’Good life,’ cried his wife, entering briskly at the moment, ’is it possible that the auld fule is at it again? The very de’il’s in the craitur. He thinks that he was at the roastin’ o’ a man, whan a’ the roastin’ he has done in his life has been turnin’ the spit in this decent hoose o’ Cassillis. Come awa’, ye doitered auld loon, what did I tell ye the last time?—Into the keepin’ chamber wi’ you!’ And she caught him by the top lock to lead him away once more. But I pled for him, saying that I had never heard of his fantasy, and had indeed encouraged him to begin. The tall man who had been called John Dick, the fellow of the hateful countenance, in whose eyes there was the insolence of challenge, at this point stalked up to the table on which my sword still lay. He took it in his hand with a contemptuous air, examined the Damascus work of fine gold, and was about to draw the blade from its sheath. ’That sword is mine,’ said I, scarcely looking at the fellow, ’and does not leave its scabbard save when I draw it.’ ’And then,’ quoth he, with a bitter sneer, ’I opine it will not do much damage. ’Tis but a bairn’s plaik at any rate! And in fit hands!’ ’It may be that you would like to try, sirrah,’ said I, slipping my hip off the table and buckling on my sword with one movement. ’Very willingly,’ said he of the sneer. ’Come out to the green.’ But before I could move to end the matter, there arose from the corner, where he had been lying on an oaken settle, a tall, slender lad of foreign aspect and distinction. He had on him a green suit like the Royal hunting liveries. A long, plain sword in a black leather scabbard swung by his side. ’Launcelot Kennedy of Kirrieoch,’ he said, bowing to me, ’I am Robert Harburgh, and though for the time being I serve here as little better than a cullion, I am yet of some blood and kindred. Therefore I shall do you no shame. And you, sir,’ said he, turning to John Dick, who stood lowering, ’being your equal here, I can serve your turn to cross swords with—and spare this gentleman the discomfort of defiling his sword of honour with such black ignoble blood as yours.’ And with that he whipped out a long, straight sword which glittered in the firelight. John Dick turned up his lip wickedly, so that we saw his teeth, and the black, curly fringe of hair about his face stood out, till his visage was like that of an angry ramping bull of Galloway. There were only men in the kitchen when the fracas arose, for Mistress Tode had gone to do some errand for the Countess. ’You are surely a stark man,’ said John Dick, ’to mell or meddle with me. Ken ye that I have wounded more men with my whinger than I have fingers on my right hand?’ ’And how many may that be?’ said the young man who had espoused my cause. ’Why, four,’ said John Dick, surprised at the question. ’Then in a little while you shall have one less—and that is but three. Guard yourself!’