第17章

Besides，hisdress，bywhichonecouldhavejudgedhimequallywithLordLindsay，wasaperfectcontrasttohiscompanion’s。Itconsistedofablackvelvetdoublet，withacapandafeatherofthesamehuefastenedtoitwithagoldclasp；hisonlyweapon，offensiveordefensive，wasalittlesword，whichheseemedtowearratherasasignofhisrankthanforattackordefence。Astohisfeaturesandhismanners，theywereinharmonywiththispeacefulappearance：hispalecountenanceexpressedbothacutenessandintelligence；hisquickeyewasmild，andhisvoiceinsinuating；hisfigureslightandalittlebentbyhabitratherthanbyyears，sincehewasbutforty-

fiveatthistime，indicatedaneasyandconciliatorycharacter。

However，thepresenceofthismanofpeace，whoseemedentrustedwithwatchingoverthedemonofwar，couldnotreassurethequeen，andastogettothelanding-place，infrontofthegreatdoorofthecastle，theboathadjustdisappearedbehindthecornerofatower，shetoldMarySeytontogodownthatshemighttrytolearnwhatcausebroughtLordLindsaytoLochleven，wellknowingthatwiththeforceofcharacterwithwhichshewasendowed，sheneedknowthiscausebutafewminutesbeforehand，whateveritmightbe，togivehercountenancethatcalmandthatmajestywhichshehadalwaysfoundtoinfluenceherenemies。

Leftalone，MaryletherglancestraybacktothelittlehouseinKinross，hersolehope；butthedistancewastoogreattodistinguishanything；besides，itsshuttersremainedclosedallday，andseemedtoopenonlyintheevening，liketheclouds，which，havingcoveredtheskyforawholemorning，scatteratlasttorevealtothelostsailorasolitarystar。Shehadremainednolessmotionless，hergazealwaysfixedonthesameobject，whenshewasdrawnfromthismutecontemplationbythestepofMarySeyton。

“Well，darling？“askedthequeen，turninground。

“YourMajestyisnotmistaken，“repliedthemessenger：“itreallywasSirRobertMelvilleandLordLindsay；buttherecameyesterdaywithSirWilliamDouglasathirdambassador，whosename，Iamafraid，willbestillmoreodioustoyourMajestythaneitherofthetwoIhavejustpronounced。“

“Youdeceiveyourself，Mary，“thequeenanswered：“neitherthenameofMelvillenorthatofLindsayisodioustome。Melville’s，onthecontrary，is，inmypresentcircumstances，oneofthosewhichIhavemostpleasureinhearing；astoLordLindsay’s，itisdoubtlessnotagreeabletome，butitisnonethelessanhonourablename，alwaysbornebymenroughandwild，itistrue，butincapableoftreachery。

Tellme，then，whatisthisname，Mary；foryouseeIamcalmandprepared。“

“Alas！madam，“returnedMary，“calmandpreparedasyoumaybe，collectallyourstrength，notmerelytohearthisnameuttered，butalsotoreceiveinafewminutesthemanwhobearsit；forthisnameisthatofLordRuthven。“

MarySeytonhadspokentruly，andthisnamehadaterribleinfluenceuponthequeen；forscarcelyhaditescapedtheyounggirl’slipsthanMaryStuartutteredacry，andturningpale，asifshewereabouttofaint，caughtholdofthewindow-ledge。

MarySeyton，frightenedattheeffectproducedbythisfatalname，immediatelysprangtosupportthequeen；butshe，stretchingonehandtowardsher，whileshelaidtheotheronherheart“Itisnothing，“saidshe；“Ishallbebetterinamoment。Yes，Mary，yes，asyousaid，itisafatalnameandmingledwithoneofmymostbloodymemories。Whatsuchmenarecomingtoaskofmemustbedreadfulindeed。Butnomatter，Ishallsoonbereadytoreceivemybrother’sambassadors，fordoubtlesstheyaresentinhisname。You，darling，preventtheirentering，forImusthavesomeminutestomyself：youknowme；itwillnottakemelong。“

Withthesewordsthequeenwithdrewwithafirmsteptoherbedchamber。

MarySeytonwasleftalone，admiringthatstrengthofcharacterwhichmadeofMaryStuart，inallotherrespectssocompletelywoman-like，amaninthehourofdanger。Sheimmediatelywenttothedoortocloseitwiththewoodenbarthatonepassedbetweentwoironrings，butthebarhadbeentakenaway，sothattherewasnomeansoffasteningthedoorfromwithin。Inamomentsheheardsomeonecomingupthestairs，andguessingfromtheheavy，echoingstepthatthismustbeLordLindsay，shelookedroundheronceagaintoseeifshecouldfindsomethingtoreplacethebar，andfindingnothingwithinreach，shepassedherarmthroughtherings，resolvedtoletitbebrokenratherthanallowanyonetoapproachhermistressbeforeitsuitedher。Indeed，hardlyhadthosewhowerecomingupreachedthelandingthansomeoneknockedviolently，andaharshvoicecried：

“Come，come，openthedoor；opendirectly。“

“Andbywhatright，“saidMarySeyton，“amIorderedthusinsolentlytoopentheQueenofScotland’sdoor？“

“Bytherightoftheambassadoroftheregenttoentereverywhereinhisname。IamLordLindsay，andIamcometospeaktoLadyMaryStuart。“

“Tobeanambassador，“answeredMarySeyton，“isnottobeexemptedfromhavingoneselfannouncedinvisitingawoman，andmuchmoreaqueen；andifthisambassadoris，ashesays，LordLindsay，hewillawaithissovereign’sleisure，aseveryScottishnoblewoulddoinhisplace。“

“BySt。Andrew！“criedLordLindsay，“open，orIwillbreakinthedoor。“

“Donothingtoit，mylord，Ientreatyou，“saidanothervoice，whichMaryrecognisedasMeville’s。“LetusratherwaitforLordRuthven，whoisnotyetready。“

“Uponmysoul，“criedLindsay，shakingthedoor，“Ishallnotwaitasecond“。Then，seeingthatitresisted，“Whydidyoutellme，then，youscamp，“Lindsaywenton，speakingtothesteward，“thatthebarhadbeenremoved？

“Itistrue，“repliedhe。

“Then，“returnedLindsay，“withwhatisthissillywenchsecuringthedoor？。“

“Withmyarm，mylord，whichIhavepassedthroughtherings，asaDouglasdidforKingJamesI，atatimewhenDouglaseshaddarkhairinsteadofred，andwerefaithfulinsteadofbeingtraitors。“

“Sinceyouknowyourhistorysowell，“repliedLindsay，inarage，“

youshouldrememberthatthatweakbarrierdidnothinderGraham，thatCatherineDouglas’sarmwasbrokenlikeawillowwand，andthatJamesIwaskilledlikeadog。“

“Butyou，mylord，“respondedthecourageousyounggirl，“oughtalsotoknowtheballadthatisstillsunginourtime——

’Now，onRobertGra’am，Theking’sdestroyer，shame！

ToRobertGrahamclingShame，whodestroyedourking。’“

“Mary，“criedthequeen，whohadoverheardthisaltercationfromherbedroom，——“Mary，Icommandyoutoopenthedoordirectly：doyouhear？“

Maryobeyed，andLordLindsayentered，followedbyMelville，whowalkedbehindhim，withslowstepsandbenthead。Arrivedinthemiddleofthesecondroom，LordLindsaystopped，and，lookingroundhim——

“Well，whereisshe，then？“heasked；“andhasshenotalreadykeptuswaitinglongenoughoutside，withoutmakinguswaitagaininside？

Ordoessheimaginethat，despitethesewallsandthesebars，sheisalwaysqueen“Patience，mylord，“murmuredSirRobert：“youseethatLordRuthvenhasnotcomeyet，andsincewecandonothingwithouthim，letuswait。“

“Letwaitwhowill，“repliedLindsay，inflamedwithanger；“butitwillnotbeI，andwherevershemaybe，Ishallgoandseekher。“

Withthesewords，hemadesomestepstowardsMaryStuart’sbedroom；

butatthesamemomentthequeenopenedthedoor，withoutseemingmovedeitheratthevisitorattheinsolenceofthevisitors，andsolovelyandsofullofmajesty，thateach，evenLindsayhimself，wassilentatherappearance，and，asifinobediencetoahigherpower，bowedrespectfullybeforeher。

“IfearIhavekeptyouwaiting，mylord，“saidthequeen，withoutreplyingtotheambassador’ssalutationotherwisethanbyaslightinclinationofthehead；“butawomandoesnotliketoreceiveevenenemieswithouthavingspentafewminutesoverhertoilet。Itistruethatmenarelesstenaciousofceremony，“addedshe，throwingasignificantglanceatLordLindsay’srustyarmourandsoiledandpierceddoublet。“Goodday，Melville，“shecontinued，withoutpayingattentiontosomewordsofexcusestammeredbyLindsay；“bewelcomeinmyprison，asyouwereinmypalace；forIbelieveyouasdevotedtotheoneastotheother“。

Then，turningtoLindsay，whowaslookinginterrogativelyatthedoor，impatientashewasforRuthventocome——

“Youhavethere，mylord，“saidshe，pointingtotheswordhecarriedoverhisshoulder，“afaithfulcompanion，thoughitisalittleheavy：didyouexpect，incominghere，tofindenemiesagainstwhomtoemployit？Inthecontrarycase，itisastrangeornamentforalady’spresence。Butnomatter，mylord，I，amtoomuchofaStuarttofearthesightofasword，evenifitwerenaked，Iwarnyou。“

“Itisnotoutofplacehere，madam，“repliedLindsay，bringingitforwardandleaninghiselbowonitscrosshilt，“foritisanoldacquaintanceofyourfamily。“

“Yourancestors，mylord，werebraveandloyalenoughformenottorefusetobelievewhatyoutellme。Besides，suchagoodblademusthaverenderedthemgoodservice。“

“Yes，madam，yes，surelyithasdoneso，butthatkindofservicethatkingsdonotforgive。HeforwhomitwasmadewasArchibaldBell-the-Cat，andhegirdedhimselfwithitthedaywhen，tojustifyhisname，hewenttoseizeintheverytentofKingJamesIII，yourgrandfather，hisunworthyfavourites，Cochran，Hummel，Leonard，andTorpichen，whomhehangedonLouderBridgewiththehaltersofhissoldiers’horses。Itwasalsowiththisswordthatheslewatoneblow，inthelists，SpensofKilspindie，whohadinsultedhiminthepresenceofKingJamesIV，countingontheprotectionhismasteraccordedhim，andwhichdidnotguardhimagainstitanymorethanhisshield，whichitsplitintwo。Athismaster’sdeath，whichtookplacetwoyearsafterthedefeatofFlodden，onwhosebattlefieldhelefthistwosonsandtwohundredwarriorsofthenameofDouglas，itpassedintothehandsoftheEarlofAngus，whodrewitfromthescabbardwhenhedrovetheHamiltonsoutofEdinburgh，andthatsoquicklyandcompletelythattheaffairwascalledthe’sweepingofthestreets。’Finally，yourfatherJamesVsawitglisteninthefightofthebridgeovertheTweed，whenBuccleuch，stirredupbyhim，wantedtosnatchhimfromtheguardianshipoftheDouglases，andwheneightywarriorsofthenameofScottremainedonthebattlefield。“