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the saddle； and rode at full gallop towards the Castle。
〃Take me before you； Master Tressilian；〃 said the boy； seeing
Tressilian mount in the same haste； 〃my tale is not all told out；
and I need your protection。〃
Tressilian complied； and followed the Earl； though at a less
furious rate。 By the way the boy confessed； with much
contrition； that in resentment at Wayland's evading all his
inquiries concerning the lady； after Dickon conceived he had in
various ways merited his confidence； he had purloined from him in
revenge the letter with which Amy had entrusted him for the Earl
of Leicester。 His purpose was to have restored it to him that
evening； as he reckoned himself sure of meeting with him； in
consequence of Wayland's having to perform the part of Arion in
the pageant。 He was indeed something alarmed when he saw to whom
the letter was addressed； but he argued that； as Leicester did
not return to Kenilworth until that evening； it would be again in
the possession of the proper messenger as soon as； in the nature
of things； it could possibly be delivered。 But Wayland came not
to the pageant； having been in the interim expelled by Lambourne
from the Castle； and the boy； not being able to find him； or to
get speech of Tressilian； and finding himself in possession of a
letter addressed to no less a person than the Earl of Leicester；
became much afraid of the consequences of his frolic。 The
caution； and indeed the alarm； which Wayland had expressed
respecting Varney and Lambourne； led him to judge that the letter
must be designed for the Earl's own hand； and that he might
prejudice the lady by giving it to any of the domestics。 He made
an attempt or two to obtain an audience of Leicester； but the
singularity of his features and the meanness of his appearance
occasioned his being always repulsed by the insolent menials whom
he applied to for that purpose。 Once； indeed； he had nearly
succeeded； when； in prowling about； he found in the grotto the
casket； which he knew to belong to the unlucky Countess； having
seen it on her journey； for nothing escaped his prying eye。
Having striven in vain to restore it either to Tressilian or the
Countess； he put it into the hands； as we have seen； of Leicester
himself； but unfortunately he did not recognize him in his
disguise。
At length the boy thought he was on the point of succeeding when
the Earl came down to the lower part of the hall； but just as he
was about to accost him； he was prevented by Tressilian。 As
sharp in ear as in wit； the boy heard the appointment settled
betwixt them； to take place in the Pleasance； and resolved to add
a third to the party； in hope that； either in coming or
returning； he might find an opportunity of delivering the letter
to Leicester； for strange stories began to flit among the
domestics； which alarmed him for the lady's safety。 Accident；
however； detained Dickon a little behind the Earl； and as he
reached the arcade he saw them engaged in combat； in consequence
of which he hastened to alarm the guard； having little doubt that
what bloodshed took place betwixt them might arise out of his own
frolic。 Continuing to lurk in the portico； he heard the second
appointment which Leicester at parting assigned to Tressilian；
and was keeping them in view during the encounter of the Coventry
men； when； to his surprise； he recognized Wayland in the crowd；
much disguised； indeed； but not sufficiently so to escape the
prying glance of his old comrade。 They drew aside out of the
crowd to explain their situation to each other。 The boy
confessed to Wayland what we have above told； and the artist； in
return； informed him that his deep anxiety for the fate of the
unfortunate lady had brought him back to the neighbourhood of the
Castle； upon his learning that morning； at a village about ten
miles distant； that Varney and Lambourne； whose violence he
dreaded； had both left Kenilworth over…night。
While they spoke； they saw Leicester and Tressilian separate
themselves from the crowd； dogged them until they mounted their
horses； when the boy； whose speed of foot has been before
mentioned； though he could not possibly keep up with them； yet
arrived； as we have seen； soon enough to save Tressilian's life。
The boy had just finished his tale when they arrived at the
Gallery…tower。
CHAPTER XL。
High o'er the eastern steep the sun is beaming；
And darkness flies with her deceitful shadows；
So truth prevails o'er falsehood。 OLD PLAY。
As Tressilian rode along the bridge； lately the scene of so much
riotous sport； he could not but observe that men's countenances
had singularly changed during the space of his brief absence。
The mock fight was over； but the men； still habited in their
masking suits； stood together in groups； like the inhabitants of
a city who have been just startled by some strange and alarming
news。
When he reached the base…court； appearances were the same
domestics； retainers； and under…officers stood together and
whispered； bending their eyes towards the windows of the Great
Hall； with looks which seemed at once alarmed and mysterious。
Sir Nicholas Blount was the first person of his own particular
acquaintance Tressilian saw； who left him no time to make
inquiries； but greeted him with； 〃God help thy heart； Tressilian！
thou art fitter for a clown than a courtier thou canst not
attend； as becomes one who follows her Majesty。 Here you are
called for； wished for； waited forno man but you will serve the
turn； and hither you come with a misbegotten brat on thy horse's
neck； as if thou wert dry nurse to some sucking devil； and wert
just returned from airing。〃
〃Why； what is the matter？〃 said Tressilian； letting go the boy；
who sprung to ground like a feather； and himself dismounting at
the same time。
〃Why； no one knows the matter；〃 replied Blount； 〃I cannot smell
it out myself； though I have a nose like other courtiers。 Only；
my Lord of Leicester has galloped along the bridge as if he would
have rode over all in his passage； demanded an audience of the
Queen； and is closeted even now with her； and Burleigh and
Walsinghamand you are called for； but whether the matter be
treason or worse； no one knows。〃
〃He speaks true； by Heaven！〃 said Raleigh； who that instant
appeared； 〃you must immediately to the Queen's presence。〃
〃Be not rash； Raleigh；〃 said Blount； 〃remember his boots。For
Heaven's sake； go to my chamber； dear Tressilian； and don my new
bloom…coloured silken hose； I have worn them but twice。〃
〃Pshaw！〃 answered Tressilian； 〃do thou take care of this boy；
Blount； be kind to him； and look he escapes you notmuch depends
on him。〃
So saying； he followed Raleigh hastily； leaving honest Blount
with the bridle of his horse in one hand； and the boy in the
other。 Blount gave a long look after him。
〃Nobody；〃 he said； 〃calls me to these mysteriesand he leaves me
here to play horse…keeper and child…keeper at once。 I could
excuse the one； for I love a good horse naturally； but to be
plagued with a bratchet whelp。Whence come ye； my fair…favoured
little gossip？〃
〃From the Fens；〃 answered the boy。
〃And what didst