having been opened for Lambourne's admittance； so that she
succeeded in escaping down the stair； and fled into the
Pleasance； which seemed to her hasty glance the direction in
which she was most likely to avoid pursuit。
Meanwhile； Lawrence and Lambourne rolled on the floor of the
apartment； closely grappled together。 Neither had； happily；
opportunity to draw their daggers； but Lawrence found space
enough to clash his heavy keys across Michael's face； and Michael
in return grasped the turnkey so felly by the throat that the
blood gushed from nose and mouth； so that they were both gory and
filthy spectacles when one of the other officers of the
household； attracted by the noise of the fray； entered the room；
and with some difficulty effected the separation of the
combatants。
〃A murrain on you both；〃 said the charitable mediator； 〃and
especially on you； Master Lambourne！ What the fiend lie you here
for； fighting on the floor like two butchers' curs in the kennel
of the shambles？〃
Lambourne arose； and somewhat sobered by the interposition of a
third party； looked with something less than his usual brazen
impudence of visage。 〃We fought for a wench； an thou must know；〃
was his reply。
〃A wench！ Where is she？〃 said the officer。
〃Why； vanished； I think；〃 said Lambourne； looking around him；
〃unless Lawrence hath swallowed her； That filthy paunch of his
devours as many distressed damsels and oppressed orphans as e'er
a giant in King Arthur's history。 They are his prime food； he
worries them body； soul； and substance。〃
〃Ay； ay！ It's no matter；〃 said Lawrence； gathering up his huge；
ungainly form from the floor； 〃but I have had your betters；
Master Michael Lambourne； under the little turn of my forefinger
and thumb； and I shall have thee； before all's done； under my
hatches。 The impudence of thy brow will not always save thy
shin…bones from iron； and thy foul； thirsty gullet from a hempen
cord。〃 The words were no sooner out of his mouth； when Lambourne
again made at him。
〃Nay； go not to it again；〃 said the sewer； 〃or I will call for
him shall tame you both； and that is Master VarneySir Richard；
I mean。 He is stirring； I promise you； I saw him cross the court
just now。〃
〃Didst thou； by G！〃 said Lambourne； seizing on the basin and
ewer which stood in the apartment。 〃Nay； then； element； do thy
work。 I thought I had enough of thee last night； when I floated
about for Orion； like a cork on a fermenting cask of ale。〃
So saying； he fell to work to cleanse from his face and hands the
signs of the fray； and get his apparel into some order。
〃What hast thou done to him？〃 said the sewer； speaking aside to
the jailer； 〃his face is fearfully swelled。〃
〃It is but the imprint of the key of my cabinettoo good a mark
for his gallows…face。 No man shall abuse or insult my prisoners；
they are my jewels； and I lock them in safe casket accordingly。
And so； mistress； leave off your wailing。Why！ why； surely；
there was a woman here！〃
〃I think you are all mad this morning；〃 said the sewer。 〃I saw
no woman here； nor no man neither in a proper sense； but only two
beasts rolling on the floor。〃
〃Nay； then I am undone；〃 said the jailer； 〃the prison's broken；
that is all。 Kenilworth prison is broken；〃 he continued； in a
tone of maudlin lamentation； 〃which was the strongest jail
betwixt this and the Welsh Marchesay； and a house that has had
knights； and earls； and kings sleeping in it； as secure as if
they had been in the Tower of London。 It is broken； the
prisoners fled； and the jailer in much danger of being hanged！〃
So saying； he retreated down to his own den to conclude his
lamentations； or to sleep himself sober。 Lambourne and the sewer
followed him close； and it was well for them； since the jailer；
out of mere habit； was about to lock the wicket after him； and
had they not been within the reach of interfering； they would
have had the pleasure of being shut up in the turret…chamber；
from which the Countess had been just delivered。
That unhappy lady； as soon as she found herself at liberty； fled；
as we have already mentioned； into the Pleasance。 She had seen
this richly…ornamented space of ground from the window of
Mervyn's Tower； and it occurred to her； at the moment of her
escape； that among its numerous arbours； bowers； fountains；
statues； and grottoes； she might find some recess in which she
could lie concealed until she had an opportunity of addressing
herself to a protector； to whom she might communicate as much as
she dared of her forlorn situation； and through whose means she
might supplicate an interview with her husband。
〃If I could see my guide；〃 she thought； 〃I would learn if he had
delivered my letter。 Even did I but see Tressilian； it were
better to risk Dudley's anger； by confiding my whole situation to
one who is the very soul of honour； than to run the hazard of
further insult among the insolent menials of this ill…ruled
place。 I will not again venture into an enclosed apartment。 I
will wait； I will watch； amidst so many human beings there must
be some kind heart which can judge and compassionate what mine
endures。〃
In truth； more than one party entered and traversed the
Pleasance。 But they were in joyous groups of four or five
persons together； laughing and jesting in their own fullness of
mirth and lightness of heart。
The retreat which she had chosen gave her the easy alternative of
avoiding observation。 It was but stepping back to the farthest
recess of a grotto； ornamented with rustic work and moss…seats；
and terminated by a fountain； and she might easily remain
concealed； or at her pleasure discover herself to any solitary
wanderer whose curiosity might lead him to that romantic
retirement。 Anticipating such an opportunity； she looked into
the clear basin which the silent fountain held up to her like a
mirror； and felt shocked at her own appearance； and doubtful at；
the same time； muffled and disfigured as her disguise made her
seem to herself； whether any female （and it was from the
compassion of her own sex that she chiefly expected sympathy）
would engage in conference with so suspicious an object。
Reasoning thus like a woman； to whom external appearance is
scarcely in any circumstances a matter of unimportance； and like
a beauty； who had some confidence in the power of her own charms；
she laid aside her travelling cloak and capotaine hat； and placed
them beside her； so that she could assume them in an instant； ere
one could penetrate from the entrance of the grotto to its
extremity； in case the intrusion of Varney or of Lambourne should
render such disguise necessary。 The dress which she wore under
these vestments was somewhat of a theatrical cast； so as to suit
the assumed personage of one of the females who was to act in the
pageant； Wayland had found the means of arranging it thus upon
the second day of their journey； having experienced the service
arising from the assumption of such a character on the preceding
day。 The fountain； acting both as a mirror and ewer； afforded
Amy the means of a brief toilette； of which she availed herself
as hastily as possible； then took in her hand her small casket of
jewels； in case she might find them useful intercessors； and
retiring to the darkest and most sequestered nook； sat down on a
seat of moss； and awaited till fate should give her some chance
of rescue； or of propitiating an intercessor。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
Have you not seen the partridge quake；
Viewing the hawk approaching nigh？
She cuddles close beneath the brake；
Afraid to sit； afraid to fly； PRIOR。
It chanced； upon that memorable morning； that one of the earliest
of the huntress train； who appeared from her chamber in full
array for the chase； was the Princess for whom all these
pleasures were instituted； England's Maiden Queen。 I know not if
it were by chance； or out of the befitting courtesy due to a
mistress by whom he was so much honoured； that she had scarcely
made one step beyond the threshold of her chamber ere Leicester
was by her side； and proposed to her； until the preparations for
the chase had been completed； to view the Pleasance； and the
gardens which it connected with the Castle yard。
To this new scene of pleasures they walked； the Earl's arm
affording his Sovereign the occasional support which she
required； where flights of steps； then a favourite ornament in a
garden； conducted them from terrace to terrace； and from parterre
to parterre。 The ladies in attendance； gifted with prudence； or
endowed perhaps with the amiable desire of acting as they would
be done by； did not conceive their duty to the Queen's person
required them； though they lost not sight of her； to approach so
near as to share； or perhaps disturb； the conversation betwixt
the Queen and the Earl； who was not only her host； but also her
most trusted； esteemed； and favoured servant。 They contented
themselves with admiring the grace of this illustrious couple；
whose robes of state were now exchanged for hunting suits； almost
equally magnificent。
Elizabeth's silvan dress； which was of a pale blue silk； with
silver lace and AIGUILLET