She stood at the hall door gazing wistfully after the young Lard of Logie
He knew she spoke the truth, and he slipped down the rope, and in a moment was standing on the ground. He hastened to the palace gates, and getting safely through, he stayed only to fire his pistol that Margaret Twynlace might know that no evil had befallen.
When Margaret heard the shot she stole softly downstairs and stood at the hall door gazing wistfully after the young Laird of Logie. Yet not long dare she tarry there, lest the queen should need her services. Noiselessly she crept back into the ante-room. Hark! what was that? The king was moving! Indeed, the pistol-shot had roused King James, and he jumped out of bed crying, 'That pistol was fired by none other than the young Laird of Logie.'
He shouted for his guards and bade them go send their captain, Sir John Carmichael, to his presence.
Sir John, fearing nothing, came before the king, and falling on his knee before him he said, 'Sire, what is thy will?'
'Where is thy prisoner, where is the young Laird of Logie?' demanded the king.
Sir John stared. Had not the king himself sent for his prisoner?
'The young Laird of Logie!' he said. 'Sire, thou didst send thy tokens to me, a golden comb, a pearl knife. See, they are here,' and Sir John drew them from his pocket and held them up before the bewildered king.
'And with the tokens came an order to send my prisoner at once to thy presence. I brought him to the door of the ante-room, where I was bidden to wait thy will.'