no wise recover his self-control nor regain any use of his tongue.

"Well," said the Earl, haughtily, "whence this unseemly uproar? What
do you here, Sholto?"

Then the spirit of his father came upon the young captain of the
guard. He knew that he had only done his duty in its strictness, and
he boldly answered the Earl: "Nay, my lord, were it not for courtesy,
I have more right to ask you that question. Your sister hath been
frighted, and at sound of her terror all we who were dispersed
throughout the castle rushed to the spot. As I came down the stairs
from the roof at speed, I saw something like to a great wolf about to
descend the turret before me. With my sword I struck at it, and to all
appearance wounded it. It vanished, and after searching the castle I
can find neither wolf nor dog. But I saw, as it seemed, a figure enter
this room, and upon opening it I find--the Earl of Douglas. That is
all I know, and I leave the matter in my lord's own hands."

The haughty look gradually disappeared from the face of the Earl as
Sholto spoke.

Smilingly he dismissed the guard with a word, saying that he would
inquire into the cause of the disturbance in person, and then turned
to Sholto.

"You are right," he said, "you have entirely done your duty and
justified my appointment."

He paused, looked this way and that along the corridor, and continued: