"
Wallace, who had listened in silence, drew a deep sigh as Ruthven
concluded; and, in that profound breath, exclaimed--"God must be our
fortress still; must save Scotland from this gangrene in her heart!
Ramsay shall be released; but I must first meet these violent men. And
it must be alone, my lord," continued he; "you, and our coadjutors, may
wait my return at the city gates; but the sword of Edward, if need be,
shall defend me against his gold." As he spoke, he laid his hand on
the jeweled weapon which hung at his side, and which he had wrested
from that monarch in the last conflict.
Aware that this treason, aimed at him, would strike his country, unless
timely warded off, he took his resolution; and requesting Ruthven not
to communicate to any one what had passed, he mounted his horse, and
struck into the road to Stirling. He took the plume from his crest,
and closing his visor, enveloped himself in his plaid, that the people
might not know him as he went along. But casting away his cloak, and
unclasping his helmet at the door of the keep, he entered the
council-hall, openly and abruptly. By an instantaneous impulse of
respect, which even the base pay to virtue, almost every man arose at
his appearance.
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