on the moonlight road。 They were traversing a wide and open
heath。 The litter being at least a mile before them； was both
out of sight and hearing。 He looked behind； and there was an
expanse； lighted by the moonbeams； without one human being in
sight。 He resumed his speech to Lambourne： 〃And will you turn
upon your master； who has introduced you to this career of court…
like favourwhose apprentice you have been； Michaelwho has
taught you the depths and shallows of court intrigue？〃
〃Michael not me！〃 said Lambourne； 〃I have a name will brook a
MASTER before it as well as another； and as to the rest； if I
have been an apprentice； my indenture is out； and I am resolute
to set up for myself。〃
〃Take thy quittance first； thou fool！〃 said Varney； and with a
pistol； which he had for some time held in his hand； shot
Lambourne through the body。
The wretch fell from his horse without a single groan； and
Varney； dismounting； rifled his pockets； turning out the lining；
that it might appear he had fallen by robbers。 He secured the
Earl's packet； which was his chief object； but he also took
Lambourne〃s purse； containing some gold pieces； the relics of
what his debauchery had left him； and from a singular combination
of feelings； carried it in his hand only the length of a small
river； which crossed the road； into which he threw it as far as
he could fling。 Such are the strange remnants of conscience
which remain after she seems totally subdued； that this cruel and
remorseless man would have felt himself degraded had he pocketed
the few pieces belonging to the wretch whom he had thus
ruthlessly slain。
The murderer reloaded his pistol after cleansing the lock and
barrel from the appearances of late explosion； and rode calmly
after the litter； satisfying himself that he had so adroitly
removed a troublesome witness to many of his intrigues； and the
bearer of mandates which he had no intentions to obey； and which；
therefore； he was desirous it should be thought had never reached
his hand。
The remainder of the journey was made with a degree of speed
which showed the little care they had for the health of the
unhappy Countess。 They paused only at places where all was under
their command； and where the tale they were prepared to tell of
the insane Lady Varney would have obtained ready credit had she
made an attempt to appeal to the compassion of the few persons
admitted to see her。 But Amy saw no chance of obtaining a
hearing from any to whom she had an opportunity of addressing
herself； and besides； was too terrified for the presence of
Varney to violate the implied condition under which she was to
travel free from his company。 The authority of Varney； often so
used during the Earl's private journeys to Cumnor； readily
procured relays of horses where wanted； so that they approached
Cumnor Place upon the night after they left Kenilworth。
At this period of the journey Varney came up to the rear of the
litter； as he had done before repeatedly during their progress；
and asked； 〃How does she？〃
〃She sleeps；〃 said Foster。 〃I would we were homeher strength
is exhausted。〃
〃Rest will restore her；〃 answered Varney。 〃She shall soon sleep
sound and long。 We must consider how to lodge her in safety。〃
〃In her own apartments； to be sure；〃 said Foster。 〃I have sent
Janet to her aunt's with a proper rebuke； and the old women are
truth itselffor they hate this lady cordially。〃
〃We will not trust them； however； friend Anthony；〃 said Varney；
〃We must secure her in that stronghold where you keep your gold。〃
〃My gold！〃 said Anthony； much alarmed； 〃why； what gold have I？
God help me； I have no goldI would I had！〃
〃Now； marry hang thee； thou stupid brute； who thinks of or cares
for thy gold？ If I did； could I not find an hundred better ways
to come at it？ In one word； thy bedchamber； which thou hast
fenced so curiously； must be her place of seclusion； and thou；
thou hind； shalt press her pillows of down。 I dare to say the
Earl will never ask after the rich furniture of these four
rooms。〃
This last consideration rendered Foster tractable； he only asked
permission to ride before； to make matters ready； and spurring
his horse； he posted before the litter； while Varney falling
about threescore paces behind it； it remained only attended by
Tider。
When they had arrived at Cumnor Place； the Countess asked eagerly
for Janet； and showed much alarm when informed that she was no
longer to have the attendance of that amiable girl。
〃My daughter is dear to me； madam；〃 said Foster gruffly； 〃and I
desire not that she should get the court…tricks of lying and
'scapingsomewhat too much of that has she learned already； an
it please your ladyship。〃
The Countess； much fatigued and greatly terrified by the
circumstances of her journey； made no answer to this insolence；
but mildly expressed a wish to retire to her chamber；
〃Ay； ay；〃 muttered Foster； 〃'tis but reasonable； but； under
favour； you go not to your gew…gaw toy…house yonderyou will
sleep to…night in better security。〃
〃I would it were in my grave；〃 said the Countess； 〃but that
mortal feelings shiver at the idea of soul and body parting。〃
〃You； I guess； have no chance to shiver at that；〃 replied Foster。
〃My lord comes hither to…morrow； and doubtless you will make your
own ways good with him。〃
〃But does he come hither？does he indeed； good Foster？〃
〃Oh； ay； good Foster！〃 replied the other。 〃But what Foster
shall I be to…morrow when you speak of me to my lordthough all
I have done was to obey his own orders？〃
〃You shall be my protectora rough one indeedbut still a
protector；〃 answered the Countess。 〃Oh that Janet were but
here！〃
〃She is better where she is；〃 answered Foster〃one of you is
enough to perplex a plain head。 But will you taste any
refreshment？〃
〃Oh no； nomy chambermy chamber！ I trust；〃 she said
apprehensively； 〃I may secure it on the inside？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 answered Foster； 〃so I may secure it on the
outside；〃 and taking a light； he led the way to a part of the
building where Amy had never been； and conducted her up a stair
of great height； preceded by one of the old women with a lamp。
At the head of the stair； which seemed of almost immeasurable
height； they crossed a short wooden gallery； formed of black oak；
and very narrow； at the farther end of which was a strong oaken
door； which opened and admitted them into the miser's apartment；
homely in its accommodations in the very last degree； and； except
in name； little different from a prison…room。
Foster stopped at the door； and gave the lamp to the Countess；
without either offering or permitting the attendance of the old
woman who had carried it。 The lady stood not on ceremony； but
taking it hastily； barred the door； and secured it with the ample
means provided on the inside for that purpose。
Varney； meanwhile； had lurked behind on the stairs； but hearing
the door barred； he now came up on tiptoe； and Foster； winking to
him； pointed with self…complacence to a piece of concealed
machinery in the wall； which； playing with much ease and little
noise； dropped a part of the wooden gallery； after the manner of
a drawbridge； so as to cut off all communication between the door
of the bedroom； which he usually inhabited； and the landing…place
of the high； winding stair which ascended to it。 The rope by
which this machinery was wrought was generally carried within the
bedchamber； it being Foster's object to provide against invasion
from without； but now that it was intended to secure the prisoner
within； the cord had been brought over to the landing…place； and
was there made fast； when Foster with much complacency had
dropped the unsuspected trap…door。
Varney looked with great attention at the machinery； and peeped
more than once down the abyss which was opened by the fall of the
trap…door。 It was dark as pitch； and seemed profoundly deep；
going； as Foster informed his confederate in a whisper； nigh to
the lowest vault of the Castle。 Varney cast once more a fixed
and long look down into this sable gulf； and then followed Foster
to the part of the manor…house most usually inhabited。
When they arrived in the parlour which we have mentioned； Varney
requested Foster to get them supper； and some of the choicest
wine。 〃I will seek Alasco；〃 he added； 〃we have work for him to
do； and we must put him in good heart。〃
Foster groaned at this intimation； but made no remonstrance。 The
old woman assured Varney that Alasco had scarce eaten or drunken
since her master's departure； living perpetually shut up in the
laboratory； and talking as if the world's continuance depended on
what he was doing there。
〃I will teach him that the world hath other claims on him；〃 said
Varney； seizing a light； and going in quest of the alchemist。 He
returned； after a considerable absence； very pale； but yet with
his habitual sneer on his cheek and nostril。 〃Our friend；〃 he
said； 〃has exhaled。〃
〃How！what mean you？〃 said Foster〃run awayfled with my
forty pounds； that should have been multiplied a thousand…fold？
I will have Hue and Cry！〃
〃I will tell thee a surer way；〃 said Varney。