as he is, by alike the most ruthless and the most faithful of my followers; and while there, if all else fail, I will publish that he lives, but so poison the ears of his rebel Scottish friends against him, he will not, dare not join them, and in his own despite, will be compelled to act as befitting his father’s son.  Trust me, my liege.  To thy royal clemency I owe his life; be it my duty, then, to instil into him other principles than those which actuated him before.”

“But your own character, my lord, meanwhile, care ye naught for the stain supposed to rest upon it?  Thy plans sound wise, and we thank thee for thy loyalty; but we would not ye burdened your name with a deed not its own, an ye cared for the world’s applause.”

“Not a whit, not a whit, your highness; countenanced by your grace’s favor, absolved in your opinion from the barbarity others charge me with, I care not for them, I have been too long mine own conscience-keeper to heed the whispers of the world,” he added, his dark brows knitting closer as he spoke.

Edward smiled grimly.  “Be it so, then,” he said; “my Lord of Buchan, we understand each other.  An that boy escapes and rejoins the traitors, and is taken, his head answers for it.  An ye succeed in making him loyal as yourself, as eager a pursuer of the murderous traitor, Bruce, we will give thee the palm for policy and wisdom in our court, ourself not excepted.  And now another question; it was reported Isabella of Buchan joined the rebel’s court with her two children.  Who and where is the second? we have heard but of one.”

“A puny, spiritless wench, as I have heard, my liege; one little likely to affect your highness, and not worth the seeking.”

“Nay, an she hath her mother’s influence, we differ from thee, sir earl, and would rather see her within the walls of our court than in the traitor’s train.  I remember not her name amid those taken with the Bruce’s wife.  Hast inquired aught concerning her?”

“Not I, your grace,” carelessly replied the earl; “of a truth, I had weightier thoughts than the detention or interest of a simple wench, who, if her mother has taught to forget me as her father, is not worth my remembering as a child.”

“I give you joy of your most fatherly indifference, sir earl,” answered the king, with an ill-suppressed sneer.  “It would concern you little if she takes unto herself a husband midst your foes; the rebel Robert hath goodly brothers, and the feud between thy house and theirs may but impart a double enjoyment to the union.”

The earl started, as if an adder had stung him.  “She dare not do this thing,” he said, fiercely; “she will not—­she dare not.  A thousand curses light upon her head even if she dreams it!”

“Nay, waste not thy breath in curses, good my lord, but up an prevent the very possibility of such a thing, an it move thee so deeply.  I say not it is, but some such floating rumor has reached my ears, I can scarce trace how, save through the medium of our numerous prisoners.”