At this remark Sir Thomas MacLellan laughed, and the petulant earl turned almost fiercely to him, saying:—
"Sirrah, dare you laugh?"
"Saints and devils, my lord," retorted the Lieutenant of the Guard, "may not a man laugh?"
"No!"
"And why not, my lord earl?"
"Because to laugh is at times to assume a superiority, or a bearing of approval, which I would not permit even in our liege lord the king!"
The eyes of the chancellor met those of the regent, whose pale forehead flushed with anger at this insulting remark, though it illustrated how dangerous was the spirit they were about to crush.
"By St. Jude, Douglas, I laughed not at thee, but at thy saying," exclaimed MacLellan, breaking the momentary silence which had ensued.
"Then beware, lordling," said Douglas, who knew there was an old jealousy between the MacLellans and his people.
"I am no lord or earl either," replied MacLellan, flushing with anger in turn.