"
Ruthven interrupted him: "Despair not, my lord! Whatever be the fate
of this embassy, let us remember that it is our steadiest friend who
decides, and that his arm is still with us to repel invasion, to
chastise treason!"
Edwin's eyes turned with a direful expression upon Wallace, while he
lowly murmured: "Treason! hydra treason!"
Wallace understood him, and answered: "Grievous are the alternatives,
my friends, which your love for me would persuade you even to welcome.
But that which I shall choose will, I trust, indeed lay the land at
peace, or point its hostilities to the only aim against which a true
Scot ought to direct his sword at this crisis!"
Being arrived at the gate of Roslyn, Wallace, regardless of those
ceremonials which often delay the business they pretend to dignify,
entered at once into the hall where the embassadors sat. Baron Hilton
was one, and Le de Spencer (father of the young and violent envoy of
that name) was the other. At sight of the Scottish chief they rose;
and the good baron, believing he came on a propitious errand, smiling,
said, "Sir William Wallace, it is your private ear I am commanded to
seek.
Pages:
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114