"Treason: the resetting of rebels, and——" he paused.
"What more wouldst thou dare to say?"
"Suspicion of sorcery, or teaching thy daughter sorcery."
"Sorcery?" reiterated the countess, gazing at him with terrified eyes, and speaking almost with the voice of a dying person; while the three girls, who clung to her robe, uttered a cry of alarm. "Daredst thou have said so much to my father, Sir Archibald Douglas, of Kilspindie?"
"I would have said so to any man under God, whom the king commanded me to arrest."
"But to a helpless woman?"
"I am in the king's service, madam."
"Thou art a Hamilton!" said the countess, scornfully.
"I am, madam," replied the herald, proudly; "I am John Hamilton, of Darnagaber—a gentleman of the house of Arran."
"I thought as much," said the countess, curtsying scornfully again to conceal how her knees bent under her; "the gentlemen of that house are thick as locusts now."