We will now hear the progress of this affair。〃 She then seated
herself in her chair； and said； 〃You； Tressilian； step forward；
and say what you know。〃
Tressilian told his story generously； suppressing as much as he
could what affected Leicester； and saying nothing of their having
twice actually fought together。 It is very probable that； in
doing so； he did the Earl good service； for had the Queen at that
instant found anything on account of which she could vent her
wrath upon him； without laying open sentiments of which she was
ashamed； it might have fared hard with him。 She paused when
Tressilian had finished his tale。
〃We will take that Wayland；〃 she said； 〃into our own service； and
place the boy in our Secretary office for instruction； that he
may in future use discretion towards letters。 For you；
Tressilian； you did wrong in not communicating the whole truth to
us； and your promise not to do so was both imprudent and
undutiful。 Yet； having given your word to this unhappy lady； it
was the part of a man and a gentleman to keep it； and on the
whole； we esteem you for the character you have sustained in this
matter。My Lord of Leicester； it is now your turn to tell us the
truth； an exercise to which you seem of late to have been too
much a stranger。〃
Accordingly； she extorted； by successive questions； the whole
history of his first acquaintance with Amy Robsarttheir
marriagehis jealousythe causes on which it was founded； and
many particulars besides。 Leicester's confession； for such it
might be called； was wrenched from him piecemeal； yet was upon
the whole accurate； excepting that he totally omitted to mention
that he had； by implication or otherwise； assented to Varney's
designs upon the life of his Countess。 Yet the consciousness of
this was what at that moment lay nearest to his heart； and
although he trusted in great measure to the very positive
counter…orders which he had sent by Lambourne； it was his purpose
to set out for Cumnor Place in person as soon as he should be
dismissed from the presence of the Queen； who； he concluded；
would presently leave Kenilworth。
But the Earl reckoned without his host。 It is true his presence
and his communications were gall and wormwood to his once partial
mistress。 But barred from every other and more direct mode of
revenge； the Queen perceived that she gave her false suitor
torture by these inquiries； and dwelt on them for that reason； no
more regarding the pain which she herself experienced； than the
savage cares for the searing of his own hands by grasping the hot
pincers with which he tears the flesh of his captive enemy。
At length； however； the haughty lord； like a deer that turns to
bay； gave intimation that his patience was failing。 〃Madam；〃 he
said； 〃I have been much to blamemore than even your just
resentment has expressed。 Yet； madam； let me say that my guilt；
if it be unpardonable； was not unprovoked； and that if beauty and
condescending dignity could seduce the frail heart of a human
being； I might plead both as the causes of my concealing this
secret from your Majesty。〃
The Queen was so much struck with this reply； which Leicester
took care should be heard by no one but herself； that she was for
the moment silenced； and the Earl had the temerity to pursue his
advantage。 〃Your Grace； who has pardoned so much； will excuse my
throwing myself on your royal mercy for those expressions which
were yester…morning accounted but a light offence。〃
The Queen fixed her eyes on him while she replied； 〃Now； by
Heaven； my lord； thy effrontery passes the bounds of belief； as
well as patience！ But it shall avail thee nothing。What ho！ my
lords； come all and hear the news…my Lord of Leicester's stolen
marriage has cost me a husband； and England a king。 His lordship
is patriarchal in his tastesone wife at a time was
insufficient； and he designed US the honour of his left hand。
Now； is not this too insolentthat I could not grace him with a
few marks of court…favour； but he must presume to think my hand
and crown at his disposal？ You； however； think better of me； and
I can pity this ambitious man； as I could a child； whose bubble
of soap has burst between his hands。 We go to the presence…
chamber。My Lord of Leicester； we command your close attendance
on us。〃
All was eager expectation in the hall； and what was the universal
astonishment when the Queen said to those next her； 〃The revels
of Kenilworth are not yet exhausted； my lords and ladieswe are
to solemnize the noble owner's marriage。〃
There was an universal expression of surprise。
〃It is true； on our royal word；〃 said the Queen； 〃he hath kept
this a secret even from us； that he might surprise us with it at
this very place and time。 I see you are dying of curiosity to
know the happy bride。 It is Amy Robsart； the same who； to make
up the May…game yesterday； figured in the pageant as the wife of
his servant Varney。〃
〃For God's sake； madam；〃 said the Earl； approaching her with a
mixture of humility； vexation； and shame in his countenance； and
speaking so low as to be heard by no one else； 〃take my head； as
you threatened in your anger； and spare me these taunts！ Urge
not a falling mantread not on a crushed worm。〃
〃A worm； my lord？〃 said the Queen； in the same tone； 〃nay； a
snake is the nobler reptile； and the more exact similitudethe
frozen snake you wot of； which was warmed in a certain bosom〃
〃For your own sakefor mine； madam；〃 said the Earl〃while there
is yet some reason left in me〃
〃Speak aloud； my lord；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃and at farther distance；
so please youyour breath thaws our ruff。 What have you to ask
of us？〃
〃Permission；〃 said the unfortunate Earl humbly； 〃to travel to
Cumnor Place。〃
〃To fetch home your bride belike？Why； aythat is but right；
for； as we have heard； she is indifferently cared for there。
But； my lord； you go not in person； we have counted upon passing
certain days in this Castle of Kenilworth； and it were slight
courtesy to leave us without a landlord during our residence
here。 Under your favour； we cannot think to incur such disgrace
in the eyes of our subjects。 Tressilian shall go to Cumnor Place
instead of you； and with him some gentleman who hath been sworn
of our chamber； lest my Lord of Leicester should be again jealous
of his old rival。Whom wouldst thou have to be in commission
with thee； Tressilian？〃
Tressilian； with humble deference； suggested the name of Raleigh。
〃Why； ay；〃 said the Queen； 〃so God ha' me； thou hast made a good
choice。 He is a young knight besides； and to deliver a lady from
prison is an appropriate first adventure。Cumnor Place is little
better than a prison； you are to know； my lords and ladies。
Besides； there are certain faitours there whom we would willingly
have in safe keeping。 You will furnish them； Master Secretary；
with the warrant necessary to secure the bodies of Richard Varney
and the foreign Alasco； dead or alive。 Take a sufficient force
with you； gentlemenbring the lady here in all honourlose no
time； and God be with you！〃
They bowed； and left the presence；
Who shall describe how the rest of that day was spent at
Kenilworth？ The Queen； who seemed to have remained there for the
sole purpose of mortifying and taunting the Earl of Leicester；
showed herself as skilful in that female art of vengeance； as she
was in the science of wisely governing her people。 The train of
state soon caught the signal； and as he walked among his own
splendid preparations； the Lord of Kenilworth； in his own Castle；
already experienced the lot of a disgraced courtier； in the
slight regard and cold manners of alienated friends； and the ill…
concealed triumph of avowed and open enemies。 Sussex； from his
natural military frankness of disposition； Burleigh and
Walsingham； from their penetrating and prospective sagacity； and
some of the ladies； from the compassion of their sex； were the
only persons in the crowded court who retained towards him the
countenance they had borne in the morning。
So much had Leicester been accustomed to consider court favour as
the principal object of his life； that all other sensations were；
for the time； lost in the agony which his haughty spirit felt at
the succession of petty insults and studied neglects to which he
had been subjected； but when he retired to his own chamber for
the night； that long； fair tress of hair which had once secured
Amy's letter fell under his observation； and； with the influence
of a counter…charm； awakened his heart to nobler and more natural
feelings。 He kissed it a thousand times； and while he
recollected that he had it always in his power to shun the
mortifications which he had that day undergone； by retiring into
a dignified and even prince…like seclusion with the beautiful and
beloved partner of his future life； he felt that he could rise
above the revenge which Elizabeth had condescended to take。
Accordingly； on the following day the whole conduct of the Earl
displayed so much dignified equanimityhe seemed so solicitous
about the accommodations and amusements of his guests； yet so
indifferent to their personal demeanour towards himso
respectfully distant to the Queen； yet so patient of her
harassing displeasurethat Elizabeth changed her manner to him；
and； though cold and distant； ceased to offer him any direct
affront。 She intimated also with some sharpness to others around
her； who thought they were consulting her pleasure in showing a
neglectful conduct to the Earl； that while they remained at
Kenilworth they ought to show the civility due from guests to the
Lord of the Castle。 In short； matters were so far changed in
twenty…four hours that some of the more experienced and sagacious
courtiers foresaw a strong possibility of Leicester's restoration
to favour； and regulated their demeanour towards him； as those
who might one day claim merit for not having deserted him in
adversity。 It is time； however； to leave these intrigues； and
follow Tressilian and Raleigh on their journey。
The troop consisted of six persons； for； besides Wayland； they
had in company a royal pursuivant and two stout serving…men。 All
were well…arme