"I will act it myself by Saint Christopher!" said Lambourne. "Orion,

callest thou him?--I will act Orion, his belt and his seven stars

to boot. Come along, for a rascal knave as thou art--follow me! Or

stay--Lawrence, do thou bring him along."

Lawrence seized by the collar of the cloak the unresisting juggler;

while Lambourne, with hasty steps, led the way to that same sallyport,

or secret postern, by which Tressilian had returned to the Castle, and

which opened in the western wall at no great distance from Mervyn's

Tower.

While traversing with a rapid foot the space betwixt the tower and the

sallyport, Wayland in vain racked his brain for some device which might

avail the poor lady, for whom, notwithstanding his own imminent danger,

he felt deep interest. But when he was thrust out of the Castle, and

informed by Lambourne, with a tremendous oath, that instant death would

be the consequence of his again approaching it, he cast up his hands

and eyes to heaven, as if to call God to witness he had stood to the

uttermost in defence of the oppressed; then turned his back on the proud

towers of Kenilworth, and went his way to seek a humbler and safer place

of refuge.

Lawrence and Lambourne gazed a little while after Wayland, and then

turned to go back to their tower, when the former thus addressed his

companion: "Never credit me, Master Lambourne, if I can guess why thou

hast driven this poor caitiff from the Castle, just when he was to bear

a part in the show that was beginning, and all this about a wench."

"Ah, Lawrence," replied Lambourne, "thou art thinking of Black Joan

Jugges of Slingdon, and hast sympathy with human frailty. But, corragio,

most noble Duke of the Dungeon and Lord of Limbo, for thou art as dark

in this matter as thine own dominions of Little-ease. My most reverend

Signior of the Low Countries of Kenilworth, know that our most notable

master, Richard Varney, would give as much to have a hole in this same

Tressilian's coat, as would make us some fifty midnight carousals, with

the full leave of bidding the steward go snick up, if he came to startle

us too soon from our goblets."

"Nay, an that be the case, thou hast right," said Lawrence Staples,

the upper-warder, or, in common phrase, the first jailer, of Kenilworth

Castle, and of the Liberty and Honour belonging thereto. "But how

will you manage when you are absent at the Queen's entrance, Master

Lambourne; for methinks thou must attend thy master there?"




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