disgraced remain an abiding fetter on me； to check me in the
noble career to which my destinies 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 longer bound by the union
she has broken。 Kingdoms shall divide us； oceans roll betwixt
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 his
conscience to the prosecution of plans of vengeance； so hastily
adopted； and of schemes of ambition； which had become so woven in
with every purpose and action of his life that he was incapable
of the effort of relinquishing them； until his revenge appeared
to him to wear a face of justice； and even of generous
moderation。
In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb
precincts of the Pleasance； then illumined by the full moon。 The
broad； yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white
freestone； of which the pavement； balustrades； and architectural
ornaments of the place were constructed； and not a single fleecy
cloud was visible in the azure sky； so that the scene was nearly
as light as if the sun had but just left the horizon。 The
numerous statues of white marble glimmered in the pale light like
so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from their sepulchres； and the
fountains threw their jets into the air as if they sought that
their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere they fell
down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver。 The
day had been sultry； and the gentle night…breeze which sighed
along the terrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath
than the fan in the hand of youthful beauty。 The bird of summer
night had built many a nest in the bowers of the adjacent garden；
and the tenants now indemnified themselves for silence during the
day by a full chorus of their own unrivalled warblings； now
joyous； now pathetic； now united； now responsive to each other；
as if to express their delight in the placid and delicious scene
to which they poured their melody。
Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters； the
gleam of moonlight； or the song of the nightingale； the stately
Leicester walked slowly from the one end of the terrace to the
other； his cloak wrapped around him； and his sword under his arm；
without seeing anything resembling the human form。
〃I have been fooled by my own generosity；〃 he said； 〃if I have
suffered the villain to escape meay； and perhaps to go to the
rescue of the adulteress； who is so poorly guarded。〃
These were his thoughts； which were instantly dispelled when；
turning to look back towards the entrance； he saw a human form
advancing slowly from the portico； and darkening the various
objects with its shadow； as passing them successively； in its
approach towards him。
〃Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice？〃 was
Leicester's thought； as he grasped the hilt of the sword。 〃But
no！ I will see which way his vile practice tends。 I will watch；
disgusting as it is； the coils and mazes of the loathsome snake；
ere I put forth my strength and crush him。〃
His hand quitted the sword…hilt； and he advanced slowly towards
Tressilian； collecting； for their meeting； all the self…
possession he could command； until they came front to front with
each other。
Tressilian made a profound reverence； to which the Earl replied
with a haughty inclination of the head； and the words； 〃You
sought secret conference with me； sir； I am here； and attentive。〃
〃My lord；〃 said Tressilian； 〃I am so earnest in that which I have
to say； and so desirous to find a patient； nay； a favourable
hearing； that I will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever
might prejudice your lordship against me。 You think me your
enemy？〃
〃Have I not some apparent cause？〃 answered Leicester； perceiving
that Tressilian paused for a reply。
〃You do me wrong； my lord。 I am a friend； but neither a
dependant nor partisan； of the Earl of Sussex； whom courtiers
call your rival； and it is some considerable time since I ceased
to consider either courts or court intrigues as suited to my
temper or genius。〃
〃No doubt； sir；〃 answered Leicester 〃there are other occupations
more worthy a scholar； and for such the world holds Master
Tressilian。 Love has his intrigues as well as ambition。〃
〃I perceive； my lord；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃you give much weight
to my early attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I
am about to speak； and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause
out of rivalry； more than a sense of justice。〃
〃No matter for my thoughts； sir；〃 said the Earl； 〃proceed。 You
have as yet spoken of yourself onlyan important and worthy
subject doubtless； but which； perhaps； does not altogether so
deeply concern me that I should postpone my repose to hear it。
Spare me further prelude； sir； and speak 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；〃 answered
Tressilian； 〃having to say that which； as it concerns your
lordship's honour； I am confident you will not think your time
wasted in listening to。 I have to request an account from your
lordship of the unhappy Amy Robsart； whose history is too well
known to you。 I regret deeply that I did not at once take this
course； and make yourself judge between me and the villain by
whom she is injured。 My lord； she extricated herself from an
unlawful and most perilous state of confinement； trusting to the
effects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband； and
extorted from me a promise that I would not interfere in her
behalf until she had used 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；
〃and my respect can find no softer language。 The unhappy young
woman is withdrawn from my knowledge； and sequestered in some
secret place of this Castleif she be not transferred to some
place of seclusion better fitted for bad designs。 This must be
reformed； my lordI speak it as authorized by her fatherand
this ill…fated marriage must be avouched and proved in the
Queen's presence； and the lady placed without restraint and at
her own free disposal。 And permit me to say it concerns no one's
honour that these most just demands of mine should be complied
with so much as it does that of your lordship。〃
The Earl stood as if he had been petrified at the extreme
coolness with which the man； whom he considered as having injured
him so deeply； pleaded the cause of his criminal paramour； as if
she had been an innocent woman and he a disinterested advocate；
nor was his wonder lessened by the warmth with which Tressilian
seemed to demand for her the rank and situation which she had
disgraced； and the advantages of which she was doubtless to share
with the lover who advocated her cause with such effrontery。
Tressilian had been silent for more than a minute ere the Earl
recovered from the excess of his astonishment； and considering
the prepossessions with which his mind was occupied； there is
little wonder that his passion gained the mastery of every other
consideration。 〃I have heard you； Master Tressilian；〃 said he；
〃without interruption； and I bless God that my ears were never
before made to tingle by the words of so frontless a villain。
The task of chastising you is fitter for the hangman's scourge
than the sword of a nobleman； but yetVillain； draw and defend
thyself！〃
As he spoke the last words； he dropped his mantle on the ground；
struck Tressilian smartly with his sheathed sword； and instantly
drawing his rapier； put himself into a posture of assault。 The
vehement fury of his language at first filled Tressilian； in his
turn； with surprise equal to what Leicester had felt when he
addressed him。 But astonishment gave place to resentment when
the unmerited insults of his language were followed by a blow
which immediately put to flight every thought save that of
instant combat。 Tressilian's sword was instantly drawn； and
though 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 he could not help imputing Leicester's conduct
either to actual frenzy or to the influence of some strong
delusion。
The rencontre had continued for several minutes； without either
party receiving a wound； when of a sudden voices were heard
beneath the portico which formed the entrance of the terrace；
mingled with the steps of men advancing hastily。 〃We are
interrupted；〃 said Leicester to his antagonist； 〃follow me。〃
At the same time a voice from the portico said； 〃The jackanape is
rightthey are tilting here。〃
Leicester； meanwhile； drew off Tressilian into a sort of recess
behind one of the fountains； which served to conceal them； while
six of the yeomen of the Queen's guard passed along the m