to the
prudent care of old Baird, bidding him send for a French or Burgundian
surgeon, unable to detect the Scottish tongue; and then, taking Malcolm
with him, he crossed the square in the centre of the camp to the royal
pavilion, opposite to which his own was pitched.

It was a sultry night, and Henry had insisted on sleeping in his tent,
declaring himself sick of stone walls; and as they approached his voice
could be heard in brief excited sentences, giving orders, and asking for
the King of Scots.

'Here, Sir,' said James, stopping in where the curtain was looped up, and
showed King Henry half sitting, half lying, on a couch of cushions and
deer-skins, his eyes full of fire, his thin face flushed with deep
colour; Bedford, March, Warwick, and Salisbury in attendance.

'Ho! you are late!' said Henry. 'Did you come up with the caitiff
robbers?'

'They made off as we rode up. The village was already burnt.'

'Who were they? I hope you hung them on the spot, as I bade,' continued
Henry, coughing between his sentences, and almost in spite of himself,
putting his hand to his side.

'I was delayed. There was a life to save: a gentleman who lay sick and
stifled in a burning house.'

'And what was it to you,' cried Henry, angrily, 'if a dozen rebel
Armagnacs were fried alive, when I sent you to hinder my men from growing
mere thieves? Gentleman, forsooth! One would think it the Dauphin
himself; or mayhap Buchan. Ha! it is a Scot, then!'

'Yes, Sir,' said James; 'Sir Patrick Drummond, a good knight, hurt and
helpless, for whom I entreat your grace.'

'You disobeyed me to spare a Scot!' burst forth Henry. 'You, who call
yourself a captain of mine, and who know my will! He hangs instantly!'

'Harry, bethink yourself. This is no captive taken in battle. He is a
sick man, left behind, sorely hurt.'

'Then wherefore must you be meddling, instead of letting him burn as he
deserved, and heeding what you undertook for me? I _will_ have none of
your traitor ruffians here. Since you have brought him in, the halter
for him!--Here, Ralf Percy, tell the Provost-marshal--'

He was interrupted, for James unbuckled his sword, and tendered it to
him.

'King Harry,' he said gravely, 'this morning I was your friend and
brother-in-arms; now I am your captive. Hang Patrick Drummond, who aided
me at Meaux in saving my honour and such freedom as I have, and I return
to any prison you please, and never strike blow for yo