"'Tis a fact--on some treasonable mission from English Henry--at least, so sayeth my lord advocate." Roland's blood ran alternately hot and cold. "This demon advocate hears of everything!" said he to the earl, as they passed along the corridor. "My God! lord earl, if discovered----" "Thou canst save me, perhaps," said the earl, who was himself a little alarmed. "If not?" "I can die then, with my sword in my hand," replied the earl, through his teeth. "But art thou not rich in the favour of this holiday king?" "In that alone; otherwise I am poor enough, God wot." "Thy father left thee----" "His sword, his arms, and motto--nothing more. The first is here at my side--the second, I know by heart, having nought else whereon to grave them--_gules_, six annulets _or_." "Tush! thou wilt build thee a castle some day, and put the crest above the gate." "A swan'shead winged, rising from a ducal coronet--ha! ha! my father was a soldier, and poor, as we soldiers always are." "'Tis a madcap adventure, this, I know right well," said the earl; "but I have armed me (sans leave) with your best corslet; and as I have a strong affection for my poor head (which is, in fact, of no use to any one save myself), they shall never possess it if my hands can keep it. If I am beset to-night--fiends! I would mow them all down with this long blade, like death with his scythe." "St. Mary! use it warily," said Roland, laughing; "thou wilt punch a hole in the roof else." "Thou lovest this King James well?" "Love him--yes. I am ready to be cut in pieces for him to-morrow." "Still thou art poor!" "I have quite made up my mind to be rich at some future day, but when that day shall come, the Lord alone knows," replied Roland, without perceiving that the earl was covertly ridiculing his loyalty to James. Notwithstanding his disguise, the whole air and bearing of Ashkirk were eminently noble. Though brave and passionate, he veiled a promptitude to anger under an outwardly impassible equanimity of temper; thus, while he could be at one time rash to excess, at another he could affect to be doggedly cool. He had innumerable excellent qualities of head and heart, which would have rendered him of inestimable value to such a prince as James V.; but his blind devotion to the faction of Angus (a faction of which we will treat more at large elsewhere) rendered them nugatory. Though considerably above the middle height, he was strong, elegant, and graceful. His nose was almost aquiline; his eyes were dark and piercing; his mouth was like that of a Cæsar; and his well-defined chin was indicative of that obstinacy of purpose, which is a leading feature of the Scottish character; and, like every gentleman of his time, he rode, fenced, and danced to perfection.