“I mean those who have been tried and executed in Edinburgh by royal authority for many well-grounded offences against the state,” cried the Earl, loudly.

“Will you deign to condescend upon some of them?” said his son, as quietly as before.

“Your cousins’ pride and ostentation of riches and retinue, being far beyond those of the King, constituted in themselves an eminent danger to the state.  Nay, the turbulence of their followers has more than once come before me in my judicial capacity as Justicer of the realm.  What more would you have?”

“Were you, my lord, of those who condemned them to death?”

“Not so, William; it had not been seemly in a near kinsman and the heir to their dignities—­that is, save and except Galloway, which by ill chance goes in the female line, if we find not means to break that unfortunate reservation.  Your cousins were condemned by my Lords Crichton and Livingston.”

“We never heard of either of them,” said William, calmly.

“In their judicial aspect they may be styled lords, as is the Scottish custom,” said James the Gross, “even as when I was laird of Balvany and a sitter on the bed of justice, it was my right to be so nominated.”

“Then our cousins were condemned with your approval, my Lord of Douglas and Avondale?” persisted his son.

James the Gross was visibly perturbed.

“Approval, William, is not the word to use—­not a word to use in the circumstances.  They were near kinsmen!”

“But upon being consulted you did not openly disapprove—­is it not so?  And you will not aid us to avenge our cousins’ murder now?”

“Hearken, William, it was not possible—­I could not openly disapprove when I also was in the Chancellor’s hands, and I knew not but that he might include me in the same condemnation.  Besides, lads, think of the matter calmly.  There is no doubt that the thing happens most conveniently, and the event falls out well for us.  Our own barren acres have many burdens upon them.  What could I do?  I have been a poor man all my life, and after the removal of obstacles I saw my way to become the richest man in Scotland.  How could I openly object?”

William Douglas bowed.

“So—­” he said, “that is what we desired to know!  Have I your permission to speak further?”

His father nodded pleasantly, seating himself again as one that has finished a troublesome business.  He rubbed his hands together, and smiled upon his sons.

“Aye, speak gin ye like, William, but sit doon—­sit doon, lads.  We are all of one family, and it falls out well for you as it does for me.  Let us all be pleasant and agreeable together!”