The adder is not the less deadly that he creeps under a stone. I
tell thee, son Henry, that, for all his sneaking looks and timorous
talking, this wretched anatomy loves mischief more than he fears
danger. But here we stand in front of the provost's castle; and a
lordly place is Kinfauns, and a credit to the city it is, to have
the owner of such a gallant castle for its chief magistrate."

"A goodly fortalice, indeed," said the smith, looking at the broad
winding Tay, as it swept under the bank on which the castle stood,
like its modern successor, and seemed the queen of the valley,
although, on the opposite side of the river, the strong walls of
Elcho appeared to dispute the pre-eminence. Elcho, however, was
in that age a peaceful nunnery, and the walls with which it was
surrounded were the barriers of secluded vestals, not the bulwarks
of an armed garrison.

"'Tis a brave castle," said the armourer, again looking at the
towers of Kinfauns, "and the breastplate and target of the bonny
course of the Tay. It were worth lipping a good blade, before wrong
were offered to it."

The porter of Kinfauns, who knew from a distance the persons and
characters of the party, had already opened the courtyard gate
for their entrance, and sent notice to Sir Patrick Charteris that
the eldest bailie of Perth, with some other good citizens, were
approaching the castle. The good knight, who was getting ready for
a hawking party, heard the intimation with pretty much the same
feelings that the modern representative of a burgh hears of the
menaced visitation of a party of his worthy electors, at a time
rather unseasonable for their reception. That is, he internally