kenilworth-第115章

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tale　articles　must　not　remain　herethey　are　rather　too　rich
vails　for　the　drudges　who　dress　the　chamber。〃

While　Varney　was　employed　in　gathering　together　and　putting　them
into　a　secret　drawer　of　a　cabinet　that　chanced　to　be　open；　he　saw
the　door　of　Leicester's　closet　open；　the　tapestry　pushed　aside；
and　the　Earl's　face　thrust　out；　but　with　eyes　so　dead；　and　lips
and　cheeks　so　bloodless　and　pale；　that　he　started　at　the　sudden
change。　　No　sooner　did　his　eyes　encounter　the　Earl's；　than　the
latter　withdrew　his　head　and　shut　the　door　of　the　closet。　　This
manoeuvre　Leicester　repeated　twice；　without　speaking　a　word；　so
that　Varney　began　to　doubt　whether　his　brain　was　not　actually
affected　by　his　mental　agony。　　The　third　time；　however；　he
beckoned；　and　Varney　obeyed　the　signal。　　When　he　entered；　he　soon
found　his　patron's　perturbation　was　not　caused　by　insanity；　but
by　the　fullness　of　purpose　which　he　entertained　contending　with
various　contrary　passions。　　They　passed　a　full　hour　in　close
consultation；　after　which　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　with　an
incredible　exertion；　dressed　himself；　and　went　to　attend　his
royal　guest。



CHAPTER　XXXVII。

　　You　have　displaced　the　mirth；　broke　the　good　meeting
　　With　most　admired　disorder。　　　　　　　　　　　MACBETH。

It　was　afterwards　remembered　that　during　the　banquets　and　revels
which　occupied　the　remainder　of　this　eventful　day　the　bearing　of
Leicester　and　of　Varney　were　totally　different　from　their　usual
demeanour。　　Sir　Richard　Varney　had　been　held　rather　a　man　of
counsel　and　of　action　than　a　votary　of　pleasure。　　Business；
whether　civil　or　military；　seemed　always　to　be　his　proper　sphere；
and　while　in　festivals　and　revels；　although　he　well　understood
how　to　trick　them　up　and　present　them；　his　own　part　was　that　of　a
mere　spectator；　or　if　he　exercised　his　wit；　it　was　in　a　rough；
caustic；　and　severe　manner；　rather　as　if　he　scoffed　at　the
exhibition　and　the　guests　than　shared　the　common　pleasure。

But　upon　the　present　day　his　character　seemed　changed。　　He　mixed
among　the　younger　courtiers　and　ladies；　and　appeared　for　the
moment　to　be　actuated　by　a　spirit　of　light…hearted　gaiety；　which
rendered　him　a　match　for　the　liveliest。　　Those　who　had　looked
upon　him　as　a　man　given　up　to　graver　and　more　ambitious　pursuits；
a　bitter　sneerer　and　passer　of　sarcasms　at　the　expense　of　those
who；　taking　life　as　they　find　it；　were　disposed　to　snatch　at
each　pastime　it　presents；　now　perceived　with　astonishment　that
his　wit　could　carry　as　smooth　an　edge　as　their　own；　his　laugh　be
as　lively；　and　his　brow　as　unclouded。　　By　what　art　of　damnable
hypocrisy　he　could　draw　this　veil　of　gaiety　over　the　black
thoughts　of　one　of　the　worst　of　human　bosoms　must　remain
unintelligible　to　all　but　his　compeers；　if　any　such　ever　existed；
but　he　was　a　man　of　extraordinary　powers；　and　those　powers　were
unhappily　dedicated　in　all　their　energy　to　the　very　worst　of
purposes。

It　was　entirely　different　with　Leicester。　　However　habituated　his
mind　usually　was　to　play　the　part　of　a　good　courtier；　and　appear
gay；　assiduous；　and　free　from　all　care　but　that　of　enhancing　the
pleasure　of　the　moment；　while　his　bosom　internally　throbbed　with
the　pangs　of　unsatisfied　ambition；　jealousy；　or　resentment；　his
heart　had　now　a　yet　more　dreadful　guest；　whose　workings　could　not
be　overshadowed　or　suppressed；　and　you　might　read　in　his　vacant
eye　and　troubled　brow　that　his　thoughts　were　far　absent　from　the
scenes　in　which　he　was　compelling　himself　to　play　a　part。　　He
looked；　moved；　and　spoke　as　if　by　a　succession　of　continued
efforts；　and　it　seemed　as　if　his　will　had　in　some　degree　lost　the
promptitude　of　command　over　the　acute　mind　and　goodly　form　of
which　it　was　the　regent。　　His　actions　and　gestures；　instead　of
appearing　the　consequence　of　simple　volition；　seemed；　like　those
of　an　automaton；　to　wait　the　revolution　of　some　internal
machinery　ere　they　could　be　performed；　and　his　words　fell　from
him　piecemeal；　interrupted；　as　if　he　had　first　to　think　what　he
was　to　say；　then　how　it　was　to　be　said；　and　as　if；　after　all；　it
was　only　by　an　effort　of　continued　attention　that　he　completed　a
sentence　without　forgetting　both　the　one　and　the　other。

The　singular　effects　which　these　distractions　of　mind　produced
upon　the　behaviour　and　conversation　of　the　most　accomplished
courtier　of　England；　as　they　were　visible　to　the　lowest　and
dullest　menial　who　approached　his　person；　could　not　escape　the
notice　of　the　most　intelligent　Princess　of　the　age。　　Nor　is　there
the　least　doubt　that　the　alternate　negligence　and　irregularity　of
his　manner　would　have　called　down　Elizabeth's　severe　displeasure
on　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　had　it　not　occurred　to　her　to　account
for　it　by　supposing　that　the　apprehension　of　that　displeasure
which　she　had　expressed　towards　him　with　such　vivacity　that　very
morning　was　dwelling　upon　the　spirits　of　her　favourite；　and；
spite　of　his　efforts　to　the　contrary；　distracted　the　usual
graceful　tenor　of　his　mien　and　the　charms　of　his　conversation。
When　this　idea；　so　flattering　to　female　vanity；　had　once　obtained
possession　of　her　mind；　it　proved　a　full　and　satisfactory　apology
for　the　numerous　errors　and　mistakes　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester；
and　the　watchful　circle　around　observed　with　astonishment；　that；
instead　of　resenting　his　repeated　negligence；　and　want　of　even
ordinary　attention　（although　these　were　points　on　which　she　was
usually　extremely　punctilious）；　the　Queen　sought；　on　the
contrary；　to　afford　him　time　and　means　to　recollect　himself；　and
deigned　to　assist　him　in　doing　so；　with　an　indulgence　which
seemed　altogether　inconsistent　with　her　usual　character。　　It　was
clear；　however；　that　this　could　not　last　much　longer；　and　that
Elizabeth　must　finally　put　another　and　more　severe　construction
on　Leicester's　uncourteous　conduct；　when　the　Earl　was　summoned　by
Varney　to　speak　with　him　in　a　different　apartment。

After　having　had　the　message　twice　delivered　to　him；　he　rose；　and
was　about　to　withdraw；　as　it　were；　by　instinct；　then　stopped；　and
turning　round；　entreated　permission　of　the　Queen　to　absent
himself　for　a　brief　space　upon　matters　of　pressing　importance。

〃Go；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Queen。　　〃We　are　aware　our　presence　must
occasion　sudden　and　unexpected　occurrences；　which　require　to　be
provided　for　on　the　instant。　　Yet；　my　lord；　as　you　would　have　us
believe　ourself　your　welcome　and　honoured　guest；　we　entreat　you
to　think　less　of　our　good　cheer；　and　favour　us　with　more　of　your
good　countenance　than　we　have　this　day　enjoyed；　for　whether
prince　or　peasant　be　the　guest；　the　welcome　of　the　host　will
always　be　the　better　part　of　the　entertainment。　　Go；　my　lord；　and
we　trust　to　see　you　return　with　an　unwrinkled　brow；　and　those
free　thoughts　which　you　are　wont　to　have　at　the　disposal　of　your
friends。〃

Leicester　only　bowed　low　in　answer　to　this　rebuke；　and　retired。
At　the　door　of　the　apartment　he　was　met　by　Varney；　who　eagerly
drew　him　apart；　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃All　is　well！〃

〃Has　Masters　seen　her？〃　　said　the　Earl。

〃He　has；　my　lord；　and　as　she　would　neither　answer　his　queries；
nor　allege　any　reason　for　her　refusal；　he　will　give　full
testimony　that　she　labours　under　a　mental　disorder；　and　may　be
best　committed　to　the　charge　of　her　friends。　　The　opportunity　is
therefore　free　to　remove　her　as　we　proposed。〃

〃But　Tressilian？〃　　said　Leicester。

〃He　will　not　know　of　her　departure　for　some　time；〃　replied
Varney；　〃it　shall　take　place　this　very　evening；　and　to…morrow　he
shall　be　cared　for。〃

〃No；　by　my　soul；〃　answered　Leicester；　〃I　will　take　vengeance　on
him　with　mine　own　hand！〃

〃You；　my　lord；　and　on　so　inconsiderable　a　man　as　Tressilian！　　No；
my　lord；　he　hath　long　wished　to　visit　foreign　parts。　　Trust　him
to　meI　will　take　care　he　returns　not　hither　to　tell　tales。〃

〃Not　so；　by　Heaven；　Varney！〃　　exclaimed　Leicester。
〃Inconsiderable　do　you　call　an　enemy　that　hath　had　power　to　wound
me　so　deeply　that　my　whole　after…life　must　be　one　scene　of
remorse　and　misery？No；　rather　than　forego　the　right　of　doing
myself　justice　with　my　own　hand　on　that　accursed　villain；　I　will
unfold　the　whole　truth　at　Elizabeth's　footstool；　and　let　her
vengeance　descend　at　once