You will ride with me, Sir Archie, will you not?
But I must tell you that I have already, in some degree, prepared for a movement in Scotland.

Comyn and I have met and have talked over the matter.

Our mutual claims to the crown stood in the way, but we have agreed that one shall yield to the other, and that whoso takes the crown shall give all his lands to be the property of the other, in consideration of his waiving his claim and giving his support.

This we have agreed to, and have signed a mutual bond to that effect, and though it is not so writ down we have further agreed that I shall have the crown and that Comyn shall take Carrick and Annandale; but this was for the future, and we thought not of any movement for the present." "It were a bad bargain, sir," Archie said gravely; "and one that I trust will never be carried out.

The Comyns are even now the most powerful nobles in Scotland, and with Carrick and Annandale in addition to their own broad lands, would be masters of Scotland, let who would be called her king.