of which he hastened to alarm the guard； having little doubt that
what bloodshed took place betwixt them might arise out of his own
frolic。 Continuing to lurk in the portico； he heard the second
appointment which Leicester at parting assigned to Tressilian；
and was keeping them in view during the encounter of the Coventry
men； when； to his surprise； he recognized Wayland in the crowd；
much disguised； indeed； but not sufficiently so to escape the
prying glance of his old comrade。 They drew aside out of the
crowd to explain their situation to each other。 The boy
confessed to Wayland what we have above told； and the artist； in
return； informed him that his deep anxiety for the fate of the
unfortunate lady had brought him back to the neighbourhood of the
Castle； upon his learning that morning； at a village about ten
miles distant； that Varney and Lambourne； whose violence he
dreaded； had both left Kenilworth over…night。
While they spoke； they saw Leicester and Tressilian separate
themselves from the crowd； dogged them until they mounted their
horses； when the boy； whose speed of foot has been before
mentioned； though he could not possibly keep up with them； yet
arrived； as we have seen； soon enough to save Tressilian's life。
The boy had just finished his tale when they arrived at the
Gallery…tower。
CHAPTER XL。
High o'er the eastern steep the sun is beaming；
And darkness flies with her deceitful shadows；
So truth prevails o'er falsehood。 OLD PLAY。
As Tressilian rode along the bridge； lately the scene of so much
riotous sport； he could not but observe that men's countenances
had singularly changed during the space of his brief absence。
The mock fight was over； but the men； still habited in their
masking suits； stood together in groups； like the inhabitants of
a city who have been just startled by some strange and alarming
news。
When he reached the base…court； appearances were the same
domestics； retainers； and under…officers stood together and
whispered； bending their eyes towards the windows of the Great
Hall； with looks which seemed at once alarmed and mysterious。
Sir Nicholas Blount was the first person of his own particular
acquaintance Tressilian saw； who left him no time to make
inquiries； but greeted him with； 〃God help thy heart； Tressilian！
thou art fitter for a clown than a courtier thou canst not
attend； as becomes one who follows her Majesty。 Here you are
called for； wished for； waited forno man but you will serve the
turn； and hither you come with a misbegotten brat on thy horse's
neck； as if thou wert dry nurse to some sucking devil； and wert
just returned from airing。〃
〃Why； what is the matter？〃 said Tressilian； letting go the boy；
who sprung to ground like a feather； and himself dismounting at
the same time。
〃Why； no one knows the matter；〃 replied Blount； 〃I cannot smell
it out myself； though I have a nose like other courtiers。 Only；
my Lord of Leicester has galloped along the bridge as if he would
have rode over all in his passage； demanded an audience of the
Queen； and is closeted even now with her； and Burleigh and
Walsinghamand you are called for； but whether the matter be
treason or worse； no one knows。〃
〃He speaks true； by Heaven！〃 said Raleigh； who that instant
appeared； 〃you must immediately to the Queen's presence。〃
〃Be not rash； Raleigh；〃 said Blount； 〃remember his boots。For
Heaven's sake； go to my chamber； dear Tressilian； and don my new
bloom…coloured silken hose； I have worn them but twice。〃
〃Pshaw！〃 answered Tressilian； 〃do thou take care of this boy；
Blount； be kind to him； and look he escapes you notmuch depends
on him。〃
So saying； he followed Raleigh hastily； leaving honest Blount
with the bridle of his horse in one hand； and the boy in the
other。 Blount gave a long look after him。
〃Nobody；〃 he said； 〃calls me to these mysteriesand he leaves me
here to play horse…keeper and child…keeper at once。 I could
excuse the one； for I love a good horse naturally； but to be
plagued with a bratchet whelp。Whence come ye； my fair…favoured
little gossip？〃
〃From the Fens；〃 answered the boy。
〃And what didst thou learn there； forward imp？〃
〃To catch gulls； with their webbed feet and yellow stockings；〃
said the boy。
〃Umph！〃 said Blount； looking down on his own immense roses。
〃Nay； then； the devil take him asks thee more questions。〃
Meantime Tressilian traversed the full length of the Great Hall；
in which the astonished courtiers formed various groups； and were
whispering mysteriously together； while all kept their eyes fixed
on the door which led from the upper end of the hall into the
Queen's withdrawing apartment。 Raleigh pointed to the door。
Tressilian knocked； and was instantly admitted。 Many a neck was
stretched to gain a view into the interior of the apartment； but
the tapestry which covered the door on the inside was dropped too
suddenly to admit the slightest gratification of curiosity。
Upon entrance； Tressilian found himself； not without a strong
palpitation of heart； in the presence of Elizabeth； who was
walking to and fro in a violent agitation； which she seemed to
scorn to conceal； while two or three of her most sage and
confidential counsellors exchanged anxious looks with each other；
but delayed speaking till her wrath abated。 Before the empty
chair of state in which she had been seated； and which was half
pushed aside by the violence with which she had started from it；
knelt Leicester； his arms crossed； and his brows bent on the
ground； still and motionless as the effigies upon a sepulchre。
Beside him stood the Lord Shrewsbury； then Earl Marshal of
England； holding his baton of office。 The Earl's sword was
unbuckled； and lay before him on the floor。
〃Ho； sir！〃 said the Queen； coming close up to Tressilian； and
stamping on the floor with the action and manner of Henry
himself； 〃you knew of this fair workyou are an accomplice in
this deception which has been practised on usyou have been a
main cause of our doing injustice？〃 Tressilian dropped on his
knee before the Queen； his good sense showing him the risk of
attempting any defence at that moment of irritation。 〃Art dumb；
sirrah？〃 she continued； 〃thou knowest of this affair dost thou
not？〃
〃Not； gracious madam； that this poor lady was Countess of
Leicester。〃
〃Nor shall any one know her for such；〃 said Elizabeth。 〃Death of
my life！ Countess of Leicester！I say Dame Amy Dudley； and well
if she have not cause to write herself widow of the traitor
Robert Dudley。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Leicester； 〃do with me what it may be your will to
do； but work no injury on this gentleman； he hath in no way
deserved it。〃
〃And will he be the better for thy intercession；〃 said the Queen；
leaving Tressilian； who slowly arose； and rushing to Leicester；
who continued kneeling〃the better for thy intercession； thou
doubly falsethou doubly forsworn；of thy intercession； whose
villainy hath made me ridiculous to my subjects and odious to
myself？ I could tear out mine eyes for their blindness！〃
Burleigh here ventured to interpose。
〃Madam；〃 he said； 〃remember that you are a QueenQueen of
Englandmother of your people。 Give not way to this wild storm
of passion。〃
Elizabeth turned round to him； while a tear actually twinkled in
her proud and angry eye。 〃Burleigh；〃 she said； 〃thou art a
statesmanthou dost not； thou canst not； comprehend half the
scorn； half the misery； that man has poured on me！〃
With the utmost cautionwith the deepest reverenceBurleigh
took her hand at the moment he saw her heart was at the fullest；
and led her aside to an oriel window； apart from the others。
〃Madam；〃 he said； 〃I am a statesman； but I am also a mana man
already grown old in your councilswho have not and cannot have
a wish on earth but your glory and happiness； I pray you to be
composed。〃
〃Ah！ Burleigh；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃thou little knowest〃 here her
tears fell over her cheeks in despite of her。
〃I doI do know； my honoured sovereign。 Oh； beware that you
lead not others to guess that which they know not！〃
〃Ha！〃 said Elizabeth； pausing as if a new train of thought had
suddenly shot across her brain。 〃Burleigh； thou art rightthou
art rightanything but disgraceanything but a confession of
weaknessanything rather than seem the cheated； slighted
'sdeath！ to think on it is distraction！〃
〃Be but yourself； my Queen；〃 said Burleigh； 〃and soar far above a
weakness which no Englishman will ever believe his Elizabeth
could have entertained； unless the violence of her disappointment
carries a sad conviction to his bosom。〃
〃What weakness； my lord？〃 said Elizabeth haughtily； 〃would you
too insinuate that the favour in which I held yonder proud
traitor derived its source from aught〃 But here she could no
longer sustain the proud tone which she had assumed； and again
softened as she said； 〃But why should I strive to deceive even
thee； my good and wise servant？〃
Burleigh stooped to kiss her hand with affection； andrare in
the annals of courtsa tear of true sympathy dropped from the
eye of the minister on the hand of his Sovereign。
It is probable that the consciousness o