but the whole country around； had been at once the scene of
solemnizing some high national festival； carried the same
oppressive thought still closer to her heart； while some notes
would melt in distant and falling tones； as if in compassion for
her sorrows； and some burst close and near upon her； as if
mocking her misery； with all the insolence of unlimited mirth。
〃These sounds；〃 she said； 〃are minemine； because they are HIS；
but I cannot say； Be still； these loud strains suit me not； and
the voice of the meanest peasant that mingles in the dance would
have more power to modulate the music than the command of her who
is mistress of all。〃
By degrees the sounds of revelry died away； and the Countess
withdrew from the window at which she had sat listening to them。
It was night； but the moon afforded considerable light in the
room； so that Amy was able to make the arrangement which she
judged necessary。 There was hope that Leicester might come to
her apartment as soon as the revel in the Castle had subsided；
but there was also risk she might be disturbed by some
unauthorized intruder。 She had lost confidence in the key since
Tressilian had entered so easily； though the door was locked on
the inside； yet all the additional security she could think of
was to place the table across the door； that she might be warned
by the noise should any one attempt to enter。 Having taken these
necessary precautions； the unfortunate lady withdrew to her
couch； stretched herself down on it； mused in anxious
expectation； and counted more than one hour after midnight； till
exhausted nature proved too strong for love； for grief； for fear；
nay； even for uncertainty； and she slept。
Yes； she slept。 The Indian sleeps at the stake in the intervals
between his tortures； and mental torments； in like manner；
exhaust by long continuance the sensibility of the sufferer； so
that an interval of lethargic repose must necessarily ensue； ere
the pangs which they inflict can again be renewed。
The Countess slept； then； for several hours； and dreamed that she
was in the ancient house at Cumnor Place； listening for the low
whistle with which Leicester often used to announce his presence
in the courtyard when arriving suddenly on one of his stolen
visits。 But on this occasion； instead of a whistle； she heard
the peculiar blast of a bugle…horn； such as her father used to
wind on the fall of the stag； and which huntsmen then called a
MORT。 She ran； as she thought； to a window that looked into the
courtyard； which she saw filled with men in mourning garments。
The old Curate seemed about to read the funeral service。
Mumblazen； tricked out in an antique dress； like an ancient
herald； held aloft a scutcheon； with its usual decorations of
skulls； cross…bones； and hour…glasses； surrounding a coat…of…
arms； of which she could only distinguish that it was surmounted
with an Earl's coronet。 The old man looked at her with a ghastly
smile； and said； 〃Amy； are they not rightly quartered？〃 Just as
he spoke； the horns again poured on her ear the melancholy yet
wild strain of the MORT； or death…note； and she awoke。
The Countess awoke to hear a real bugle…note； or rather the
combined breath of many bugles； sounding not the MORT。 but the
jolly REVEILLE； to remind the inmates of the Castle of Kenilworth
that the pleasures of the day were to commence with a magnificent
stag…hunting in the neighbouring Chase。 Amy started up from her
couch； listened to the sound； saw the first beams of the summer
morning already twinkle through the lattice of her window； and
recollected； with feelings of giddy agony； where she was； and how
circumstanced。
〃He thinks not of me；〃 she said； 〃he will not come nigh me！ A
Queen is his guest； and what cares he in what corner of his huge
Castle a wretch like me pines in doubt； which is fast fading into
despair？〃 At once a sound at the door； as of some one attempting
to open it softly； filled her with an ineffable mixture of joy
and fear； and hastening to remove the obstacle she had placed
against the door； and to unlock it； she had the precaution to
ask！ 〃Is it thou； my love？〃
〃Yes； my Countess；〃 murmured a whisper in reply。
She threw open the door； and exclaiming； 〃Leicester！〃 flung her
arms around the neck of the man who stood without； muffled in his
cloak。
〃Nonot quite Leicester；〃 answered Michael Lambourne； for he it
was； returning the caress with vehemence〃not quite Leicester；
my lovely and most loving duchess； but as good a man。〃
With an exertion of force； of which she would at another time
have thought herself incapable； the Countess freed herself from
the profane and profaning grasp of the drunken debauchee； and
retreated into the midst of her apartment。 where despair gave
her courage to make a stand。
As Lambourne； on entering； dropped the lap of his cloak from his
face； she knew Varney's profligate servant； the very last person；
excepting his detested master； by whom she would have wished to
be discovered。 But she was still closely muffled in her
travelling dress； and as Lambourne had scarce ever been admitted
to her presence at Cumnor Place； her person； she hoped； might not
be so well known to him as his was to her； owing to Janet's
pointing him frequently out as he crossed the court； and telling
stories of his wickedness。 She might have had still greater
confidence in her disguise had her experience enabled her to
discover that he was much intoxicated； but this could scarce have
consoled her for the risk which she might incur from such a
character in such a time； place； and circumstances。
Lambourne flung the door behind him as he entered； and folding
his arms； as if in mockery of the attitude of distraction into
which Amy had thrown herself； he proceeded thus： 〃Hark ye； most
fair Calipolisor most lovely Countess of clouts； and divine
Duchess of dark cornersif thou takest all that trouble of
skewering thyself together； like a trussed fowl； that there may
be more pleasure in the carving； even save thyself the labour。 I
love thy first frank manner the best…like thy present as
little〃（he made a step towards her； and staggered）〃as little
assuch a damned uneven floor as this； where a gentleman may
break his neck if he does not walk as upright as a posture…master
on the tight…rope。〃
〃Stand back！〃 said the Countess； 〃do not approach nearer to me
on thy peril！〃
〃My peril！and stand back！ Why； how now； madam？ Must you have
a better mate than honest Mike Lambourne？ I have been in
America； girl； where the gold grows； and have brought off such a
load on't〃
〃Good friend；〃 said the Countess； in great terror at the
ruffian's determined and audacious manner； 〃I prithee begone； and
leave me。〃
〃And so I will； pretty one； when we are tired of each other's
companynot a jot sooner。〃 He seized her by the arm； while；
incapable of further defence； she uttered shriek upon shriek。
〃Nay； scream away if you like it；〃 said he； still holding her
fast； 〃I have heard the sea at the loudest； and I mind a
squalling woman no more than a miauling kitten。 Damn me！ I have
heard fifty or a hundred screaming at once； when there was a town
stormed。〃
The cries of the Countess； however； brought unexpected aid in the
person of Lawrence Staples； who had heard her exclamations from
his apartment below； and entered in good time to save her from
being discovered； if not from more atrocious violence。 Lawrence
was drunk also from the debauch of the preceding night； but
fortunately his intoxication had taken a different turn from that
of Lambourne。
〃What the devil's noise is this in the ward？〃 he said。 〃What！
man and woman together in the same cell？that is against rule。
I will have decency under my rule； by Saint Peter of the
Fetters！〃
〃Get thee downstairs； thou drunken beast；〃 said Lambourne； 〃seest
thou not the lady and I would be private？〃
〃Good sir； worthy sir！〃 said the Countess； addressing the
jailer； 〃do but save me from him； for the sake of mercy！〃
〃She speaks fairly；〃 said the jailer； 〃and I will take her part。
I love my prisoners； and I have had as good prisoners under my
key as they have had in Newgate or the Compter。 And so； being
one of my lambkins； as I say； no one shall disturb her in her
pen…fold。 So let go the woman： or I'll knock your brains out
with my keys。〃
〃I'll make a blood…pudding of thy midriff first；〃 answered
Lambourne； laying his left hand on his dagger； but still
detaining the Countess by the arm with his right。 〃So have at
thee； thou old ostrich； whose only living is upon a bunch of iron
keys。〃
Lawrence raised the arm of Michael； and prevented him from
drawing his dagger； and as Lambourne struggled and strove to
shake him off； the Countess made a sudden exertion on her side；
and slipping her hand out of the glove on which the ruffian still
kept hold； she gained her liberty； and escaping from the
apartment； ran downstairs； while at the same moment she heard the
two combatants fall on the floor with a noise which increased her
terror。 The outer wicket offered no impediment to her flight；
having been opened for Lambourne's admittance； so that she
succeeded in esca