And now came the tramp of many feet along the landing from the stair-head, and the six fishermen entered, two and two.
Florimel started forward. "My brave fishermen!" she cried, "take that bad man, MacPhail, and put him out of my grounds."
"I canna du 't, my leddy," answered their leader.
"Take Lord Liftore," said Malcolm, "and hold him while I make him acquainted with a fact or two which he may judge of consequence to him."
The men walked straight up to the earl. He struck right and left, but was overpowered in a moment and held fast.
"Stan' still," said Peter, "or I hae a han'fu' o' twine i' my pooch 'at I'll jist cast a k-not aboot yer airms wi' in a jiffey."
His lordship stood still, muttering curses.
Then Malcolm stepped into the middle of the room, approaching his sister.
"I tell you to leave the house," Florimel shrieked, beside herself with fury, yet pale as marble with a growing terror for which she could ill have accounted.
"Florimel!" said Malcolm solemnly, calling his sister by her name for the first time.