He gave his real Christian name; and added that he came from Glenuskie, where the good Tutor of Glenuskie had been kind enough to notice him.
‘Ay,’ said Brother Nicolas, ‘he was a guid man to all towardly youths. He died in this house, more’s the pity.’
‘Yea, Sir—so I heard say,’ returned Malcolm. ‘He was a good friend to me!’ he added, to cover his heavy sigh. ‘And, Sir, how went it with the young laird and leddy?’
‘For the young laird—a feckless, ugsome, sickly wean he was, puir laddie—a knight cam by, an’ behoved to take him to the King. Nay, but if you’ve been at Parish—if that’s what ye mean with your Lutetia—ye’ll have seen him an’ the King.’
‘I saw the King,’ answered Malcolm; ‘but among the Englishry.’
‘A sorry sight enow!’ said the monk; ‘but he’ll soon find his Scots heart again; and here we’ve got rid of the English leaven from the house, and be all sound and leal Scots here.’
‘And the lady?’ Malcolm ventured to ask. ‘She had a winsome face.’
‘Ho! ho! what have young clerks to do wi’ winsome faces?’ laughed the Benedictine.
‘She was good to me,’ Malcolm could truly say.
‘They had her in St. Abbs yonder,’ said the monk.