"Devil go with thee for a plague," muttered the advocate, as he seemingly bowed with courtesy, and became again immersed in his writing.
Nichol Birrel again approached.
"And this was all thou hadst to tell me?" said Redhall; "that no tidings had arrived from Douglasdale; and that, in short, neither Vipont nor young Balquhan had come to blows with any of the Douglas faction."
"Exactly sae, my lord."
"And that they spent their time in hunting and hawking, with free inquartering for horse and man, wherever it pleased them to halt."
"Just sae," replied Birrel, with an obsequious nod.
"Thou knowest the lands of my kinsman, Fleming of the Cairntable, whose bounds they are approaching?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then take a good horse, and ride for your life and death; and take with thee these three-hundred groats of the fleur-de-lys to pay thy way. Tell my kinsman Fleming, that I wish this viper, this Vipont I mean, should take up his last abode in Douglasdale."
"In the kirkyard thereof?"