churches abroadtouched on by statists in the very council at
home。 These bold insinuations have been rebutted by no rebuke；
no resentment； no chiding； scarce even by the usual female
protestation that she would live and die a virgin princess。 Her
words have been more courteous than ever； though she knows such
rumours are abroadher actions more gracious； her looks more
kindnought seems wanting to make me King of England； and place
me beyond the storms of court…favour； excepting the putting forth
of mine own hand to take that crown imperial which is the glory
of the universe！ And when I might stretch that hand out most
boldly； it is fettered down by a secret and inextricable bond！
And here I have letters from Amy；〃 he would say； catching them up
with a movement of peevishness； 〃persecuting me to acknowledge
her openlyto do justice to her and to myselfand I wot not
what。 Methinks I have done less than justice to myself already。
And she speaks as if Elizabeth were to receive the knowledge of
this matter with the glee of a mother hearing of the happy
marriage of a hopeful son！ She； the daughter of Henry； who
spared neither man in his anger nor woman in his desireshe to
find herself tricked； drawn on with toys of passion to the verge
of acknowledging her love to a subject； and he discovered to be a
married man！Elizabeth to learn that she had been dallied with
in such fashion； as a gay courtier might trifle with a country
wenchwe should then see； to our ruin； FURENS QUID FAEMINA！〃
He would then pause； and call for Varney； whose advice was now
more frequently resorted to than ever； because the Earl
remembered the remonstrances which he had made against his secret
contract。 And their consultation usually terminated in anxious
deliberation how； or in what manner； the Countess was to be
produced at Kenilworth。 These communings had for some time ended
always in a resolution to delay the Progress from day to day。
But at length a peremptory decision became necessary。
〃Elizabeth will not be satisfied without her presence；〃 said the
Earl。 〃Whether any suspicion hath entered her mind； as my own
apprehensions suggest； or whether the petition of Tressilian is
kept in her memory by Sussex or some other secret enemy； I know
not； but amongst all the favourable expressions which she uses to
me； she often recurs to the story of Amy Robsart。 I think that
Amy is the slave in the chariot； who is placed there by my evil
fortune to dash and to confound my triumph； even when at the
highest。 Show me thy device； Varney； for solving the
inextricable difficulty。 I have thrown every such impediment in
the way of these accursed revels as I could propound even with a
shade of decency； but to…day's interview has put all to a hazard。
She said to me kindly； but peremptorily； 'We will give you no
further time for preparations； my lord； lest you should
altogether ruin yourself。 On Saturday； the 9th of July； we will
be with you at Kenilworth。 We pray you to forget none of our
appointed guests and suitors； and in especial this light…o'…love；
Amy Robsart。 We would wish to see the woman who could postpone
yonder poetical gentleman； Master Tressilian； to your man；
Richard Varney。'Now； Varney； ply thine invention； whose forge
hath availed us so often for sure as my name is Dudley； the
danger menaced by my horoscope is now darkening around me。〃
〃Can my lady be by no means persuaded to bear for a brief space
the obscure character which circumstances impose on her？〃 Said
Varney after some hesitation。
〃How； sirrah？ my Countess term herself thy wife！that may
neither stand with my honour nor with hers。〃
〃Alas！ my lord；〃 answered Varney； 〃and yet such is the quality
in which Elizabeth now holds her； and to contradict this opinion
is to discover all。〃
〃Think of something else； Varney；〃 said the Earl； in great
agitation； 〃this invention is nought。 If I could give way to it；
she would not； for I tell thee； Varney； if thou knowest it not；
that not Elizabeth on the throne has more pride than the daughter
of this obscure gentleman of Devon。 She is flexible in many
things； but where she holds her honour brought in question she
hath a spirit and temper as apprehensive as lightning； and as
swift in execution。〃
〃We have experienced that； my lord； else had we not been thus
circumstanced；〃 said Varney。 〃But what else to suggest I know
not。 Methinks she whose good fortune in becoming your lordship's
bride； and who gives rise to the danger； should do somewhat
towards parrying it。〃
〃It is impossible；〃 said the Earl； waving his hand； 〃I know
neither authority nor entreaties would make her endure thy name
for an hour。
〃It is somewhat hard； though；〃 said Varney； in a dry tone； and；
without pausing on that topic； he added； 〃Suppose some one were
found to represent her？ Such feats have been performed in the
courts of as sharp…eyed monarchs as Queen Elizabeth。〃
〃Utter madness； Varney；〃 answered the Earl； 〃the counterfeit
would be confronted with Tressilian； and discovery become
inevitable；〃
〃Tressilian might be removed from court；〃 said the unhesitating
Varney。
〃And by what means？〃
〃There are many；〃 said Varney； 〃by which a statesman in your
situation； my lord； may remove from the scene one who pries into
your affairs； and places himself in perilous opposition to you。〃
〃Speak not to me of such policy； Varney；〃 said the Earl hastily；
〃which； besides； would avail nothing in the present case。 Many
others there be at court to whom Amy may be known； and besides；
on the absence of Tressilian； her father or some of her friends
would be instantly summoned hither。 Urge thine invention once
more。〃
〃My lord； I know not what to say；〃 answered Varney； 〃but were I
myself in such perplexity； I would ride post down to Cumnor
Place； and compel my wife to give her consent to such measures as
her safety and mine required。〃
〃Varney；〃 said Leicester； 〃I cannot urge her to aught so
repugnant to her noble nature as a share in this stratagem； it
would be a base requital to the love she bears me。〃
〃Well； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃your lordship is a wise and an
honourable man； and skilled in those high points of romantic
scruple which are current in Arcadia perhaps； as your nephew；
Philip Sidney； writes。 I am your humble servitora man of this
world； and only happy that my knowledge of it； and its ways； is
such as your lordship has not scorned to avail yourself of。 Now
I would fain know whether the obligation lies on my lady or on
you in this fortunate union； and which has most reason to show
complaisance to the other； and to consider that other's wishes；
conveniences； and safety？〃
〃I tell thee； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃that all it was in my
power to bestow upon her was not merely deserved； but a thousand
times overpaid； by her own virtue and beauty； for never did
greatness descend upon a creature so formed by nature to grace
and adorn it。〃
〃It is well； my lord； you are so satisfied；〃 answered Varney；
with his usual sardonic smile； which even respect to his patron
could not at all times subdue； 〃you will have time enough to
enjoy undisturbed the society of one so gracious and beautiful
that is； so soon as such confinement in the Tower be over as may
correspond to the crime of deceiving the affections of Elizabeth
Tudor。 A cheaper penalty； I presume； you do not expect。〃
〃Malicious fiend！〃 answered Leicester； 〃do you mock me in my
misfortune？Manage it as thou wilt。〃
〃If you are serious； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃you must set forth
instantly and post for Cumnor Place。〃
〃Do thou go thyself； Varney； the devil has given thee that sort
of eloquence which is most powerful in the worst cause。 I should
stand self…convicted of villainy； were I to urge such a deceit。
Begone； I tell thee； must I entreat thee to mine own dishonour？〃
〃No； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃but if you are serious in entrusting
me with the task of urging this most necessary measure； you must
give me a letter to my lady； as my credentials； and trust to me
for backing the advice it contains with all the force in my
power。 And such is my opinion of my lady's love for your
lordship； and of her willingness to do that which is at once to
contribute to your pleasure and your safety； that I am sure she
will condescend to bear for a few brief days the name of so
humble a man as myself； especially since it is not inferior in
antiquity to that of her own paternal house。〃
Leicester seized on writing materials； and twice or thrice
commenced a letter to the Countess； which he afterwards tore into
fragments。 At length he finished a few distracted lines； in
which he conjured her； for reasons nearly concerning his life and
honour； to consent to bear the name of Varney for a few days；
during the revels at Kenilworth。 He added that Varney would
communicate all the reasons which rendered this deception
indispensable； and having signed and sealed these credentials； he
flung them over the table to Varney with a motion that he should
depart； which his adviser was not slow to comprehend and to obey。
Leicester remained like one stupefied； till he heard the
trampling of the horses