"Shall I tell you now," she went on, "or will you wait till you convoy
me to Edinburgh?"

"To Edinburgh!" cried the young man, greatly astonished. "I have no
purpose of journeying to that town of mine enemies. I have been
counselled oft by those who love me to remain in mine own country. My
horoscope bids me refrain. Not for a thousand commands of King or
Chancellor will I go to that dark and bloody town, wherein they say
lies waiting the curse of my house."

"But you will go to please a woman?" she said, and leaned nearer to
him, looking deep into his eyes.

For a moment William Douglas wavered. For a moment he resisted. But
the dark, steadfast orbs thrilled him to the soul, and his own heart
rose insurgent against his reason.

"I will come if you ask me," he said. "You are more beautiful than I
had dreamed any woman could be."

"I do ask you!" she continued, without removing her eyes from his
face.

"Then I will surely come!" he replied.

She set her hand beneath his chin and bent smilingly and lightly to
kiss him, but with an imprisoned passionate cry the young man suddenly
clasped her in his arms. Yet even as he did so, his eyes fell upon two
figures, which, silent and motionless, stood by the open door of the