headborough； whom he had summoned to aid him in raising the
country。
Having made this act of prudent as well as just restitution；
Wayland procured such change of apparel for the lady； as well as
himself； as gave them both the appearance of country people of
the better class； it being further resolved； that in order to
attract the less observation； she should pass upon the road for
the sister of her guide。 A good but not a gay horse； fit to keep
pace with his own； and gentle enough for a lady's use； completed
the preparations for the journey； for making which； and for other
expenses； he had been furnished with sufficient funds by
Tressilian。 And thus； about noon； after the Countess had been
refreshed by the sound repose of several hours； they resumed
their journey； with the purpose of making the best of their way
to Kenilworth； by Coventry and Warwick。 They were not； however；
destined to travel far without meeting some cause of
apprehension。
It is necessary to premise that the landlord of the inn had
informed them that a jovial party； intended； as he understood； to
present some of the masques or mummeries which made a part of the
entertainment with which the Queen was usually welcomed on the
royal Progresses； had left the village of Donnington an hour or
two before them in order to proceed to Kenilworth。 Now it had
occurred to Wayland that； by attaching themselves in some sort to
this group as soon as they should overtake them on the road； they
would be less likely to attract notice than if they continued to
travel entirely by themselves。 He communicated his idea to the
Countess； who； only anxious to arrive at Kenilworth without
interruption； left him free to choose the manner in which this
was to be accomplished。 They pressed forward their horses；
therefore； with the purpose of overtaking the party of intended
revellers； and making the journey in their company； and had just
seen the little party； consisting partly of riders； partly of
people on foot； crossing the summit of a gentle hill； at about
half a mile's distance； and disappearing on the other side； when
Wayland； who maintained the most circumspect observation of all
that met his eye in every direction； was aware that a rider was
coming up behind them on a horse of uncommon action； accompanied
by a serving…man； whose utmost efforts were unable to keep up
with his master's trotting hackney； and who； therefore； was fain
to follow him at a hand gallop。 Wayland looked anxiously back at
these horsemen； became considerably disturbed in his manner；
looked back again； and became pale； as he said to the lady； 〃That
is Richard Varney's trotting gelding； I would know him among a
thousand nags。 This is a worse business than meeting the
mercer。〃
〃Draw your sword；〃 answered the lady； 〃and pierce my bosom with
it； rather than I should fall into his hands！〃
〃I would rather by a thousand times；〃 answered Wayland； 〃pass it
through his body； or even mine own。 But to say truth； fighting
is not my best point； though I can look on cold iron like another
when needs must be。 And indeed； as for my sword（put on； I pray
you）it is a poor Provant rapier； and I warrant you he has a
special Toledo。 He has a serving…man； too； and I think it is the
drunken ruffian Lambourne！ upon the horse on which men say（I
pray you heartily to put on）he did the great robbery of the
west country grazier。 It is not that I fear either Varney or
Lambourne in a good cause（your palfrey will go yet faster if
you urge him）but yet（nay； I pray you let him not break off
into a gallop； lest they should see we fear them； and give chase
keep him only at the full trot）but yet； though I fear them
not； I would we were well rid of them； and that rather by policy
than by violence。 Could we once reach the party before us； we
may herd among them； and pass unobserved； unless Varney be really
come in express pursuit of us； and then； happy man be his dole！〃
While he thus spoke； he alternately urged and restrained his
horse； desirous to maintain the fleetest pace that was consistent
with the idea of an ordinary journey on the road； but to avoid
such rapidity of movement as might give rise to suspicion that
they were flying。
At such a pace they ascended the gentle hill we have mentioned；
and looking from the top； had the pleasure to see that the party
which had left Donnington before them were in the little valley
or bottom on the other side； where the road was traversed by a
rivulet； beside which was a cottage or two。 In this place they
seemed to have made a pause； which gave Wayland the hope of
joining them； and becoming a part of their company； ere Varney
should overtake them。 He was the more anxious； as his companion；
though she made no complaints； and expressed no fear； began to
look so deadly pale that he was afraid she might drop from her
horse。 Notwithstanding this symptom of decaying strength； she
pushed on her palfrey so briskly that they joined the party in
the bottom of the valley ere Varney appeared on the top of the
gentle eminence which they had descended。
They found the company to which they meant to associate
themselves in great disorder。 The women with dishevelled locks；
and looks of great importance； ran in and out of one of the
cottages； and the men stood around holding the horses； and
looking silly enough； as is usual in cases where their assistance
is not wanted。
Wayland and his charge paused； as if out of curiosity； and then
gradually； without making any inquiries； or being asked any
questions； they mingled with the group； as if they had always
made part of it。
They had not stood there above five minutes； anxiously keeping as
much to the side of the road as possible； so as to place the
other travellers betwixt them and Varney； when Lord Leicester's
master of the horse； followed by Lambourne； came riding fiercely
down the hill； their horses' flanks and the rowels of their spurs
showing bloody tokens of the rate at which they travelled。 The
appearance of the stationary group around the cottages； wearing
their buckram suits in order to protect their masking dresses；
having their light cart for transporting their scenery； and
carrying various fantastic properties in their hands for the more
easy conveyance； let the riders at once into the character and
purpose of the company。
〃You are revelIers；〃 said Varney； 〃designing for Kenilworth？〃
〃RECTE QUIDEM； DOMINE SPECTATISSIME；〃 answered one of the party。
〃And why the devil stand you here？〃 said Varney； 〃when your
utmost dispatch will but bring you to Kenilworth in time？ The
Queen dines at Warwick to…morrow； and you loiter here； ye
knaves。〃
〃I very truth； sir；〃 said a little； diminutive urchin； wearing a
vizard with a couple of sprouting horns of an elegant scarlet
hue； having； moreover； a black serge jerkin drawn close to his
body by lacing； garnished with red stockings； and shoes so shaped
as to resemble cloven feet〃in very truth； sir； and you are in
the right on't。 It is my father the Devil； who； being taken in
labour； has delayed our present purpose； by increasing our
company with an imp too many；〃
〃The devil he has！〃 answered Varney； whose laugh； however； never
exceeded a sarcastic smile。
〃It is even as the juvenal hath said；〃 added the masker who spoke
first； 〃Our major devilfor this is but our minor oneis even
now at LUCINA； FER OPEM； within that very TUGURIUM。〃
〃By Saint George； or rather by the Dragon； who may be a kinsman
of the fiend in the straw； a most comical chance！〃 said Varney。
〃How sayest thou； Lambourne； wilt thou stand godfather for the
nonce？ If the devil were to choose a gossip； I know no one more
fit for the office。〃
〃Saving always when my betters are in presence；〃 said Lambourne；
with the civil impudence of a servant who knows his services to
be so indispensable that his jest will be permitted to pass
muster。
〃And what is the name of this devil； or devil's dam； who has
timed her turns so strangely？〃 said Varney。 〃We can ill afford
to spare any of our actors。〃
〃GAUDET NOMINE SIBYLLAE；〃 said the first speaker； 〃she is called
Sibyl Laneham； wife of Master Robert Laneham〃
〃Clerk to the Council…chamber door；〃 said Varney； 〃why； she is
inexcusable； having had experience how to have ordered her
matters better。 But who were those； a man and a woman； I think；
who rode so hastily up the hill before me even now？ Do they
belong to your company？〃
Wayland was about to hazard a reply to this alarming inquiry；
when the little diablotin again thrust in his oar。
〃So please you；〃 he said； coming close up to Varney； and speaking
so as not to be overheard by his companions； 〃the man was our
devil major； who has tricks enough to supply the lack of a
hundred such as Dame Laneham； and the woman； if you please； is
the sage person whose assistance is most particularly necessary
to our distressed comrade。〃
〃Oh； what！ you have got the wise woman； then？〃 said Varney。
〃Why； truly； she rode like one bound to a place where she was
needed。 And you have a spare limb of Satan； besides； to supply
the place of Mistress Laneham？〃
〃Ay； sir；〃 said the boy； 〃they are not so sc