"To what purpose, good Master Laneham?" replied the Earl; "bethink you,

my guests must needs be many."

"Not so many," replied the petitioner, "but that your nobleness will

willingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess. Bethink you,

my lord, how necessary is this rod of mine to fright away all those

listeners, who else would play at bo-peep with the honourable council,

and be searching for keyholes and crannies in the door of the chamber,

so as to render my staff as needful as a fly-flap in a butcher's shop."

"Methinks you have found out a fly-blown comparison for the honourable

council, Master Laneham," said the Earl; "but seek not about to justify

it. Come to Kenilworth, if you list; there will be store of fools there

besides, and so you will be fitted."

"Nay, an there be fools, my lord," replied Laneham, with much glee, "I

warrant I will make sport among them, for no greyhound loves to cote a

hare as I to turn and course a fool. But I have another singular favour

to beseech of your honour."

"Speak it, and let me go," said the Earl; "I think the Queen comes forth

instantly."

"My very good lord, I would fain bring a bed-fellow with me."

"How, you irreverent rascal!" said Leicester.

"Nay, my lord, my meaning is within the canons," answered his

unblushing, or rather his ever-blushing petitioner. "I have a wife as

curious as her grandmother who ate the apple. Now, take her with me

I may not, her Highness's orders being so strict against the officers

bringing with them their wives in a progress, and so lumbering the court

with womankind. But what I would crave of your lordship is to find room

for her in some mummery, or pretty pageant, in disguise, as it were; so

that, not being known for my wife, there may be no offence."

"The foul fiend seize ye both!" said Leicester, stung into

uncontrollable passion by the recollections which this speech

excited--"why stop you me with such follies?"

The terrified clerk of the chamber-door, astonished at the burst of

resentment he had so unconsciously produced, dropped his staff of office

from his hand, and gazed on the incensed Earl with a foolish face of

wonder and terror, which instantly recalled Leicester to himself.

"I meant but to try if thou hadst the audacity which befits thine

office," said he hastily. "Come to Kenilworth, and bring the devil with

thee, if thou wilt."




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