but twice in the night she
rose noiselessly to go to the window: the light was always shining, and
was not extinguished till dawn, with its sisters the stars.

Next day, at breakfast, George announced to the queen the return of his
brother, William Douglas: he arrived the same evening; as to himself,
George, he had to leave Lochleven next morning, to confer with the nobles
who had signed the declaration, and who had immediately separated to
raise troops in their several counties. The queen could not attempt to
good purpose any escape but at a time when she would be sure of gathering
round her an army strong enough to hold the country; as to him, Douglas,
one was so used to his silent disappearances and to his unexpected
returns, that there was no reason to fear that his departure would
inspire any suspicion.

All passed as George had said: in the evening the sound of a bugle
announced the arrival of William Douglas; he had with him Lord Ruthven,
the son of him who had assassinated Rizzio, and who, exiled with Morton
after the murder, died in England of the sickness with which he was
already attacked the day of the terrible catastrophe in which we have
seen him take such a large share. He preceded by one day Lord Lindsay of
Byres and Sir Robert Melville, brother of Mary's former ambassador to
Elizabeth: all three were charged with a mission from the regent to the
queen.

On the following day everything fell back into the usual routine, and
William Douglas reassumed his duties as carver. Breakfast passed without
Mary's having learned anything of George's departure or Ruthven's
arrival. On rising from the table she went to her window: scarcely was
she there than she heard the sound of a horn echoing on the shores of the
lake, and saw a little troop of horsemen halt, while waiting for the boat
to came and take those who were going to the castle.

The distance was too great for Mary to recognise any of the visitors; but
it was clear, from the signs of intelligence exchanged between the little
troop and the inhabitants of the fortress, that the newcomers were her
enemies. This was a reason why the queen, in her uneasiness, should not
lose sight for a moment of the boat which was going to fetch them. She
saw only two men get into it; and immediately it put off again for the
castle.

As the boat drew nearer, Mary's presentiments changed to real fears, for
in one of the men coming towards her she thought she made out