"Nay, messire," replied Gray, with increasing displeasure; "I have come on a mission from the court of Scotland, where I have the honour to be Captain of the King's Guard." "Your name?" "Sir Patrick Gray, younger of that ilk." "And this mission?" said the other hastily. "Concerns not you, messire, but the marriage of the Princess Mary d'Egmont," replied Gray, moving his horse away. "To your young king?--good. You have, then, a letter for--for the duke?" said the other, following him. "Yes." "Permit me to see it. Excuse me, messire, but I have both reason and authority for my request." Gray, who thought he had been rather unwise in stating the object of his mission to a total stranger, reluctantly opened a pocket in his saddlelap, and drew forth a large square letter, which was covered with a silken wrapper, tied with white ribbon crosswise, and sealed with yellow wax, the colour used by the kings of Scotland and France. "Messire, you will perceive that it is correctly addressed," said Sir Patrick; "and it is my best credential for being reserved." "Exactly; I thank you," replied the other, taking the letter in his gauntletted hand, and deliberately tearing it open. "Messire!" exclaimed Gray, furiously, as he drew his sword; "are you mad, or weary of life, that you dare to open a letter----" "For Arnold d'Egmont, count of Zutphen, and duke of Gueldres, you would say?" "Yes, surrender it, messire, or by every saint in heaven, I shall kill you where you stand!" "Beware--beware!" exclaimed some of the attendants, lowering their lances. "And why beware?" demanded the sturdy Scot. "Because I am Arnold himself," replied the old duke, with a hearty laugh, in which the three knights of the Golden Fleece joined. "You, monseigneur?" said Gray, sinking the point of his sword, and reining back his horse. "Behold my banner and escort, with Ravenstein, Berg, and Nassau, my three most faithful friends." "Pardon me," said Gray, sheathing his sword, and reining back his horse. "I have nothing to pardon, Sir Patrick Gray," replied the duke; "we shall all ride forward together, but this letter, which you have travelled so far to lay before me, is written in the young king's name, and announces, that so soon as affairs are peaceful in his kingdom, his lord chancellor, accompanied by John, bishop of Dunkeld, and Messire Nicholas Otterbourne, official of Lothian, with a suitable train, will visit our court at Gueldres, to receive the Princess Mary, and conduct her to her new home. Poor child! she is very young and tender, to be trusted among your unruly mountaineers. The letter shall be laid before the duchess and council. Meantime, messire, I thank you for the care with which you have brought hither the missive of your king, and the valour with which you were ready to defend it, at all hazards, even against four-and-twenty mounted men." Sir Patrick bowed low, and kissed the hand which the duke extended towards him.