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〃I had a boon to beg of thee； and a secret to tell thee； my dear
lord；〃 said the Countess； with a faltering accent。
〃Let both be for to…morrow； my love；〃 replied the Earl。 〃I see
they open the folding…doors into the banqueting…parlour； and as I
have ridden far and fast； a cup of wine will not be
unacceptable。〃
So saying he led his lovely wife into the next apartment； where
Varney and Foster received them with the deepest reverences；
which the first paid after the fashion of the court； and the
second after that of the congregation。 The Earl returned their
salutation with the negligent courtesy of one long used to such
homage； while the Countess repaid it with a punctilious
solicitude； which showed it was not quite so familiar to her。
The banquet at which the company seated themselves corresponded
in magnificence with the splendour of the apartment in which it
was served up； but no domestic gave his attendance。 Janet alone
stood ready to wait upon the company； and； indeed； the board was
so well supplied with all that could be desired； that little or
no assistance was necessary。 The Earl and his lady occupied the
upper end of the table； and Varney and Foster sat beneath the
salt； as was the custom with inferiors。 The latter； overawed
perhaps by society to which he was altogether unused； did not
utter a single syllable during the repast； while Varney； with
great tact and discernment； sustained just so much of the
conversation as； without the appearance of intrusion on his part；
prevented it from languishing； and maintained the good…humour of
the Earl at the highest pitch。 This man was indeed highly
qualified by nature to discharge the part in which he found
himself placed； being discreet and cautious on the one hand； and；
on the other； quick； keen…witted； and imaginative； so that even
the Countess； prejudiced as she was against him on many accounts；
felt and enjoyed his powers of conversation； and was more
disposed than she had ever hitherto found herself to join in the
praises which the Earl lavished on his favourite。 The hour of
rest at length arrived； the Earl and Countess retired to their
apartment； and all was silent in the castle for the rest of the
night。
Early on the ensuing morning； Varney acted as the Earl's
chamberlain as well as his master of horse； though the latter was
his proper office in that magnificent household； where knights
and gentlemen of good descent were well contented to hold such
menial situations； as nobles themselves held in that of the
sovereign。 The duties of each of these charges were familiar to
Varney； who； sprung from an ancient but somewhat decayed family；
was the Earl's page during his earlier and more obscure fortunes；
and； faithful to him in adversity； had afterwards contrived to
render himself no less useful to him in his rapid and splendid
advance to fortune； thus establishing in him an interest resting
both on present and past services； which rendered him an almost
indispensable sharer of his confidence。
〃Help me to do on a plainer riding…suit； Varney；〃 said the Earl；
as he laid aside his morning…gown； flowered with silk and lined
with sables； 〃and put these chains and fetters there〃 （pointing
to the collars of the various Orders which lay on the table）
〃into their place of securitymy neck last night was well…nigh
broke with the weight of them。 I am half of the mind that they
shall gall me no more。 They are bonds which knaves have invented
to fetter fools。 How thinkest thou； Varney？〃
〃Faith； my good lord；〃 said his attendant； 〃I think fetters of
gold are like no other fettersthey are ever the weightier the
welcomer。〃
〃For all that； Varney；〃 replied his master； 〃I am well…nigh
resolved they shall bind me to the court no longer。 What can
further service and higher favour give me； beyond the high rank
and large estate which I have already secured？ What brought my
father to the block； but that he could not bound his wishes
within right and reason？ I have； you know； had mine own ventures
and mine own escapes。 I am well…nigh resolved to tempt the sea
no further； but sit me down in quiet on the shore。〃
〃And gather cockle…shells； with Dan Cupid to aid you；〃 said
Varney。
〃How mean you by that； Varney？〃 said the Earl somewhat hastily。
〃Nay； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃be not angry with me。 If your
lordship is happy in a lady so rarely lovely that； in order to
enjoy her company with somewhat more freedom； you are willing to
part with all you have hitherto lived for； some of your poor
servants may be sufferers； but your bounty hath placed me so
high； that I shall ever have enough to maintain a poor gentleman
in the rank befitting the high office he has held in your
lordship's family。〃
〃Yet you seem discontented when I propose throwing up a dangerous
game； which may end in the ruin of both of us。〃
〃I； my lord？〃 said Varney； 〃surely I have no cause to regret
your lordship's retreat！ It will not be Richard Varney who will
incur the displeasure of majesty； and the ridicule of the court；
when the stateliest fabric that ever was founded upon a prince's
favour melts away like a morning frost…work。 I would only have
you yourself to be assured； my lord； ere you take a step which
cannot be retracted； that you consult your fame and happiness in
the course you propose。〃
〃Speak on； then； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃I tell thee I have
determined nothing； and will weigh all considerations on either
side。〃
〃Well； then； my lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃we will suppose the step
taken； the frown frowned； the laugh laughed； and the moan moaned。
You have retired； we will say； to some one of your most distant
castles； so far from court that you hear neither the sorrow of
your friends nor the glee of your enemies； We will suppose； too；
that your successful rival will be satisfied （a thing greatly to
be doubted） with abridging and cutting away the branches of the
great tree which so long kept the sun from him； and that he does
not insist upon tearing you up by the roots。 Well； the late
prime favourite of England； who wielded her general's staff and
controlled her parliaments； is now a rural baron； hunting；
hawking； drinking fat ale with country esquires； and mustering
his men at the command of the high sheriff〃
〃Varney； forbear！〃 said the Earl。
〃Nay； my lord； you must give me leave to conclude my picture。
Sussex governs Englandthe Queen's health failsthe
succession is to be settleda road is opened to ambition more
splendid than ambition ever dreamed of。 You hear all this as you
sit by the hob； under the shade of your hall…chimney。 You then
begin to think what hopes you have fallen from； and what
insignificance you have embraced； and all that you might look
babies in the eyes of your fair wife oftener than once a
fortnight；〃
〃I say； Varney；〃 said the Earl； 〃no more of this。 I said not
that the step； which my own ease and comfort would urge me to；
was to be taken hastily； or without due consideration to the
public safety。 Bear witness to me； Varney； I subdue my wishes of
retirement； not because I am moved by the call of private
ambition； but that I may preserve th