" "Of
what complexion?" said Murray, "and can you trust the bearer?" "He is
faithful, on my life," said Morton; "I wish all around your Lordship
may prove equally so."
"At what, and whom, do you point?" demanded Murray.
"Here is the Egyptian of trusty Halbert Glendinning, our Southland
Moses, come alive again, and flourishing, gay and bright as ever, in
that Teviotdale Goshen, the Halidome of Kennaquhair."
"What mean you, my lord?" said Murray.
"Only that your new henchman has put a false tale upon you. Piercie
Shafton is alive and well; by the same token that the gull is thought
to be detained there by love to a miller's daughter, who roamed the
country with him in disguise."
"Glendinning," said Murray, bending his brow into his darkest frown,
"thou hast not, I trust, dared to bring me a lie in thy mouth, in
order to win my confidence?"
"My lord," said Halbert, "I am incapable of a lie. I should choke on
one were my life to require that I pronounced it. I say, that this
sword of my father was through the body--the point came out behind his
back--the hilt pressed upon his breast-bone. And I will plunge it as
deep in the body of any one who shall dare to charge me with
falsehood."
"How, fellow!" said Morton, "wouldst thou beard a nobleman?"
"Be silent, Halbert," said Murray, "and you, my Lord of Morton, forbear
him. I see truth written on his brow."
"I wish the inside of the manuscript may correspond with the
superscription," replied his more suspicious ally.
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