And the Whispers are, I suppose, said to be the ghostly conspirators in conclave." "That's what folk say, miss.

They div say as weel that Auld Nick himsel' was present, an' gied the decision that the Cardinal, wha was to be askit ower frae Stirlin', should dee.

It is his evil counsel that is h'ard by those whom death will quickly overtake." "Really, Stewart," she laughed, "you make me feel quite uncomfortable." "But, miss, Sir Henry already kens a' aboot the Whispers," said the man.
"I h'ard him tellin' a young gentleman wha cam' doon last shootin' season a guid dale aboot it.

They veesited the auld castle thegither, an' I happened tae be hereaboots." This caused the girl to resolve to learn from her father what she could.
He was an antiquary, and had the history of Glencardine at his finger-ends.
So presently she strolled back to Stewart's cottage, and after receiving from the faithful servant urgent injunctions to "have a care" of herself, she walked on to the tennis-lawn, where, shaded by the high trees, Lady Heyburn, in white serge, and three of her male guests were playing.
"Father," she said that same evening, when they had settled down to commence work upon those ever-arriving documents from Paris, "what was the cause of Glencardine becoming a ruin ?" "Well, the reason of its downfall was Lord Glencardine's change of front," he answered.

"In 1638 he became a stalwart supporter of Episcopacy and Divine Right, a course which proved equally fatal to himself and to his ancient Castle of Glencardine.