after him with an expression that blanked for a moment his bold
and animated countenance。
Stanley just then entered the hall； and said to Tressilian； 〃My
lord is calling for your fellow Wayland； and your fellow Wayland
is just come hither in a sculler； and is calling for you； nor
will he go to my lord till he sees you。 The fellow looks as he
were mazed； methinks； I would you would see him immediately。〃
Tressilian instantly left the hall； and causing Wayland Smith to
be shown into a withdrawing apartment； and lights placed； he
conducted the artist thither； and was surprised when he observed
the emotion of his countenance。
〃What is the matter with you； Smith？〃 said Tressilian； 〃have you
seen the devil？〃
〃Worse； sir； worse；〃 replied Wayland； 〃I have seen a basilisk。
Thank God； I saw him first； for being so seen； and seeing not me；
he will do the less harm。〃
〃In God's name； speak sense；〃 said Tressilian； 〃and say what you
mean。〃
〃I have seen my old master；〃 said the artist。 〃Last night a
friend whom I had acquired took me to see the Palace clock；
judging me to be curious in such works of art。 At the window of
a turret next to the clock…house I saw my old master。〃
〃Thou must needs have been mistaken；〃 said Tressilian。
〃I was not mistaken；〃 said Wayland； 〃he that once hath his
features by heart would know him amongst a million。 He was
anticly habited； but he cannot disguise himself from me； God be
praised！ as I can from him。 I will not； however； tempt
Providence by remaining within his ken。 Tarleton the player
himself could not so disguise himself but that； sooner or later；
Doboobie would find him out。 I must away to…morrow； for； as we
stand together； it were death to me to remain within reach of
him。〃
〃But the Earl of Sussex？〃 said Tressilian。
〃He is in little danger from what he has hitherto taken； provided
he swallow the matter of a bean's size of the orvietan every
morning fasting； but let him beware of a relapse。〃
〃And how is that to be guarded against？〃 said Tressilian。
〃Only by such caution as you would use against the devil；〃
answered Wayland。 〃Let my lord's clerk of the kitchen kill his
lord's meat himself； and dress it himself； using no spice but
what he procures from the surest hands。 Let the sewer serve it
up himself； and let the master of my lord's household see that
both clerk and sewer taste the dishes which the one dresses and
the other serves。 Let my lord use no perfumes which come not
from well accredited persons； no unguentsno pomades。 Let him；
on no account； drink with strangers； or eat fruit with them；
either in the way of nooning or otherwise。 Especially； let him
observe such caution if he goes to Kenilworththe excuse of his
illness； and his being under diet； will； and must； cover the
strangeness of such practice。〃
〃And thou；〃 said Tressilian； 〃what dost thou think to make of
thyself？〃
〃France； Spain； either India； East or West； shall be my refuge；〃
said Wayland； 〃ere I venture my life by residing within ken of
Doboobie； Demetrius； or whatever else he calls himself for the
time。〃
〃Well；〃 said Tressilian； 〃this happens not inopportunely。 I had
business for you in Berkshire； but in the opposite extremity to
the place where thou art known； and ere thou hadst found out this
new reason for living private； I had settled to send thee thither
upon a secret embassage。〃
The artist expressed himself willing to receive his commands； and
Tressilian； knowing he was well acquainted with the outline of
his business at court； frankly explained to him the whole；
mentioned the agreement which subsisted betwixt Giles Gosling and
him； and told what had that day been averred in the presence…
chamber by Varney； and supported by Leicester。
〃Thou seest；〃 he added； 〃that； in the circumstances in which I am
placed； it behoves me to keep a narrow watch on the motions of
these unprincipled men； Varney and his complices； Foster and
Lambourne； as well as on those of my Lord Leicester himself； who；
I suspect； is partly a deceiver； and not altogether the deceived
in that matter。 Here is my ring； as a pledge to Giles Gosling。
Here is besides gold； which shall be trebled if thou serve me
faithfully。 Away down to Cumnor； and see what happens there。〃
〃I go with double good…will；〃 said the artist； 〃first； because I
serve your honour； who has been so kind to me； and then； that I
may escape my old master； who； if not an absolute incarnation of
the devil； has； at least； as much of the demon about him； in
will； word； and action； as ever polluted humanity。 And yet let
him take care of me。 I fly him now； as heretofore； but if； like
the Scottish wild cattle； I am vexed by frequent pursuit； I may
turn on him in hate and desperation。 ＇A remnant of the wild
cattle of Scotland are preserved at Chillingham Castle； near
Wooler； in Northumberland； the seat of Lord Tankerville。 They
fly before strangers； but if disturbed and followed； they turn
with fury on those who persist in annoying them。＇ Will your
honour command my nag to be saddled？ I will but give the
medicine to my lord； divided in its proper proportions； with a
few instructions。 His safety will then depend on the care of his
friends and domestics； for the past he is guarded； but let him
beware of the future。〃
Wayland Smith accordingly made his farewell visit to the Earl of
Sussex； dictated instructions as to his regimen； and precautions
concerning his diet； and left Sayes Court without waiting for
morning。
CHAPTER XVIII。
The moment comes
It is already comewhen thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum。
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee；
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions；
And tell thee； 〃Now's the time。〃
SCHILLER'S WALLENSTEIN； BY COLERIDGE。
When Leicester returned to his lodging； alter a day so important
and so harassing； in which； after riding out more than one gale；
and touching on more than one shoal； his bark had finally gained
the harbour with banner displayed； he seemed to experience as
much fatigue as a mariner after a perilous storm。 He spoke not a
word while his chamberlain exchanged his rich court…mantle for a
furred night…robe； and when this officer signified that Master
Varney desired to speak with his lordship； he replied only by a
sullen nod。 Varney； however； entered； accepting this signal as a
permission； and the chamberlain withdrew。
The Earl remained silent and almost motionless in his chair； his
head reclined on his hand； and his elbow resting upon the table
which stood beside him； without seeming to be conscious of the
entrance or of the presence of his confidant。 Varney waited for
some minutes until he should speak； desirous to know what was the
finally predominant mood of a mind through which so many powerful
emotions had that day taken their course。 But he waited in vain；
for Leicester continued still silent； and the confidant saw
himself under the necessity of being the first to speak。 〃May I
congratulate your lordship；〃 he said； 〃on the deserved
superiority you have this day attained over your most formidable
rival？〃
Leicester raised his head； and answered sadly； but without anger；
〃Thou； Varney； whose ready invention has involved me in a web of
most mean and perilous falsehood； knowest best what small reason
there is for gratulation on the subject。〃
〃Do you blame me； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃for not betraying； on
the first push； the secret on which your fortunes depended； and
which you have so oft and so earnestly recommended to my safe
keeping？ Your lordship was present in person； and might have
contradicted me and ruined yourself by an avowal of the truth；
but surely it was no part of a faithful servant to have done so
without your commands。〃
〃I cannot deny it； Varney；〃 said the Earl； rising and walking
across the room； 〃my own ambition has been traitor to my love。〃
〃Say rather； my lord； that your love has been traitor to your
greatness； and barred you from such a prospect of honour and
power as the world cannot offer to any other。 To make my
honoured lady a countess； you have missed the chance of being
yourself〃
He paused； and seemed unwilling to complete the sentence。
〃Of being myself what？〃 demanded Leicester； 〃speak out thy
meaning； Varney。〃
〃Of being yourself a KING； my lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃and King of
England to boot！ It is no treason to our Queen to say so。 It
would have chanced by her obtaining that which all true subjects
wish hera lusty； noble； and gallant husband。〃
〃Thou ravest； Varney；〃 answered Leicester。 〃Besides； our times
have seen enough to make men loathe the Crown Matrimonial which
men take from their wives' lap。 There was Darnley of Scotland。〃
〃He！〃 said Varney； 〃a； gull； a fool； a thrice…sodden ass； who
suffered himself to be fired off into the air like a rocket on a
rejoicing day。 Had Mary had the hap to have wedded the noble
Earl ONCE destined to share her throne； she had experienced a
husband of different metal； and her husband had found in her a
wife as complying and loving as the mate of the meanest squire
who fo