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George immediately went to the window； secured the ladder again and
more firmly； then getting up on to the sill and holding to the bars
with one hand； he stretched out the other to the queen； who； as
resolute as she had been timid a moment before； mounted on a stool；
and had already set one foot on the window…ledge； when suddenly the
cry； 〃Who goes there？〃 rang out at the foot of the tower。 The queen
sprang quickly back； partly instinctively and partly pushed by
George； who； on the contrary； leaned out of the window to see whence
came this cry； which； twice again renewed； remained twice unanswered；
and was immediately followed by a report and the flash of a firearm：
at the same moment the sentinel on duty on the tower blew his bugle；
another set going the alarm bell； and the cries； 〃To arms； to arms！〃
and 〃Treason； treason！〃 resounded throughout the castle。
〃Yes； yes； treason； treason！〃 cried George Douglas； leaping down into
the room。 〃Yes； the infamous Warden has betrayed us！〃 Then；
advancing to Mary； cold and motionless as a statue； 〃Courage； madam；〃
said he； 〃courage！ Whatever happens； a friend yet remains for you in
the castle； it is Little Douglas。〃
Scarcely had he finished speaking when the door of the queen's
apartment opened； and William Douglas and Lady Lochleven； preceded by
servants carrying torches and armed soldiers； appeared on the
threshold： the room was immediately filled with people and light。
〃Mother；〃 said William Douglas； pointing to his brother standing
before Mary Stuart and protecting her with his body； 〃do you believe
me now？ Look！〃
The old lady was for a moment speechless； then finding a word at
last； and taking a step forward
〃Speak； George Douglas；〃 cried she； 〃speak； and clear yourself at
once of the charge which weighs on your honour； say but these words；
'A Douglas was never faithless to his trust；' and I believe you〃。
〃Yes； mother；〃 answered William； 〃a Douglas！。。。 but hehe is not a
Douglas。〃
〃May God grant my old age the strength needed to bear on the part of
one of my sons such a misfortune； and on the part of the other such
an injury！〃 exclaimed Lady Lochleven。 〃O woman born under a fatal
star；〃 she went on； addressing the queen； 〃when will you cease to be；
in the Devil's hands； an instrument of perdition and death to all who
approach you？ O ancient house of Lochleven； cursed be the hour when
this enchantress crossed thy threshold！〃
〃Do not say that； mother； do not say that；〃 cried George； 〃blessed
be； on the contrary； the moment which proves that； if there are
Douglases who no longer remember what they owe to their sovereigns；
there are others who have never forgotten it。〃
〃Douglas！ Douglas！〃 murmured Mary Stuart； 〃did I not tell you？〃
〃And I； madam；〃 said George； 〃what did I reply then？ That it was an
honour and a duty to every faithful subject of your Majesty to die
for you。〃
〃Well； die； then！〃 cried William Douglas； springing on his brother
with raised sword； while he； leaping back； drew his； and with a
movement quick as thought and eager as hatred defended himself。 But
at the same moment Mary Stuart darted between the two young people。
〃Not another step； Lord Douglas；〃 said she。 〃Sheathe your sword；
George； or if you use it； let be to go hence； and against everyone
but your b other。 I still have need of your life； take care of it。〃
〃My life； like my arm and my honour； is at your service； madam； and
from the moment you command it I shall preserve it for you。〃
With these words； rushing to the door with a violence and resolve
which prevented anyone's stopping him
〃Back！〃 cried he to the domestics who were barring the passage； 〃make
way for the young master of Douglas； or woe to you！〃。
〃Stop him！〃 cried William。 〃Seize him； dead or alive！ Fire upon him！
Kill him like a dog！〃
Two or three soldiers； not daring to disobey William； pretended to
pursue his brother。 Then some gunshots were heard； and a voice
crying that George Douglas had just thrown himself into the lake。
〃And has he then escaped？〃 cried William。
Mary Stuart breathed again ； the old lady raised her hands to Heaven。
〃Yes； yes；〃 murmured William；〃yes； thank Heaven for your son's
flight； for his flight covers our entire house with shame； counting
from this hour； we shall be looked upon as the accomplices of his
treason。〃
〃Have pity on me； William！〃 cried Lady Lochleven； wringing her hands。
〃Have compassion o your old mother！ See you not that I am dying？〃
With these words； she fell backwards； pale and tottering； the steward
and a servant supported er in their arms。
〃I believe； my lord；〃 said Mary Seyton； coming forward； 〃that your
mother has as much need of attention just now as the queen has need
of repose： do you not consider it is time for you to withdraw？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said William； 〃to give you time to spin fresh webs； I
suppose； and to seek what fresh flies you can take in them？ It is
well； go on with your work； but you have just seen that it is not
easy to deceive William Douglas。 Play your game； I shall play mine〃。
Then turning to the servants； 〃Go out； all of you；〃 said he； 〃and
you； mother； come。〃
The servants and the soldiers obeyed； then William Douglas went out
last； supporting Lady Lochleven； and the queen heard him shut behind
him and double…lock the two doors of her prison。
Scarcely was Mary alone； and certain that she was no longer seen or
heard； than all her strength deserted her； and； sinking into an arm…
chair； she burst out sobbing。
Indeed； all her courage had been needed to sustain her so far； and
the sight of her enemies alone had given her this courage； but hardly
had they gone than her situation appeared before her in all its fatal
hardship。 Dethroned； a prisoner； without another fiend in this
impregnable castle than a child to whom she had scarce given
attention； and who was the sole and last thread attaching her past
hopes to her hopes for the future； what remained to Mary Stuart of
her two thrones and her double power？ Her name； that was all； her；
name with which； free； she had doubtless stirred Scotland； but which
little by little was about to be effaced in the hearts of her
adherents； and which during her lifetime oblivion was to cover
perhaps as with a shroud。 Such an idea was insupportable to a soul
as lofty as Mary Stuart's； and to an organisation which； like that of
the flowers； has need； before everything； of air； light； and sun。
Fortunately there remained to her the best beloved of her four Marys；
who； always devoted and consoling； hastened to succour and comfort
her； but this time it was no easy matter； and the queen let her act
and speak without answering her otherwise than with sobs and tears；
when suddenly； looking through the window to which she had drawn up
her mistress's armchair
〃The light！〃 cried she； 〃madam； the light！〃
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