ButwhethertheQueendeemedittoopresumptuousinsoyoungacourtiertointerposehisopinionunasked，orwhethershewasmovedbyarecurrenceofthefeelingofjealousywhichhadbeeninstilledintoherbyreportsthattheEarlkeptarmedmenabouthisperson，shedesiredRaleigh，sharply，toreservehiscounseltillitwasrequiredofhim，andrepeatedherformerorderstobelandedatDeptford，adding，\"WewillourselvesseewhatsortofhouseholdmyLordofSussexkeepsabouthim。\"
\"NowtheLordhavepityonus！\"saidtheyoungcourtiertohimself。\"Goodhearts，theEarlhathmanyaoneroundhim;butgoodheadsarescarcewithus——andhehimselfistooilltogivedirection。AndBlountwillbeathismorningmealofYarmouthherringsandale，andTracywillhavehisbeastlyblackpuddingsandRhenish;thosethorough—pacedWelshmen，ThomasapRiceandEvanEvans，willbeatworkontheirleekporridgeandtoastedcheese;——andshedetests，theysay，allcoarsemeats，evilsmells，andstrongwines。Couldtheybutthinkofburningsomerosemaryinthegreathall！butVOGUELAGALERE，allmustnowbetrustedtochance。Luckhathdoneindifferentwellformethismorning;forItrustIhavespoiledacloak，andmadeacourtfortune。Mayshedoasmuchformygallantpatron！\"
TheroyalbargesoonstoppedatDeptford，and，amidtheloudshoutsofthepopulace，whichherpresenceneverfailedtoexcite，theQueen，withacanopyborneoverherhead，walked，accompaniedbyherretinue，towardsSayesCourt，wherethedistantacclamationsofthepeoplegavethefirstnoticeofherarrival。Sussex，whowasintheactofadvisingwithTressilianhowheshouldmakeupthesupposedbreachintheQueen\'sfavour，wasinfinitelysurprisedatlearningherimmediateapproach。NotthattheQueen\'scustomofvisitinghermoredistinguishednobility，whetherinhealthorsickness，couldbeunknowntohim;
butthesuddennessofthecommunicationleftnotimeforthosepreparationswithwhichhewellknewElizabethlovedtobegreeted，andtherudenessandconfusionofhismilitaryhousehold，muchincreasedbyhislateillness，renderedhimaltogetherunpreparedforherreception。
Cursinginternallythechancewhichthusbroughthergraciousvisitationonhimunaware，hehasteneddownwithTressilian，towhoseeventfulandinterestingstoryhehadjustgivenanattentiveear。
\"Myworthyfriend，\"hesaid，\"suchsupportasIcangiveyouraccusationofVarney，youhavearighttoexpect，alikefromjusticeandgratitude。ChancewillpresentlyshowwhetherIcandoaughtwithourSovereign，orwhether，inverydeed，mymeddlinginyouraffairmaynotratherprejudicethanserveyou。\"
ThusspokeSussexwhilehastilycastingaroundhimalooserobeofsables，andadjustinghispersoninthebestmannerhecouldtomeettheeyeofhisSovereign。Butnohurriedattentionbestowedonhisapparelcouldremovetheghastlyeffectsoflongillnessonacountenancewhichnaturehadmarkedwithfeaturesratherstrongthanpleasing。Besides，hewaslowofstature，and，thoughbroad—shouldered，athletic，andfitformartialachievements，hispresenceinapeacefulhallwasnotsuchasladieslovetolookupon;apersonaldisadvantage，whichwassupposedtogiveSussex，thoughesteemedandhonouredbyhisSovereign，considerabledisadvantagewhencomparedwithLeicester，whowasalikeremarkableforeleganceofmannersandforbeautyofperson。
TheEarl\'sutmostdispatchonlyenabledhimtomeettheQueenassheenteredthegreathall，andheatonceperceivedtherewasacloudonherbrow。Herjealouseyehadnoticedthemartialarrayofarmedgentlemenandretainerswithwhichthemansion—housewasfilled，andherfirstwordsexpressedherdisapprobation。\"Isthisaroyalgarrison，myLordofSussex，thatitholdssomanypikesandcalivers？orhavewebyaccidentovershotSayesCourt，andlandedatOurTowerofLondon？\"
LordSussexhastenedtooffersomeapology。
\"Itneedsnot，\"shesaid。\"Mylord，weintendspeedilytotakeupacertainquarrelbetweenyourlordshipandanothergreatlordofourhousehold，andatthesametimetoreprehendthisuncivilizedanddangerouspracticeofsurroundingyourselveswitharmed，andevenwithruffianlyfollowers，asif，intheneighbourhoodofourcapital，nayintheveryvergeofourroyalresidence，youwerepreparingtowagecivilwarwitheachother。
——Wearegladtoseeyousowellrecovered，mylord，thoughwithouttheassistanceofthelearnedphysicianwhomwesenttoyou。Urgenoexcuse;weknowhowthatmatterfellout，andwehavecorrectedforitthewildslip，youngRaleigh。Bytheway，mylord，wewillspeedilyrelieveyourhouseholdofhim，andtakehimintoourown。Somethingthereisabouthimwhichmeritstobebetternurturedthanheisliketobeamongstyourverymilitaryfollowers。\"
TothisproposalSussex，thoughscarceunderstandinghowtheQueencametomakeitcouldonlybowandexpresshisacquiescence。Hethenentreatedhertoremaintillrefreshmentcouldbeoffered，butinthishecouldnotprevail。Andafterafewcomplimentsofamuchcolderandmorecommonplacecharacterthanmighthavebeenexpectedfromastepsodecidedlyfavourableasapersonalvisit，theQueentookherleaveofSayesCourt，havingbroughtconfusionthitheralongwithher，andleavingdoubtandapprehensionbehind。
CHAPTERXVI。
Thencallthemtoourpresence。Facetoface，Andfrowningbrowtobrow，ourselveswillhearTheaccuserandaccusedfreelyspeak;——
High—stomach\'daretheyboth，andfullofire，Inragedeafasthesea，hastyasfire。RICHARDII。
\"Iamorderedtoattendcourtto—morrow，\"saidLeicester，speakingtoVarney，\"tomeet，astheysurmise，myLordofSussex。
TheQueenintendstotakeupmattersbetwixtus。ThiscomesofhervisittoSayesCourt，ofwhichyoumustneedsspeaksolightly。\"
\"Imaintainitwasnothing，\"saidVarney;\"nay，Iknowfromasureintelligencer，whowaswithinearshotofmuchthatwassaid，thatSussexhaslostratherthangainedbythatvisit。TheQueensaid，whenshesteppedintotheboat，thatSayesCourtlookedlikeaguard—house，andsmeltlikeanhospital。\'Likeacook\'sshopinRam\'sAlley，rather，\'saidtheCountessofRutland，whoiseveryourlordship\'sgoodfriend。AndthenmyLordofLincolnmustneedsputinhisholyoar，andsaythatmyLordofSussexmustbeexcusedforhisrudeandold—worldhousekeeping，sincehehadasyetnowife。\"
\"AndwhatsaidtheQueen？\"askedLeicesterhastily。
\"Shetookhimuproundly，\"saidVarney，\"andaskedwhatmyLordSussexhadtodowithawife，ormyLordBishoptospeakonsuchasubject。\'Ifmarriageispermitted，\'shesaid，\'Inowherereadthatitisenjoined。\'\"
\"Shelikesnotmarriages，orspeechofmarriage，amongchurchmen，\"saidLeicester。
\"Noramongcourtiersneither，\"saidVarney;but，observingthatLeicesterchangedcountenance，heinstantlyadded，\"thatalltheladieswhowerepresenthadjoinedinridiculingLordSussex\'shousekeeping，andincontrastingitwiththereceptionherGracewouldhaveassuredlyreceivedatmyLordofLeicester\'s。\"
\"Youhavegatheredmuchtidings，\"saidLeicester，\"butyouhaveforgottenoromittedthemostimportantofall。Shehathaddedanothertothosedanglingsatelliteswhomitisherpleasuretokeeprevolvingaroundher。\"
\"YourlordshipmeaneththatRaleigh，theDevonshireyouth，\"saidVarney——\"theKnightoftheCloak，astheycallhimatcourt？\"
\"HemaybeKnightoftheGarteroneday，foraughtIknow，\"saidLeicester，\"forheadvancesrapidly——shehathcappedverseswithhim，andsuchfooleries。Iwouldgladlyabandon，ofmyownfreewill，thepart——Ihaveinherficklefavour;butIwillnotbeelbowedoutofitbytheclownSussex，orthisnewupstart。I
hearTressilianiswithSussexalso，andhighinhisfavour。I
wouldsparehimforconsiderations，buthewillthrusthimselfonhisfate。Sussex，too，isalmostaswellaseverinhishealth。\"
\"Mylord，\"repliedVarney，\"therewillberubsinthesmoothestroad，speciallywhenitleadsuphill。Sussex\'sillnesswastousagodsend，fromwhichIhopedmuch。Hehasrecovered，indeed，butheisnotnowmoreformidablethanerehefellill，whenhereceivedmorethanonefoilinwrestlingwithyourlordship。Letnotyourheartfailyou，mylord，andallshallbewell。\"
\"Myheartneverfailedme，sir，\"repliedLeicester。
\"No，mylord，\"saidVarney;\"butithasbetrayedyourightoften。
Hethatwouldclimbatree，mylord，mustgraspbythebranches，notbytheblossom。\"
\"Well，well，well！\"saidLeicesterimpatiently;\"Iunderstandthymeaning——myheartshallneitherfailmenorseduceme。Havemyretinueinorder——seethattheirarraybesosplendidastoputdown，notonlytherudecompanionsofRatcliffe，buttheretainersofeveryothernoblemanandcourtier。Letthembewellarmedwithal，butwithoutanyoutwarddisplayoftheirweapons，wearingthemasifmoreforfashion\'ssakethanforuse。Dothouthyselfkeepclosetome，Imayhavebusinessforyou。\"
ThepreparationsofSussexandhispartywerenotlessanxiousthanthoseofLeicester。
\"ThySupplication，impeachingVarneyofseduction，\"saidtheEarltoTressilian，\"isbythistimeintheQueen\'shand——Ihavesentitthroughasurechannel。Methinksyoursuitshouldsucceed，being，asitis，foundedinjusticeandhonour，andElizabethbeingtheverymusterofboth。But——Iwotnothow——thegipsy\"
（soSussexwaswonttocallhisrivalonaccountofhisdarkcomplexion）\"hathmuchtosaywithherintheseholydaytimesofpeace。Werewaratthegates，Ishouldbeoneofherwhiteboys;
butsoldiers，liketheirbucklersandBilboablades，getoutoffashioninpeacetime，andsatinsleevesandwalkingrapiersbearthebell。Well，wemustbegay，sincesuchisthefashion。——
Blount，hastthouseenourhouseholdputintotheirnewbraveries？\"ButthouknowestaslittleofthesetoysasIdo;
thouwouldstbereadyenowatdisposingastandofpikes。\"
\"Mygoodlord，\"answeredBlount，\"Raleighhathbeenhere，andtakenthatchargeuponhim——yourtrainwillglitterlikeaMaymorning。Marry，thecostisanotherquestion。Onemightkeepanhospitalofoldsoldiersatthechargeoftenmodernlackeys。\"
\"Hemustnotcountcostto—day，Nicholas，\"saidtheEarlinreply。\"IambeholdentoRaleighforhiscare。Itrust，though，hehasrememberedthatIamanoldsoldier，andwouldhavenomoreofthesefolliesthanneedsmust。\"
\"Nay，Iunderstandnoughtaboutit，\"saidBlount;\"buthereareyourhonourablelordship\'sbravekinsmenandfriendscominginbyscorestowaituponyoutocourt，where，methinks，weshallbearasbraveafrontasLeicester，lethimruffleitashewill。\"
\"Givethemthestrictestcharges，\"saidSussex，\"thattheysuffernoprovocationshortofactualviolencetoprovokethemintoquarrel。Theyhavehotbloods，andIwouldnotgiveLeicestertheadvantageovermebyanyimprudenceoftheirs。\"
TheEarlofSussexransohastilythroughthesedirections，thatitwaswithdifficultyTressilianatlengthfoundopportunitytoexpresshissurprisethatheshouldhaveproceededsofarintheaffairofSirHughRobsartastolayhispetitionatoncebeforetheQueen。\"Itwastheopinionoftheyounglady\'sfriends，\"hesaid，\"thatLeicester\'ssenseofjusticeshouldbefirstappealedto，astheoffencehadbeencommittedbyhisofficer，andsohehadexpresslytoldtoSussex。\"
\"Thiscouldhavebeendonewithoutapplyingtome，\"saidSussex，somewhathaughtily。\"Iatleast，oughtnottohavebeenacounsellorwhentheobjectwasahumiliatingreferencetoLeicester;andIamsuprisedthatyou，Tressilian，amanofhonour，andmyfriend，wouldassumesuchameancourse。Ifyousaidso，Icertainlyunderstoodyounotinamatterwhichsoundedsounlikeyourself。\"
\"Mylord，\"saidTressilian，\"thecourseIwouldprefer，formyownsake，isthatyouhaveadopted;butthefriendsofthismostunhappylady——\"
\"Oh，thefriends——thefriends，\"saidSussex，interruptinghim;
\"theymustletusmanagethiscauseinthewaywhichseemsbest。
ThisisthetimeandthehourtoaccumulateeverychargeagainstLeicesterandhishousehold，andyourstheQueenwillholdaheavyone。Butatalleventsshehaththecomplaintbeforeher。\"
Tressiliancouldnothelpsuspectingthat，inhiseagernesstostrengthenhimselfagainsthisrival，SussexhadpurposelyadoptedthecoursemostlikelytothrowodiumonLeicester，withoutconsideringminutelywhetheritwerethemodeofproceedingmostlikelytobeattendedwithsuccess。Butthestepwasirrevocable，andSussexescapedfromfurtherdiscussingitbydismissinghiscompany，withthecommand，\"Letallbeinorderateleveno\'clock;Imustbeatcourtandinthepresencebyhighnoonprecisely。\"
WhiletherivalstatesmenwerethusanxiouslypreparingfortheirapproachingmeetingintheQueen\'spresence，evenElizabethherselfwasnotwithoutapprehensionofwhatmightchancefromthecollisionoftwosuchfieryspirits，eachbackedbyastrongandnumerousbodyoffollowers，anddividingbetwixtthem，eitheropenlyorinsecret，thehopesandwishesofmostofhercourt。
ThebandofGentlemenPensionerswereallunderarms，andareinforcementoftheyeomenoftheguardwasbroughtdowntheThamesfromLondon。Aroyalproclamationwassentforth，strictlyprohibitingnoblesofwhateverdegreetoapproachthePalacewithretainersorfollowersarmedwithshotorwithlongweapons;anditwasevenwhisperedthattheHighSheriffofKenthadsecretinstructionstohaveapartofthearrayofthecountyreadyontheshortestnotice。
Theeventfulhour，thusanxiouslypreparedforonallsides，atlengthapproached，and，eachfollowedbyhislongandglitteringtrainoffriendsandfollowers，therivalEarlsenteredthePalaceYardofGreenwichatnoonprecisely。
Asifbypreviousarrangement，orperhapsbyintimationthatsuchwastheQueen\'spleasure，SussexandhisretinuecametothePalacefromDeptfordbywaterwhileLeicesterarrivedbyland;
andthustheyenteredthecourtyardfromoppositesides。ThistriflingcircumstancegaveLeicesteraascendencyintheopinionofthevulgar，theappearanceofhiscavalcadeofmountedfollowersshowingmorenumerousandmoreimposingthanthoseofSussex\'sparty，whowerenecessarilyuponfoot。NoshoworsignofgreetingpassedbetweentheEarls，thougheachlookedfullattheother，bothexpectingperhapsanexchangeofcourtesies，whichneitherwaswillingtocommence。Almostintheminuteoftheirarrivalthecastle—belltolled，thegatesofthePalacewereopened，andtheEarlsentered，eachnumerouslyattendedbysuchgentlemenoftheirtrainwhoserankgavethemthatprivilege。Theyeomenandinferiorattendantsremainedinthecourtyard，wheretheoppositepartieseyedeachotherwithlooksofeagerhatredandscorn，asifwaitingwithimpatienceforsomecauseoftumult，orsomeapologyformutualaggression。Buttheywererestrainedbythestrictcommandsoftheirleaders，andoverawed，perhaps，bythepresenceofanarmedguardofunusualstrength。
Inthemeanwhile，themoredistinguishedpersonsofeachtrainfollowedtheirpatronsintotheloftyhallsandante—chambersoftheroyalPalace，flowingoninthesamecurrent，liketwostreamswhicharecompelledintothesamechannel，yetshuntomixtheirwaters。Thepartiesarrangedthemselves，asitwereinstinctively，onthedifferentsidesoftheloftyapartments，andseemedeagertoescapefromthetransientunionwhichthenarrownessofthecrowdedentrancehadforaninstantcompelledthemtosubmitto。Thefoldingdoorsattheupperendofthelonggallerywereimmediatelyafterwardsopened，anditwasannouncedinawhisperthattheQueenwasinherpresence—
chamber，towhichthesegaveaccess。BothEarlsmovedslowlyandstatelytowardstheentrance——SussexfollowedbyTressilian，Blount，andRaleigh，andLeicesterbyVarney。TheprideofLeicesterwasobligedtogivewaytocourt—forms，andwithagraveandformalinclinationofthehead，hepauseduntilhisrival，apeerofoldercreationthanhisown，passedbeforehim。
Sussexreturnedthereverencewiththesameformalcivility，andenteredthepresence—room。TressilianandBlountofferedtofollowhim，butwerenotpermitted，theUsheroftheBlackRodalleginginexcusethathehadpreciseorderstolooktoalladmissionsthatday。ToRaleigh，whostoodbackontherepulseofhiscompanions，hesaid，\"You，sir，mayenter，\"andheenteredaccordingly。
\"Followmeclose，Varney，\"saidtheEarlofLeicester，whohadstoodaloofforamomenttomarkthereceptionofSussex;andadvancingtotheentrance，hewasabouttopasson，whenVarney，whowasclosebehindhim，dressedoutintheutmostbraveryoftheday，wasstoppedbytheusher，asTressilianandBlounthadbeenbeforehim，\"Howisthis，MasterBowyer？\"saidtheEarlofLeicester。\"KnowyouwhoIam，andthatthisismyfriendandfollower？\"
\"Yourlordshipwillpardonme，\"repliedBowyerstoutly;\"myordersareprecise，andlimitmetoastrictdischargeofmyduty。\"
\"Thouartapartialknave，\"saidLeicester，thebloodmountingtohisface，\"todomethisdishonour，whenyoubutnowadmittedafollowerofmyLordofSussex。\"
\"Mylord，\"saidBowyer，\"MasterRaleighisnewlyadmittedaswornservantofherGrace，andtohimmyordersdidnotapply。\"
\"Thouartaknave——anungratefulknave，\"saidLeicester;\"buthethathathdonecanundo——thoushaltnotpranktheeinthyauthoritylong！\"
Thisthreatheutteredaloud，withlessthanhisusualpolicyanddiscretion;andhavingdoneso，heenteredthepresence—chamber，andmadehisreverencetotheQueen，who，attiredwithevenmorethanherusualsplendour，andsurroundedbythosenoblesandstatesmenwhosecourageandwisdomhaverenderedherreignimmortal，stoodreadytoreceivethehommageofhersubjects。
ShegraciouslyreturnedtheobeisanceofthefavouriteEarl，andlookedalternatelyathimandatSussex，asifabouttospeak，whenBowyer，amanwhosespiritcouldnotbrooktheinsulthehadsoopenlyreceivedfromLeicester，inthedischargeofhisoffice，advancedwithhisblackradinhishand，andkneltdownbeforeher。
\"Why，hownow，Bowyer？\"saidElizabeth，\"thycourtesyseemsstrangelytimed！\"
\"MyLiegeSovereign，\"hesaid，whileeverycourtieraroundtrembledathisaudacity，\"Icomebuttoaskwhether，inthedischargeofmineoffice，IamtoobeyyourHighness\'scommands，orthoseoftheEarlofLeicester，whohaspubliclymenacedmewithhisdispleasure，andtreatedmewithdisparagingterms，becauseIdeniedentrytooneofhisfollowers，inobediencetoyourGrace\'spreciseorders？\"
ThespiritofHenryVIII。wasinstantlyarousedinthebosomofhisdaughter，andsheturnedonLeicesterwithaseveritywhichappalledhim，aswellasallhisfollowers。
\"God\'sdeath！mylord。\"suchwasheremphaticphrase，\"whatmeansthis？Wehavethoughtwellofyou，andbroughtyouneartoourperson;butitwasnotthatyoumighthidethesunfromourotherfaithfulsubjects。Whogaveyoulicensetocontradictourorders，orcontrolourofficers？Iwillhaveinthiscourt，ay，andinthisrealm，butonemistress，andnomaster。LooktoitthatMasterBowyersustainsnoharmforhisdutytomefaithfullydischarged;for，asIamChristianwomanandcrownedQueen，I
willholdyoudearlyanswerable。——Go，Bowyer，youhavedonethepartofanhonestmanandatruesubject。Wewillbrooknomayorofthepalacehere。
Bowyerkissedthehandwhichsheextendedtowardshim，andwithdrewtohispost！astonishedatthesuccessofhisownaudacity。AsmileoftriumphpervadedthefactionofSussex;
thatofLeicesterseemedproportionallydismayed，andthefavouritehimself，assuminganaspectofthedeepesthumility，didnotevenattemptawordinhisownesculpation。
Heactedwisely;foritwasthepolicyofElizabethtohumble，nottodisgracehim，anditwasprudenttosufferher，withoutoppositionorreply，togloryintheexertionofherauthority。
ThedignityoftheQueenwasgratified，andthewomanbegansoontofeelforthemortificationwhichshehadimposedonherfavourite。HerkeeneyealsoobservedthesecretlooksofcongratulationexchangedamongstthosewhofavouredSussex，anditwasnopartofherpolicytogiveeitherpartyadecisivetriumph。
\"WhatIsaytomyLordofLeicester，\"shesaid，afteramoment\'spause，\"Isayalsotoyou，myLordofSussex。YoualsomustneedsruffleinthecourtofEngland，attheheadofafactionofyourown？\"
\"Myfollowers，graciousPrincess，\"saidSussex，\"haveindeedruffledinyourcauseinIreland，inScotland，andagainstyonderrebelliousEarlsinthenorth。Iamignorantthat——\"
\"Doyoubandylooksandwordswithme，mylord？\"saidtheQueen，interruptinghim;\"methinksyoumightlearnofmyLordofLeicesterthemodestytobesilent，atleast，underourcensure。
Isay，mylord，thatmygrandfatherandmyfather，intheirwisdom，debarredthenoblesofthiscivilizedlandfromtravellingwithsuchdisorderlyretinues;andthinkyou，thatbecauseIwearacoif，theirsceptrehasinmyhandbeenchangedintoadistaff？Itellyou，nokinginChristendomwilllessbrookhiscourttobecumbered，hispeopleoppressed，andhiskingdom\'speacedisturbed，bythearroganceofovergrownpower，thanshewhonowspeakswithyou。——MyLordofLeicester，andyou，myLordofSussex，Icommandyoubothtobefriendswitheachother;orbythecrownIwear，youshallfindanenemywhowillbetoostrongforbothofyou！\"
\"Madam，\"saidtheEarlofLeicester，\"youwhoareyourselfthefountainofhonourknowbestwhatisduetomine。Iplaceitatyourdisposal，andonlysaythatthetermsonwhichIhavestoodwithmyLordofSussexhavenotbeenofmyseeking;norhadhecausetothinkmehisenemy，untilhehaddonemegrosswrong。\"
\"Forme，madam，\"saidtheEarlofSussex，\"Icannotappealfromyoursovereignpleasure;butIwerewellcontentmyLordofLeicestershouldsayinwhatIhave，ashetermsit，wrongedhim，sincemytongueneverspokethewordthatIwouldnotwillinglyjustifyeitheronfootorhorseback。
\"Andforme，\"saidLeicester，\"alwaysundermygraciousSovereign\'spleasure，myhandshallbeasreadytomakegoodmywordsasthatofanymanwhoeverwrotehimselfRatcliffe。\"
\"Mylords，\"saidtheQueen，\"thesearenotermsforthispresence;andifyoucannotkeepyourtemper，wewillfindmeanstokeepboththatandyoucloseenough。Letmeseeyoujoinhands，mylords，andforgetyouridleanimosities。\"
Thetworivalslookedateachotherwithreluctanteyes，eachunwillingtomakethefirstadvancetoexecutetheQueen\'swill。
\"Sussex，\"saidElizabeth，\"Ientreat——Leicester，Icommandyou。\"
Yet，sowereherwordsaccented，thattheentreatysoundedlikecommand，andthecommandlikeentreaty。Theyremainedstillandstubborn，untilsheraisedhervoicetoaheightwhicharguedatonceimpatienceandabsolutecommand。
\"SirHenryLee，\"shesaid，toanofficerinattendance，\"haveaguardinpresentreadiness，andmanabargeinstantly。——MyLordsofSussexandLeicester，Ibidyouoncemoretojoinhands;and，God\'sdeath！hethatrefusesshalltasteofourTowerfareereheseesourfaceagain。Iwillloweryourproudheartserewepart，andthatIpromise，onthewordofaQueen！\"
\"Theprison？\"saidLeicester，\"mightbeborne，buttoloseyourGrace\'spresenceweretoloselightandlifeatonce。——Here，Sussex，ismyhand。\"
\"Andhere，\"saidSussex，\"ismineintruthandhonesty;but——\"
\"Nay，underfavour，youshalladdnomore，\"saidtheQueen。
\"Why，thisisasitshouldbe，\"sheadded，lookingonthemmorefavourably;\"andwhenyoutheshepherdsofthepeople，unitetoprotectthem，itshallbewellwiththeflockweruleover。For，mylords，Itellyouplainly，yourfolliesandyourbrawlsleadtostrangedisordersamongyourservants。——MyLordofLeicester，youhaveagentlemaninyourhouseholdcalledVarney？\"
\"Yes，graciousmadam，\"repliedLeicester;\"IpresentedhimtokissyourroyalhandwhenyouwerelastatNonsuch。\"
\"Hisoutsidewaswellenough，\"saidtheQueen，\"butscarcesofair，Ishouldhavethought，astohavecausedamaidenofhonourablebirthandhopestobarterherfameforhisgoodlooks，andbecomehisparamour。Yetsoitis;thisfellowofyourshathseducedthedaughterofagoodoldDevonshireknight，SirHughRobsartofLidcoteHall，andshehathfledwithhimfromherfather\'shouselikeacastaway。——MyLordofLeicester，areyouill，thatyoulooksodeadlypale？\"
\"No，graciousmadam，\"saidLeicester;anditrequiredeveryefforthecouldmaketobringforththesefewwords。
\"Youaresurelyill，mylord？\"saidElizabeth，goingtowardshimwithhastyspeechandhurriedstep，whichindicatedthedeepestconcern。\"CallMasters——calloursurgeoninordinary。——Wherebetheseloiteringfools？——welosetheprideofourcourtthroughtheirnegligence。——Orisitpossible，Leicester，\"shecontinued，lookingonhimwithaverygentleaspect，\"canfearofmydispleasurehavewroughtsodeeplyonthee？Doubtnotforamoment，nobleDudley，thatwecouldblameTHEEforthefollyofthyretainer——thee，whosethoughtsweknowtobefarotherwiseemployed。Hethatwouldclimbtheeagle\'snest，mylord，caresnotwhoarecatchinglinnetsatthefootoftheprecipice。\"
\"Markyouthat？\"saidSussexasidetoRaleigh。\"Thedevilaidshimsurely;forallthatwouldsinkanothertenfathomdeepseemsbuttomakehimfloatthemoreeasily。Hadafollowerofmineactedthus——\"
\"Peace，mygoodlord，\"saidRaleigh，\"forGod\'ssake，peace！
Waitthechangeofthetide;itisevennowontheturn。\"
TheacuteobservationofRaleigh，perhaps，didnotdeceivehim;
forLeicester\'sconfusionwassogreat，and，indeed，forthemoment，soirresistiblyoverwhelming，thatElizabeth，afterlookingathimwithawonderingeye，andreceivingnointelligibleanswertotheunusualexpressionsofgraceandaffectionwhichhadescapedfromher，shotherquickglancearoundthecircleofcourtiers，andreading，perhaps，intheirfacessomethingthataccordedwithherownawakenedsuspicions，shesaidsuddenly，\"Oristheremoreinthisthanwesee——orthanyou，mylord，wishthatweshouldsee？WhereisthisVarney？
Whosawhim？\"
\"AnitpleaseyourGrace，\"saidBowyer，\"itisthesameagainstwhomIthisinstantclosedthedoorofthepresence—room。\"
\"Anitpleaseme？\"repeatedElizabethsharply，notatthatmomentinthehumourofbeingpleasedwithanything。——\"ItdoesNOTpleasemethatheshouldpasssaucilyintomypresence，orthatyoushouldexcludefromitonewhocametojustifyhimselffromanaccusation。\"
\"Mayitpleaseyou，\"answeredtheperplexedusher，\"ifIknew，insuchcase，howtobearmyself，Iwouldtakeheed——\"
\"Youshouldhavereportedthefellow\'sdesiretous，MasterUsher，andtakenourdirections。Youthinkyourselfagreatman，becausebutnowwechidanoblemanonyouraccount;yet，afterall，weholdyoubutasthelead—weightthatkeepsthedoorfast。
CallthisVarneyhitherinstantly。ThereisoneTressilianalsomentionedinthispetition。Letthembothcomebeforeus。\"
Shewasobeyed，andTressilianandVarneyappearedaccordingly。
Varney\'sfirstglancewasatLeicester，hissecondattheQueen。
Inthelooksofthelatterthereappearedanapproachingstorm，andinthedowncastcountenanceofhispatronhecouldreadnodirectionsinwhatwayhewastotrimhisvesselfortheencounter。HethensawTressilian，andatonceperceivedtheperilofthesituationinwhichhewasplaced。ButVarneywasasbold—facedandready—wittedashewascunningandunscrupulous——askilfulpilotinextremity，andfullyconsciousoftheadvantageswhichhewouldobtaincouldheextricateLeicesterfromhispresentperil，andoftheruinthatyawnedforhimselfshouldhefailindoingso。
\"Isittrue，sirrah，\"saidtheQueen，withoneofthosesearchinglookswhichfewhadtheaudacitytoresist，\"thatyouhaveseducedtoinfamyayoungladyofbirthandbreeding，thedaughterofSirHughRobsartofLidcoteHall？\"