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that is； when I obtain permission。〃
〃Permission！permission to visit your father on his sick…bed；
perhaps on his death…bed！〃 repeated Tressilian； impatiently；
〃and permission from whom？ From the villain； who； under disguise
of friendship； abused every duty of hospitality； and stole thee
from thy father's roof！〃
〃Do him no slander； Tressilian！ He whom thou speakest of wears a
sword as sharp as thinesharper； vain man； for the best deeds
thou hast ever done in peace or war were as unworthy to be named
with his； as thy obscure rank to match itself with the sphere he
moves in。Leave me！ Go； do mine errand to my father； and when
he next sends to me； let him choose a more welcome messenger。〃
〃Amy；〃 replied Tressilian calmly； 〃thou canst not move me by thy
reproaches。 Tell me one thing； that I may bear at least one ray
of comfort to my aged friend：this rank of his which thou dost
boastdost thou share it with him； Amy？does he claim a
husband's right to control thy motions？〃
〃Stop thy base； unmannered tongue！〃 said the lady； 〃to no
question that derogates from my honour do I deign an answer。〃
〃You have said enough in refusing to reply；〃 answered Tressilian；
〃and mark me； unhappy as thou art； I am armed with thy father's
full authority to command thy obedience； and I will save thee
from the slavery of sin and of sorrow； even despite of thyself；
Amy。〃
〃Menace no violence here！〃 exclaimed the lady； drawing back from
him； and alarmed at the determination expressed in his look and
manner； 〃threaten me not； Tressilian； for I have means to repel
force。〃
〃But not； I trust； the wish to use them in so evil a cause？〃
said Tressilian。 〃With thy willthine uninfluenced； free； and
natural will； Amy； thou canst not choose this state of slavery
and dishonour。 Thou hast been bound by some spellentrapped by
some deceitart now detained by some compelled vow。 But thus I
break the charmAmy； in the name of thine excellent； thy broken…
hearted father； I command thee to follow me！〃
As he spoke he advanced and extended his arm； as with the purpose
of laying hold upon her。 But she shrunk back from his grasp； and
uttered the scream which； as we before noticed； brought into the
apartment Lambourne and Foster。
The latter exclaimed； as soon as he entered； 〃Fire and fagot！
what have we here？〃 Then addressing the lady； in a tone betwixt
entreaty and command； he added； 〃Uds precious！ madam； what make
you here out of bounds？ Retireretirethere is life and death
in this matter。And you； friend； whoever you may be； leave this
houseout with you； before my dagger's hilt and your costard
become acquainted。Draw； Mike； and rid us of the knave！〃
〃Not I； on my soul；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃he came hither in my
company； and he is safe from me by cutter's law； at least till we
meet again。But hark ye； my Cornish comrade； you have brought a
Cornish flaw of wind with you hither； a hurricanoe as they call
it in the Indies。 Make yourself scarcedepartvanishor we'll
have you summoned before the Mayor of Halgaver； and that before
Dudman and Ramhead meet。〃 ＇Two headlands on the Cornish coast。
The expressions are proverbial。＇
〃Away； base groom！〃 said Tressilian。〃And you； madam； fare you
wellwhat life lingers in your father's bosom will leave him at
the news I have to tell。〃
He departed； the lady saying faintly as he left the room；
〃Tressilian； be not rashsay no scandal of me。〃
〃Here is proper gear；〃 said Foster。 〃I pray you go to your
chamber； my lady； and let us consider how this is to be answered
nay； tarry not。〃
〃I move not at your command； sir；〃 answered the lady。
〃Nay； but you must； fair lady；〃 replied Foster； 〃excuse my
freedom； but； by blood and nails； this is no time to strain
courtesiesyou MUST go to your chamber。Mike； follow that
meddling coxcomb； and； as you desire to thrive； see him safely
clear of the premises； while I bring this headstrong lady to
reason。 Draw thy tool； man； and after him。〃
〃I'll follow him；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃and see him fairly
out of Flanders； but for hurting a man I have drunk my morning's
draught withal； 'tis clean against my conscience。〃 So saying； he
left the apartment。
Tressilian； meanwhile； with hasty steps； pursued the first path
which promised to conduct him through the wild and overgrown park
in which the mansion of Foster was situated。 Haste and distress
of mind led his steps astray； and instead of taking the avenue
which led towards the village； he chose another； which； after he
had pursued it for some time with a hasty and reckless step；
conducted him to the other side of the demesne； where a postern
door opened through the wall； and led into the open country。
Tressilian paused an instant。 It was indifferent to him by what
road he left a spot now so odious to his recollections； but it
was probable that the postern door was locked； and his retreat by
that pass rendered impossible。
〃I must make the attempt； however；〃 he said to himself； 〃the only
means of reclaiming this lostthis miserablethis still most
lovely and most unhappy girl； must rest in her father's appeal to
the broken laws of his country。 I must haste to apprise him of
this heartrending intelligence。〃
As Tressilian； thus conversing with himself； approached to try
some means of opening the door； or climbing over it； he perceived
there was a key put into the lock from the outside。 It turned
round； the bolt revolved； and a cavalier； who entered； muffled in
his riding…cloak； and wearing a slouched hat with a drooping
feather； stood at once within four yards of him who was desirous
of going out。 They exclaimed at once； in tones of resentment and
surprise； the one 〃Varney！〃 the other 〃Tressilian！〃
〃What make you here？〃 was the stern question put by the stranger
to Tressilian； when the moment of surprise was past〃what make
you here； where your presence is neither expected nor desired？〃
〃Nay； Varney；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃what make you here？ Are you
come to triumph over the innocence you have destroyed； as the
vulture or carrion…crow comes to batten on the lamb whose eyes it
has first plucked out？ Or are you come to encounter the merited
vengeance of an honest man？ Draw； dog； and defend thyself！〃
Tressilian drew his sword as he spoke； but Varney only laid his
hand on the hilt of his own； as he replied； 〃Thou art mad；
Tressilian。 I own appearances are against me； but by every oath
a priest can make or a man can swear； Mistress Amy Robsart hath
had no injury from me。 And in truth I were somewhat loath to
hurt you in this causethou knowest I can fight。〃
〃I have heard thee say so； Varney；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃but now；
methinks； I would fain have some better evidence than thine own
word。〃
〃That shall not be lacking； if blade and hilt be but true to me；〃
answered Varney； and drawing his sword with the right hand； he
threw his cloak around his left； and attacked Tressilian with a
vigour which； for a moment； seemed to give him the advantage of
the combat。 But this advantage lasted not long。 Tressilian
added to a spirit determined on revenge a hand and eye admirably
well adapted to the use of the rapier； s