im. The Chancellor was expected
immediately, for he had ridden in more rapidly by the hill way in
order that he might welcome his notable guests to the metropolitan
residence of the Kings of Scotland.

The Castle of Edinburgh was at that time in the fulness of its
strength and power. The first James had greatly enlarged and
strengthened its works defensive. He had added thirty feet to the
height of David's Tower, which now served as a watch-station over all
the rock, and in his last days he had begun to build the great hall
which the Chancellor had but recently finished.

It was here that presently the feast was set. The banquet-hall ran the
width of the keep, and the raised dais in the centre was large enough
to seat the whole higher baronage of Scotland, among whom (as the Earl
of Douglas thought with some scorn) neither of his entertainers,
Crichton and Livingston, had any right to place themselves.

But the question where the Lady Sybilla was bestowed soon occupied the
Douglas more than any thought of his own safety or of the loyalty of
his entertainers. Sybilla, however, was neither in the courtly
cavalcade which met them at the entrance of the park, nor yet among
the more numerous ladies who stood at the castle yett to welcome to
Edinburgh the noble and handsome young lords of the South.

Douglas therefore concluded that de Retz, discovering some part of the
love that was between them, or mayhap hearing of it from some spy or
other at Crichton Castle, had secluded his sweetheart. He loosened his
hand on the rein to lay it on the sword-hilt, as he thought of this
cruelty to a maid so pure and fair.

Sholto kept his company very close behind him as they rode up the
High-street, a gloomy defile of tall houses dotted from topmost window
to pavement with the heads of chattering goodwives, and the flutter of
household clothing hung out to dry.

At the first defences of the castle Douglas called Sholto and said:
"Your fellows are to be lodged here on the Castle Hill. The Chancellor
hath sent word that there is no room in the castle itself. For the
tutor's men and King's men have already filled it to the brim."

These tidings agonised Sholto more than ever.

"My lord," he said, in a tortured whisper, "turn about your rein and
we will cut our way out even yet. Do you not see that the devils would
separate you from all who love you? And I shall be blamed for this in
Galloway. At least, let me accompany you with hal