’I left word for the other fellows to join us at the hostel by the gate, and tarried for them till I feared being here after the gates were fast; then set out without them, and rode till, just within the forest, a band of men, how many I cannot tell, were on us, and before my sword was well drawn they had surrounded me, and seized my bridle.  One of them bade me submit quietly, and they would not harm me, if I would yield up that which I wist of.  I said I would sooner yield my life than my trust; whereupon they mastered me, and dragged me off my horse, and were rifling me, when I—­knowing the Flemish accent of that drunken fellow of the Countess’s—­called out, “Shame on you, Ghisbert!” Then it was that he stabbed me, even at the moment when the holy Saints sent brave Percy and the rest to rush in upon them.’

‘You are sure it was Ghisbert?’ repeated Bedford, anxiously.

‘As certain as a man’s voice can make me,’ said Malcolm.  ’Methinks, had I not named him, he would perhaps have bound me to a tree, and left it to be thought that they were but common thieves.’

‘Belike,’ said Bedford, thoughtfully.  ’We are beholden to you, my Lord Glenuskie; the whole state of England is beholden to you for the saving of the confusion and evils the loss of that ring would have caused.  You can keep counsel, I wot well.  Then let all this matter of the Queen and Countess rest a secret.’

Malcolm looked amazed; and Bedford added:  ’I cannot quarrel with the woman, nor banish her from Court.  Did we accuse her, Holland would become Armagnac; nor is she subject of ours, to have justice done on her.  It is for her interest to hush the matter up, and it must be ours too.  If that knave Ghisbert ever gives me the chance, he shall hang like a dog; but for the rest—­’ he shrugged his shoulders.

‘And,’ said Malcolm, ’Ghisbert only meant to serve his lady.  Any vassal of mine would do the like for me or my sister.’

Bedford half smiled; then sighed and said:  ’Once we were like to get laws more obeyed than lords; but that is all over now!  Yet you, young Sir, have seen a great pattern; you will have great powers!’

‘Sir,’ interrupted Malcolm, ’I pray you believe me, great powers I shall not have.  As I told you last night, I do but hold this precious troth in trust!  It must be a secret, or it would not save her; but you—­oh, Sir! you will believe that!’

‘If it be so,’ said Bedford, gravely, ’it is too sacred a trust to be spoken of.  You will deserve greater honour if you keep your word, than ever you will receive from the world.  Farewell—­and recover fast.’

Malcolm did not meet with much encouragement from the few to whom he thought fit to confide the conditions of his espousal.  The King allowed that he could not have acted otherwise, but was concerned at it, because of the hindrance that might for years be interposed in the way of his welfare; and secretly hoped that Malcolm, in his new capacity, would so gain on Esclairmonde’s esteem and gratitude, as to win her affection, and that by mutual consent they would lay aside their loftier promises, and take up their espousal where they had left it.