Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-26
CHAPTER XIV.


IenCe.
CHATTER XIV.
The Dogs and the Wolf Hold Council.
1t was week two after the date of
the great Wappenshaw and tourney at
the castle of Tnrevc that IN the mIdnlosI
golden haze OF a summers afternoon four
men sat talking together about a tabIo in
a room Of the royal paiace of Stirling.
No one of the four was any longer young.
and one at least Was immoaerateiy IA.
TINS was James. Earl Of AvOndaie, grand
uncle ui Ine Earl OIL Douglas. and save Tor
young David. the earl's brother. nearest
heir to the title ana all the estates and
EonOrs pertaining hereto. with ,he single
exception II ne i.rdshIp If Galloway.
The other three were Sir Alexander Liv
ingstOn, the guardian of the kings person,
a handsome man with a curleu beard, WHO
was supposed 10 stand high in the imme-
ciate favor Of the queen. and who was
tutor to mis- majesty We'll the guard
ian Of his pers n. Opposite TO Livingston.
and carefully avoiding mis- eye, sat I,
OF thin and foxy aspect, whose smoO n
face. small. shifty mouth and perilous
triangular eyes marked him as man in
ruItuIy more danSe rous than either of the
fCrmer-Sir William CrichtCn, chancellor
OF the rea.m Of Scotland.
The fourth was speaking. and his aspect,
strange and oftLn-es terrifying, is already
IaTnIIIdT To tut the pa llld, COrpSt--IIht
face. the blue-biack beard. the Wild b aSt
look in the eyes of the Marshal de ketZ
ambassador oI he king of France, We're
low more than ever h. gktened in effect by
the Siuuleu SuaNlJy OF GemCaHOf and the
graciousness oil language with which lie
was clothing what he had to say
nave brought you together after TAX
ing counsel with my good lord OF Avon
cafe am aware, most nobe seigHeurs
that there have been differences between
You IN the past as TO the conduct OF The
affairs of this great Kingdom but | am
obeyIHg both the direct wishes and the
express commands OF my own king in en-
U,IynrIug 10 bring you to IN agreement
You Will not forget that the Gadyhin of
France IS WtCdcd TO the Scottish princess
IeareSJ the throne, ana that therefore he
Is not uncoucerned in the welfare # III 5
realm.
Now. ne ssieurs it cannot be hid from
you 5haJ there Is one overriding and insis-
tent peril which ought to put an end to all
Your mi~uuaeTS &nGilg g.. Tn lie is d young
man III his land, NOR, powerful than you
or the kluA7 cr a tie p W r. /. ga IL 4 and
established within the bounds If Scotland
Who Is above the law. gentleman? 1
name 10 you the E@rl of Douglas. who
hath a rej5nIe ten tines E.,re magnificent
than that vi n when the King rides forth
NJ Bari of Douglas. who possesses more.
tHdE hall of Scotland aad thai part the
faTest and richest. Who holds in his
hands all the strong castles. is Joined by
bond of servic- and maareut WITH tie most
powerful mobiles Of the Iaud-who but he
Earl of Douglas Duke of TOuraiue warden
Of the MARCHES her dftary lieutenan; GEN
eral of the kingdom"
At this point ne Crafty eyes of ,-ri .H.on
the chance lOr, were turned fun rIpou the
speaker. His hand tuEgcd neryouSIy at
his thin. reddish beard. as if il had bee n
combins the long goats tufl which gre W
beneath MS smooth chin.
And did nOt you yourself come all the
way from France to eudue him with the
dTchy of TouTainez'' ne said. Doth that
look like pulling him down from his high
StatT'
The marshal moved polite hand. as
Il asking silence till he had finished his
eXp,auatilu
Pardon. ne said, permit me vet a
moment. most high chancellor, but have
you heard so little Of the deep skill and
craft OF Louis our most notable Cauphin
una YOU know not how he ever embraces
men with the left arm whilst Re Di-rces
them with q dagger in his right
Inc chancellor nodded appreciation 1t
was detail Of statecraft well known to
nm, and much prac,i,ed by his house in
a.. pt riOos of their history.
NOW my ioroS. the ambass3. dor con-
tIuued, you are here. all three-the men
who need most TO end this matter-you. my
Lord of Avondale. will YOU deign to deliver
your mind upon the Natter"
The lat earl hemmed and hawed, clear
Ing his throat ard knitting and unknitting
his fingers over his stomach
Being near kinsman." he said at last
1t Is not seemly that | should say ausht
against the Ear of Douglas bur this I
know-there will be no peace In Scotland
TIL that young man and his brother are
both cut OF
The chancellor and De Retz exchanged
g.auces. The anxiety of the next-of-k kin to
the title of Earl of Douglas for the peace
and prosperity of the realm seemed to
strike them both as exceedingly natural in
the cirCUms tarces.
And now. Sir Alexander. what saw Won -
asked the Sieur de Retz turning to the
Rings guardian. who had been caressing
the CuTlS Of his beard with his white and
klsneted hand
Il agree" ne replied in a courtly tone.
that II the interests OF the king and OF
the noble LADY whose care for her child
hath led her to such sacrifices we ought to
put limit TO the pride and insoIence of
ne chancellor bent over n parchment to
hide a smile at the sacrifices which the
queen mother had made for her son
II Is doubtless. said Sir William Crich-
ton a sacrifice that the klnt- and his
mother should dwell so long within this
castle Of Stirling, exposed To every rude
blast from these barren GramDians Lot
her bring him to the mild and equitable
climate of Edinburgh. which as [ am sure
your excellency must have observed is ne
cuiiarly suited to the rearing of such tender
plants
He appealed TO the Sieur de Ratz
The marshal bowed and reed inme-
o!ately, Indeed, it reminds ME of the sun
niest and most favored part of my native
France"
The tutor of the king looked somewhat
uncomfortable at the suggestion, and shook
his head. He had no idea OF putting the
King of Scots within the power of his area
enemy in his strong fortress of Edinburgh.
But the Frenchman broke In before The
III effects of the chanceilor's speech had
time to turn the mind of the kings guard
Ian from the present project against the
Earl OF Douglas.
But. surely. gentlemen, 1t should not be