kenilworth-第120章
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carefully as well as hastily executed。〃
〃I will spare neither care nor horse…flesh；〃 answered Lambourne；
and immediately took his leave。
〃So； this is the end of my private audience； from which I hoped
so much！〃 he muttered to himself； as he went through the long
gallery； and down the back staircase。 Cogs bones！ I thought the
Earl had wanted a cast of mine office in some secret intrigue；
and it all ends in carrying a letter！ Well； his pleasure shall
be done； however； and as his lordship well says； it may do me
good another time。 The child must creep ere he walk； and so must
your infant courtier。 I will have a look into this letter；
however； which he hath sealed so sloven…like。〃 Having
accomplished this； he clapped his hands together in ecstasy；
exclaiming； 〃The Countess the Countess！ I have the secret that
shall make or mar me。But come forth； Bayard；〃 he added； leading
his horse into the courtyard； 〃for your flanks and my spurs must
be presently acquainted。〃
Lambourne mounted； accordingly； and left the Castle by the
postern gate； where his free passage was permitted； in
consequence of a message to that effect left by Sir Richard
Varney。
As soon as Lambourne and the valet had left the apartment；
Leicester proceeded to change his dress for a very plain one；
threw his mantle around him； and taking a lamp in his hand； went
by the private passage of communication to a small secret postern
door which opened into the courtyard； near to the entrance of the
Pleasance。 His reflections were of a more calm and determined
character than they had been at any late period； and he
endeavoured to claim； even in his own eyes； the character of a
man more sinned against than sinning。
〃I have suffered the deepest injury；〃 such was the tenor of his
meditations； 〃yet I have restricted the instant revenge which was
in my power； and have limited it to that which is manly and
noble。 But shall the union which this false woman has this day
disgraced remain an abiding fetter on me； to check me in the
noble career to which my destinies invite me？ No； there are
other means of disengaging such ties； without unloosing the cords
of life。 In the sight of God； I am no longer bound by the union
she has broken。 Kingdoms shall divide us； oceans roll betwixt
us； and their waves； whose abysses have swallowed whole navies；
shall be the sole depositories of the deadly mystery。〃
By such a train of argument did Leicester labour to reconcile his
conscience to the prosecution of plans of vengeance； so hastily
adopted； and of schemes of ambition； which had become so woven in
with every purpose and action of his life that he was incapable
of the effort of relinquishing them； until his revenge appeared
to him to wear a face of justice； and even of generous
moderation。
In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb
precincts of the Pleasance； then illumined by the full moon。 The
broad； yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white
freestone； of which the pavement； balustrades； and architectural
ornaments of the place were constructed； and not a single fleecy
cloud was visible in the azure sky； so that the scene was nearly
as light as if the sun had but just left the horizon。 The
numerous statues of white marble glimmered in the pale light like
so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from their sepulchres； and the
fountains threw their jets into the air as if they sought that
their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere they fell
down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver。 The
day had been sultry； and the gentle night…breeze which sighed
along the terrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath
than the fan in the hand of youthful beauty。 The bird of summer
night had built many a nest in the bowers of the adjacent garden；
and the tenants now indemnified themselves for silence during the
day by a full chorus of their own unrivalled warblings； now
joyous； now pathetic； now united； now responsive to each other；
as if to express their delight in the placid and delicious scene
to which they poured their melody。
Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters； the
gleam of moonlight； or the song of the nightingale； the stately
Leicester walked slowly from the one end of the terrace to the
other； his cloak wrapped around him； and his sword under his arm；
without seeing anything resembling the human form。
〃I have been fooled by my own generosity；〃 he said； 〃if I have
suffered the villain to escape meay； and perhaps to go to the
rescue of the adulteress； who is so poorly guarded。〃
These were his thoughts； which were instantly dispelled when；
turning to look back towards the entrance； he saw a human form
advancing slowly from the portico； and darkening the various
objects with its shadow； as passing them successively； in its
approach towards him。
〃Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice？〃 was
Leicester's thought； as he grasped the hilt of the sword。 〃But
no！ I will see which way his vile practice tends。 I will watch；
disgusting as it is； the coils and mazes of the loathsome snake；
ere I put forth my strength and crush him。〃
His hand quitted the sword…hilt； and he advanced slowly towards
Tressilian； collecting； for their meeting； all the self…
possession he could command； until they came front to front with
each other。
Tressilian made a profound reverence； to which the Earl replied
with a haughty inclination of the head； and the words； 〃You
sought secret conference with me； sir； I am here； and attentive。〃
〃My lord；〃 said Tressilian； 〃I am so earnest in that which I have
to say； and so desirous to find a patient； nay； a favourable
hearing； that I will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever
might prejudice your lordship against me。 You think me your
enemy？〃
〃Have I not some apparent cause？〃 answered Leicester； perceiving
that Tressilian paused for a reply。
〃You do me wrong； my lord。 I am a friend； but neither a
dependant nor partisan； of the Earl of Sussex； whom courtiers
call your rival； and it is some considerable time since I ceased
to consider either courts or court intrigues as suited to my
temper or genius。〃
〃No doubt； sir；〃 answered Leicester 〃there are other occupations
more worthy a scholar； and for such the world holds Master
Tressilian。 Love has his intrigues as well as ambition。〃
〃I perceive； my lord；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃you give much weight
to my early attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I
am about to speak； and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause
out of rivalry； more than a sense of justice。〃
〃No matter for my thoughts； sir；〃 said the Earl； 〃proceed。 You
have as yet spoken of yourself onlyan important and worthy
subject doubtless； but which； perhaps； does not altogether so
deeply concern me that I should postpone my repose to hear it。
Spare me further prelude； sir； and speak to the purpose if indeed
you have aught to say that concerns me。 When you have done； I；
in my turn； have something to communicate。〃
〃I will speak； then； without further prelude； my lord；〃 answered
Tressilian； 〃having to say that which； as it concerns your
lordship's honour； I am confident you will not think your time
wasted in listening to。 I have to request an account from your
lordship of the unhappy Amy Robsart； whose history is too well
known to you。 I regret deeply that I did not at once take this
course； and make yourself judge between me and the villain by
whom she is injured。 My lord； she extricated herself from an
unlawful and most perilous state of confinement； trusting to the
effects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband； and
extorted from me a promise that I would not interfere in her
behalf until she had used her own efforts to have her rights
acknowledged by him。〃
〃Ha；〃 said Leicester； 〃remember you to whom you speak？〃
〃I speak of her unworthy husband； my lord；〃 repeated Tressilian；
〃and my respect can find no softer language。 The unhappy young
woman is withdrawn from my knowledge； and sequestered in some
secret place of this Castleif she be not transferred to some
place of seclusion be
