They filed silently into the hall in dark armour, all carrying shining Lochaber axes.
Douglas leaned back in his chair, and looked nonchalantly on like a spectator of a pageant.

He continued to talk to the King easily and calmly, as if he were in his own Castle of Thrieve.

But Sholto saw the white and ghastly look on the face of the Chancellor, and noted his hands nervously grip the table.

He observed him also lean across and confer with Livingston, who nodded like one that agrees that the moment of action has come.
At the upper end of the hall were wide folding doors which till now had been shut.

These were opened swiftly, either half falling back to the wall.