He knocked loudly on the door with the hilt of his sword, and cried,
"If any be within, open--in the name of the Earl!"
No voice replied, and Sholto boldly set his foot against the lower
panelling, and drove the door back to the wall with a clang.
Then at sight of a something dark, wrapped in a cloak, standing
motionless against the window, the young captain of the guard elevated
his lamp, and let the flicker of the light fall on the erect figure
and haughty face of a young man, who, with his hand on his hip, stood
considering the rude advance of his pursuers with a calm and
questioning gaze.
It was the Earl of Douglas himself.
Sholto stood petrified at sight of him, and for a long minute could in
no wise recover his self-control nor regain any use of his tongue.
"Well," said the Earl, haughtily, "whence this unseemly uproar? What
do you here, Sholto?"
Then the spirit of his father came upon the young captain of the
guard. He knew that he had only done his duty in its strictness, and
he boldly answered the Earl: "Nay, my lord, were it not for courtesy,
I have more right to ask you that question.
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