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the cruel and superstitious oaths which savour both of
profaneness and of old Papistrie。〃
〃It is the fault of his blood； Mr。 Dean；〃 said the Queen； turning
sharply round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke； 〃and you
may blame mine for the same distemperature。 The Boleyns were
ever a hot and plain…spoken race； more hasty to speak their mind
than careful to choose their expressions。 And by my wordI hope
there is no sin in that affirmationI question if it were much
cooled by mixing with that of Tudor。〃
As she made this last observation she smiled graciously； and
stole her eyes almost insensibly round to seek those of the Earl
of Leicester； to whom she now began to think she had spoken with
hasty harshness upon the unfounded suspicion of a moment。
The Queen's eye found the Earl in no mood to accept the implied
offer of conciliation。 His own looks had followed； with late and
rueful repentance； the faded form which Hunsdon had just borne
from the presence。 They now reposed gloomily on the ground； but
moreso at least it seemed to Elizabethwith the expression of
one who has received an unjust affront； than of him who is
conscious of guilt。 She turned her face angrily from him； and
said to Varney； 〃Speak； Sir Richard； and explain these riddles
thou hast sense and the use of speech； at least； which elsewhere
we look for in vain。〃
As she said this； she darted another resentful glance towards
Leicester； while the wily Varney hastened to tell his own story。
〃Your Majesty's piercing eye；〃 he said； 〃has already detected the
cruel malady of my beloved lady； which； unhappy that I am； I
would not suffer to be expressed in the certificate of her
physician； seeking to conceal what has now broken out with so
much the more scandal。〃
〃She is then distraught？〃 said the Queen。 〃Indeed we doubted
not of it； her whole demeanour bears it out。 I found her moping
in a corner of yonder grotto； and every word she spokewhich
indeed I dragged from her as by the rackshe instantly recalled
and forswore。 But how came she hither？ Why had you her not in
safe…keeping？〃
〃My gracious Liege；〃 said Varney； 〃the worthy gentleman under
whose charge I left her； Master Anthony Foster； has come hither
but now； as fast as man and horse can travel； to show me of her
escape； which she managed with the art peculiar to many who are
afflicted with this malady。 He is at hand for examination。〃
〃Let it be for another time；〃 said the Queen。 〃But； Sir Richard；
we envy you not your domestic felicity； your lady railed on you
bitterly； and seemed ready to swoon at beholding you。〃
〃It is the nature of persons in her disorder； so please your
Grace；〃 answered Varney； 〃to be ever most inveterate in their
spleen against those whom； in their better moments； they hold
nearest and dearest。〃
〃We have heard so； indeed；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃and give faith to
the saying。〃
〃May your Grace then be pleased；〃 said Varney； 〃 to command my
unfortunate wife to be delivered into the custody of her
friends？〃
Leicester partly started； but making a strong effort； he subdued
his emotion； while Elizabeth answered sharply； 〃You are something
too hasty； Master Varney。 We will have first a report of the
lady's health and state of mind from Masters； our own physician；
and then determine what shall be thought just。 You shall have
license； however； to see her； that if there be any matrimonial
quarrel betwixt yousuch things we have heard do occur； even
betwixt a loving coupleyou may make it up； without further
scandal to our court or trouble to ourselves。〃
Varney bowed low； and made no other answer。
Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester； and said； with a degree
of condescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt
interest； 〃Discord； as the Italian poet says； will find her way
into peaceful convents； as well as into the privacy of families；
and we fear our own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her
from courts。 My Lord of Leicester； you are offended with us； and
we have right to be offended with you。 We will take the lion's
part upon us； and be the first to forgive。〃
Leicester smoothed his brow； as by an effort； but the trouble was
too deep…seated that its placidity should at once return。 He
said； however； that which fitted the occasion； 〃That he could not
have the happiness of forgiving； because she who commanded him to
do so could commit no injury towards him。〃
Elizabeth seemed content with this reply； and intimated her
pleasure that the sports of the morning should proceed。 The
bugles sounded； the hounds bayed； the horses pranced but the
courtiers and ladies sought the amusement to which they were
summoned with hearts very different from those which had leaped
to the morning's REVIELLE。 There was doubt； and fear； and
expectation on every brow； and surmise and intrigue in every
whisper。
Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear； 〃This
storm came like a levanter in the Mediterranean。〃
〃VARIUM ET MUTABILE；〃 answered Raleigh； in a similar tone。
〃Nay； I know nought of your Latin；〃 said Blount； 〃but I thank God
Tressilian took not the sea during that hurricane。 He could
scarce have missed shipwreck； knowing as he does so little how to
trim his sails to a court gale。〃
〃Thou wouldst have instructed him！〃 said Raleigh。
〃Why； I have profited by my time as well as thou； Sir Walter；〃
replied honest Blount。 〃I am knight as well as thou； and of the
earlier creation。〃
〃Now； God further thy wit；〃 said Raleigh。 〃But for Tressilian； I
would I knew what were the matter with him。 He told me this
morning he would not leave his chamber for the space of twelve
hours or thereby； being bound by a promise。 This lady's madness；
when he shall learn it； will not； I fear； cure his infirmity。
The moon is at the fullest； and men's brains are working like
yeast。 But hark！ they sound to mount。 Let us to horse； Blount；
we young knights must deserve our spurs。〃
CHAPTER XXXV。
Sincerity；
Thou first of virtues！ let no mortal leave
Thy onward path； although the earth should gape；
And from the gulf of hell destruction cry；
To take dissimulation's winding way。 DOUGLAS。
It was not till after a long and successful morning's sport； and
a prolonged repast which followed the return of the Queen to the
Castle； that Leicester at length found himself alone with Varney；
from whom he now learned the whole particulars of the Countess's
escape； as they had been brought to Kenilworth by Foster； who； in
his terror for the consequences； had himself posted thither with
the tidings。 As Varney； in his narrative； took especial care to
be silent concerning those practices on the Countess's health
which had driven her to so desperate a resolution； Leicester； who
could only suppose that she had adopted it out of jealous
impatience to attain the avowed state and appearance belonging to
her rank； was not a little offended at the levity with which his
wife had broken his strict commands； and exposed him to the
resentment of Elizabeth。
〃I have given；〃 he said； 〃to this daughter of an obscure
Devonshire gentleman the prou