of something resembling
sorcery."

"You see this trifling implement," said the criminal, showing the
silver pen. "By means of this I can escape the power even of the Black
Douglas."

"Give him no ink nor paper," said Balveny, hastily, "he will draw a
spell."

"Not so, please your wisdom and valiancie--he, he, he!" said Dwining
with his usual chuckle, as he unscrewed the top of the pen, within which
was a piece of sponge or some such substance, no bigger than a pea.

"Now, mark this--" said the prisoner, and drew it between his lips.
The effect was instantaneous. He lay a dead corpse before them, the
contemptuous sneer still on his countenance.

Catharine shrieked and fled, seeking, by a hasty descent, an escape from
a sight so appalling. Lord Balveny was for a moment stupified, and then
exclaimed, "This may be glamour! hang him over the battlements, quick
or dead. If his foul spirit hath only withdrawn for a space, it shall
return to a body with a dislocated neck."

His commands were obeyed. Ramorny and Bonthron were then ordered for
execution. The last was hanged before he seemed quite to comprehend what
was designed to be done with him. Ramorny, pale as death, yet with
the same spirit of pride which had occasioned his ruin, pleaded his
knighthood, and demanded the privilege of dying by decapitation by the
sword, and not by the noose.

"The Douglas never alters his doom," said Balveny. "But thou shalt have
all thy rights. Send the cook hither with a cleaver."

The menial whom he called appeared at his summons.

"What shakest thou for, fellow?" said Balveny; "here, strike me this
man's gilt spurs from his heels with thy cleaver. And now, John Ramorny,
thou art no longer a knight, but a knave. To the halter with him,
provost marshal! hang him betwixt his companions, and higher than them
if it may be."

In a quarter of an hour afterwards, Balveny descended to tell the
Douglas that the criminals were executed.

"Then there is no further use in the trial," said the Earl. "How say
you, good men of inquest, were these men guilty of high treason--ay or
no?"

"Guilty," exclaimed the obsequious inquest, with edifying unanimity, "we
need no farther evidence."

"Sound trumpets, and to horse then, with our own train only; and let
each man keep silence on what has chanced here, until the proceedings
shall be laid before the King, which cannot conveniently be till the
battle of Palm Sunday shall be fought and ended