kenilworth-第105章

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against　the　door；　and　to　unlock　it；　she　had　the　precaution　to
ask！　　〃Is　it　thou；　my　love？〃

〃Yes；　my　Countess；〃　murmured　a　whisper　in　reply。

She　threw　open　the　door；　and　exclaiming；　〃Leicester！〃　　flung　her
arms　around　the　neck　of　the　man　who　stood　without；　muffled　in　his
cloak。

〃Nonot　quite　Leicester；〃　answered　Michael　Lambourne；　for　he　it
was；　returning　the　caress　with　vehemence〃not　quite　Leicester；
my　lovely　and　most　loving　duchess；　but　as　good　a　man。〃

With　an　exertion　of　force；　of　which　she　would　at　another　time
have　thought　herself　incapable；　the　Countess　freed　herself　from
the　profane　and　profaning　grasp　of　the　drunken　debauchee；　and
retreated　into　the　midst　of　her　apartment。　　where　despair　gave
her　courage　to　make　a　stand。

As　Lambourne；　on　entering；　dropped　the　lap　of　his　cloak　from　his
face；　she　knew　Varney's　profligate　servant；　the　very　last　person；
excepting　his　detested　master；　by　whom　she　would　have　wished　to
be　discovered。　　But　she　was　still　closely　muffled　in　her
travelling　dress；　and　as　Lambourne　had　scarce　ever　been　admitted
to　her　presence　at　Cumnor　Place；　her　person；　she　hoped；　might　not
be　so　well　known　to　him　as　his　was　to　her；　owing　to　Janet's
pointing　him　frequently　out　as　he　crossed　the　court；　and　telling
stories　of　his　wickedness。　　She　might　have　had　still　greater
confidence　in　her　disguise　had　her　experience　enabled　her　to
discover　that　he　was　much　intoxicated；　but　this　could　scarce　have
consoled　her　for　the　risk　which　she　might　incur　from　such　a
character　in　such　a　time；　place；　and　circumstances。

Lambourne　flung　the　door　behind　him　as　he　entered；　and　folding
his　arms；　as　if　in　mockery　of　the　attitude　of　distraction　into
which　Amy　had　thrown　herself；　he　proceeded　thus：　　〃Hark　ye；　most
fair　Calipolisor　most　lovely　Countess　of　clouts；　and　divine
Duchess　of　dark　cornersif　thou　takest　all　that　trouble　of
skewering　thyself　together；　like　a　trussed　fowl；　that　there　may
be　more　pleasure　in　the　carving；　even　save　thyself　the　labour。　　I
love　thy　first　frank　manner　the　best…like　thy　present　as
little〃（he　made　a　step　towards　her；　and　staggered）〃as　little
assuch　a　damned　uneven　floor　as　this；　where　a　gentleman　may
break　his　neck　if　he　does　not　walk　as　upright　as　a　posture…master
on　the　tight…rope。〃

〃Stand　back！〃　　said　the　Countess；　〃do　not　approach　nearer　to　me
on　thy　peril！〃

〃My　peril！and　stand　back！　　Why；　how　now；　madam？　　Must　you　have
a　better　mate　than　honest　Mike　Lambourne？　　I　have　been　in
America；　girl；　where　the　gold　grows；　and　have　brought　off　such　a
load　on't〃

〃Good　friend；〃　said　the　Countess；　in　great　terror　at　the
ruffian's　determined　and　audacious　manner；　〃I　prithee　begone；　and
leave　me。〃

〃And　so　I　will；　pretty　one；　when　we　are　tired　of　each　other's
companynot　a　jot　sooner。〃　　He　seized　her　by　the　arm；　while；
incapable　of　further　defence；　she　uttered　shriek　upon　shriek。
〃Nay；　scream　away　if　you　like　it；〃　said　he；　still　holding　her
fast；　〃I　have　heard　the　sea　at　the　loudest；　and　I　mind　a
squalling　woman　no　more　than　a　miauling　kitten。　　Damn　me！　　I　have
heard　fifty　or　a　hundred　screaming　at　once；　when　there　was　a　town
stormed。〃

The　cries　of　the　Countess；　however；　brought　unexpected　aid　in　the
person　of　Lawrence　Staples；　who　had　heard　her　exclamations　from
his　apartment　below；　and　entered　in　good　time　to　save　her　from
being　discovered；　if　not　from　more　atrocious　violence。　　Lawrence
was　drunk　also　from　the　debauch　of　the　preceding　night；　but
fortunately　his　intoxication　had　taken　a　different　turn　from　that
of　Lambourne。

〃What　the　devil's　noise　is　this　in　the　ward？〃　　he　said。　　〃What！
man　and　woman　together　in　the　same　cell？that　is　against　rule。
I　will　have　decency　under　my　rule；　by　Saint　Peter　of　the
Fetters！〃

〃Get　thee　downstairs；　thou　drunken　beast；〃　said　Lambourne；　〃seest
thou　not　the　lady　and　I　would　be　private？〃

〃Good　sir；　worthy　sir！〃　　said　the　Countess；　addressing　the
jailer；　〃do　but　save　me　from　him；　for　the　sake　of　mercy！〃

〃She　speaks　fairly；〃　said　the　jailer；　〃and　I　will　take　her　part。
I　love　my　prisoners；　and　I　have　had　as　good　prisoners　under　my
key　as　they　have　had　in　Newgate　or　the　Compter。　　And　so；　being
one　of　my　lambkins；　as　I　say；　no　one　shall　disturb　her　in　her
pen…fold。　　So　let　go　the　woman：　　or　I'll　knock　your　brains　out
with　my　keys。〃

〃I'll　make　a　blood…pudding　of　thy　midriff　first；〃　answered
Lambourne；　laying　his　left　hand　on　his　dagger；　but　still
detaining　the　Countess　by　the　arm　with　his　right。　　〃So　have　at
thee；　thou　old　ostrich；　whose　only　living　is　upon　a　bunch　of　iron
keys。〃

Lawrence　raised　the　arm　of　Michael；　and　prevented　him　from
drawing　his　dagger；　and　as　Lambourne　struggled　and　strove　to
shake　him　off；　the　Countess　made　a　sudden　exertion　on　her　side；
and　slipping　her　hand　out　of　the　glove　on　which　the　ruffian　still
kept　hold；　she　gained　her　liberty；　and　escaping　from　the
apartment；　ran　downstairs；　while　at　the　same　moment　she　heard　the
two　combatants　fall　on　the　floor　with　a　noise　which　increased　her
terror。　　The　outer　wicket　offered　no　impediment　to　her　flight；
having　been　opened　for　Lambourne's　admittance；　so　that　she
succeeded　in　escaping　down　the　stair；　and　fled　into　the
Pleasance；　which　seemed　to　her　hasty　glance　the　direction　in
which　she　was　most　likely　to　avoid　pursuit。

Meanwhile；　Lawrence　and　Lambourne　rolled　on　the　floor　of　the
apartment；　closely　grappled　together。　　Neither　had；　happily；
opportunity　to　draw　their　daggers；　but　Lawrence　found　space
enough　to　clash　his　heavy　keys　across　Michael's　face；　and　Michael
in　return　grasped　the　turnkey　so　felly　by　the　throat　that　the
blood　gushed　from　nose　and　mouth；　so　that　they　were　both　gory　and
filthy　spectacles　when　one　of　the　other　officers　of　the
household；　attracted　by　the　noise　of　the　fray；　entered　the　room；
and　with　some　difficulty　effected　the　separation　of　the
combatants。

〃A　murrain　on　you　both；〃　said　the　charitable　mediator；　〃and
especially　on　you；　Master　Lambourne！　　What　the　fiend　lie　you　here
for；　fighting　on　the　floor　like　two　butchers'　curs　in　the　kennel
of　the　shambles？〃

Lambourne　arose；　and　somewhat　sobered　by　the　interposition　of　a
third　party；　looked　with　something　less　than　his　usual　brazen
impudence　of　visage。　　〃We　fought　for　a　wench；　an　thou　must　know；〃
was　his　reply。

〃A　wench！　　Where　is　she？〃　　said　the　officer。

〃Why；　vanished；　I　think；〃　said　Lambourne；　looking　around　him；
〃unless　Lawrence　hath　swallowed　her；　That　filthy　paunch　of　his
devours　as　many　distressed　damsels　and　oppressed　orphans　as　e'er
a　giant　in　King　Arthur's　history。　　They　are　his　prime　food；　he
worries　them　body；　soul；　and　substance。〃

〃Ay；　ay！　　It's　no　matter；〃　said　Lawrence；　gathering　up　his　huge；
ungainly　form　from　the　floor；　〃but　I　have　had　your　betters；
Master　Michael　Lambourne；　under　the　little　turn　of　my　forefinger
and　thumb；　and　I　shall　have　thee；　before　all's　done；　under　my
hatches。　　The　impudence　of　thy　brow　will　not　always　save　thy
shin…bones　from　iron；　and　thy　foul；　thirsty　gullet　from　a　hempen
cord。〃　　The　words　were　no　sooner　out　of　his　mouth；　when　Lambourne
again　made　at　him。

〃Nay；　go　not　to　it　again；〃　said　the　sewer；　〃or　I　will　call　for
him　shall　tame　you　both；　and　that　is　Master　VarneySir　Richard；
I　mean。　　He　is　stirring；　I　promise　you；　I　saw　him　cross　the　court
just　now。〃

〃Didst　thou；　by　G！〃　　said　Lambourne；　seizing　on　the　basin　and
ewer　which　stood　in　the　apartment。　　〃Nay；　then；　element；　do　thy
work。　　I　thought　I　had　enough　of　thee　last　night；　when　I　floated
about　for　Orion；　like　a　cork　on　a　fermenting　cask　of　ale。〃

So　saying；　he　fell　to　work　to　cleanse　from　his　face　and　hands　the
signs　of　the　fray；　and　get　his　apparel　into　some　order。

〃What　hast　thou　done　to　him？〃　　said　the　sewer；　speaking　aside　to
the　jailer；　〃his　face　is　fearfully　swelled。〃

〃It　is　but　the　imprint　of　the　key　of　my　cabinettoo　good　a　mark
for　his　gallows…face。　　No　man　shall　abuse　or　insult　my　prisoners；
they　are　my　jewels；　and　I　lock　them　in　safe　casket　accordingly。
And　so；　mistress；　leave　off　your　wailing。Why！　　why；　surely；
there　was　a　woman　here！〃

〃I　think　you　are　all　mad　this　morning；〃　said　the　sewer。　　〃I　saw
no　woman　here；　nor　no　man　neither　in　a　proper　sense；　b