"And who is to take the blame of opposing the Queen's orders?" said

Tracy; "for, undeniably, Doctor Masters came with her Grace's positive

commands to cure the Earl."

"I, who have done the wrong, will bear the blame," said Walter.

"Thus, then, off fly the dreams of court favour thou hast nourished,"

said Blount, "and despite all thy boasted art and ambition, Devonshire

will see thee shine a true younger brother, fit to sit low at the board,

carve turn about with the chaplain, look that the hounds be fed, and see

the squire's girths drawn when he goes a-hunting."

"Not so," said the young man, colouring, "not while Ireland and the

Netherlands have wars, and not while the sea hath pathless waves. The

rich West hath lands undreamed of, and Britain contains bold hearts to

venture on the quest of them. Adieu for a space, my masters. I go to

walk in the court and look to the sentinels."

"The lad hath quicksilver in his veins, that is certain," said Blount,

looking at Markham.

"He hath that both in brain and blood," said Markham, "which may either

make or mar him. But in closing the door against Masters, he hath done

a daring and loving piece of service; for Tressilian's fellow hath ever

averred that to wake the Earl were death, and Masters would wake the

Seven Sleepers themselves, if he thought they slept not by the regular

ordinance of medicine."

Morning was well advanced when Tressilian, fatigued and over-watched,

came down to the hall with the joyful intelligence that the Earl

had awakened of himself, that he found his internal complaints much

mitigated, and spoke with a cheerfulness, and looked round with a

vivacity, which of themselves showed a material and favourable change

had taken place. Tressilian at the same time commanded the attendance of

one or two of his followers, to report what had passed during the night,

and to relieve the watchers in the Earl's chamber.

When the message of the Queen was communicated to the Earl of Sussex, he

at first smiled at the repulse which the physician had received from his

zealous young follower; but instantly recollecting himself, he commanded

Blount, his master of the horse, instantly to take boat, and go down

the river to the Palace of Greenwich, taking young Walter and Tracy with

him, and make a suitable compliment, expressing his grateful thanks to

his Sovereign, and mentioning the cause why he had not been enabled to

profit by the assistance of the wise and learned Doctor Masters.




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