He would have animatedly praised such an instance
of fearless gratitude expressed to another, and when it was directed to
himself, his ingenuous soul showed approbation in every feature of his
beaming countenance.
"Is it thus, presumptuous Knight of Ellerslie," cried Soulis, "that by
your looks you dare encourage contumely to the lord regent and his
peers?"
Wallace did not deign him an answer, but turning calmly toward the
throne, "Representative of my king!" said he, "in duty to the power
whose authority you wear, I have obeyed your summons, and I here await
the appearance of the accuser who has had the hardihood to brand the
name of William Wallace with disloyalty to prince or people."
The regent was embarrassed. He did not suffer his eyes to meet those
of Wallace, but looked down in manifest confusion during this address;
and then, without reply, turned to Lord Athol, and called on him to
open the charge. Athol required not a second summons; he rose
immediately, and, in a bold and positive manner, accused Wallace of
having been won over by Philip of France to sell those rights of
supremacy to him which, with a feigned patriotism, his sword had
wrested from the grasp of England.
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