kenilworth-第88章

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secret　will　be　soon　out　of　my　keeping；　and　then　I　shall　care　the
less　whether　thou　or　any　one　knows　it。〃

They　now　crossed　the　entrance　tower；　which　obtained　the　name　of
the　Gallery…tower；　from　the　following　circumstance：　The　whole
bridge；　extending　from　the　entrance　to　another　tower　on　the
opposite　side　of　the　lake；　called　Mortimer's　Tower；　was　so
disposed　as　to　make　a　spacious　tilt…yard；　about　one　hundred　and
thirty　yards　in　length；　and　ten　in　breadth；　strewed　with　the
finest　sand；　and　defended　on　either　side　by　strong　and　high
palisades。　　The　broad　and　fair　gallery；　destined　for　the　ladies
who　were　to　witness　the　feats　of　chivalry　presented　on　this　area；
was　erected　on　the　northern　side　of　the　outer　tower；　to　which　it
gave　name。　　Our　travellers　passed　slowly　along　the　bridge　or
tilt…yard；　and　arrived　at　Mortimer's　Tower；　at　its　farthest
extremity；　through　which　the　approach　led　into　the　outer　or　base…
court　of　the　Castle。　　Mortimer's　Tower　bore　on　its　front　the
scutcheon　of　the　Earl　of　March；　whose　daring　ambition　overthrew
the　throne　of　Edward　II。；　and　aspired　to　share　his　power　with　the
〃She…wolf　of　France；〃　to　whom　the　unhappy　monarch　was　wedded。
The　gate；　which　opened　under　this　ominous　memorial；　was　guarded
by　many　warders　in　rich　liveries；　but　they　offered　no　opposition
to　the　entrance　of　the　Countess　and　her　guide；　who；　having　passed
by　license　of　the　principal　porter　at　the　Gallery…tower；　were
not；　it　may　be　supposed；　liable　to　interruption　from　his
deputies。　　They　entered　accordingly；　in　silence；　the　great
outward　court　of　the　Castle；　having　then　full　before　them　that
vast　and　lordly　pile；　with　all　its　stately　towers；　each　gate
open；　as　if　in　sign　of　unlimited　hospitality；　and　the　apartments
filled　with　noble　guests　of　every　degree；　besides　dependants；
retainers；　domestics　of　every　description；　and　all　the　appendages
and　promoters　of　mirth　and　revelry。

Amid　this　stately　and　busy　scene　Wayland　halted　his　horse；　and
looked　upon　the　lady；　as　if　waiting　her　commands　what　was　next　to
be　done；　since　they　had　safely　reached　the　place　of　destination。
As　she　remained　silent；　Wayland；　after　waiting　a　minute　or　two；
ventured　to　ask　her；　in　direct　terms；　what　were　her　next
commands。　　She　raised　her　hand　to　her　forehead；　as　if　in　the　act
of　collecting　her　thoughts　and　resolution；　while　she　answered　him
in　a　low　and　suppressed　voice；　like　the　murmurs　of　one　who　speaks
in　a　dream〃Commands？　　I　may　indeed　claim　right　to　command；　but
who　is　there　will　obey　me！〃

Then　suddenly　raising　her　head；　like　one　who　has　formed　a
decisive　resolution；　she　addressed　a　gaily…dressed　domestic；　who
was　crossing　the　court　with　importance　and　bustle　in　his
countenance；　〃Stop；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃I　desire　to　speak　with；　the
Earl　of　Leicester。〃

〃With　whom；　an　it　please　you？〃　　said　the　man；　surprised　at　the
demand；　and　then　looking　upon　the　mean　equipage　of　her　who　used
towards　him　such　a　tone　of　authority；　he　added；　with　insolence；
〃Why；　what　Bess　of　Bedlam　is　this　would　ask　to　see　my　lord　on
such　a　day　as　the　present？〃

〃Friend；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃be　not　insolentmy　business　with
the　Earl　is　most　urgent。〃

〃You　must　get　some　one　else　to　do　it；　were　it　thrice　as　urgent；〃
said　the　fellow。　　〃I　should　summon　my　lord　from　the　Queen's　royal
presence　to　do　YOUR　business；　should　I？I　were　like　to　be
thanked　with　a　horse…whip。　　I　marvel　our　old　porter　took　not
measure　of　such　ware　with　his　club；　instead　of　giving　them
passage；　but　his　brain　is　addled　with　getting　his　speech　by
heart。〃

Two　or　three　persons　stopped；　attracted　by　the　fleering　way　in
which　the　serving…man　expressed　himself；　and　Wayland；　alarmed
both　for　himself　and　the　lady；　hastily　addressed　himself　to　one
who　appeared　the　most　civil；　and　thrusting　a　piece　of　money　into
his　hand；　held　a　moment's　counsel　with　him　on　the　subject　of
finding　a　place　of　temporary　retreat　for　the　lady。　　The　person　to
whom　he　spoke；　being　one　in　some　authority；　rebuked　the　others
for　their　incivility；　and　commanding　one　fellow　to　take　care　of
the　strangers'　horses；　he　desired　them　to　follow　him。　　The
Countess　retained　presence　of　mind　sufficient　to　see　that　it　was
absolutely　necessary　she　should　comply　with　his　request；　and
leaving　the　rude　lackeys　and　grooms　to　crack　their　brutal　jests
about　light　heads；　light　heels；　and　so　forth；　Wayland　and　she
followed　in　silence　the　deputy…usher；　who　undertook　to　be　their
conductor。

They　entered　the　inner　court　of　the　Castle　by　the　great　gateway；
which　extended　betwixt　the　principal　Keep；　or　Donjon；　called
Caesar's　Tower；　and　a　stately　building　which　passed　by　the　name
of　King　Henry's　Lodging；　and　were　thus　placed　in　the　centre　of
the　noble　pile；　which　presented　on　its　different　fronts
magnificent　specimens　of　every　species　of　castellated
architecture；　from　the　Conquest　to　the　reign　of　Elizabeth；　with
the　appropriate　style　and　ornaments　of　each。

Across　this　inner　court　also　they　were　conducted　by　their　guide
to　a　small　but　strong　tower；　occupying　the　north…east　angle　of
the　building；　adjacent　to　the　great　hall；　and　filling　up　a　space
betwixt　the　immense　range　of　kitchens　and　the　end　of　the　great
hall　itself。　　The　lower　part　of　this　tower　was　occupied　by　some
of　the　household　officers　of　Leicester；　owing　to　its　convenient
vicinity　to　the　places　where　their　duty　lay；　but　in　the　upper
story；　which　was　reached　by　a　narrow；　winding　stair；　was　a　small
octangular　chamber；　which；　in　the　great　demand　for　lodgings；　had
been　on　the　present　occasion　fitted　up　for　the　reception　of
guests；　though　generally　said　to　have　been　used　as　a　place　of
confinement　for　some　unhappy　person　who　had　been　there　murdered。
Tradition　called　this　prisoner　Mervyn；　and　transferred　his　name
to　the　tower。　　That　it　had　been　used　as　a　prison　was　not
improbable；　for　the　floor　of　each　story　was　arched；　the　walls　of
tremendous　thickness；　while　the　space　of　the　chamber　did　not
exceed　fifteen　feet　in　diameter。　　The　window；　however；　was
pleasant；　though　narrow；　and　commanded　a　delightful　view　of　what
was　called　the　Pleasance；　a　space　of　ground　enclosed　and
decorated　with　arches；　trophies；　statues；　fountains；　and　other
architectural　monuments；　which　formed　one　access　from　the　Castle
itself　into　the　garden。　　There　was　a　bed　in　the　apartment；　and
other　preparations　for　the　reception　of　a　guest；　to　which　the
Countess　paid　but　slight　attention；　her　notice　being　instantly
arrested　by　the　sight　of　writing　materials　placed　on　the　table
（not　very　commonly　to　be　found　in　the　bedrooms　of　those　days）；
which　instantly　suggested　the　idea　of　writing　to　Leicester；　and
remaining　private　until　she　had　received　his　answer。

The　deputy…usher　having　introduced　them　into　this　commodious
apartment；　courteously　asked　Wayland；　whose　generosity　he　had
experienced；　whether　he　could　do　anything　further　for　his
service。　　Upon　receiving　a　gentle　hint　that　some　refreshment
would　not　be　unacceptable；　he　presently　conveyed　the　smith　to　the
buttery…hatch；　where　dressed　provisions　of　all　sorts　were
distributed；　with　hospitable　profusion；　to　all　who　asked　for
them。　　Wayland　was　readily　supplied　with　some　light　provisions；
such　as　he　thought　would　best　suit　the　faded　appetite　of　the
lady；　and　did　not　omit　the　opportunity　of　himself　making　a　hasty
but　hearty　meal　on　more　substantial　fare。　　He　then　returned　to
the　apartment　in　the　turret；　where　he　found　the　Countess；　who　had
finished　her　letter　to　Leicester；　and　in　lieu　of　a　seal　and
silken　thread；　had　secured　it　with　a　braid　of　her　own　beautiful
tresses；　fastened　by　what　is　called　a　true…love　knot。

〃Good　friend；〃　said　she　to　Wayland；　〃whom　God　hath　sent　to　aid　me
at　my　utmost　need；　I　do　beseech　thee；　as　the　last　trouble　you
shall　take　for　an　unfortunate　lady；　to　deliver　this　letter　to　the
noble　Earl　of　Leicester。　　Be　it　received　as　it　may；〃　she　said；
with　features　agitated　betwixt　hope　and　fear；　〃thou；　good　fellow；
shalt　have　no　more　cumber　with　me。　　But　I　hope　the　best；　and　if
ever　lady　made　a　poor　man　rich；　thou　hast　surely　deserved　it　at
my　hand；　should　my　happy　days　ever　come　round　again。　　Give　it；　I
pray　you；　into　Lord　Leicester's　own　hand；　and　mark　how　he　looks
on　rece