They both turned slowly about at the same instant, curious to take another look of this mysterious old man; but when fairly turned round they did not see him.
“What has become of the old man,” said the king, “that spoke to me just now?”
“Here, sire!” said one.
“Here!” said another.
“Here!” said a third; all turning at the same time to the spot where the old man and his horse stood, but neither of them were there.
“How is this?” said the king, “that you have let him go from among you without noting it?”
“He must have melted into air, he and his horse both,” said they; “else he could not otherwise have left us without being observed.”
The king blessed himself in the name of the Holy Virgin, and all the chief saints in the calendar. The Earl of Hume swore by the greater part of them, and cursed himself that he had not taken a better look at the devil when he was so near him, as no one could tell if ever he would have such a chance again. Douglas said he hoped there was little doubt of that.