h to revolt a heathen divan, to say
nought of the council of a Christian nation. Thou wert my tutor,
Ramorny, and perhaps I might justly upbraid thy lessons and example for
some of the follies which men chide in me. Perhaps, if it had not been
for thee, I had not been standing at midnight in this fool's guise
(looking at his dress), to hear an ambitious profligate propose to me
the murder of an uncle, the dethronement of the best of fathers. Since
it is my fault as well as thine that has sunk me so deep in the gulf of
infamy, it were unjust that thou alone shouldst die for it. But dare not
to renew this theme to me, on peril of thy life! I will proclaim thee to
my father--to Albany--to Scotland--throughout its length and breadth.
As many market crosses as are in the land shall have morsels of
the traitor's carcass, who dare counsel such horrors to the heir of
Scotland. Well hope I, indeed, that the fever of thy wound, and the
intoxicating influence of the cordials which act on thy infirm brain,
have this night operated on thee, rather than any fixed purpose."

"In sooth, my lord," said Ramorny, "if I have said any thing which could
so greatly exasperate your Highness, it must have been by excess of
zeal, mingled with imbecility of understanding. Surely I, of all men, am
least likely to propose ambitious projects with a prospect of advantage
to myself! Alas! my only future views must be to exchange lance and
saddle for the breviary and the confessional. The convent of Lindores
must receive the maimed and impoverished knight of Ramorny, who will
there have ample leisure to meditate upon the text, 'Put not thy faith
in princes.'"

"It is a goodly purpose," said the Prince, "and we will not be lacking
to promote it. Our separation, I thought, would have been but for a
time. It must now be perpetual. Certainly, after such talk as we have
held, it were meet that we should live asunder. But the convent of
Lindores, or what ever other house receives thee, shall be richly
endowed and highly favoured by us. And now, Sir John of Ramorny,
sleep--sleep--and forget this evil omened conversation, in which the
fever of disease and of wine has rather, I trust, held colloquy than
your own proper thoughts. Light to the door, Eviot."

A call from Eviot summoned the attendants of the Prince, who had been
sleeping on the staircase and hall, exhausted by the revels of the
evening.

"Is there none amongst you sober?" said the Duke of Roths