was, slowly eating up his life.

"She is guileful as the serpent," Morton added, "being bred up in
the Court of France. She will make you follow her will and desire,
but she will not so lead us. We hold her fast, and we do not let
her go without some good security of what shall follow."

"What security will satisfy you?" quoth Darnley.

Murray and Lindsay came in as he was speaking, and Morton told them
of the message that Darnley had brought. Murray moved heavily
across to a window-seat, and sat down. He cleared a windowpane with
his hand, and looked out upon the wintry landscape as if the matter
had no interest for him. But Lindsay echoed what the other twain
had said already.

"We want a deal more than promises that need not be kept," he said.

Darnley looked from one to the other of them, seeing in their
uncompromising attitude a confirmation of what the Queen had told
him, and noting, too - as at another time he might not have noted
- their utter lack of deference to himself, their King.

"Sirs," he said, "I vow you wrong Her Majesty. I will stake my
life upon her honour."

"Why, so you may," sneered Ruthven, "but you'll not stake ours."

"Take what security you please, and I will subscribe it."