to keep him there prating and bleeding, I had asked of him
what indiscretion had blown the secret and perilled the signet. No
robbers were those between Paris and Vincennes in our midst, but men who
knew what he bore. I'll never--'

Bedford just restrained himself from saying, 'trust a Scot again;' but
his manner had vexed and pained James, who returned to Malcolm, and left
him no more till called by necessity to his post as King Henry's chief
mourner, when the care of him was left to Patrick Drummond and old
Bairdsbrae; and Malcolm was a very tranquil patient, who seemed to need
nothing but the pleasure of looking at the ring on his finger. The
weapon had evidently touched no vital part, and he was decidedly on the
way to recovery, when on the second evening Bedford met James, saying: 'I
have seen Robsart. It was no indiscretion of young Glenuskie's. It was
only what comes of dealing with women. Can I see the boy without peril
to him?'

Malcolm was so much better, that there was no reason against the Duke's
admission, and soon Bedford's falcon-face looked down on him in all its
melancholy.

'Thanks, my Lord Glenuskie,' he said; 'I thought not to be sending you on
a service of such risk.'

'It was a welcome service,' said Malcolm.

Bedford's brows knitted themselves for a moment as he said, 'I came to
ask whether you deem that this hurt was from a common robber or
_routier_.'

'Assuredly not,' said Malcolm, but very low; and looking up into his
face, as he added, 'This should be for your ear alone, Sir.'

They were left alone, and the Duke said: 'I have heard from Robsart how
the ring was obtained. You may spare that part of the story.'

'Sir,' said Malcolm, 'when the Lady Esclairmonde' (for he was not to be
balked of dwelling on that name with prolonged delight) 'had brought me
the ring, Sir Lewis Robsart advised my setting forth without loss of
time.'

'So he told me,' said the Duke; 'and likewise that you took his words so
literally as to set out with only three followers.'

'Ay, Sir; but he knew not wherefore. My escort had gone forth into the
city, and while they were being collected, a message bade me to the Lady
Esclairmonde's presence. I went, suspecting naught, but I found myself
in presence of Madame of Hainault, and of a veiled lady--who, my Lord--'
He paused. 'She was broad in form, and had a trick of gasping as though
over-fat.'

Bedford nodded. Every one knew Queen Isabeau by these