When we were safe from pursuit on the other side of the Nor’ Loch, we questioned the varlet whom I and others had captured, as to what was his quarrel against us. ’Nothing,’ he said. ’I and the others were lying in the Tolbooth, when suddenly the gates were opened, and there stood one at the door, clad in grey, who gave a sword or a pike to each man, as well as a piece of gold, telling us that there were other ten of the same awaiting each good striker who should fall on and fight those whom he would show us.’ ’What like was this man?’ said Sir Thomas, my master. ’An ordinary man enough,’ said the fellow; ’grey of head and also clad in grey, but with armour that rattled beneath his clothes. Then we looked at one another, and remembered the dying words of Black Peter—’It was—it was—the Grey Man—!’ Once more such a man had crossed the luck of Cassillis. By what golden key he had bribed the warders and opened His Majesty’s Tolbooth, we knew not; but assuredly he had clean beaten us from the field. Nevertheless, I was much cheered to hear on the next day that the name of Launcelot Kennedy, called ’of Kirrieoch, or Launcelot of the Spurs,’ was among those that were ’put to the horn,’ or in plain words declared rebel and outlaw at the Cross of Edinburgh. For I knew that Nell Kennedy would never flout me more. Even fair Marjorie would, perhaps, not disdain speech with me now, and might perchance let me walk by her side in the garden some summer evening. *CHAPTER VII* *MY LADY’S FAVOURS* It was as I had foretold. Those that had flouted me for a beardless boy, now scorned me no more. I mean chiefly Nell Kennedy. Indeed, for some days it was as much as I would do even to speak to her. She would make shift oftentimes to pass me in the pleasaunces of the house of Culzean, when I walked abroad in the sunshine with my hand on my sword—as was my duty—to receive her father’s guests. For there was a great repair of people to our castle ever since the outlawing, the cause of which was considered most fortunate and honourable to all concerned. Nell Kennedy, as I say, would often pass me in the orchard or in the Italian garden, which her father had made with great expense. And as she went by, she would kick with her foot a stone in front of me. But of this I took no heed whatever, no more than if I had not seen it. Because, for my own part, I was resolved never to think of maids and such light matters again, but rather to concern myself solely with glory, as became one who at eighteen had been outlawed for rebellion and other deeds of military prowess. Once it happened that we were all in the garden—Marjorie, the loons James and Alexander Kennedy, and little David, Sir Thomas’s youngest son. Also Nell Kennedy was there. Sir Thomas himself was walking to and fro at the garden’s end, all by his lone, with his hands clasped behind his back, as was his custom.