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〃I would disown that rank； my Lord；〃 said Varney； 〃could I think
it was to remove me to a distance from your lordship's person。〃
〃Thou art a grateful fellow；〃 said Leicester； 〃but I must not
allow you to do what would abate you in the opinion of others。〃
While thus speaking； he still accepted without hesitation the
offices about his person； which the new…made knight seemed to
render as eagerly as if he had really felt； in discharging the
task； that pleasure which his words expressed。
〃I am not afraid of men's misconstruction；〃 he said； in answer to
Leicester's remark； 〃since there is not（permit me to undo the
collar）a man within the Castle who does not expect very soon to
see persons of a rank far superior to that which； by your
goodness； I now hold； rendering the duties of the bedchamber to
you； and accounting it an honour。〃
〃It might； indeed； so have been〃said the Earl； with an
involuntary sigh； and then presently added； 〃My gown； Varney； I
will look out on the night。 Is not the moon near to the full？〃
〃I think so； my lord； according to the calendar；〃 answered
Varney。
There was an abutting window； which opened on a small projecting
balcony of stone； battlemented as is usual in Gothic castles。
The Earl undid the lattice； and stepped out into the open air。
The station he had chosen commanded an extensive view of the lake
and woodlands beyond； where the bright moonlight rested on the
clear blue waters and the distant masses of oak and elm trees。
The moon rode high in the heavens； attended by thousands and
thousands of inferior luminaries。 All seemed already to be
hushed in the nether world； excepting occasionally the voice of
the watch （for the yeomen of the guard performed that duty
wherever the Queen was present in person） and the distant baying
of the hounds； disturbed by the preparations amongst the grooms
and prickers for a magnificent hunt； which was to be the
amusement of the next day。
Leicester looked out on the blue arch of heaven； with gestures
and a countenance expressive of anxious exultation； while Varney；
who remained within the darkened apartment； could （himself
unnoticed）； with a secret satisfaction； see his patron stretch
his hands with earnest gesticulation towards the heavenly bodies。
〃Ye distant orbs of living fire；〃 so ran the muttered invocation
of the ambitious Earl； 〃ye are silent while you wheel your mystic
rounds； but Wisdom has given to you a voice。 Tell me； then； to
what end is my high course destined？ Shall the greatness to
which I have aspired be bright； pre…eminent； and stable as your
own； or am I but doomed to draw a brief and glittering train
along the nightly darkness； and then to sink down to earth； like
the base refuse of those artificial fires with which men emulate
your rays？〃
He looked on the heavens in profound silence for a minute or two
longer； and then again stepped into the apartment； where Varney
seemed to have been engaged in putting the Earl's jewels into a
casket。
〃What said Alasco of my horoscope？〃 demanded Leicester。 〃You
already told me； but it has escaped me； for I think but lightly
of that art。〃
〃Many learned and great men have thought otherwise；〃 said Varney；
〃and； not to flatter your lordship； my own opinion leans that
way。〃
〃Ay； Saul among the prophets？〃 said Leicester。 〃I thought thou
wert sceptical in all such matters as thou couldst neither see；
hear； smell； taste； or touch； and that thy belief was limited by
thy senses。〃
〃Perhaps； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃I may be misled on the present
occasion by my wish to find the predictions of astrology true。
Alasco says that your favourite planet is culminating； and that
the adverse influencehe would not use a plainer termthough
not overcome； was evidently combust； I think he said； or
retrograde。〃
〃It is even so；〃 said Leicester； looking at an abstract of
astrological calculations which he had in his hand； 〃the stronger
influence will prevail； and； as I think； the evil hour pass away。
Lend me your hand； Sir Richard； to doff my gown； and remain an
instant； if it is not too burdensome to your knighthood； while I
compose myself to sleep。 I believe the bustle of this day has
fevered my blood； for it streams through my veins like a current
of molten lead。 Remain an instant； I pray youI would fain feel
my eyes heavy ere I closed them。〃
Varney officiously assisted his lord to bed； and placed a massive
silver night…lamp； with a short sword； on a marble table which
stood close by the head of the couch。 Either in order to avoid
the light of the lamp； or to hide his countenance from Varney；
Leicester drew the curtain； heavy with entwined silk and gold； so
as completely to shade his face。 Varney took a seat near the
bed； but with his back towards his master； as if to intimate that
he was not watching him； and quietly waited till Leicester
himself led the way to the topic by which his mind was engrossed。
〃And so； Varney；〃 said the Earl； after waiting in vain till his
dependant should commence the conversation； 〃men talk of the
Queen's favour towards me？〃
〃Ay； my good lord；〃 said Varney； 〃of what can they else； since it
is so strongly manifested？〃
〃She is indeed my good and gracious mistress；〃 said Leicester；
after another pause； 〃but it is written； 'Put not thy trust in
princes。'〃
〃A good sentence and a true；〃 said Varney； 〃unless you can unite
their interest with yours so absolutely that they must needs sit
on your wrist like hooded hawks。〃
〃I know what thou meanest；〃 said Leicester impatiently； 〃though
thou art to…night so prudentially careful of what thou sayest to
me。 Thou wouldst intimate I might marry the Queen if I would？〃
〃It is your speech； my lord； not mine；〃 answered Varney； 〃but
whosesoever be the speech； it is the thought of ninety…nine out
of an hundred men throughout broad England。〃
〃Ay； but；〃 said Leicester； turning himself in his bed； 〃the
hundredth man knows better。 Thou； for example； knowest the
obstacle that cannot be overleaped。〃
〃It must； my lord； if the stars speak true；〃 said Varney
composedly。
〃What； talkest thou of them；〃 said Leicester； 〃that believest not
in them or in aught else？〃
〃You mistake； my lord； under your gracious pardon；〃 said Varney；
〃I believe in many things that predict the future。 I believe； if
showers fall in April； that we shall have flowers in May； that if
the sun shines； grain will ripen； and I believe in much natural
philosophy to the same effect； which； if the stars swear to me； I
will say the stars speak the truth。 And in like manner； I will
not disbelieve that which I see wished for and expected on earth；
solely because the astrologers have read it in the heavens。〃
〃Thou art right；〃 said Leicester； again tossing himself on his
couch 〃Earth does wish for it。 I have had advices from the
reformed churches of Germanyfrom the Low Countriesfrom
Switzerlandurging this as a point on which Europe's safety
depends。 France will not oppose it。 The ruling party in
Scotland look to it as their best security。 Spain fears it； but
cannot prevent it。 And yet thou knowest it is impossible。〃
〃I know not that； my lord；〃