(Sounds are heard from barn, and soldiers return with MORAG.  She has stayed in hiding from fear, and she still holds the cheese in her hands.)

SANDEMAN.  What have we here?

CAMPBELL.  A lass!

MARY STEWART.  It’s just my dead brother’s daughter.  She was getting me the cheese, as you can see.

CAMPBELL.  On, men, again:  the other turtle doo will no’ be far away. (Banteringly to the old woman) Tut, tut, Mistress Stewart, and do ye have her wait upon ye while your leddyship dines alane!  A grand way to treat your dead brother’s daughter; fie, fie, upon ye!

(Soldiers reappear with STEWART, whose arms are pinioned.)

CAMPBELL.  Did I no’ tell ye!  And this, Mrs. Stewart, will be your dead sister’s son, I’m thinking; or aiblins your leddyship’s butler!  Weel, woman, I’ll tell ye this:  Pharaoh spared ae butler, but Erchie Campbell will no’ spare anither.  Na! na!  Pharaoh’s case is no’ to be taken as forming ony preceedent.  And so if he doesna answer certain questions we have to speir at him, before morning he’ll hang as high as Haman.

(STEWART is placed before the table at which CAMPBELL has seated himself.  Two soldiers guard STEWART. Another is behind CAMPBELL’S chair and another is by the door.  The clerk, MACKENZIE, is seated at up corner of table. SANDEMAN stands by the fire.)

CAMPBELL (to STEWART).  Weel, sir, it is within the cognizance of the law that you have knowledge and information of the place of harbor and concealment used by certain persons who are in a state of proscription.  Furthermore, it is known that four days ago certain other proscribed persons did join with these, and that they are banded together in an endeavor to secure the escape from these dominions of His Majesty, King George, of certain persons who by their crimes and treasons lie open to the capital charge.  What say ye?

(STEWART makes no reply.)

CAMPBELL.  Ye admit this then?

(STEWART as before.)

CAMPBELL.  Come, come, my lad.  Ye stand in great jeopardy.  Great affairs of state lie behind this which are beyond your simple understanding.  Speak up and it will be the better for ye.

(STEWART silent as before.)

CAMPBELL.  Look you.  I’ll be frank with you.  No harm will befall you this night—­and I wish all in this house to note my words—­no harm will befall you this night if you supply the information required.

(STEWART as before.)

CAMPBELL (with sudden passion).  Sandeman, put your sword to the carcass o’ this muckle ass and see will it louse his tongue.

STEWART.  It may be as well then, Mr. Campbell, that I should say a word to save your breath.  It is this:  Till you talk Rannoch Loch to the top of Schiehallion, ye’ll no’ talk me into a yea or nay.