where he takes earth； and bring me word up to the mansion…house
here。 Cautious and silent； thou knave； as thou valuest thy
throat。〃
〃Enough said；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃I can draw on a scent as well
as a sleuth…hound。〃
〃Begone； then；〃 said Varney； sheathing his rapier； and； turning
his back on Michael Lambourne； he walked slowly towards the
house。 Lambourne stopped but an instant to gather the nobles
which his late companion had flung towards him so
unceremoniously； and muttered to himself； while he put them upon
his purse along with the gratuity of Varney； 〃I spoke to yonder
gulls of Eldorado。 By Saint Anthony； there is no Eldorado for
men of our stamp equal to bonny Old England！ It rains nobles； by
Heaventhey lie on the grass as thick as dewdropsyou may have
them for gathering。 And if I have not my share of such
glittering dewdrops； may my sword melt like an icicle！〃
CHAPTER V。
He was a man
Versed in the world as pilot in his compass。
The needle pointed ever to that interest
Which was his loadstar； and he spread his sails
With vantage to the gale of others' passion。
THE DECEIVER； A TRAGEDY。
Antony Foster was still engaged in debate with his fair guest；
who treated with scorn every entreaty and request that she would
retire to her own apartment； when a whistle was heard at the
entrance…door of the mansion。
〃We are fairly sped now；〃 said Foster； 〃yonder is thy lord's
signal； and what to say about the disorder which has happened in
this household； by my conscience； I know not。 Some evil fortune
dogs the heels of that unhanged rogue Lambourne； and he has
'scaped the gallows against every chance； to come back and be the
ruin of me！〃
〃Peace； sir；〃 said the lady； 〃and undo the gate to your master。
My lord！ my dear lord！〃 she then exclaimed； hastening to the
entrance of the apartment； then added； with a voice expressive of
disappointment； 〃Pooh！ it is but Richard Varney。〃
〃Ay； madam；〃 said Varney； entering and saluting the lady with a
respectful obeisance； which she returned with a careless mixture
of negligence and of displeasure； 〃it is but Richard Varney； but
even the first grey cloud should be acceptable； when it lightens
in the east； because it announces the approach of the blessed
sun。〃
〃How！ comes my lord hither to…night？〃 said the lady； in joyful
yet startled agitation； and Anthony Foster caught up the word；
and echoed the question。 Varney replied to the lady； that his
lord purposed to attend her； and would have proceeded with some
compliment； when； running to the door of the parlour； she called
aloud； 〃JanetJanet！ come to my tiring…room instantly。〃 Then
returning to Varney； she asked if her lord sent any further
commendations to her。
〃This letter； honoured madam；〃 said he； taking from his bosom a
small parcel wrapped in scarlet silk； 〃and with it a token to
the Queen of his Affections。〃 With eager speed the lady hastened
to undo the silken string which surrounded the little packet； and
failing to unloose readily the knot with which it was secured；
she again called loudly on Janet； 〃Bring me a knifescissors
aught that may undo this envious knot！〃
〃May not my poor poniard serve； honoured madam？〃 said Varney；
presenting a small dagger of exquisite workmanship； which hung in
his Turkey…leather sword…belt。
〃No； sir；〃 replied the lady； rejecting the instrument which he
offered〃steel poniard shall cut no true…love knot of mine。〃
〃It has cut many； however；〃 said Anthony Foster； half aside； and
looking at Varney。 By this time the knot was disentangled
without any other help than the neat and nimble fingers of Janet；
a simply…attired pretty maiden； the daughter of Anthony Foster；
who came running at the repeated call of her mistress。 A
necklace of orient pearl； the companion of a perfumed billet； was
now hastily produced from the packet。 The lady gave the one；
after a slight glance； to the charge of her attendant； while she
read； or rather devoured； the contents of the other。
〃Surely； lady；〃 said Janet； gazing with admiration at the neck…
string of pearls； 〃the daughters of Tyre wore no fairer neck…
jewels than these。 And then the posy； 'For a neck that is
fairer'each pearl is worth a freehold。〃
〃Each word in this dear paper is worth the whole string； my girl。
But come to my tiring…room； girl； we must be brave； my lord comes
hither to…night。He bids me grace you； Master Varney； and to me
his wish is a law。 I bid you to a collation in my bower this
afternoon； and you； too； Master Foster。 Give orders that all is
fitting； and that suitable preparations be made for my lord's
reception to…night。〃 With these words she left the apartment。
〃She takes state on her already；〃 said Varney； 〃and distributes
the favour of her presence； as if she were already the partner of
his dignity。 Well； it is wise to practise beforehand the part
which fortune prepares us to playthe young eagle must gaze at
the sun ere he soars on strong wing to meet it。〃
〃If holding her head aloft；〃 said Foster； 〃will keep her eyes
from dazzling； I warrant you the dame will not stoop her crest。
She will presently soar beyond reach of my whistle； Master
Varney。 I promise you； she holds me already in slight regard。〃
〃It is thine own fault； thou sullen； uninventive companion；〃
answered Varney； 〃who knowest no mode of control save downright
brute force。 Canst thou not make home pleasant to her； with
music and toys？ Canst thou not make the out…of…doors frightful
to her； with tales of goblins？ Thou livest here by the
churchyard； and hast not even wit enough to raise a ghost； to
scare thy females into good discipline。〃
〃Speak not thus； Master Varney；〃 said Foster； 〃the living I fear
not； but I trifle not nor toy with my dead neighbours of the
churchyard。 I promise you； it requires a good heart to live so
near it。 Worthy Master Holdforth； the afternoon's lecturer of
Saint Antonlin's； had a sore fright there the last time he came
to visit me。〃
〃Hold thy superstitious tongue；〃 answered Varney； 〃and while thou
talkest of visiting； answer me； thou paltering knave； how came
Tressilian to be at the postern door？〃
〃Tressilian！〃 answered Foster； 〃what know I of Tressilian？ I
never heard his name。〃
〃Why； villain； it was the very Cornish chough to whom old Sir
Hugh Robsart destined his pretty Amy； and hither the hot…brained
fool has come to look after his fair runaway。 There must be some
order taken with him； for he thinks he hath wrong； and is not the
mean hind that will sit down with it。 Luckily he knows nought of
my lord； but thinks he has only me to deal with。 But how； in the
fiend's name； came he hither？〃
〃Why； with Mike Lambourne； an you must know；〃 answered Foster。
〃And who is Mike Lambourne？〃 demanded Varney。 〃By Heaven！ thou
wert best set up a bush over thy door； and invite every stroller
who passes by to see what thou shouldst keep secret even from the
sun and air。〃
〃Ay！ ay！ this is a courtlike requital of my service to you；
Master Richard Varney；〃 replied Foster。 〃Didst thou not charge
me to seek out for thee a fellow who had a good sword and an
unscrupulous conscience？ and was I not busying myself to find a
fit manfor； thank Heaven； my acquaintance lies not amongst such
companionswhen； as Heaven would have it； this tall fellow； who
is in all his dualities the very flashing knave thou didst wish；
came hither to fix acquaintance upon me in the plenitude of his
impudence； and I admitted his claim； thinking to do you a
pleasure。 And now see what thanks I get for disgracing myself by
converse with him！〃
〃And did he；〃 said Varney； 〃being such a fellow as thyself； only
lacking； I suppose； thy present humour of hypocrisy； which lies
as thin over thy hard； ruffianly heart as gold lacquer upon rusty
irondid he； I say； bring the saintly； sighing Tressilian in his
train？〃
〃They came together； by Heaven！〃 said Foster； 〃and Tressilian
to speak Heaven's truthobtained a moment's interview with our
pretty moppet； while I was talking apart with Lambourne。〃
〃Improvident villain！ we are both undone；〃 said Varney。 〃She
has of late been casting many a backward look to her father's
halls； whenever her lordly lover leaves her alone。 Should this
preaching fool whistle her back to her old perch； we were but
lost men。〃
〃No fear of that； my master；〃 replied Anthony Foster； 〃she is in
no mood to stoop to his lure； for she yelled out on seeing him as
if an adder had stung her。〃
〃That is good。 Canst thou not get from thy daughter an inkling
of what passed between them； good Foster？〃
〃I tell you plain； Master Varney；〃 said Foster； 〃my daughter
shall not enter our purposes or walk in our paths。 They may suit
me well enough； who know how to repent of my misdoings； but I
will not have my child's soul committed to peril either for your
pleasure or my lord's。 I may walk among snares and pitfalls
myself； because I have discretion； but I will not trust the poor
lamb among them。〃
〃Why； thou suspicious fool； I were as averse as thou art that thy
baby…faced girl should enter into my plans； or walk to hell at
her fat