"God give you good luck!" said John. "I dare not gainsay you, my friend, for you are doing what I hope I should do, if I were in your place. Be sure I will not rest until all is done that may be done, to snatch you from beneath the old lion's paw."
The earl maintained a great retinue and a kind of military state, and the courtyard of his castle was alive this morning with pages and serving-men in his livery, exercising or bustling about on various errands; but I had little fear any of them would know me, for not many of the gentlemen of the isle chose to enter his train, nor did the common folk relish the restraint and weariness of his service, so the bulk of those who wore his colours were enlisted from distant parts of the country. My confidence was justified, no one accosting me or taking any heed of me. I told the porter, using the style of speaking which matched my apparel, I had tidings for the earl of the first importance. He conducted me to a little room, where he bade me wait the leisure of the steward and left me. The door of the room stood ajar, and I heard voices in a room opposite, one of them being Boswell's. Needless to say I listened with both ears.
"Oh, sir, persuade the earl to hear me for one moment--I beg for only a moment."
"You do but waste my time. I tell you the earl will not see you."
"Then for pity's sake, good Master Nicholas, go you to him and let him know Vavasour is found. He is in hiding at Lindholme. If the earl will order a dozen men to go with me, the murderer shall be in his hands this afternoon. The frost makes the bog like stone."
"His lordship shall hear this, certainly."
"And beg him to spare my girl until I bring Vavasour. Entreat him to be so far merciful, Master Nicholas!"
"I will let you know his lordship's pleasure," answered the steward, and crossed the passage to the room in which I awaited him.
"And what is your business, my man?" he asked loftily, toying with his gold chain of office.
"To give up the man that killed my Lord Sheffield and get my reward," I answered in rustic fashion.
"By your leave, that is for his lordship's ear."
"Art insolent, knave? May'st take thyself off. Thy information is late. We happen to have one of the murderer's familiars on the rack."