A Little Wizard by Stanley J. Weyman

If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms -- a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back -- those present could scarcely have looked more astonished. Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft. On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive. Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

"The man is mad! " cried one by the door, a person privileged.