She told Lord Soulis all he wanted to know; informing him that a beautiful young lady, who could be no other than Lady Helen Mar, was concealed in that convent.
On this information he conversed a long time with the stranger from Cressingham's detachment.

And determining on carrying off Helen immediately to Hermitage, that the distance of Teviotdale might render a rescue less probable, he laid the plan accordingly.

"In consequence," continued the woman, "my husband and the stranger, the one habited as a Scottish and the other as an English knight (for my lord being ever on some wild prank, has always a chest of strange dresses with him), set out for St.Fillan's, taking with them the signet which your mother had sent with her letter to the earl her cousin.

They hoped such a pledge of their truth would insure them credit.

You know the tale they invented; and its success proves my lord to be no bad contriver.".