kenilworth-第119章
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roof mine own。 We will meet under the free cope of heaven。〃
〃You are discomposed or displeased； my lord；〃 replied Tressilian；
〃yet there is no occasion for distemperature。 The place is equal
to me； so you allow me one half…hour of your time uninterrupted。〃
〃A shorter time will； I trust； suffice；〃 answered Leicester。
〃Meet me in the Pleasance when the Queen has retired to her
chamber。〃
〃Enough；〃 said Tressilian； and withdrew； while a sort of rapture
seemed for the moment to occupy the mind of Leicester。
〃Heaven；〃 he said； 〃is at last favourable to me； and has put
within my reach the wretch who has branded me with this deep
ignominywho has inflicted on me this cruel agony。 I will blame
fate no more； since I am afforded the means of tracing the wiles
by which he means still further to practise on me； and then of at
once convicting and punishing his villainy。 To my taskto my
task！ I will not sink under it now； since midnight； at farthest；
will bring me vengeance。〃
While these reflections thronged through Leicester's mind； he
again made his way amid the obsequious crowd； which divided to
give him passage； and resumed his place； envied and admired；
beside the person of his Sovereign。 But could the bosom of him
thus admired and envied have been laid open before the
inhabitants of that crowded hall； with all its dark thoughts of
guilty ambition； blighted affection； deep vengeance； and
conscious sense of meditated cruelty； crossing each other like
spectres in the circle of some foul enchantress； which of them；
from the most ambitious noble in the courtly circle down to the
most wretched menial who lived by shifting of trenchers； would
have desired to change characters with the favourite of
Elizabeth； and the Lord of Kenilworth？
New tortures awaited him as soon as he had rejoined Elizabeth。
〃You come in time； my lord；〃 she said； 〃to decide a dispute
between us ladies。 Here has Sir Richard Varney asked our
permission to depart from the Castle with his infirm lady；
having； as he tells us； your lordship's consent to his absence；
so he can obtain ours。 Certes； we have no will to withhold him
from the affectionate charge of this poor young person； but you
are to know that Sir Richard Varney hath this day shown himself
so much captivated with these ladies of ours； that here is our
Duchess of Rutland says he will carry his poor insane wife no
farther than the lake； plunge her in to tenant the crystal
palaces that the enchanted nymph told us of； and return a jolly
widower； to dry his tears and to make up the loss among our
train。 How say you； my lord？ We have seen Varney under two or
three different guisesyou know what are his proper attributes
think you he is capable of playing his lady such a knave's
trick？〃
Leicester was confounded； but the danger was urgent； and a reply
absolutely necessary。 〃The ladies；〃 he said； 〃think too lightly
of one of their own sex； in supposing she could deserve such a
fate； or too ill of ours； to think it could be inflicted upon an
innocent female。〃
〃Hear him； my ladies；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃like all his sex； he
would excuse their cruelty by imputing fickleness to us。〃
〃Say not US； madam；〃 replied the Earl。 〃We say that meaner
women； like the lesser lights of heaven； have revolutions and
phases； but who shall impute mutability to the sun； or to
Elizabeth？〃
The discourse presently afterwards assumed a less perilous
tendency； and Leicester continued to support his part in it with
spirit； at whatever expense of mental agony。 So pleasing did it
seem to Elizabeth； that the Castle bell had sounded midnight ere
she retired from the company； a circumstance unusual in her quiet
and regular habits of disposing of time。 Her departure was； of
course； the signal for breaking up the company； who dispersed to
their several places of repose； to dream over the pastimes of the
day； or to anticipate those of the morrow。
The unfortunate Lord of the Castle； and founder of the proud
festival； retired to far different thoughts。 His direction to
the valet who attended him was to send Varney instantly to his
apartment。 The messenger returned after some delay； and informed
him that an hour had elapsed since Sir Richard Varney had left
the Castle by the postern gate with three other persons； one of
whom was transported in a horse…litter。
〃How came he to leave the Castle after the watch was set？〃 said
Leicester。 〃I thought he went not till daybreak。〃
〃He gave satisfactory reasons； as I understand；〃 said the
domestic； 〃to the guard； and； as I hear； showed your lordship's
signet〃
〃Truetrue；〃 said the Earl； 〃yet he has been hasty。 Do any of
his attendants remain behind？〃
〃Michael Lambourne； my lord；〃 said the valet； 〃was not to be
found when Sir Richard Varney departed； and his master was much
incensed at his absence。 I saw him but now saddling his horse to
gallop after his master。〃
〃Bid him come hither instantly；〃 said Leicester； 〃I have a
message to his master。〃
The servant left the apartment； and Leicester traversed it for
some time in deep meditation。 〃Varney is over…zealous；〃 he said；
〃over…pressing。 He loves me； I think； but he hath his own ends
to serve； and he is inexorable in pursuit of them。 If I rise； he
rises； and he hath shown himself already but too； eager to rid me
of this obstacle which seems to stand betwixt me and sovereignty。
Yet I will not stoop to bear this disgrace。 She shall be
punished； but it shall be more advisedly。 I already feel； even
in anticipation； that over…haste would light the flames of hell
in my bosom。 Noone victim is enough at once； and that victim
already waits me。〃
He seized upon writing materials； and hastily traced these
words：
〃Sir Richard Varney； we have resolved to defer the matter
entrusted to your care； and strictly command you to proceed no
further in relation to our Countess until our further order。 We
also command your instant return to Kenilworth as soon as you
have safely bestowed that with which you are entrusted。 But if
the safe…placing of your present charge shall detain you longer
than we think for； we command you in that case to send back our
signet…ring by a trusty and speedy messenger； we having present
need of the same。 And requiring your strict obedience in these
things； and commending you to God's keeping； we rest your assured
good friend and master； R。 LEICESTER。
〃Given at our Castle of Kenilworth； the tenth of July； in the
year of Salvation one thousand five hundred and seventy…five。〃
As Leicester had finished and sealed this mandate； Michael
Lambourne； booted up to mid…thigh； having his riding…cloak
girthed around him with a broad belt； and a felt cap on his head；
like that of a courier； entered his apartment； ushered in by the
valet。
〃What is thy capacity of service？〃 said the Earl。
〃Equerry to your lordship's master of the horse；〃 answered
Lambourne； with his customary assurance。
〃Tie up thy saucy tongue； sir；〃 said Leicester； 〃the jests that
may suit Sir Richard Varney's presence suit not mine。 How soon
wilt thou overtake thy master？〃
〃In one hour's riding； my lord； if man and horse hold good；〃 said
Lambourne； with an instant alteration of demeanour； from an
approach to familiarity to the deepest respect。 The Earl
measured him with his eye from top to toe。
〃I have heard of thee；〃 he said 〃men say thou art a prompt fellow
in thy service； but too much given to brawling and to wassail to
be trusted with things of moment。〃
〃My lord；〃 said Lambourne； 〃I have been soldier； sailor；
traveller； and adventurer； and these are all trades in which men
enjoy to…day； because they have no surety of to…morrow。 But
though I may misuse mine own leisure； I have never neglected the
duty I owe my master。〃
〃See that it be so in this instance；〃 said Leicester； 〃and it
shall do thee good。 Deliver this letter speedily and carefully
into Sir Richard Varney's hands。〃
〃Does my commission reach no further？〃 said Lambourne。
〃No；〃 answered Leicester； 〃but it deeply concerns me that it be
carefully as well as hastily executed。〃
〃I will spare neither care nor horse…flesh；〃 answere
