kenilworth-第93章

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expected　in　a　train　of　mysterious　and　unintelligible　intrigues；
in　which　the　actors　seemed　hardly　to　know　their　own　course。　　And
yet；　to　do　him　justice；　his　personal　fears　were；　in　some　degree；
counterbalanced　by　his　compassion　for　the　deserted　state　of　the
lady。

〃I　care　not　a　groat　for　Master　Tressilian；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　done
more　than　bargain　by　him；　and　I　have　brought　his　errant…damosel
within　his　reach；　so　that　he　may　look　after　her　himself。　　But　I
fear　the　poor　thing　is　in　much　danger　amongst　these　stormy
spirits。　　I　will　to　her　chamber；　and　tell　her　the　fate　which　has
befallen　her　letter；　that　she　may　write　another　if　she　list。　　She
cannot　lack　a　messenger；　I　trow；　where　there　are　so　many　lackeys
that　can　carry　a　letter　to　their　lord。　　And　I　will　tell　her　also
that　I　leave　the　Castle；　trusting　her　to　God；　her　own　guidance；
and　Master　Tressilian's　care　and　looking　after。　　Perhaps　she　may
remember　the　ring　she　offered　meit　was　well　earned；　I　trow；　but
she　is　a　lovely　creature；　andmarry　hang　the　ring！　　I　will　not
bear　a　base　spirit　for　the　matter。　　If　I　fare　ill　in　this　world
for　my　good…nature；　I　shall　have　better　chance　in　the　next。　　So
now　for　the　lady；　and　then　for　the　road。〃

With　the　stealthy　step　and　jealous　eye　of　the　cat　that　steals　on
her　prey；　Wayland　resumed　the　way　to　the　Countess's　chamber；
sliding　along　by　the　side　of　the　courts　and　passages；　alike
observant　of　all　around　him；　and　studious　himself　to　escape
observation。　　In　this　manner　he　crossed　the　outward　and　inward
Castle　yard；　and　the　great　arched　passage；　which；　running　betwixt
the　range　of　kitchen　offices　and　the　hall；　led　to　the　bottom　of
the　little　winding…stair　that　gave　access　to　the　chambers　of
Mervyn's　Tower。

The　artist　congratulated　himself　on　having　escaped　the　various
perils　of　his　journey；　and　was　in　the　act　of　ascending　by　two
steps　at　once；　when　he　observed　that　the　shadow　of　a　man；　thrown
from　a　door　which　stood　ajar；　darkened　the　opposite　wall　of　the
staircase。　　Wayland　drew　back　cautiously；　went　down　to　the　inner
courtyard；　spent　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　which　seemed　at
least　quadruple　its　usual　duration；　in　walking　from　place　to
place；　and　then　returned　to　the　tower；　in　hopes　to　find　that　the
lurker　had　disappeared。　　He　ascended　as　high　as　the　suspicious
spotthere　was　no　shadow　on　the　wall；　he　ascended　a　few　yards
fartherthe　door　was　still　ajar；　and　he　was　doubtful　whether　to
advance　or　retreat；　when　it　was　suddenly　thrown　wide　open；　and
Michael　Lambourne　bolted　out　upon　the　astonished　Wayland。　　〃Who
the　devil　art　thou？　　and　what　seekest　thou　in　this　part　of　the
Castle？　　march　into　that　chamber；　and　be　hanged　to　thee！〃

〃I　am　no　dog；　to　go　at　every　man's　whistle；〃　said　the　artist；
affecting　a　confidence　which　was　belied　by　a　timid　shake　in　his
voice。

〃Sayest　thou　me　so？Come　hither；　Lawrence　Staples。〃

A　huge；　ill…made　and　ill…looked　fellow；　upwards　of　six　feet　high；
appeared　at　the　door；　and　Lambourne　proceeded：　　〃If　thou　be'st　so
fond　of　this　tower；　my　friend；　thou　shalt　see　its　foundations；
good　twelve　feet　below　the　bed　of　the　lake；　and　tenanted　by
certain　jolly　toads；　snakes；　and　so　forth；　which　thou　wilt　find
mighty　good　company。　　Therefore；　once　more　I　ask　you　in　fair
play；　who　thou　art；　and　what　thou　seekest　here？〃

〃If　the　dungeon…grate　once　clashes　behind　me；〃　thought　Wayland；
〃I　am　a　gone　man。〃　He　therefore　answered　submissively；　〃He　was
the　poor　juggler　whom　his　honour　had　met　yesterday　in　Weatherly
Bottom。〃

〃And　what　juggling　trick　art　thou　playing　in　this　tower？　　Thy
gang；〃　said　Lambourne；　〃lie　over　against　Clinton's　buildings。〃

〃I　came　here　to　see　my　sister；〃　said　the　juggler；　〃who　is　in
Master　Tressilian's　chamber；　just　above。〃

〃Aha！〃　　said　Lambourne；　smiling；　〃here　be　truths！　　Upon　my
honour；　for　a　stranger；　this　same　Master　Tressilian　makes　himself
at　home　among　us；　and　furnishes　out　his　cell　handsomely；　with　all
sorts　of　commodities。　　This　will　be　a　precious　tale　of　the
sainted　Master　Tressilian；　and　will　be　welcome　to　some　folks；　as
a　purse　of　broad　pieces　to　me。Hark　ye；　fellow；〃　he　continued；
addressing　Wayland；　〃thou　shalt　not　give　Puss　a　hint　to　steal
away　we　must　catch　her　in　her　form。　　So；　back　with　that　pitiful
sheep…biting　visage　of　thine；　or　I　will　fling　thee　from　the
window　of　the　tower；　and　try　if　your　juggling　skill　can　save　your
bones。〃

〃Your　worship　will　not　be　so　hardhearted；　I　trust；〃　said　Wayland；
〃poor　folk　must　live。　　I　trust　your　honour　will　allow　me　to　speak
with　my　sister？〃

〃Sister　on　Adam's　side；　I　warrant；〃　said　Lambourne；　〃or；　if
otherwise；　the　more　knave　thou。　　But　sister　or　no　sister。　　thou
diest　on　point　of　fox；　if　thou　comest　a…prying　to　this　tower　once
more。　　And　now　I　think　of　ituds　daggers　and　death！I　will　see
thee　out　of　the　Castle；　for　this　is　a　more　main　concern　than　thy
jugglery。〃

〃But；　please　your　worship；〃　said　Wayland；　〃I　am　to　enact　Arion　in
the　pageant　upon　the　lake　this　very　evening。〃

〃I　will　act　it　myself　by　Saint　Christopher！〃　　said　Lambourne。
〃Orion；　callest　thou　him？I　will　act　Orion；　his　belt　and　his
seven　stars　to　boot。　　Come　along；　for　a　rascal　knave　as　thou　art
follow　me！　　Or　stayLawrence；　do　thou　bring　him　along。〃

Lawrence　seized　by　the　collar　of　the　cloak　the　unresisting
juggler；　while　Lambourne；　with　hasty　steps；　led　the　way　to　that
same　sallyport；　or　secret　postern；　by　which　Tressilian　had
returned　to　the　Castle；　and　which　opened　in　the　western　wall　at
no　great　distance　from　Mervyn's　Tower。

While　traversing　with　a　rapid　foot　the　space　betwixt　the　tower
and　the　sallyport；　Wayland　in　vain　racked　his　brain　for　some
device　which　might　avail　the　poor　lady；　for　whom；　notwithstanding
his　own　imminent　danger；　he　felt　deep　interest。　　But　when　he　was
thrust　out　of　the　Castle；　and　informed　by　Lambourne；　with　a
tremendous　oath；　that　instant　death　would　be　the　consequence　of
his　again　approaching　it；　he　cast　up　his　hands　and　eyes　to
heaven；　as　if　to　call　God　to　witness　he　had　stood　to　the
uttermost　in　defence　of　the　oppressed；　then　turned　his　back　on
the　proud　towers　of　Kenilworth；　and　went　his　way　to　seek　a
humbler　and　safer　place　of　refuge。

Lawrence　and　Lambourne　gazed　a　little　while　after　Wayland；　and
then　turned　to　go　back　to　their　tower；　when　the　former　thus
addressed　his　companion：　　〃Never　credit　me；　Master　Lambourne；　if
I　can　guess　why　thou　hast　driven　this　poor　caitiff　from　the
Castle；　just　when　he　was　to　bear　a　part　in　the　show　that　was
beginning；　and　all　this　about　a　wench；〃

〃Ah；　Lawrence；〃　replied　Lambourne；　〃thou　art　thinking　of　Black
Joan　Jugges　of　Slingdon；　and　hast　sympathy　with　human　frailty。
But；　corragio；　most　noble　Duke　of　the　Dungeon　and　Lord　of　Limbo；
for　thou　art　as　dark　in　this　matter　as　thine　own　dominions　of
Little…ease。　　My　most　reverend　Signior　of　the　Low　Countries　of
Kenilworth；　know　that　our　most　notable　master；　Richard　Varney；
would　give　as　much　to　have　a　hole　in　this　same　Tressilian's　coat；
as　would　make　us　some　fifty　midnight　carousals；　with　the　full
leave　of　bidding　the　steward　go　snick　up；　if　he　came　to　startle
us　too　soon　from　our　goblets。〃

〃Nay；　an　that　be　the　case；　thou　hast　right；〃　said　Lawrence
Staples；　the　upper…warder；　or；　in　common　phrase；　the　first
jailer；　of　Kenilworth　Castle；　and　of　the　Liberty　and　Honour
belonging　thereto。　　〃But　how　will　you　manage　when　you　are　absent
at　the　Queen's　entrance；　Master　Lambourne；　for　methinks　thou　must
attend　thy　master　there？〃

〃Why　thou；　mine　honest　prince　of　prisons；　must　keep　ward　in　my
absence。　　Let　Tressilian　enter　if　he　will；　but　see　thou　let　no
one　come　out。　　If　the　damsel　herself　would　make　a　break；　as　'tis
not　unlike　she　may；　scare　her　back　with　rough　words；　she　is　but　a
paltry　player's　wench　after　all。〃

〃Nay　for　that　matter；〃　said　Lawrence；　〃I　might　shut　the　iron
wicket　upon　her　that　stands　without　the　double　door；　and　so　force
per　force　she　will　be　bound　to　her　answer　without　more　trouble。〃

〃Then　Tressilian　will　not　get　access　to　her；〃　said　Lambourne；
reflecting　a　moment。　　〃But　'tis　no　matter；　she　will　be　detected
in　his　chamber；　and　that　is　all　one。　　But　confess；　thou　old
bat's…eyed　dungeon…keeper；　that　you　fear　to　keep　a