which he thought became the charge entrusted to him； 〃Nay； lady；
I must needs say you are over…hasty in this。 Such deceit is not
utterly to be condemned when practised for a righteous end I and
thus even the patriarch Abraham feigned Sarah to be his sister
when they went down to Egypt。〃
〃Ay； sir；〃 answered the Countess； 〃but God rebuked that deceit
even in the father of His chosen people； by the mouth of the
heathen Pharaoh。 Out upon you； that will read Scripture only to
copy those things which are held out to us as warnings； not as
examples！〃
〃But Sarah disputed not the will of her husband； an it be your
pleasure；〃 said Foster； in reply； 〃but did as Abraham commanded；
calling herself his sister； that it might be well with her
husband for her sake； and that his soul might live because of her
beauty。〃
〃Now； so Heaven pardon me my useless anger；〃 answered the
Countess； 〃thou art as daring a hypocrite as yonder fellow is an
impudent deceiver！ Never will I believe that the noble Dudley
gave countenance to so dastardly； so dishonourable a plan。 Thus
I tread on his infamy； if indeed it be； and thus destroy its
remembrance for ever！〃
So saying； she tore in pieces Leicester's letter； and stamped； in
the extremity of impatience； as if she would have annihilated the
minute fragments into which she had rent it。
〃Bear witness；〃 said Varney； collecting himself； 〃she hath torn
my lord's letter； in order to burden me with the scheme of his
devising； and although it promises nought but danger and trouble
to me； she would lay it to my charge； as if I had any purpose of
mine own in it。〃
〃Thou liest； thou treacherous slave！〃 said the Countess in spite
of Janet's attempts to keep her silent； in the sad foresight that
her vehemence might only furnish arms against herself〃thou
liest；〃 she continued。〃Let me go； Janetwere it the last word
I have to speak； he lies。 He had his own foul ends to seek； and
broader he would have displayed them had my passion permitted me
to preserve the silence which at first encouraged him to unfold
his vile projects。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Varney； overwhelmed in spite of his effrontery； 〃I
entreat you to believe yourself mistaken。〃
〃As soon will I believe light darkness；〃 said the enraged
Countess。 〃Have I drunk of oblivion？ Do I not remember former
passages； which； known to Leicester； had given thee the
preferment of a gallows； instead of the honour of his intimacy。
I would I were a man but for five minutes！ It were space enough
to make a craven like thee confess his villainy。 But gobegone！
Tell thy master that when I take the foul course to which such
scandalous deceits as thou hast recommended on his behalf must
necessarily lead me； I will give him a rival something worthy of
the name。 He shall not be supplanted by an ignominious lackey；
whose best fortune is to catch a gift of his master's last suit
of clothes ere it is threadbare； and who is only fit to seduce a
suburb…wench by the bravery of new roses in his master's old
pantoufles。 Go； begone； sir！ I scorn thee so much that I am
ashamed to have been angry with thee。〃
Varney left the room with a mute expression of rage； and was
followed by Foster； whose apprehension； naturally slow； was
overpowered by the eager and abundant discharge of indignation
which； for the first time； he had heard burst from the lips of a
being who had seemed； till that moment； too languid and too
gentle to nurse an angry thought or utter an intemperate
expression。 Foster； therefore； pursued Varney from place to
place； persecuting him with interrogatories； to which the other
replied not； until they were in the opposite side of the
quadrangle； and in the old library； with which the reader has
already been made acquainted。 Here he turned round on his
persevering follower； and thus addressed him； in a tone tolerably
equal； that brief walk having been sufficient to give one so
habituated to command his temper time to rally and recover his
presence of mind。
〃Tony；〃 he said； with his usual sneering laugh； 〃it avails not to
deny it。 The Woman and the Devil； who； as thine oracle Holdforth
will confirm to thee； cheated man at the beginning； have this day
proved more powerful than my discretion。 Yon termagant looked so
tempting； and had the art to preserve her countenance so
naturally； while I communicated my lord's message； that； by my
faith； I thought I might say some little thing for myself。 She
thinks she hath my head under her girdle now； but she is
deceived。 Where is Doctor Alasco？〃
〃In his laboratory；〃 answered Foster。 〃It is the hour he is
spoken not withal。 We must wait till noon is past； or spoil his
importantwhat said I？ important！I would say interrupt his
divine studies。〃
〃Ay； he studies the devil's divinity；〃 said Varney； 〃but when I
want him； one hour must suffice as well as another。 Lead the way
to his pandemonium。〃
So spoke Varney； and with hasty and perturbed steps followed
Foster； who conducted him through private passages； many of which
were well…nigh ruinous； to the opposite side of the quadrangle；
where； in a subterranean apartment； now occupied by the chemist
Alasco； one of the Abbots of Abingdon； who had a turn for the
occult sciences； had； much to the scandal of his convent；
established a laboratory； in which； like other fools of the
period； he spent much precious time； and money besides； in the
pursuit of the grand arcanum。
Anthony Foster paused before the door； which was scrupulously
secured within； and again showed a marked hesitation to disturb
the sage in his operations。 But Varney； less scrupulous； roused
him by knocking and voice； until at length； slowly and
reluctantly； the inmate of the apartment undid the door。 The
chemist appeared； with his eyes bleared with the heat and vapours
of the stove or alembic over which he brooded and the interior of
his cell displayed the confused assemblage of heterogeneous
substances and extraordinary implements belonging to his
profession。 The old man was muttering； with spiteful impatience；
〃Am I for ever to be recalled to the affairs of earth from those
of heaven？〃
〃To the affairs of hell；〃 answered Varney； 〃for that is thy
proper element。Foster； we need thee at our conference。〃
〃Foster slowly entered the room。 Varney； following； barred the
door； and they betook themselves to secret council。
In the meanwhile； the Countess traversed the apartment； with
shame and anger contending on her lovely cheek。
〃The villain；〃 she said〃the cold…blooded； calculating slave！
But I unmasked him； JanetI made the snake uncoil all his folds
before me； and crawl abroad in his naked deformity； I suspended
my resentment； at the danger of suffocating under the effort；
until he had let me see the very bottom of a heart more foul than
hell's darkest corner。And thou； Leicester； is it possible thou
couldst bid me for a moment deny my wedded right in thee； or
thyself yield it to another？But it is impossiblethe villain
has lied in all。Janet； I will not remain here longerI fear
himI fear thy father。 I grieve to say it； Janetbut I fear
thy father； and； worst of all； this odious Varney； I will escape
from Cumnor。〃
〃Alas！ madam； whither would you fly； or by what means will you
escape from these walls？〃
〃I know not； Janet；〃 said the unfortunate young lady； looking
upwards！ and clasping her hands together； 〃I know not where I
shall fly； or by what means； but I am certain the God I have
served will not abandon me in this dreadful crisis； for I am in
the hands of wicked men。〃
〃Do not think so； dear lady；〃 said Janet； 〃my father is stern and
strict in his temper； and severely true to his trustbut yet〃
At this moment Anthony Foster entered the apartment； bearing in
his hand a glass cup and a small flask。 His manner was singular；
for； while approaching the Countess with the respect due to her
rank； he had till this time suffered to become visible； or had
been unable to suppress； the obdurate sulkiness of his natural
disposition； which； as is usual with those of his unhappy temper；
was chiefly exerted towards those over whom circumstances gave
him control。 But at present he showed nothing of that sullen
consciousness of authority which he was wont to conceal under a
clumsy affectation of civility and deference； as a ruffian hides
his pistols and bludgeon under his ill…fashioned gaberdine。 And
yet it seemed as if his smile was more in fear than courtesy； and
as if； while he pressed the Countess to taste of the choice
cordial； which should refresh her spirits after her late alarm；
he was conscious of meditating some further injury。 His hand
trembled also； his voice faltered； and his whole outward
behaviour exhibited so much that was suspicious； that his
daughter Janet； after she had stood looking at him in
astonishment for some seconds； seemed at once to collect herself
to execute some hardy resolution； raised her head； assumed an
attitude and gait of determination and authority； and walking
slowly betwixt her father and her mistress； took the salver from
the hand of the former； and said in a low but marked and decided
tone； 〃Father； I will fill for my noble mistress；