"Lord Bothwell," she said, with a hauteur that froze her admirer, "thou art in a dream."
"Pardon me, I pray you--"
"I do pardon thee," replied the queen, with a calm smile; but added, significantly, "I think 'tis time I was riding from Hermitage."
So ended the famous visit to Hermitage, which was interpreted throughout Scotland as a token of Mary's love for her favourite earl.
Konrad, a month afterwards, was sent to Edinburgh and confined in the old tower of Holyrood, awaiting trial as a Border outlaw. Bothwell himself soon followed, and celebrated his return by a wild revel in company with Hob of Ormiston and other choice spirits.
As the revellers wandered through the narrow streets at midnight, seeking a quarrel, they passed the house of Dame Alison Craig.
"My page tells me," said Bothwell, "there is a famous foreign beauty concealed there. Ho! within!"
A stoup of water, poured on them from an upper window, was the answer. They broke open the door, and forced the shrieking dame to lead them to the apartment where the foreign beauty was hidden.
"Death and confusion!" muttered the earl when he saw who was within.
"Cock and pie!" said Ormiston. "We have started the wrong game."