will think on what thou hast said； but I must have your
assistance to persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me his
commissioner and fiduciary in this matter； for it is in his name
I must speak； and not in my own。 Since she is so far changed as
to dote upon this empty profligate courtier； he shall at least do
her the justice which is yet in his power。〃
〃Better she died CAELEBS and SINE PROLE；〃 said Mumblazen； with
more animation than he usually expressed； 〃than part； PER PALE；
the noble coat of Robsart with that of such a miscreant！〃
〃If it be your object； as I cannot question；〃 said the clergyman；
〃to save； as much as is yet possible； the credit of this unhappy
young woman； I repeat； you should apply； in the first instance；
to the Earl of Leicester。 He is as absolute in his household as
the Queen in her kingdom； and if he expresses to Varney that such
is his pleasure； her honour will not stand so publicly
committed。〃
〃You are right； you are right！〃 said Tressilian eagerly； 〃and I
thank you for pointing out what I overlooked in my haste。 I
little thought ever to have besought grace of Leicester； but I
could kneel to the proud Dudley； if doing so could remove one
shade of shame from this unhappy damsel。 You will assist me then
to procure the necessary powers from Sir Hugh Robsart？〃
The curate assured him of his assistance； and the herald nodded
assent。
〃You must hold yourselves also in readiness to testify； in case
you are called upon； the openhearted hospitality which our good
patron exercised towards this deceitful traitor； and the
solicitude with which he laboured to seduce his unhappy
daughter。〃
〃At first；〃 said the clergyman； 〃she did not； as it seemed to me；
much affect his company； but latterly I saw them often together。〃
〃SEIANT in the parlour；〃 said Michael Mumblazen； 〃and PASSANT in
the garden。〃
〃I once came on them by chance；〃 said the priest； 〃in the South
wood； in a spring evening。 Varney was muffled in a russet cloak；
so that I saw not his face。 They separated hastily； as they
heard me rustle amongst the leaves； and I observed she turned her
head and looked long after him。〃
〃With neck REGUARDANT；〃 said the herald。 〃And on the day of her
flight； and that was on Saint Austen's Eve； I saw Varney's groom；
attired in his liveries； hold his master's horse and Mistress
Amy's palfrey； bridled and saddled PROPER； behind the wall of the
churchyard；〃
〃And now is she found mewed up in his secret place of
retirement；〃 said Tressilian。 〃The villain is taken in the
manner； and I well wish he may deny his crime； that I may thrust
conviction down his false throat！ But I must prepare for my
journey。 Do you； gentlemen； dispose my patron to grant me such
powers as are needful to act in his name。〃
So saying； Tressilian left the room。
〃He is too hot；〃 said the curate； 〃and I pray to God that He may
grant him the patience to deal with Varney as is fitting。〃
〃Patience and Varney；〃 said Mumblazen； 〃is worse heraldry than
metal upon metal。 He is more false than a siren； more rapacious
than a griffin； more poisonous than a wyvern； and more cruel than
a lion rampant。〃
〃Yet I doubt much；〃 said the curate； 〃whether we can with
propriety ask from Sir Hugh Robsart； being in his present
condition； any deed deputing his paternal right in Mistress Amy
to whomsoever〃
〃Your reverence need not doubt that；〃 said Will Badger； who
entered as he spoke； 〃for I will lay my life he is another man
when he wakes than he has been these thirty days past。〃
〃Ay； Will；〃 said the curate； 〃hast thou then so much confidence
in Doctor Diddleum's draught？〃
〃Not a whit；〃 said Will； 〃because master ne'er tasted a drop
on't； seeing it was emptied out by the housemaid。 But here's a
gentleman； who came attending on Master Tressilian； has given Sir
Hugh a draught that is worth twenty of yon un。 I have spoken
cunningly with him； and a better farrier or one who hath a more
just notion of horse and dog ailment I have never seen； and such
a one would never be unjust to a Christian man。〃
〃A farrier！ you saucy groomand by whose authority； pray？〃
said the curate； rising in surprise and indignation； 〃or who will
be warrant for this new physician？〃
〃For authority； an it like your reverence； he had mine； and for
warrant； I trust I have not been five…and…twenty years in this
house without having right to warrant the giving of a draught to
beast or bodyI who can gie a drench； and a ball； and bleed； or
blister； if need； to my very self。〃
The counsellors of the house of Robsart thought it meet to carry
this information instantly to Tressilian； who as speedily
summoned before him Wayland Smith； and demanded of him （in
private； however） by what authority he had ventured to administer
any medicine to Sir Hugh Robsart？
〃Why；〃 replied the artist； 〃your worship cannot but remember that
I told you I had made more progress into my master'sI mean the
learned Doctor Doboobie'smystery than he was willing to own；
and indeed half of his quarrel and malice against me was that；
besides that I got something too deep into his secrets； several
discerning persons； and particularly a buxom young widow of
Abingdon； preferred my prescriptions to his。〃
〃None of thy buffoonery； sir；〃 said Tressilian sternly。 〃If thou
hast trifled with usmuch more； if thou hast done aught that may
prejudice Sir Hugh Robsart's health； thou shalt find thy grave at
the bottom of a tin…mine。〃
〃I know too little of the great ARCANUM to convert the ore to
gold；〃 said Wayland firmly。 〃But truce to your apprehensions；
Master Tressilian。 I understood the good knight's case from what
Master William Badger told me； and I hope I am able enough to
administer a poor dose of mandragora； which； with the sleep that
must needs follow； is all that Sir Hugh Robsart requires to
settle his distraught brains。〃
〃I trust thou dealest fairly with me； Wayland？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Most fairly and honestly； as the event shall show；〃 replied the
artist。 〃What would it avail me to harm the poor old man for
whom you are interested？you； to whom I owe it that Gaffer
Pinniewinks is not even now rending my flesh and sinews with his
accursed pincers； and probing every mole in my body with his
sharpened awl （a murrain on the hands which forged it！） in order
to find out the witch's mark？I trust to yoke myself as a humble
follower to your worship's train； and I only wish to have my
faith judged of by the result of the good knight's slumbers。〃
Wayland Smith was right in his prognostication。 The sedative
draught which his skill had prepared； and Will Badger's
confidence had administered； was attended with the most
beneficial effects。 The patient's sleep was long and healthful；
and the poor old knight awoke； humbled indeed in thought and weak
in frame； yet a much better judge of whatever was subjected to
his intellect than he had been for some time past。 He resisted
for a while the proposal made by his friends that Tressilian
should undertake a journey to court； to attempt the recovery of
his daughter； and the redress of her wrongs； in so far as they
might yet be repaired。 〃Let her go；〃 he said； 〃she is but a hawk
that goes down the wind； I would not bestow even a whistle to
reclaim her。〃 But though he for some time maintained this
argument； he was at length convinced it was his duty to take the
part to which natural affection inclined him； and consent that
such efforts as could yet be made should be used by Tressilian in
behalf of his daughter。 He subscribed； therefore； a warrant of
attorney； such as the curate's skill enabled him to draw up； for
in those simple days the clergy were often the advisers of their
flock in law as well as in gospel。
All matters were prepared for Tressilian's second departure；
within twenty…four hours after he had returned to Lidcote Hall；
but one material circumstance had been forgotten； which was first
called to the remembrance of Tressilian by Master Mumblazen。
〃You are going to court； Master Tressilian；〃 said he； 〃you will
please remember that your blazonry must be ARGENT and ORno
other tinctures will pass current。〃 The remark was equally just
and embarrassing。 To prosecute a suit at court； ready money was
as indispensable even in the golden days of Elizabeth as at any
succeeding period； and it was a commodity little at the command
of the inhabitants of Lidcote Hall。 Tressilian was himself poor；
the revenues of good Sir Hugh Robsart were consumed； and even
anticipated； in his hospitable mode of living； and it was finally
necessary that the herald who started the doubt should himself
solve it。 Master Michael Mumblazen did so by producing a bag of
money； containing nearly three hundred pounds in gold and silver
of various coinage； the savings of twenty years； which he now；
without speaking a syllable upon the subject； dedicated to the
service of the patron whose shelter and protection had given him
the means of making this little hoard。 Tressilian accepted it
without affecting a moment's hesitation； and a mutual grasp of
the hand was all that passed betwixt them； to express the
pleasure which the one felt in dedicating his