“Mylord，“criedthequeen，“doyouforgetacertainrepastgiveninanEdinburghtavern，bythissameBothwell，tothosesamenoblemenwhotreathimto-dayasanadultererandamurderer；doyouforgetthatattheendofthatmeal，andonthesametableatwhichithadbeengiven，apaperwassignedtoinvitethatsamewoman，towhomto-
dayyoumakethehasteofhernewweddingacrime，toleaveoffawidow’smourningtoreassumeamarriagerobe？forifyouhaveforgottenit，mylords，whichwoulddonomorehonourtoyoursobrietythantoyourmemory，Iundertaketoshowittoyou，Iwhohavepreservedit；andperhapsifwesearchwellweshallfindamongthesignaturesthenamesofLindsayofByresandWilliamRuthven。
OnobleLordHerries，“criedMary，“loyalJamesMelville，youalonewererightthen，whenyouthrewyourselvesatmyfeet，entreatingmenottoconcludethismarriage，which，Iseeitclearlyto-day，wasonlyatrapsetforanignorantwomanbyperfidiousadvisersordisloyallords。“
“Madam，“criedRuthven，inspiteofhiscoldimpassivitybeginningtolosecommandofhimself，whileLindsaywasgivingstillmorenoisyandlessequivocalsignsofimpatience，“madam，allthesediscussionsarebesideouraim：Ibegyoutoreturntoit，then，andinformusif，yourlifeandhonourguaranteed，youconsenttoabdicatethecrownofScotland。“
“AndwhatsafeguardshouldIhavethatthepromisesyouheremakemewillbekept？“