the strangers' horses； he desired them to follow him。 The
Countess retained presence of mind sufficient to see that it was
absolutely necessary she should comply with his request； and
leaving the rude lackeys and grooms to crack their brutal jests
about light heads； light heels； and so forth； Wayland and she
followed in silence the deputy…usher； who undertook to be their
conductor。
They entered the inner court of the Castle by the great gateway；
which extended betwixt the principal Keep； or Donjon； called
Caesar's Tower； and a stately building which passed by the name
of King Henry's Lodging； and were thus placed in the centre of
the noble pile； which presented on its different fronts
magnificent specimens of every species of castellated
architecture； from the Conquest to the reign of Elizabeth； with
the appropriate style and ornaments of each。
Across this inner court also they were conducted by their guide
to a small but strong tower； occupying the north…east angle of
the building； adjacent to the great hall； and filling up a space
betwixt the immense range of kitchens and the end of the great
hall itself。 The lower part of this tower was occupied by some
of the household officers of Leicester； owing to its convenient
vicinity to the places where their duty lay； but in the upper
story； which was reached by a narrow； winding stair； was a small
octangular chamber； which； in the great demand for lodgings； had
been on the present occasion fitted up for the reception of
guests； though generally said to have been used as a place of
confinement for some unhappy person who had been there murdered。
Tradition called this prisoner Mervyn； and transferred his name
to the tower。 That it had been used as a prison was not
improbable； for the floor of each story was arched； the walls of
tremendous thickness； while the space of the chamber did not
exceed fifteen feet in diameter。 The window； however； was
pleasant； though narrow； and commanded a delightful view of what
was called the Pleasance； a space of ground enclosed and
decorated with arches； trophies； statues； fountains； and other
architectural monuments； which formed one access from the Castle
itself into the garden。 There was a bed in the apartment； and
other preparations for the reception of a guest； to which the
Countess paid but slight attention； her notice being instantly
arrested by the sight of writing materials placed on the table
（not very commonly to be found in the bedrooms of those days）；
which instantly suggested the idea of writing to Leicester； and
remaining private until she had received his answer。
The deputy…usher having introduced them into this commodious
apartment； courteously asked Wayland； whose generosity he had
experienced； whether he could do anything further for his
service。 Upon receiving a gentle hint that some refreshment
would not be unacceptable； he presently conveyed the smith to the
buttery…hatch； where dressed provisions of all sorts were
distributed； with hospitable profusion； to all who asked for
them。 Wayland was readily supplied with some light provisions；
such as he thought would best suit the faded appetite of the
lady； and did not omit the opportunity of himself making a hasty
but hearty meal on more substantial fare。 He then returned to
the apartment in the turret； where he found the Countess； who had
finished her letter to Leicester； and in lieu of a seal and
silken thread； had secured it with a braid of her own beautiful
tresses； fastened by what is called a true…love knot。
〃Good friend；〃 said she to Wayland； 〃whom God hath sent to aid me
at my utmost need； I do beseech thee； as the last trouble you
shall take for an unfortunate lady； to deliver this letter to the
noble Earl of Leicester。 Be it received as it may；〃 she said；
with features agitated betwixt hope and fear； 〃thou； good fellow；
shalt have no more cumber with me。 But I hope the best； and if
ever lady made a poor man rich； thou hast surely deserved it at
my hand； should my happy days ever come round again。 Give it； I
pray you； into Lord Leicester's own hand； and mark how he looks
on receiving it。〃
Wayland； on his part； readily undertook the commission； but
anxiously prayed the lady； in his turn； to partake of some
refreshment； in which he at length prevailed； more through
importunity and her desire to see him begone on his errand than
from any inclination the Countess felt to comply with his
request。 He then left her； advising her to lock her door on the
inside； and not to stir from her little apartment； and went to
seek an opportunity of discharging her errand； as well as of
carrying into effect a purpose of his own； which circumstances
had induced him to form。
In fact； from the conduct of the lady during the journeyher
long fits of profound silence； the irresolution and uncertainty
which seemed to pervade all her movements； and the obvious
incapacity of thinking and acting for herself under which she
seemed to labourWayland had formed the not improbable opinion
that the difficulties of her situation had in some degree
affected her understanding。
When she had escaped from the seclusion of Cumnor Place； and the
dangers to which she was there exposed； it would have seemed her
most rational course to retire to her father's； or elsewhere at a
distance from the power of those by whom these dangers had been
created。 When； instead of doing so； she demanded to be conveyed
to Kenilworth； Wayland had been only able to account for her
conduct by supposing that she meant to put herself under the
tutelage of Tressilian； and to appeal to the protection of the
Queen。 But now； instead of following this natural course； she
entrusted him with a letter to Leicester； the patron of Varney；
and within whose jurisdiction at least； if not under his express
authority； all the evils she had already suffered were inflicted
upon her。 This seemed an unsafe and even a desperate measure；
and Wayland felt anxiety for his own safety； as well as that of
the lady； should he execute her commission before he had secured
the advice and countenance of a protector。
He therefore resolved； before delivering the letter to Leicester；
that he would seek out Tressilian； and communicate to him the
arrival of the lady at Kenilworth； and thus at once rid himself
of all further responsibility； and devolve the task of guiding
and protecting this unfortunate lady upon the patron who had at
first employed him in her service。
〃He will be a better judge than I am；〃 said Wayland； 〃whether she
is to be gratified in this humour of appeal to my Lord of
Leicester； which seems like an act of insanity； and； therefore； I
will turn the matter over on his hands； deliver him the letter；
receive what they list to give me by way of guerdon； and then
show the Castle of Kenilworth a pair of light heels； for； after
the work I have been engaged in； it will be； I fear； neither a
safe nor wholesome place of residence； and I would rather shoe
colts an the coldest common in England than share in their gayest
revels。〃
CHAPTER XXVII。
In my time I have seen a boy do wonders。
Robin； the red tinker； had a boy
Would ha run through a cat…hole。 THE COXCOMB。
Amid the universal bustle which filled the Castle and its
environs； it was no easy matter to find out any individual； and
Wayland was still less likely to light upon Tressilian； whom he
sought so anxiously； because； sensible of the danger of
attracting attention in the circumstances in which he was placed；
he dared not make general inquiries among the retainers or
domestics of Leicester。 He learned； however； by indirect
questions； that in all probability Tressilian must have been one
of a large party of gentlemen in attendance on the Earl of
Sussex； who had accompanied their patron that morning to
Kenilworth； when Leicester had received them with marks of the
most formal respect and distinction。 He further learned that
both Earls； with their followers； and many other nobles； knights；
and gentlemen； had taken horse； and gone towards Warwick several
hours since； for the purpose of escorting the Queen to
Kenilworth。
Her Majesty's arrival； like other great events； was delayed from
hour to hour； and it was now announced by a breathless post that
her Majesty； being detained by her gracious desire to receive the
homage of her lieges who had thronged to wait upon her at
Warwick； it would be the hour of twilight ere she entered the
Castle。 The intelligence released for a time those who were upon
duty； in the immediate expectation of the Queen's appearance； and
ready to play their part in the solemnities with which it was to
be accompanied； and Wayland； seeing several horsemen enter the
Castle； was not without hopes that Tressilian might be of the
number。 That he might not lose an opportunity of meeting his
patron in the event of this being the case； Wayland placed
himself in the base…court of the Castle； near Mortimer's Tower；
and watched every one who went or came by the bridge； the
extremity of which was protected by that building。 Thus
stationed； nobody could enter or leave the Castle without his
observation； and most anxiously did he study the garb and
countenance of every horseman； as； passing from under the
opposite Gallery…tower； they paced slowly； or curveted； along the
tilt…yard； and approached the entrance of the base…court。
But while Wayland gazed thus eagerly to discover him whom he saw
not； he was pulled by the sleeve by one by whom he himself would
not willingly have been seen。
This was Dickie Sludge； or Flibbertigibbet； who； like the imp
whose name he bore； and whom he had been accoutred in order to
resemble； seemed to be ever at the ear of those who thought least
of him。 Whatever were Wayland's internal feelings； he judged it
necessary to express pleasure at their unexpected meeting。
〃Ha！ is it thou； my minikinmy miller's thumbmy prince of
cacodemonsmy little mouse？〃
〃Ay；〃 said Dickie； 〃the mouse which gnawed asunder the toils；
just when the lion who was caught in them began to look
wonderfully like an ass。〃
〃Thy； thou little hop…the…gutter； thou art as sharp as vinegar
this afternoon！ B