James the Gross laughed a low laugh and looked at Crichton.

"Perhaps," he said; "but what if the gallant boy David go with his
brother? Whoever after that shall be next Earl of Douglas can easily
prevent that. Also Angus is for us, and my Lord Maxwell will move no
hand. There remains, therefore, only Galloway, and my son William will
answer for that. I myself am old and fat, and love not fighting, but
to tame the Douglases shall be my part, and assuredly not the least."

All this while the Lady Sybilla had been standing motionless gazing
out of the window. de Retz now motioned her away with an almost
imperceptible signal of his hand, whereat Sir Alexander Livingston,
seeing the girl about to leave the chamber of council, courteously
rose to usher her out. And with the very slightest acknowledgment of
his profound obeisance, Sybilla de Thouars went forth and left the
four men to their cabal of treachery and death.




CHAPTER XXVII

THE YOUNG LORDS RIDE AWAY


This was the letter which, along with the Chancellor's invitations,
came to the hand of the Earl William as he rode forth to the
deer-hunting one morning from his Castle of Thrieve:

"My lord, if it be not that you have wholly forgotten me and your