De Warenne was so well convinced by what had dropped from De Valence,
of his having been the assassin, that when they met at sunrise to take
horse for the borders, he made him no other salutation than an
exclamation of surprise, "not to find him under an arrest for the last
night's work!"
"The wily Scot knew better," replied De Valence, "than so to expose the
reputation of the lady. He knew that she received the wound in his
arms, and he durst not seize me, for fear I should proclaim it."
"He cannot fear that," replied De Warenne, "for he has proclaimed it
himself. He has told every particular of his meeting with Lady Helen
in the chapel, even her sheltering him with her arms; so there is
nothing for you to declare but your own infamy. For infamous I must
call it, Lord Aymer; and nothing but the respect I owe my country,
prevents me pointing the eyes of the indignant Scots to you; nothing
but the stigma your exposure would bring upon the English name, could
make me conceal the dead."
De Valence laughed at this speech of De Warenne's. "Why, my lord
warden," said he, "have you been taking lessons of this doughty Scot,
that you talk thus? It was not with such sentiments you overthrew the
princes of Wales, and made the kings of Ireland fly before you! You
would tell another story were your own interest in question; and I can
tell you that any vengeance is not satisfied, I will yet see the
brightness of those eyes on which the proud daughter of Mar hangs so
fondly, extinguished in death.
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