"And now, I trust, Master Tressilian, this matter is ended," said the

Queen. "We will do something ere the night is older to reconcile old Sir

Hugh Robsart to the match. You have done your duty something more than

boldly; but we were no woman had we not compassion for the wounds which

true love deals, so we forgive your audacity, and your uncleansed

boots withal, which have well-nigh overpowered my Lord of Leicester's

perfumes."

So spoke Elizabeth, whose nicety of scent was one of the characteristics

of her organization, as appeared long afterwards when she expelled Essex

from her presence, on a charge against his boots similar to that which

she now expressed against those of Tressilian.

But Tressilian had by this time collected himself, astonished as he had

at first been by the audacity of the falsehood so feasibly supported,

and placed in array against the evidence of his own eyes. He rushed

forward, kneeled down, and caught the Queen by the skirt of her robe.

"As you are Christian woman," he said, "madam, as you are crowned Queen,

to do equal justice among your subjects--as you hope yourself to have

fair hearing (which God grant you) at that last bar at which we must all

plead, grant me one small request! Decide not this matter so hastily.

Give me but twenty-four hours' interval, and I will, at the end of that

brief space, produce evidence which will show to demonstration that

these certificates, which state this unhappy lady to be now ill at ease

in Oxfordshire, are false as hell!"

"Let go my train, sir!" said Elizabeth, who was startled at his

vehemence, though she had too much of the lion in her to fear; "the

fellow must be distraught. That witty knave, my godson Harrington, must

have him into his rhymes of Orlando Furioso! And yet, by this light,

there is something strange in the vehemence of his demand.--Speak,

Tressilian, what wilt thou do if, at the end of these four-and-twenty

hours, thou canst not confute a fact so solemnly proved as this lady's

illness?"

"I will lay down my head on the block," answered Tressilian.

"Pshaw!" replied the Queen, "God's light! thou speakest like a fool.

What head falls in England but by just sentence of English law? I ask

thee, man--if thou hast sense to understand me--wilt thou, if thou

shalt fail in this improbable attempt of thine, render me a good and

sufficient reason why thou dost undertake it?"

Tressilian paused, and again hesitated; because he felt convinced that

if, within the interval demanded, Amy should become reconciled to her

husband, he would in that case do her the worst of offices by again

ripping up the whole circumstances before Elizabeth, and showing

how that wise and jealous princess had been imposed upon by false

testimonials. The consciousness of this dilemma renewed his extreme

embarrassment of look, voice, and manner; he hesitated, looked down, and

on the Queen repeating her question with a stern voice and flashing

eye, he admitted with faltering words, "That it might be--he could not

positively--that is, in certain events--explain the reasons and grounds

on which he acted."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024