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kenilworth-第70章

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a pause。  〃She stayed but to observe;〃 as she said; 〃that her
train had taken;〃 and then; laughing at the circumstance with the
Lady Paget; she took the way slowly towards the Palace。
Elizabeth; as they returned; cautioned her companion not to
mention to any one the aid which she had given to the young poet;
and Lady Paget promised scrupulous secrecy。  It is to be supposed
that she made a mental reservation in favour of Leicester; to
whom her ladyship transmitted without delay an anecdote so little
calculated to give him pleasure。

Raleigh; in the meanwhile; stole back to the window; and read;
with a feeling of intoxication; the encouragement thus given him
by the Queen in person to follow out his ambitious career; and
returned to Sussex and his retinue; then on the point of
embarking to go up the river; his heart beating high with
gratified pride; and with hope of future distinction。

The reverence due to the person of the Earl prevented any notice
being taken of the reception he had met with at court; until they
had landed; and the household were assembled in the great hall at
Sayes Court; while that lord; exhausted by his late illness and
the fatigues of the day; had retired to his chamber; demanding
the attendance of Wayland; his successful physician。  Wayland;
however; was nowhere to be found; and while some of the party
were; with military impatience; seeking him and cursing his
absence; the rest flocked around Raleigh to congratulate him on
his prospects of court…favour。

He had the good taste and judgment to conceal the decisive
circumstance of the couplet to which Elizabeth had deigned to
find a rhyme; but other indications had transpired; which plainly
intimated that he had made some progress in the Queen's favour。
All hastened to wish him joy on the mended appearance of his
fortunesome from real regard; some; perhaps; from hopes that
his preferment might hasten their own; and most from a mixture of
these motives; and a sense that the countenance shown to any one
of Sussex's household was; in fact; a triumph to the whole。
Raleigh returned the kindest thanks to them all; disowning; with
becoming modesty; that one day's fair reception made a favourite;
any more than one swallow a summer。  But he observed that Blount
did not join in the general congratulation; and; somewhat hurt at
his apparent unkindness; he plainly asked him the reason。

Blount replied with equal sincerity〃My good Walter; I wish thee
as well as do any of these chattering gulls; who are whistling
and whooping gratulations in thine ear because it seems fair
weather with thee。  But I fear for thee; 〃Walter〃 (and he wiped
his honest eye); 〃I fear for thee with all my heart。  These
court…tricks; and gambols; and flashes of fine women's favour are
the tricks and trinkets that bring fair fortunes to farthings;
and fine faces and witty coxcombs to the acquaintance of dull
block and sharp axes。〃

So saying; Blount arose and left the hall; while Raleigh looked
after him with an expression that blanked for a moment his bold
and animated countenance。

Stanley just then entered the hall; and said to Tressilian; 〃My
lord is calling for your fellow Wayland; and your fellow Wayland
is just come hither in a sculler; and is calling for you; nor
will he go to my lord till he sees you。  The fellow looks as he
were mazed; methinks; I would you would see him immediately。〃

Tressilian instantly left the hall; and causing Wayland Smith to
be shown into a withdrawing apartment; and lights placed; he
conducted the artist thither; and was surprised when he observed
the emotion of his countenance。

〃What is the matter with you; Smith?〃  said Tressilian; 〃have you
seen the devil?〃

〃Worse; sir; worse;〃 replied Wayland; 〃I have seen a basilisk。
Thank God; I saw him first; for being so seen; and seeing not me;
he will do the less harm。〃

〃In God's name; speak sense;〃 said Tressilian; 〃and say what you
mean。〃

〃I have seen my old master;〃 said the artist。  〃Last night a
friend whom I had acquired took me to see the Palace clock;
judging me to be curious in such works of art。  At the window of
a turret next to the clock…house I saw my old master。〃

〃Thou must needs have been mistaken;〃 said Tressilian。

〃I was not mistaken;〃 said Wayland; 〃he that once hath his
features by heart would know him amongst a million。  He was
anticly habited; but he cannot disguise himself from me; God be
praised!  as I can from him。  I will not; however; tempt
Providence by remaining within his ken。  Tarleton the player
himself could not so disguise himself but that; sooner or later;
Doboobie would find him out。  I must away to…morrow; for; as we
stand together; it were death to me to remain within reach of
him。〃

〃But the Earl of Sussex?〃  said Tressilian。

〃He is in little danger from what he has hitherto taken; provided
he swallow the matter of a bean's size of the orvietan every
morning fasting; but let him beware of a relapse。〃

〃And how is that to be guarded against?〃  said Tressilian。

〃Only by such caution as you would use against the devil;〃
answered Wayland。  〃Let my lord's clerk of the kitchen kill his
lord's meat himself; and dress it himself; using no spice but
what he procures from the surest hands。  Let the sewer serve it
up himself; and let the master of my lord's household see that
both clerk and sewer taste the dishes which the one dresses and
the other serves。  Let my lord use no perfumes which come not
from well accredited persons; no unguentsno pomades。  Let him;
on no account; drink with strangers; or eat fruit with them;
either in the way of nooning or otherwise。  Especially; let him
observe such caution if he goes to Kenilworththe excuse of his
illness; and his being under diet; will; and must; cover the
strangeness of such practice。〃

〃And thou;〃 said Tressilian; 〃what dost thou think to make of
thyself?〃

〃France; Spain; either India; East or West; shall be my refuge;〃
said Wayland; 〃ere I venture my life by residing within ken of
Doboobie; Demetrius; or whatever else he calls himself for the
time。〃

〃Well;〃 said Tressilian; 〃this happens not inopportunely。  I had
business for you in Berkshire; but in the opposite extremity to
the place where thou art known; and ere thou hadst found out this
new reason for living private; I had settled to send thee thither
upon a secret embassage。〃

The artist expressed himself willing to receive his commands; and
Tressilian; knowing he was well acquainted with the outline of
his business at court; frankly explained to him the whole;
mentioned the agreement which subsisted betwixt Giles Gosling and
him; and told what had that day been averred in the presence…
chamber by Varney; and supported by Leicester。

〃Thou seest;〃 he added; 〃that; in the circumstances in which I am
placed; it behoves me to keep a narrow watch on the motions of
these unprincipled men; Varney and his complices; Foster and
Lambourne; as well as on those of my Lord Leicester himself; who;
I suspect; is partly a deceiver; and not altogether the deceived
in that matter。  Here is my ring; as a pledge to Giles Gosling。
Here is besides gold; whi
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