"Never!" cried Grimond hotly. "And I canna bear that ye should treat this maitter as a jest. Many a faithful dog has been scolded--aye, and maybe struck, by his maister when he had quicker ears than the foolish man, and was giving warning of danger.
"Ye think me, my lord, a silly and cankered auld haveril, and that my head is full of prejudices and fancies. Would to God that I were wrong. If I were, I would go down on my knees to her ladyship and ask her pardon and serve her like a dog all the days of my life; but, waes me, I'm ower richt. When my lady is loyal to you I'll be loyal to her, but no an hour sooner, say ye as ye like, laugh ye as ye will. But my lady is false, and ye are deceived in your own home."
"Do you know what you are saying, Grimond, and to whom you are speaking? We have carried this jest too far, and it is my blame, but ye may not again speak this way of your mistress in my presence. I know you mean nothing by it, and it is all your love of me and dislike of Covenanters that makes you jealous; but never again, Grimond, remember, or else, old servant though you be, you leave me that hour. It's a madness with you; ye must learn to control it," said Dundee sternly.
"It's nae madness, my lord," answered Grimond doggedly, "and has naethin' to do with my lady being a Cochrane. Maybe I would rather she had been a Graham or a Carnegie, but that was nae business o' mine. Even if I didna like her, it's no for a serving-man to complain o' his mistress. I ken when to speak and when to hold my tongue, but there are things I canna see and forbear. My lord, it's time you were at Dudhope, for the sake, o' your honor."
"Grimond," said Dundee, and his words were as morsels of ice, "if it were any other man who spoke of my wife and dishonor in the same breath I would kill him where he stood; but ye are the oldest and faithfullest follower of our house. For the work ye have done and the risks ye have run I pardon you so far as to hear any excuse ye have to make for yourself; but make it plain and make it quick, for ye know I am not a man to be trifled with."