wife as complying and loving as the mate of the meanest squire
who follows the hounds a…horseback； and holds her husband's
bridle as he mounts。〃
〃It might have been as thou sayest； Varney；〃 said Leicester； a
brief smile of self…satisfaction passing over his anxious
countenance。 〃Henry Darnley knew little of womenwith Mary； a
man who knew her sex might have had some chance of holding his
own。 But not with Elizabeth； Varney for I thank God； when he
gave her the heart of a woman； gave her the head of a man to
control its follies。 No； I know her。 She will accept love…
tokens； ay； and requite them with the likeput sugared sonnets
in her bosom； ay； and answer them toopush gallantry to the very
verge where it becomes exchange of affection； but she writes NIL
ULTRA to all which is to follow； and would not barter one iota of
her own supreme power for all the alphabet of both Cupid and
Hymen。〃
〃The better for you； my lord；〃 said Varney〃that is； in the case
supposed； if such be her disposition； since you think you cannot
aspire to become her husband。 Her favourite you are； and may
remain； if the lady at Cumnor place continues in her present
obscurity。〃
〃Poor Amy！〃 said Leicester； with a deep sigh； 〃she desires so
earnestly to be acknowledged in presence of God and man！〃
〃Ay； but； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃is her desire reasonable？ That
is the question。 Her religious scruples are solved； she is an
honoured and beloved wife； enjoying the society of her husband at
such times as his weightier duties permit him to afford her his
company。 What would she more？ I am right sure that a lady so
gentle and so loving would consent to live her life through in a
certain obscuritywhich is； after all； not dimmer than when she
was at Lidcote Hallrather than diminish the least jot of her
lord's honours and greatness by a premature attempt to share
them。〃
〃There is something in what thou sayest；〃 said Leicester； 〃and
her appearance here were fatal。 Yet she must be seen at
Kenilworth； Elizabeth will not forget that she has so appointed。〃
〃Let me sleep on that hard point；〃 said Varney； 〃I cannot else
perfect the device I have on the stithy； which I trust will
satisfy the Queen and please my honoured lady； yet leave this
fatal secret where it is now buried。 Has your lordship further
commands for the night？〃
〃I would be alone；〃 said Leicester。 〃Leave me； and place my
steel casket on the table。 Be within summons。〃
Varney retired； and the Earl； opening the window of his
apartment； looked out long and anxiously upon the brilliant host
of stars which glimmered in the splendour of a summer firmament。
The words burst from him as at unawares； 〃I had never more need
that the heavenly bodies should befriend me； for my earthly path
is darkened and confused。〃
It is well known that the age reposed a deep confidence in the
vain predictions of judicial astrology； and Leicester； though
exempt from the general control of superstition； was not in this
respect superior to his time； but； on the contrary； was
remarkable for the encouragement which he gave to the professors
of this pretended science。 Indeed； the wish to pry into
futurity； so general among the human race； is peculiarly to be
found amongst those who trade in state mysteries and the
dangerous intrigues and cabals of courts。 With heedful
precaution to see that it had not been opened； or its locks
tampered with； Leicester applied a key to the steel casket； and
drew from it； first； a parcel of gold pieces； which he put into a
silk purse； then a parchment inscribed with planetary signs； and
the lines and calculations used in framing horoscopes； on which
he gazed intently for a few moments； and； lastly； took forth a
large key； which； lifting aside the tapestry； he applied to a
little； concealed door in the corner of the apartment； and
opening it； disclosed a stair constructed in the thickness of the
wall。
〃Alasco；〃 said the Earl； with a voice raised； yet no higher
raised than to be heard by the inhabitant of the small turret to
which the stair conducted〃Alasco； I say； descend。〃
〃I come； my lord；〃 answered a voice from above。 The foot of an
aged man was heard slowly descending the narrow stair； and Alasco
entered the Earl's apartment。 The astrologer was a little man；
and seemed much advanced in age； for his heard was long and
white； and reached over his black doublet down to his silken
girdle。 His hair was of the same venerable hue。 But his
eyebrows were as dark as the keen and piercing black eyes which
they shaded； and this peculiarity gave a wild and singular cast
to the physiognomy of the old man。 His cheek was still fresh and
ruddy； and the eyes we have mentioned resembled those of a rat in
acuteness and even fierceness of expression。 His manner was not
without a sort of dignity； and the interpreter of the stars；
though respectful； seemed altogether at his ease； and even
assumed a tone of instruction and command in conversing with the
prime favourite of Elizabeth。
〃Your prognostications have failed； Alasco；〃 said the Earl； when
they had exchanged salutations〃he is recovering。〃
〃My son；〃 replied the astrologer； 〃let me remind you I warranted
not his death； nor is there any prognostication that can be
derived from the heavenly bodies； their aspects and their
conjunctions； which is not liable to be controlled by the will of
Heaven。 ASTRA REGUNT HOMINES； SED REGIT ASTRA DEUS。〃
〃Of what avail； then； is your mystery？〃 inquired the Earl。
〃Of much； my son；〃 replied the old man； 〃since it can show the
natural and probable course of events； although that course moves
in subordination to an Higher Power。 Thus； in reviewing the
horoscope which your Lordship subjected to my skill； you will
observe that Saturn； being in the sixth House in opposition to
Mars； retrograde in the House of Life； cannot but denote long and
dangerous sickness； the issue whereof is in the will of Heaven；
though death may probably be inferred。 Yet if I knew the name of
the party I would erect another scheme。〃
〃His name is a secret；〃 said the Earl； 〃yet； I must own； thy
prognostication hath not been unfaithful。 He has been sick； and
dangerously so； not； however； to death。 But hast thou again cast
my horoscope as Varney directed thee； and art thou prepared to
say what the stars tell of my present fortune？〃
〃My art stands at your command；〃 said the old man； 〃and here； my
son； is the map of thy fortunes； brilliant in aspect as ever
beamed from those blessed signs whereby our life is influenced；
yet not unchequered with fears； difficulties； and dangers。〃
〃My lot were more than mortal were it otherwise；〃 said the Earl。
〃Proceed； father； and believe you speak with one ready to undergo
his destiny in action and in passion as may beseem a noble of
England。〃
〃Thy courage to do and to suffer must be wound up yet a strain
higher；〃 said the old man。 〃The stars intimate yet a prouder
title； yet an higher rank。 It is for thee to guess their
meaning； not for me to name it。〃
〃Name it； I conjure youname it； I command you！〃 said the Earl；
his eyes brightening as he spoke。
〃I may not； and I will not；〃 replied the old man。 〃The ire of
princes Is as the wrath of the lion。 But mark； and judge for
thyself。 Here Venus； ascendant in the House of Life； and
conjoined with Sol； showers down that flood of silver light；
blent with gold； which promises power； wealth； dignity； all that
the proud heart of man desires； and in such abundance that never
the future Augustus of that old and mighty Rome heard from his
HARUSPICES such a tale of glory； as from this rich text my lore
might read to my favourite son。〃
〃Thou dost but jest with me； father；〃 said the Earl； astonished
at the strain of enthusiasm in which the astrologer delivered his
prediction。
〃Is it for him to jest who hath his eye on heaven； who hath his
foot in the grave？〃 returned the old man solemnly。
The Earl made two or three strides through the apartment； with
his hand outstretched； as one who follows the beckoning signal of
some phantom； waving him on to deeds of high import。 As he
turned； however； he caught the eye of the astrologer fixed on
him； while an observing glance of the most shrewd penetration
shot from under the penthouse of his shaggy； dark eyebrows。
Leicester's haughty and suspicious soul at once caught fire。 He
darted towards the old man from the farther end of the lofty
apartment； only standing still when his extended hand was within
a foot of the astrologer's body。
〃Wretch！〃 he said； 〃if you dare to palter with me； I will have
your skin stripped from your living flesh！ Confess thou hast
been hired to deceive and to betray methat thou art a cheat；
and I thy silly prey and booty！〃
The old man exhibited some symptoms of emotion； but not more than
the furious deportment of his patron might have extorted from
innocence itself。
〃What means this violence； my lord？〃 he answered； 〃or in what
can I have deserved it at your hand？〃
〃Give me proof；〃 said the Earl vehemently； 〃that you have not
tampered with mine enemies。〃
〃My lord；〃 replied the old man； with dignity； 〃you can have no
better