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〃No breath； sir；〃 replied the lady impatiently； 〃I know your
theatrical arts。 Since your breath hath sufficed to bring you
hither； it may suffice to tell your taleat least briefly； and
in the gross。〃
〃Madam；〃 answered Varney； 〃we are not alone； and my lord's
message was for your ear only。〃
〃Leave us； Janet； and Master Foster；〃 said the lady； 〃but remain
in the next apartment； and within call。〃
Foster and his daughter retired； agreeably to the Lady
Leicester's commands； into the next apartment； which was the
withdrawing…room。 The door which led from the sleeping…chamber
was then carefully shut and bolted； and the father and daughter
remained both in a posture of anxious attention； the first with a
stern； suspicious； anxious cast of countenance； and Janet with
folded hands； and looks which seemed divided betwixt her desire
to know the fortunes of her mistress； and her prayers to Heaven
for her safety。 Anthony Foster seemed himself to have some idea
of what was passing through his daughter's mind； for he crossed
the apartment and took her anxiously by the hand； saying； 〃That
is rightpray； Janet； pray； we have all need of prayers； and
some of us more than others。 Pray； JanetI would pray myself；
but I must listen to what goes on withinevil has been brewing；
loveevil has been brewing。 God forgive our sins； but Varney's
sudden and strange arrival bodes us no good。〃
Janet had never before heard her father excite or even permit her
attention to anything which passed in their mysterious family；
and now that he did so； his voice sounded in her earshe knew
not whylike that of a screech…owl denouncing some deed of
terror and of woe。 She turned her eyes fearfully towards the
door； almost as if she expected some sounds of horror to be
heard； or some sight of fear to display itself。
All； however； was as still as death； and the voices of those who
spoke in the inner chamber were； if they spoke at all； carefully
subdued to a tone which could not be heard in the next。 At once；
however； they were heard to speak fast； thick； and hastily； and
presently after the voice of the Countess was heard exclaiming；
at the highest pitch to which indignation could raise it； 〃Undo
the door； sir； I command you！undo the door！I will have no
other reply！〃 she continued； drowning with her vehement accents
the low and muttered sounds which Varney was heard to utter
betwixt whiles。 〃What ho！ without there！〃 she persisted；
accompanying her words with shrieks； 〃Janet； alarm the house！
Foster； break open the doorI am detained here by a traitor！
Use axe and lever； Master FosterI will be your warrant！〃
〃It shall not need； madam；〃 Varney was at length distinctly heard
to say。 〃If you please to expose my lord's important concerns
and your own to the general ear； I will not be your hindrance。〃
The door was unlocked and thrown open； and Janet and her father
rushed in； anxious to learn the cause of these reiterated
exclamations。
When they entered the apartment Varney stood by the door grinding
his teeth； with an expression in which rage； and shame； and fear
had each their share。 The Countess stood in the midst of her
apartment like a juvenile Pythoness under the influence of the
prophetic fury。 The veins in her beautiful forehead started into
swoln blue lines through the hurried impulse of her articulation
her cheek and neck glowed like scarlether eyes were like
those of an imprisoned eagle； flashing red lightning on the foes
which it cannot reach with its talons。 Were it possible for one
of the Graces to have been animated by a Fury； the countenance
could not have united such beauty with so much hatred； scorn；
defiance； and resentment。 The gesture and attitude corresponded
with the voice and looks； and altogether presented a spectacle
which was at once beautiful and fearful； so much of the sublime
had the energy of passion united with the Countess Amy's natural
loveliness。 Janet； as soon as the door was open； ran to her
mistress； and more slowly； yet with more haste than he was wont；
Anthony Foster went to Richard Varney。
〃In the Truth's name； what ails your ladyship？〃 said the former。
〃What； in the name of Satan； have you done to her？〃 said Foster
to his friend。
〃Who； I？nothing；〃 answered Varney； but with sunken head and
sullen voice； 〃nothing but communicated to her her lord's
commands； which； if the lady list not to obey； she knows better
how to answer it than I may pretend to do。〃
〃Now； by Heaven； Janet！〃 said the Countess； 〃the false traitor
lies in his throat！ He must needs lie； for he speaks to the
dishonour of my noble lord； he must needs lie doubly； for he
speaks to gain ends of his own； equally execrable and
unattainable。〃
〃You have misapprehended me； lady；〃 said Varney； with a sulky
species of submission and apology； 〃let this matter rest till
your passion be abated； and I will explain all。〃
〃Thou shalt never have an opportunity to do so；〃 said the
Countess。〃Look at him； Janet。 He is fairly dressed； hath the
outside of a gentleman； and hither he came to persuade me it was
my lord's pleasurenay； more； my wedded lord's commandsthat I
should go with him to Kenilworth； and before the Queen and
nobles； and in presence of my own wedded lord； that I should
acknowledge himHIM therethat very cloak…brushing； shoe…
cleaning fellowHIM there； my lord's lackey； for my liege lord
and husband； furnishing against myself； Great God！ whenever I
was to vindicate my right and my rank； such weapons as would hew
my just claim from the root； and destroy my character to be
regarded as an honourable matron of the English nobility！〃
〃You hear her； Foster； and you； young maiden； hear this lady；〃
answered Varney； taking advantage of the pause which the Countess
had made in her charge； more for lack of breath than for lack of
matter〃you hear that her heat only objects to me the course
which our good lord； for the purpose to keep certain matters
secret； suggests in the very letter which she holds in her
hands。〃
Foster here attempted to interfere with a face of authority；
which he thought became the charge entrusted to him； 〃Nay； lady；
I must needs say you are over…hasty in this。 Such deceit is not
utterly to be condemned when practised for a righteous end I and
thus even the patriarch Abraham feigned Sarah to be his sister
when they went down to Egypt。〃
〃Ay； sir；〃 answered the Countess； 〃but God rebuked that deceit
even in the father of His chosen people； by the mouth of the
heathen Pharaoh。 Out upon you； that will read Scripture only to
copy those things which are held out to us as warnings； not as
examples！〃
〃But Sarah disputed not the will of her husband； an it be your
pleasure；〃 said Foster； in reply； 〃but did as Abraham commanded；
calling herself his sister； that it might be well with her
husband for her sake； and that his soul might live because of her
beauty。〃
〃Now； so Heaven pardon me my useless anger；〃 answered the
Countess； 〃thou art as daring a hypocrite as yonder fellow is an
impudent deceiver！ Never will I believe that the noble Dudley
gave countenance to so dastardly； so dishonourable a plan。 Thus
I tre