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Dwining ventured to say no more, but poured some drops from a phial which he took from his pocket into a small cup of wine allayed with water. "This draught," said the man of art, "is medicated to produce a sleep which must not be interrupted." "For how long will it last?" asked the knight. "The period of its operation is uncertain perhaps till morning." "Perhaps for ever," said the patient.
The wilful Prince stepped into the boat with Dwining and Ramorny, and, waiting for no other attendance, Eviot pushed off the vessel, which descended the Tay rapidly by the assistance of sail and oar and of the ebb tide. For some space the Duke of Rothsay appeared silent and moody, nor did his companions interrupt his reflections.
"You see the peevish humour of this childish boy, now," said Ramorny to Dwining; "can you wonder that a servant who has done so much for him as I have should be tired of such a master?" "No, truly," said Dwining, "that and the promised earldom of Lindores would shake any man's fidelity. But shall we commence with him this evening?
"And," said Dwining, with his squeaking voice, "I could speak of delicate confections, curious comfits, loaves of wastel bread, and even cakes of that rare and delicious condiment which men call sugar, that have gone thither to help out a bridal banquet, or a kirstening feast, or suchlike.
"Perhaps Sir John Ramorny might have been of your opinion," said Dwining; "but it would first have been necessary to cut out the rogue's tongue, lest he had told strange tales from his airy height. And there are other reasons that it concerns not your valiancies to know.
"We will first use our emollients upon the body, my noble patron," said Dwining; "and then, with your knighthood's permission; your servant will try his art on the troubled mind; though I fain hope even the mental pain also may in some degree depend on the irritation of the wound, and that, abated as I trust the corporeal pangs will soon be, perhaps the stormy feelings of the mind may subside of themselves."
I see the matter very clearly," said Dwining. "Heaven smiles on some untoward consequences he! he! he!" "No matter, the trap is ready; and it is baited, too, my friend, with what would lure the boy from a sanctuary, though a troop with drawn weapons waited him in the churchyard. Yet is it scarce necessary. His own weariness of himself would have done the job.
"They may speak of knights and kings for redressing wrongs, as they call it; but give me worthy Master Dwining the potter carrier, cummers," replied another. At the same moment, the leech was surrounded and taken hold of by the speakers, good women of the Fair City. "How now, what's the matter?" said Dwining, "whose cow has calved?"
The old man will apply all this to the Duchess, as they call her, of Rothsay. Dwining, thou shouldst be a secretis to his Holiness the Pope, who sometimes, it is said, wants a scribe that can make one word record two meanings. I will subscribe it, and have the praise of the device." "And now, my lord," said Ramorny, sealing the letter and leaving it behind, "will you not to boat?"
"Thou art then a more high souled villain than I deemed thee," said Ramorny. "Let that pass," answered Dwining. "The waters that are the stillest are also the deepest; and the foe is most to be dreaded who never threatens till he strikes. You knights and men at arms go straight to your purpose with sword in hand.
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