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plagued with a bratchet whelp。Whence come ye； my fair…favoured
little gossip？〃
〃From the Fens；〃 answered the boy。
〃And what didst thou learn there； forward imp？〃
〃To catch gulls； with their webbed feet and yellow stockings；〃
said the boy。
〃Umph！〃 said Blount； looking down on his own immense roses。
〃Nay； then； the devil take him asks thee more questions。〃
Meantime Tressilian traversed the full length of the Great Hall；
in which the astonished courtiers formed various groups； and were
whispering mysteriously together； while all kept their eyes fixed
on the door which led from the upper end of the hall into the
Queen's withdrawing apartment。 Raleigh pointed to the door。
Tressilian knocked； and was instantly admitted。 Many a neck was
stretched to gain a view into the interior of the apartment； but
the tapestry which covered the door on the inside was dropped too
suddenly to admit the slightest gratification of curiosity。
Upon entrance； Tressilian found himself； not without a strong
palpitation of heart； in the presence of Elizabeth； who was
walking to and fro in a violent agitation； which she seemed to
scorn to conceal； while two or three of her most sage and
confidential counsellors exchanged anxious looks with each other；
but delayed speaking till her wrath abated。 Before the empty
chair of state in which she had been seated； and which was half
pushed aside by the violence with which she had started from it；
knelt Leicester； his arms crossed； and his brows bent on the
ground； still and motionless as the effigies upon a sepulchre。
Beside him stood the Lord Shrewsbury； then Earl Marshal of
England； holding his baton of office。 The Earl's sword was
unbuckled； and lay before him on the floor。
〃Ho； sir！〃 said the Queen； coming close up to Tressilian； and
stamping on the floor with the action and manner of Henry
himself； 〃you knew of this fair workyou are an accomplice in
this deception which has been practised on usyou have been a
main cause of our doing injustice？〃 Tressilian dropped on his
knee before the Queen； his good sense showing him the risk of
attempting any defence at that moment of irritation。 〃Art dumb；
sirrah？〃 she continued； 〃thou knowest of this affair dost thou
not？〃
〃Not； gracious madam； that this poor lady was Countess of
Leicester。〃
〃Nor shall any one know her for such；〃 said Elizabeth。 〃Death of
my life！ Countess of Leicester！I say Dame Amy Dudley； and well
if she have not cause to write herself widow of the traitor
Robert Dudley。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Leicester； 〃do with me what it may be your will to
do； but work no injury on this gentleman； he hath in no way
deserved it。〃
〃And will he be the better for thy intercession；〃 said the Queen；
leaving Tressilian； who slowly arose； and rushing to Leicester；
who continued kneeling〃the better for thy intercession； thou
doubly falsethou doubly forsworn；of thy intercession； whose
villainy hath made me ridiculous to my subjects and odious to
myself？ I could tear out mine eyes for their blindness！〃
Burleigh here ventured to interpose。
〃Madam；〃 he said； 〃remember that you are a QueenQueen of
Englandmother of your people。 Give not way to this wild storm
of passion。〃
Elizabeth turned round to him； while a tear actually twinkled in
her proud and angry eye。 〃Burleigh；〃 she said； 〃thou art a
statesmanthou dost not； thou canst not； comprehend half the
scorn； half the misery； that man has poured on me！〃
With the utmost cautionwith the deepest reverenceBurleigh
took her hand at the moment he saw her heart was at the fullest；
and led her aside to an oriel window； apart from the others。
〃Madam；〃 he said； 〃I am a statesman； but I am also a mana man
already grown old in your councilswho have not and cannot have
a wish on earth but your glory and happiness； I pray you to be
composed。〃
〃Ah！ Burleigh；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃thou little knowest〃 here her
tears fell over her cheeks in despite of her。
〃I doI do know； my honoured sovereign。 Oh； beware that you
lead not others to guess that which they know not！〃
〃Ha！〃 said Elizabeth； pausing as if a new train of thought had
suddenly shot across her brain。 〃Burleigh； thou art rightthou
art rightanything but disgraceanything but a confession of
weaknessanything rather than seem the cheated； slighted
'sdeath！ to think on it is distraction！〃
〃Be but yourself； my Queen；〃 said Burleigh； 〃and soar far above a
weakness which no Englishman will ever believe his Elizabeth
could have entertained； unless the violence of her disappointment
carries a sad conviction to his bosom。〃
〃What weakness； my lord？〃 said Elizabeth haughtily； 〃would you
too insinuate that the favour in which I held yonder proud
traitor derived its source from aught〃 But here she could no
longer sustain the proud tone which she had assumed； and again
softened as she said； 〃But why should I strive to deceive even
thee； my good and wise servant？〃
Burleigh stooped to kiss her hand with affection； andrare in
the annals of courtsa tear of true sympathy dropped from the
eye of the minister on the hand of his Sovereign。
It is probable that the consciousness of possessing this sympathy
aided Elizabeth in supporting her mortification； and suppressing
her extreme resentment； but she was still more moved by fear that
her passion should betray to the public the affront and the
disappointment； which； alike as a woman and a Queen； she was so
anxious to conceal。 She turned from Burleigh； and sternly paced
the hall till her features had recovered their usual dignity； and
her mien its wonted stateliness of regular motion。
〃Our Sovereign is her noble self once more；〃 whispered Burleigh
to Walsingham； 〃mark what she does； and take heed you thwart her
not。〃
She then approached Leicester； and said with calmness； 〃My Lord
Shrewsbury； we discharge you of your prisoner。My Lord of
Leicester； rise and take up your sword； a quarter of an hour's
restraint under the custody of our Marshal； my lord； is； we
think； no high penance for months of falsehood practised upon us。
We will now hear the progress of this affair。〃 She then seated
herself in her chair； and said； 〃You； Tressilian； step forward；
and say what you know。〃
Tressilian told his story generously； suppressing as much as he
could what affected Leicester； and saying nothing of their having
twice actually fought together。 It is very probable that； in
doing so； he did the Earl good service； for had the Queen at that
instant found anything on account of which she could vent her
wrath upon him； without laying open sentiments of which she was
ashamed； it might have fared hard with him。 She paused when
Tressilian had finished his tale。
〃We will take that Wayland；〃 she said； 〃into our own service； and
place the boy in our Secretary office for instruction； that he
may in future use discretion towards letters。 For you；
Tressilian； you did wrong in not communicating the whole truth to
us； and your promise not to do so was both imprudent and
undutiful。 Yet； having given your word to this unhappy lady； it
was the part of a man and a gentleman to keep it； and on the
whole； we esteem you