CHAPTER XXXI
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
The next morning the Chancellor came down early from his chamber, andfinding Earl Douglas already waiting in the courtyard, he rubbed hishands and called out cheerfully: "We shall be more lonely to-day, butperhaps even more gay. For there are many things men delight in whicheven the fairest ladies care not for, fearing mayhap some invasion oftheir dominions."
"What mean you, my Lord Chancellor?" said the Douglas to his host,eagerly scanning the upper windows meanwhile.
"I mean," said the Chancellor, fawningly, "that his Excellency, theambassador of France, hath ridden away under cloud of night, and hathtaken his fair ward with him."
The Earl turned pale and stood glowering at the obsequious Chancelloras if unable to comprehend the purport of his words. At last hecommanded himself sufficiently to speak.
"Was this resolution sudden, or did the Lady Sybilla know of ityesternight?"
"Nay, of a surety it was quite sudden," replied the Chancellor. "Amessage arrived from the Queen Mother to the Marshal de Retzrequesting an immediate meeting on business of state, whereupon Ioffered my Castle of Edinburgh for the purpose as being moreconvenient than Stirling. So I doubt not that they are all met there,the young King being of the party. It is, indeed, a quaint fallingout, for of late, as you may have heard, the Tutor and the Queen havescarce been of the number of my intimates."
The Earl of Douglas appeared strangely disturbed. He paid no furtherattention to his host, but strode to and fro in the courtyard with histhumbs in his belt, in an attitude of the deepest meditation.
The Chancellor watched him from under his eyebrows with alternateapprehension and satisfaction, like a timid hunter who sees the lionhalf in and half out of the snare.
"I have a letter for you, my Lord Douglas," he said, after a longpause.
"Ah," cried Douglas, with obvious relief, "why did you not tell me soat first. Pray give it me."
"I knew not whether it might afford you pleasure or no," answered theChancellor.
"Give it me!" cried Douglas, imperiously, as though he spoke to anunderling.
Sir William Crichton drew a square parcel from beneath his long-furredgown, and handed it to William Douglas, who, without stepping back,instantly broke the seal.
"Pshaw," cried he, contemptuously, "it is from the Queen Mother andAlexander Livingston!"
He thought it had been from another, and his disappointment waswritten clear upon his face.
"Even so," said the Chancellor, suavely; "it was delivered by the sameservant who brought the message which called away the ambassador andhis companion."
The Earl read it from beginning to end. After the customary greetingsand good wishes the letter ran as follows:
"The King greatly desires to see his noble cousin of Douglas at the castle of Edinburgh, presently put at his Majesty's disposal by the High Chancellor of Scotland. Here in this place are now assembled all the men who desire the peace and assured prosperity of the realm, saving the greatest of all, my Lord and kinsman of Douglas. The King sends affectionate greeting to his cousin, and desires that he also may come thither, that the ambassador of France may carry back to his master a favourable report of the unity and kindly governance of the kingdom during his minority."
The Chancellor watched the Earl as he read this letter. To one moresuspicious than William Douglas it would have been clear that he washimself perfectly acquainted with the contents.
"I am bidden meet the King at the Castle of Edinburgh," said Douglas;"I will set out at once."
"Nay, my lord," said Crichton, "not this day, at least. Stay and huntthe stag on the braes of Borthwick. My huntsmen have marked down aswift and noble buck. To-morrow to Edinburgh an you will!"
"I thank you, Sir William," the Douglas answered, curtly enough; "butthe command is peremptory. I must ride to Edinburgh this very day."
"I pray you remember that Edinburgh is a turbulent city and littleinclined to love your great house. Is it, think you, wise to gothither with so small a retinue?"
The Earl waved his hand carelessly.
"I am not afraid," he said; "besides, what harm can befall when Ilodge in the castle of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland?"
Crichton bowed very low.
"What harm, indeed?" he said; "I did but advise your lordship tobethink himself. I am an old man, pray remember--fast growing feebleand naturally inclined to overmuch caution. But the blood flows hotthrough the veins of eighteen."
Sholto, who knew nothing of these happenings, had just finishedexercising his men on the smooth green in front of the Castle ofCrichton, and had dismissed them, when a gaberlunzie or privilegedbeggar, a long lank rascal with a mat of tangled hair, and clad in acast-off leathern suit which erstwhile some knight had worn under hismail, leaped suddenly from the shelter of a hedge. InstinctivelySholto laid his hand on his dagger.
"Nay," snuffled the fellow, "I come peaceably. As you love your lordhasten to give him this letter. And, above all, let not the Crichtonsee you."
He placed a small square scrap of parchment in Sholto's hand. It wassealed in black wax with a serpent's head, and from the condition ofthe outside had evidently been in places both greasy and grimy. Sholtoput it in his leathern pouch wherein he was used to keep the hone forsharpening his arrows, and bestowed a silver groat upon the beggar.
"Thy master's life is surely worth more than a groat," said the man.
"I warrant you have been well enough paid already," said Sholto, "thatis, if this be not a deceit. But here is a shilling. On your head beit, if you are playing with Sholto MacKim!"
So saying the captain of the guard strode within. He had alreadyacquired the carriage and consequence of a veteran old in the wars.
His master was still pacing up and down the courtyard, deep inmeditation. Sholto saluted the young Earl and asked permission tospeak a word with him.
"Speak on, Sholto--well do you know that at all times you may say whatyou will to me."
"But this I desire to keep from prying eyes. My lord, there is aletter in my wallet which was given me even now by a gaberlunzie man.He declares that it concerns your life. I pray you take out my honestone as if to look at it, and with it the letter."
The Earl nodded, as if Sholto had been making a report to him. Then hewent nearer and began to finger his squire's accoutrements, finallyopening his belt pouch and taking out the stone that was therein.
"Where gat you this hone!" he said, holding it to the light; "it looksnot the right blue for a Water-of-Ayr stone."
Sholto answered that it came from the Parton Hills, and, as the Earlreplaced it, he possessed himself of the square letter and thrust itinto the bosom of his doublet.
As soon as William Douglas was alone, he broke the seal and tore openthe parchment. It was written in a delicate foreign script, thecharacters fine and small:
"My lord, do not, I beseech you, come to Edinburgh or think of me more. Last night my Lord of Retz spied upon us and this morning he hath carried me off. Wherever you are when you receive this, turn instantly and ride with all speed to one of your strong castles. As you love me, go! We can never hope to see one another again. Forget an unfortunate girl who can never forget you."
There was no signature saving the impression of the joined serpents'heads, which he remembered as the signet of the ring he had found andgiven back to her on the day of the tournament.
"I will never give her up. I must see her," cried the Earl of Douglas,"and this very day. Aye, and though I were to die for it on themorrow, see her I will!"