ng risen, but the first flush of
broad morning sunshine still lingered upon the low platform on which
stood the block, and beside it the headsman sullenly waiting to do his
appointed work.

The young Lords of Douglas came out looking brave and handsome as
bridegrooms on a day of betrothing. William had once more his hand on
David's shoulder, his other rested carelessly on his thigh as his
custom was. The brothers were bareheaded, and to the eyes of those who
looked on they seemed to be conversing together of light matters of
love and ladies' favours.

High above upon a balcony, hung like an iron cage upon the castle
wall, appeared the Chancellor and the tutor. The young King was with
them, weeping and crying out, "Do nothing to my dear cousins--I
command you--I am the King!"

But the tutor roughly bade him be still, telling him that he would
never reign if these young men lived, and presently another came there
and stood beside him. The Marshal de Retz it was, who, with a fiendish
smile upon his sleek parchment face, conducted the Lady Sybilla to see
the end. But it was a good end to see, and nobler far than most lives
that are lived to fourscore years.

The brothers embraced as they came to the block, kneeled down, and
said a short prayer like Christians of a good house. So great was
their enemies' haste that they were not allowed even a priest to
shrive them, but they did what they could.

The executioner motioned first to David. An attendant brought him the
heading cup of wine, which it was the custom to offer to those about
to die upon the scaffold.

"Drink it not," said Earl William, "lest they say it was drugged."

And David Douglas bowed his head upon the block, being only in the
fifteenth year of his age.

"Farewell, brother," he said, "be not long after me. It is a darksome
road to travel so young."

"Fear not, Davie lad," said William Douglas, tenderly, "I will
overtake you ere you be through the first gate."

He turned a little aside that he might not see his brother die, and
even as he did so he saw the Lady Sybilla lean upon the balcony paler
than the dead.

Then when it came to his turn they offered the Earl William also the
heading cup filled with the rich wine of Touraine, his own fair
province that he was never to see.

He lifted the cup high in his right hand with a knightly and courtly
gesture. Looking towards the balcony whereon stood the Lady Sybilla,
he bowed to her.

"I drink to