A sudden pause in the inspiring music, the quick advance of all the different groups towards one particular spot, had failed perchance to interrupt the happy converse of the lovers, had not Sir Alan hastily approached them, exclaiming, as he did so—­

“For the love of heaven!  Nigel, forget Agnes for one moment, and come along with me.  A messenger from Pembroke has just arrived, bearing a challenge, or something very like it, to his grace the king; and it may be we shall win our spurs sooner than we looked for this morning.  The sight of Sir Henry Seymour makes the war trumpet sound in mine ears.  Come, for truly there is something astir.”

With Agnes still leaning on his arm, Nigel obeyed the summons of his impatient friend, and joined the group around the king.  There was a quiet dignity in the attitude and aspect of Robert Bruce, or it might be the daring patriotism of his enterprise was appreciated by the gallant English knight; certain it was that, though Sir Henry’s bearing had been somewhat haughty, his brow knit, and his head still covered, as he passed up the hall, by an irresistible impulse he doffed his helmet as he met the eagle glance of the Bruce, and bowed his head respectfully before him, an example instantly followed by his attendants.

“Sir Henry Seymour is welcome to our court,” said the king, courteously; “welcome, whatever message he may bear.  How fares it with the chivalric knight and worthy gentleman, Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke?  Ye bring us a message from him, ’tis said.  Needs it a private hearing, sir knight? if so, we are at your service; yet little is it Aymer de Valence can say to Scotland’s king which Scotland may not hear.”

“Pembroke is well, an please you, and sendeth greeting,” replied the knight.  “His message, sent as it is to the Bruce, is well fitted for the ears of his followers, therefore may it be spoken here.  He sendeth all loving and knightly greeting unto him known until now as Robert Earl of Carrick, and bids him, an he would proclaim and prove the rights he hath assumed, come forth from the narrow precincts of a palace and town, which ill befit a warrior of such high renown, and give him battle in the Park of Methven, near at hand.  He challenges him to meet him there, with nobles, knights, and yeomen, who proclaiming Robert Bruce their sovereign, cast down the gauntlet of defiance and rebellion against their rightful king and mine, his grace of England; he challenges thee, sir knight, or earl, or king, whichever name thou bearest, and dares thee to the field.”

“And what if we accept not his daring challenge?” demanded King Robert, sternly, without permitting the expression of his countenance to satisfy in any way the many anxious glances fixed upon it.

“He will proclaim thee coward knight and traitor slave,” boldly answered Sir Henry.  “In camp or in hall, in lady’s bower or tented field, he will proclaim thee recreant; one that took upon himself the state and pomp of royalty without the spirit to defend and prove it.”