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at least； and will have decency； if not humanity。 For thee；
Varney； were it my latest word； thou art an equal stranger to
both。〃
Varney replied only she was at liberty to choose； and walked some
paces before them to show the way； while； half leaning on Foster；
and half carried by him； the Countess was transported from
Saintlowe's Tower to the postern gate； where Tider waited with
the litter and horses。
The Countess was placed in the former without resistance。 She
saw with some satisfaction that； while Foster and Tider rode
close by the litter； which the latter conducted； the dreaded
Varney lingered behind； and was soon lost in darkness。 A little
while she strove； as the road winded round the verge of the lake；
to keep sight of those stately towers which called her husband
lord； and which still； in some places； sparkled with lights；
where wassailers were yet revelling。 But when the direction of
the road rendered this no longer possible； she drew back her
head； and sinking down in the litter； recommended herself to the
care of Providence。
Besides the desire of inducing the Countess to proceed quietly on
her journey； Varney had it also in view to have an interview with
Lambourne； by whom he every moment expected to be joined； without
the presence of any witnesses。 He knew the character of this
man； prompt； bloody； resolute； and greedy； and judged him the
most fit agent he could employ in his further designs。 But ten
miles of their journey had been measured ere he heard the hasty
clatter of horse's hoofs behind him； and was overtaken by Michael
Lambourne。
Fretted as he was with his absence； Varney received his
profligate servant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness。 〃Drunken
villain；〃 he said； 〃thy idleness and debauched folly will stretch
a halter ere it be long； and； for me； I care not how soon！〃
This style of objurgation Lambourne； who was elated to an unusual
degree； not only by an extraordinary cup of wine； but by the sort
of confidential interview he had just had with the Earl； and the
secret of which he had made himself master； did not receive with
his wonted humility。 〃He would take no insolence of language；〃
he said； 〃from the best knight that ever wore spurs。 Lord
Leicester had detained him on some business of import； and that
was enough for Varney； who was but a servant like himself。〃
Varney was not a little surprised at his unusual tone of
insolence； but ascribing it to liquor； suffered it to pass as if
unnoticed； and then began to tamper with Lambourne touching his
willingness to aid in removing out of the Earl of Leicester's way
an obstacle to a rise； which would put it in his power to reward
his trusty followers to their utmost wish。 And upon Michael
Lambourne's seeming ignorant what was meant； he plainly indicated
〃the litter…load； yonder；〃 as the impediment which he desired
should be removed。
〃Look you； Sir Richard； and so forth；〃 said Michael； 〃some are
wiser than some； that is one thing； and some are worse than some；
that's another。 I know my lord's mind on this matter better than
thou； for he hath trusted me fully in the matter。 Here are his
mandates； and his last words were； Michael Lambournefor his
lordship speaks to me as a gentleman of the sword； and useth not
the words drunken villain； or such like phrase； of those who know
not how to bear new dignitiesVarney； says he； must pay the
utmost respect to my Countess。 I trust to you for looking to it；
Lambourne； says his lordship； and you must bring back my signet
from him peremptorily。〃
〃Ay；〃 replied Varney； 〃said he so； indeed？ You know all； then？〃
〃Allall； and you were as wise to make a friend of me while the
weather is fair betwixt us。〃
〃And was there no one present；〃 said Varney； 〃when my lord so
spoke？〃
〃Not a breathing creature；〃 replied Lambourne。 〃Think you my
lord would trust any one with such matters； save an approved man
of action like myself？〃
〃Most true；〃 said Varney； and making a pause； he looked forward
on the moonlight road。 They were traversing a wide and open
heath。 The litter being at least a mile before them； was both
out of sight and hearing。 He looked behind； and there was an
expanse； lighted by the moonbeams； without one human being in
sight。 He resumed his speech to Lambourne： 〃And will you turn
upon your master； who has introduced you to this career of court…
like favourwhose apprentice you have been； Michaelwho has
taught you the depths and shallows of court intrigue？〃
〃Michael not me！〃 said Lambourne； 〃I have a name will brook a
MASTER before it as well as another； and as to the rest； if I
have been an apprentice； my indenture is out； and I am resolute
to set up for myself。〃
〃Take thy quittance first； thou fool！〃 said Varney； and with a
pistol； which he had for some time held in his hand； shot
Lambourne through the body。
The wretch fell from his horse without a single groan； and
Varney； dismounting； rifled his pockets； turning out the lining；
that it might appear he had fallen by robbers。 He secured the
Earl's packet； which was his chief object； but he also took
Lambourne〃s purse； containing some gold pieces； the relics of
what his debauchery had left him； and from a singular combination
of feelings； carried it in his hand only the length of a small
river； which crossed the road； into which he threw it as far as
he could fling。 Such are the strange remnants of conscience
which remain after she seems totally subdued； that this cruel and
remorseless man would have felt himself degraded had he pocketed
the few pieces belonging to the wretch whom he had thus
ruthlessly slain。
The murderer reloaded his pistol after cleansing the lock and
barrel from the appearances of late explosion； and rode calmly
after the litter； satisfying himself that he had so adroitly
removed a troublesome witness to many of his intrigues； and the
bearer of mandates which he had no intentions to obey； and which；
therefore； he was desirous it should be thought had never reached
his hand。
The remainder of the journey was made with a degree of speed
which showed the little care they had for the health of the
unhappy Countess。 They paused only at places where all was under
their command； and where the tale they were prepared to tell of
the insane Lady Varney would have obtained ready credit had she
made an attempt to appeal to the compassion of the few persons
admitted to see her。 But Amy saw no chance of obtaining a
hearing from any to whom she had an opportunity of addressing
herself； and besides； was too terrified for the presence of
Varney to violate the implied condition under which she was to
travel free from his company。 The authority of Varney； often so
used during the Earl's private journeys to Cumnor； readily
procured relays of horses where wanted； so that they approached
Cumnor Place upon the night after they left Kenilworth。
At this period of the journey Varney came up to the rear of the
litter； as he had done before repeatedly during their progress；
and asked； 〃How does she？〃
〃She sleeps；〃 said Foster。 〃I would we were homeher strength
is exhausted。〃
〃Rest will restore her；