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that you should exclude from it one who came to justify himself
from an accusation。〃
〃May it please you；〃 answered the perplexed usher； 〃if I knew； in
such case； how to bear myself； I would take heed〃
〃You should have reported the fellow's desire to us； Master
Usher； and taken our directions。 You think yourself a great man；
because but now we chid a nobleman on your account； yet； after
all； we hold you but as the lead…weight that keeps the door fast。
Call this Varney hither instantly。 There is one Tressilian also
mentioned in this petition。 Let them both come before us。〃
She was obeyed； and Tressilian and Varney appeared accordingly。
Varney's first glance was at Leicester； his second at the Queen。
In the looks of the latter there appeared an approaching storm；
and in the downcast countenance of his patron he could read no
directions in what way he was to trim his vessel for the
encounter。 He then saw Tressilian； and at once perceived the
peril of the situation in which he was placed。 But Varney was as
bold…faced and ready…witted as he was cunning and unscrupulousa
skilful pilot in extremity； and fully conscious of the advantages
which he would obtain could he extricate Leicester from his
present peril； and of the ruin that yawned for himself should he
fail in doing so。
〃Is it true； sirrah；〃 said the Queen； with one of those searching
looks which few had the audacity to resist； 〃that you have
seduced to infamy a young lady of birth and breeding； the
daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote Hall？〃
Varney kneeled down； and replied； with a look of the most
profound contrition； 〃There had been some love passages betwixt
him and Mistress Amy Robsart。〃
Leicester's flesh quivered with indignation as he heard his
dependant make this avowal； and for one moment he manned himself
to step forward； and； bidding farewell to the court and the royal
favour； confess the whole mystery of the secret marriage。 But he
looked at Sussex； and the idea of the triumphant smile which
would clothe his cheek upon hearing the avowal sealed his lips。
〃Not now； at least；〃 he thought； 〃or in this presence； will I
afford him so rich a triumph。〃 And pressing his lips close
together； he stood firm and collected； attentive to each word
which Varney uttered； and determined to hide to the last the
secret on which his court…favour seemed to depend。 Meanwhile；
the Queen proceeded in her examination of Varney。
〃Love passages！〃 said she； echoing his last words； 〃what
passages； thou knave？ and why not ask the wench's hand from her
father； if thou hadst any honesty in thy love for her？〃
〃An it please your Grace；〃 said Varney； still on his knees； 〃I
dared not do so； for her father had promised her hand to a
gentleman of birth and honourI will do him justice； though I
know he bears me ill…willone Master Edmund Tressilian； whom I
now see in the presence。〃
〃Soh！〃 replied the Queen。 〃And what was your right to make the
simple fool break her worthy father's contract； through your love
PASSAGES； as your conceit and assurance terms them？〃
〃Madam；〃 replied Varney； 〃it is in vain to plead the cause of
human frailty before a judge to whom it is unknown； or that of
love to one who never yields to the passion〃he paused an
instant； and then added； in a very low and timid tone〃which she
inflicts upon all others。〃
Elizabeth tried to frown； but smiled in her own despite； as she
answered； 〃Thou art a marvellously impudent knave。 Art thou
married to the girl？〃
Leicester's feelings became so complicated and so painfully
intense； that it seemed to him as if his life was to depend on
the answer made by Varney； who； after a moment's real hesitation；
answered； 〃Yes。〃
〃Thou false villain！〃 said Leicester； bursting forth into rage；
yet unable to add another word to the sentence which he had begun
with such emphatic passion。
〃Nay； my lord；〃 said the Queen； 〃we will； by your leave； stand
between this fellow and your anger。 We have not yet done with
him。Knew your master； my Lord of Leicester； of this fair work
of yours？ Speak truth； I command thee； and I will be thy warrant
from danger on every quarter。〃
〃Gracious madam；〃 said Varney； 〃to speak Heaven's truth； my lord
was the cause of the whole matter。〃
〃Thou villain； wouldst thou betray me？〃 said Leicester。
〃Speak on；〃 said the Queen hastily； her cheek colouring； and her
eyes sparkling； as she addressed Varney〃speak on。 Here no
commands are heard but mine。〃
〃They are omnipotent； gracious madam；〃 replied Varney； 〃and to
you there can be no secrets。Yet I would not；〃 he added； looking
around him； 〃speak of my master's concerns to other ears。〃
〃Fall back； my lords；〃 said the Queen to those who surrounded
her； 〃and do you speak on。 What hath the Earl to do with this
guilty intrigue of thine？ See； fellow； that thou beliest him
not！〃
〃Far be it from me to traduce my noble patron；〃 replied Varney；
〃yet I am compelled to own that some deep； overwhelming； yet
secret feeling hath of late dwelt in my lord's mind； hath
abstracted him from the cares of the household which he was wont
to govern with such religious strictness； and hath left us
opportunities to do follies； of which the shame； as in this case；
partly falls upon our patron。 Without this； I had not had means
or leisure to commit the folly which has drawn on me his
displeasurethe heaviest to endure by me which I could by any
means incur； saving always the yet more dreaded resentment of
your Grace。〃
〃And in this sense； and no other； hath he been accessory to thy
fault？〃 said Elizabeth。
〃Surely； madam； in no other；〃 replied Varney； 〃but since somewhat
hath chanced to him； he can scarce be called his own man。 Look
at him； madam； how pale and trembling he stands！ how unlike his
usual majesty of manner！yet what has he to fear from aught I
can say to your Highness？ Ah！ madam； since he received that
fatal packet！〃
〃What packet； and from whence？〃 said the Queen eagerly。
〃From whence； madam； I cannot guess； but I am so near to his
person that I know he has ever since worn； suspended around his
neck and next to his heart； that lock of hair which sustains a
small golden jewel shaped like a heart。 He speaks to it when
alonehe parts not from it when he sleepsno heathen ever
worshipped an idol with such devotion。〃
〃Thou art a prying knave to watch thy master so closely；〃 said
Elizabeth； blushing； but not with anger； 〃and a tattling knave to
tell over again his fooleries。What colour might the braid of
hair be that thou pratest of？〃
Varney replied； 〃A poet； madam； might call it a thread from the
golden web wrought by Minerva； but to my thinking it was paler
than even the purest goldmore like the last parting sunbeam of
the softest day of spring。〃
〃Why； you are a poet yourself； Master Varney；〃 said the Queen；
smiling。 〃But I have not genius quick enough to follow your rare
metaphors。 Look round these ladiesis there〃（she hesitated；
and endeavoured to assume an air of great indifference）〃is
there here； in this presence； any lady； the colour of whose hair
reminds thee of that braid？ Methinks； without prying into my
Lord o