Amiot’s manner slightly differed in his salutation of the two knights.  To Lord Edward Bruce he was eager, frank, cordial, as that knight himself; to the other, whom one glance proclaimed as the renowned James Lord Douglas, there was an appearance of pride or reserve, and it seemed an effort to speak with him at all.  Douglas perhaps did not perceive this, or was accustomed to it, for it seemed to affect him little; and Lord Edward’s bluff address prevented all manifestation of difference between his colleagues, even if there existed any.

“Ready to mount and ride; why that’s well,” he cried.  “We are beyond our time, but it is little reck, we need but spur the faster, which our men seem all inclined to do.  What news? why, none since we parted, save that his grace has resolved on the siege of Perth without further delay.”

“Nay, but that is news, so please you,” replied Sir Amiot.  “When I parted from his grace, there was no talk of it.”

“There was talk of it, but no certainty; for our royal brother kept his own counsel, and spoke not of this much-desired event till his way lay clear before him.  There have been some turbulent spirits in the camp—­your humble servant, this black lord, and Randolph amongst them—­who in truth conspired to let his grace know no peace by night or day till this object was attained; but our prudent monarch gave us little heed till his wiser brain arranged the matters we but burned to execute.”

“And what, think you, fixed this resolve?”

“Simply that for a time we are clear of English thieves and Norman rogues, and can march northward, and sit down before Perth without fear of being called southward again.  Edward will have enow on his hands to keep his own frontiers from invasion; ’twill be some time ere he see the extent of our vengeance, and meanwhile our drift is gained.”

“Aye, it were a sin and crying shame to let Perth remain longer in English hands,” rejoined Douglas; “strongly garrisoned it may be; but what matter?”

“What matter! why, ’tis great matter,” replied Sir Edward, joyously.  “What glory were it to sit down before a place and take it at first charge?  No, give me good fighting, tough assault, and brave defence.  Think you I would have so urged the king, did I not scent a glorious struggle before the walls?  Strongly garrisoned!  I would not give one link of this gold chain for it, were it not.  But a truce to this idle parley; we must make some miles ere nightfall.  Sir Knight of the Branch, do your men need further rest? if not, give the word, and let them fall in with their comrades, and on.”

“Whither?” demanded Sir Amiot, as he gave the required orders.  “Where meet we the king?”

“In the Glen of Auchterader, south of the Erne.  Lady Campbell and Isoline await us there, with the troops left as their guard at Dumbarton.  So you perceive our friend Lord Douglas here hath double cause to use the spur; times like these afford little leisure for wooing, and such love-stricken gallants as himself must e’en make the most of them.”