"If the King heard of this loss, he could not witness the combat; and if he appear not in person, these men are likely to refuse to fight, and the whole work is cast loose.

But I pray you sit down, my lord, while I read these melancholy papers respecting poor Rothsay." He passed the papers through his hands, turning some over with a hasty glance, and dwelling on others as if their contents had been of the last importance.

When he had spent nearly a quarter of an hour in this manner, he raised his eyes, and said very gravely: "My lord, in these most melancholy documents, it is yet a comfort to see nothing which can renew the divisions in the King's councils, which were settled by the last solemn agreement between your lordship and myself.

My unhappy nephew was by that agreement to be set aside, until time should send him a graver judgment.

He is now removed by Fate, and our purpose in that matter is anticipated and rendered unnecessary." "If your Grace," replied the Earl, "sees nothing to disturb the good understanding which the tranquillity and safety of Scotland require should exist between us, I am not so ill a friend of my country as to look closely for such." "I understand you, my Lord of Douglas," said Albany, eagerly.