he rest to rush in upon them.'

'You are sure it was Ghisbert?' repeated Bedford, anxiously.

'As certain as a man's voice can make me,' said Malcolm. 'Methinks, had
I not named him, he would perhaps have bound me to a tree, and left it to
be thought that they were but common thieves.'

'Belike,' said Bedford, thoughtfully. 'We are beholden to you, my Lord
Glenuskie; the whole state of England is beholden to you for the saving
of the confusion and evils the loss of that ring would have caused. You
can keep counsel, I wot well. Then let all this matter of the Queen and
Countess rest a secret.'

Malcolm looked amazed; and Bedford added: 'I cannot quarrel with the
woman, nor banish her from Court. Did we accuse her, Holland would
become Armagnac; nor is she subject of ours, to have justice done on her.
It is for her interest to hush the matter up, and it must be ours too. If
that knave Ghisbert ever gives me the chance, he shall hang like a dog;
but for the rest--' he shrugged his shoulders.

'And,' said Malcolm, 'Ghisbert only meant to serve his lady. Any vassal
of mine would do the like for me or my sister.'

Bedford half smiled; then sighed and said: 'Once we were like to get laws
more obeyed than lords; but that is all over now! Yet you, young Sir,
have seen a great pattern; you will have great powers!'

'Sir,' interrupted Malcolm, 'I pray you believe me, great powers I shall
not have. As I told you last night, I do but hold this precious troth in
trust! It must be a secret, or it would not save her; but you--oh, Sir!
you will believe that!'

'If it be so,' said Bedford, gravely, 'it is too sacred a trust to be
spoken of. You will deserve greater honour if you keep your word, than
ever you will receive from the world. Farewell--and recover fast.'

Malcolm did not meet with much encouragement from the few to whom he
thought fit to confide the conditions of his espousal. The King allowed
that he could not have acted otherwise, but was concerned at it, because
of the hindrance that might for years be interposed in the way of his
welfare; and secretly hoped that Malcolm, in his new capacity, would so
gain on Esclairmonde's esteem and gratitude, as to win her affection, and
that by mutual consent they would lay aside their loftier promises, and
take up their espousal where they had left it.

And what James secretly desired, Sir Patrick Drummond openly recommended.
In his eyes, Malcolm would be no bett