In this mood the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb

precincts of the Pleasance, then illumined by the full moon. The broad,

yellow light was reflected on all sides from the white freestone, of

which the pavement, balustrades, and architectural ornaments of the

place were constructed; and not a single fleecy cloud was visible in the

azure sky, so that the scene was nearly as light as if the sun had but

just left the horizon. The numerous statues of white marble glimmered

in the pale light like so many sheeted ghosts just arisen from their

sepulchres, and the fountains threw their jets into the air as if they

sought that their waters should be brightened by the moonbeams ere they

fell down again upon their basins in showers of sparkling silver. The

day had been sultry, and the gentle night-breeze which sighed along the

terrace of the Pleasance raised not a deeper breath than the fan in the

hand of youthful beauty. The bird of summer night had built many a nest

in the bowers of the adjacent garden, and the tenants now indemnified

themselves for silence during the day by a full chorus of their

own unrivalled warblings, now joyous, now pathetic, now united, now

responsive to each other, as if to express their delight in the placid

and delicious scene to which they poured their melody.

Musing on matters far different from the fall of waters, the gleam of

moonlight, or the song of the nightingale, the stately Leicester walked

slowly from the one end of the terrace to the other, his cloak wrapped

around him, and his sword under his arm, without seeing anything

resembling the human form.

"I have been fooled by my own generosity," he said, "if I have suffered

the villain to escape me--ay, and perhaps to go to the rescue of the

adulteress, who is so poorly guarded."

These were his thoughts, which were instantly dispelled when, turning

to look back towards the entrance, he saw a human form advancing slowly

from the portico, and darkening the various objects with its shadow, as

passing them successively, in its approach towards him.

"Shall I strike ere I again hear his detested voice?" was Leicester's

thought, as he grasped the hilt of the sword. "But no! I will see which

way his vile practice tends. I will watch, disgusting as it is, the

coils and mazes of the loathsome snake, ere I put forth my strength and

crush him."

His hand quitted the sword-hilt, and he advanced slowly towards

Tressilian, collecting, for their meeting, all the self-possession he

could command, until they came front to front with each other.




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