what would you say had I actually myself seen him？〃
〃If you had；〃 replied the Earl； 〃you would do well to keep that
interview as secret as that which is spoken in a confessional。 I
seek no one's ruin； but he who thrusts himself on my secret
privacy were better look well to his future walk。 The bear ＇The
Leicester cognizance was the ancient device adopted by his
father； when Earl of Warwick； the bear and ragged staff。＇ brooks
no one to cross his awful path。〃
〃Awful； indeed！〃 said the Countess； turning very pale。
〃You are ill； my love；〃 said the Earl； supporting her in his
arms。 〃Stretch yourself on your couch again； it is but an early
day for you to leave it。 Have you aught else； involving less
than my fame； my fortune； and my life； to ask of me？〃
〃Nothing； my lord and love；〃 answered the Countess faintly；
〃something there was that I would have told you； but your anger
has driven it from my recollection。〃
〃Reserve it till our next meeting； my love；〃 said the Earl
fondly； and again embracing her； 〃and barring only those requests
which I cannot and dare not grant； thy wish must be more than
England and all its dependencies can fulfil； if it is not
gratified to the letter。〃
Thus saying； he at length took farewell。 At the bottom of the
staircase he received from Varney an ample livery cloak and
slouched hat； in which he wrapped himself so as to disguise his
person and completely conceal his features。 Horses were ready in
the courtyard for himself and Varney； for one or two of his
train； intrusted with the secret so far as to know or guess that
the Earl intrigued with a beautiful lady at that mansion； though
her name and duality were unknown to them； had already been
dismissed over…night。
Anthony Foster himself had in hand the rein of the Earl's
palfrey； a stout and able nag for the road； while his old
serving…man held the bridle of the more showy and gallant steed
which Richard Varney was to occupy in the character of master。
As the Earl approached； however； Varney advanced to hold his
master's bridle； and to prevent Foster from paying that duty to
the Earl which he probably considered as belonging to his own
office。 Foster scowled at an interference which seemed intended
to prevent his paying his court to his patron； but gave place to
Varney； and the Earl； mounting without further observation； and
forgetting that his assumed character of a domestic threw him
into the rear of his supposed master； rode pensively out of the
quadrangle； not without waving his hand repeatedly in answer to
the signals which were made by the Countess with her kerchief
from the windows of her apartment。
While his stately form vanished under the dark archway which led
out of the quadrangle； Varney muttered； 〃There goes fine policy
the servant before the master！〃 then as he disappeared； seized
the moment to speak a word with Foster。 〃Thou look'st dark on
me； Anthony；〃 he said； 〃as if I had deprived thee of a parting
nod of my lord； but I have moved him to leave thee a better
remembrance for thy faithful service。 See here！ a purse of as
good gold as ever chinked under a miser's thumb and fore…finger。
Ay； count them； lad；〃 said he； as Foster received the gold with a
grim smile； 〃and add to them the goodly remembrance he gave last
night to Janet。〃
〃How's this？ how's this？〃 said Anthony Foster hastily； 〃gave he
gold to Janet？〃
〃Ay； man； wherefore not？does not her service to his fair lady
require guerdon？〃
〃She shall have none on't；〃 said Foster； 〃she shall return it。 I
know his dotage on one face is as brief as it is deep。 His
affections are as fickle as the moon。〃
〃Why； Foster； thou art madthou dost not hope for such good
fortune as that my lord should cast an eye on Janet？ Who； in the
fiend's name； would listen to the thrush while the nightingale is
singing？〃
〃Thrush or nightingale； all is one to the fowler； and； Master
Varney； you can sound the quail…pipe most daintily to wile
wantons into his nets。 I desire no such devil's preferment for
Janet as you have brought many a poor maiden to。 Dost thou
laugh？ I will keep one limb of my family； at least； from Satan's
clutches； that thou mayest rely on。 She shall restore the gold。〃
〃Ay； or give it to thy keeping； Tony； which will serve as well；〃
answered Varney； 〃but I have that to say which is more serious。
Our lord is returning to court in an evil humour for us。〃
〃How meanest thou？〃 said Foster。 〃Is he tired already of his
pretty toyhis plaything yonder？ He has purchased her at a
monarch's ransom； and I warrant me he rues his bargain。〃
〃Not a whit； Tony；〃 answered the master of the horse； 〃he dotes
on her； and will forsake the court for her。 Then down go hopes；
possessions； and safetychurch…lands are resumed； Tony； and well
if the holders be not called to account in Exchequer。〃
〃That were ruin；〃 said Foster； his brow darkening with
apprehensions； 〃and all this for a woman！ Had it been for his
soul's sake； it were something； and I sometimes wish I myself
could fling away the world that cleaves to me； and be as one of
the poorest of our church。〃
〃Thou art like enough to be so； Tony；〃 answered Varney； 〃but I
think the devil will give thee little credit for thy compelled
poverty； and so thou losest on all hands。 But follow my counsel；
and Cumnor Place shall be thy copyhold yet。 Say nothing of this
Tressilian's visitnot a word until I give thee notice。〃
〃And wherefore； I pray you？〃 asked Foster； suspiciously。
〃Dull beast！〃 replied Varney。 〃In my lord's present humour it
were the ready way to confirm him in his resolution of
retirement； should he know that his lady was haunted with such a
spectre in his absence。 He would be for playing the dragon
himself over his golden fruit； and then； Tony； thy occupation is
ended。 A word to the wise。 Farewell！ I must follow him。〃
He turned his horse； struck him with the spurs； and rode off
under the archway in pursuit of his lord。
〃Would thy occupation were ended； or thy neck broken； damned
pander！〃 said Anthony Foster。 〃But I must follow his beck； for
his interest and mine are the same； and he can wind the proud
Earl to his will。 Janet shall give me those pieces though； they
shall be laid out in some way for God's service； and I will keep
them separate in my strong chest； till I can fall upon a fitting
employment for them。 No contagious vapour shall breathe on
Janetshe shall remain pure as a blessed spirit； were it but to
pray God for her father。 I need her prayers； for I am at a hard
pass。 Strange reports are abroad concerning my way of life。 The
congregation look cold on me； and when Master Holdforth spoke of
hypocrites being like a whited sepulchre； which within was full
of dead men's bones； methought he looked full at me。 The Romish
was a comfortable faith； Lambourne spoke true in that。 A man had
but to follow his thrift by such ways as offeredtell his beads；
hear a mass； confess； and be absolved。 These Puritans tread a
harder and a rougher path； but I will tryI will read my Bible
for an hour ere I again open mine iron chest。〃
Varney； meantime； spurred after his lord； whom he found waiting
for him at the postern gate of the park。
〃You waste time； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃and it presses。 I must
be at Woodstock before I can safely lay aside my disguise； and
till then I journey in some peril。〃
〃It is but two hours' brisk riding； my lord；〃 said Varney。 〃For
me； I only stopped to enforce your commands of care and secrecy
on yonder Foster； and to inquire about the abode of the gentleman
whom I would promote to your lordship's train； in the room of
Trevors。〃
〃Is he fit for the meridian of the antechamber； think'st thou？〃
said the Earl。
〃He promises well； my lord；〃 replied Varney ； 〃but if your
lordship were pleased to ride on； I could go back to Cumnor； and
bring him to your lordship at Woodstock before you are out of
bed。〃
〃Why； I am asleep there； thou knowest； at this moment；〃 said the
Earl； 〃and I pray you not to spare horse…flesh； that you may be
with me at my levee。〃
So saying； he gave his horse the spur； and proceeded on his
journey； while Varney rode back to Cumnor by the public road；
avoiding the park。 The latter alighted at the door of the bonny
Black Bear； and desired to speak with Master Michael Lambourne；
That respectable character was not long of appearing before his
new patron； but it was with downcast looks。
〃Thou hast lost the scent；〃 said Varney； 〃of thy comrade
Tressilian。 I know it by thy bang…dog visage。 Is this thy
alacrity； thou impudent knave？〃
〃Cogswounds！〃 said Lambourne； 〃there was never a trail so finely
hunted。 I saw him to earth at mine uncle's herestuck to him
like bees'…waxsaw him at supperwatched him to his chamber；
and； presto！ he is gone next morning； the very hostler knows not
where。〃
〃This sounds like practice upon me； sir；〃 replied Varney； 〃and if
it proves so； by my soul you shall repent it！〃
〃Sir； the best hound will be sometimes at fault；〃 answered
Lambourne； 〃how should it serve me that this fellow should have
thus evanished？ You may ask mine host； Giles Goslingask the
tapster and