"Can you ask?" said Redhall, with a smile; "treason, civil war, and the destruction of the Hamiltons, no doubt. And with the knowledge that he is an outlawed traitor, the countess hath reset him."
"Natural enough, he is the poor woman's son."
"But the master of the ordnance hath likewise done so."
"Natural enough, too, for he is said to love the earl's sister."
"Your eminence is strangely cool in this matter," said Redhall, grinding his teeth; "but you know not all that common rumour sayeth."
"Ah! what the devil says it now?"
"That the young queen is dying," replied the advocate, drawing near, sinking his voice impressively, and presuming even to grasp his arm; "sorcery is at work; every man who looks upon her reads death in her face, and the hopes of Henry that James may yet marry his daughter are rising again."
"Hah!" There was a brief pause.
"And what wouldst thou have?" asked Beaton.
"Permission to seize and commit to sure ward the Countess of Ashkirk and her daughter—a measure demanded by the safety of the nation."