Varneykneeleddown，andreplied，withalookofthemostprofoundcontrition，\"TherehadbeensomelovepassagesbetwixthimandMistressAmyRobsart。\"
Leicester\'sfleshquiveredwithindignationasheheardhisdependantmakethisavowal，andforonemomenthemannedhimselftostepforward，and，biddingfarewelltothecourtandtheroyalfavour，confessthewholemysteryofthesecretmarriage。ButhelookedatSussex，andtheideaofthetriumphantsmilewhichwouldclothehischeekuponhearingtheavowalsealedhislips。
\"Notnow，atleast，\"hethought，\"orinthispresence，willI
affordhimsorichatriumph。\"Andpressinghislipsclosetogether，hestoodfirmandcollected，attentivetoeachwordwhichVarneyuttered，anddeterminedtohidetothelastthesecretonwhichhiscourt—favourseemedtodepend。Meanwhile，theQueenproceededinherexaminationofVarney。
\"Lovepassages！\"saidshe，echoinghislastwords;\"whatpassages，thouknave？andwhynotaskthewench\'shandfromherfather，ifthouhadstanyhonestyinthyloveforher？\"
\"AnitpleaseyourGrace，\"saidVarney，stillonhisknees，\"I
darednotdoso，forherfatherhadpromisedherhandtoagentlemanofbirthandhonour——Iwilldohimjustice，thoughI
knowhebearsmeill—will——oneMasterEdmundTressilian，whomI
nowseeinthepresence。\"
\"Soh！\"repliedtheQueen。\"Andwhatwasyourrighttomakethesimplefoolbreakherworthyfather\'scontract，throughyourlovePASSAGES，asyourconceitandassurancetermsthem？\"
\"Madam，\"repliedVarney，\"itisinvaintopleadthecauseofhumanfrailtybeforeajudgetowhomitisunknown，orthatoflovetoonewhoneveryieldstothepassion\"——hepausedaninstant，andthenadded，inaverylowandtimidtone——\"whichsheinflictsuponallothers。\"
Elizabethtriedtofrown，butsmiledinherowndespite，assheanswered，\"Thouartamarvellouslyimpudentknave。Artthoumarriedtothegirl？\"
Leicester\'sfeelingsbecamesocomplicatedandsopainfullyintense，thatitseemedtohimasifhislifewastodependontheanswermadebyVarney，who，afteramoment\'srealhesitation，answered，\"Yes。\"
\"Thoufalsevillain！\"saidLeicester，burstingforthintorage，yetunabletoaddanotherwordtothesentencewhichhehadbegunwithsuchemphaticpassion。
\"Nay，mylord，\"saidtheQueen，\"wewill，byyourleave，standbetweenthisfellowandyouranger。Wehavenotyetdonewithhim。——Knewyourmaster，myLordofLeicester，ofthisfairworkofyours？Speaktruth，Icommandthee，andIwillbethywarrantfromdangeroneveryquarter。\"
\"Graciousmadam，\"saidVarney，\"tospeakHeaven\'struth，mylordwasthecauseofthewholematter。\"
\"Thouvillain，wouldstthoubetrayme？\"saidLeicester。
\"Speakon，\"saidtheQueenhastily，hercheekcolouring，andhereyessparkling，assheaddressedVarney——\"speakon。Herenocommandsareheardbutmine。\"
\"Theyareomnipotent，graciousmadam，\"repliedVarney;\"andtoyoutherecanbenosecrets。——YetIwouldnot，\"headded，lookingaroundhim，\"speakofmymaster\'sconcernstootherears。\"
\"Fallback，mylords，\"saidtheQueentothosewhosurroundedher，\"anddoyouspeakon。WhathaththeEarltodowiththisguiltyintrigueofthine？See，fellow，thatthoubeliesthimnot！\"
\"Farbeitfrommetotraducemynoblepatron，\"repliedVarney;
\"yetIamcompelledtoownthatsomedeep，overwhelming，yetsecretfeelinghathoflatedweltinmylord\'smind，hathabstractedhimfromthecaresofthehouseholdwhichhewaswonttogovernwithsuchreligiousstrictness，andhathleftusopportunitiestodofollies，ofwhichtheshame，asinthiscase，partlyfallsuponourpatron。Withoutthis，Ihadnothadmeansorleisuretocommitthefollywhichhasdrawnonmehisdispleasure——theheaviesttoendurebymewhichIcouldbyanymeansincur，savingalwaystheyetmoredreadedresentmentofyourGrace。\"
\"Andinthissense，andnoother，hathhebeenaccessorytothyfault？\"saidElizabeth。
\"Surely，madam，innoother，\"repliedVarney;\"butsincesomewhathathchancedtohim，hecanscarcebecalledhisownman。Lookathim，madam，howpaleandtremblinghestands！howunlikehisusualmajestyofmanner！——yetwhathashetofearfromaughtI
cansaytoyourHighness？Ah！madam，sincehereceivedthatfatalpacket！\"
\"Whatpacket，andfromwhence？\"saidtheQueeneagerly。
\"Fromwhence，madam，Icannotguess;butIamsoneartohispersonthatIknowhehaseversinceworn，suspendedaroundhisneckandnexttohisheart，thatlockofhairwhichsustainsasmallgoldenjewelshapedlikeaheart。Hespeakstoitwhenalone——hepartsnotfromitwhenhesleeps——noheatheneverworshippedanidolwithsuchdevotion。\"
\"Thouartapryingknavetowatchthymastersoclosely，\"saidElizabeth，blushing，butnotwithanger;\"andatattlingknavetotelloveragainhisfooleries。——Whatcolourmightthebraidofhairbethatthoupratestof？\"
Varneyreplied，\"Apoet，madam，mightcallitathreadfromthegoldenwebwroughtbyMinerva;buttomythinkingitwaspalerthaneventhepurestgold——morelikethelastpartingsunbeamofthesoftestdayofspring。\"
\"Why，youareapoetyourself，MasterVarney，\"saidtheQueen，smiling。\"ButIhavenotgeniusquickenoughtofollowyourraremetaphors。Lookroundtheseladies——isthere\"——（shehesitated，andendeavouredtoassumeanairofgreatindifference）——\"istherehere，inthispresence，anylady，thecolourofwhosehairremindstheeofthatbraid？Methinks，withoutpryingintomyLordofLeicester\'samoroussecrets，IwouldfainknowwhatkindoflocksarelikethethreadofMinerva\'sweb，orthe——whatwasit？——thelastraysoftheMay—daysun。\"
Varneylookedroundthepresence—chamber，hiseyetravellingfromoneladytoanother，untilatlengthitrestedupontheQueenherself，butwithanaspectofthedeepestveneration。\"Iseenotresses，\"hesaid，\"inthispresence，worthyofsuchsimilies，unlesswhereIdarenotlookonthem。\"
\"How，sirknave？\"saidtheQueen;\"dareyouintimate——\"
\"Nay，madam，\"repliedVarney，shadinghiseyeswithhishand，\"itwasthebeamsoftheMay—daysunthatdazzledmyweakeyes。\"
\"Goto——goto，\"saidtheQueen;\"thouartafoolishfellow\"——andturningquicklyfromhimshewalkeduptoLeicester。
Intensecuriosity，mingledwithallthevarioushopes，fears，andpassionswhichinfluencecourtfaction，hadoccupiedthepresence—chamberduringtheQueen\'sconferencewithVarney，asifwiththestrengthofanEasterntalisman。Mensuspendedevery，eventheslightestexternalmotion，andwouldhaveceasedtobreathe，hadNaturepermittedsuchanintermissionofherfunctions。Theatmospherewascontagious，andLeicester，whosawallaroundwishingorfearinghisadvancementorhisfallforgotallthatlovehadpreviouslydictated，andsawnothingfortheinstantbutthefavourordisgracewhichdependedonthenodofElizabethandthefidelityofVarney。Hesummonedhimselfhastily，andpreparedtoplayhispartinthescenewhichwasliketoensue，when，ashejudgedfromtheglanceswhichtheQueenthrewtowardshim，Varney\'scommunications，betheywhattheymight，wereoperatinginhisfavour。Elizabethdidnotlongleavehimindoubt;forthemorethanfavourwithwhichsheaccostedhimdecidedhistriumphintheeyesofhisrival，andoftheassembledcourtofEngland。\"ThouhastapratingservantofthissameVarney，mylord，\"shesaid;\"itisluckyyoutrusthimwithnothingthatcanhurtyouinouropinion，forbelieveme，hewouldkeepnocounsel。\"
\"FromyourHighness，\"saidLeicester，droppinggracefullyononeknee，\"itweretreasonheshould。Iwouldthatmyheartitselflaybeforeyou，barerthanthetongueofanyservantcouldstripit。\"
\"What，mylord，\"saidElizabeth，lookingkindlyuponhim，\"istherenoonelittlecorneroverwhichyouwouldwishtospreadaveil？Ah！Iseeyouareconfusedatthequestion，andyourQueenknowssheshouldnotlooktoodeeplyintoherservants\'
motivesfortheirfaithfulduty，lestsheseewhatmight，oratleastoughtto，displeaseher。\"
Relievedbytheselastwords，Leicesterbrokeoutintoatorrentofexpressionsofdeepandpassionateattachment，whichperhaps，atthatmoment，werenotaltogetherfictitious。ThemingledemotionswhichhadatfirstovercomehimhadnowgivenwaytotheenergeticvigourwithwhichhehaddeterminedtosupporthisplaceintheQueen\'sfavour;andneverdidheseemtoElizabethmoreeloquent，morehandsome，moreinteresting，thanwhile，kneelingatherfeet，heconjuredhertostriphimofallhisdower，buttoleavehimthenameofherservant。——\"TakefromthepoorDudley，\"heexclaimed，\"allthatyourbountyhasmadehim，andbidhimbethepoorgentlemanhewaswhenyourGracefirstshoneonhim;leavehimnomorethanhiscloakandhissword，butlethimstillboasthehas——whatinwordordeedheneverforfeited——theregardofhisadoredQueenandmistress！\"
\"No，Dudley！\"saidElizabeth，raisinghimwithonehand，whilesheextendedtheotherthathemightkissit。\"Elizabethhathnotforgottenthat，whilstyouwereapoorgentleman，despoiledofyourhereditaryrank，shewasaspooraprincess，andthatinhercauseyouthenventuredallthatoppressionhadleftyou——
yourlifeandhonour。Rise，mylord，andletmyhandgo——rise，andbewhatyouhaveeverbeen，thegraceofourcourtandthesupportofourthrone！Yourmistressmaybeforcedtochideyourmisdemeanours，butneverwithoutowningyourmerits。——AndsohelpmeGod，\"sheadded，turningtotheaudience，who，withvariousfeelings，witnessedthisinterestingscene——\"sohelpmeGod，gentlemen，asIthinkneversovereignhadatruerservantthanI
haveinthisnobleEarl！\"
AmurmurofassentrosefromtheLeicestrianfaction，whichthefriendsofSussexdarednotoppose。Theyremainedwiththeireyesfixedontheground，dismayedaswellasmortifiedbythepublicandabsolutetriumphoftheiropponents。Leicester\'sfirstuseofthefamiliaritytowhichtheQueenhadsopubliclyrestoredhimwastoaskhercommandsconcerningVarney\'soffence。
\"although，\"hesaid，\"thefellowdeservesnothingfrommebutdispleasure，yet，mightIpresumetointercede——\"
\"Intruth，wehadforgottenhismatter，\"saidtheQueen;\"anditwasilldoneofus，whoowejusticetoourmeanestaswellastoourhighestsubject。Wearepleased，mylord，thatyouwerethefirsttorecallthemattertoourmemory。——WhereisTressilian，theaccuser？——lethimcomebeforeus。\"
Tressilianappeared，andmadealowandbeseemingreference。Hisperson，aswehaveelsewhereobserved，hadanairofgraceandevenofnobleness，whichdidnotescapeQueenElizabeth\'scriticalobservation。Shelookedathimwith，attentionashestoodbeforeherunabashed，butwithanairofthedeepestdejection。
\"Icannotbutgrieveforthisgentleman，\"shesaidtoLeicester。
\"Ihaveinquiredconcerninghim，andhispresenceconfirmswhatI
heard，thatheisascholarandasoldier，wellaccomplishedbothinartsandarms。Wewomen，mylord，arefancifulinourchoice——Ihadsaidnow，tojudgebytheeye，therewasnocomparisontobeheldbetwixtyourfollowerandthisgentleman。ButVarneyisawell—spokenfellow，and，tosaytruth，thatgoesfarwithusoftheweakersex。——lookyou，MasterTressilian，aboltlostisnotabowbroken。Yourtrueaffection，asIwillholdittobe，hathbeen，itseems，butillrequited;butyouhavescholarship，andyouknowtherehavebeenfalseCressidastobefound，fromtheTrojanwardownwards。Forget，goodsir，thisLadyLighto\'Love——teachyouraffectiontoseewithawisereye。Thiswesaytoyou，morefromthewritingsoflearnedmenthanourownknowledge，being，asweare，farremovedbystationandwillfromtheenlargementofexperienceinsuchidletoysofhumorouspassion。Forthisdame\'sfather，wecanmakehisgriefthelessbyadvancinghisson—in—lawtosuchstationasmayenablehimtogiveanhonourablesupporttohisbride。Thoushaltnotbeforgottenthyself，Tressilian——followourcourt，andthoushaltseethatatrueTroilushathsomeclaimonourgrace。Thinkofwhatthatarch—knaveShakespearesays——aplagueonhim，histoyscomeintomyheadwhenIshouldthinkofothermatters。Stay，howgoesit？
\'Cressidwasyours，tiedwiththebondsofheaven;
Thesebondsofheavenareslipt，dissolved，andloosed，Andwithanotherknotfivefingerstied，ThefragmentsofherfaithareboundtoDiomed。\'
Yousmile，myLordofSouthampton——perchanceImakeyourplayer\'sversehaltthroughmybadmemory。Butletitsufficelettherebenomoreofthismadmatter。\"
AndasTressiliankeptthepostureofonewhowouldwillinglybeheard，though，atthesametime，expressiveofthedeepestreverence，theQueenaddedwithsomeimpatience，\"Whatwouldthemanhave？Thewenchcannotwedbothofyou？Shehasmadeherelection——notawiseoneperchance——butsheisVarney\'sweddedwife。\"
\"Mysuitshouldsleepthere，mostgraciousSovereign，\"saidTressilian，\"andwithmysuitmyrevenge。ButIholdthisVarney\'swordnogoodwarrantforthetruth。\"
\"Hadthatdoubtbeenelsewhereurged，\"answeredVarney，\"mysword——\"
\"THYsword！\"interruptedTressilianscornfully;\"withherGrace\'sleave，myswordshallshow——\"
\"Peace，youknaves，both！\"saidtheQueen;\"knowyouwhereyouare？——Thiscomesofyourfeuds，mylords，\"sheadded，lookingtowardsLeicesterandSussex;\"yourfollowerscatchyourownhumour，andmustbandyandbrawlinmycourtandinmyverypresence，likesomanyMatamoros。——Lookyou，sirs，hethatspeaksofdrawingswordsinanyotherquarrelthanmineorEngland\'s，byminehonour，I\'llbracelethimwithironbothonwristandankle！\"Shethenpausedaminute，andresumedinamildertone，\"Imustdojusticebetwixttheboldandmutinousknavesnotwithstanding。——MyLordofLeicester，willyouwarrantwithyourhonour——thatis，tothebestofyourbelief——thatyourservantspeakstruthinsayinghehathmarriedthisAmyRobsart？\"
Thiswasahome—thrust，andhadnearlystaggeredLeicester。Buthehadnowgonetoofartorecede，andanswered，afteramoment\'shesitation，\"Tothebestofmybelief——indeedonmycertainknowledge——sheisaweddedwife。\"
\"Graciousmadam，\"saidTressilian，\"mayIyetrequesttoknow，whenandunderwhatcircumstancesthisallegedmarriage——\"
\"Out，sirrah，\"answeredtheQueen;\"ALLEGEDmarriage！HaveyounotthewordofthisillustriousEarltowarrantthetruthofwhathisservantsays？Butthouartaloser——thinkestthyselfsuchatleast——andthoushalthaveindulgence;wewilllookintothematterourselfmoreatleisure。——MyLordofLeicester，I
trustyourememberwemeantotastethegoodcheerofyourCastleofKenilworthonthisweekensuing。Wewillprayyoutobidourgoodandvaluedfriend，theEarlofSussex，toholdcompanywithusthere。\"
\"IfthenobleEarlofSussex，\"saidLeicester，bowingtohisrivalwiththeeasiestandwiththemostgracefulcourtesy，\"willsofarhonourmypoorhouse，IwillholditanadditionalproofoftheamicableregarditisyourGrace\'sdesireweshouldentertaintowardseachother。\"
Sussexwasmoreembarrassed。\"Ishould，\"saidhe，\"madam，bebutaclogonyourgayerhours，sincemylatesevereillness。\"
\"Andhaveyoubeenindeedsoveryill？\"saidElizabeth，lookingonhimwithmoreattentionthanbefore;\"youare，infaith，strangelyaltered，anddeeplyamIgrievedtoseeit。Butbeofgoodcheer——wewillourselveslookafterthehealthofsovaluedaservant，andtowhomweowesomuch。Mastersshallorderyourdiet;andthatweourselvesmayseethatheisobeyed，youmustattendusinthisprogresstoKenilworth。\"
Thiswassaidsoperemptorily，andatthesametimewithsomuchkindness，thatSussex，howeverunwillingtobecometheguestofhisrival，hadnoresourcebuttobowlowtotheQueeninobediencetohercommands，andtoexpresstoLeicester，withbluntcourtesy，thoughmingledwithembarrassment，hisacceptanceofhisinvitation。AstheEarlsexchangedcomplimentsontheoccasion，theQueensaidtoherHighTreasurer，\"Methinks，mylord，thecountenancesoftheseourtwonoblepeersresemblethoseofthetwofamedclassicstreams，theonesodarkandsad，theothersofairandnoble。MyoldMasterAschamwouldhavechidmeforforgettingtheauthor。ItisCaesar，asIthink。
SeewhatmajesticcalmnesssitsonthebrowofthenobleLeicester，whileSussexseemstogreethimasifhedidourwillindeed，butnotwillingly。\"
\"ThedoubtofyourMajesty\'sfavour，\"answeredtheLordTreasurer，\"mayperchanceoccasionthedifference，whichdoesnot——aswhatdoes？——escapeyourGrace\'seye。\"
\"Suchdoubtwereinjurioustous，mylord，\"repliedtheQueen。
\"Weholdbothtobenearanddeartous，andwillwithimpartialityemploybothinhonourableserviceforthewealofourkingdom。Butwewillbreaktheirfurtherconferenceatpresent。——MyLordsofSussexandLeicester，wehaveawordmorewithyou。\'TressilianandVarneyarenearyourpersons——youwillseethattheyattendyouatKenilworth。AndasweshallthenhavebothParisandMenelauswithinourcall，sowewillhavethesamefairHelenalso，whoseficklenesshascausedthisbroil。——
Varney，thywifemustbeatKenilworth，andforthcomingatmyorder。——MyLordofLeicester，weexpectyouwilllooktothis。\"
TheEarlandhisfollowerbowedlowandraisedtheirheads，withoutdaringtolookattheQueen，orateachother，forbothfeltattheinstantasifthenetsandtoilswhichtheirownfalsehoodhadwovenwereintheactofclosingaroundthem。TheQueen，however，observednottheirconfusion，butproceededtosay，\"MyLordsofSussexandLeicester，werequireyourpresenceattheprivy—counciltobepresentlyheld，wheremattersofimportancearetobedebated。Wewillthentakethewaterforourdivertisement，andyou，mylords，willattendus。——Andthatremindsusofacircumstance。——Doyou，SirSquireoftheSoiledCassock\"（distinguishingRaleighbyasmile），\"failnottoobservethatyouaretoattendusonourprogress。Youshallbesuppliedwithsuitablemeanstoreformyourwardrobe。\"
Andsoterminatedthiscelebratedaudience，inwhich，asthroughoutherlife，Elizabethunitedtheoccasionalcapriceofhersexwiththatsenseandsoundpolicyinwhichneithermannorwomaneverexcelledher。
CHAPTERXVII。
Well，then——ourcourseischosen——spreadthesail——
Heaveoftthelead，andmarkthesoundingswell——
Looktothehelm，goodmaster——manyashoalMarksthissterncoast，androcks，wheresitstheSiren，Who，likeambition，luresmentotheirruin。THESHIPWRECK。
Duringthebriefintervalthattookplacebetwixtthedismissaloftheaudienceandthesittingoftheprivy—council，Leicesterhadtimetoreflectthathehadthatmorningsealedhisownfate。
\"Itwasimpossibleforhimnow，\"hethought，\"afterhaving，inthefaceofallthatwashonourableinEngland，pledgedhistruth（thoughinanambiguousphrase）forthestatementofVarney，tocontradictordisavowit，withoutexposinghimself，notmerelytothelossofcourt—favour，buttothehighestdispleasureoftheQueen，hisdeceivedmistress，andtothescornandcontemptatonceofhisrivalandofallhiscompeers。\"Thiscertaintyrushedatonceonhismind，togetherwithallthedifficultieswhichhewouldnecessarilybeexposedtoinpreservingasecretwhichseemednowequallyessentialtohissafety，tohispower，andtohishonour。Hewassituatedlikeonewhowalksuponicereadytogivewayaroundhim，andwhoseonlysafetyconsistsinmovingonwards，byfirmandunvacillatingsteps。TheQueen\'sfavour，topreservewhichhehadmadesuchsacrifices，mustnowbesecuredbyallmeansandatallhazards;itwastheonlyplankwhichhecouldclingtointhetempest。Hemustsettlehimself，therefore，tothetaskofnotonlypreserving，butaugmentingtheQueen\'spartiality——hemustbethefavouriteofElizabeth，oramanutterlyshipwreckedinfortuneandinhonour。Allotherconsiderationsmustbelaidasideforthemoment，andherepelledtheintrusivethoughtswhichforcedonhismindtheimageof，Amy，bysayingtohimselftherewouldbetimetothinkhereafterhowhewastoescapefromthelabyrinthultimately，sincethepilotwhoseesaScyllaunderhisbowsmustnotforthetimethinkofthemoredistantdangersofCharybdis。
InthismoodtheEarlofLeicesterthatdayassumedhischairatthecounciltableofElizabeth;andwhenthehoursofbusinesswereover，inthissamemooddidheoccupyanhonouredplacenearherduringherpleasureexcursionontheThames。Andneverdidhedisplaytomoreadvantagehispowersasapoliticianofthefirstrank，orhispartsasanaccomplishedcourtier。
Itchancedthatinthatday\'scouncilmatterswereagitatedtouchingtheaffairsoftheunfortunateMary，theseventhyearofwhosecaptivityinEnglandwasnowindolefulcurrency。TherehadbeenopinionsinfavourofthisunhappyprincesslaidbeforeElizabeth\'scouncil，andsupportedwithmuchstrengthofargumentbySussexandothers，whodweltmoreuponthelawofnationsandthebreachofhospitalitythan，howeversoftenedorqualified，wasagreeabletotheQueen\'sear。Leicesteradoptedthecontraryopinionwithgreatanimationandeloquence，anddescribedthenecessityofcontinuingthesevererestraintoftheQueenofScots，asameasureessentialtothesafetyofthekingdom，andparticularlyofElizabeth\'ssacredperson，thelightesthairofwhosehead，hemaintained，ought，intheirlordships\'estimation，tobematterofmoredeepandanxiousconcernthanthelifeandfortunesofarival，who，aftersettingupavainandunjustpretencetothethroneofEngland，wasnow，evenwhileinthebosomofhercountry，theconstanthopeandthemeofencouragementtoallenemiestoElizabeth，whetherathomeorabroad。Heendedbycravingpardonoftheirlordships，ifinthezealofspeechhehadgivenanyoffence，buttheQueen\'ssafetywasathemewhichhurriedhimbeyondhisusualmoderationofdebate。
Elizabethchidhim，butnotseverely，fortheweightwhichheattachedundulytoherpersonalinterests;yetsheownedthat，sinceithadbeenthepleasureofHeaventocombinethoseinterestswiththewealofhersubjects，shedidonlyherdutywhensheadoptedsuchmeasuresofself—preservationascircumstancesforceduponher;andifthecouncilintheirwisdomshouldbeofopinionthatitwasneedfultocontinuesomerestraintonthepersonofherunhappysisterofScotland，shetrustedtheywouldnotblameherifsherequestedoftheCountessofShrewsburytouseherwithasmuchkindnessasmightbeconsistentwithhersafekeeping。Andwiththisintimationofherpleasurethecouncilwasdismissed。
Neverwasmoreanxiousandreadywaymadefor\"myLordofLeicester，\"thanashepassedthroughthecrowdedanteroomstogotowardstheriver—side，inordertoattendherMajestytoherbarge——neverwasthevoiceoftheusherslouder，to\"makeroom，makeroomforthenobleEarl\"——neverwerethesesignalsmorepromptlyandreverentlyobeyed——neverweremoreanxiouseyesturnedonhimtoobtainaglanceoffavour，orevenofmererecognition，whiletheheartofmanyahumblefollowerthrobbedbetwixtthedesiretoofferhiscongratulations，andthefearofintrudinghimselfonthenoticeofonesoinfinitelyabovehim。
Thewholecourtconsideredtheissueofthisday\'saudience，expectedwithsomuchdoubtandanxiety，asadecisivetriumphonthepartofLeicester，andfeltassuredthattheorbofhisrivalsatellite，ifnotaltogetherobscuredbyhislustre，mustrevolvehereafterinadimmerandmoredistantsphere。Sothoughtthecourtandcourtiers，fromhightolow;andtheyactedaccordingly。
Ontheotherhand，neverdidLeicesterreturnthegeneralgreetingwithsuchreadyandcondescendingcourtesy，orendeavourmoresuccessfullytogather（inthewordsofonewhoatthatmomentstoodatnogreatdistancefromhim）\"goldenopinionsfromallsortsofmen。\"
ForallthefavouriteEarlhadabowasmileatleast，andoftenakindword。Mostofthesewereaddressedtocourtiers，whosenameshavelonggonedownthetideofoblivion;butsome，tosuchassoundstrangelyinourears，whenconnectedwiththeordinarymattersofhumanlife，abovewhichthegratitudeofposterityhaslongelevatedthem。AfewofLeicester\'sinterlocutorysentencesranasfollows:——
\"Poynings，goodmorrow;andhowdoesyourwifeandfairdaughter？
Whycometheynottocourt？——Adams，yoursuitisnaught;theQueenwillgrantnomoremonopolies。ButImayserveyouinanothermatter。——MygoodAldermanAylford，thesuitoftheCity，affectingQueenhithe，shallbeforwardedasfarasmypoorinterestcanserve。——MasterEdmundSpenser，touchingyourIrishpetition，Iwouldwillinglyaidyou，frommylovetotheMuses;
butthouhastnettledtheLordTreasurer。\"
\"Mylord，\"saidthepoet，\"wereIpermittedtoexplain——\"
\"Cometomylodging，Edmund，\"answeredtheEarl\"notto—morrow，ornextday，butsoon。——Ha，WillShakespeare——wildWill！——thouhastgivenmynephewPhilipSidney，love—powder;hecannotsleepwithoutthyVenusandAdonisunderhispillow！WewillhavetheehangedfortheveriestwizardinEurope。Harkthee，madwag，I
havenotforgottenthymatterofthepatent，andofthebears。\"
ThePLAYERbowed，andtheEarlnoddedandpassedon——sothatagewouldhavetoldthetale;inours，perhaps，wemightsaytheimmortalhaddonehomagetothemortal。Thenextwhomthefavouriteaccostedwasoneofhisownzealousdependants。
\"Hownow，SirFrancisDenning，\"hewhispered，inanswertohisexultingsalutation，\"thatsmilehathmadethyfaceshorterbyone—thirdthanwhenIfirstsawitthismorning。——What，MasterBowyer，standyouback，andthinkyouIbearmalice？Youdidbutyourdutythismorning;andifIrememberaughtofthepassagebetwixtus，itshallbeinthyfavour。\"
ThentheEarlwasapproached，withseveralfantasticcongees，byapersonquaintlydressedinadoubletofblackvelvet，curiouslyslashedandpinkedwithcrimsonsatin。Alongcock\'sfeatherinthevelvetbonnet，whichheheldinhishand，andanenormousruff;stiffenedtotheextremityoftheabsurdtasteofthetimes，joinedwithasharp，lively，conceitedexpressionofcountenance，seemedtobodyforthavain，harebrainedcoxcomb，andsmallwit;whiletherodheheld，andanassumptionofformalauthority，appearedtoexpresssomesenseofofficialconsequence，whichqualifiedthenaturalpertnessofhismanner。
Aperpetualblush，whichoccupiedratherthesharpnosethanthethincheekofthispersonage，seemedtospeakmoreof\"goodlife，\"asitwascalled，thanofmodesty;andthemannerinwhichheapproachedtotheEarlconfirmedthatsuspicion。
\"Goodeventoyou，MasterRobertLaneham，\"saidLeicester，andseemeddesiroustopassforward，withoutfurtherspeech。
\"Ihaveasuittoyournoblelordship，\"saidthefigure，boldlyfollowinghim。
\"Andwhatisit，goodmasterkeeperofthecouncil—chamberdoor？\"
\"CLERKofthecouncil—chamberdoor，\"saidMasterRobertLaneham，withemphasis，bywayofreply，andofcorrection。
\"Well，qualifythineofficeasthouwilt，man，\"repliedtheEarl;
\"whatwouldstthouhavewithme？\"
\"Simply，\"answeredLaneham，\"thatyourlordshipwouldbe，asheretofore，mygoodlord，andprocuremelicensetoattendtheSummerProgressuntoyourlordship\'smostbeautifulandall—to—
be—unmatchedCastleofKenilworth。\"
\"Towhatpurpose，goodMasterLaneham？\"repliedtheEarl;
\"bethinkyou，myguestsmustneedsbemany。\"
\"Notsomany，\"repliedthepetitioner，\"butthatyournoblenesswillwillinglyspareyouroldservitorhiscribandhismess。
Bethinkyou，mylord，hownecessaryisthisrodofminetofrightawayallthoselisteners，whoelsewouldplayatbo—peepwiththehonourablecouncil，andbesearchingforkeyholesandcranniesinthedoorofthechamber，soastorendermystaffasneedfulasafly—flapinabutcher\'sshop。\"
\"Methinksyouhavefoundoutafly—blowncomparisonforthehonourablecouncil，MasterLaneham，\"saidtheEarl;\"butseeknotabouttojustifyit。CometoKenilworth，ifyoulist;therewillbestoreoffoolstherebesides，andsoyouwillbefitted。\"