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added to a spirit determined on revenge a hand and eye admirably
well adapted to the use of the rapier； so that Varney； finding
himself hard pressed in his turn； endeavoured to avail himself of
his superior strength by closing with his adversary。 For this
purpose； he hazarded the receiving one of Tressilian's passes in
his cloak； wrapped as it was around his arm； and ere his
adversary could； extricate his rapier thus entangled； he closed
with him； shortening his own sword at the same time； with the
purpose of dispatching him。 But Tressilian was on his guard； and
unsheathing his poniard； parried with the blade of that weapon
the home…thrust which would otherwise have finished the combat；
and； in the struggle which followed； displayed so much address；
as might have confirmed； the opinion that he drew his origin from
Cornwall whose natives are such masters in the art of wrestling；
as； were the games of antiquity revived； might enable them to
challenge all Europe to the ring。 Varney； in his ill…advised
attempt； received a fall so sudden and violent that his sword
flew several paces from his hand and ere he could recover his
feet； that of his antagonist was； pointed to his throat。
〃Give me the instant means of relieving the victim of thy
treachery；〃 said Tressilian； 〃or take the last look of your
Creator's blessed sun！〃
And while Varney； too confused or too sullen to reply； made a
sudden effort to arise； his adversary drew back his arm； and
would have executed his threat； but that the blow was arrested by
the grasp of Michael Lambourne； who； directed by the clashing of
swords had come up just in time to save the life of Varney；
〃Come； come； comrade；〃 said Lambourne； 〃here is enough done and
more than enough； put up your fox and let us be jogging。 The
Black Bear growls for us。〃
〃Off； abject！〃 said Tressilian； striking himself free of
Lambourne's grasp； 〃darest thou come betwixt me and mine enemy？〃
〃Abject！ abject！〃 repeated Lambourne； 〃that shall be answered
with cold steel whenever a bowl of sack has washed out memory of
the morning's draught that we had together。 In the meanwhile； do
you see； shogtrampbegonewe are two to one。〃
He spoke truth； for Varney had taken the opportunity to regain
his weapon； and Tressilian perceived it was madness to press the
quarrel further against such odds。 He took his purse from his
side； and taking out two gold nobles； flung them to Lambourne。
〃There； caitiff； is thy morning wage； thou shalt not say thou
hast been my guide unhired。Varney； farewell！ we shall meet
where there are none to come betwixt us。〃 So saying； he turned
round and departed through the postern door。
Varney seemed to want the inclination； or perhaps the power （for
his fall had been a severe one）； to follow his retreating enemy。
But he glared darkly as he disappeared； and then addressed
Lambourne。 〃Art thou a comrade of Foster's； good fellow？〃
〃Sworn friends； as the haft is to the knife；〃 replied Michael
Lambourne。
〃Here is a broad piece for thee。 Follow yonder fellow； and see
where he takes earth； and bring me word up to the mansion…house
here。 Cautious and silent； thou knave； as thou valuest thy
throat。〃
〃Enough said；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃I can draw on a scent as well
as a sleuth…hound。〃
〃Begone； then；〃 said Varney； sheathing his rapier； and； turning
his back on Michael Lambourne； he walked slowly towards the
house。 Lambourne stopped but an instant to gather the nobles
which his late companion had flung towards him so
unceremoniously； and muttered to himself； while he put them upon
his purse along with the gratuity of Varney； 〃I spoke to yonder
gulls of Eldorado。 By Saint Anthony； there is no Eldorado for
men of our stamp equal to bonny Old England！ It rains nobles； by
Heaventhey lie on the grass as thick as dewdropsyou may have
them for gathering。 And if I have not my share of such
glittering dewdrops； may my sword melt like an icicle！〃
CHAPTER V。
He was a man
Versed in the world as pilot in his compass。
The needle pointed ever to that interest
Which was his loadstar； and he spread his sails
With vantage to the gale of others' passion。
THE DECEIVER； A TRAGEDY。
Antony Foster was still engaged in debate with his fair guest；
who treated with scorn every entreaty and request that she would
retire to her own apartment； when a whistle was heard at the
entrance…door of the mansion。
〃We are fairly sped now；〃 said Foster； 〃yonder is thy lord's
signal； and what to say about the disorder which has happened in
this household； by my conscience； I know not。 Some evil fortune
dogs the heels of that unhanged rogue Lambourne； and he has
'scaped the gallows against every chance； to come back and be the
ruin of me！〃
〃Peace； sir；〃 said the lady； 〃and undo the gate to your master。
My lord！ my dear lord！〃 she then exclaimed； hastening to the
entrance of the apartment； then added； with a voice expressive of
disappointment； 〃Pooh！ it is but Richard Varney。〃
〃Ay； madam；〃 said Varney； entering and saluting the lady with a
respectful obeisance； which she returned with a careless mixture
of negligence and of displeasure； 〃it is but Richard Varney； but
even the first grey cloud should be acceptable； when it lightens
in the east； because it announces the approach of the blessed
sun。〃
〃How！ comes my lord hither to…night？〃 said the lady； in joyful
yet startled agitation； and Anthony Foster caught up the word；
and echoed the question。 Varney replied to the lady； that his
lord purposed to attend her； and would have proceeded with some
compliment； when； running to the door of the parlour； she called
aloud； 〃JanetJanet！ come to my tiring…room instantly。〃 Then
returning to Varney； she asked if her lord sent any further
commendations to her。
〃This letter； honoured madam；〃 said he； taking from his bosom a
small parcel wrapped in scarlet silk； 〃and with it a token to
the Queen of his Affections。〃 With eager speed the lady hastened
to undo the silken string which surrounded the little packet； and
failing to unloose readily the knot with which it was secured；
she again called loudly on Janet； 〃Bring me a knifescissors
aught that may undo this envious knot！〃
〃May not my poor poniard serve； honoured madam？〃 said Varney；
presenting a small dagger of exquisite workmanship； which hung in
his Turkey…leather sword…belt。
〃No； sir；〃 replied the lady； rejecting the instrument which he
offered〃steel poniard shall cut no true…love knot of mine。〃
〃It has cut many； however；〃 said Anthony Foster； half aside； and
looking at Varney。 By this time the knot was disentangled
without any other help than the neat and nimble fingers of Janet；
a simply…attired pretty maiden； the daughter of Anthony Foster；
who came running at the repeated call of her mistress。 A
necklace of orient pearl； the companion of a perfumed billet； was
now hastily produced from the packet。 The lady gave the one；
after a slight glance； to the charge of her attendant； while she
read； or rather devoured； the contents of the other。
〃Surely； lady；〃 said Janet； gazing with admirat