"Then he should have inserted his name in the warrant of committal to ward. 'Slife! there is an old draw-well in the barbican, where I could have lodged it very well. Though a dour carle, I know Sir Adam Otterburn to be an upright man, an abhorrer of sorcery; and there is in this Seton family much that smelleth sorely of it. Earl John found a book of the black art once when on an English foray, as I have heard, but Redhall——"
"Ah, he is a very good man," said the herald, ironically; "descended, indeed, from one of the apostles, by the father's side."
"Which?"
"Judas."
"Beware of thy waggery—he is a severe dispenser of the laws."
"What the devil care I for him, or for the cardinal either if it cometh to that?"
"My friend, my friend!" said Barncleugh, giving a furtive glance behind; "assuredly this black thing hath infected thee, for this discourse savoureth fearfully of the new heresy; but I forget that thou art a near kinsman of Patrick Hamilton, the umquhile abbot of Fearn, and so-called martyr."
"Nay, I remember only that I am speaking to a gentleman, Hamilton, and say what I choose."
"Not always a wise proceeding. But here is the boat, cousin."
The mariners, who had been in no way pleased at having Sabrino as a passenger to the isle, and had been mutually feeding each other's fears and prejudices during the herald's absence, were very much discomposed by his returning with the same sable attendant; and on hearing from the cardinal's pikemen that Sir James Hamilton had declined to admit him within the tower, their murmurs became loud and undisguised.