"You must not speak, fair sir," replied the elder lady, placing her white and faultless hand upon the hot and parched mouth of the youth. "But listen, and I shall tell you. We heard the clash of swords (nothing singular in Edinburgh), and cries for 'help' beneath our windows; from whence we saw a man beset by many, who beat him down at last, though he fought valiantly with his back to the postern door of our mansion."
"A door!—methought it was a stone wall.
"Nay, sir, fortunately it was not the stone wall, but a door: my servants opened it; you fell inwards. It was instantly shut and barricaded, by nay orders, and thus we saved you."
"And this was last night?"
"Nay," replied the beautiful lady, smiling, and using her weetest foreign accent, "it was three nights ago."
"Three!"
"I have said so, monsieur."
"You are of France, dear madame?"
"So are many ladies at the Scottish court."
"And I—I——"