r formed a contrast to hers; but though evidently
not at all at his ease, as a brave man does when called upon to
encounter danger, he had braced himself up to face those he might have
to meet, who would, he naturally felt, look down on him on account of
his travel-stained dress, his Scottish accent, and rustic appearance.

"In truth, Cousin Mary, I left Scotland as many of our countrymen are
compelled to do, to seek my fortune abroad, and have come with letters
of introduction to several noblemen and others; among them to Admiral
Coligny, my father's old comrade in arms. Our castle is well-nigh in
ruins, and my estate yields scarcely revenue sufficient to supply me
with clothes and arms, much less to restore it as I wished to have done.
I have already made two voyages to far-off lands, and come back no
richer than I went, and have at length resolved to take service in the
navy of France, in which I may hope to carve out my way to distinction,
with the help of the admiral."

"He may be ready enough to receive you and afford you his patronage; but
I warn you, Cousin Nigel, that he may be less able to forward your
interests than you may suppose. He is known to hold the principles of
the leaders of those dangerous people the Protestants, who are hated and
feared at court, where the Guises, the brothers of the Queen Regent of
Scotland, have of late gained the chief influence. Take my advice,
Cousin Nigel, seek some more profitable patron, and have nothing to do
with the Huguenots."

"I thank you for your advice, cousin. I must confess, however, that I
do not hold the opinion you express of the Protestants, but on the
contrary, am greatly inclined to agree with their principles. I lately
heard a wonderful preacher, one John Knox, who has appeared in Scotland,
and brought thousands to see the gross errors of the papal system. He
proves clearly that the Pope of Rome has no real ground for his
pretensions to be the head of Christ's Church on earth; that he cannot
be the successor of the apostle Peter, who never was Bishop of Rome; but
that he is rather the successor of the great heathen high priest, whose
idolatries he perpetuates and supports, and that therefore he and his
cardinals and priests are impostors, who should on no account be obeyed.
He clearly explains indeed that those who rule in the Seven-hilled city
represent no other than the Scarlet Woman spoken of in the Apocalypse,
their system being in truth the My