The Fair Maid of Perth by Sir Walter Scott Fiction Historical Literary Classics

<p><strong>The constant tradition of the Palace says that Mary discharged any measures to be taken to remove the marks of slaughter which she had resolved should remain as a memorial to quicken and confirm her purposed vengeance.</strong> But it is added that satisfied with the knowledge that it existed and not desirous to have the ghastly evidence always under her eye she caused a traverse as it is called (that is a temporary screen of boards) to be drawn along the under part of the anteroom a few feet from the door so as to separate the place stained with the blood from the rest of the apartment. . . . if measures to efface them were not taken immediately after the affair happened -- if the blood in other words were allowed to sink into the wood the stain would become almost indelible. . . . -- from Scott's Introduction</p>