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tampered with mine enemies。〃
〃My lord；〃 replied the old man； with dignity； 〃you can have no
better proof than that which you yourself elected。 In that
turret I have spent the last twenty…four hours under the key
which has been in your own custody。 The hours of darkness I have
spent in gazing on the heavenly bodies with these dim eyes； and
during those of light I have toiled this aged brain to complete
the calculation arising from their combinations。 Earthly food I
have not tastedearthly voice I have not heard。 You are
yourself aware I had no means of doing so； and yet I tell youI
who have been thus shut up in solitude and studythat within
these twenty…four hours your star has become predominant in the
horizon； and either the bright book of heaven speaks false； or
there must have been a proportionate revolution in your fortunes
upon earth。 If nothing has happened within that space to secure
your power； or advance your favour； then am I indeed a cheat； and
the divine art； which was first devised in the plains of Chaldea；
is a foul imposture。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Leicester； after a moment's reflection； 〃thou
wert closely immured； and it is also true that the change has
taken place in my situation which thou sayest the horoscope
indicates。〃
〃Wherefore this distrust then； my son？〃 said the astrologer；
assuming a tone of admonition； 〃the celestial intelligences brook
not diffidence； even in their favourites。〃
〃Peace； father；〃 answered Leicester； 〃I have erred in doubting
thee。 Not to mortal man； nor to celestial intelligenceunder
that which is supremewill Dudley's lips say more in
condescension or apology。 Speak rather to the present purpose。
Amid these bright promises thou hast said there was a threatening
aspect。 Can thy skill tell whence； or by whose means； such
danger seems to impend？〃
〃Thus far only；〃 answered the astrologer； 〃does my art enable me
to answer your query。 The infortune is threatened by the
malignant and adverse aspect； through means of a youth； and； as I
think； a rival； but whether in love or in prince's favour； I know
not nor can I give further indication respecting him； save that
he comes from the western quarter。〃
〃The westernha！〃 replied Leicester； 〃it is enoughthe tempest
does indeed brew in that quarter！ Cornwall and DevonRaleigh
and Tressilianone of them is indicated…I must beware of both。
Father； if I have done thy skill injustice； I will make thee a
lordly recompense。〃
He took a purse of gold from the strong casket which stood before
him。 〃Have thou double the recompense which Varney promised。 Be
faithfulbe secretobey the directions thou shalt receive from
my master of the horse； and grudge not a little seclusion or
restraint in my causeit shall be richly considered。Here；
Varneyconduct this venerable man to thine own lodging； tend him
heedfully in all things； but see that he holds communication with
no one。
Varney bowed； and the astrologer kissed the Earl's hand in token
of adieu； and followed the master of the horse to another
apartment； in which were placed wine and refreshments for his
use。
The astrologer sat down to his repast； while Varney shut two
doors with great precaution； examined the tapestry； lest any
listener lurked behind it； and then sitting down opposite to the
sage； began to question him。
〃Saw you my signal from the court beneath？〃
〃I did；〃 said Alasco； for by such name he was at present called；
〃and shaped the horoscope accordingly。〃
〃And it passed upon the patron without challenge？〃 continued
Varney。
〃Not without challenge；〃 replied the old man； 〃but it did pass；
and I added； as before agreed； danger from a discovered secret；
and a western youth。〃
〃My lord's fear will stand sponsor to the one； and his conscience
to the other； of these prognostications；〃 replied Varney。 〃Sure
never man chose to run such a race as his； yet continued to
retain those silly scruples！ I am fain to cheat him to his own
profit。 But touching your matters； sage interpreter of the
stars； I can tell you more of your own fortune than plan or
figure can show。 You must be gone from hence forthwith。〃
〃I will not；〃 said Alasco peevishly。 〃I have been too much
hurried up and down of lateimmured for day and night in a
desolate turret…chamber。 I must enjoy my liberty； and pursue my
studies； which are of more import than the fate of fifty
statesmen and favourites that rise and burst like bubbles in the
atmosphere of a court。〃
〃At your pleasure；〃 said Varney； with a sneer that habit had
rendered familiar to his features； and which forms the principal
characteristic which painters have assigned to that of Satan〃at
your pleasure；〃 he said； 〃you may enjoy your liberty and your
studies until the daggers of Sussex's followers are clashing
within your doublet and against your ribs。〃 The old man turned
pale； and Varney proceeded。 〃Wot you not he hath offered a
reward for the arch…quack and poison…vender； Demetrius； who sold
certain precious spices to his lordship's cook？ What！ turn you
pale； old friend？ Does Hali already see an infortune in the
House of Life？ Why； hark thee； we will have thee down to an old
house of mine in the country； where thou shalt live with a
hobnailed slave； whom thy alchemy may convert into ducats； for to
such conversion alone is thy art serviceable。〃
〃It is false； thou foul…mouthed railer；〃 said Alasco； shaking
with impotent anger； 〃it is well known that I have approached
more nearly to projection than any hermetic artist who now lives。
There are not six chemists in the world who possess so near an
approximation to the grand arcanum〃
〃Come； come；〃 said Varney； interrupting him； 〃what means this； in
the name of Heaven？ Do we not know one another？ I believe thee
to be so perfectso very perfectin the mystery of cheating；
that； having imposed upon all mankind； thou hast at length in
some measure imposed upon thyself； and without ceasing to dupe
others； hast become a species of dupe to thine own imagination。
Blush not for it； manthou art learned； and shalt have classical
comfort：
'Ne quisquam Ajacem possit superare nisi Ajax。'
No one but thyself could have gulled thee； and thou hast gulled
the whole brotherhood of the Rosy Cross besidesnone so deep in
the mystery as thou。 But hark thee in thine ear： had the
seasoning which spiced Sussex's broth wrought more surely； I
would have thought better of the chemical science thou dost boast
so highly。〃
〃Thou art an hardened villain； Varney；〃 replied Alasco； 〃many
will do those things who dare not speak of them。〃
〃And many speak of them who dare not do them；〃 answered Varney。
〃But be not wrothI will not quarrel with thee。 If I did； I
were fain to live on eggs for a month； that I might feed without
fear。 Tell me at once； how came thine art to fail thee at this
great emergency？〃
〃The Earl of Sussex's horoscope intimates；〃 replied the
astrologer； 〃that the sign of the ascendant being in combustion
〃
〃Away with your gibberish；〃 replied Varney； 〃thinkest thou it is
the patron thou speakest with？〃
〃I crave your pardon；〃 replied the old man； 〃and swear to you I
know but one