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way to a burst of emotion〃not a tearthe time permits it not。
Tressilian must be thought of〃
〃That indeed is a name；〃 said the Earl； 〃to convert tears into
blood。 Varney； I have thought on this； and I have determined
neither entreaty nor argument shall move meTressilian shall be
my own victim。〃
〃It is madness； my lord； but you are too mighty for me to bar
your way to your revenge。 Yet resolve at least to choose fitting
time and opportunity； and to forbear him until these shall be
found。〃
〃Thou shalt order me in what thou wilt；〃 said Leicester； 〃only
thwart me not in this。〃
〃Then； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃I first request of you to lay
aside the wild； suspected； and half…frenzied demeanour which hath
this day drawn the eyes of all the court upon you； and which； but
for the Queen's partial indulgence； which she hath extended
towards you in a degree far beyond her nature； she had never
given you the opportunity to atone for。〃
〃Have I indeed been so negligent？〃 said Leicester； as one who
awakes from a dream。 〃I thought I had coloured it well。 But
fear nothing； my mind is now easedI am calm。 My horoscope
shall be fulfilled； and that it may be fulfilled； I will tax to
the highest every faculty of my mind。 Fear me not； I say。 I
will to the Queen instantlynot thine own looks and language
shall be more impenetrable than mine。 Hast thou aught else to
say？〃
〃I must crave your signet…ring；〃 said Varney gravely； 〃in token
to those of your servants whom I must employ； that I possess your
full authority in commanding their aid。〃
Leicester drew off the signet…ring which he commonly used； and
gave it to Varney； with a haggard and stern expression of
countenance； adding only； in a low； half…whispered tone； but with
terrific emphasis； the words； 〃What thou dost； do quickly。〃
Some anxiety and wonder took place； meanwhile； in the presence…
hall； at the prolonged absence of the noble Lord of the Castle；
and great was the delight of his friends when they saw him enter
as a man from whose bosom； to all human seeming； a weight of care
had been just removed。 Amply did Leicester that day redeem the
pledge he had given to Varney； who soon saw himself no longer
under the necessity of maintaining a character so different from
his own as that which he had assumed in the earlier part of the
day； and gradually relapsed into the same grave； shrewd； caustic
observer of conversation and incident which constituted his usual
part in society。
With Elizabeth； Leicester played his game as one to whom her
natural strength of talent and her weakness in one or two
particular points were well known。 He was too wary to exchange
on a sudden the sullen personage which he had played before he
retired with Varney； but on approaching her it seemed softened
into a melancholy； which had a touch of tenderness in it； and
which； in the course of conversing with Elizabeth； and as she
dropped in compassion one mark of favour after another to console
him； passed into a flow of affectionate gallantry； the most
assiduous； the most delicate； the most insinuating； yet at the
same time the most respectful； with which a Queen was ever
addressed by a subject。 Elizabeth listened as in a sort of
enchantment。 Her jealousy of power was lulled asleep； her
resolution to forsake all social or domestic ties； and dedicate
herself exclusively to the care of her people； began to be
shaken； and once more the star of Dudley culminated in the court
horizon。
But Leicester did not enjoy this triumph over nature； and over
conscience； without its being embittered to him； not only by the
internal rebellion of his feelings against the violence which he
exercised over them； but by many accidental circumstances； which；
in the course of the banquet； and during the subsequent
amusements of the evening； jarred upon that nerve； the least
vibration of which was agony。
The courtiers were； for example； in the Great Hall； after having
left the banqueting…room； awaiting the appearance of a splendid
masque； which was the expected entertainment of this evening；
when the Queen interrupted a wild career of wit which the Earl of
Leicester was running against Lord Willoughby； Raleigh； and some
other courtiers； by saying； 〃We will impeach you of high treason；
my lord； if you proceed in this attempt to slay us with laughter。
And here comes a thing may make us all grave at his pleasure； our
learned physician Masters； with news belike of our poor
suppliant； Lady Varney；nay； my lord； we will not have you leave
us； for this being a dispute betwixt married persons； we do not
hold our own experience deep enough to decide thereon without
good counsel。How now； Masters； what thinkest thou of the
runaway bride？〃
The smile with which Leicester had been speaking； when the Queen
interrupted him； remained arrested on his lips； as if it had been
carved there by the chisel of Michael Angelo or of Chantrey； and
he listened to the speech of the physician with the same
immovable cast of countenance。
〃The Lady Varney； gracious Sovereign；〃 said the court physician
Masters； 〃is sullen； and would hold little conference with me
touching the state of her health； talking wildly of being soon to
plead her own cause before your own presence； and of answering no
meaner person's inquiries。〃
〃Now the heavens forfend！〃 said the Queen； 〃we have already
suffered from the misconstructions and broils which seem to
follow this poor brain…sick lady wherever she comes。Think you
not so； my lord？〃 she added； appealing to Leicester with
something in her look that indicated regret； even tenderly
expressed； for their disagreement of that morning。 Leicester
compelled himself to bow low。 The utmost force he could exert
was inadequate to the further effort of expressing in words his
acquiescence in the Queen's sentiment。
〃You are vindictive；〃 she said； 〃my lord； but we will find time
and place to punish you。 But once more to this same trouble…
mirth； this Lady Varney。 What of her health； Masters？〃
〃She is sullen； madam； as I already said；〃 replied Masters； 〃and
refuses to answer interrogatories； or be amenable to the
authority of the mediciner。 I conceive her to be possessed with
a delirium； which I incline to term rather HYPOCHONDRIA than
PHRENESIS； and I think she were best cared for by her husband in
his own house； and removed from all this bustle of pageants；
which disturbs her weak brain with the most fantastic phantoms。
She drops hints as if she were some great person in disguise
some Countess or Princess perchance。 God help them； such are
often the hallucinations of these infirm persons！〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said the Queen； 〃away with her with all speed。 Let
Varney care for her with fitting humanity； but let them rid the
Castle of her forthwith she will think herself lady of all； I
warrant you。 It is pity so fair a form； however； should have an
infirm understanding。What think you； my lord？〃
〃It is pity indeed；〃 said the Earl； repeating the words like a
task which was set him。
〃But； perhaps；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃you do not join with us in our
opinion of her beauty； and indeed we have known men prefer a
sta