his modesty, and most chivalric bearing, the king treated him with most distinguished honor, invited him to his palace, spoke with him as friend with friend on the kingdoms of Normandy and France, to the former of which he was subject.  There was a mystery, too, about the young knight, which heightened the interest he excited; he bore no device on his shield, no cognizance whatever to mark his name and birth and his countenance, beautiful as it was, often when in repose expressed sadness and care unusual to his years, for he was still very young, though in reply to the king’s solicitations that he would choose one of Scotland’s fairest maidens (her dower should be princely), and make the Scottish court his home, he had smilingly avowed that he was already a husband and father.

“The notice of the king, of course, inspired the nobles with similar feelings of hospitality.  Attention and kindness were lavished on the stranger from all, and nothing was talked of but the nameless knight.  The Lord of Brus, who had been absent on a mission to a distant court during the continuance of the martial games, was on his return presented by the king himself to the young warrior.  It is said that both were so much moved by this meeting, that all present were mystified still more.  The baron, with that deep subtlety for which he was remarkable, recovered himself the first, and accounted for his emotion to the satisfaction of his hearers, though not apparently to that of the stranger, who, though his cheek was blanched, still kept his bright searching eyes upon him, till the baron’s quailed ’neath his gaze.  The hundred tongues of rumor chose to speak of relationship, that there was a likeness between them, yet I know not how that could be.  There is no impress of the fiendish passion at work in the baron’s soul on those bright, beautiful features.”

“Ha!  Is it of him you speak?” involuntarily escaped from Nigel, as the old man for a moment paused; “of him?  Methought yon portrait was of an ancestor of Bruce, or wherefore is it here?”

“Be patient, good my son.  My narrative wanders, for my lips shrink from its tale.  That the baron and the knight met, not in warlike joust but in peaceful converse, and at the request of the latter, is known, but on what passed in that interview even tradition is silent, it can only be imagined by the sequel; they appeared, however, less reserved than at first.  The baron treated him with the same distinction as his fellow-nobles, and the stranger’s manner towards him was even more respectful than the mere difference of age appeared to demand.  Important business with the Lord of Brus was alleged as the cause of his accepting that nobleman’s invitation to the tower of Kildrummie, in preference to others earlier given and more eagerly enforced.  They departed together, the knight accompanied but by two of his followers, and the baron leaving the greater number of his in attendance on his wife and child,