“Do you know what you are saying, Grimond, and to whom you are speaking? We have carried this jest too far, and it is my blame, but ye may not again speak this way of your mistress in my presence. I know you mean nothing by it, and it is all your love of me and dislike of Covenanters that makes you jealous; but never again, Grimond, remember, or else, old servant though you be, you leave me that hour. It’s a madness with you; ye must learn to control it,” said Dundee sternly.
“It’s nae madness, my lord,” answered Grimond doggedly, “and has naethin’ to do with my lady being a Cochrane. Maybe I 234 would rather she had been a Graham or a Carnegie, but that was nae business o’ mine. Even if I didna like her, it’s no for a serving-man to complain o’ his mistress. I ken when to speak and when to hold my tongue, but there are things I canna see and forbear. My lord, it’s time you were at Dudhope, for the sake, o’ your honor.”
“Grimond,” said Dundee, and his words were as morsels of ice, “if it were any other man who spoke of my wife and dishonor in the same breath I would kill him where he stood; but ye are the oldest and faithfullest follower of our house. For the work ye have done and the risks ye have run I pardon you so far as to hear any excuse ye have to make for yourself; but make it plain and make it quick, for ye know I am not a man to be trifled with.”
“I will speak plainly, my lord, though they be the hardest words I have ever had to say. I ken the risk. It is not the first time I have taken my life in my hand for the Grahams and their good name. My suspicions were aroused by that little besom Kirsty, when I saw her ane day comin’ oot from the quarters of Colonel Livingstone, wha commands the dragoons at Dundee. I kent she could be doing nae good there, for she’s as full o’ mischief 235 as an egg is full o’ meat. So I wheeped up by the near road and met her coming up to the castle. When she saw me she hid a letter in her breast, and, question her as I like, I could get nothing from her but impudence. But it was plain to me that communication was passing between someone in Dudhope and the commander o’ William’s soldiers.”
“Go on,” said Dundee quietly.
“Putting two and two together, my lord, I watched in the orchard below the castle that nicht and the next, and on the next, when it was dark, a man muffled in a cloak came up the road from the town and waited below the apple trees, near where I was lying in the hollow among the grass. After a while a woman in a plaid so that ye couldna see her face came down from the direction of the castle. They drew away among the trees, so that I could only see that they were there, but couldna hear what they were saying. After a while, colloguing together, they parted, and I jaloused who the two were, but that nicht I could not be certain.”
“Go on,” said Dundee, “till you have finished.”
“Three nichts later they met again, and I crept a little nearer, and the moon coming out for a minute I saw their faces. It was her 236 ladyship and Colonel Livingstone. She was pleading wi’ him, and he was half yielding, half consenting. Her voice was so low I couldna catch her words, but I heard him say: ‘God knows ye have my heart; but my honor, my honor.’ ‘I will be content wi’ your heart,’ I heard her answer. ‘When will you be ready? For if Dundee hear of it, he will ride south night and day, tho’ the whole English army be in his road!’
“‘For eight days,’ said Livingstone, ‘I am engaged on duty and can do nothing, on the ninth I am at your service for ever.’ Then I saw him kiss her hand, and they parted. Within an hour I was riding north. Ye may shoot me if you please, but I have cleared my conscience.”
Dundee’s face was white as death, and his eyes glittered as when the light shines on steel. Twice he laid his hand upon his pistol, and twice withdrew it.