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in that matter。 Here is my ring； as a pledge to Giles Gosling。
Here is besides gold； which shall be trebled if thou serve me
faithfully。 Away down to Cumnor； and see what happens there。〃
〃I go with double good…will；〃 said the artist； 〃first； because I
serve your honour； who has been so kind to me； and then； that I
may escape my old master； who； if not an absolute incarnation of
the devil； has； at least； as much of the demon about him； in
will； word； and action； as ever polluted humanity。 And yet let
him take care of me。 I fly him now； as heretofore； but if； like
the Scottish wild cattle； I am vexed by frequent pursuit； I may
turn on him in hate and desperation。 ＇A remnant of the wild
cattle of Scotland are preserved at Chillingham Castle； near
Wooler； in Northumberland； the seat of Lord Tankerville。 They
fly before strangers； but if disturbed and followed； they turn
with fury on those who persist in annoying them。＇ Will your
honour command my nag to be saddled？ I will but give the
medicine to my lord； divided in its proper proportions； with a
few instructions。 His safety will then depend on the care of his
friends and domestics； for the past he is guarded； but let him
beware of the future。〃
Wayland Smith accordingly made his farewell visit to the Earl of
Sussex； dictated instructions as to his regimen； and precautions
concerning his diet； and left Sayes Court without waiting for
morning。
CHAPTER XVIII。
The moment comes
It is already comewhen thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum。
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee；
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions；
And tell thee； 〃Now's the time。〃
SCHILLER'S WALLENSTEIN； BY COLERIDGE。
When Leicester returned to his lodging； alter a day so important
and so harassing； in which； after riding out more than one gale；
and touching on more than one shoal； his bark had finally gained
the harbour with banner displayed； he seemed to experience as
much fatigue as a mariner after a perilous storm。 He spoke not a
word while his chamberlain exchanged his rich court…mantle for a
furred night…robe； and when this officer signified that Master
Varney desired to speak with his lordship； he replied only by a
sullen nod。 Varney； however； entered； accepting this signal as a
permission； and the chamberlain withdrew。
The Earl remained silent and almost motionless in his chair； his
head reclined on his hand； and his elbow resting upon the table
which stood beside him； without seeming to be conscious of the
entrance or of the presence of his confidant。 Varney waited for
some minutes until he should speak； desirous to know what was the
finally predominant mood of a mind through which so many powerful
emotions had that day taken their course。 But he waited in vain；
for Leicester continued still silent； and the confidant saw
himself under the necessity of being the first to speak。 〃May I
congratulate your lordship；〃 he said； 〃on the deserved
superiority you have this day attained over your most formidable
rival？〃
Leicester raised his head； and answered sadly； but without anger；
〃Thou； Varney； whose ready invention has involved me in a web of
most mean and perilous falsehood； knowest best what small reason
there is for gratulation on the subject。〃
〃Do you blame me； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃for not betraying； on
the first push； the secret on which your fortunes depended； and
which you have so oft and so earnestly recommended to my safe
keeping？ Your lordship was present in person； and might have
contradicted me and ruined yourself by an avowal of the truth；
but surely it was no part of a faithful servant to have done so
without your commands。〃
〃I cannot deny it； Varney；〃 said the Earl； rising and walking
across the room； 〃my own ambition has been traitor to my love。〃
〃Say rather； my lord； that your love has been traitor to your
greatness； and barred you from such a prospect of honour and
power as the world cannot offer to any other。 To make my
honoured lady a countess； you have missed the chance of being
yourself〃
He paused； and seemed unwilling to complete the sentence。
〃Of being myself what？〃 demanded Leicester； 〃speak out thy
meaning； Varney。〃
〃Of being yourself a KING； my lord；〃 replied Varney； 〃and King of
England to boot！ It is no treason to our Queen to say so。 It
would have chanced by her obtaining that which all true subjects
wish hera lusty； noble； and gallant husband。〃
〃Thou ravest； Varney；〃 answered Leicester。 〃Besides； our times
have seen enough to make men loathe the Crown Matrimonial which
men take from their wives' lap。 There was Darnley of Scotland。〃
〃He！〃 said Varney； 〃a； gull； a fool； a thrice…sodden ass； who
suffered himself to be fired off into the air like a rocket on a
rejoicing day。 Had Mary had the hap to have wedded the noble
Earl ONCE destined to share her throne； she had experienced a
husband of different metal； and her husband had found in her a
wife as complying and loving as the mate of the meanest squire
who follows the hounds a…horseback； and holds her husband's
bridle as he mounts。〃
〃It might have been as thou sayest； Varney；〃 said Leicester； a
brief smile of self…satisfaction passing over his anxious
countenance。 〃Henry Darnley knew little of womenwith Mary； a
man who knew her sex might have had some chance of holding his
own。 But not with Elizabeth； Varney for I thank God； when he
gave her the heart of a woman； gave her the head of a man to
control its follies。 No； I know her。 She will accept love…
tokens； ay； and requite them with the likeput sugared sonnets
in her bosom； ay； and answer them toopush gallantry to the very
verge where it becomes exchange of affection； but she writes NIL
ULTRA to all which is to follow； and would not barter one iota of
her own supreme power for all the alphabet of both Cupid and
Hymen。〃
〃The better for you； my lord；〃 said Varney〃that is； in the case
supposed； if such be her disposition； since you think you cannot
aspire to become her husband。 Her favourite you are； and may
remain； if the lady at Cumnor place continues in her present
obscurity。〃
〃Poor Amy！〃 said Leicester； with a deep sigh； 〃she desires so
earnestly to be acknowledged in presence of God and man！〃
〃Ay； but； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃is her desire reasonable？ That
is the question。 Her religious scruples are solved； she is an
honoured and beloved wife； enjoying the society of her husband at
such times as his weightier duties permit him to afford her his
company。 What would she more？ I am right sure that a lady so
gentle and so loving would consent to live her life through in a
certain obscuritywhich is； after all； not dimmer than when she
was at Lidcote Hallrather than diminish the least jot of her
lord's honours and greatness by a premature attempt to share
them。〃
〃There is something in what thou sayest；〃 said Leicester； 〃and
her appearance here were fatal。 Yet she must be seen at
Kenilworth； Elizabeth will not forget that she has so appointed。〃
〃Let me sleep on that hard point；〃 said Varney； 〃I cannot else
per