kenilworth-第129章

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of　confidential　interview　he　had　just　had　with　the　Earl；　and　the
secret　of　which　he　had　made　himself　master；　did　not　receive　with
his　wonted　humility。　　〃He　would　take　no　insolence　of　language；〃
he　said；　〃from　the　best　knight　that　ever　wore　spurs。　　Lord
Leicester　had　detained　him　on　some　business　of　import；　and　that
was　enough　for　Varney；　who　was　but　a　servant　like　himself。〃

Varney　was　not　a　little　surprised　at　his　unusual　tone　of
insolence；　but　ascribing　it　to　liquor；　suffered　it　to　pass　as　if
unnoticed；　and　then　began　to　tamper　with　Lambourne　touching　his
willingness　to　aid　in　removing　out　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester's　way
an　obstacle　to　a　rise；　which　would　put　it　in　his　power　to　reward
his　trusty　followers　to　their　utmost　wish。　　And　upon　Michael
Lambourne's　seeming　ignorant　what　was　meant；　he　plainly　indicated
〃the　litter…load；　yonder；〃　as　the　impediment　which　he　desired
should　be　removed。

〃Look　you；　Sir　Richard；　and　so　forth；〃　said　Michael；　〃some　are
wiser　than　some；　that　is　one　thing；　and　some　are　worse　than　some；
that's　another。　　I　know　my　lord's　mind　on　this　matter　better　than
thou；　for　he　hath　trusted　me　fully　in　the　matter。　　Here　are　his
mandates；　and　his　last　words　were；　Michael　Lambournefor　his
lordship　speaks　to　me　as　a　gentleman　of　the　sword；　and　useth　not
the　words　drunken　villain；　or　such　like　phrase；　of　those　who　know
not　how　to　bear　new　dignitiesVarney；　says　he；　must　pay　the
utmost　respect　to　my　Countess。　　I　trust　to　you　for　looking　to　it；
Lambourne；　says　his　lordship；　and　you　must　bring　back　my　signet
from　him　peremptorily。〃

〃Ay；〃　replied　Varney；　〃said　he　so；　indeed？　　You　know　all；　then？〃

〃Allall；　and　you　were　as　wise　to　make　a　friend　of　me　while　the
weather　is　fair　betwixt　us。〃

〃And　was　there　no　one　present；〃　said　Varney；　〃when　my　lord　so
spoke？〃

〃Not　a　breathing　creature；〃　replied　Lambourne。　　〃Think　you　my
lord　would　trust　any　one　with　such　matters；　save　an　approved　man
of　action　like　myself？〃

〃Most　true；〃　said　Varney；　and　making　a　pause；　he　looked　forward
on　the　moonlight　road。　　They　were　traversing　a　wide　and　open
heath。　　The　litter　being　at　least　a　mile　before　them；　was　both
out　of　sight　and　hearing。　　He　looked　behind；　and　there　was　an
expanse；　lighted　by　the　moonbeams；　without　one　human　being　in
sight。　　He　resumed　his　speech　to　Lambourne：　　〃And　will　you　turn
upon　your　master；　who　has　introduced　you　to　this　career　of　court…
like　favourwhose　apprentice　you　have　been；　Michaelwho　has
taught　you　the　depths　and　shallows　of　court　intrigue？〃

〃Michael　not　me！〃　　said　Lambourne；　〃I　have　a　name　will　brook　a
MASTER　before　it　as　well　as　another；　and　as　to　the　rest；　if　I
have　been　an　apprentice；　my　indenture　is　out；　and　I　am　resolute
to　set　up　for　myself。〃

〃Take　thy　quittance　first；　thou　fool！〃　　said　Varney；　and　with　a
pistol；　which　he　had　for　some　time　held　in　his　hand；　shot
Lambourne　through　the　body。

The　wretch　fell　from　his　horse　without　a　single　groan；　and
Varney；　dismounting；　rifled　his　pockets；　turning　out　the　lining；
that　it　might　appear　he　had　fallen　by　robbers。　　He　secured　the
Earl's　packet；　which　was　his　chief　object；　but　he　also　took
Lambourne〃s　purse；　containing　some　gold　pieces；　the　relics　of
what　his　debauchery　had　left　him；　and　from　a　singular　combination
of　feelings；　carried　it　in　his　hand　only　the　length　of　a　small
river；　which　crossed　the　road；　into　which　he　threw　it　as　far　as
he　could　fling。　　Such　are　the　strange　remnants　of　conscience
which　remain　after　she　seems　totally　subdued；　that　this　cruel　and
remorseless　man　would　have　felt　himself　degraded　had　he　pocketed
the　few　pieces　belonging　to　the　wretch　whom　he　had　thus
ruthlessly　slain。

The　murderer　reloaded　his　pistol　after　cleansing　the　lock　and
barrel　from　the　appearances　of　late　explosion；　and　rode　calmly
after　the　litter；　satisfying　himself　that　he　had　so　adroitly
removed　a　troublesome　witness　to　many　of　his　intrigues；　and　the
bearer　of　mandates　which　he　had　no　intentions　to　obey；　and　which；
therefore；　he　was　desirous　it　should　be　thought　had　never　reached
his　hand。

The　remainder　of　the　journey　was　made　with　a　degree　of　speed
which　showed　the　little　care　they　had　for　the　health　of　the
unhappy　Countess。　　They　paused　only　at　places　where　all　was　under
their　command；　and　where　the　tale　they　were　prepared　to　tell　of
the　insane　Lady　Varney　would　have　obtained　ready　credit　had　she
made　an　attempt　to　appeal　to　the　compassion　of　the　few　persons
admitted　to　see　her。　　But　Amy　saw　no　chance　of　obtaining　a
hearing　from　any　to　whom　she　had　an　opportunity　of　addressing
herself；　and　besides；　was　too　terrified　for　the　presence　of
Varney　to　violate　the　implied　condition　under　which　she　was　to
travel　free　from　his　company。　　The　authority　of　Varney；　often　so
used　during　the　Earl's　private　journeys　to　Cumnor；　readily
procured　relays　of　horses　where　wanted；　so　that　they　approached
Cumnor　Place　upon　the　night　after　they　left　Kenilworth。

At　this　period　of　the　journey　Varney　came　up　to　the　rear　of　the
litter；　as　he　had　done　before　repeatedly　during　their　progress；
and　asked；　〃How　does　she？〃

〃She　sleeps；〃　said　Foster。　　〃I　would　we　were　homeher　strength
is　exhausted。〃

〃Rest　will　restore　her；〃　answered　Varney。　　〃She　shall　soon　sleep
sound　and　long。　　We　must　consider　how　to　lodge　her　in　safety。〃

〃In　her　own　apartments；　to　be　sure；〃　said　Foster。　　〃I　have　sent
Janet　to　her　aunt's　with　a　proper　rebuke；　and　the　old　women　are
truth　itselffor　they　hate　this　lady　cordially。〃

〃We　will　not　trust　them；　however；　friend　Anthony；〃　said　Varney；
〃We　must　secure　her　in　that　stronghold　where　you　keep　your　gold。〃

〃My　gold！〃　　said　Anthony；　much　alarmed；　〃why；　what　gold　have　I？
God　help　me；　I　have　no　goldI　would　I　had！〃

〃Now；　marry　hang　thee；　thou　stupid　brute；　who　thinks　of　or　cares
for　thy　gold？　　If　I　did；　could　I　not　find　an　hundred　better　ways
to　come　at　it？　　In　one　word；　thy　bedchamber；　which　thou　hast
fenced　so　curiously；　must　be　her　place　of　seclusion；　and　thou；
thou　hind；　shalt　press　her　pillows　of　down。　　I　dare　to　say　the
Earl　will　never　ask　after　the　rich　furniture　of　these　four
rooms。〃

This　last　consideration　rendered　Foster　tractable；　he　only　asked
permission　to　ride　before；　to　make　matters　ready；　and　spurring
his　horse；　he　posted　before　the　litter；　while　Varney　falling
about　threescore　paces　behind　it；　it　remained　only　attended　by
Tider。

When　they　had　arrived　at　Cumnor　Place；　the　Countess　asked　eagerly
for　Janet；　and　showed　much　alarm　when　informed　that　she　was　no
longer　to　have　the　attendance　of　that　amiable　girl。

〃My　daughter　is　dear　to　me；　madam；〃　said　Foster　gruffly；　〃and　I
desire　not　that　she　should　get　the　court…tricks　of　lying　and
'scapingsomewhat　too　much　of　that　has　she　learned　already；　an
it　please　your　ladyship。〃

The　Countess；　much　fatigued　and　greatly　terrified　by　the
circumstances　of　her　journey；　made　no　answer　to　this　insolence；
but　mildly　expressed　a　wish　to　retire　to　her　chamber；

〃Ay；　ay；〃　muttered　Foster；　〃'tis　but　reasonable；　but；　under
favour；　you　go　not　to　your　gew…gaw　toy…house　yonderyou　will
sleep　to…night　in　better　security。〃

〃I　would　it　were　in　my　grave；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃but　that
mortal　feelings　shiver　at　the　idea　of　soul　and　body　parting。〃

〃You；　I　guess；　have　no　chance　to　shiver　at　that；〃　replied　Foster。
〃My　lord　comes　hither　to…morrow；　and　doubtless　you　will　make　your
own　ways　good　with　him。〃

〃But　does　he　come　hither？does　he　indeed；　good　Foster？〃

〃Oh；　ay；　good　Foster！〃　　replied　the　other。　　〃But　what　Foster
shall　I　be　to…morrow　when　you　speak　of　me　to　my　lordthough　all
I　have　done　was　to　obey　his　own　orders？〃

〃You　shall　be　my　protectora　rough　one　indeedbut　still　a
protector；〃　answered　the　Countess。　　〃Oh　that　Janet　were　but
here！〃

〃She　is　better　where　she　is；〃　answered　Foster〃one　of　you　is
enough　to　perplex　a　plain　head。　　But　will　you　taste　any
refreshment？〃

〃Oh　no；　nomy　chambermy　chamber！　　I　trust；〃　she　said
apprehensively；　〃I　may　secure　it　on　the　inside？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　answered　Foster；　〃so　I　may　secure　it　on　the
outside；〃　and　taking　a　light；　he　led　the　way　to　a　part　of　the
building　where　Amy　had　never　been；　and　conducted　her　up　a　stair
of　great　heigh