The knight turned back and led the seer into the inner-court, and fed him with bread and wine, and every good thing; but well he noted that he asked no holy benediction on them like the palmers and priors that wandered about the country; and, therefore, he had some lurking dread of the old man. He did not thank the knight for his courtesy, but, wiping his snowy beard, he turned abruptly away, and strode out at the gate of the castle. Sir Ringan kept an eye on him privately till he saw him reach the top of Blake Law, a small dark hill immediately above the castle. There he stopped and looked around him, and taking two green sods, he placed the one above the other, and laid himself down on his back, resting his head upon the two sods,--his body half raised, and his eyes fixed on heaven. The knight was almost frightened to look at him; but sliding into the cleuch, he ran secretly down to the tower to bring his lady to see this wonderful old warlock. When they came back he was gone, and no trace of him to be seen, nor saw they him any more at that time. CHAPTER II. This man's the devil's fellow commoner, A verie cloake-bag of iniquitie. His butteries and his craboun he deschargeth Flasche, not by airt or reule. Is it meet A Ploydenist should be a _cedant arma togae_, Mounted on a trapt palfrey; with a dishe Of velvatte on his heide, to keepe the brothe Of his wit warm? The devil, my maisteris, There is no dame in Venice shall indure itt. _Old Play._ Whilst the knight and his lady were looking about in amazement for their mysterious guest, the tower-warder sounded the great bugle, a tremendous horn that lay on a shelf in the balcony where he kept watch. "One--two--three," said the knight, counting the three distinct notes,--a signal of which he well knew the language,--"What can that mean? I am wanted, it would appear: another messenger from the Douglas, I warrant." "Sir Ringan, keep by that is your own," said the lady--"I say, mind your own concerns, and let the Douglas mind his." "Dame," said the chief, "I hae gotten some mair insight into that affair than you; an' we maun talk about it by an' by. In the meantime let us haste home, and see who is arrived." As they descended from the hill hand in hand, (for none walked arm in arm in those days,) they saw Richard Dodds, a landward laird, coming to meet them. "Oh," said Sir Ringan, "this is my officious cousin, Dickie o' Dryhope; what business can he be come upon? It will be something that he deems of great importance." "I hate that old fawning, flattering sycophant," said the lady; "and cannot divine what is the cause of your partiality for him." "It is his attachment to our house that I admire, and his perfect devotion to my service and interests," said the knight.