"Not one, my lord," interrupted Varney, who saw by the quivering eye and

convulsed cheek of his patron that he was about to give way to a burst

of emotion--"not a tear--the time permits it not. Tressilian must be

thought of--"

"That indeed is a name," said the Earl, "to convert tears into blood.

Varney, I have thought on this, and I have determined--neither entreaty

nor argument shall move me--Tressilian shall be my own victim."

"It is madness, my lord; but you are too mighty for me to bar your

way to your revenge. Yet resolve at least to choose fitting time and

opportunity, and to forbear him until these shall be found."

"Thou shalt order me in what thou wilt," said Leicester, "only thwart me

not in this."

"Then, my lord," said Varney, "I first request of you to lay aside the

wild, suspected, and half-frenzied demeanour which hath this day drawn

the eyes of all the court upon you, and which, but for the Queen's

partial indulgence, which she hath extended towards you in a degree

far beyond her nature, she had never given you the opportunity to atone

for."

"Have I indeed been so negligent?" said Leicester, as one who awakes

from a dream. "I thought I had coloured it well. But fear nothing, my

mind is now eased--I am calm. My horoscope shall be fulfilled; and that

it may be fulfilled, I will tax to the highest every faculty of my mind.

Fear me not, I say. I will to the Queen instantly--not thine own looks

and language shall be more impenetrable than mine. Hast thou aught else

to say?"

"I must crave your signet-ring," said Varney gravely, "in token to those

of your servants whom I must employ, that I possess your full authority

in commanding their aid."

Leicester drew off the signet-ring which he commonly used, and gave it

to Varney, with a haggard and stern expression of countenance, adding

only, in a low, half-whispered tone, but with terrific emphasis, the

words, "What thou dost, do quickly."

Some anxiety and wonder took place, meanwhile, in the presence-hall, at

the prolonged absence of the noble Lord of the Castle, and great was

the delight of his friends when they saw him enter as a man from whose

bosom, to all human seeming, a weight of care had been just removed.

Amply did Leicester that day redeem the pledge he had given to Varney,

who soon saw himself no longer under the necessity of maintaining a

character so different from his own as that which he had assumed in the

earlier part of the day, and gradually relapsed into the same grave,

shrewd, caustic observer of conversation and incident which constituted

his usual part in society.




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