the boy clung to Lord Leicester's knees； and in a shrill tone
implored him to listen one moment ere he prosecuted this quarrel。
〃Stand up； and let me go；〃 said Leicester； 〃or； by Heaven； I will
pierce thee with my rapier！ What hast thou to do to bar my way
to revenge？〃
〃Muchmuch！〃 exclaimed the undaunted boy； 〃since my folly has
been the cause of these bloody quarrels between you； and
perchance of worse evils。 Oh； if you would ever again enjoy the
peace of an innocent mind； if you hope again to sleep in peace
and unhaunted by remorse； take so much leisure as to peruse this
letter； and then do as you list。〃
While he spoke in this eager and earnest manner； to which his
singular features and voice gave a goblin…like effect； he held up
to Leicester a packet； secured with a long tress of woman's hair
of a beautiful light…brown colour。 Enraged as he was； nay；
almost blinded with fury to see his destined revenge so strangely
frustrated； the Earl of Leicester could not resist this
extraordinary supplicant。 He snatched the letter from his hand
changed colour as he looked on the superscriptionundid with
faltering hand the knot which secured itglanced over the
contents； and staggering back； would have fallen； had he not
rested against the trunk of a tree； where he stood for an
instant； his eyes bent on the letter； and his sword…point turned
to the ground； without seeming to be conscious of the presence of
an antagonist towards whom he had shown little mercy； and who
might in turn have taken him at advantage。 But for such revenge
Tressilian was too noble…minded。 He also stood still in
surprise； waiting the issue of this strange fit of passion； but
holding his weapon ready to defend himself in case of need
against some new and sudden attack on the part of Leicester； whom
he again suspected to be under the influence of actual frenzy。
The boy； indeed； he easily recognized as his old acquaintance
Dickon； whose face； once seen； was scarcely to be forgotten； but
how he came hither at so critical a moment； why his interference
was so energetic； and； above all； how it came to produce so
powerful an effect upon Leicester； were questions which he could
not solve。
But the letter was of itself powerful enough to work effects yet
more wonderful。 It was that which the unfortunate Amy had
written to her husband； in which she alleged the reasons and
manner of her flight from Cumnor Place； informed him of her
having made her way to Kenilworth to enjoy his protection； and
mentioned the circumstances which had compelled her to take
refuge in Tressilian's apartment； earnestly requesting he would；
without delay； assign her a more suitable asylum。 The letter
concluded with the most earnest expressions of devoted attachment
and submission to his will in all things； and particularly
respecting her situation and place of residence； conjuring him
only that she might not be placed under the guardianship or
restraint of Varney。 The letter dropped from Leicester's hand
when he had perused it。 〃Take my sword；〃 he said； 〃Tressilian；
and pierce my heart； as I would but now have pierced yours！〃
〃My lord；〃 said Tressilian； 〃you have done me great wrong； but
something within my breast ever whispered that it was by
egregious error。〃
〃Error； indeed！〃 said Leicester； and handed him the letter； 〃I
have been made to believe a man of honour a villain； and the best
and purest of creatures a false profligate。Wretched boy； why
comes this letter now； and where has the bearer lingered？〃
〃I dare not tell you； my lord；〃 said the boy； withdrawing； as if
to keep beyond his reach； 〃but here comes one who was the
messenger。〃
Wayland at the same moment came up； and interrogated by
Leicester； hastily detailed all the circumstances of his escape
with Amy； the fatal practices which had driven her to flight； and
her anxious desire to throw herself under the instant protection
of her husbandpointing out the evidence of the domestics of
Kenilworth； 〃who could not；〃 he observed； 〃but remember her eager
inquiries after the Earl of Leicester on her first arrival。〃
〃The villains！〃 exclaimed Leicester； 〃but oh； that worst of
villains； Varney！and she is even now in his power！〃
〃But not； I trust in God；〃 said Tressilian； 〃with any commands of
fatal import？〃
〃No； no； no！〃 exclaimed the Earl hastily。 〃I said something in
madness； but it was recalled； fully recalled； by a hasty
messenger； and she is nowshe must now be safe。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Tressilian；〃 she MUST be safe； and I MUST be assured
of her safety。 My own quarrel with you is ended； my lord； but
there is another to begin with the seducer of Amy Robsart； who
has screened his guilt under the cloak of the infamous Varney。〃
〃The SEDUCER of Amy！〃 replied Leicester； with a voice like
thunder； 〃say her husband！her misguided； blinded； most unworthy
husband！ She is as surely Countess of Leicester as I am belted
Earl。 Nor can you； sir； point out that manner of justice which I
will not render her at my own free will。 I need scarce say I
fear not your compulsion。〃
The generous nature of Tressilian was instantly turned from
consideration of anything personal to himself； and centred at
once upon Amy's welfare。 He had by no means undoubting
confidence in the fluctuating resolutions of Leicester； whose
mind seemed to him agitated beyond the government of calm reason；
neither did he； notwithstanding the assurances he had received；
think Amy safe in the hands of his dependants。 〃My lord；〃 he
said calmly； 〃I mean you no offence； and am far from seeking a
quarrel。 But my duty to Sir Hugh Robsart compels me to carry
this matter instantly to the Queen； that the Countess's rank may
be acknowledged in her person。〃
〃You shall not need； sir；〃 replied the Earl haughtily； 〃do not
dare to interfere。 No voice but Dudley's shall proclaim Dudley's
infamy。 To Elizabeth herself will I tell it； and then for Cumnor
Place with the speed of life and death！〃
So saying； he unbound his horse from the tree； threw himself into
the saddle； and rode at full gallop towards the Castle。
〃Take me before you； Master Tressilian；〃 said the boy； seeing
Tressilian mount in the same haste； 〃my tale is not all told out；
and I need your protection。〃
Tressilian complied； and followed the Earl； though at a less
furious rate。 By the way the boy confessed； with much
contrition； that in resentment at Wayland's evading all his
inquiries concerning the lady； after Dickon conceived he had in
various ways merited his confidence； he had purloined from him in
revenge the letter with which Amy had entrusted him for the Earl
of Leicester。 His purpose was to have restored it to him that
evening； as he reckoned himself sure of meeting with him； in
consequence of Wayland's having to perform the part of Arion in
the pageant。 He was indeed something alarmed when he saw to whom
the letter was addressed； but he argued that； as Leicester did
not return to Kenilworth until that evening； it would be again in
the possession of the proper messenger as soon as； in the nature
of things； it could possibly be delivered。 But Wayland came not
to the pageant； having been in the interim expelled by Lambourne
from the Castle； and the boy； not being able to find him； or to
get speech of Tressilian； and finding himself in possession of a
letter addressed to no less a person than the Earl of Leicester；
became much afraid of the consequences of his frolic。 The
caution； and indeed the alarm； which Wayland had expressed
respecting Varney and Lambourne； led him to judge that the letter
must be designed for the Earl's own hand； and that he might
prejudice the lady by giving it to any of the domestics。 He made
an attempt or two to obtain an audience of Leicester； but the
singularity of his features and the meanness of his appearance
occasioned his being always repulsed by the insolent menials whom
he applied to for that purpose。 Once； indeed； he had nearly
succeeded； when； in prowling about； he found in the grotto the
casket； which he knew to belong to the unlucky Countess； having
seen it on her journey； for nothing escaped his prying eye。
Having striven in vain to restore it either to Tressilian or the
Countess； he put it into the hands； as we have seen； of Leicester
himself； but unfortunately he did not recognize him in his
disguise。
At length the boy thought he was on the point of succeeding when
the Earl came down to the lower part of the hall； but just as he
was about to accost him； he was prevented by Tressilian。 As
sharp in ear as in wit； the boy heard the appointment settled
betwixt them； to take place in the Pleasance； and resolved to add
a third to the party； in hope that； either in coming or
returning； he might find an opportunity of delivering the letter
to Leicester； for strange stories began to flit among the
domestics； which alarmed him for the lady's safety。 Accident；
however； detained Dickon a little behind the Earl； and as he
reached the arcade he saw them engaged in combat； in consequence
of which he hastened to alarm the guard； having little doubt that
what bloodshed took place betwixt them might arise out of his own
frol