When I say, Ecosse, en avant [Forward, Scotland], shoot Crevecoeur dead on the spot." "It is my duty," said Quentin, "your Majesty's life being endangered." "Certainly--I mean it no otherwise," said the King.

"What should I get by slaying this insolent soldier ?--Were it the Constable Saint Paul indeed"-- here he paused, as if he thought he had said a word too much, but resumed, laughing, "our brother-in-law, James of Scotland--your own James, Quentin--poniarded the Douglas when on a hospitable visit, within his own royal castle of Skirling." [Douglas: the allusion in the text is to the fate of James, Earl of Douglas, who, upon the faith of a safe conduct, after several acts of rebellion, visited James the Second in the Castle of Stirling.

The king stabbed Douglas, who received his mortal wound from Sir Patrick Grey, one of the king's attendants.] "Of Stirling," said Quentin, "and so please your Highness .-- It was a deed of which came little good." "Stirling call you the castle ?" said the King, overlooking the latter part of Quentin's speech.

"Well, let it be Stirling--the name is nothing to the purpose.

But I meditate no injury to these men--none .-- It would serve me nothing.