when the stateliest fabric that ever was founded upon a prince's
favour melts away like a morning frost…work。 I would only have
you yourself to be assured； my lord； ere you take a step which
cannot be retracted； that you consult your fame and happiness in
the course you propose。〃
〃Speak on； then； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃I tell thee I have
determined nothing； and will weigh all considerations on either
side。〃
〃Well； then； my lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃we will suppose the step
taken； the frown frowned； the laugh laughed； and the moan moaned。
You have retired； we will say； to some one of your most distant
castles； so far from court that you hear neither the sorrow of
your friends nor the glee of your enemies； We will suppose； too；
that your successful rival will be satisfied （a thing greatly to
be doubted） with abridging and cutting away the branches of the
great tree which so long kept the sun from him； and that he does
not insist upon tearing you up by the roots。 Well； the late
prime favourite of England； who wielded her general's staff and
controlled her parliaments； is now a rural baron； hunting；
hawking； drinking fat ale with country esquires； and mustering
his men at the command of the high sheriff〃
〃Varney； forbear！〃 said the Earl。
〃Nay； my lord； you must give me leave to conclude my picture。
Sussex governs Englandthe Queen's health failsthe
succession is to be settleda road is opened to ambition more
splendid than ambition ever dreamed of。 You hear all this as you
sit by the hob； under the shade of your hall…chimney。 You then
begin to think what hopes you have fallen from； and what
insignificance you have embraced； and all that you might look
babies in the eyes of your fair wife oftener than once a
fortnight；〃
〃I say； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃no more of this。 I said not
that the step； which my own ease and comfort would urge me to；
was to be taken hastily； or without due consideration to the
public safety。 Bear witness to me； Varney； I subdue my wishes of
retirement； not because I am moved by the call of private
ambition； but that I may preserve the position in which I may
best serve my country at the hour of need。Order our horses
presently； I will wear； as formerly； one of the livery cloaks；
and ride before the portmantle。 Thou shalt be master for the
day； Varneyneglect nothing that can blind suspicion。 We will
to horse ere men are stirring。 I will but take leave of my lady；
and be ready。 I impose a restraint on my own poor heart； and
wound one yet more dear to me； but the patriot must subdue the
husband。
Having said this in a melancholy but firm accent； he left the
dressing apartment。
〃I am glad thou art gone；〃 thought Varney； 〃or； practised as I am
in the follies of mankind； I had laughed in the very face of
thee！ Thou mayest tire as thou wilt of thy new bauble； thy
pretty piece of painted Eve's flesh there； I will not be thy
hindrance。 But of thine old bauble； ambition； thou shalt not
tire； for as you climb the hill； my lord； you must drag Richard
Varney up with you； and if he can urge you to the ascent he means
to profit by； believe me he will spare neither whip nor spur； and
for you； my pretty lady； that would be Countess outright； you
were best not thwart my courses； lest you are called to an old
reckoning on a new score。 'Thou shalt be master；' did he say？
By my faith； he may find that he spoke truer than he is aware of；
and thus he who； in the estimation of so many wise…judging men；
can match Burleigh and Walsingham in policy； and Sussex in war；
becomes pupil to his own menialand all for a hazel eye and a
little cunning red and white； and so falls ambition。 And yet if
the charms of mortal woman could excuse a man's politic pate for
becoming bewildered； my lord had the excuse at his right hand on
this blessed evening that has last passed over us。 Welllet
things roll as they may； he shall make me great； or I will make
myself happy； and for that softer piece of creation； if she speak
not out her interview with Tressilian； as well I think she dare
not； she also must traffic with me for concealment and mutual
support； in spite of all this scorn。 I must to the stables。
Well； my lord； I order your retinue now； the time may soon come
that my master of the horse shall order mine own。 What was
Thomas Cromwell but a smith's son？ and he died my lordon a
scaffold； doubtless； but that； too； was in character。 And what
was Ralph Sadler but the clerk of Cromwell？ and he has gazed
eighteen fair lordshipsVIA！ I know my steerage as well as
they。〃
So saying； he left the apartment。
In the meanwhile the Earl had re…entered the bedchamber； bent on
taking a hasty farewell of the lovely Countess； and scarce daring
to trust himself in private with her； to hear requests again
urged which he found it difficult to parry； yet which his recent
conversation with his master of horse had determined him not to
grant。
He found her in a white cymar of silk lined with furs； her little
feet unstockinged and hastily thrust into slippers； her unbraided
hair escaping from under her midnight coif； with little array but
her own loveliness； rather augmented than diminished by the grief
which she felt at the approaching moment of separation。
〃Now； God be with thee； my dearest and loveliest！〃 said the
Earl； scarce tearing himself from her embrace； yet again
returning to fold her again and again in his arms； and again
bidding farewell； and again returning to kiss and bid adieu once
more。 〃The sun is on the verge of the blue horizonI dare not
stay。 Ere this I should have been ten miles from hence。〃
Such were the words with which at length he strove to cut short
their parting interview。 〃You will not grant my request； then？〃
said the Countess。 〃Ah； false knight！ did ever lady； with bare
foot in slipper； seek boon of a brave knight； yet return with
denial？〃
〃Anything； Amy； anything thou canst ask I will grant；〃 answered
the Earl〃always excepting；〃 he said； 〃that which might ruin us
both。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the Countess； 〃I urge not my wish to be acknowledged
in the character which would make me the envy of Englandas the
wife； that is； of my brave and noble lord； the first as the most
fondly beloved of English nobles。 Let me but share the secret
with my dear father！ Let me but end his misery on my unworthy
accountthey say he is ill； the good old kind…hearted man！〃
〃They say？〃 asked the Earl hastily； 〃who says？ Did not Varney
convey to Sir Hugh all we dare at present tell him concerning
your happiness and welfare？ and has he not told you that the
good old knight was following； with good heart and health； his
favourite and wonted exercise。 Who has dared put other thoughts
into your head？〃
〃Oh； no one； my lord； no one；〃 said the Countess； something
alarmed at the tone； in which the question was put； 〃but yet； my
lord； I would fain be assured by mine own eyesight that my father
is well。〃
〃Be contented； Amy； thou canst not now have communication with
thy father or his house。 Were it not a deep course of policy to
commit no secret unnecessarily to the custody of more than must
needs be； it were sufficient reason for secrecy that yonder
Cornish man； yonder Trevanion； or Tressilian； or whatever his
name is； haunts the old knight's house； and must necessarily know
whatever is communicated there。〃
〃My lord；〃 answered the Countess； 〃I do not think it so。 My
father has been long noted a worthy and honourable man； and for
Tressilian； if we can pardon ourselves the ill we have wrought
him； I will wager the coronet I am to share with you one day that
he is incapable of returning injury for injury。〃
〃I will not trust him； however； Amy；〃 said her husband〃by my
honour； I will not trust him； I would rather the foul fiend
intermingle in our secret than this Tressilian！〃
〃And why； my lord？〃 said the Countess； though she shuddered
slightly at the tone of determination in which he spoke； 〃let me
but know why you think thus hardly of Tressilian？〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the Earl； 〃my will ought to be a sufficient
reason。 If you desire more； consider how this Tressilian is
leagued； and with whom。 He stands high in the opinion of this
Radcliffe； this Sussex； against whom I am barely able to maintain
my ground in the opinion of our suspicious mistress； and if he
had me at such advantage； Amy； as to become acquainted with the
tale of our marriage； before Elizabeth were fitly prepared； I
were an outcast from her grace for evera bankrupt at once in
favour and in fortune； perhaps； for she hath in her a touch of
her father Henrya victim； and it may be a bloody one； to her
offended and jealous resentment。〃
〃But why； my lord；〃 again urged his lady； 〃should you deem thus
injuriously of a man of whom you know so little？ What you do
know of Tressilian is through me； and it is I who assure you that
in no circumstances will be betray your secret。 If I did him
wrong in your behalf； my lord； I am now the more concerned you
should do him justice。 You are offended at my speaking of him；
what would you say had I actually myself seen him？〃
〃If you had；〃 replied the Earl； 〃you would do well to keep