The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
BLACK DOUGLAS.
Nv s. r.. CROCKETT.
copyrioAt, 1928. BY s. r. Crockett.
nIN.
nooa AND THE WOLF HOLD COUNCIL.

- WnnDenHnhH hhu ~
Gfess ,h,t In the midmost golden haze OF "a
In..r,s afternoon four men sat talking to-
sun. .hopt n table In a room OF the royal pal
40, OF Stirling.
w an. NJ the four was any longer young,
= nj least was immoderately fat. This
GU GU lanes, Earl Of Avondale. ~Rrand-uncle OF
mas vsrl 81 Douglas. and save for young David.
wv T.rI,s brother, nearest heir to the title
tI ali the estates and honors pertaining
~ with the single exception OF the Lord
ship OF Galloway - x,.,u. ito
10, The guardian OF the Kings person. a
"-s.ome man with a curled beard, who was
"rnnossd TO stand high In the immediate Ia
:, NJ the Queen. and was tutor to his
v.;.sty "a we'll as the guardian OF his person.
0orosite to Livingston and carefully avoiding
~. ave. sat a man OF a thin and foxy aspect.
..ho.e smooth face. small. shifty mouth ana
N'.nous triangular eyes marked him as a man
i"aritely more dangerous than either nj the
nsm.r-sir william Crichton. Chancellor OF
ths realm OF Scotland.
The fourth was speaking. and his aspect,
.,..nee and otttimes terrifying, is already IA
.ni,r 10 us. But the pallid. corpse like face.
A.. b,ne. black beard. the wild beast look in
A.. ov.s Of the Marshal de 'Retz, Ambassador
- te King OF France. were now more than
..,r heightened in effect by the studied suav-
~ NJ demeanor and the graciousness OF Ian
,n.ue with which he was clothing what he had
to sy.
81 have brought you together after taking
.o,rse, with my good Lord Of Avondale. i am
susre, most noble s~eigneurs, that there have
hs.n differences between you in the past as to
,bs conduct OF the affairs OF this great king
aor, Int [ am obeying both the direct wishes
aud the express commands OF my W King In
spdeayoring to bring you to an agreement.
Won will not forget that the Dauphin of
France Is welded to the Scottish Princess
nearest the throne. and that therefore he is not
uncopeerned in the welfare of this realm.
Now, messieurs. 1t cannot be hid from you
that there is one overriding and insistent peril
which ought to put an end to all your .misun-
derstandings. There Is a young man in this
land, more powerful than you:or the Kin or
ali the powers legalized and established with
IN the bounds Of Scotland. q
who Is above the law, gentlemen? name
10 you the Earl Of Douglas who hath q reti-
nue. ten times more magnificent than that
with which the King rides forth. The Earl OF
Douglas, who possesses more than half OF Scot
land. and that part the fairest and richest.
Who holds in his hands all the strong castles
Is Joined by bond Of service and man-rent with
the most powerful mobiles OF the land? Who but
the Earl OF Douglas. Duke OF Touraine. War
den OF the Marches. hereditary Lieutenant
General of the kingdoml"
At this point the crafty eyes Of Crichton the
Chancellor were turned full upon the speaker.
His hand tugGed nervously at his thin: red
dish beard. as II It had been combing the Iona
goat'stuft which grew beneath his smooth chin
A did not you yourself come all the wal
ka- T.~~nn e. aUdra him with fha dnChv n
Touraine2" he said. Doth that look like
pulling him down from his high seat?"
The Marshal moved q polite hand. as II ask
ing silence till he had finished his explanation
Pardon. he said. Permit me vet q mo
ment. most high Chancellor. but have yot
heard so little OF the deep. skill and craft Of
Louis our most notable Dauphin. hat you
know not HOW he ever embraces men with
the left arm while he pierces them with q dag
ger In his right"
The Chancellor nodded appreciation. 1t wa.
a detail OF statecraft we'll Known to him. anc
much p~racticed by his house in all periods O.
their history.
Now. my lords" the Ambassador continued
you are here all three-the mon who neet
Uost to end this m~atter-you. my Lord Of Avon
dale. will you deign to deliver your mind upor
the natter"
1Ht n LdiI HculllCu III 'iiaWcu. ClooELuA
his throat and knitting and unknitting hi.
fingers over his stomach.
Being n near ~kinsman." he said at last. ii
Is not seemly that 1 should say aught agains'
the Earl of Douglas, but this l k~now-ther,
will be no peace in Scotland till that younl
man and his brother are both cut off,"
The Chancellor and De RetZ exchanged
Eances. The anxiety OF the next OF kin to the
title Of Earl OF Douglas for the peace and proc.
penty Of the realm seemed to strike them boti
as exceedingly natural in the circumstances.
And now. Sir Alexander. what say you?'
asked the Sieur de Retz. turning to the King
guardian. who had been caressing the curls o
his beard with his white and signeted hand.
! agree" he replied. in a courtly tone. tina
In the interests Of the King and OF the nobl'
lady whose care for her child hath led her t.
such sacrifices. we ought to put a limit to tn
pride and insolence OF this youth"
The Chancellor bent over a parchment t.
hide a smile at the sacrifices which the Queer
mother had made for her son.
1t is doubtless" said Sir William Crlchton
asacrifce that the King and his mother SHOULD
dwell so long within this castle OF Stirling. OK
posed to every rude blast from these barrel
pranpians. Let her bring him to the milt
and equitable climate OF Edinburgh. which
as | am sure your Excellency must have OBJ
d served. is peculiarly suited to the rearing o
tuch tender plants"
ne appealed to the Sieur dc Retz.
The Marshal bowed and answered immedi
aely' Indeed, it reminds me OF the %sunnies
ana most favored part of my native France.'
The tutor OF the King looked somewhat I'm
comfortable at the suggestion and shook hi
mead He had no idea Of putting the King n
scos within the power OF his arch enemy II
nn strong fortress Of Edinburgh.
but the Frenchman broke In before tho q
.nec's OF the Chancellor's speech had time +
am the mind OF the Kings guardian iron
las.
but surely. gentlemen. it should not be dim
,u1 lot two such honorable men to unite 4
SsHoyinE this curse OF the c~ommonweal
saa aiterward to settle any differences whic
t%eves."
Hood'' said the Chancellor; you spea
!" but how are We to bring tho Earl With
W. Danger? Already I have sent him offer
@sn'aace. and so. l doubt not, hath mine hon
~s"e friend the tutor OF the King. You kno'
~ what answer the proud chief OF Dougla
hamed."