The queen asked who was there, and Little Douglas's voice answered in the two first lines of an old ballad-- "Douglas, Douglas, Tender and true." Mary opened, directly: it was the watchword agreed upon with George Douglas.
The child was without a light.

He stretched out his hand and encountered the queen's: in the starlight, Mary Stuart saw him kneel down; then she felt the imprint of his lips on her fingers.
"Is your Majesty ready to follow me ?" he asked in a low tone, rising.
"Yes, my child," the queen answered: "it is for this evening, then ?" "With your Majesty's permission, yes, it is for this evening." "Is everything ready ?" "Everything." "What are we to do ?" "Follow me everywhere." "My God! my God!" cried Mary Stuart, "have pity on us!" Then, having breathed a short prayer in a low voice, while Mary Seyton was taking the casket in which were the queen's jewels, "I am ready," said she: "and you, darling ?" "I also," replied Mary Seyton.
"Come, then," said Little Douglas.
The two prisoners followed the child; the queen going first, and Mary Seyton after.

Their youthful guide carefully shut again the door behind him, so that if a warder happened to pass he would see nothing; then he began to descend the winding stair.

Half-way down, the noise of the feast reached them, a mingling of shouts of laughter, the confusion of voices, and the clinking of glasses.

The queen placed her hand on her young guide's shoulder.
"Where are you leading us ?" she asked him with terror.
"Out of the castle," replied the child.
"But we shall have to pass through the great hall ?" "Without a doubt; and that is exactly what George foresaw.