CHAPTER XXXVIII.
How is't with me, when every noise appals me? --MACBETH.
"I desire some conference with you." The words were simple inthemselves, but Lord Leicester was in that alarmed and feverish stateof mind when the most ordinary occurrences seem fraught with alarmingimport; and he turned hastily round to survey the person by whomthey had been spoken. There was nothing remarkable in the speaker'sappearance, which consisted of a black silk doublet and short mantle,with a black vizard on his face; for it appeared he had been among thecrowd of masks who had thronged into the hall in the retinue of Merlin,though he did not wear any of the extravagant disguises by which most ofthem were distinguished.
"Who are you, or what do you want with me?" said Leicester, not withoutbetraying, by his accents, the hurried state of his spirits.
"No evil, my lord," answered the mask, "but much good and honour, ifyou will rightly understand my purpose. But I must speak with you moreprivately."
"I can speak with no nameless stranger," answered Leicester, dreading heknew not precisely what from the request of the stranger; "and thosewho are known to me must seek another and a fitter time to ask aninterview."
He would have hurried away, but the mask still detained him.
"Those who talk to your lordship of what your own honour demands have aright over your time, whatever occupations you may lay aside in order toindulge them."
"How! my honour? Who dare impeach it?" said Leicester.
"Your own conduct alone can furnish grounds for accusing it, my lord,and it is that topic on which I would speak with you."
"You are insolent," said Leicester, "and abuse the hospitable licenseof the time, which prevents me from having you punished. I demand yourname!"
"Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall," answered the mask. "My tongue has beenbound by a promise for four-and-twenty hours. The space is passed,--Inow speak, and do your lordship the justice to address myself first toyou."
The thrill of astonishment which had penetrated to Leicester's veryheart at hearing that name pronounced by the voice of the man he mostdetested, and by whom he conceived himself so deeply injured, at firstrendered him immovable, but instantly gave way to such a thirst forrevenge as the pilgrim in the desert feels for the water-brooks. He hadbut sense and self-government enough left to prevent his stabbing tothe heart the audacious villain, who, after the ruin he had broughtupon him, dared, with such unmoved assurance, thus to practise uponhim further. Determined to suppress for the moment every symptom ofagitation, in order to perceive the full scope of Tressilian's purpose,as well as to secure his own vengeance, he answered in a tone so alteredby restrained passion as scarce to be intelligible, "And what doesMaster Edmund Tressilian require at my hand?"
"Justice, my lord," answered Tressilian, calmly but firmly.
"Justice," said Leicester, "all men are entitled to. YOU, MasterTressilian, are peculiarly so, and be assured you shall have it."
"I expect nothing less from your nobleness," answered Tressilian; "buttime presses, and I must speak with you to-night. May I wait on you inyour chamber?"
"No," answered Leicester sternly, "not under a roof, and that roof mineown. We will meet under the free cope of heaven."
"You are discomposed or displeased, my lord," replied Tressilian; "yetthere is no occasion for distemperature. The place is equal to me, soyou allow me one half-hour of your time uninterrupted."
"A shorter time will, I trust, suffice," answered Leicester. "Meet me inthe Pleasance when the Queen has retired to her chamber."
"Enough," said Tressilian, and withdrew; while a sort of rapture seemedfor the moment to occupy the mind of Leicester.
"Heaven," he said, "is at last favourable to me, and has put within myreach the wretch who has branded me with this deep ignominy--who hasinflicted on me this cruel agony. I will blame fate no more, since I amafforded the means of tracing the wiles by which he means still furtherto practise on me, and then of at once convicting and punishing hisvillainy. To my task--to my task! I will not sink under it now, sincemidnight, at farthest, will bring me vengeance."
While these reflections thronged through Leicester's mind, he again madehis way amid the obsequious crowd, which divided to give him passage,and resumed his place, envied and admired, beside the person of hisSovereign. But could the bosom of him thus admired and envied have beenlaid open before the inhabitants of that crowded hall, with all its darkthoughts of guilty ambition, blighted affection, deep vengeance, andconscious sense of meditated cruelty, crossing each other like spectresin the circle of some foul enchantress, which of them, from the mostambitious noble in the courtly circle down to the most wretched menialwho lived by shifting of trenchers, would have desired to changecharacters with the favourite of Elizabeth, and the Lord of Kenilworth?
New tortures awaited him as soon as he had rejoined Elizabeth.
"You come in time, my lord," she said, "to decide a dispute between usladies. Here has Sir Richard Varney asked our permission to depart fromthe Castle with his infirm lady, having, as he tells us, your lordship'sconsent to his absence, so he can obtain ours. Certes, we have no willto withhold him from the affectionate charge of this poor young person;but you are to know that Sir Richard Varney hath this day shown himselfso much captivated with these ladies of ours, that here is our Duchessof Rutland says he will carry his poor insane wife no farther than thelake, plunge her in to tenant the crystal palaces that the enchantednymph told us of, and return a jolly widower, to dry his tears and tomake up the loss among our train. How say you, my lord? We have seenVarney under two or three different guises--you know what are his properattributes--think you he is capable of playing his lady such a knave'strick?"
Leicester was confounded, but the danger was urgent, and a replyabsolutely necessary. "The ladies," he said, "think too lightly of oneof their own sex, in supposing she could deserve such a fate; or too illof ours, to think it could be inflicted upon an innocent female."
"Hear him, my ladies," said Elizabeth; "like all his sex, he wouldexcuse their cruelty by imputing fickleness to us."
"Say not US, madam," replied the Earl. "We say that meaner women, likethe lesser lights of heaven, have revolutions and phases; but who shallimpute mutability to the sun, or to Elizabeth?"
The discourse presently afterwards assumed a less perilous tendency, andLeicester continued to support his part in it with spirit, at whateverexpense of mental agony. So pleasing did it seem to Elizabeth, that theCastle bell had sounded midnight ere she retired from the company, acircumstance unusual in her quiet and regular habits of disposing oftime. Her departure was, of course, the signal for breaking up thecompany, who dispersed to their several places of repose, to dream overthe pastimes of the day, or to anticipate those of the morrow.
The unfortunate Lord of the Castle, and founder of the proud festival,retired to far different thoughts. His direction to the valet whoattended him was to send Varney instantly to his apartment. Themessenger returned after some delay, and informed him that an hour hadelapsed since Sir Richard Varney had left the Castle by the postern gatewith three other persons, one of whom was transported in a horse-litter.
"How came he to leave the Castle after the watch was set?" saidLeicester. "I thought he went not till daybreak."
"He gave satisfactory reasons, as I understand," said the domestic, "tothe guard, and, as I hear, showed your lordship's signet--"
"True--true," said the Earl; "yet he has been hasty. Do any of hisattendants remain behind?"
"Michael Lambourne, my lord," said the valet, "was not to be found whenSir Richard Varney departed, and his master was much incensed at hisabsence. I saw him but now saddling his horse to gallop after hismaster."
"Bid him come hither instantly," said Leicester; "I have a message tohis master."
The servant left the apartment, and Leicester traversed it for some timein deep meditation. "Varney is over-zealous," he said, "over-pressing.He loves me, I think; but he hath his own ends to ser
ve, and he isinexorable in pursuit of them. If I rise, he rises; and he hath shownhimself already but too, eager to rid me of this obstacle which seemsto stand betwixt me and sovereignty. Yet I will not stoop to bear thisdisgrace. She shall be punished, but it shall be more advisedly. Ialready feel, even in anticipation, that over-haste would light theflames of hell in my bosom. No--one victim is enough at once, and thatvictim already waits me."
He seized upon writing materials, and hastily traced these words:--
"Sir Richard Varney, we have resolved to defer the matter entrusted toyour care, and strictly command you to proceed no further in relationto our Countess until our further order. We also command your instantreturn to Kenilworth as soon as you have safely bestowed that with whichyou are entrusted. But if the safe-placing of your present charge shalldetain you longer than we think for, we command you in that case to sendback our signet-ring by a trusty and speedy messenger, we having presentneed of the same. And requiring your strict obedience in these things,and commending you to God's keeping, we rest your assured good friendand master,
"R. LEICESTER. "Given at our Castle of Kenilworth, the tenth of July, inthe year of Salvation one thousand five hundred and seventy-five."
As Leicester had finished and sealed this mandate, Michael Lambourne,booted up to mid-thigh, having his riding-cloak girthed around himwith a broad belt, and a felt cap on his head, like that of a courier,entered his apartment, ushered in by the valet.
"What is thy capacity of service?" said the Earl.
"Equerry to your lordship's master of the horse," answered Lambourne,with his customary assurance.
"Tie up thy saucy tongue, sir," said Leicester; "the jests that may suitSir Richard Varney's presence suit not mine. How soon wilt thou overtakethy master?"
"In one hour's riding, my lord, if man and horse hold good," saidLambourne, with an instant alteration of demeanour, from an approach tofamiliarity to the deepest respect. The Earl measured him with his eyefrom top to toe.
"I have heard of thee," he said "men say thou art a prompt fellow inthy service, but too much given to brawling and to wassail to be trustedwith things of moment."
"My lord," said Lambourne, "I have been soldier, sailor, traveller, andadventurer; and these are all trades in which men enjoy to-day, becausethey have no surety of to-morrow. But though I may misuse mine ownleisure, I have never neglected the duty I owe my master."
"See that it be so in this instance," said Leicester, "and it shall dothee good. Deliver this letter speedily and carefully into Sir RichardVarney's hands."
"Does my commission reach no further?" said Lambourne.
"No," answered Leicester; "but it deeply concerns me that it becarefully as well as hastily executed."
"I will spare neither care nor horse-flesh," answered Lambourne, andimmediately took his leave.
"So, this is the end of my private audience, from which I hoped somuch!" he muttered to himself, as he went through the long gallery, anddown the back staircase. "Cogs bones! I thought the Earl had wanted acast of mine office in some secret intrigue, and it all ends in carryinga letter! Well, his pleasure shall be done, however; and as his lordshipwell says, it may do me good another time. The child must creep ere hewalk, and so must your infant courtier. I will have a look intothis letter, however, which he hath sealed so sloven-like." Havingaccomplished this, he clapped his hands together in ecstasy, exclaiming,"The Countess the Countess! I have the secret that shall make or marme.--But come forth, Bayard," he added, leading his horse into thecourtyard, "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 tothat effect left by Sir Richard Varney.
As soon as Lambourne and the valet had left the apartment, Leicesterproceeded to change his dress for a very plain one, threw his mantlearound him, and taking a lamp in his hand, went by the private passageof communication to a small secret postern door which opened into thecourtyard, near to the entrance of the Pleasance. His reflections wereof a more calm and determined character than they had been at any lateperiod, and he endeavoured to claim, even in his own eyes, the characterof a man more sinned against than sinning.
"I have suffered the deepest injury," such was the tenor of hismeditations, "yet I have restricted the instant revenge which was in mypower, and have limited it to that which is manly and noble. But shallthe union which this false woman has this day disgraced remain anabiding fetter on me, to check me in the noble career to which mydestinies 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 longerbound by the union she has broken. Kingdoms shall divide us, oceans rollbetwixt 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 hisconscience to the prosecution of plans of vengeance, so hastily adopted,and of schemes of ambition, which had become so woven in with everypurpose and action of his life that he was incapable of the effort ofrelinquishing them, until his revenge appeared to him to wear a face ofjustice, and even of generous moderation.
In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superbprecincts of the Pleasance, then illumined by the full moon. The broad,yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white freestone, ofwhich the pavement, balustrades, and architectural ornaments of theplace were constructed; and not a single fleecy cloud was visible in theazure sky, so that the scene was nearly as light as if the sun had butjust left the horizon. The numerous statues of white marble glimmeredin the pale light like so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from theirsepulchres, and the fountains threw their jets into the air as if theysought that their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere theyfell down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver. Theday had been sultry, and the gentle night-breeze which sighed along theterrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath than the fan in thehand of youthful beauty. The bird of summer night had built many a nestin the bowers of the adjacent garden, and the tenants now indemnifiedthemselves for silence during the day by a full chorus of theirown unrivalled warblings, now joyous, now pathetic, now united, nowresponsive to each other, as if to express their delight in the placidand delicious scene to which they poured their melody.
Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters, the gleam ofmoonlight, or the song of the nightingale, the stately Leicester walkedslowly from the one end of the terrace to the other, his cloak wrappedaround him, and his sword under his arm, without seeing anythingresembling the human form.
"I have been fooled by my own generosity," he said, "if I have sufferedthe villain to escape me--ay, and perhaps to go to the rescue of theadulteress, who is so poorly guarded."
These were his thoughts, which were instantly dispelled when, turningto look back towards the entrance, he saw a human form advancing slowlyfrom the portico, and darkening the various objects with its shadow, aspassing them successively, in its approach towards him.
"Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice?" was Leicester'sthought, as he grasped the hilt of the sword. "But no! I will see whichway his vile practice tends. I will watch, disgusting as it is, thecoils and mazes of the loathsome snake, ere I put forth my strength andcrush him."
His hand quitted the sword-hilt, and he advanced slowly towardsTressilian, collecting, for their meeting, all the self-possession hecould command, until they came front to front with each other.
Tressilian made a profound reverence, to which the Earl replied witha haughty inclination of the head, and the words, "You sought secretconference with me, sir; I am here, and attentive."
"My lord," said Tressilian, "I am so earnest in that which I have tosay, and so desirous to find a patient, nay, a favourable hearing, thatI will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever might prejudice yourlordship against me. You think me your
enemy?"
"Have I not some apparent cause?" answered Leicester, perceiving thatTressilian paused for a reply.
"You do me wrong, my lord. I am a friend, but neither a dependant norpartisan, of the Earl of Sussex, whom courtiers call your rival; and itis some considerable time since I ceased to consider either courts orcourt intrigues as suited to my temper or genius."
"No doubt, sir," answered Leicester "there are other occupations moreworthy a scholar, and for such the world holds Master Tressilian. Lovehas his intrigues as well as ambition."
"I perceive, my lord," replied Tressilian, "you give much weight to myearly attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I am about tospeak, and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause out of rivalry, morethan a sense of justice."
"No matter for my thoughts, sir," said the Earl; "proceed. You have asyet spoken of yourself only--an important and worthy subject doubtless,but which, perhaps, does not altogether so deeply concern me that Ishould postpone my repose to hear it. Spare me further prelude, sir, andspeak 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," answeredTressilian, "having to say that which, as it concerns your lordship'shonour, I am confident you will not think your time wasted in listeningto. I have to request an account from your lordship of the unhappy AmyRobsart, whose history is too well known to you. I regret deeply that Idid not at once take this course, and make yourself judge between me andthe villain by whom she is injured. My lord, she extricated herselffrom an unlawful and most perilous state of confinement, trusting to theeffects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband, and extortedfrom me a promise that I would not interfere in her behalf until she hadused 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, "andmy respect can find no softer language. The unhappy young woman iswithdrawn from my knowledge, and sequestered in some secret place ofthis Castle--if she be not transferred to some place of seclusion betterfitted for bad designs. This must be reformed, my lord--I speak it asauthorized by her father--and this ill-fated marriage must be avouchedand proved in the Queen's presence, and the lady placed withoutrestraint and at her own free disposal. And permit me to say it concernsno one's honour that these most just demands of mine should be compliedwith so much as it does that of your lordship."
The Earl stood as if he had been petrified at the extreme coolnesswith which the man, whom he considered as having injured him so deeply,pleaded the cause of his criminal paramour, as if she had been aninnocent woman and he a disinterested advocate; nor was his wonderlessened by the warmth with which Tressilian seemed to demand for herthe rank and situation which she had disgraced, and the advantages ofwhich she was doubtless to share with the lover who advocated her causewith such effrontery. Tressilian had been silent for more than aminute ere the Earl recovered from the excess of his astonishment; andconsidering the prepossessions with which his mind was occupied, thereis little wonder that his passion gained the mastery of every otherconsideration. "I have heard you, Master Tressilian," said he, "withoutinterruption, and I bless God that my ears were never before made totingle by the words of so frontless a villain. The task of chastisingyou is fitter for the hangman's scourge than the sword of a nobleman,but yet--Villain, draw and defend thyself!"
As he spoke the last words, he dropped his mantle on the ground, struckTressilian smartly with his sheathed sword, and instantly drawing hisrapier, put himself into a posture of assault. The vehement fury of hislanguage at first filled Tressilian, in his turn, with surprise equalto what Leicester had felt when he addressed him. But astonishment gaveplace to resentment when the unmerited insults of his language werefollowed by a blow which immediately put to flight every thought savethat of instant combat. Tressilian's sword was instantly drawn; andthough perhaps somewhat inferior to Leicester in the use of the weapon,he understood it well enough to maintain the contest with great spirit,the rather that of the two he was for the time the more cool, since hecould not help imputing Leicester's conduct either to actual frenzy orto the influence of some strong delusion.
The rencontre had continued for several minutes, without either partyreceiving a wound, when of a sudden voices were heard beneath theportico which formed the entrance of the terrace, mingled with the stepsof men advancing hastily. "We are interrupted," said Leicester to hisantagonist; "follow me."
At the same time a voice from the portico said, "The jackanape isright--they are tilting here."
Leicester, meanwhile, drew off Tressilian into a sort of recess behindone of the fountains, which served to conceal them, while six ofthe yeomen of the Queen's guard passed along the middle walk of thePleasance, and they could hear one say to the rest, "We shall never findthem to-night among all these squirting funnels, squirrel cages, andrabbit-holes; but if we light not on them before we reach the fartherend, we will return, and mount a guard at the entrance, and so securethem till morning."
"A proper matter," said another, "the drawing of swords so near theQueen's presence, ay, and in her very palace as 'twere! Hang it, theymust be some poor drunken game-cocks fallen to sparring--'twere pityalmost we should find them--the penalty is chopping off a hand, is itnot?--'twere hard to lose hand for handling a bit of steel, that comesso natural to one's gripe."
"Thou art a brawler thyself, George," said another; "but take heed, forthe law stands as thou sayest."
"Ay," said the first, "an the act be not mildly construed; for thouknowest 'tis not the Queen's palace, but my Lord of Leicester's."
"Why, for that matter, the penalty may be as severe," said another "foran our gracious Mistress be Queen, as she is, God save her, my Lord ofLeicester is as good as King."
"Hush, thou knave!" said a third; "how knowest thou who may be withinhearing?"
They passed on, making a kind of careless search, but seemingly moreintent on their own conversation than bent on discovering the personswho had created the nocturnal disturbance.
They had no sooner passed forward along the terrace, than Leicester,making a sign to Tressilian to follow him, glided away in an oppositedirection, and escaped through the portico undiscovered. He conductedTressilian to Mervyn's Tower, in which he was now again lodged; andthen, ere parting with him, said these words, "If thou hast courage tocontinue and bring to an end what is thus broken off, be near me whenthe court goes forth to-morrow; we shall find a time, and I will giveyou a signal when it is fitting."
"My lord," said Tressilian, "at another time I might have inquired themeaning of this strange and furious inveteracy against me. But you havelaid that on my shoulder which only blood can wash away; and were youas high as your proudest wishes ever carried you, I would have from yousatisfaction for my wounded honour."
On these terms they parted, but the adventures of the night were not yetended with Leicester. He was compelled to pass by Saintlowe's Tower, inorder to gain the private passage which led to his own chamber; and inthe entrance thereof he met Lord Hunsdon half clothed, and with a nakedsword under his arm.
"Are you awakened, too, with this 'larum, my Lord of Leicester?" saidthe old soldier. "'Tis well. By gog's nails, the nights are as noisy asthe day in this Castle of yours. Some two hours since I was waked bythe screams of that poor brain-sick Lady Varney, whom her husbandwas forcing away. I promise you it required both your warrant and theQueen's to keep me from entering into the game, and cutting that Varneyof yours over the head. And now there is a brawl down in the Pleasance,or what call you the stone terrace-walk where all yonder gimcracksstand?"
The first part of the old man's speech went through the Earl's heartlike a knife; to the last he answered that he himself had heard theclash of swords, and had come down to take order with those who had beenso insolent so near the Queen's presence.
"Nay, then,"
said Hunsdon, "I will be glad of your lordship's company."
Leicester was thus compelled to turn back with the rough old Lord to thePleasance, where Hunsdon heard from the yeomen of the guard, who wereunder his immediate command, the unsuccessful search they had made forthe authors of the disturbance; and bestowed for their pains some rounddozen of curses on them, as lazy knaves and blind whoresons. Leicesteralso thought it necessary to seem angry that no discovery had beeneffected; but at length suggested to Lord Hunsdon, that after all itcould only be some foolish young men who had been drinking healthspottle-deep, and who should be sufficiently scared by the search whichhad taken place after them. Hunsdon, who was himself attached to hiscup, allowed that a pint-flagon might cover many of the follies which ithad caused, "But," added he, "unless your lordship will be less liberalin your housekeeping, and restrain the overflow of ale, and wine, andwassail, I foresee it will end in my having some of these good fellowsinto the guard-house, and treating them to a dose of the strappado. Andwith this warning, good night to you."
Joyful at being rid of his company, Leicester took leave of him at theentrance of his lodging, where they had first met, and entering theprivate passage, took up the lamp which he had left there, and by itsexpiring light found the way to his own apartment.