kenilworth-第127章

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the　principal　object　of　his　life；　that　all　other　sensations　were；
for　the　time；　lost　in　the　agony　which　his　haughty　spirit　felt　at
the　succession　of　petty　insults　and　studied　neglects　to　which　he
had　been　subjected；　but　when　he　retired　to　his　own　chamber　for
the　night；　that　long；　fair　tress　of　hair　which　had　once　secured
Amy's　letter　fell　under　his　observation；　and；　with　the　influence
of　a　counter…charm；　awakened　his　heart　to　nobler　and　more　natural
feelings。　　He　kissed　it　a　thousand　times；　and　while　he
recollected　that　he　had　it　always　in　his　power　to　shun　the
mortifications　which　he　had　that　day　undergone；　by　retiring　into
a　dignified　and　even　prince…like　seclusion　with　the　beautiful　and
beloved　partner　of　his　future　life；　he　felt　that　he　could　rise
above　the　revenge　which　Elizabeth　had　condescended　to　take。

Accordingly；　on　the　following　day　the　whole　conduct　of　the　Earl
displayed　so　much　dignified　equanimityhe　seemed　so　solicitous
about　the　accommodations　and　amusements　of　his　guests；　yet　so
indifferent　to　their　personal　demeanour　towards　himso
respectfully　distant　to　the　Queen；　yet　so　patient　of　her
harassing　displeasurethat　Elizabeth　changed　her　manner　to　him；
and；　though　cold　and　distant；　ceased　to　offer　him　any　direct
affront。　　She　intimated　also　with　some　sharpness　to　others　around
her；　who　thought　they　were　consulting　her　pleasure　in　showing　a
neglectful　conduct　to　the　Earl；　that　while　they　remained　at
Kenilworth　they　ought　to　show　the　civility　due　from　guests　to　the
Lord　of　the　Castle。　　In　short；　matters　were　so　far　changed　in
twenty…four　hours　that　some　of　the　more　experienced　and　sagacious
courtiers　foresaw　a　strong　possibility　of　Leicester's　restoration
to　favour；　and　regulated　their　demeanour　towards　him；　as　those
who　might　one　day　claim　merit　for　not　having　deserted　him　in
adversity。　　It　is　time；　however；　to　leave　these　intrigues；　and
follow　Tressilian　and　Raleigh　on　their　journey。

The　troop　consisted　of　six　persons；　for；　besides　Wayland；　they
had　in　company　a　royal　pursuivant　and　two　stout　serving…men。　　All
were　well…armed；　and　travelled　as　fast　as　it　was　possible　with
justice　to　their　horses；　which　had　a　long　journey　before　them。
They　endeavoured　to　procure　some　tidings　as　they　rode　along　of
Varney　and　his　party；　but　could　hear　none；　as　they　had　travelled
in　the　dark。　　At　a　small　village　about　twelve　miles　from
Kenilworth；　where　they　gave　some　refreshment　to　their　horses；　a
poor　clergyman；　the　curate　of　the　place；　came　out　of　a　small
cottage；　and　entreated　any　of　the　company　who　might　know　aught　of
surgery　to　look　in　for　an　instant　on　a　dying　man。

The　empiric　Wayland　undertook　to　do　his　best；　and　as　the　curate
conducted　him　to　the　spot；　he　learned　that　the　man　had　been　found
on　the　highroad；　about　a　mile　from　the　village；　by　labourers；　as
they　were　going　to　their　work　on　the　preceding　morning；　and　the
curate　had　given　him　shelter　in　his　house。　　He　had　received　a
gun…shot　wound；　which　seemed　to　be　obviously　mortal；　but　whether
in　a　brawl　or　from　robbers　they　could　not　learn；　as　he　was　in　a
fever；　and　spoke　nothing　connectedly。　　Wayland　entered　the　dark
and　lowly　apartment；　and　no　sooner　had　the　curate　drawn　aside　the
curtain　than　he　knew；　in　the　distorted　features　of　the　patient；
the　countenance　of　Michael　Lambourne。　　Under　pretence　of　seeking
something　which　he　wanted；　Wayland　hastily　apprised　his　fellow…
travellers　of　this　extraordinary　circumstance；　and　both
Tressilian　and　Raleigh；　full　of　boding　apprehensions；　hastened　to
the　curate's　house　to　see　the　dying　man。

The　wretch　was　by　this　time　in　the　agonies　of　death；　from　which　a
much　better　surgeon　than　Wayland　could　not　have　rescued　him；　for
the　bullet　had　passed　clear　through　his　body。　　He　was　sensible；
however；　at　least　in　part；　for　he　knew　Tressilian；　and　made　signs
that　he　wished　him　to　stoop　over　his　bed。　　Tressilian　did　so；　and
after　some　inarticulate　murmurs；　in　which　the　names　of　Varney　and
Lady　Leicester　were　alone　distinguishable；　Lambourne　bade　him
〃make　haste；　or　he　would　come　too　late。〃　　It　was　in　vain
Tressilian　urged　the　patient　for　further　information；　he　seemed
to　become　in　some　degree　delirious；　and　when　he　again　made　a
signal　to　attract　Tressilian's　attention；　it　was　only　for　the
purpose　of　desiring　him　to　inform　his　uncle；　Giles　Gosling　of　the
Black　Bear；　that　〃he　had　died　without　his　shoes　after　all。〃　　A
convulsion　verified　his　words　a　few　minutes　after；　and　the
travellers　derived　nothing　from　having　met　with　him；　saving　the
obscure　fears　concerning　the　fate　of　the　Countess；　which　his
dying　words　were　calculated　to　convey；　and　which　induced　them　to
urge　their　journey　with　the　utmost　speed；　pressing　horses　in　the
Queen's　name　when　those　which　they　rode　became　unfit　for　service。



CHAPTER　XLI。

　　The　death…bell　thrice　was　heard　to　ring；
　　　An　aerial　voice　was　heard　to　call；
　　And　thrice　the　raven　flapp'd　its　wing
　　　Around　the　towers　of　Cumnor　Hall。　　　　　MICKLE。

We　are　now　to　return　to　that　part　of　our　story　where　we　intimated
that　Varney；　possessed　of　the　authority　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester；
and　of　the　Queen's　permission　to　the　same　effect；　hastened　to
secure　himself　against　discovery　of　his　perfidy　by　removing　the
Countess　from　Kenilworth　Castle。　　He　had　proposed　to　set　forth
early　in　the　morning；　but　reflecting　that　the　Earl　might　relent
in　the　interim；　and　seek　another　interview　with　the　Countess；　he
resolved　to　prevent；　by　immediate　departure；　all　chance　of　what
would　probably　have　ended　in　his　detection　and　ruin。　　For　this
purpose　he　called　for　Lambourne；　and　was　exceedingly　incensed　to
find　that　his　trusty　attendant　was　abroad　on　some　ramble　in　the
neighbouring　village；　or　elsewhere。　　As　his　return　was　expected；
Sir　Richard　commanded　that　he　should　prepare　himself　for
attending　him　on　an　immediate　journey；　and　follow　him　in　case　he
returned　after　his　departure。

In　the　meanwhile；　Varney　used　the　ministry　of　a　servant　called
Robin　Tider；　one　to　whom　the　mysteries　of　Cumnor　Place　were
already　in　some　degree　known；　as　he　had　been　there　more　than　once
in　attendance　on　the　Earl。　　To　this　man；　whose　character
resembled　that　of　Lambourne；　though　he　was　neither　quite　so
prompt　nor　altogether　so　profligate；　Varney　gave　command　to　have
three　horses　saddled；　and　to　prepare　a　horse…litter；　and　have
them　in　readiness　at　the　postern　gate。　　The　natural　enough　excuse
of　his　lady's　insanity；　which　was　now　universally　believed；
accounted　for　the　secrecy　with　which　she　was　to　be　removed　from
the　Castle；　and　he　reckoned　on　the　same　apology　in　case　the
unfortunate　Amy's　resistance　or　screams　should　render　such
necessary。　　The　agency　of　Anthony　Foster　was　indispensable；　and
that　Varney　now　went　to　secure。

This　person；　naturally　of　a　sour；　unsocial　disposition；　and
somewhat　tired；　besides；　with　his　journey　from　Cumnor　to
Warwickshire；　in　order　to　bring　the　news　of　the　Countess's
escape；　had　early　extricated　himself　from　the　crowd　of
wassailers；　and　betaken　himself　to　his　chamber；　where　he　lay
asleep；　when　Varney；　completely　equipped　for　travelling；　and　with
a　dark　lantern　in　his　hand；　entered　his　apartment。　　He　paused　an
instant　to　listen　to　what　his　associate　was　murmuring　in　his
sleep；　and　could　plainly　distinguish　the　words；　〃AVE　MARIAORA
PRO　NOBIS。　　No；　it　runs　not　sodeliver　us　from　evilay；　so　it
goes。〃

〃Praying　in　his　sleep；〃　said　Varney；　〃and　confounding　his　old　and
new　devotions。　　He　must　have　more　need　of　prayer　ere　I　am　done
with　him。What　ho！　　holy　man；　most　blessed　penitent！awake
awake！　　The　devil　has　not　discharged　you　from　service　yet。〃

As　Varney　at　the　same　time　shook　the　sleeper　by　the　arm；　it
changed　the　current　of　his　ideas；　and　he　roared　out；　〃Thieves！
thieves！　　I　will　die　in　defence　of　my　goldmy　hard…won　gold
that　has　cost　me　so　dear。　　Where　is　Janet？Is　Janet　safe？〃

〃Safe　enough；　thou　bellowing　fool！〃　　said　Varney；　〃art　thou　not
ashamed　of　thy　clamour？〃

Foster　by　this　time　was　broad　awake；　and　sitting　up　in　his　bed；
asked　Varney　the　meaning　of　so　untimely　a　visit。　　〃It　augurs
nothing　good；〃　he　added。

〃A　false　prophecy；　most　sainted　Anthony；〃　returned　Varney；　〃it
augurs　that　the　hour　is　c