell me, Julia, are you not weary of this desert solitude? Beatrice, -who almost always counsels well, has half persuaded me to keep you -immured here till you are altogether my own; for she sees danger in -your residing anywhere not provided so well for defence as this. She -thinks the king might seize upon you, and use the expectation of your -hand as a means of leading me to a course which my heart and -conscience disapprove, or rather, employ the fear of losing you, to -drive me to acts which I am bound to oppose and to denounce."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I have never felt weary one day," answered Julia: "fears I may have -had--anxiety to see you again, I may have felt; but weariness, never; -nor shall I, Gowrie. A few short months will soon pass: you will let -me see you at times; I have beautiful nature before my eyes, books, -music, painting, thought, to fill up the time; and what need I more? -Yes, follow dear Beatrice's counsel. Let me rest here, dear Gowrie, -till all places become alike to me, for thou wilt be with me in all."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie pressed her gently to his heart, and then withdrew his arms -again; for he felt that, lonely, protected only by his honour, he must -not let even the warmth of the purest love call up a doubt or a fear -in her young heart. His thoughts and words naturally followed the -course in which his feelings led; and he replied, "I will be with you -often, my Julia, though now I must leave you soon, I fear; but when I -return I will try to bring one of my sisters with me to cheer you."</p> - -<p class="normal">But Julia had tasted less of the tree of the knowledge of good and -evil, and she answered, innocently, "I want no cheering when you are -with me, Gowrie. Glad shall I be to see them; and if they be like -Beatrice, my heart will open to them like a humble flower to the -bright sun; but Gowrie's presence is life enough for me. But I have -many things to tell you, too; and yet, I know not why, but I think you -have not told me all."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, there are many minor things to mention," answered the young earl, -doubtful whether it were wisest to inform her of the dangers which had -menaced, or to conceal them, now that he was safe, at least for the -time. "What need," he asked himself, "to disturb her mind, and keep -her in constant agitation, whenever I am absent, by fears for me, -whose life has been already menaced? Better let her remain in -ignorance of the perils that beset my path, when she can do nought to -avert them. Could she act, could she counsel, could she direct, I -would conceal nothing from her; but she is here helpless and alone, -unable to do aught but sit and weep over the dangers or the griefs of -others. Shall I make the hours, lonely and dull as they must be here, -sad and apprehensive also? No, no; I will not be insincere; and -whatsoever she asks, will answer her truly; but I will say no more -upon such subjects than needs must be said."</p> - -<p class="normal">Perhaps Gowrie went a little further than this, for he purposely led -the conversation away from the subject of his own fate; and all that -Julia learned was, that the king had shown no great love in his -demeanour either for the earl or for his brother. Even this made her -somewhat thoughtful; and to change the subject, Austin Jute was sent -for. He came as fresh, as gay, as ugly as ever; but on this occasion -he had little to tell, for his journey back to Trochrie had passed -without impediment from any other source but his ignorance of the way. -The difficulties he met with from that cause, he described with -considerable humour, telling the answers which had been given to his -inquiries at the different places which he had passed, and imitating -the various dialects of the counties through which he had gone, which -were in those days very strongly marked. He did very well till he came -to the Gaelic, and even then, though he was utterly unacquainted with -the words of the language, he contrived to give some of the sounds so -exactly, that Gowrie could not refrain from laughter.</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia rejoiced to see him so gay; and if she had entertained any -suspicion that he was withholding the painful portion of the truth -from her, it was dissipated by the cheerfulness he displayed.</p> - -<p class="normal">An hour or two thus went by; but Gowrie would not keep her long from -repose, for he longed to go forth with her on the following morning, -and roam through the valleys, and over the hills, now covered with the -yellow broom and the young shoots of the heath. The weather had become -bright and warm. The fair season was coming on with rapid strides, -when the mountains are softened and decorated by the hand of nature, -and their solemn gloom cheered by the smiles of the sky; and Gowrie -thought of many a plan to make the hours pass pleasantly. "While -here," he said to himself, "the feeling of security will spread a calm -and tranquil atmosphere around us, which we could not obtain in a less -wild and solitary spot. To-morrow, I will take my dear prisoner forth, -and show her some of the beauties of the land to which she is yet a -stranger."</p> - -<p class="normal">At an early hour, therefore, he bade Julia adieu for the night, and -retired to the room which he had ordered to be prepared for himself in -the gate tower. There he held a somewhat long conversation with Donald -Macduff, his baron bailie in Strathbraan; and having ascertained from -him that all strangers had withdrawn from the neighbourhood, and that -a keen watch had been kept up ever since Austin Jute's capture, lest -any of the king's people should be lurking about in the valleys -around, he lay down to rest, and slept more soundly than he had done -for many a night before.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">In a room of no very great dimensions in the fair town of Perth, were -collected a number of persons upon a solemn and serious occasion. A -number of the officers and magistrates of the town were present, -seated on a little sort of platform raised above the rest of the room. -On either side were drawn up the various officers of a municipal court -of justice, as they existed at that time, although I am unable to give -their designations; and towards the door were seen two or three -halbardiers, with their imposing but clumsy-looking weapons over their -shoulders, and dresses of the reign of James V. In a large arm-chair, -in the midst of the magistrates of the town, was seated the Earl of -Gowrie, as provost of Perth and heritable sheriff of the county; and -at a little distance from him, on the same raised place of honour, -appeared Sir George Ramsay, habited in the ordinary costume of the -court. Across the front of the dais was stretched a long narrow table, -at which were seated two or three men in dark garments, with pen and -ink and paper before them, and at the opposite end of the room, with a -fretted and gilt barrier of iron about three feet high in front, -appeared the prisoner, David Drummond, with a stout jailor on either -side. His strong and muscular frame appeared to have suffered little, -if at all, by the confinement he had endured; but his dull and -sinister-looking face was now as pale as ashes, for the earl had just -pronounced upon him that doom of death which he himself had twice -inflicted upon others. Sadly but calmly, after the most convincing -proofs of his guilt, Gowrie had pronounced the fatal words, with his -eye fixed firmly on the man's countenance.</p> - -<p class="normal">Drummond gasped as if for breath to speak; but the two jailors laid -their hands upon his arm, and were about to remove him, when the earl -interposed, exclaiming, "Stay, stay; he desires to speak. Let him say -whatever he thinks fit."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I appeal to the king!" cried the wretched man--"I appeal to the -king!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"There is no appeal from this court," replied Gowrie; "but----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ah! you fear what I could tell, Earl of Gowrie," cried the criminal. -"It would not suit you that I should have communication with the -king."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Unhappy man," replied the earl, with perfect calmness, "you are only -now aggravating your guilt. There is no act of my whole life that I -fear to have proclaimed at the market cross to-morrow. My conscience -acquits me of offence; would that yours could do so. But to prove to -you that I fear nought that you can do or say, and that I wish not to -deprive you of one chance of life, I will fix the day of your -execution, for the crime you have committed, so far off as to afford -you opportunity of using every means to obtain that pardon which you -do not deserve. You have been fairly tried and justly condemned. There -is no appeal but to the king's mere mercy. He has the power of grace -ever in his own hands, and far be it from me to interpose between you -and it. For your execution, therefore, if you cannot obtain grace, I -name the twenty-eighth day of the next month, at noon, and may the -Almighty have mercy on your soul! In the meantime, every means will be -given to you of addressing any petitions or memorials to his majesty -which you may think fit to send; and should I not be present in the -town of Perth, I beg that the magistrate will take care that they be -forwarded by a special messenger, and without any delay. Now remove -him."</p> - -<p class="normal">The court then rose, and Gowrie and Sir George Ramsay spoke a few -words together, in the midst of which a servant of the earl's entered -the hall, bearing a sealed packet in his hand.</p> - -<p class="normal">"From the king's majesty, my lord," he said; and Gowrie instantly cut -the silk and opened the letter, under the impression that it might -have reference to the cause which had just been tried. Such, however, -was not the case; and folding it up again, he put it in his pocket, -saying, "Come, Ramsay, and rest yourself with me for a day or two. I -am about to make strange changes in my house, and have also to place -my pictures, just arrived from Italy, in which I would have your good -advice."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But a few hours, my good lord, can I stay," replied Ramsay; "and I am -afraid my advice would serve you but little. However, such as it is, -command."</p> - -<p class="normal">Taking leave of the bailies of the town, and the other officers of the -court, with whom the earl was extremely popular, Gowrie and his friend -withdrew, and walked together through the streets. Several persons -followed them out; but as soon as they were free from the crowd, -Ramsay looked at the earl's face, saying, "I hope your news from the -court, my lord, is more favourable than that which I was unfortunate -enough to bring you when last we met."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, the letter was a mere invitation to join the court and hunt at -Falkland, in the early part of June," replied the earl, "and an -acknowledgment of having received a certain law paper, which had been -examined by the king's advocate, and found full and in due form. His -majesty has been very gracious," he continued, with a smile and a -meaning glance, "for the letter is written in his own hand."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Do you intend to accept the invitation?" asked Sir George Ramsay.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am doubtful," said the earl. "An invitation from a monarch is well -nigh a command; and I am never disposed to disobey my king where I can -obey with safety to my person and to my honour."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your honour is safe, my dear lord, wherever you are," replied Ramsay. -"Where a man holds life lightly, when compared with integrity, his -honour is ever in his own safe keeping, and no other hand can touch -it. But your personal safety is another question, and I would have you -look to it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Do you know aught, Dalhousie, of fresh designs meditated against me?" -asked the earl, straightforwardly; nor was the answer less explicit.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, I do not," answered Ramsay. "Of fresh designs I know none; but I -may doubt whether the old ones are abandoned; and I have often -thought it a dangerous sort of sport, my good lord, to hunt with a -half-reconciled enemy. The chase has its accidents, which occur most -frequently where many people are assembled. Methinks I would advise -you to hunt but little, and with those people alone upon whose care -and prudence you can rely."</p> - -<p class="normal">He spoke in a very meaning tone; and Gowrie answered, "I think your -advice is good; and, moreover, I could hardly contrive to accept his -majesty's invitation consistently with the arrangements already -formed; for my dear mother has consented to come forth from the -retirement which she has long kept, and meet me at Trochrie in a few -days."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then I suppose we shall soon have to congratulate you on an event -which, I trust, may contribute to your happiness," said Ramsay. "The -court has been busy with the story for some time past."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not very soon," answered Gowrie; "at least, to a lover it seems long. -Some three months must yet elapse--and it <i>is</i> long; for what man is -there, Dalhousie, let him read the stars skilfully as he will, let him -be learned, wise, experienced, who shall say all that may happen in -three months? How often does the shaking hand of Fortune spill the -wine out of the overflowing cup of joy even as she is handing it to -our lips!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"But too true, my dear lord," replied Sir George; "but I trust in your -case it will not be so, for your fate is, I think, much in your own -hands. If you but avoid dangers where they are known to exist, I think -they will not come to seek you."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie mused. "What should be the cause of this enmity?" he said at -length, in a meditating tone. "What have I done to merit it? Is -it that some one is playing false both to the king and me, and -poisoning his ear with lying tales of false disloyalty? Or is it that -between his blood and mine there is a repugnance which cannot be -pacified--that the sad and terrible deed done by my grandfather in his -mother's presence, when his unborn eyes were yet waiting for the -light, has placed enmity between our races even to the present hour? -They say that there are strange mortal antipathies in the blood of -some men towards others, which can never be conquered by any effort of -the person hated; and surely such must be the case even now, for a -more loyal subject, or one who more truly wishes well to his crown, -his state, his person, does not live. What are my offences?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I could tell you some, my lord," replied Sir George Ramsay. "First -and foremost, you are too powerful in the land for a king's love. Your -estates are vast. Your wealth, during a long minority, has mightily -increased; you are allied to all the most powerful and noble in the -land; and you are known to be one who would oppose, without fear, or -change, or wavering, the establishment of arbitrary power in Scotland, -either in the church or state. These are motives strong enough, my -lord, and they are the real ones. What the pretences may be, I know -not; but if you keep yourself aloof from all factions and all parties, -if you abstain, as far as is consistent with your honour and your -station, from all opposition to the king, methinks that the feelings -that have risen up must die away of themselves, like weeds that have -no roots.--But here we are at your great house, my lord, and a grand -mansion is it, certainly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, see the pictures I have lately purchased," said Gowrie. "I -shall have scantily room to place them unless I build me a new -gallery. It is with such things as these, Dalhousie--with music, -pictures, books, and thought, that I have employed my mind, and not in -hatching treason or brooding over schemes of disloyalty.--But we will -talk no more of such things. This is the way.--John Christie," he -continued, speaking to the porter, "bid them serve dinner in the -little hall for myself and Sir George, and see that his servants be -well entertained. We are in the gallery when the meal is ready."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he led the way across the court towards the right hand, -and entering a door in a little projecting tower which stood in one -angle, he conducted his friend up a small staircase which was called -the Black Turnpike, being but scantily lighted by three small -loopholes. At the top of this staircase Gowrie opened a door which led -into a very large and handsome room, containing no furniture except -some tall straight-backed gilt chairs, covered with rich embroidered -velvet. Passing by another door on the right, the earl then took his -way across this spacious chamber to an entrance on the opposite side, -while Ramsay remarked, "This is the gallery-chamber, if I remember -rightly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Yes," replied the earl; "and that door behind us leads to my study, -which I have furnished well with books. I am afraid, however, that I -shall have to change my domicile, for the window looks down into the -street, and the noise often distracts my thoughts."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You will soon have other books to read in your lady's eyes, my lord," -replied Sir George Ramsay, with a smile; and passing on, they entered -by a small door that splendid gallery which formed the admiration of -all men who saw it in those times. The walls were hung with pictures -by the older masters of the Flemish, German, and Italian schools. Some -were of a very ancient date, almost contemporary with the revival of -the arts--more curious, perhaps, than beautiful, but yet not without -their beauty too. There were two or three Van Eycks, and one -especially, a fine picture of John of Bruges. But that which most -attracted the attention of Sir George Ramsay, even from the Titians -and the Correggios on the wall, were some large flat wooden cases, -placed upright around, and with the tops removed, showing the pictures -which the earl himself had collected in Italy. Amongst the rest was -one of very large size, on which the clear light from the north shone -strongly. It was rich and powerful in tone, and vigorous in -conception, representing Niobe weeping over her children amidst a -scene of great picturesque beauty, while the vengeful God of Day was -seen retiring in the distance with the work of death completed. Before -it Sir George Ramsay stopped for a moment or two, and gazed with -interest and admiration. When he turned round he found the young earl -standing beside him with his arms crossed upon his broad chest, and -his eyes fixed upon the female figure with a look of stern thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What a beautiful picture!" exclaimed the knight; "yet it is by a hand -I do not know, and seems fresh from the easel. Who was the artist?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"A young man of the name of Guido Reni," replied Gowrie. "It was -painted for me this last year in an incredibly short space of time, -for the artist wanted money; and I gave him his own price. But that -picture, Dalhousie, has a particular interest for me. Do you not think -the Niobe very like my mother?--younger a good deal, but still very -like."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is, indeed," said Ramsay, "particularly in the brow and eyes. -Strange that it should be so, for this Italian most probably never saw -her."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Never in his life," replied Gowrie; "and I can only account for it -thus.--I passed several days with this young man in his painting room -at Bologna, and chanced, I remember, to mention my mother, and her -devoted affection for her children. Whether there is any likeness -between myself and her I do not know; but I left him to finish the -picture and send it over when it was complete, and when I opened it a -few days ago, was struck with the extraordinary resemblance.--Come, -here is a Caracci well worth your seeing."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And that lad lying dead with his arm thrown back under his head, and -the left hand clutching the grass, is like your brother Alexander," -said Ramsay, lingering before the picture still. But Gowrie had gone -on, and his friend soon followed. There was still much to be seen in -the gallery; but the habit of that day was to dine at a very early -hour; and shortly after, the two gentlemen were summoned to their -meal; and Sir George Ramsay mounted his horse almost as soon as dinner -was concluded.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie then retired from the court in which he had seen his friend -depart, to the study which he had spoken of in passing through the -gallery chamber. There, casting himself into a chair, he thought for a -moment or two, but in the end took up a book out of a number lying -near, and began to read. He had not perused a dozen sentences, -however, when the door opened, and, without announcement, Mr. William -Cowper, a gentle and amiable man, one of the ministers of Perth, -entered, saying, "I hope I do not interrupt your studies, my lord."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh no," answered Gowrie, throwing down the volume. "It is but a -foolish book, called, 'De Conspirationibus adversus Principes,' a -collection of famous treasons, all foolishly contrived, and ending in -defeat by the conspirators having too many men in their councils."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Dangerous studies, my lord," replied the clergyman.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not for me, my good friend," answered Gowrie, gravely. "But what -brings you, my dear sir?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The conversation then took another turn; but Mr. Cowper, after he had -left the earl, mentioned more than once, though doubtless with no bad -intentions, the studies in which he had found the young lord -engaged.<a name="div4Ref_05" href="#div4_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a></p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Now, reader, for a short recapitulation of events which occupied -several weeks. I must be brief, for the stern limits stare me in the -face, and the tale must needs, perforce, draw to a conclusion. First, -then, with the Earl of Gowrie. In a few days he returned to Trochrie, -meeting his mother by the way, and escorting her with kindly care and -tenderness. The best apartments in the castle had been prepared for -her. The summer was of unusual brightness. The day had been one long -lapse of sunny light; and although, when the countess passed the dark -portal of the castle, which she had last entered with a gallant -husband, since torn from her by a bloody death, a shade of gloom, cast -from the cloudy past, fell upon her, yet it passed speedily away, -when, with her hand clasped in that of her son, and the beautiful arms -of his promised bride around her neck, she stood in the old hall, and -looked forward through the perspective glass of hope towards the -future.</p> - -<p class="normal">A month passed away in joys and pleasant sports; Gowrie's household -was now completed. The number of his attendants and his tenantry, the -friendship of the neighbouring clans, the support of his relation, the -Countess of Athol--all rendered the residence at Trochrie perfectly -secure against any machinations of his enemies; and fear was banished -from the dwelling. The younger brothers of the house of Ruthven -appeared at the castle from time to time. His sister Barbara, quiet -and nun-like in character, spent the greater part of her time there. -An occasional guest partook of their hospitality. The mornings were -passed in chasing the deer, or in rides amongst the hills; and the -evenings in calmer and more intellectual pleasures. The old countess -would sit and listen, as it were entranced, while her son's promised -bride sang the exquisite songs of other lands, or while Gowrie -himself, with the peculiar charm which is given by high conversational -powers, told brief outpointed anecdotes of countries he had visited, -or great men whom he had known; and, while she gazed upon the -extraordinary loveliness of the one, or the high-toned, manly beauty -of the other, she would say to herself, "These two were certainly -formed by Heaven to be united," and would add, with a half-doubtful -sigh, "and to be happy."</p> - -<p class="normal">At the end of about a month, suddenly and unexpectedly, they were -joined at Trochrie by the earl's younger brother, Alexander. He seemed -to shrink from all explanation of the causes of his having quitted the -court; and when his mother made some inquiries as to whether the king -and he were still friends, replied, "Yes. His majesty parted with me -most graciously."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie asked no questions; but he divined much. He was kind and gentle -to his brother, however; and the youth seemed to feel his forbearance -deeply, and showed greater reverence and affection than he had ever -done before. His faults were those of youth, passion, and -indiscretion; but his heart was generous and kind, and experience and -example might have made him a great and a good man.</p> - -<p class="normal">The period of his stay at Trochrie was the happiest, by far the -happiest, of Gowrie's life; and it went on increasing in brightness, -for the days were rapidly approaching which were to make Julia his.</p> - -<p class="normal">As the month of July waned towards a close, it became needful, -however, that some preparation should be made for his approaching -nuptials; and to ascertain whether, as he hoped and trusted was the -case, the feelings of enmity which the king had shown him had been -mitigated by time, he wrote to Beatrice, who was still with the queen -at Falkland, and to Sir George Ramsay, who was likely to obtain -correct information through his brother. Both the answers were -favourable, for James was an accomplished hypocrite whenever it suited -his purpose to be so; and Beatrice replied, "I trust that all danger -is past, and former things forgotten. The king seldom mentions you, my -dear brother, which is a good sign; and when he does so, it is with a -joke, which is a sign still better. He said the other day, that you -were so busy courting your fair lady, that you could not give a -thought to king or cousin; and added, that if he could find out the -day you were to be married, he would go as a guisard, and dance at -your wedding."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir George Ramsay's letter was much to the same effect.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust," he said, "that time is curing old wounds. If anything is -meditated against you, my dear lord, I will undertake to say, that it -is unknown to my brother as well as to myself, for John is not of a -deceitful disposition, but rather rash and bold. He would not, and he -could not, conceal from me what he knows; and as he mentioned your -name the other day, if any design had menaced you, it would have been -told."</p> - -<p class="normal">With such assurances, the young earl's plans were soon formed, and it -was agreed that the dowager countess, with her two younger sons and -Julia, should proceed by one road to Dirleton, avoiding the court at -Falkland, while Gowrie, with Alexander Ruthven, should go for a few -days to Perth, to make preparations for the reception of his bride, -and then join his mother and the rest of the family in East Lothian, -on the ensuing 5th of August. The marriage was appointed to take place -on the 1st of September, the earliest day which their promise to the -old Count Manucci permitted.</p> - -<p class="normal">With such plans and purposes, Julia and her lover parted on the 30th -of July, 1600, in the fond anticipation of meeting again before the -week was at an end. Gowrie rode on to Perth; and the news of his -arrival spread through the county, where many of the gentry were now -assembled after having passed the winter and spring in courts and -cities. Multitudes flocked to see and congratulate the young earl on -his return, and on his approaching marriage; and, to say truth, the -crowd of visitors was somewhat inconvenient, considering the many -preparations he had to make, and the shortness of his proposed stay. -On the morning after his arrival, indeed, the inconvenience was -rendered greater than it otherwise might have been, by a circumstance -which seemed at the time merely ludicrous, but which was not without -its significance. Gowrie, on reaching the gates of his own dwelling, -had found them open, and the porter absent. He was somewhat angry at -the neglect, but on speaking to his factor, Henderson, the latter -excused the porter, saying that he had asked leave to absent himself -for a day, which had been granted, as the earl's arrival so soon was -not expected. The fault of the gates being open the factor took upon -himself, and proceeded to lock them with his own keys, before he -departed for the night to his small house in the town of Perth. He -forgot, however, to leave his keys behind him; and when, early on the -following morning, two or three of the neighbouring noblemen presented -themselves at the gates, they could not obtain, and Gowrie could not -give admission, except by a small postern door in the garden wall. -Christie, the porter, did not return till night, and upon being -questioned as to where he had been, replied, "To Falkland, my lord. I -went to see my sister, who is servant there."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Saw you the king?" asked his lord; but to this question the man -returned one of those equivocal answers which are often all that can -be obtained from a Scotchman of the lower class, who has no mind to be -cross-questioned. It implied that he had just caught a sight of his -majesty, but certainly did not imply that he had spoken with him.</p> - -<p class="normal">Was this the plain truth? I trow not; for James was much accustomed to -trust to his own skill alone in all dangerous negotiations.</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl, however, had no suspicion of the truth, and dismissed the -man to his duty, with a slight reproof for having carried the keys -away with him. This occurred on Thursday, the 31st July, and I must -now ask the reader to pass over two days, and follow me to Falkland, -on Saturday, the 2nd August.</p> - -<p class="normal">Do you see that little door, opening from a back staircase, and -somewhat high up in the building? It looks like the entrance to the -bedroom of some inferior follower of the court. It is on the third -story, just over the king's closet, and the staircase goes no farther. -Hark! there are voices speaking within! Laughter, too, and merriment. -Is it a party of revellers hiding themselves there, to enjoy a debauch -unobserved? No, it is a king and a king's confederate, talking over -deeds of blood and cruelty.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He'll come, he'll come," said James, "just as ae deer comes to the -belling of another. But I'll no write, man--it's better to hold one's -hand from written papers; they come up long after; I'll send him a -message. Now, then, Sir Hugh, let us think who we can best trust. -Tommy Erskine is o'er soft-hearted, or he might be a good man, for -he'll keep the king's counsel, I think. You may just whisper a word of -the matter to him and to Geordie Hume--not Sir John, mind--but tell -them not all; only just an inkling."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ramsay, I suppose, must know the whole?" said Herries; "he's a man of -action, prompt and ready, and hates the whole name of Ruthven."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Fye, now, ye silly gowk!" cried James, laughing; "it is just because -he is what you call him, that he shall not know a word before the -time. He'll be prompt enough, and ready for action at a minute's -warning; and his hatred of the Ruthvens will make him fancy any ill of -them the moment they are accused. But I'll tell you, doctor, you must -be there to put him forward the moment I cry out. Have him where he -can see and hear all as soon as it happens."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will take care, sire," replied Herries, with a meaning look. "I -have held a hound in leash before now, and put him on the scent at the -right minute."</p> - -<p class="normal">James laughed again, saying, "Well run our buck down this time, I -think, doctor. But we must have some more. I'm not that fond of -trusting such secrets to lords and gentlemen; for they may think their -own turn will come. But there are two or three sturdy fellows in the -hall and the buttery who'll do good service, and hold their tongues -when it's done. Just you jog down the stairs and call me up Robert -Galbraith--stay, I'll put down five or six o'them, that ye may send up -quietly by turns. There's Galbraith, and then we can have the porter, -James Bog, and his brother John, who has the key of the ale-cellar, -and Brown, too. He's a stout fellow, and canny. He does not heed to -ask questions, but does what he's told, only he's o'erfond of the -lasses. We'll have all these."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Hugh Herries listened with astonishment to the names which the -king mentioned, and at last ventured to say, "Will it not seem -strange, your majesty, to take with you, on your expedition, men of -such stations as your porter here at Falkland and the keeper of the -ale-cellar."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hout, tout!" cried the king, "who's to call it strange if I choose to -do it? May not a king guide his own menial servitors as he likes? and -who's to fash his thoomb with what it pleases us to command? I tell -ye, doctor, these are the best men we could have, and I must take heed -I do not get a gore from the hart I'm hunting."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That of course must be cared for, sire, above all things," answered -Herries, who feared that James might suspect his loyalty, as being -somewhat lukewarm, if he estimated the king's danger less than he did -himself; "it were well to have some one well-armed close to you, and -none could be better than Ramsay."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I and Christie will see to that," said James, nodding his head -significantly. "Ramsay will no do. He might be scrupulous if he kenned -it was all laid out beforehand, though he'll do the deed in hot blood -right well and willingly, if he thinks his king's in danger. You see, -Sir Hugh, it is not easy to get unlearned, thickheaded, common-witted -men to understand that judges and officers of the law are but -empowered to put offenders to death by authority committed to them by -their sovereign, who, in imparting to others, loses no part of his -power and authority himself; but having tried and condemned a criminal -in his own mind, according to the right which he derives from God, has -every title to say to any of his subjects, 'this man, or that man, is -a traitor, or a murderer, or a thief,' as the case may be; 'put him to -death;' for doing which the king's mere word is his sufficient -warrant. I say it is not easy to get such men as Ramsay to understand -this, though he would quarrel with any Ruthven of them all, and cut -his throat for our service, if we would but give him leave to proceed -according to his false fancies of honour and such like. No, no, man, -he must know nought of our purposes till the time comes, as I have -said. Such counsels are too grave for him, but still I will take care -so to prepare and preoccupy his mind with the knowledge of meditated -treasons that he shall be ready to strike home in our defence when -need is. The men I have told you of, are those we can best trust; and, -perhaps, before the day for the hunting, we may pick out one or two -more of the court folk, to accord greater or less knowledge to, as we -shall deem expedient."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But is your majesty sure that the earl is now at Perth?" asked -Herries; "it would not do for you to go and find a warm nest and a -flown bird."</p> - -<p class="normal">James chuckled. "See what an unbelieving carle thou art, Hughie," he -said; "the last time, I trusted the matter to you and your cronies; -and sure enough you found what you say, a warm nest and a flown bird; -but I have taken the matter into my own hand now, and made sure of -all. The lad returned to his great house, at St. Johnstone, on -Wednesday last at evening, and there he is carousing like any prince. -All the people are flocking to him from the country round, as if he -were king of Perth, and forgetting that we ourselves are here in -Falkland. The good folk of the town, too, are all mad about him, and -looking for the bridal, as if a king's son were going to wed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Is there no risk of the citizens rising?" asked Herries, in a low -tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">James's face instantly fell. "That's right well bethought," he said; -"they, burghers of Perth, were aye a turbulent set. We must have men -enow in the town to keep them down. What's to be done, think you, -doctor?--stay, I've got the pirn. We'll send Davie Murray to his -cousin Tullibardine, and bid the baron meet us with all his folk in -arms, as if just by accident."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I fear me, your majesty, that will not pass current," said Herries; -"people don't travel by accident with two or three hundred armed men."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, ay! but you forget there's that affair of Oliphant. The notorious -villain has been grinding down the Angus folk like corn between the -stones, and he's now in Perth or thereabout. That will be enough for -Tullibardine. As for the people about the court, we must have another -story ready; but I'se warrant we find one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope it will match all the rest," said Herries, with a grim smile; -"for where one has so many pirns on hand they are apt to get tangled. -I've seen many an old wife get clean dumfounded with the power o'them; -and I'm thinking that, at spinning a web, neither your majesty nor I -can match an auld wife."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Gae wa', ye disloyal carle!" cried the king, laughing; "to even your -born sovereign to an auld wife! Go your ways, man, I'll make a tale -that shall puzzle them. You send up the folk I have told you; but -Davie Murray, our controller, first; and then the others, one by one. -Let them be like buckets in a draw-well, as one goes down, the other -comes up--no more clavers, but do as I bid."</p> - -<p class="normal">Herries retired from the royal presence; but he stopped and thought -for a minute or two upon the stairs. He stopped and wondered, too; for -though he was ruthless enough, he could not regard the business before -him as the king did; and he asked himself, how James could plot the -death of two young, hopeful men, in the pleasant spring of life, full -of gay expectation and the happy blood of youth, as if he were but -laying out the chase of some beast of the field? The secret was, that -he could not, with his acute and logical mind, deceive himself with -James's sophistries as to the justifiableness of the act; and the king -did.</p> - -<p class="normal">He descended at length, however, and twelve times that night the small -door at the top of the stairs opened and shut, as one of those who -were to take a part in the perpetration of the contemplated deed went -in and came out.</p> - -<p class="normal">At length the king descended himself, his dark and fatal council over, -and lying down to rest, slept as soundly as a sick-nurse.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The prayer and the sermon had been long and furious, for Mr. Patrick -Galloway was one of the most vehement men in and out of a pulpit that -even the Scottish church ever produced. "The man of many pensions," as -he was sometimes called, had once been, or appeared to be, a stern and -ardent advocate of church freedom; but he had mightily changed his -views since he became chaplain to a king whose love of liberty was but -small; and all the tremendous energies of the most persevering and -eager of men were now turned to advocate the views of his royal -patron. He now "wrestled and pleaded," as he called it, with peculiar -fervor in his prayer for the safety of his majesty, and his -deliverance from all enemies, and he took for the text of his sermon -merely the opening words of one of the epistles, "James, a servant of -God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are -scattered abroad, greeting." On this theme he descanted for a full -hour, speaking to his courtly auditory as if he were the mouthpiece of -the king, and venturing to exhort all men to passive obedience, in -terms and with arguments which James himself, with all his blasphemous -uses of scripture, would not have ventured to employ.</p> - -<p class="normal">Many, nevertheless, listened to his fervid exhortations with that -reverence and kindling enthusiasm which rude and impassioned eloquence -often produces in the minds of the warm tempered and uncultivated, and -amongst those was Sir John Ramsay. Every word that the preacher -uttered went straight to his heart, and roused up therein a sort of -gloomy longing to be of service to his sovereign, which was but too -soon to be gratified.</p> - -<p class="normal">After the king's dinner he called for Ramsay, who had hardly finished -his own, and walked out with him, otherwise unattended. The day was -hot, but cloudy, the pace of the king and his favourite slow, and -James's manner peculiarly calm and composed. I will not attempt to -give any idea of the language in which he expressed himself, for -though, as I have elsewhere said, somewhat more than half a Scot -myself, his majesty's knowledge of the vernacular was much greater -than my own, and to say sooth, many of his expressions were not very -decent and not very reverent. I may be permitted, therefore, to -translate the dialogue into English and legible terms.</p> - -<p class="normal">The king's first question went to ascertain what Ramsay thought of Mr. -Galloway's sermon. Ramsay expressed his cordial concurrence with every -word which had been uttered, and showed by his reply how eagerly he -had listened.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the king, "it was a good sermon, and well -conceived, but it was like a wasting of much powerful exhortation, for -those who most needed it were not present to hear it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should have thought all men might have profited by it, sire," -replied Ramsay, "as a stirrer up of zeal and of loyalty."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, but they were all zealous and loyal about me," answered James; -"and none of those Ruthvens were present except that wild thing -Beatrice, who has more folly than guile in her."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I had hoped, sire, that her brothers were coming to a better sense of -duty," answered Ramsay. "Your majesty has shown them great favour -lately."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Policy, Jock--policy!" replied the king. "Both being out of reach -together, or only one within arm's length at a time, there was little -use of attempting to strike where the blow was sure to miss. But I'll -show you what to think of their loyalty and sense of duty. Look you -here, John Ramsay, what the man David Drummond writes me--he who was -put to death the other day by sentence of the justice court in -Perth--see you here," and after groping for nearly a minute in his -large breeches pocket, James produced a packet of papers, from which -he selected one, and gave it to his companion.</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay read it with looks of astonishment and displeasure, and then -returned it to the king, saying, "I wonder, sire, you did not save the -villain's life to be a witness against the traitor, his master."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It would have been perverting justice," said the king, "for he died -by a just sentence, although I'm thinking that the earl was not sorry -to stop his tongue with a wuddy. His information served me so far, -however, that I wrote to a good friend and servant of mine at the -English court, and got down this copy of the King of France's letter, -which this young earl brought over with him. Look ye now, and devise -what he means, for to my mind it seems that he plainly points out to -one who has been an enemy to Scotland that this earl who brings the -letter is the ready man for helping her in her plans. See here, lad, -what he says; 'I have been visited by the noble lord, the Earl of -Gowrie, who will lay these at your feet; and as he is exceedingly -desirous of serving your majesty,' &c.--Ay, more desirous of serving -her than of serving his natural king," continued James; "but maybe -he'll be taken in his own trap yet. He would not come to our hunting -here, though we invited him by a letter under our own hand; and now we -understand he has thoughts of inviting us to his place at Perth----"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust your majesty will not go," cried Ramsay.</p> - -<p class="normal">"If we do, it shall be well accompanied," replied the king; "with many -faithful and loyal people like yourself, Jock, who will see that no -harm befals us; and mind you be ready if ever you hear the king's -voice crying, to run and help him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That I will, sire. Doubt me not," answered Ramsay, "and woe be to the -man whom I find attempting to do you wrong."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I know it, I know it, Jock," answered the king; "and when I've such -folk as you about me, I do not fear any evil. But good faith, man, we -must get in for the afternoon preaching. I will bide here a little, -but you can go your ways."</p> - -<p class="normal">Ramsay at once took the hint, and retired; but James continued walking -to and fro, and, whether by any previous arrangement or not, I cannot -say, some five or six gentlemen of his household and court went out -separately one after another, held each a few minutes' conversation -with the king, and then returned to the palace. To no two of them did -the monarch say exactly the same thing, though the subject was still -the same; and he seemed well satisfied with the answers of all. -Nevertheless, when at last he was joined by Sir Hugh Herries, he said, -in a low tone, "I don't like that cold body Inchaffray. He does not -speak heartily, doctor. I have told him little, and we'll tell him no -more. Has Davie Murray come back yet?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, sire," answered Herries. "He has not had time, though he rode as -if the de'il were behind him--which perhaps might well be."</p> - -<p class="normal">The last words were uttered with a low laugh; and the king turned -sharply upon him, asking, "What do you mean, you fause loon?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"They say the king's anger is the devil," answered Herries, with a bow -and a cynical smile. "That's what I mean, sir."</p> - -<p class="normal">James himself laughed now, replying, "Then ye're not feared for the -de'il yoursel. But we must get the preaching over, Herries. It had a -fine effect this morning; though I wonder that goose Galloway did not -touch upon the sorcery and magic. I had indoctrinated him well with -it; and he might have made a grand point of it, especially if he had -hinted that there were some people who studied in foreign lands, and -came home atheists, full of charms and diabolical arts, but that their -end was always evil."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps he kept it for another time, sir," answered Herries; "and -indeed I think it might be somewhat too strong just now, to point out -the ill end that some people may come to, for it might make men -believe hereafter that the whole had been prepared beforehand."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Awa wi' sic clavers," cried James; "who cares what they say -hereafter? We'll make it good, man; and it's always well to prepare -the way for the history of such an affair. I'll tell you what, Hughie, -I have full proof that this Gowrie lad has had dealings with -necromancers and conjurers of devils, and that's a food which, when -men have been nibbling at, they don't give up easily. So Galloway -might have said it, and told the truth, too.<a name="div4Ref_06" href="#div4_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a> But now, Herries, man, -you must look well to the people who are to go with us. Have as many -as possible, in case of there being a fray. It does not much matter -whether they can be depended on for beginning the thing or not, so -that you be quite sure they will take part with their king when it is -begun."</p> - -<p class="normal">James paused for a minute or two in thought, and then said, "As for -Inchaffray, we must get him away. Your cold, long-thinking folk that -always take time to consider before they give an answer, are not for -such work as this; and when I put it to him quietly whether he did not -think that kings, having the right divine to judge all their subjects, -might cause execution to be done by their own power upon those that -the arm of the law was too short to reach, he said, it was a knotty -point, which required deleeberation, for kings might sometimes make a -mistake, though he would not go the length of saying that if they were -proved right in the end, they would not be justified. I will send him -to Stirling the morn, and he'll have time to deleeberate by the way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A small fine upon his estate might do him good," said Herries, "if he -shows himself at all refractory."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's a fine plan, those fines," said James, to whom the hint was by -no means disagreeable. "It punishes these fat, wealthy lords, by -taking a part of their ill-gotten gear from them. It leaves them less -power of doing mischief, and it strengthens the king to keep them -down. Harry the Seventh of England, our good ancestor, knew the value -of fines right well, and he was a wise prince. It's funny to read in -history how he employed his two sponges, Empson and Dudley, to suck up -all the gold that was scattered about the realm; and then, when he -wanted some himself, he gave them a squeeze, and the thing was done. -It's almost a pity that this young Earl of Gowrie has not taken it -into his head, with all these dangerous designs of his, to do some -open act which would have enabled us, doucely and quietly, to levy a -good fat fine upon him; but he's kept so quiet, that he's left us no -way but that we're taking; and that would not have touched his brother -Alex, who is the worst of the two, and deserves death as well as any -one that I know. But fegs, man, there's the old doctor looking out of -the window. I'll warrant you he's waiting for us to come to the -preaching. Rin, Cousland, rin!--but mind ye don't have the lassie -Beatrice jecking at ye, about your bowit foot."</p> - -<p class="normal">"She did so this morning," said Herries, as he followed the king; "but -I asked her to let me look into her loof, and then told her that I -could see, by the art of chiromancy, some great misfortune would -happen to her within the month."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ye should not have done that, ye gowk," said the king.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then let her leave my bowit foot alone," said Herries. "I'll warrant -my lady turned very mealy about the haffits, for it scared her, -although she could not tell what I meant."</p> - -<p class="normal">James was going to reply; but two or three gentlemen of the court now -approached, probably to tell his majesty that the evening preaching -was about to begin; and James re-entered the palace without saying -more.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XL.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">On Monday, the 4th of August, 1600, the Earl of Gowrie, his brother -Alexander, good Mr. Rhind, a gentleman of the name of Oliphant, and -Mr. William Row, a celebrated presbyterian minister, and a man of a -bold, intrepid, and straightforward character, were seated together in -the little dining-hall immediately after the evening meal, which was -usually taken in those days at nearly the same hour as that at which -we sit down to dinner in our own times. The summer's day, and the -twilight which succeeds it, I need hardly tell the reader, is much -longer in the northern latitude of Perth than in the southern parts of -the island; and though supper was already over, it was still broad -daylight. There was some very rare old wine upon the table, one of the -good things of life to which even the strictest ministers of the -Presbyterian kirk had no conscientious objection, and of which I have -remarked, they can generally imbibe a quantity without its having the -slightest effect upon their intellect, which would very much puzzle -the brains of any man habituated to its daily use. Gowrie, however, -was accustomed to drink but little. Of a strong frame, in robust -health, hardly having known a day's illness in his life, he felt no -need of wine; but still his hospitality would, in all probability, -have induced him to stay and press the grape upon his guests, had he -not had many subjects calling for immediate attention.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must now leave you, Mr. Row," he said, "and must take Alex from -you, too, for we have a number of orders to give and matters to -arrange; but my good friend, Mr. Rhind, will be my locum tenens, and -see that you do justice to my cellar. If I find it otherwise at my -return, I shall either think that Rhind has played the host badly, or -that you find the wine of an ill flavour."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are going to Dirleton I think, to-morrow, my lord," said Mr. Row.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not before I have heard your sermon, my dear sir," replied Gowrie, -with a courteous smile. "We shall not set off till after dinner; then -I shall run through Fife, embark upon the Firth of Forth, and be at -Dirleton before night."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And when you come back," said the minister, with a shrewd look, "we -shall see a bonny lady in the great house, I'm told."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust so, my dear sir," replied Gowrie, "and one well qualified, -both by character and education, to esteem and love such men as Mr. -William Row. It is for her reception that I am now so busy in -preparations."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let us not keep you, my good lord--let us not keep you. We will just -take a moderate cup, and then retire."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no, I trust to see you before you go," replied the earl, quitting -the table. "Now, Alex, let us away and make our arrangements."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the earl left the little dining hall, crossed the larger -hall and a part of the court-yard, and took his way towards the great -staircase which led to the picture-gallery, putting his arm -affectionately through that of his brother, and saying something to -him in a low tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What!" exclaimed Alexander Ruthven, starting, and looking in his -face; "I did not hear you clearly."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I only said, Alex," replied Gowrie, "that it is fit you should see -what is done and ordered; for if I should die before my marriage, or -without children, you will have to complete, as Earl of Gowrie, what I -have begun."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the young man, warmly. "What should -put such a thing in your head, John?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing but the uncertainty of human life," replied his brother, with -a grave smile. "I might be drowned crossing the Forth to-morrow. My -horse might fall, as poor Craigengelt's did, the other day. A thousand -things might happen, to take me from this busy scene. It is true, -indeed!" he added, "I have thought of such things much lately; and I -suppose it is natural, when the greatest joy of life is before one, to -dread those accidents which so often interpose between expectation and -fruition. Would that the day were here, and my Julia's hand clasped in -mine for ever; but here comes Cranston. I shall leave him behind, to -see that all is executed properly. He is a man of taste and judgment, -and we can rely on him quite well."</p> - -<p class="normal">The person who approached was one of the domestics of the Earl of -Gowrie, whom he had engaged since his return from Italy; but it must -not thence be inferred that he was a man either of inferior birth or -education, for many a well born and well instructed person, in those -days, accepted the higher offices in the houses of noblemen of the -rank and wealth of the Earl of Gowrie. Thomas Cranston, we find, was -the brother of Sir John Cranston of Cranston, and from the way in -which he is designated in his trial, it would seem that he had taken -his degree of Master of Arts.</p> - -<p class="normal">On his approach, Gowrie addressed him familiarly, and led the way -through the picture gallery to the rooms on the side opposite to the -gallery-chamber and study. The first he entered was a light and well -proportioned room, looking out over the gardens, and catching a -pleasant view of the beautiful Tay.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Remember what I have told you, Cranston, about this room," said -Gowrie, casting off the gloomy air which had more or less hung about -him all day. "This is to be my lady's bower, where she can be free -from intrusion, and spend her quiet moments at her ease."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I think, my lord, you said the silk hangings of green and white were -to be put up here?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, no, no," exclaimed Gowrie. "You are no lover, Cranston, I can -see. Here, we'll have the colour of the rose; and I pray Heaven, that -her life with me may be so coloured, too. The summer flower, Cranston, -whose blushing bosom will not rival her dear cheek, must decorate her -chamber. No, no; those hangings which we had made here in Perth are -for this room, and for the sleeping-room adjoining. My dressing-room -is the little room beyond, and these two rooms for my mother. In the -other wing, is your abode, Alex, hard by William and Patrick."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I hope they will be more quiet than their wont," answered the young -gentleman, "for, to speak the truth, I am of a more quiet temper than -I used to be."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You will be here but for a short time at once, and you must bear with -them, Alex," said his brother; "but you are far enough off from them, -too; so that even when you do come from the noisy court, you may find -repose enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I shall never go to the court again," said the young gentleman, in a -thoughtful tone, walking on with the earl, while Cranston followed, a -step or two behind. "During the last fortnight, Gowrie, I have thought -more than I ever thought in my life before. I see that I have been -wrong, but not, I trust, criminal; and I know that the prayer which -petitions against being led into temptation is a very good one for -me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will not say I am sorry to hear you so speak," said the young earl; -"and though a knowledge of the danger is, with a strong and high mind, -almost a certainty of victory, yet I will not try to shake your -resolution, for I believe it is a good one--at all events for the -present."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am sure it is, John," replied his brother; "and so, to return to -what I was saying, you see I shall be in Perth till you and the whole -household are tired of me, perhaps."</p> - -<p class="normal">"If you remain till I am tired of you, my dear Alex," answered the -earl, kindly grasping his shoulder, "we shall spend our lives -together. But I trust that ere long I shall see you married, too; and -what I can do to advance your fortune, shall be done."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I doubt not, Gowrie," replied the younger man, "that what I see of -the happiness of yourself and your fair Julia, will make me eager to -try the same lot--only where shall I find another such as she is?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, easily," answered Gowrie, "though it be a lover speaks, Alex. -What I mean is, you will easily find one as well suited to you as she -is to me--though I could never in life find another such. But let us -finish our task, for our friends below will think us long;" and, in a -far more cheerful mood than before, the earl led the way onward, -giving various directions to Mr. Cranston, till all that he could -recollect at the time was arranged. He then turned to descend the -staircase which led to the north-eastern part of the house, at which -he had now arrived; but, before he went, he paused to ask--"How is -poor Craigengelt, Mr. Cranston? I have had so many people with me -to-day, I have not been able to get to see him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He is better, my lord," replied the other. "I saw him this morning -before dinner, and I shall see him again presently."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Tell him I will come and visit him before I go to-morrow," said the -earl; "and he must come over after me to Dirleton when he is well -enough."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, the earl went back to the dining-hall; but the party was -diminished, for Mr. William Row was gone.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must go, too, my lord," said Oliphant, as the earl remarked upon -the absence of the minister, "for the truth is, my cousin, the Master, -is lying concealed in Perth, and we are to ride away at midnight, as -the king's people are seeking him for that affair in Angus."</p> - -<p class="normal">"A bad affair it was!" replied the earl, gravely. "I should be sorry -to say anything harsh of your house, but the king is quite right not -to suffer such things."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, the Master is a born devil when his blood's up," replied -Oliphant. "I wont justify him, my lord; but he is yet my cousin, you -know, and so I must help him, and now I'll bid your lordship good -night, and may God protect you!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I trust he will!" replied the earl. "Good night;" and sitting down, -he filled a tall Venice glass with wine, and drank it off at a -draught, as if he were tired and thirsty.</p> - -<p class="normal">A few minutes after, Mr. Rhind left him, saying he would go and help -to put the books to-rights in the study; and the earl and his brother -were once more left alone together. Gowrie, notwithstanding the -momentary sadness which had come over him just as Oliphant departed, -seemed more cheerful than he had been for many a day. The light and -playful wit which had distinguished him in Italy, sparkled forth anew; -and he spoke gaily and happily of his own prospects, suffering the -bright rays of hope to rest upon the future like sunshine on a hill.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It will be very sweet, Alex," he said, joyously, "to spend our lives -together here, afar from those courtly scenes of which you have now -found the hollowness. After all, a court is a dull place, from which -even those who rule it must retire to some small domestic corner for -anything like happiness. Its wit is all restrained, its merriment -measured by line and rule; and its gayest sports, hampered by -fictitious proprieties, always put me in mind of a man I once saw at -Milan, who danced in iron fetters for the amusement of the spectators. -We shall be much happier here. Sometimes we can sail upon the Tay, and -perhaps win the speckled salmon out of the blue water. At other times -we will away to hunt the deer, or mingle with the good citizens in -their sports; and then for idler hours, we shall have books, and -music, and pleasant chat, and let the world wag at its will, knowing -little of its doings. In a varied round of duties, pleasures, and -affections, time may well glide by us quietly, till we find age -creeping on us unawares, and telling us, there is another place before -us where rest is perfected in joy.--But it is growing dark, Alex. We -will have lights for an hour, and then to bed. To-morrow--oh, -to-morrow! Then shall I hold my dear one to my heart again."</p> - -<p class="normal">"My lord," said the earl's page, Walter Crookshanks, entering, "here -is Mr. Fleming with a message from the king for Mr. Alexander."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie looked towards his brother, whose face turned somewhat pale, -and then replied, "Give him admission, by all means."</p> - -<p class="normal">The moment after a well-dressed and graceful young man was ushered -into the room, with whom the earl and his brother both shook hands.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Welcome to Perth, Fleming," said the earl, "pray you sit down. You -bear a message from his majesty, I think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not to your lordship," replied Fleming, taking a seat, "but to Mr. -Ruthven. He greets you well, sir, and bade me say that he requests -your presence at Falkland, to-morrow, at as early an hour as may be, -to see the running of a famous stag which his men have marked down -this evening. You must not be late, for his majesty will be away -sooner than usual."</p> - -<p class="normal">"How many legs has the stag, Fleming?" asked Alexander Ruthven, with -an effort to laugh. "Four, I trust?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Fleming gazed at him for an instant, apparently in some surprise. -"Ah!" he said at length, "I did not understand you. Four, by all -means. I heard the order for horses and hounds, myself. We are all in -mirth and high glee at Falkland. The king seems to have forgotten all -cares and crosses, and like an over-ripe gooseberry, seems ready to -burst with sweetness. No, no, there is no danger. If you are there -about eight o'clock, you will find the whole court in the saddle. Some -of the ladies even, I have heard, are likely to be out to see the run. -What shall I say to his majesty?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven looked to his brother, and then replied, "Say that I -am his most devoted servant, and always ready to obey his will.--You -must not go dry lipped, Fleming, however," he continued, seeing the -young gentleman rise, as if to depart. "A cup of this old wine will -refresh you--your horse, too, has not had time to feed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He will carry me back fasting," answered Fleming; "but I must drink -to your good health, and to that of my lord, your brother. The king -never bethought himself of sending for you till three hours ago--foul -fall his memory! when, after talking with your sister the duchess, he -suddenly called out to me, 'Fleming, get on your beast's back, and -ride to Perth as if the de'il had ye. Tell the bairn Alex to come and -run the muckle hart wi' us the morn, and bid him no lose time by the -way. Some one here can lend him a horse, I trow, for his ane beast -will be weary!"</p> - -<p class="normal">As he spoke he filled himself a cup of wine; and the earl asked who -was with the king when this was said.</p> - -<p class="normal">"The duchess and Lady Mar," said Fleming. "They came into the small -room, at the top of the great staircase, my lord, where I had -ensconced myself to talk awhile with Margaret Hume, if the truth must -be told. But now I will wish you both good night, and away on my long -ride again."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl bade him adieu; and Alexander Ruthven saw him to his horse's -back. Then, returning to his brother, he said eagerly, "What shall I -do, Gowrie? This invitation is strange."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Strange as the man who sent it," said Gowrie; "but yet methinks he -can intend you no ill; and, if you refuse to go, it will at once put -enmity between you and the king. If there is any evil designed, it is -clear Fleming has heard nought of it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I must go, I fear," said Alexander Ruthven. "I know not why -I feel such a dread; for it is just like the king, the whole -proceeding--friends with you to-day, at enmity to-morrow, then friends -with you again, if you show that you heed his wrath but little. It is -possible--nay, it is probable, that he intends no ill; but yet, I know -not why, I feel as if I were going to execution. How often have I -flown to that court with joy!--and now how different!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"If such be your feelings, Alex, I would not have you go," replied his -brother. "I may perchance be superstitious in this, but I have often -thought that, as we see in beasts sympathies with the elements which -give them warning of coming changes, teaching them to fly to the open -fields when earthquakes are approaching, or look up to the sky and low -with joy when the refreshing shower is soon about to descend, so in -man's nature there may be sympathies with the finer elements that -involve his spiritual nature, giving intimation of coming joy or -peril. My own short experience and reading, narrow though it be, have -tended to confirm this notion; for I have seldom seen or known a bold -spirit seized with an unaccountable repugnance to an act, and do it, -without the consequences being disastrous to himself. Now, were you, -Alex, of a timid nature, given to unreasonable fears, I should make -light of such dreads; but as it is, and as you perhaps are but too -bold in character, they have more weight with me."</p> - -<p class="normal">Alexander Ruthven thought for a moment or two deeply, and then -replied, with a sudden start, "No, I will go! I have been scanning my -own heart, Gowrie; and I think I can trace the cause of this dread to -a consciousness which has come upon me lately, that I have been more -faulty, in my thoughts at least, towards the king, than I believed -myself to be when I left Falkland. So faulty will I never be again; -and as the first fruit of a better spirit I will obey his command and -go."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus was it settled, then; and all that remained to be determined was, -who was to accompany Mr. Ruthven on his expedition.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Take our cousin Andrew," said the young earl; "he is honest and -faithful, and well looked upon by the king. With your own servant and -one of mine that will be enough.--Henderson, too, is going to Ruthven -to see after the farms; he may as well accompany you part of the way, -and bring me back word if you find any cause of apprehension as you -go. Andrew is at Glenorchie's house hard by. Send him a message, and -he will go, I am sure." The two brothers retired soon after to rest; -but by four on the following morning Alexander was on horseback, and -in a few minutes, accompanied by his cousin Andrew Ruthven, and -followed by Henderson with two other servants, he was on his way to -Falkland. The apprehensions which he had experienced the night before -seemed now to have returned upon him in full force. He spoke little to -any one; and his first words to his cousin, after they had quitted -Perth, were, "I do not love this journey, Andrew. I know not why the -king has sent for me. It is very strange."</p> - -<p class="normal">Still, however, he rode on vehemently, as if anxious to know his fate, -let it be for weal or woe, and in the end he outrode all his -companions, coming in sight of Falkland by seven o'clock.<a name="div4Ref_07" href="#div4_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a></p> - -<p class="normal">"The king will not be out for an hour," he said to himself, "and I can -learn from Beatrice whether there be any signs of danger."</p> - -<p class="normal">Riding straight east, between the little town of Falkland and the -wood, the young gentleman took his way towards the stables, then -called "The Equerry," intending there to put up his horse and enter -the palace privately; but just as he was approaching the building, to -his surprise and disappointment, he saw the king already mounted, and -an immense train of courtiers and huntsmen, going forth nearly two -hours earlier than usual. There were some old hawthorns growing near, -and dismounting at once, he threw his rein over a branch, and advanced -to the side of James's horse. There kneeling on the soft grass he bent -his head, saying, "I have come at once to obey your majesty's -commands."</p> - -<p class="normal">His heart beat for the next words; but James, with a smiling face, -leaned over the saddle, and threw his arm familiarly round the young -man's neck, saying, "That's a good bairn. Well I wot, I wish there -were many to obey as readily and speedily, Alex. Noo, man, get ye on -your beast and come wi' us, we'll show you fine sport the day."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman obeyed at once; the cavalcade took its way to the -wood; the tracks of the buck were soon found, and the hounds put upon -the scent. Twice, I think, in other works I have described a royal -hunt; and here I will refrain, not alone on that account, but because -"the hunting of that day" was not of stag or roe.</p> - -<p class="normal">As the noble beast, which was the pretended object of the morning's -chase, forced from his leafy covert, bounded away over the more open -ground, and hounds and hunters dashed after him, the royal cavalcade -was separated into small parties, and Alexander Ruthven asked eagerly -of one of the gentlemen near, where his acquaintance Fleming was that -morning.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He was sent off to Leith at six o'clock, poor lad," said Lord -Lindores; "tired as a dog with hard riding last night, he had sore ill -will to go; but the king was peremptory."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Alex Ruthven! Alex, bairn, ride close!" cried James, from a little -distance; "what are ye clavering about? Mind the sport--Come hither, -man, come hither!"</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman immediately obeyed, and rode up to the king's -side; and throughout the rest of the hunting, whenever he absented -himself for a moment he was recalled almost instantly, if he was seen -to be conversing with any one belonging to the court. So long as he -remained silent and apart, James took no notice, and appeared to be -busily engaged in the chase; but no sooner did Alexander open his lips -to any other than the king himself, the monarch's voice calling him up -sounded in his ears.</p> - -<p class="normal">The hunt was long, considering the circumstances, for the deer was -forced by half-past eight, and was not pulled down till ten. All -gathered round the noble beast as he lay upon the ground, and every -one made way for the king to perform, as he so frequently did, the -last disgusting offices of the chase; but, to the surprise of all, and -the consternation of Alexander Ruthven, James remained upon his horse, -saying, "Noo, my lords and gentles, we've another ride before us. -We're awa to St. Johnstone, to visit our loyal friend, the Earl of -Gowrie; but we shall be back before night, so you needna seek your -night-caps."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I fear, your majesty," said Alexander Ruthven, "that you will hardly -find my brother at his house. He purposed to go to Dirleton early -to-day."</p> - -<p class="normal">"De'il tak it!" cried the king; "but 'tis no matter. We will ride the -faster and catch him, I do not doubt. Here, Alex, bairn, ride by us; -and tell us all about your brother's journey. Ye've seen the leddy, -I'll dar' to say."</p> - -<p class="normal">The poor young man, alarmed and confounded, replied, in faltering -accents, that he had; and, in answer to James's questions, he -described his brother's promised bride as accurately as he could find -words to do, in the state of trepidation of his mind at the moment.</p> - -<p class="normal">The monarch kept him by his side as much as possible; but in the -course of their long ride they were naturally separated more than -once; and the very first time their conversation was broken off, -Alexander Ruthven took the opportunity of asking Sir George Hume, a -distant cousin of the affianced husband of his sister, what could be -the motive of the king's journey?</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is understood he is going to Perth," replied the other, "to seize -the Master of Oliphant, who has been committing cruel oppression in -Angus."</p> - -<p class="normal">This information was some relief to the young gentleman's mind, for he -knew that the culprit mentioned had been in Perth the day before; and -riding up to the king's side again, he said, "Perhaps your majesty -will allow me to go forward and give notice of your coming. I may so -catch my brother before he departs, and enable him to prepare for your -reception."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," replied the king; "my coming must be kept quite quiet till I -am there. As to the reception, we shall do well enough. You stay and -ride with us."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman fell back again, with a gloomy and apprehensive -countenance; and James, turning to the Duke of Lennox, who was riding -on his other hand, said, in a low tone, "Do you see how scared he -looks? What know you of the lad's nature, my lord duke--is he given to -such high apprehensions?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I only know, your majesty," answered Lennox, "that he is a very -honest and discreet young gentleman, as far as my observation goes."</p> - -<p class="normal">James mused for a moment or two, and then said, in a low tone, gazing -with a cunning look in the duke's face, "You cannot guess, man, the -errand I am riding for--I am going to get a pose in Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Indeed, sire," said Lennox, drily; "I am glad to hear it. I hope it -may be a large one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I dinna ken," replied the king, in the same low tone; "but the bairn -Alex came to me just when we were going out for the hunting, and told -me that he had got a stranger man locked up at Gowrie Place, whom he -had found in Perth with a pitcher full of gold pieces. He besought me -to come away directly and take it, and to make haste and come -privately, for his brother, the earl, knows nothing of it; and he's -feared that the man might cry out."<a name="div4Ref_08" href="#div4_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a></p> - -<p class="normal">"I do not like the story at all, sire," answered Lennox, with an -exceedingly grave face; "and were I in your majesty's place, I would -not go. The thing is quite childlike and improbable. How should -Alexander seize such a person and confine him in Gowrie House without -his brother knowing it? The house is the earl's; the servants there -are his; he is provost of Perth, and high-sheriff of the county. Were -it not better, sire, to dispatch two or three of us on to tell the -earl, on your part, what his brother has related, and to command him -to bring or send the man and his pot of gold before your majesty?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," answered James; "I will e'en just go myself; but look well -where I go with the bairn Alex, when I am there."</p> - -<p class="normal">The Duke of Lennox was silent; but in the course of the ride James -told the same story, and in the same low tone, to several of the other -courtiers. It was heard by every one with looks of suspicion, though -it may be very doubtful whether they imputed the falsehood to the king -or to Alexander Ruthven.</p> - -<p class="normal">Even to Sir Hugh Herries his majesty repeated the tale, with a low -chuckle at the same time.</p> - -<p class="normal">Herries shrugged his shoulders, with what perhaps might be termed a -look of contempt; but he merely replied, "I wish the tale were more -probable."</p> - -<p class="normal">When the head of the royal cavalcade were within two miles of Perth, -but not before, James called Alexander Ruthven to his side, and said, -"You may now send one of your folk forward to tell your brother we are -coming this way, but stay you here yourself."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will send my cousin Andrew, please your majesty," replied Alexander -Ruthven.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, call him up, call him up," said the king; and the young man's -hope of sending a private message to his brother was disappointed. -Gloomy and sad, he rode a step or two behind the king, till they were -within less than a mile of the town; but then again James, turning his -head, gave him a keen and scrutinizing look, and said, "Now, Alex, -bairn, ye may ride on to your brother."</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man struck his spurs deep into his tired horse's flanks, and -dashed past the king with a low bow.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLI.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The Earl of Gowrie slept well; nor did he wake till past six o'clock. -Even then he felt unwilling to get up, for the last hour had been -filled with pleasant dreams; and they set fancy wandering on the same -track, even after reason had roused herself to grapple with the tasks -of the day. In his sleep he had imagined that he was wandering with -Julia through a pleasant garden; he could not tell where. It was not -certainly in Perth; it was not at Dirleton; it was not any he had ever -seen in Italy or France. The fruits and flowers were of a different -kind from those of Europe--larger, brighter in colour, more -magnificent. The odour which filled the air was at once sweet and -refreshing; and the fountains that rose up here and there, the rivers -which glided through green banks at his feet, were so pure, and clear, -and bright, that the little stones at the bottom seemed like jewels, -as the eye penetrated the waters. There was a murmur, too, of many -sweet sounds in the air--birds singing, and happy voices, and the gush -of fountains, and the low song of the stream--all blended into an -entrancing harmony. There seemed nobody but himself and Julia in that -garden; and they sat together upon the velvet turf of a green bank, -with the shadow of a feathery tree waving over them, with nothing but -joyful sights and pleasant sounds around; and he held her hand in his, -and gazed into her dark and lustrous eyes, and they both murmured, -"This is like Heaven!"</p> - -<p class="normal">For some minutes after he woke, he lay and thought of his dream. It is -very pleasant, on a bright summer's morning, with the birds singing -around, and the soft breath of dawn moving the air and agitating the -green branches, and the downy influence of sleep but half withdrawn, -to lie and meditate of happy days. Oh, how the images crowd upon us -then--how joy with joy weaves a wreath more beautiful than gems or -flowers--how we wish that life were indeed a day-dream like that! But -Gowrie was not suffered long to indulge. He heard some one moving in -the ante-room, and the next moment there was a tap at the door. He -rose and opened it, and, somewhat to his surprise, saw his servant, -Austin Jute; for he had thought it was his page come to call him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What is it, Austin?" he asked; "you seem disturbed."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh no, my lord, not disturbed," replied the good man; "but a short -tale's soon told. I don't like your man Christie, my lord--the porter, -I mean."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What has he done that you disapprove of, Austin?" asked the earl, -gravely.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing, my good lord," replied the Englishman. "That is to say, -nothing that I can say is wrong; and he is uncommonly civil to me; but -you can't always tell the bird by its feathers. A pig's got a long -snout, and so has a woodcock, but they're two different creatures. -However, to make short of my tale, Master Christie had two visitors in -his lodge this morning before five o'clock; and I'm very much mistaken -if I have not seen the face of one of them when you sent me to the -king at Falkland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He has a cousin amongst the royal servants," said the earl; but -Austin Jute shook his head with a doubtful look. "I never forget a -face," he said; "and very seldom a figure, when I have seen it. Now, -if I'm not much mistaken, indeed, the face I saw this morning, when I -saw it before, was going into the palace at Falkland with a very -different coat underneath it from that which was there to-day. There -was no badge then upon the arm either. They say fine feathers make -fine birds, it is true; and if so, it has sadly moulted; for it was a -finer bird then than now."</p> - -<p class="normal">The earl mused for a moment or two, and then said, "That is somewhat -strange, indeed. It shall be inquired into."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, things are strange, my lord, till we hear stranger," said Austin -Jute. "I have not told you about the other man yet. I'm not likely, I -think, my lord, to forget a man I once ran through the body."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should suppose not, certainly," replied the earl. "Did you ever -confer that honour upon the second personage you saw to-day?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"He was not first or second, my lord," replied Austin, "for I saw them -both at once. Birds of a feather fly together; and these two came up -cheek by jowl. However, if I ran a man through the body eight or nine -months ago in Paris--and people told me I did--he was here this -morning."</p> - -<p class="normal">"As you say--stranger still!" replied the earl; "but this shall be -inquired into directly. How came you to observe them?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Why, I was up this morning to see Mr. Alexander off," replied -Austin, "and then I went out to walk through the town. As I was coming -back, I saw two men before me going along at a quick pace, till they -stopped at the gates here. They did not ring the great bell, but -knocked upon the railings with the end of a riding whip, and Christie -came quietly up and opened the gate. I stood at the corner and watched -them, so I had time enough to see what they were like. I did not like -to wake your lordship earlier, but as the people are all beginning to -stir, I thought it better to do so now."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You were quite right, Austin," replied the earl. "Now go and send the -page to me. But say not a word of what you have seen to any one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Mum as a mouse, my lord," answered Austin Jute, and withdrew.</p> - -<p class="normal">As soon as he was dressed, Gowrie descended into the court-yard, and -crossing it to the great gates, which were open, stood under the -archway close to the porter's room, looking up and down the street, -and giving Christie, who was bustling about within, a fair opportunity -of saying anything he might think fit. The man remained silent, -however, and the earl at length called him to him.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Who had you here about five o'clock?" he demanded, as the man came -out, bowing low.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oo, it was just my cousin, Robbie Brown," replied the porter. "He was -on his way to Dundee, and looked in for a minute."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie fixed his eyes upon him in silence for a moment; and he could -see the tell-tale colour mount up into the man's cheek. "Who else had -you here?" he demanded, somewhat sternly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Weel, noo, to think o' that!" cried the porter, holding up his hands. -"If I had not clean forgotten to tell your lordship, that a very -worthy gentleman, Ramsay of Newburn, came speering as he gaed by, if I -thought your lordship could see him this evening. But I tellt him that -it was clean impossible, for I kenned you were to ride to Dirleton."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie was not deceived. There was falsehood in the man's face. Though -what could be the motive and what the object of all these proceedings -he could not divine, yet he saw that there was something evidently -wrong. Turning upon his heel, he re-entered the house, and, after -thinking for a few minutes, he sent for Mr. Cranston, saying, as soon -as he appeared, "I know not, Cranston, whether Henderson will have -returned before I set out, and as you remain here, I must charge you -with a message to him. Tell him to discharge the porter, Robert -Christie, at once, paying him whatever may be due to him, and giving -till to-morrow to remove from the house, but not to let him be found -here afterwards on any pretence."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will not fail, my lord," replied Cranston.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And now send Henry Younger to me, if you can find him, Mr. Cranston," -said the earl, who continued to walk up and down the room till the -servant he had sent for appeared.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Younger," he said, as soon as the man entered, "you have been a good -deal with Sir George Ramsay's family. Do you know his cousin Newburn?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, ay, right well, my lord," replied the servant; "a ne'er do weel -mischievous deevil, if ever there was one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then take your horse, and ride to Dundee as fast as you can go," said -Gowrie. "See if you can find him out there, and bring me word if he be -in the good town, and who he has got with him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Am I to say anything to him from your lordship?" demanded the -servant.</p> - -<p class="normal">"No," replied the earl at once. "All I wish to know is if he be there, -and who is with him. I have got nothing to say to him; but on those -two points I require satisfaction."</p> - -<p class="normal">The man bowed and retired; and Gowrie proceeded with the ordinary -avocations of the day. Nevertheless, his mind was far from calm and at -ease. Many of those little ominous circumstances which, like clouds of -dust rising before a storm, prognosticate coming evil, though the -connexion cannot be traced, had gathered into the last two or three -days. The porter's sudden journey to Falkland during his absence, his -brother's unexpected summons to the king's presence, the visit at an -early and unusual hour of two persons from the court--all raised up -doubts in his mind as to the king's intentions; and he asked himself -what could James design, and how could he best meet it? Both questions -were difficult to be answered, and he revolved them in vain in his -mind till the hour arrived for his going, according to promise, to the -week-day preaching. In the parish church he found assembled, besides -the good citizens of the town, a number of gentlemen of his own name -and family, who were parishioners of Mr. William Row, the minister of -Forgandenny, who had undertaken to preach that day, the two regular -ministers of Perth being absent attending the provincial synod at -Stirling. Amongst those whom he knew best were the two sons of his -cousin, Alexander Ruthven of Freeland, and, in parting with them at -the church door, he invited them to dine with him that day at twelve, -as well as Drummond of Pitcairns and the Baron of Findown, who were -also present.</p> - -<p class="normal">The moment after, the senior bailie of the town approached, and -informed him that there would be some business before the town council -that morning, if his lordship could attend; but Gowrie answered, with -a smile, "I fear, bailie, I cannot come, for Mr. Hay is to be with me -on county business, and though I love the good town well, I must not -give it all my time."</p> - -<p class="normal">The worthy magistrate received his excuse in good part, and on -returning to his house, Gowrie found the gentleman he expected already -waiting for him. All who saw him during the morning remarked that he -was very grave; but he went through the whole of the matters which -were brought before him as sheriff of the county, and they were both -many and important, with great accuracy and attention. While Mr. Hay -was with him, and about ten o'clock, his factor Henderson returned, -and the earl eagerly asked, "What news from Falkland? Who found you -with the king?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Henderson gave but a vague answer; and thinking he had something -particular to communicate, Gowrie took him into a neighbouring room, -and questioned him there.</p> - -<p class="normal">What Henderson replied is not known; but on his return to the chamber -where he had left Mr. Hay, the earl found Mr. John Moncrief, who came -to obtain his signature to some papers.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I met your lordship's factor," said that gentleman, after the first -salutation, "a mile or two south of Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Was he riding fast or slow?" asked the earl; for the most open and -generous natures will become suspicious by experience of man's -faithlessness.</p> - -<p class="normal">"At a foot pace," answered Moncrief.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then I know not how he has got back so soon," answered Gowrie. "I -sent him with my brother Alex to Falkland, with orders to bring me -back word how the king received him, for there was some little -displeasure when they parted. Henderson was ordered to go to Ruthven -too, and he says he has been to both places. Now, I ride as boldly as -any man in the realm, and I could not have done as he has done in the -same time."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He told me he had been three miles above the town," replied Moncrief. -"But these are the papers, my good lord, if you will be pleased to -read and subscribe them, for the lady cannot have her rights without -your signature."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then we will not detain your lordship farther," said Mr. Hay, rising. -"The rest of the county business can very well be settled at your -return."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie suffered him to depart, for, to say the truth, he was not very -fond of him; but Moncrief he asked to remain and dine, adding, "I -shall set off for Dirleton immediately after dinner. So you must not -expect me to play the good host, Moncrief."</p> - -<p class="normal">The papers took long to examine, however, for Gowrie would not affix -his signature till he had read them through, so that it was half-past -twelve before he sat down to table. Just when the second course was -being placed upon the board, the earl's cousin, Andrew Ruthven, -entered the hall, dusty from his journey; and approaching the earl, he -said, in a low tone, "The king and all the court are coming this way, -my lord, and I rode on to tell you. The report is, that he is coming -to seize the Master of Oliphant."</p> - -<p class="normal">"But the king is not coming here?" said Gowrie, with a heavy cloud -upon his brow. "The Master of Oliphant was at Dupplin this morning."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I cannot tell, my lord," replied his cousin; "the king's words were -very short; all he said being--'Now you may ride on, Andrew.'"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Well, well, sit down and take some dinner," said the earl, -thoughtfully. "Have you ridden fast?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I should have ridden faster," answered the other, "but there are such -a rout of Murrays in the street, I could hardly make my way through -them. I think the whole clan has turned in, with the Master of -Tullibardine at their head."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What do they here in Perth?" demanded the earl. "Did you speak with -any of them?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," answered his cousin, seating himself at the board. "Some -quite down in Water-street, declared that they came to honour the -wedding of George Murray, who lives half way through the town; and -some said plainly, that they did not know--they came because they were -told."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The Master of Tullibardine," said the earl, gloomily, "comes not to -honour the wedding of an inn-keeper. There is something more in this; -and we shall hear farther soon."</p> - -<p class="normal">Andrew Ruthven had hardly time to fill his plate from one of the -dishes on the table, and to begin his dinner, when young Alexander -Ruthven entered the room in breathless haste, exclaiming--"Brother, -the king and all the court are near at hand. I left them, a few -minutes ago, not a mile from the town gates."</p> - -<p class="normal">He fixed his eye eagerly, anxiously, upon his brother's countenance, -as if he could have said a world more, but had not time or courage to -speak. A shadow, like that of a flying cloud, swept over the earl's -face, deep but transitory--a momentary struggle in the heart, showing -itself by that grave, stern look--and calmed as soon as felt.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Would that his majesty had given me notice," he said, "then might I -have received him more worthily. Nevertheless, we must prepare at -once. Gentlemen, we must go and meet the king. Henderson, take heed -that instant preparation be made that the king may dine. Let this room -be prepared for his majesty's meal; the great hall for the lords of -the court; my study near the gallery chamber for the king to take -repose, if he need it after such a day of fatigue. Have everything -ready as fast as possible, and spare neither speed nor money to -prepare befittingly. Cranston, I beg you run down at once, call the -bailies together, tell them the king is coming, and require them to -meet me as speedily as possible at the South Inch. Gentlemen all, you -had better rise and follow me to receive his majesty on his entrance -into Perth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"By ---- we had better follow you to keep him out," said Hugh -Moncrief, with a meaning look, and then added, at a reproving glance -from Gowrie's eye, "for he will not go again, I judge, without -exacting more than we can well spare."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie took no public notice of his words, but led the way to the -door; and after a brief search for hats, and cloaks, and rapiers, the -whole party passed across the court on foot, and through the gates -into the street.</p> - -<p class="normal">Christie, the porter, with a grave face, held the right hand valve of -the great iron gates open; but as soon as the earl and his friends had -passed through, a sinister smile came upon his lip, and murmuring to -himself--"Now, then," he retired into his room. The instant after, -Austin Jute ran through the gates and followed the earl, but did not -overtake him till he was half way down the street. Then advancing, so -as to be in his master's sight, he doffed his hat, saying, "Have you -anything to command me, my lord?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie put his hand to his head, like one almost bewildered, and then -said, "Ay, Austin, ay.--Go on, gentlemen; I follow you. Take horse -directly, Austin," he continued, as soon as the others had passed on; -"speed to Dirleton. You must find your way as best you can. Tell my -mother--tell the dear lady Julia what has happened here. Say that I -cannot be with them to-night, but----"</p> - -<p class="normal">He paused, and thought for an instant, and then added, "No! I will -make no promises for to-morrow. God, and God only, knows what may be -to-morrow. Do not alarm them, Austin, more than needful. But still," -he added, solemnly, "do not buoy them up with hopes that may prove -false. Tell them the king comes--tell them I know not why he comes; -and let their own judgment speak the rest. But of all things, let my -mother be upon her guard, and see to the safety of my young brothers. -There's my purse, good fellow, to defray your expenses on the road. -Would there were more in it, for your sake. And now away with all -speed! Here, take my sword; lay it somewhere in the house. The king -shall not say that I wore arms of any kind."</p> - -<p class="normal">Austin Jute caught the earl's hand and kissed it, as if he felt that -it was the last time he should ever see him. Then, without a word of -reply, but with a glistening eye, he turned from him, sped back to the -Great House, took the horse he usually rode from the stable, and -without farther preparation rode away.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the meantime, Gowrie rejoined his friends and walked on, the party -every moment being increased by some accession from amongst the -magistrates of the town, or the gentry of the place and neighbourhood. -It had thus been swelled to the number of five or six-and-thirty -persons when it reached the side of the large fine piece of meadow -ground in the Tay, called the South Inch, and in a minute or two -after, the royal cavalcade was seen approaching at a slow and stately -pace. It was remarked, however, aloud, not by the Earl of Gowrie or -any of his friends, but by one of the bailies of the town, that -although they had met many of the Murrays in the streets as they went -along, not one of them had joined the party going to receive and -welcome the king.</p> - -<p class="normal">"They do not show their loyalty, methinks," said Bailie Roy.</p> - -<p class="normal">No reply was made aloud, but Hugh Moncrief, a warm-tempered, -plain-spoken man, who had been watching Gowrie's countenance -attentively, muttered between his teeth, "They may show it by and by -with a vengeance, perchance. I know not what they do here; the town is -full of them!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Neither Gowrie nor his brother Alexander made any observation -whatever, but waited in grave silence till James's horse was within -some fifty yards; and then the young earl advanced with his head -uncovered, saying, "Your majesty is welcome to your good and loyal -town of St. Johnstone; and I only regret that I did not earlier know -of your coming, that a better reception might have been prepared for -your royal grace."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, we come in no state, my good lord," replied the king. "We love to -take our friends by surprise; and we know that no man in all the realm -will be more willing or better prepared to receive the king than the -Earl of Gowrie. Deed, our poor beasties are very tired, so that our -train has gone spilling itself on the road like an o'erfilled luggie; -but they'll come in by sixes and sevens, no doubt. And now, my lord, -by your good leave, we'll go on and repose ourselves."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie gave a glance over the king's train at this intimation of its -numbers being likely to increase before night. It consisted of more -than forty persons already; but, without any observation, he merely -bowed his head and walked by the side of the monarch's horse, James -continuing to speak with him in a gay and jocular tone all the way to -the gates of Gowrie House.</p> - -<p class="normal">As soon as the monarch had entered the court, where some eight or ten -of the earl's servants were drawn up, Alexander Ruthven sprang to hold -the horse's head, while Gowrie himself assisted the king to dismount. -The magistrates of the town were then presented to the monarch in -form, having pressed somewhat closely around; but James, treating the -worthy bailies with somewhat scanty courtesy, cut their compliments -short, and was led by the earl through the great hall into the lesser -dining room, which had been hastily prepared for his reception.</p> - -<p class="normal">"He's no like a king either in face or tongue," said Bailie Graham, in -a low tone, as he walked away.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, but it's a graund thing, the royal presence," said Bailie Roy, -aloud, as he retired.</p> - -<p class="normal">So the town council were divided in opinion.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">From the moment of the king's arrival, Gowrie House, or Palace, was -one continual scene of confusion for nearly two hours. Every instant -some fresh party was arriving, either of the courtiers, who had -tarried behind on the road to refresh their weary horses or to procure -others, or of parties from the country, consisting generally of the -family of Murray of Tullibardine, of which powerful race we are -assured that there were three hundred men in arms in the town before -two o'clock.<a name="div4Ref_09" href="#div4_09"><sup>[9]</sup></a> Some of the latter, as well as all the former, flocked -into the court, and in a quarter of an hour after James had entered -the gates, the young earl found his dwelling no longer, in fact, at -his own disposal. Though courteous and civil to all, every one saw -that he was grave and displeased; nor were his doubts diminished when -one of those small accidental circumstances, which so frequently -betray deep-laid plans, proved to him and his brother that the -monarch's visit proceeded from no sudden caprice or accidental event, -but from design, arranged and concerted with others long before.</p> - -<p class="normal">The assumed cause of the presence of so many of the Murrays in the -town of Perth on that day, was the marriage of one of their family in -the city; but the person married was known to be merely the innkeeper; -and, at the best, the presence of so many noblemen on such an occasion -seemed to Gowrie an honour somewhat extraordinary. When, however, a -cousin of the Baron of Tullibardine appeared at Gowrie Palace, -bringing with him a large and beautiful falcon from the country as a -present for the king, the young earl could not doubt that the house of -Murray had been made acquainted with the monarch's proposed visit -before the person who was to entertain him. He had little opportunity, -however, of communicating his suspicions, even to his brother, before -the king's dinner was served, for James kept him constantly at his -side, talking and jesting in a mood unusually joyous and noisy even -for him. He seemed to have forgotten altogether the story of the pot -of gold and the bound prisoner, which he had told to some of his -courtiers by the way, and though nearly an hour elapsed ere the meal -was ready, he quitted not the hall to which he had been first led.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I grieve your majesty has to wait so long," said Gowrie, at length; -"but your gracious visit took me completely by surprise, and as I was -about to set out for Dirleton in the afternoon, with most of my -people, my poor house is not provided even as well as usual."</p> - -<p class="normal">"It matters not, my good earl," replied the king; "fasting a wee will -do one no harm. Many a godly man fasts for mortification, and -doubtless an enforced fast will do as well. But here come your sewers, -or I am mistaken; and now we shall soon fall to. Alex, bairn, you -shall be our carver while we jest with the earl--though, fegs! my -lord, you would not do for a jester, for you seem as melancholy as a -pippit hen."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am in no way fit for that high office, sire," answered Gowrie, with -the colour mounting in his cheek; "and indeed it would require both -wit and courage to fill it at your majesty's court."</p> - -<p class="normal">"How so? how so?" cried James.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Because I should think," replied the young earl, "that your majesty -is more than a match for any jester that ever lived, both in the -hardness and the sharpness of your hits."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, but you can jest too, I see, earl," said James; and he took the -solitary seat which had been placed for him at the table.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the meantime a table had been laid in the great hall for the -numerous unexpected guests who had flocked into the Great House that -day; and it seems it was customary, on such occasions, for the king's -entertainer to see the second course served at the royal table, and -then to invite the courtiers round to dine with him in another -chamber. Gowrie however, doubtful, anxious, and ill-pleased, neglected -the moment at which the invitation should have been given; and the -Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, and others, continued grouped around -the king's table, while Gowrie himself stood at the lower end, and his -brother Alexander, stationed behind the monarch's chair, gave him wine -from time to time, or carved the dishes placed before him. Thus passed -a considerable part, not only of the first but of the second course -also, James talking incessantly to Alexander Ruthven and his brother, -in a very gracious manner, but with somewhat coarse and indecent -language.</p> - -<p class="normal">At length, looking up with a sarcastic grin, the monarch said, "I'm -thinking, Alex, bairn, that your brother, the earl, fancies these puir -lads standing round hae tint their hunger by the road side, that he -keeps them sae lang empty."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I really beg your pardon, my lord duke," said Gowrie, turning to -Lennox, "but I was so intent upon seeing his majesty duly served, that -I have fallen into the fault for which he justly reproaches me. I -trust we shall find a dinner of some kind in the great hall, though -the honour I have received, being unexpected, I fear it will be but -poorly requited by your entertainment."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, he led the way to the other table, and seeing his guests -placed, and the best dinner which so short a notice permitted his -servants to provide, put before them, he returned to the inner hall, -and took his place, as before, at the lower end of the board.</p> - -<p class="normal">He and his brother, with their own servants, were now with the king -alone. A closed door, a blow of a dagger, and James had died and -Gowrie lived; but such a thought never crossed his pure, high mind, -whatever might be then working in the heart of his royal enemy.</p> - -<p class="normal">James continued to jest with ribald coarseness, till the second course -was removed, and a rich dessert of the finest fruits which could be -procured from the splendid gardens of Gowrie Place was placed before -him. Then, however, he said, "I feel somewhat weary, Alex, bairn. Show -me a room, man, where I can repose myself in quiet for a while, away -frae a' this din."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There is one prepared for your majesty," replied the young gentleman; -"permit me to lead the way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I'll hae a sup o' wine first," said James; and taking a large goblet -or hanap from the hands of Gowrie's brother, he added, addressing the -earl, "My lord, you have seen the fashion of entertainments in other -countries, and now I will teach you the fashion in this country, -seeing you are a Scottish man. You have forgot to drink with me, and -to sit with your guests, and to bid us welcome; but we will now drink -our own welcome." He then quaffed off the beaker, and proceeded--"I -pray you, my lord, go to the other company, drink to them, and bid -them welcome in the king's name."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I obey your majesty's orders," answered the earl, gravely; and -without farther comment retired to the great hall, leaving the king -alone with his brother.</p> - -<p class="normal">Taking his seat at the head of the table, Gowrie called for wine, and -when his page had filled a cup to the brim he rose, saying, "I am -desired by his majesty to drink this <i>scoll</i> to my lord duke and the -rest of the company;" and then turning to Lennox and Mar, who were -seated next each other on his right hand, he apologized, in more -familiar terms, for any neglect which had appeared in his reception of -his guests.</p> - -<p class="normal">"His majesty's coming," he said, "was so sudden and unexpected, that I -had no time to learn my part, and prepare to perform it."</p> - -<p class="normal">The wine went round. The conversation became general; and at this -moment Gowrie remarked young John Ramsay caressing a large and -beautiful falcon which he held upon his right hand, while an -enormously tall large man, sitting beside him, seemed resolved, by the -efforts of his immense appetite, to consume all the provisions which -remained upon the earl's board.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have a beautiful bird there, Ramsay," said the earl, speaking -down the table. "Is she as good upon the wing as she looks upon the -hand?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I really don't know, my lord," replied Ramsay. "Murray of Arknay -brought her in upon his fist as a present for the king. So I am -holding her," he added, with a laugh, "while meikle John Murray -devours to the extent of his ability."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You'll have to keep her all the day, Ramsay," said the burly man of -whom he spoke. "I've had enough of her, carrying her sixteen miles;" -and then, turning towards Gowrie, he added, "She's as keen a bird, my -lord, and as true as ever was hatched and fledged. I wish you could -see her upon wing. I've only flown her thrice to prove her, intending -to take her to Falkland; but when I heard yesterday the king was -coming here, I scoured her and brought her with me."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Pity that I should be the last to know of the king's coming," -said Gowrie, in a meditative tone; and turning to Mar, he said, -"But poor entertainment I've been able to give you, my lord. My good -brother-in-law, the duke, will excuse it for love; but I know not how -to apologize to so many gentlemen who are nearly strangers to me."</p> - -<p class="normal">Mar merely bowed his head, for he could not help seeing that their -coming had been as unpleasant as unexpected to his host; and, though -probably not in the king's secrets, he saw clearly that there was -something amiss between the monarch and the house of Ruthven.</p> - -<p class="normal">"My Lord of Lindores, I beseech you ply the wine," continued Gowrie. -"It may not be so good as that which you gave me some five or six -months ago, but it will do for want of better."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Cannot be better," replied Lindores. "This is wine of eighty-three; -the best vintage they have had in France for a whole century."</p> - -<p class="normal">At that moment the king and Alexander Ruthven passed across the lower -part of the hall, taking their way towards the great staircase leading -to the picture-gallery, the cabinet close by which had been prepared -by Gowrie's orders, as the reader has already seen, for the king to -repose himself after dinner. James had his arm round Alexander -Ruthven's neck, in the over-familiar and caressing manner which he not -unfrequently put on towards those who were on the eve of disgrace; and -he was, moreover, laughing heartily. There were some sixty persons in -the hall at the moment, all talking aloud, and most of them with their -faces turned from the door which led into the lesser hall, so that the -monarch's passing was noticed by few. The Duke of Lennox, however, -caught sight of James's figure, and rose, as if to follow him; but -Gowrie said, "His majesty is going to repose for a while in my study -up stairs, which has been made ready for him;" and Lennox at once -resumed his seat.</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Thomas Erskine, however, who was placed considerably farther down -the table, had frequently turned his eyes towards the room in which -the king had been dining; and now he instantly got up and followed -James out of the hall, overtaking him at the foot of the broad -staircase, and entering into conversation with him and Alexander -Ruthven. They ascended the stairs together, and at the top encountered -Christie, the earl's porter, who instantly drew on one side with a low -reverence, but at the same time put his hand to his chin in a somewhat -significant manner.</p> - -<p class="normal">Passing then through the gallery without taking any notice of the -pictures, the king, without direction from his host's brother, -proceeded at once towards the door of the gallery chamber, through -which was the only way from that part of the house to Gowrie's study; -and the door having been thrown open for him to go through, James -turned to Sir Thomas Erskine, saying, "Bide you here for us, man."<a name="div4Ref_10" href="#div4_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></p> - -<p class="normal">Erskine bowed, and stopped at the door; and James, with Alexander -Ruthven, passed through. In the large gallery chamber, standing in the -recesses of the window, were two or three men, dressed as the ordinary -household servants of the king--at least so says tradition. Alexander -Ruthven either did not see them, or took no notice of a circumstance -which had nothing extraordinary in it; but, advancing a step before -the monarch, he opened the door of his brother's cabinet, and James at -once passed in.</p> - -<p class="normal">When the young man had his step upon the threshold to follow, however, -he paused for an instant and hesitated, seeing a tall dark man, -completely armed, already in possession of the room.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come in, Alex, bairn--come in," cried James, in a good-humoured tone.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman, not without a feeling of dread, obeyed; and the -door was closed.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLIII.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">The court-yard of Gowrie palace--that large court-yard which I have -before described, of ninety feet in length by sixty in width--was -filled with men and horses from a little after one till a late hour in -the afternoon. Gowrie's own attendants had more than they could well -manage to do--the domestic servants in waiting upon the king and the -courtiers, and his grooms and stable-boys in taking care of the -horses. The granaries were thrown open. The servants of the strangers -helped themselves to what they needed; and men who had never been seen -in the place before, were running over the whole building. In vain Mr. -Cranston remonstrated, and endeavoured to preserve a little order; and -while he himself was obliged to be absent from the scene of confusion, -besought Donald Macduff, the earl's baron bailie of Strathbraan, who -had come down with his lord from Trochrie, to stop the people from -entering the palace and swilling the wine and ale at their discretion. -Christie, the porter, seemed to rejoice in the tumult, giving -admission to all who wanted it, to every part of the house, except the -two upper floors.</p> - -<p class="normal">"There'll be nothing done," said Macduff, "unless one of them has his -head broke. It's all Christie's fault. He knows that he's to go -to-morrow, and cares not what he does. I'll split his weasand in a -minute with my whinger, if you'll but say I may, Mr. Cranston."</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no--no violence, Macduff," said Mr. Cranston; "especially not to -the king's people;" and he turned away into the house again.</p> - -<p class="normal">Macduff stood sullenly on the steps of the hall, gazing with a bitter -heart on the scene before him, till Mr. Alexander Ruthven, of -Freeland, came up and spoke to him in a low tone, saying, "This is -really too bad, Macduff; some order ought to be taken with these -people."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The king alone can do it, sir," replied the baron bailie; "and I -doubt that he chooses to do so, otherwise he would have taken better -care at first. I suppose he calls this spoiling the Egyptians."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That scoundrel Christie has left all the doors open," said Mr. -Ruthven.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, sir, I dare say he knows well what he's about; but I'll go and -speak to him;" and walking up to the porter, followed closely by Mr. -Ruthven, he said, "Hold your laughing, stupid tongue, and turn all -those people out of the house, except the gentlemen. Then lock the -doors, and keep them out."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Deed, I shall do no such thing," answered Christie, turning from him -with a dogged look. "I'm no to take my orders from you, I'se warrant, -no better than a highland cateran."</p> - -<p class="normal">Macduff laid his hand upon his dagger, and drew it half out of the -sheath; but Mr. Ruthven caught his arm, exclaiming, "For God's sake, -Macduff, keep peace! There's no telling where a broil would end if -begun in such a scene as this. Come away, man--come away;" and he -pulled the highlander by the arm to the other side of the court. -"Watch his movements," he continued, when they were at some distance. -"I doubt that man, Macduff, and it may be well to mark him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, I'll mark him if I get hold of him," replied the other. "He's -gone into his den now; and see, there are three or four others gone in -after him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's great Jimmy Bog, the king's porter at Falkland," said Mr. -Ruthven.</p> - -<p class="normal">"And that broad-shouldered fellow is Galbraith, one of the -door-keepers at Holyrood," said Macduff. "What the de'il does the king -do bringing such folk here? If they had been his grooms, or his -huntsmen, one could understand it. I saw his cellarer about not long -since--I'll tell you what, Mr. Ruthven, I don't like this at all. How -it'll end I can't say, but ill I'm thinking. Here's my lord's house is -not so much his own as that of every loon about the court."</p> - -<p class="normal">Mr. Ruthven shrugged his shoulders, and walked away; and Macduff -continued to stand upon the steps with his eyes fixed upon the lodge -or room of the porter. From the back of that room a long and narrow -passage, with windows looking into the court, ran along the western -mass of building till it reached a staircase in the corner, by which -access might be obtained to all the rooms on the first and second -floors. Neither Christie himself, nor those who had followed him into -his room, came out again while Macduff remained watching; but he saw -the head and shoulders of more than one man pass along the range of -windows I have mentioned, and then disappear. All this took place some -quarter of an hour before the king left the table; and shortly after -that, the baron bailie saw the porter coming from the very opposite -side of the building, showing that he must have passed round more than -one half of the house.</p> - -<p class="normal">A minute or two after the voice of the earl was heard saying, -"Macduff--Donald, get me the keys of the garden from the porter."</p> - -<p class="normal">The officer obeyed, and carrying the keys into the hall, he found -Gowrie himself standing with the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Lord -Lindores, and some other gentlemen, while Sir Hugh Herries stood alone -at a little distance. Macduff would have given much to speak a few -words to his lord; but he did not venture to do so in the presence of -such a number of courtiers, and gave the keys of the garden in -silence.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Now, my lord duke, and gentlemen," said Gowrie, "I will lead the -way;" and proceeding through a small door which opened directly into -the garden, he held it open while the others passed, saying to -Cranston, who stood near, "Let us know the moment his majesty comes -down. Come, Ramsay of the Hawk, will you not walk with us?"</p> - -<p class="normal">The young gentleman followed in silence; and the earl rejoining his -brother-in-law, the Duke of Lennox, said, in a grave and quiet tone, -"It is long since you have been here, Duke. I trust Gowrie House will -have you more often for a guest."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The oftener I am here the more beautiful I think these gardens," -replied the duke. "The scene itself is fine; but I think if you were -to raise a terrace there to the east, you would catch more of the -windings of the Tay, and could extend your view all round the basin -through which it flows."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The town would still shut out much," answered Gowrie, "unless I were -to build the terrace as high as the top of the monk's tower. Thence we -catch the prospect all round, or very nearly so."</p> - -<p class="normal">"You are making some alterations I see, my lord," said the Earl of -Mar.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, they are very trifling," answered Gowrie; "merely some devices of -which I got the thought in Italy, which I am trying to adapt to this -place. It is somewhat difficult, indeed; for that which suits very -well with Italian skies and Italian architecture, would be out of -place in our northern land, and with that old house frowning over it."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus conversing in a quiet and peaceful tone they walked on quite -to the other side of the garden, and stood for a moment or two -under the tall old tower called the Monk's tower, which rose at the -south-eastern corner. While there, the town clock struck three; and -Sir Hugh Herries, with a sudden start, exclaimed, "There is three -o'clock! We had better go back, my lord. I know the king intended to -ride away at three."</p> - -<p class="normal">Herries' face was somewhat pale when he spoke; but Gowrie did not -remark it, and replied, "That clock is ten minutes fast by all the -others in the town; but still we can walk back and prepare, for I hope -to give his majesty a few miles convoy on his road."</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus saying, they all turned, and returned towards the house, while -Herries, seeming impatient of their slowness, got a step or two in -advance. A moment after they saw Mr. Cranston coming hastily from the -house towards them; and Gowrie hurried his pace at the sight, seeing -that his retainer had something to tell.</p> - -<p class="normal">"A report has got abroad in the house, my lord," said Cranston, "that -the king has mounted his horse and ridden away privately with one or -two of the servants."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That is just like him," exclaimed the Duke of Lennox. "He served us -so this morning at Falkland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Who told you so, Cranston?" demanded the earl, eagerly.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is in every one's mouth, my lord," replied Cranston; "but I -believe it came first from Christie."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Quick, quick! see for my horse, Cranston," cried the earl. "I wished -to escort the king part of the way to Falkland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I bethought me of that, sir," replied the other; "but your horse I -find is in the town."</p> - -<p class="normal">"In the town!" exclaimed Gowrie. "What does my horse in the town? See -for another quickly, Cranston. After such poor entertainment as I have -given his majesty, I would not for much show him such an act of -neglect as not to ride with him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Perhaps he's not gone after all," observed John Ramsay. "Which way -did he go? I'll go and see."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, do, Ramsay," said the Duke of Lennox; "you can do anything with -him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"He went up the broad staircase to the picture gallery and to the -rooms to the west," said Cranston.</p> - -<p class="normal">Still holding the hawk, Ramsay ran on before, appearing not to attend -to some words addressed to him in a low tone by Sir Hugh Herries; and -mounting the staircase with a light step, he entered the picture -gallery, the door of which was open. The sight of so many splendid -paintings, of grace, beauty, and colouring, such as he had never seen -before, according to his own account, struck the young man with -amazement; and, forgetting his errand for a moment, he stood and gazed -round with admiration. Then advancing to the western door, which led -into the gallery chamber, he tried it with his hand, but found it -locked. He then listened a moment for any sounds which might indicate -the king's presence in the room beyond--but all was silent; and -descending the stairs again to the court-yard, he said, in an -indifferent tone, "The king is not there."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ramsay--Sir John Ramsay, come hither!" said Herries, calling him to a -corner of the court just under the western tower. "I wish to speak -with you;" and Ramsay, approaching him, seemed to inquire what he -wanted.</p> - -<p class="normal">In the meantime Gowrie, with the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, and -one or two other gentlemen, passed through the house, and crossed the -court to the great gates, near which the porter was standing.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, my man," said Mar, addressing the porter, "what is this story -of the king being away? Tell us the truth."</p> - -<p class="normal">"The truth is, the king is still in the house," replied the porter. -"He could not have gone by the back gate without my knowing it, for I -have the keys of all the gates."</p> - -<p class="normal">The man's colour varied very much while he spoke; and Gowrie at once -concluded he was telling a falsehood.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I believe you lie, knave," he said, fixing his eyes sternly upon the -man. "His majesty is always the first to mount his horse. But stay, my -lord duke, and I will go up and see."</p> - -<p class="normal">He accordingly turned and left the party, taking his way to the great -staircase; and Lennox, looking after him, said, in a low voice, to the -Earl of Mar, "There is something strange here, my lord. Know you what -it is?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Not I," answered Mar, in an indifferent tone, but adding, immediately -afterwards, "The king is quite safe, wherever he is. The earl is -unarmed, without sword or dagger."</p> - -<p class="normal">"What may that mean?" said Lennox.</p> - -<p class="normal">But at that moment some one else came up, and Mar made no answer. In -little more than a minute after, Gowrie came down again in haste, -saying, "The gallery door is locked. The king cannot be there. Let us -to horse and after him. Where can he have gone?"</p> - -<p class="normal">And passing through the gates into the street, followed by the other -noblemen, he turned to Sir Thomas Erskine, who was standing with some -of his relations and servants under the windows, and inquired if he -knew which way the king had gone.</p> - -<p class="normal">All was now bustle, and confusion ten times more confused than ever, -in the court and round Gowrie Place. Lords and gentlemen were calling -loudly for their horses. Grooms and servants were running hither and -thither. Horses were prancing, neighing, and kicking; and Bailie Roy, -who had lingered about the Great House ever since the king's arrival, -was putting everybody to rights, and drawing down many a hearty -imprecation upon his head for his pains. Ramsay and Herries remained -quietly in the corner of the court; and the two earls, with the Duke -of Lennox, Sir Thomas Erskine, Alexander Ruthven of Freeland, and -several others, were conversing over the king's strange departure, and -considering in what direction they should seek him.</p> - -<p class="normal">Suddenly a noise was heard above, proceeding from the south-west -tower. The long window was east furiously open, and the head and -shoulders of the king protruded.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Help, help!" cried the king. "Help! Murder! Treason! Help! Earl of -Mar!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Lennox, Mar, Lindores, and a number of others instantly rushed through -the gates, across the court to the great staircase, and mounted it as -fast as they could go; but they found the door of the gallery locked, -and could not force it open.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Up the black turnpike, Ramsay," said Herries, in a low voice. "Up, -and save the king!--Here, man--here! Up this stairs to the very top, -then through the door to the left."</p> - -<p class="normal">Without an instant's pause, even to cast away the hawk, Ramsay, with -his blood boiling at the idea of danger to the king, darted past -Herries up the narrow staircase, three or four steps at a time, till -he came to the very top; and there finding a door, without trying -whether it was locked or not, he set his stout shoulder against it, -and burst it open. He instantly had a scene before him, which I must -pause for a moment to describe.</p> - -<p class="normal">James was at the window still shouting forth for help, and at some -little distance behind him, taking no part whatever in that which was -going on, appeared a tall, powerful, black looking man in armour, but -with his head bare. Kneeling at the king's feet, with his head held -tight under James's arm, in the posture of supplication, and with his -hands stretched up towards the king's mouth, as if to stop his -vociferous cries, was the graceful but powerful form of Alexander -Ruthven, who could, if he had pleased, by a small exertion of his -strength, have cast the feeble monarch from the window headlong down -into the street below. He made no effort to do so, or even to free -himself, however; and his sword remained undrawn in the sheath.</p> - -<p class="normal">Such was the sight presented to John Ramsay when he entered the room -in fiery haste; and casting the falcon from his hand, he drew his -dagger.</p> - -<p class="normal">James instantly loosed his hold of the young man at his feet, and -exclaimed, with an impatient gesture to Ramsay, "Strike him -low--strike him low! He has got on a pyne doublet!"</p> - -<p class="normal">He gave no order to apprehend an unresisting man. His command was to -slay him; and Ramsay, starting forward at the king's words, struck the -unhappy youth two blows in the neck and throat, while James, with -admirable coolness, put his foot upon the jesses of the falcon, to -prevent its flying through the open window.</p> - -<p class="normal">Ruthven made not an effort to draw his sword, but fell partly back; -and James, then seizing him by the neck, dragged him to the head of -the narrow stairs, and cast him part of the way down, while Ramsay, -rushing to the window, shouted to Sir Thomas Erskine, "Come up, Sir -Thomas--come up these stairs to the very head!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Wounded, but not slain, Alexander Ruthven, stunned and bleeding, -regained his feet, and ran down towards the court. Before he reached -it, however, he was encountered by Herries, Erskine, and another of -the king's bloodhounds, and without inquiry or knowledge of what had -taken place, Herries exclaimed, "This is the traitor!" and stabbed him -to the heart. Another blow was struck almost at the same time by -George Wilson; and the poor lad fell to rise no more, with his sword -still undrawn, exclaiming, with his last breath, "Alas! I am not -guilty!"</p> -<br> - -<p style="text-align:center; letter-spacing:2em">* * * * * * * * *</p> -<br> - -<p class="normal">A dead and mournful silence fell upon all. A terrible deed had been -done. A young fresh life had been taken. A kindred spirit had been -sent to its last account. Even Herries paused, and revolved -thoughtfully the act which he had just performed. Even he for one -brief moment, however transitory was the impression, however brief the -sensation, asked himself, as others have asked themselves before and -since, "What is this I have done?--Is there an Almighty God, to whom -the spirits of the departed go to testify not only of all they have -done, but all they have suffered--and must I meet that God face to -face with the spirit of this youth to bear witness against me?--What -sweet relationships, what dear domestic ties have I snapped asunder, -what warm hopes, what good resolutions, what generous feelings, what -noble purposes, put out for ever!"</p> - -<p class="normal">But that was not all he felt. There is a natural repugnance in the -mind of man to the shedding of man's blood, which nothing but the -frequent habit of so doing can sweep away. There is a horror in the -deed, which I feel sure the murderer shrinks from the instant the -fatal deed is accomplished; and it was that, more than any reasoning -on the subject, that Herries and his two comrades felt, as they stood -in the semi-darkness, and gazed upon the corpse, so lately full of -life, and health, and energy, and passion.</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Thomas Erskine had not struck him, it is true, and that seemed to -him a consolation; but yet he felt that he had been art and part in -the deed--that he had known what was meditated beforehand, and that, -though his hand was not imbued in the youth's blood, he was as much a -murderer as themselves.</p> - -<p class="normal">With a strong mind, Herries made a strong effort to conquer the -sensations which oppressed him; but it cost him several moments so to -do; and moments, in such circumstances, are hours.</p> - -<p class="normal">That which first roused him and the rest was the voice of the king, -bringing back in an instant, by its very tone, all the worldly -thoughts which had been scattered to the winds by the sight of the -dead body and the perpetration of the deed.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Hout, lad!" cried James, apparently addressing Ramsay, "dinna keep -skirling in that way. He's dead enough by this time; but there are -other traitors to be dealt with--traitors more dangerous and desperate -than this misguided lad. Here, take the birdie, and keep quite still. -We must not scare the quarry before the hounds are upon it. I must be -King of Scotland now or never;" and, approaching the top of the -stairs, he called out, bending somewhat forward, "Wha's doon there? -Hae ye dispatched him?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"He's gone, sire, never to return," replied the voice of Herries from -the bottom.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then pu' him up here," cried James, "and come up yersels.--Wha the -de'il's that knocking so hard at the door there?--Come up, come up! -They may be Ruthven folk. We must have help at hand. Where the de'il's -the fellow with the harness gaen?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Hugh Herries hurried up the stairs, leaving Sir Thomas Erskine and -the servant of his brother James Erskine, to drag up the body of -Alexander Ruthven; and a hurried consultation took place as to what -was to be done next.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Better, for Heaven's sake, sire, call up all the noblemen and -gentlemen from the court," cried Ramsay, while the knocking at the -gallery door still continued. "We are strong enough, when gathered -together, to defend you against all the Ruthvens in Scotland."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I ken that, ye fule guse," cried James, with a sinister leer; "four -or five of ye are quite enough for that; but that's no the question, -man. The greater traitor of the two is to be dealt with; and you must -do it, Jock, unless you want a Gowrie for your king. He'll soon be -here seeking his brother. He must not get away alive, or we've missed -the whole day's work."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I'll deal with the traitor," cried Ramsay, zealously. "Your majesty -showed me such proofs of his guilt, 'tis a wonder you let him live so -long."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That's a good bairn--that's a good bairn," answered James. "Aye, -defend your king.--Somebody look to the door there, that they dinna -break in, but speak no word till you've done execution on the earl. -'Tis he set his brother on," he continued, addressing Ramsay. "The -other had not spirit for it--Ay, here they bring him! There, throw him -down there--The earl'll soon be here; and I'll just stay in the closet -till it's all done.--Here, Geordie Wilson, take my cloak, and cast -over the callant. Then, when his brother sees him, he'll get such a -fright, thinking it's mine ainsel, yell can do with him what ye like."</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Hugh Herries looked almost aghast to hear the king so completely -betray his own counsel; but the rest seemed to notice the matter but -little--Ramsay, with all his fierce passions roused, taking everything -for granted, and the rest ready to obey the king at his lightest word. -George Wilson, the servant, took the king's cloak, and spread it over -the dead body of Alexander Ruthven, from which a dark stream of gore -was pouring forth upon the rushes which strewed the room; and when -this was done, James took a look at the corpse, saying, "A wee bit -more o'er the head, man. He'll see the bonny brown hair." Then, -retreating into the earl's cabinet, he closed the door, calling to -those without to lock it and take the key.</p> - -<p class="normal">Sir Thomas Erskine sprang to obey, saying, "Stand on your guard, -Ramsay. They are thundering at that door as if they would knock it -down. It's well I bolted it as well as locked it before I came down." -Then springing across the room to the entrance of the great gallery, -he said, "Who's there, knocking so hard?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's I, the Earl of Mar," cried a voice from without. "Open directly! -The Duke of Lennox is here, the Lord Lindores, and others."</p> - -<p class="normal">"All is right, all is right," said Erskine. "The king is safe; one -traitor slain. Keep quiet, or you will scare the other from the trap. -It is Sir Thomas Erskine speaks--keep quiet, as you wish for favour."</p> - -<p class="normal">All was still immediately, and the moment after steps were heard upon -the narrow staircase.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLIV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">What had become of Gowrie while this dark tragedy was enacted above? -He was standing, as I have said, talking with Sir Thomas Erskine and a -considerable party of noblemen and gentlemen, in the street, at a -little distance from his own gate, when suddenly the window above was -thrown open, and the king's head thrust forth. Bailie Roy had sidled -up towards the group of courtiers; and he instantly looked up, while -the Duke of Lennox, at the first sounds of James's outcry, exclaimed, -"That is the king's voice, Mar, be he where he will."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Treason! treason!" shouted Bailie Roy. "Treason against the -king!--Ring the common bell!--Call the town to arms!--Treason! -treason!"</p> - -<p class="normal">At the same moment, and without an instant's pause, Lennox, Mar, -Lindores, and others, rushed into the court, as I have before stated, -and up the broad stairs, and Sir Thomas Erskine, his brother James, -and George Wilson, the servant of the latter, sprang at Gowrie's -throat, and seized him by the neck, crying, without proof or even -probability, "Traitor, this is thy deed! Thou shalt die!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Totally unarmed, and assailed by three strong armed men, the young -earl, notwithstanding his great personal vigour, must have been -overpowered in an instant, and probably would have been slain on the -spot, for he made no resistance, merely exclaiming, with a look of -consternation, "What is the matter?--I know nothing!"</p> - -<p class="normal">But at that moment Alexander Ruthven of Freeland started forward to -his aid, and having no sword, struck Sir Thomas Erskine to the ground -with a buffet, while Mr. Cranston and Donald Macduff rushed forth from -the court to the rescue of their lord. Almost at the same time, the -voice of Ramsay was heard shouting to Sir Thomas Erskine from the -window above; and springing up from the ground, Erskine ran into the -court with George Wilson, the servant, and rushed up the narrow -turnpike stairs after Herries, to finish the murderous work which had -begun in the tower.</p> - -<p class="normal">Freed from the fell hands which had grasped his throat, Gowrie gazed -round bewildered, exclaiming, "My God! what can this mean?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Arm, arm, my lord!" cried Macduff; "they are for murdering you on -pretence of treason."</p> - -<p class="normal">But Gowrie rushed immediately towards the palace gates, exclaiming, -"Where is the king? I go to aid him."</p> - -<p class="normal">As he approached, however, the gates were suddenly closed in his face -by his own porter, Christie, and a voice called through the bars, -"Traitor, you enter not here!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Arm, in God's name, or they will take your life!" cried Cranston, -seeing a number of the Murrays and the king's followers gathering -round.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That I will," answered Gowrie, now roused to anger. "Away to -Glenorchie's! He will give us arms;" and running with all speed about -a couple of hundred yards down the street, he entered the large old -house of a friend of his family, and seized a sword and steel cap from -amongst many that hung in the outer hall.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here's a better blade, my noble lord!" cried Glenorchie's old porter; -"take them both--one may fail!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus armed with a sword in either hand, Gowrie rushed out again, -exclaiming, "I will either enter my own house or die by the way."</p> - -<p class="normal">"I am with you, my lord," cried Cranston, meeting him; and at the same -moment his page, who was running down the street, exclaimed, "Let me -fasten your salat, my lord; it will fall off."</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie paused for an instant till the steel cap was clasped under his -chin, and then hurried on to the entrance of the Great House.</p> - -<p class="normal">But a change had taken place. The gates were wide open; the servants -and retainers who had followed the king from Falkland, were all either -in the house or at the further side of the court; and without pausing -to ask any question, Gowrie rushed to the narrow stair at the foot of -the southwest tower, and ran up, followed close by his faithful -attendant, Cranston.</p> - -<p class="normal">The door at the top, leading into the gallery chamber, was partly -closed, and a shoulder placed against it; but Gowrie pushed it open, -exclaiming, "Where is the king?--I come to defend him with my life," -and at once entered the room with the two naked swords in his hands. -Before him lay a dead body bleeding profusely, and partly covered with -the king's cloak.</p> - -<p class="normal">"You have killed the king, our master," cried Herries, "and will you -now take our lives?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie's strength seemed to fail him in a moment--His brain -reeled--and pausing suddenly in his advance, he dropped the swords' -points to the floor, exclaiming, "Ah, woe is me! Has the king been -slain in my house?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Without reply, Ramsay sprang fiercely upon him, and, unresisted, drove -his dagger into the young earl's heart.</p> - -<p class="normal">Gowrie did not fall at once, but for one instant leaned upon the sword -in his right hand, without attempting to strike a blow. Cranston -sprang forward to support him, and caught him in his arms; but the -earl sank slowly to the ground, and with the indistinct murmur of one -well-loved name, expired.</p> - -<p class="normal">The murderers gazed upon their victim for a moment in silence; but it -was no time now for hesitation or inactivity. They were four in -number, it is true, and there remained but one living man opposed to -them in the gallery chamber; but the sound of persons ascending the -turret-staircase was heard, and Erskine rushed upon Cranston with his -sword drawn.</p> - -<p class="normal">Cranston, furious at the base treatment of a lord he loved and -reverenced, instantly repelled the attack, and, no mean swordsman, -wounded Erskine in hand and arm; but all the others fell upon him, and -drove him back to the head of the staircase. Succour, however, was -near; for three gentlemen, headed by Hugh Moncrief, who had dined with -the earl that day, alarmed by the tumult, and the vague rumours that -were circulated below, were now rushing up--unhappily, too late--to -the assistance of the noble friend whom they had lost for ever. -Unprepared for meeting immediate hostility, however, they were -encountered at the very entrance of the room by those who were too -ready to receive them, and after a sharp but short encounter were -driven down, as well as Cranston, into the court-yard. Hugh Moncrief, -Patrick Eviot, and Henry Ruthven of Freeland, forced their way into -the street, and joined a small knot of the dead earl's friends -collected under the window; but Cranston, less fortunate, was taken in -the court-yard.</p> - -<p class="normal">The situation of the king, however, was less safe than he had imagined -it would be. There was much tumult in the streets of Perth, where the -family of the dead had ever been extremely popular; and when James, -informed that the deed he had long meditated was fully executed, came -forth from the cabinet, it was with a pale face, for seditious cries -were rising up from beneath the windows, and one of the most loyal -towns in Scotland was well nigh in a state of insurrection.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Give us our noble provost," cried one, "or the king's green coat -shall pay for it."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come down, thou son of Signor David!" shouted another; "thou hast -slain an honester man than thyself."</p> - -<p class="normal">The next minute, however, the head of Robert Brown, one of the king's -lacquies, appeared at the door of the gallery-chamber, to which he had -crept quietly, and casting himself on his knees before James, he said, -"God save your majesty! There are the Duke of Lennox and Earl of Mar, -with eight or ten of your best friends, in the gallery there, but they -can not get in to your help, for the door is locked."</p> - -<p class="normal">"God's sake! let them in!" cried James; and strange to say! from -amongst the party present, the key of the gallery door was produced, -and Lennox and the other gentlemen admitted.</p> - -<p class="normal">The door was instantly locked again, although the purposes for which -it had been first secured were now accomplished. Fortunately for the -king was such precaution taken; for, almost immediately after, a -number of Gowrie's friends and servants rushed to the gallery, loudly -demanding their lord and kinsman. Vain efforts were made to burst open -the door; swords were thrust through where a crevice gave the means, -and one of the Murrays, leaning against the partition, was wounded in -the leg. The voice of Alexander Ruthven of Freeland was then heard -exclaiming, "My lord duke, for God's sake tell me the truth! How goes -it with my Lord of Gowrie?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"He is well," answered Lennox, in a sad tone. "But thou art a fool. Go -thy way: thou wilt get little thanks for thy present labour."</p> - -<p class="normal">Still the tumult in the street increased, the common bell of the town -continued ringing, and James became seriously alarmed.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Run down, my Lord of Mar--run down," he said, "and take good heed to -the court and all the gates. Drive out all the traitor's people or -slay them, and then set a good guard at each of the gates and in the -gardens. Young Tullibardine is in the town with all his men. Could ye -not find him, meikle John Murray?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"I will try, your majesty," replied Murray of Arknay, who had been -wounded in the leg; "but there is Blair of Balthayock, with full fifty -men in the hall. He can keep the gates."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Ay, tell him--tell him," cried James; "the lad Christie will show him -all the points of defence. Christie's a good serviceable body, and -shall be weel rewarded. Now, gentlemen," he continued, "let us proceed -to the examination of the dead traitors' persons. We may find -somewhat, perchance, that will tend to the purposes of justice. -Uncover that one first, and see what you can find."</p> - -<p class="normal">The cloak was then removed from the body of Alexander Ruthven, and -without stopping to look at his handsome face, now calm in the -tranquillity of death, the courtiers searched his pockets. Little was -found, indeed, except a purse containing a small sum of money, and a -letter, which was handed immediately to the king, for it was in his -own handwriting.</p> - -<p class="normal">"That must be put out o' the way," said James, looking at it. "Is -there a fire in the kitchen?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, there must be," replied Ramsay; and after tearing the letter -into very small pieces, the king gave it to his page, saying, "Put -them in the fire, Jock, instanter. But bide a wee--there may be mair."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There is nothing more, sire," said the Earl of Mar, and then added, -"His sword has never been drawn--it is rusted in the sheath."</p> - -<p class="normal">"That has nothing to do wi' it," cried the monarch, angrily. "Search -the other man--see what ye can find on him."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Here is something worth finding," exclaimed Sir Thomas Erskine, who -had unclasped Gowrie's belt, and now held up the scheme of the young -earl's nativity, as drawn out by Manucci, displaying the various signs -and figures which it contained to the by-standers.</p> - -<p class="normal">"It's magic!" cried the king, in great delight. "I tell't ye so. He -was a dealer with sorcerers and devils, and would have taken our life -by his damnable arts. I kenned it weel. I tell't ye, Jock Ramsay."</p> - -<p class="normal">"And me too, sire," said Herries. "Your majesty's wisdom is never at -fault."</p> - -<p class="normal">"See, the body does not bleed!" cried the king; "this is a magical -spell, upon my life. Turn him over, he will soon bleed now this is -taken away."</p> - -<p class="normal">And so, indeed, it proved; for as soon as the body was turned over, so -as to bring the wound of which he had died in a different position, -the dark blood poured forth in a torrent.</p> - -<p class="normal">While they were gazing at this sight, and the king was again and again -pronouncing that the paper he now held in his hand was a magical -spell, the noises in the street suddenly increased very greatly, but -the tone seemed to be different.</p> - -<p class="normal">"De'il's in they folk!" cried the king; "will they pu' the house down? -Look out of the window, my Lord of Mar."</p> - -<p class="normal">"These are some friends that are crying now," said Mar, after looking -from the window. "The bailies and their folk have forced their way in -amongst the mob, and seem well affected." Then leaning forth from the -window, he listened for a moment to something that was shouted up from -below. "They desire to see with their own eyes that your majesty is -safe," he continued, turning again to James, "and to receive your -commands from your own lips."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Is it safe, man? Is it sure?" demanded the king. "Are they no -feigning?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, no," replied Mar. "They have got that little Bailie Roy, I think -they call him, at their head."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oo, ay, that wee pookit like body Roy," cried James. "I'm no feared -o' him;" and, advancing to the window, he cried, at the utmost extent -of his voice, "Bailie Roy, Bailie Roy, I am safe and well, praise be -to God! And I strictly command you to cause all the people to disperse -and retire quietly to their lodgings."</p> - -<p class="normal">This said, he withdrew his head again; and the good bailie made every -effort in his power to obey the royal injunction and disperse the -people. But his municipal eloquence, and his proclamation at the -market-cross, proved of little effect: an immense crowd continued to -occupy the street before the Great House, and cries and imprecations -upon those who had slain the innocent, continued to rise up from time -to time.</p> - -<p class="normal">It is not, indeed, improbable that, but for the imposing numbers which -Blair of Balthayock kept drawn up in the court-yard, with their swords -unsheathed, and which could be seen by the people through the iron -gates, the mob would have burst in, and, as Nisbet says in his -Heraldry, would have cut the court to pieces.</p> - -<p class="normal">For more than an hour, James and his principal nobles and favourites -continued in deliberation up stairs, the nature of which only -transpired in vague rumours. It is supposed by some, that this hour -was spent in patching together the somewhat disjointed tale which was -afterwards given to the public on royal authority, and in endeavouring -to make the story which James had previously told in coming from -Falkland, harmonize in some degree with the dark and bloody -transactions which had followed.</p> - -<p class="normal">However that may be, there was still, at seven o'clock, so great a -multitude assembled in the street as to render it dangerous for the -king to attempt to pass that way. The porter, Christie, and a man -named Dogie, were sent for to the king's presence, and acting upon a -suggestion they threw out, it was resolved that a boat should be -brought down to the garden stairs, by which James and his principal -courtiers should be conveyed along the Tay to the South Inch, while -the rest of the monarch's retinue should attempt the passage by the -streets; and the young master of Tullibardine should be directed, with -the strong body of horse he had brought into the town, to guard all -approach to the Inch against those who had not a certain pass-word. -This was executed skilfully and promptly; and towards eight o'clock, -under a gloomy sky and heavy rain, James mounted his horse at the -South Inch, and escorted by Tullibardine and the Murrays, rode away -towards Falkland.</p> - -<p class="normal">Thus perished the noble, the brave, and true! Thus triumphed the -feeble, the base, and treacherous! Let any man read attentively the -page of history, where too many events like this are recorded, and -then doubt, if he can, the coming of a future state where such things -shall be made equal.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLV.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">Austin Jute rode on towards Dirleton; but he did it with an -exceedingly strong feeling of ill will. He had doubts and -apprehensions in his mind, with regard to the fate of his well-loved -master, which, under any ordinary circumstances, would have bound him -to his side, to share his peril, to labour to avert it, or to fight in -his defence till death. But Gowrie's order had been peremptory; the -necessity of warning the earl's mother and Julia was great; and Austin -Jute, as I have said, rode on, though with a heavy heart. I shall not -trace his journey minutely, but merely notice that he took means to -avoid an encounter with the royal cavalcade in its approach to Perth, -and then made the best of his way to the old family seat of the -Ruthvens and Halyburtons, which, owing to some delay in the passage, -he did not reach till nearly eight o'clock. He was admitted instantly -to the presence of the old countess, who at the moment was standing by -the side of her son's promised bride, watching a portrait of Gowrie -which Julia was painting from memory. Every line of his countenance -was impressed so deeply upon her mind, that, with the perfect -knowledge of the art which she possessed, she had little difficulty in -transferring the image to the canvas. She had but to raise her look, -and fill the vacant air by the power of imagination, and Gowrie, in -all his young and high-toned beauty, stood visible to the mind's eye.</p> - -<p class="normal">As Austin Jute entered, the countess turned partly towards him, -saying, "I think I know your errand already, good man. The pleasure of -my son's arrival is to be delayed for a day. Is it not so?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"It is to be delayed, madam," replied Austin, in a tone so grave, that -Julia instantly dropped the brush, and started up.</p> - -<p class="normal">"What did he say?" she exclaimed, fixing her bright eyes eagerly upon -the servant's countenance. "Austin, Austin, what has happened?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"My dear child, do not agitate yourself so much," said Gowrie's -mother, in a soothing tone. "You know the king sent yesterday to ask -William to meet him to-day in Perth;<a name="div4Ref_11" href="#div4_11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> and, of course, with the king -for his guest, Gowrie could not leave his house, even to visit you, -sweet one."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There is something wrong," cried Julia, still keeping her eyes fixed -upon Austin's countenance. "I see it there. Something has happened!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, indeed, dear lady," replied Austin Jute; "nothing has happened -that I know of. The king's coming took my lord by surprise, for he -knew nothing of it till this day at his dinner."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing of it!" exclaimed the old countess, her brow contracting a -good deal. "Why, it was announced to my boy William, by four o'clock -yesterday evening.--But let us hope," she continued, "that this is one -of the king's wild jests. He loves to take people by surprise, I have -heard, and to make merry with the embarrassment he causes. Had the -king arrived ere you departed?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"No, madam; but he was within a mile of the town," replied Austin -Jute. "My lord sent me to warn you, and----"</p> - -<p class="normal">He paused and hesitated; and the old countess finished the sentence -for him, saying, "And to tell us he would come to-morrow. Was it not -so?"</p> - -<p class="normal">Austin shook his head. "He was going to do so, my lady," he replied; -"but he stopped himself as the words were on his lips, and said, 'No; -I will make no promises for to-morrow. God, and God only, knows what -may be to-morrow!'"</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia sank into a chair, and covered her eyes; and the old countess -put her hand to her brow, and fell into deep thought.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Let me not alarm you more than needful, dear ladies," continued -Austin Jute, after remaining silent for a moment or two; "though my -lord seemed quite bewildered by the suddenness of the king's visit, -and perhaps he might think the matter more serious than it really -was----But let me tell you what he said. I can give it you word for -word, for I have repeated it over and over again, to myself, as I came -along. The order was, 'Tell them the king comes. Tell them I know not -why he comes; and let their own judgment speak the rest. But of all -things,' added my noble lord, 'let my mother be upon her guard, and -see to the safety of my young brothers!'"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Wise and thoughtful ever," exclaimed the old countess. "Oh, Gowrie, -Gowrie!"</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia remained in silence. She wept not, spoke not, hardly seemed to -breathe; and Austin Jute at length demanded, in a low tone, addressing -the countess, "Shall I go back, madam, and obtain tidings?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, do, do!" cried Julia, starting up, and wringing her hands. "Bring -me tidings, bring me tidings!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Stay!" cried the countess, with recovered calmness. "Not you, my good -man. You are known to some of the people there; I will send a -stranger. Go and refresh yourself in the hall; but, first, tell -William Laing to come to me, and bid some of the grooms prepare a -horse for him without delay."</p> - -<p class="normal">"We are giving too much way to fear, my child," continued the -countess, addressing Julia, as Austin Jute retired. "We are taking for -granted that some evil is meditated against my son, and without cause. -True, we know the king did at one time suspect him; but we know also -that the suspicion was groundless, and as James has lately shown him -greater favour, we may well conclude that he is satisfied he was wrong -in his doubts."</p> - -<p class="normal">Julia went and knelt down on the cushion by the countess's feet, and -laid her broad fair brow upon her knee. "It was predicted to him," she -murmured, in a low voice, "that at this time great peril should befall -him; and we were warned in a strange manner that we should never be -united. Reason with me not, dear lady. I feel I am superstitious now, -though I never was before; and I feel, too, that it is in vain, when -superstition has possession of the mind, to struggle against it. God -grant that my fears may prove vain and idle, and if not, God grant -that we may both have strength to bear up under his will; but my brain -feels on fire, and my heart has hardly power to beat."</p> - -<p class="normal">The countess cast her arms around her and kissed her neck, and at the -same moment the servant she had sent for entered the room.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Mount directly, William Laing," the countess said, "and ride for -Perth with all speed. Bring us information, without pause or delay, -how fares the earl; but if you get important tidings by the way--mark -me, tidings that you can depend upon--return and let us know, be the -hour what it may. Now away, and lose not a moment by the road. There -is money for you, for you will need a boat."</p> - -<p class="normal">As the man was retiring, young William Ruthven entered the room, and -seeing the anxious countenances before him, he exclaimed, in a tone -almost gay, "Why, what is the matter, dearest mother? What is the -matter, sweet sister Julia? I came in all glad to tell you that my new -falcon, Bell, has struck the largest old heron in the county, -and----But this must be something serious," he continued, as Julia -turned away with the tears in her eyes, "Gowrie--What of my brother?"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Nothing, nothing," answered the countess. "His southron servant has -just arrived to say that he cannot come to-day, as the king pays him a -sudden visit, which he heard not of till dinner time; and our dear -Julia, whose heart is not accustomed to the rough things of the world, -has taken fright--needlessly, I do hope and trust. Stay with her and -comfort her, William. I have some orders to give;" and going out, she -sent at once for the factor of the Dirleton estates.</p> - -<p class="normal">The man came almost immediately; for there was that kind of indefinite -uneasiness, that looking forth for evil through the whole house, which -so frequently precedes calamity; and every servant was alert and -active.</p> - -<p class="normal">As soon as the door of the little room to which she had retired was -closed, the countess said, "I know I can trust you, Guthrie. I have -had news I do not like from Perth. The king goes to visit my son -suddenly, and by surprise; and the earl sends me word to be upon my -guard, and watch for the safety of his brothers. Keep four horses -saddled in the stable, and two men ready to fly with the boys, should -need be--at least till we hear more: and now, Guthrie, collect me all -the money you can get. Go to all the tenants nearest at hand, and ask -them for any sums they may have by them, within their amount of rent. -Tell them the countess has need of it. They know I would never press -them but in dire necessity; and they will not grudge it, I think."</p> - -<p class="normal">"There is not one of them who will not give his last penny willingly, -my lady," replied the factor, "if it be not old Jock Halyburton of the -mill. I'll go my round, and be back in an hour."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Go, then--go, Guthrie," answered the countess; and, leaning her head -upon her hand, she remained for somewhat more than half an hour in -deep, bitter, painful thought. She noticed not that there was the -sound of several feet moving past the door, and the first thing that -roused her from her reverie was a loud, shrill, piercing shriek from -the adjoining chamber.</p> - -<p class="normal">Starting up at once she rushed in; but for a moment, by the faint -light which now prevailed, she could gain no clear view of the scene -before her. All she saw was, that there were two men besides her own -sons in the room. The next instant she perceived the form of poor -Julia lying prostrate on the floor near the window, with the lad -William bending tenderly over her, while the younger boy, Patrick, -stood nearer to the door, pale as death, and wringing his hands in -bitter grief.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Oh, Henry, you have killed her!--Poor blighted flower!" cried William -Ruthven, as his mother entered.</p> - -<p class="normal">"I knew not she was in the room," replied Henry Ruthven of Freeland, -who was one of the two men whom the countess had seen; and nearly at -the same moment his brother Alexander, who was with him, took the old -lady's hand, saying, "Alas! dear lady, this is a bitter day!"</p> - -<p class="normal">"Your news?" said the countess, in a tone preternaturally calm and -cold, at the same time seating herself in a chair near.</p> - -<p class="normal">The young man hesitated for an instant, and then replied, "I and my -brother Henry here are forced to fly with all speed for having drawn -our swords, dear lady, in defence of your noble sons."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Then are my sons no more!" said the countess, solemnly; "their -friends would not fly if they still lived. Oh, accursed race of -Stuart! tyrannical, weak and bloodthirsty, could not the father's -death sate your appetite for vengeance, and must you wreak it upon the -innocent children? May Heaven avert from you the reward due to those -who shed the blood of the unoffending, and visit you only with the -remorse which works repentance! Oh, my poor boys, what had you done to -merit this? But I must not yield--No, I will not shed a tear. Thank -God, I am old, and the separation will but be short. I will remember -my noble son's last injunction, and care for his poor brothers. Lads, -lads, get ready to ride at once, for this is no longer a land for you. -James Stuart will never rest while there is one drop of your blood -unshed, one acre of your lands unseized. Away and prepare! The horses -are saddled in the stable; the gold will be here anon. Ride with them, -Henry and Alex; you will be some protection. And you, poor thing," she -continued, rising and moving across the room to where Julia lay, "your -prophetic heart gave no false augury. Oh, it was the oracle of deep -true love that spoke. Fatherless, motherless, bereft, you shall remain -with me, whom this man would make childless. My home shall be your -home, and you shall be to me as a daughter. Try not to raise her, -William. Let her have a respite from agony. You know not the blessing -you would take from her when you seek to call her back to life and -memory. Weep not, my dear boy--weep not now. Keep your tears for -another hour, as I shall do, and when you are safe afar, then we may -weep for others who are safer than ourselves. Go, go, my boy--prepare; -and you too, Patrick, for you must not let another sun shine upon you -in your native land. Go with them for awhile, good cousins, while they -make ready, and leave me and my maidens to tend this poor child."</p> - -<p class="normal">It was nearly an hour before Julia awoke--I was going to say to -consciousness--but that I cannot say. When she opened her eyes she -gazed wildly round her, and pronounced the name of Gowrie in a low -plaintive tone that wrung his mother's heart.</p> - -<p class="normal">"Come, my child," said the countess, tenderly; "come with me to your -chamber."</p> - -<p class="normal">"Gowrie," said Julia again, in the same tone, gazing vacantly in his -mother's face, "Gowrie!"</p> - -<p class="normal">It was all that she ever said. No other word ever passed her lips but -that. She was gentle, tractable, did all that was required of her, but -speak. That she never did after, but to utter one name. All language -seemed lost to her but that single sound; and that grew fainter and -fainter every day, while the rose died away from her cheek, the light, -wandering and wild as it was, faded from her eye, the hand grew thin -and pale. Ten weeks all but a day passed, and Julia found rest and -peace.</p> - -<p class="normal">Happy, most happy for her, that reason never returned. She would have -heard of him she loved being pronounced a traitor, though he never -dreamed of treason--she would have heard of his dead body being -mangled by the hand of the executioner--she would have heard of the -faithful friends and servants who had drawn their swords to save -him from assassination, being torn by the torture and dying a -dishonouring death--his lands forfeited--his family proscribed--his -very name forbidden to be used; and--oh solemn mockery of God's -omniscience!--she would have heard of thanks offered up for his -destruction and his murderer's safety.</p> - -<p class="normal">There could but have been one comfort--to hear and know that all men -thought him innocent; that the best and noblest of the clergy in his -native land refused, even under pain of deprivation and banishment, to -mock God as they were required, and that far and wide, throughout -Europe, the history of his asserted treason was treated with contempt, -and the tale of his death received with sorrow and with pity. But she -died, and, without ever recovering a glimpse of reason to groan under -the burden or to feel the relief, went down to that calm home where -the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> - -<h4>CHAPTER XLVI.</h4> - -<h4>POSTSCRIPT.</h4> -<br> - -<p class="normal">It may seem strange to place at the end of a work like the present, -those observations which are usually placed at the beginning, and to -add in a postscript, that general view of a subject which is generally -afforded in a preface. Except in those cases where a right -understanding of the scope and object of the work, and a clear view of -the principles upon which the author writes, are necessary to the -comprehension of that which is to follow, I greatly object to -prefaces. I do not wish to prepossess my reader in favour of my book, -nor to imbue him with my own peculiar ideas in order to gain his -assent to what is to come after. I, therefore, may as well say at the -close, where the reader is more likely to peruse it, what many others -would have said at the commencement, and having formed a very strong -and decided opinion upon a matter of history, in regard to which, -others, inconceivably to me, have adopted a different view, add a few -remarks in justification of my own judgment.</p> - -<p class="normal">On the work itself I have little to say, except inasmuch as it is an -essay intended to prove what is really the feeling of the public in -regard to cheap literature.</p> - -<p class="normal">I was aware, from the first, that should the experiment not succeed, I -might be met by the reply, that what the public desire is good as well -as cheap literature, and I therefore chose a subject of deep interest, -which I had pondered for some years, which was first brought to my -attention by a gallant officer<a name="div4Ref_12" href="#div4_12"><sup>[12]</sup></a> descended from the family which -figures most conspicuously in the foregoing pages. To those who have -really read the book and arrived fairly at these concluding pages, I -think I may venture to appeal as to whether I have spared labour, -research, and thought upon the work. I know that I have not, and I -believe the evidence thereof will be found in the tale itself.</p> - -<p class="normal">I would have done as I have said, had it been merely because the work -was to be given to the public at a cheaper rate than usual; but there -were other strong motives for considering well every sentence I wrote. -An important point of history was involved: a point which has been -rendered dark by the passions and prejudices of partizans, who refused -to judge of it as they would judge of any other matter of evidence -brought before them.</p> - -<p class="normal">The question is, whether the young Earl of Gowrie and his brother laid -a plot for entrapping James VI., King of Scotland, to their house at -Perth, for the purpose of murdering him, the king escaping by a -miracle, and causing them to be slain in return: or whether he laid a -plot for surprising them in their house, under the appearance of a -friendly visit, and, by a pre-arranged plan, murdered them in their -own dwelling.</p> - -<p class="normal">I have maintained, as the reader has seen, and ever shall maintain, -that the latter was the case.</p> - -<p class="normal">When any man is accused of a crime, it must be shown that the crime -was committed, that the accused had a sufficient motive, and that the -act is brought home to him by conclusive evidence.</p> - -<p class="normal">The crime of which the Earl of Gowrie and his brother were accused, -was having seduced King James to their house at Perth, with the -intention of putting him to death; for the intention in such cases is -the crime.</p> - -<p class="normal">The motive which has been assigned is the desire of succeeding to the -throne of Scotland, as the next heir. This has been tenderly touched -upon, because it was too shallow a pretence not to fail at once before -examination; but it is still clearly indicated as the motive. Gowrie -was only remotely related to James by Margaret Tudor, Queen of -Scotland, the king's great-grandmother, an English princess, whose -blood gave him no claim whatever to the Scottish throne, whatever it -might do to that of England. Moreover, the king had one son then -living, and another was born two months after. So that had the king -been killed on the fatal fifth of August, he would have been as far -from the throne of Scotland as ever.</p> - -<p class="normal">The evidence of any crime having been committed by the Earl and his -brother, now comes to be examined; and I do not scruple to say, that -to the eyes of any man of common understanding, it not only proves -that Gowrie and his brother were innocent, but that James was guilty. -First, let it be remarked, that this evidence was all on one side, -that no defence was made on the part of the dead accused, that no -witnesses were examined on their behalf, that those on the other part -were not cross-examined. The king himself was the principal witness; -for his statement must be taken as a deposition. He declared that -Alexander Ruthven, the earl's brother, came up to him when he was -going out to hunt at Falkland, and besought him to come immediately to -Perth, as he, Alexander, had seized and imprisoned in his brother's -house, a stranger with a pitcher full of foreign gold, which he wished -to secure for the king; and that he must come privately, without -letting any one know, for he feared that the man might cry out and -call the attention of the earl, who knew nothing of the fact. James -says he determined to go, (though the tale was too absurd to obtain -credence from any rational being;) but instead of going immediately, -he continued to hunt from seven till ten o'clock; and instead of going -privately, took the whole court, all his usual attendants, and -moreover, two lacquies from the palace, together with the porter at -Falkland, and the keeper of his ale cellar. Of the conversation -between the king and Alexander Ruthven, we have no testimony but that -of James himself. It is true, as he rode towards Perth he related the -tale privately to the Duke of Lennox, when that nobleman at once -expressed his opinion of the improbability of the story; but yet the -king went on. His majesty did not send forward to announce his coming -to the young earl till he was within two miles of Perth; but then he -was met and received, not by Gowrie and his attendants in private and -alone, but by the earl as Lord Provost, at the head of the magistrates -of the town, hurriedly assembled. The king then proceeds to relate -what occurred at the earl's palace, and comments on the young -nobleman's demeanour, which, instead of being courteous, flattering, -and calculated to lull and deceive, was exactly what might be expected -from a man taken unprepared by the sudden and unannounced visit of a -sovereign, when he was about to set out on a journey of some length. -He was distant, silent, and though attentive to the king, anything but -so to the immense train he had brought with him.</p> - -<p class="normal">After dinner the king was led by Alexander Ruthven to a chamber near -the picture gallery to repose for a little, and the king says that he -was taken through many rooms, the doors of which were all locked -behind him. The king's prudence must have been sadly at fault to go on -under such circumstances. In the chamber to which he was led, -according to the account of the king, and also that of Ramsay, was a -tall, dark, strong man, armed. The monarch described him particularly, -but implied that he was not one of his own attendants, but a stranger; -yet he remained some time conversing with Mr. Alexander Ruthven -without any apparent alarm, and suffered the young gentleman to go out -and in, he avers, to meet his brother. It is shown by the other -depositions that Gowrie was during the whole of this time, except for -one short moment, either in the hall with the large body of courtiers, -or walking with them in his gardens. At length Alexander Ruthven -assaulted the king, James declares, and attempted first to stab him -with a dagger, and then to bind his hands with two garters, saying, -coolly, "Traitor, thou must die, and therefore lay thy hands together -that I may bind thee." If we are to credit the testimony of Moyses, -one of the king's most faithful servants, there were five hundred -gentlemen in Perth on that day, of whom it would appear full three -hundred were of the family of Murray, sent for to meet the king under -the Master of Tullibardine. The rest were the king's friends and -followers, already completely in possession of Gowrie's palace. Many -of these were in the street just below the room, with the Duke of -Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Lord Lindores, and Sir Thomas Erskine. -Alexander Ruthven must have been a bold man, and not a prudent one, if -he really sought the king's death, to make so cool a proposal rather -than run him through the body with his sword, especially if the armed -man in the room was put there by himself to aid in the assassination. -The armed man, however, according to the king's account, remained -quaking and trembling; and Alexander Ruthven did not draw his sword -during the whole day. James then declares he rushed to the window, -and shouted treason, and when John Ramsay entered the room in -haste--having been informed by some one how to reach it, which none of -the others could divine--he found the younger Ruthven on his knees, -trying to stop the king's vociferation. James did not give orders to -apprehend him for trial, but to stab him, and even pointed out where -he was to be stabbed. The king, then, was locked in the cabinet, while -his friends laid wait for Gowrie to stab him likewise, when he came in -search of his brother.</p> - -<p class="normal">The other depositions--with one exception, which I shall notice -presently--go to prove merely the facts which I have mentioned in the -preceding chapters, that Gowrie was taken by surprise, and -discontented with the king's unannounced visit, that he was unarmed -during the whole day, that when the report was spread that the king -was gone, he called for his horse, in order to ride after him with the -rest of the court, unarmed as he was, that he never left his guests -for more than a moment; and, as a very strict investigation has been -made of his occupations during the whole of the early part of the day, -it is shown that he attended the morning service at the parish church, -transacted important business with several parties, invited some -common acquaintances to dinner, dined with them calmly, made no -preparation whatever against the king's coming, and even sent two of -his servants to a distance, though he had but eight or nine in the -house, one of whom was ill in bed. In the testimony of not one of the -credible witnesses is there a word that implicates Gowrie, and there -is much to show that it was well nigh impossible he could have any -share in the attempt of his brother, if any attempt was really made. -At the same time, however, a great deal transpires which shows that -Gowrie was not the injurer, but the injured. No preparation is alleged -for the commission of the crime, no force was collected, no arms laid -up, he himself was totally unarmed, his brother had only an ordinary -sword (for the dagger was said to have been snatched from the armed -man.) Andrew Ruthven, who accompanied his cousin to Falkland, was -totally unarmed, so was George Dewar, one of the Earl's servants. He -had drawn round him no great body of friends. These are all negative -testimonies to his innocence. Then again we find that when he called -for his horse to follow the king with the rest of the court, he -learned that his horse had been removed from his own house. Was this -to prevent his escape? When the very act is said to have been doing -which was intended to deprive his sovereign of life, he went unarmed -and stood under the very window of the room where it was to take -place, with a large party of the king's most attached friends--in the -midst of the royal servants! Ramsay's deposition shows that he, -Ramsay, knew at once how to find his way to the monarch; and Sir -Thomas Erskine's proves that James did not go with Mr. Ruthven alone -to the earl's cabinet, but that he, Erskine, accompanied them, and was -stationed by the king himself at the door of the chamber. It is proved -also by the various depositions, that when Erskine, Ramsay, James and -George Wilson were together in the chamber after Gowrie's death, and -before the bodies were searched, the key of the door into the gallery -was amongst them, and was used to admit the nobles from the other -side, and to exclude the earl's friends. It is not even pretended that -any keys were found upon Alexander Ruthven after his death.</p> - -<p class="normal">Moreover, it is proved that the king, who is represented as having -been struggling for life with a traitor, was so cool, that while his -friends despatched his enemy, he put his foot upon the jesses of the -falcon, to prevent it from flying away.</p> - -<p class="normal">Setting aside the monarch's own evidence, therefore, the testimony of -all other persons was rather in favour of Gowrie, and against the -king, than otherwise; and the proofs of the monarch having assembled a -large body of men in Perth were easily to be obtained, showing a -preconcerted plan for going to that city before Alexander Ruthven -could, by any possibility, have told the story of the pot of gold. -Moreover, that story was in itself so absurd, and many parts of the -king's statement so unlike truth; and the fact of the earl and his -brother having been slain unresisting, when they could, without -difficulty or danger, have been taken and tried according to law, was -so suspicious, that it must have seemed necessary to all James's -advisers to support his testimony by some corroborative evidence or -circumstance. No one could give any evidence of what took place in the -gallery chamber or its cabinet, but the armed man who was present; but -it would have been something to prove that the armed man was one of -Gowrie's servants. He, therefore, was to be sought for, or at least a -substitute; but unfortunately the king, in his first proclamation, had -given a very accurate account of the man's personal appearance. He was -described by the monarch as a black, grim man, and as his head was -uncovered, and James had some conversation with him, he could not be -mistaken in his complexion. David Calderwood, quoted by Mr. Scott in -his life and death of the Earl of Gowrie, declares that the king first -asserted the man was Robert Oliphant, one of Gowrie's servants. -Oliphant proved, however, that he was not in Perth that day. Two -others were then successively pointed at as the criminal, but they -freed themselves from the imputation. The next person accused was -Henry Younger, likewise one of the earl's servants; but setting out to -establish his innocence, he was met, pursued through the fields, and -put to death by a party of the king's horse. The matter now seemed -settled; the dead body was exposed at the market cross at Falkland, -and Galloway, the king's chaplain, had the assurance to address the -monarch publicly at the cross, saying, "Sir, the man who should have -helped to do the deed could not be taken alive, but now his dead body -lies before you."</p> - -<p class="normal">It was soon proved, however, that Henry Younger was at Dundee during -the whole of the 5th of August, and another had to be sought for.</p> - -<p class="normal">In this exigency, Andrew Henderson, the earl's factor, volunteered, or -was persuaded, upon promise of pardon, to acknowledge himself the man -whom the king and Ramsay had seen. How this was brought about has -never been known; but he was suffered to make his deposition, and -therein told a story even more incredible than that of the king. He -said that his lord had commanded him to arm himself, to assist in -apprehending a notorious robber, and for that purpose <i>to suffer -himself to be locked into a closet at the top of the house</i>, where he -remained for about half an hour--in fact, till the king and Alexander -Ruthven came.</p> - -<p class="normal">The other depositions clearly prove that this statement was false, as -well as absurd; for from the time of the king's arrival to the moment -at which James proceeded to the rooms above, and especially during the -last three-quarters of an hour, every moment of which is accounted -for, Gowrie never quitted the monarch's presence, except to go with -the nobles to the adjoining hall, or afterwards to drink to them by -the king's command. The contradictions between Henderson's evidence -and the statement of the king are pointed out both by Lord Hailes and -Robertson, and well summed up by Mr. Scott. The sermons of Bishop -Cowper prove that many persons in Perth denied that Henderson was in -Gowrie's palace at all after the king's arrival; and though that -worthy pastor states he had spoken with persons who saw Henderson -there, he seems not to have given information to the monarch, for whom -he was so zealous, of the names of these parties; for not one of them -was called forward to prove the truth of a tale which nobody believed. -Even James himself threw discredit upon the account, by not naming -Henderson as the armed man, though he published a statement after the -depositions were taken, and indeed with no face could the king have -done so; for he had previously stated that the man was a black, grim -man, and Henderson was a little ruddy man with a light brown beard. -Henderson was, moreover, contradicted by other witnesses upon various -points, and by the king himself upon many. Yet Henderson, we may -suppose, did James good service in some way; for we find that he was -honoured and rewarded with lands and offices, as well as Christie, the -Earl of Gowrie's porter, whose services are unknown, though strongly -suspected; and another domestic, named Dogie, of whose deeds we know -nothing.</p> - -<p class="normal">The guilt of the Earl of Gowrie was disbelieved in Scotland all but -universally, and the accusation of magic and sorcery brought against -him was treated with the contempt it merited, except by a few persons -more curious than intelligent. Five ministers of Edinburgh refused to -offer thanks for the king's deliverance, in which they did not -believe; and, three of them suffered severely for their contumacy and -incredulity. The estates of the Earl of Gowrie were forfeited, and -divided amongst favourites, and three of the earl's faithful servants -were executed at Perth, declaring their innocence and his with their -dying breath. An annual thanksgiving was appointed in England and -Scotland, but the English laughed at the farce, and the Scotch were -indignant at the impiety. An annual feast also was held, which Weldon -mentions as follows: "Sir John Ramsay, for his good service in that -preservation, was the principal guest; and so did the king grant him -any boon he would ask that day. But he had such limitation made to his -asking, as made his suit as unprofitable as the action which he asked -it for was unserviceable to the king."</p> - -<p class="normal">I have endeavoured, in the account of the last few days of the earl's -life, to keep as near to the truth as possible, only indicating -circumstances not absolutely proved as natural conclusions from -established facts. I have not ventured to represent the scene which -took place in the earl's gallery chamber and cabinet between his -brother and the king, for my account would probably be nearly as wide -of the truth as that of the monarch or the factor, though it might be -less absurd. But I have not felt myself bound to adhere to historical -truth in those parts of a romance which are conventionally established -as fiction. The character of Julia Douglas is purely imaginary; and -were there at present any descendants from the Regent Morton, I would -apologize for the liberties I have taken with their ancestor. The lady -whom it was proposed the earl should marry, was in reality the Lady -Margaret Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Angus; but particular -circumstances, which it would be tedious to dwell upon, prevented me -from mixing her name up with this history; and there were rumours -current, both before and after the earl's death, of another more -powerful but secret attachment, which might probably have frustrated -the views of friends under the influence of a stronger power.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>FOOTNOTES</h3> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_01" href="#div4Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: This man, David Drummond, was tried and condemned shortly -after, in the first justice court held by the young earl, and was -executed for his offence, June 28,1600, as appears by the chronicles -of the fair city of Perth.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_02" href="#div4Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: This curious anecdote is given in the manuscript memoirs -of the Church of Scotland, by Mr. David Calderwood, a contemporary who -was at this time about five-and-twenty years of age, and a keen -observer of all that was passing.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_03" href="#div4Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: It is now the generally received opinion that the Earl of -Angus did obtain possession of the treasures of the regent Morton, and -that he spent the whole of them in acts of liberality to his fellow -exiles.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_04" href="#div4Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: This anecdote of court scandal is to be found in -Pinkerton's essay on what he calls the Gowrie conspiracy, in which it -was inserted on the authority of Lord Hailes. The freedom of manners -attributed to Anne of Denmark, both before and after the accession of -her husband to the throne of England, and her fondness for several -ladies of more than doubtful virtue, are mentioned by almost every -writer of the day. All agree, however, that the character of Beatrice -Ruthven, afterwards Lady Hume, one of Anne's earliest favourites, was -perfectly irreproachable.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_05" href="#div4Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: This anecdote of Mr. William Cowper is given by -Archbishop Spottiswood, a strong partizan of the king; and it is clear -that he mentioned it with the view of supporting, by some independent -testimony, the extraordinary statement of James himself--a statement -which would not have deceived a child, so absurd, incongruous, and -ridiculous it is, had not the friends and flatterers of the monarch -exerted themselves, with all the zeal of sycophant ambition, to -bolster up a puerile defence of his conduct, by corroborative -circumstances often as false, and sometimes as puerile.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_06" href="#div4Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: This same Mr. Patrick Galloway, after the earl's death, -did very imprudently go the length of saying, in a sermon preached at -the market cross of Edinburgh, referring to the murdered nobleman, "He -was an atheist, an incarnate devil, in the coat of an angel, a studier -of magic, a conjurer with devils, some of whom he had under his -command."</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_07" href="#div4Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: If Henderson ever was at Falkland on that day, as he -afterwards swore, he must have arrived at about half-past seven, and -to have seen anything of what took place could not have quitted the -ground till after eight. Yet he had returned to Perth by ten. He was -met by Mr. John Moncrief, about that time, riding into Perth, and -stopped to speak with him, so that he performed, in two hours, a -journey which had taken Alexander Ruthven three, over the bad and -tortuous roads then existing. But the whole of the man's evidence is -invalidated by his subsequent perjury in regard to the other -transactions of that day.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_08" href="#div4Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: The above is actually the story which James not only told -to his courtiers, but afterwards wrote to several neighbouring -princes, and embodied in his narrative of the events of that day, -leaving his hearers and his readers the very unpleasant alternative of -looking upon him either as an idiot or a knave. Lennox, in his -deposition, very barely conceals what he thought of the story and of -the king, for believing, or pretending to believe it.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_09" href="#div4Ref_09">Footnote 9</a>: Moyses, in his Memoirs, declares that there were no less -than five hundred gentlemen in Perth that day who bore testimony to -the truth of the king's statement, and therefore were certainly not -inimical to James. Yet we are told to believe that in presence of this -imposing force of loyal subjects (assembled, who knows how?) Gowrie -and his brother, with eight servants, attempted the king's life.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_10" href="#div4Ref_10">Footnote 10</a>: This fact is indiscreetly suffered to appear in -Erskine's deposition, where he says, "When all was over, I said to his -majesty, I thought your majesty would have concredited more to me than -to have commanded me to await your majesty at the door, if you had -thought it not mete to take me with you." That Sir Thomas Erskine knew -more of this foul transaction than he deposed to, is indicated by a -letter from Nicholson, the Queen of England's agent in Scotland, 22nd -September, 1602, in which he mentions that the king was much disturbed -because his queen had revealed to Beatrice Ruthven some secrets told -her by Sir Thomas Erskine.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_11" href="#div4Ref_11">Footnote 11</a>: This fact is positively asserted in Calderwood's -manuscript Memoirs, quoted by Mr. Scott.</p> - -<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_12" href="#div4Ref_12">Footnote 12</a>: Lieut. Col. Cowell.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5>T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos Street, Covent Garden.</h5> - -<br> -<br> -<br> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Gowrie:, by G. P. R. 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