"Why, what good would it do thee, thou silly elf?" said Wayland.

"Oh, stand ye on these terms?" said the boy. "Well, I care not greatly

about the matter--only, I never smell out a secret but I try to be

either at the right or the wrong end of it, and so good evening to ye."

"Nay, but, Dickie," said Wayland, who knew the boy's restless and

intriguing disposition too well not to fear his enmity--"stay, my dear

Dickie--part not with old friends so shortly! Thou shalt know all I know

of the lady one day."

"Ay!" said Dickie; "and that day may prove a nigh one. Fare thee well,

Wayland--I will to my large-limbed friend, who, if he have not so sharp

a wit as some folk, is at least more grateful for the service which

other folk render him. And so again, good evening to ye."

So saying, he cast a somerset through the gateway, and lighting on

the bridge, ran with the extraordinary agility which was one of his

distinguishing attributes towards the Gallery-tower, and was out of

sight in an instant.

"I would to God I were safe out of this Castle again!" prayed Wayland

internally; "for now that this mischievous imp has put his finger in the

pie, it cannot but prove a mess fit for the devil's eating. I would to

Heaven Master Tressilian would appear!"

Tressilian, whom he was thus anxiously expecting in one direction, had

returned to Kenilworth by another access. It was indeed true, as Wayland

had conjectured, that in the earlier part of the day he had accompanied

the Earls on their cavalcade towards Warwick, not without hope that he

might in that town hear some tidings of his emissary. Being disappointed

in this expectation, and observing Varney amongst Leicester's

attendants, seeming as if he had some purpose of advancing to and

addressing him, he conceived, in the present circumstances, it was

wisest to avoid the interview. He, therefore, left the presence-chamber

when the High-Sheriff of the county was in the very midst of his dutiful

address to her Majesty; and mounting his horse, rode back to Kenilworth

by a remote and circuitous road, and entered the Castle by a small

sallyport in the western wall, at which he was readily admitted as

one of the followers of the Earl of Sussex, towards whom Leicester had

commanded the utmost courtesy to be exercised. It was thus that he

met not Wayland, who was impatiently watching his arrival, and whom he

himself would have been at least equally desirous to see.




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