are, by a succubus of the night. There is no beast
within the castle."

"But I saw it plainly," the maid cried. "It opened the door as if it
had hands--I saw it stand there by the bed and look at me--oh, so
terribly! I saw its teeth glisten and heard them snap together!"

"Little one, be still, it was but a dream," said Sholto, untruthfully;
"nevertheless I will go and search the rest of the castle."

And with these words he went along the corridor, finding the men whom
he had summoned by means of his captain's silver call clustered upon
the landing of the turret stair which communicated with the third
floor. As he glanced along the oak-panelled corridor, it seemed to
Sholto that he discerned a figure vanishing at the further end.
Instantly he resolved on searching, and summoning his men to follow,
he led the way down the passage, sword in hand. As he went he snatched
the lamp from its pin on the wall, and held it in his left high above
his head.

At the further end of the corridor was the door of a little chamber,
and it seemed to Sholto that the shape he had seen must have
disappeared at this point.

He knocked loudly on the door with the hilt of his sword, and cried,
"If any be within, open--in the name of the Earl!"

No voice replied, and Sholto boldly set his foot against the lower
panelling, and drove the door back to the wall with a clang.

Then at sight of a something dark, wrapped in a cloak, standing
motionless against the window, the young captain of the guard elevated
his lamp, and let the flicker of the light fall on the erect figure
and haughty face of a young man, who, with his hand on his hip, stood
considering the rude advance of his pursuers with a calm and
questioning gaze.

It was the Earl of Douglas himself.

Sholto stood petrified at sight of him, and for a long minute could in
no wise recover his self-control nor regain any use of his tongue.

"Well," said the Earl, haughtily, "whence this unseemly uproar? What
do you here, Sholto?"

Then the spirit of his father came upon the young captain of the
guard. He knew that he had only done his duty in its strictness, and
he boldly answered the Earl: "Nay, my lord, were it not for courtesy,
I have more right to ask you that question. Your sister hath been
frighted, and at sound of her terror all we who were dispersed
throughout the castle rushed to the spot. As I came down the stairs
from the roof at speed, I saw something like to a great w