’Ye have chosen like a soldier. I shall not grudge you the wale of swords,’ the Earl made reply, smiling upon me, well pleased. So with that he went out into the armoury, and came back with the noblest sword I had ever seen. Blade, hilt, and scabbard were all inlaid with scrolled Damascus work of gold, thin limned and delicate—I never saw the like. And my blood leaped within me—I declare to my shame, nigh as hotly as it did when Marjorie Kennedy kissed me on the brow in the arbour of the pleasaunce at the house of Culzean. ’Buckle it on, and take it with you,’ said the Earl, ’lest looking long upon it my heart should smite me, and I want it back again.’ So I thanked him and presently was gone without great ceremony, lest, indeed, it should be so. ’Stay the night at Cassillis,’ he cried after me. ’I have a letter to send to my eame the Tutor in the morning.’ *CHAPTER XI* *SWORD AND SPIT* The house of Cassillis is not a great place for size, to be so famous. But the Earl has many castles, to which he goes oftentimes—specially to the grand house of the new style which he is building at the Inch, and from which he means to assert his overlordship of the Lairds of Galloway, which, as I see it, is likely to breed him trouble—more than if he had stayed here at home and flairdied his old gammer mistress into good humour. So, leaving his presence, I went to see that Dom Nicholas had the best of food and bedding, passing through the grooms and men-at-arms in the bravery of my Damascus sword, walking carelessly as though I wore suchlike every day—a thing I liked well to do. I also made them change the straw for better, though, indeed, there was little to find fault with. But it is always best when one goes first into the stables of the great to speak loud, to cry, ’Here, sirrah, what means this?’ And then order fresh bedding to be brought, and that instantly. Thus I made myself respected, and so walked out, while the grooms bowed, pulling the while at my moustache and pressing upon the hilt of my sword, so that the point stood out at the proper angle behind with my cloak a-droop over it, as I have said. Then, on my way back to the house, I must needs pass—or so I made it appear—through the kitchens, where I found my tyrant Venus-of-the-fiery-face in the act of cooking the supper. Seeing me lean against the baking board, dressed so _cap-à-pie_, she came and brushed me a place to sit upon. Then she asked, ’Would I be pleased to drink a cup of sack—rare and old?’ So, seeing her set on it, I denied her not; but sat down, unbuckling my weapon for ease’s sake, and throwing it down with clank of blade and jingle of buckle on the clear-scoured boards of the great deal table in the midst. The Lord forgive me for caring so mightily about these things and so little for going to church! Some good day, doubtless, I shall change about. And in the meanwhile, what would you?