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understand？〃
〃Oh； madam； madam；〃 answered Douglas； 〃is it not reward beyond my
deserts to see you daily； to cherish the hope that liberty will be
restored to you through me； and to have at least； if I do not give it
you； the certainty of dying in your sight？〃
〃Poor young man！〃 murmured Mary； her eyes raised to heaven； as if she
were reading there beforehand the fate awaiting her new defender。
〃Happy Douglas； on the contrary；〃 cried George； seizing the queen's
hand and kissing it with perhaps still more respect than love； 〃happy
Douglas！ for in obtaining a sigh from your Majesty he has already
obtained more than he hoped。〃
〃And upon what have you decided with my friends？〃 said the queen；
raising Douglas； who till then had remained on his knees before her。
〃Nothing yet；〃 George replied； 〃for we scarcely had time to see one
another。 Your escape； impossible without me； is difficult even with
me； and your Majesty has seen that I was obliged publicly to fail in
respect； to obtain from my mother the confidence which gives me the
good fortune of seeing you to…day： if this confidence on my mother's
or my brother's part ever extends to giving up to me the castle keys；
then you are saved！ Let your Majesty not be surprised at anything；
then： in the presence of others； I shall ever be always a Douglas；
that is an enemy； and except your life be in danger； madam； I shall
not utter a word； I shall not make a gesture which might betray the
faith that I have sworn you； but； on your side； let your grace know
well； that present or absent； whether I am silent or speak； whether I
act or remain inert； all will be in appearance only； save my
devotion。 Only；〃 continued Douglas； approaching the window and
showing to the queen a little house on Kinross hill；〃only； look
every evening in that direction； madam； and so long as you see a
light shine there； your friends will be keeping watch for you； and
you need not lose hope。〃
〃Thanks； Douglas； thanks；〃 said the queen； 〃it does one good to meet
with a heart like yours from time to timeoh！ thanks。〃
〃And now； madam；〃 replied the young man； 〃I must leave your Majesty；
to remain longer with you would be to raise suspicions； and a single
doubt of me； think of it well； madam； and that light which is your
sole beacon is extinguished； and all returns into night。〃
With these words； Douglas bowed more respectfully than he had yet
done； and withdrew； leaving Mary full of hope； and still more full of
pride； for this time the homage that she had just received was
certainly for the woman and not for the queen。
As the queen had told him； Mary Seyton was informed of everything；
even the love of Douglas； and； the two women impatiently awaited the
evening to see if the promised star would shine on the horizon。
Their hope was not in vain： at the appointed time the beacon was lit。
The queen trembled with joy； for it was the confirmation of her
hopes； and her companion could not tear her from the window； where
she remained with her gaze fastened on the little house in Kinross。
At last she yielded to Mary Seyton's prayers； and consented to go to
bed； but twice in the night she rose noiselessly to go to the window：
the light was always shining； and was not extinguished till dawn；
with its sisters the stars。
Next day； at breakfast； George announced to the queen the return of
his brother； William Douglas： he arrived the same evening； as to
himself； George； he had to leave Lochleven next morning； to confer
with the nobles who had signed the declaration； and who had
immediately separated to raise troops in their several counties。 The
queen could not attempt to good purpose any escape but at a time when
she would be sure of gathering round her an army strong enough to
hold the country； as to him； Douglas； one was so used to his silent
disappearances and to his unexpected returns； that there was no
reason to fear that his departure would inspire any suspicion。
All passed as George had said： in the evening the sound of a bugle
announced the arrival of William Douglas； he had with him Lord
Ruthven； the son of him who had assassinated Rizzio； and who； exiled
with Morton after the murder； died in England of the sickness with
which he was already attacked the day of the terrible catastrophe in
which we have seen him take such a large share。 He preceded by one
day Lord Lindsay of Byres and Sir Robert Melville； brother of Mary's
former ambassador to Elizabeth： all three were charged with a mission
from the regent to the queen。
On the following day everything fell back into the usual routine； and
William Douglas reassumed his duties as carver。 Breakfast passed
without Mary's having learned anything of George's departure or
Ruthven's arrival。 On rising from the table she went to her window：
scarcely was she there than she heard the sound of a horn echoing on
the shores of the lake； and saw a little troop of horsemen halt；
while waiting for the boat to came and take those who were going to
the castle。
The distance was too great for Mary to recognise any of the visitors；
but it was clear； from the signs of intelligence exchanged between
the little troop and the inhabitants of the fortress； that the
newcomers were her enemies。 This was a reason why the queen； in her
uneasiness； should not lose sight for a moment of the boat which was
going to fetch them。 She saw only two men get into it； and
immediately it put off again for the castle。
As the boat drew nearer； Mary's presentiments changed to real fears；
for in one of the men coming towards her she thought she made out
Lord Lindsay of Byres； the same who； a week before； had brought her
to her prison。 It was indeed he himself； as usual in a steel helmet
without a visor； which allowed one to see his coarse face designed to
express strong passions； and his long black beard with grey hairs
here and there； which covered his chest： his person was protected； as
if it were in time of war； with his faithful suit of armour； formerly
polished and well gilded； but which； exposed without ceasing to rain
and mist； was now eaten up with rust； he had slung on his back； much
as one slings a quiver； a broadsword； so heavy that it took two hands
to manage it； and so long that while the hilt reached the left
shoulder the point reached the right spur： in a word； he was still
the same soldier； brave to rashness but brutal to insolence；
recognising nothing but right and force； and always ready to use
force when he believed himself in the right。
The queen was so much taken up with the sight of Lord Lindsay of
Byres； that it was only just as the boat reached the shore that she
glanced at his companion and recognised Robert Melville；： this was
some consolation； for； whatever might happen； she knew that she
should find in him if not ostensible at least secret sympathy。
Besides； his dress； by which one could have judged him equally with
Lor