But Ruthven, sullen and menacing, stood his ground.

"Let yon man come forth," he repeated. "He has been here ower lang."

"Over long?" she echoed, betrayed by her quick resentment.

"Aye, ower lang for the good o' Scotland and your husband," was the
brutal answer.

Erskine, of her guards, leapt to his feet.

"Will you begone, sir?" he cried; and after him came Beaton and the
Commendator, both echoing the captain's threatening question.

A smile overspread Ruthven's livid face. The heavy dagger flashed
from his belt.

"My affair is not with any o' ye, but if ye thrust yersels too close
upon my notice - "

The Queen stepped clear of the table to intervene, lest violence
should be done here in her presence. Rizzio, who had risen, stood
now beside her, watching all with a white, startled face. And then,
before more could be said, the curtains were torn away and half a
score of men, whose approach had passed unnoticed, poured into the
room. First came Morton, the Chancellor, who was to be dispossessed
of the great seal in Rizzio's favour. After him followed the brutal
Lindsay of the Byres, Kerr of Faudonside, black-browed Brunston,
red-headed Douglas, and a half-dozen others.