kenilworth-第112章

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Leicester　was　silent；　but　bent　his　head　towards　the　Countess；　as
an　intimation　that　she　was　at　liberty　to　proceed。

〃There　hath　been　but　one　cause　for　all　these　evils；　my　lord；〃　she
proceeded；　〃and　it　resolves　itself　into　the　mysterious　duplicity
with　which　you；　have　been　induced　to　surround　yourself。
Extricate　yourself　at　once；　my　lord；　from　the　tyranny　of　these
disgraceful　trammels。　　Be　like　a　true　English　gentleman；　knight；
and　earl；　who　holds　that　truth　is　the　foundation　of　honour；　and
that　honour　is　dear　to　him　as　the　breath　of　his　nostrils。　　Take
your　ill…fated　wife　by　the　hand；　lead　her　to　the　footstool　of
Elizabeth's　thronesay　that　in　a　moment　of　infatuation；　moved　by
supposed　beauty；　of　which　none　perhaps　can　now　trace　even　the
remains；　I　gave　my　hand　to　this　Amy　Robsart。　　You　will　then　have
done　justice　to　me；　my　lord；　and　to　your　own　honour　and　should
law　or　power　require　you　to　part　from　me；　I　will　oppose　no
objection；　since　I　may　then　with　honour　hide　a　grieved　and　broken
heart　in　those　shades　from　which　your　love　withdrew　me。　　Then
have　but　a　little　patience；　and　Amy's　life　will　not　long　darken
your　brighter　prospects。〃

There　was　so　much　of　dignity；　so　much　of　tenderness；　in　the
Countess's　remonstrance；　that　it　moved　all　that　was　noble　and
generous　in　the　soul　of　her　husband。　　The　scales　seemed　to　fall
from　his　eyes；　and　the　duplicity　and　tergiversation　of　which　he
had　been　guilty　stung　him　at　once　with　remorse　and　shame。

〃I　am　not　worthy　of　you；　Amy；〃　he　said；　〃that　could　weigh　aught
which　ambition　has　to　give　against　such　a　heart　as　thine。　　I　have
a　bitter　penance　to　perform；　in　disentangling；　before　sneering
foes　and　astounded　friends；　all　the　meshes　of　my　own　deceitful
policy。　　And　the　Queenbut　let　her　take　my　head；　as　she　has
threatened。〃

〃Take　your　head；　my　lord！〃　　said　the　Countess；　〃because　you　used
the　freedom　and　liberty　of　an　English　subject　in　choosing　a　wife？
For　shame！　　it　is　this　distrust　of　the　Queen's　justice；　this
apprehension　of　danger；　which　cannot　but　be　imaginary；　that；　like
scarecrows；　have　induced　you　to　forsake　the　straightforward　path；
which；　as　it　is　the　best；　is　also　the　safest。〃

〃Ah；　Amy；　thou　little　knowest！〃　　said　Dudley　but　instantly
checking　himself；　he　added；　〃Yet　she　shall　not　find　in　me　a　safe
or　easy　victim　of　arbitrary　vengeance。　　I　have　friendsI　have
alliesI　will　not；　like　Norfolk；　be　dragged　to　the　block　as　a
victim　to　sacrifice。　　Fear　not；　Amy；　thou　shalt　see　Dudley　bear
himself　worthy　of　his　name。　　I　must　instantly　communicate　with
some　of　those　friends　on　whom　I　can　best　rely；　for；　as　things
stand；　I　may　be　made　prisoner　in　my　own　Castle。〃

〃Oh；　my　good　lord；〃　said　Amy；　〃make　no　faction　in　a　peaceful
state！　　There　is　no　friend　can　help　us　so　well　as　our　own　candid
truth　and　honour。　　Bring　but　these　to　our　assistance；　and　you　are
safe　amidst　a　whole　army　of　the　envious　and　malignant。　　Leave
these　behind　you；　and　all　other　defence　will　be　fruitless。
Truth；　my　noble　lord；　is　well　painted　unarmed。〃

〃But　Wisdom；　Amy；〃　answered　Leicester；　is　arrayed　in　panoply　of
proof。　　Argue　not　with　me　on　the　means　I　shall　use　to　render　my
confessionsince　it　must　be　called　soas　safe　as　may　be；　it
will　be　fraught　with　enough　of　danger；　do　what　we　will。Varney；
we　must　hence。Farewell；　Amy；　whom　I　am　to　vindicate　as　mine
own；　at　an　expense　and　risk　of　which　thou　alone　couldst　be
worthy。　　You　shall　soon　hear　further　from　me。〃

He　embraced　her　fervently；　muffled　himself　as　before；　and
accompanied　Varney　from　the　apartment。　　The　latter；　as　he　left
the　room；　bowed　low；　and　as　he　raised　his　body；　regarded　Amy　with
a　peculiar　expression；　as　if　he　desired　to　know　how　far　his　own
pardon　was　included　in　the　reconciliation　which　had　taken　place
betwixt　her　and　her　lord。　　The　Countess　looked　upon　him　with　a
fixed　eye；　but　seemed　no　more　conscious　of　his　presence　than　if
there　had　been　nothing　but　vacant　air　on　the　spot　where　he　stood。

〃She　has　brought　me　to　the　crisis；〃　he　muttered〃she　or　I　am
lost。　　There　was　somethingI　wot　not　if　it　was　fear　or　pity
that　prompted　me　to　avoid　this　fatal　crisis。　　It　is　now　decided
she　or　I　must　PERISH。〃

While　he　thus　spoke；　he　observed；　with　surprise；　that　a　boy；
repulsed　by　the　sentinel；　made　up　to　Leicester；　and　spoke　with
him。　　Varney　was　one　of　those　politicians　whom　not　the　slightest
appearances　escape　without　inquiry。　　He　asked　the　sentinel　what
the　lad　wanted　with　him；　and　received　for　answer　that　the　boy　had
wished　him　to　transmit　a　parcel　to　the　mad　lady；　but　that　he
cared　not　to　take　charge　of　it；　such　communication　being　beyond
his　commission；　His　curiosity　satisfied　in　that　particular；　he
approached　his　patron；　and　heard　him　say；　〃Well；　boy；　the　packet
shall　be　delivered。〃

〃Thanks；　good　Master　Serving…man；〃　said　the　boy；　and　was　out　of
sight　in　an　instant。

Leicester　and　Varney　returned　with　hasty　steps　to　the　Earl's
private　apartment；　by　the　same　passage　which　had　conducted　them
to　Saintlowe's　Tower。



CHAPTER　XXXVI。

　　I　have　said
　　This　is　an　adulteressI　have　said　with　whom：
　　More；　she's　a　traitor；　and　Camillo　is
　　A　federary　with　her；　and　one　that　knows
　　What　she　should　shame　to　know　herself。　　　　　　WINTER'S　TALE。

They　were　no　sooner　in　the　Earl's　cabinet　than；　taking　his
tablets　from　his　pocket；　he　began　to　write；　speaking　partly　to
Varney；　and　partly　to　himself〃There　are　many　of　them　close
bounden　to　me；　and　especially　those　in　good　estate　and　high
officemany　who；　if　they　look　back　towards　my　benefits；　or
forward　towards　the　perils　which　may　befall　themselves；　will　not；
I　think；　be　disposed　to　see　me　stagger　unsupported。　　Let　me　see
Knollis　is　sure；　and　through　his　means　Guernsey　and　Jersey。
Horsey　commands　in　the　Isle　of　Wight。　　My　brother…in…law；
Huntingdon；　and　Pembroke；　have　authority　in　Wales。　　Through
Bedford　I　lead　the　Puritans；　with　their　interest；　so　powerful　in
all　the　boroughs。　　My　brother　of　Warwick　is　equal；　well…nigh；　to
myself；　in　wealth；　followers；　and　dependencies。　　Sir　Owen　Hopton
is　at　my　devotion；　he　commands　the　Tower　of　London；　and　the
national　treasure　deposited　there。　　My　father　and　grand…father
needed　never　to　have　stooped　their　heads　to　the　block　had　they
thus　forecast　their　enterprises。Why　look　you　so　sad；　Varney？　　I
tell　thee；　a　tree　so　deep…rooted　is　not　so　easily　to　be　torn　up
by　the　tempest。〃

〃Alas！　　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　with　well…acted　passion；　and　then
resumed　the　same　look　of　despondency　which　Leicester　had　before
noted。

〃Alas！〃　　repeated　Leicester；　〃and　wherefore　alas；　Sir　Richard？
Doth　your　new　spirit　of　chivalry　supply　no　more　vigorous
ejaculation　when　a　noble　struggle　is　impending？　　Or；　if　ALAS
means　thou　wilt　flinch　from　the　conflict；　thou　mayest　leave　the
Castle；　or　go　join　mine　enemies；　whichever　thou　thinkest　best。〃

〃Not　so；　my　lord；〃　answered　his　confidant；　〃Varney　will　be　found
fighting　or　dying　by　your　side。　　Forgive　me；　if；　in　love　to　you；
I　see　more　fully　than　your　noble　heart　permits　you　to　do；　the
inextricable　difficulties　with　which　you　are　surrounded。　　You　are
strong；　my　lord；　and　powerful；　yet；　let　me　say　it　without
offence；　you　are　so　only　by　the　reflected　light　of　the　Queen's
favour。　　While　you　are　Elizabeth's　favourite；　you　are　all；　save
in　name；　like　an　actual　sovereign。　　But　let　her　call　back　the
honours　she　has　bestowed；　and　the　prophet's　gourd　did　not　wither
more　suddenly。　　Declare　against　the　Queen；　and　I　do　not　say　that
in　the　wide　nation；　or　in　this　province　alone；　you　would　find
yourself　instantly　deserted　and　outnumbered；　but　I　will　say；　that
even　in　this　very　Castle；　and　in　the　midst　of　your　vassals；
kinsmen；　and　dependants；　you　would　be　a　captive；　nay；　a　sentenced
captive；　should　she　please　to　say　the　word。　　Think　upon　Norfolk；
my　lordupon　the　powerful　Northumberlandthe　splendid
Westmoreland；think　on　all　who　have　made　head　against　this　sage
Princess。　　They　are　dead；　captive；　or　fugitive。　　This　is　not　like
other　thrones；　which　can　be　overturned　by　a　combination　of
powerful　nobles；　the　broad　foundations　which　support　it　are　in
the　extended　love　and　affections　of　the　people。　　You　might　share
it　with　Elizabeth　if　you　would；　but　n