\"Aworm，mylord？\"saidtheQueen，inthesametone;\"nay，asnakeisthenoblerreptile，andthemoreexactsimilitude——thefrozensnakeyouwotof，whichwaswarmedinacertainbosom——\"
\"Foryourownsake——formine，madam，\"saidtheEarl——\"whilethereisyetsomereasonleftinme——\"
\"Speakaloud，mylord，\"saidElizabeth，\"andatfartherdistance，sopleaseyou——yourbreaththawsourruff。Whathaveyoutoaskofus？\"
\"Permission，\"saidtheunfortunateEarlhumbly，\"totraveltoCumnorPlace。\"
\"Tofetchhomeyourbridebelike？——Why，ay——thatisbutright，for，aswehaveheard，sheisindifferentlycaredforthere。
But，mylord，yougonotinperson;wehavecounteduponpassingcertaindaysinthisCastleofKenilworth，anditwereslightcourtesytoleaveuswithoutalandlordduringourresidencehere。Underyourfavour，wecannotthinktoincursuchdisgraceintheeyesofoursubjects。TressilianshallgotoCumnorPlaceinsteadofyou，andwithhimsomegentlemanwhohathbeenswornofourchamber，lestmyLordofLeicestershouldbeagainjealousofhisoldrival。——Whomwouldstthouhavetobeincommissionwiththee，Tressilian？\"
Tressilian，withhumbledeference，suggestedthenameofRaleigh。
\"Why，ay，\"saidtheQueen;\"soGodha\'me，thouhastmadeagoodchoice。Heisayoungknightbesides，andtodeliveraladyfromprisonisanappropriatefirstadventure。——CumnorPlaceislittlebetterthanaprison，youaretoknow，mylordsandladies。
Besides，therearecertainfaitourstherewhomwewouldwillinglyhaveinsafekeeping。Youwillfurnishthem，MasterSecretary，withthewarrantnecessarytosecurethebodiesofRichardVarneyandtheforeignAlasco，deadoralive。Takeasufficientforcewithyou，gentlemen——bringtheladyhereinallhonour——losenotime，andGodbewithyou！\"
Theybowed，andleftthepresence，WhoshalldescribehowtherestofthatdaywasspentatKenilworth？TheQueen，whoseemedtohaveremainedthereforthesolepurposeofmortifyingandtauntingtheEarlofLeicester，showedherselfasskilfulinthatfemaleartofvengeance，asshewasinthescienceofwiselygoverningherpeople。Thetrainofstatesooncaughtthesignal，andashewalkedamonghisownsplendidpreparations，theLordofKenilworth，inhisownCastle，alreadyexperiencedthelotofadisgracedcourtier，intheslightregardandcoldmannersofalienatedfriends，andtheill—
concealedtriumphofavowedandopenenemies。Sussex，fromhisnaturalmilitaryfranknessofdisposition，BurleighandWalsingham，fromtheirpenetratingandprospectivesagacity，andsomeoftheladies，fromthecompassionoftheirsex，weretheonlypersonsinthecrowdedcourtwhoretainedtowardshimthecountenancetheyhadborneinthemorning。
SomuchhadLeicesterbeenaccustomedtoconsidercourtfavourastheprincipalobjectofhislife，thatallothersensationswere，forthetime，lostintheagonywhichhishaughtyspiritfeltatthesuccessionofpettyinsultsandstudiedneglectstowhichhehadbeensubjected;butwhenheretiredtohisownchamberforthenight，thatlong，fairtressofhairwhichhadoncesecuredAmy\'sletterfellunderhisobservation，and，withtheinfluenceofacounter—charm，awakenedhishearttonoblerandmorenaturalfeelings。Hekisseditathousandtimes;andwhileherecollectedthathehaditalwaysinhispowertoshunthemortificationswhichhehadthatdayundergone，byretiringintoadignifiedandevenprince—likeseclusionwiththebeautifulandbelovedpartnerofhisfuturelife，hefeltthathecouldriseabovetherevengewhichElizabethhadcondescendedtotake。
Accordingly，onthefollowingdaythewholeconductoftheEarldisplayedsomuchdignifiedequanimity——heseemedsosolicitousabouttheaccommodationsandamusementsofhisguests，yetsoindifferenttotheirpersonaldemeanourtowardshim——sorespectfullydistanttotheQueen，yetsopatientofherharassingdispleasure——thatElizabethchangedhermannertohim，and，thoughcoldanddistant，ceasedtoofferhimanydirectaffront。Sheintimatedalsowithsomesharpnesstoothersaroundher，whothoughttheywereconsultingherpleasureinshowinganeglectfulconducttotheEarl，thatwhiletheyremainedatKenilworththeyoughttoshowthecivilityduefromgueststotheLordoftheCastle。Inshort，mattersweresofarchangedintwenty—fourhoursthatsomeofthemoreexperiencedandsagaciouscourtiersforesawastrongpossibilityofLeicester\'srestorationtofavour，andregulatedtheirdemeanourtowardshim，asthosewhomightonedayclaimmeritfornothavingdesertedhiminadversity。Itistime，however，toleavetheseintrigues，andfollowTressilianandRaleighontheirjourney。
Thetroopconsistedofsixpersons;for，besidesWayland，theyhadincompanyaroyalpursuivantandtwostoutserving—men。Allwerewell—armed，andtravelledasfastasitwaspossiblewithjusticetotheirhorses，whichhadalongjourneybeforethem。
TheyendeavouredtoprocuresometidingsastheyrodealongofVarneyandhisparty，butcouldhearnone，astheyhadtravelledinthedark。AtasmallvillageabouttwelvemilesfromKenilworth，wheretheygavesomerefreshmenttotheirhorses，apoorclergyman，thecurateoftheplace，cameoutofasmallcottage，andentreatedanyofthecompanywhomightknowaughtofsurgerytolookinforaninstantonadyingman。
TheempiricWaylandundertooktodohisbest，andasthecurateconductedhimtothespot，helearnedthatthemanhadbeenfoundonthehighroad，aboutamilefromthevillage，bylabourers，astheyweregoingtotheirworkontheprecedingmorning，andthecuratehadgivenhimshelterinhishouse。Hehadreceivedagun—shotwound，whichseemedtobeobviouslymortal;butwhetherinabrawlorfromrobberstheycouldnotlearn，ashewasinafever，andspokenothingconnectedly。Waylandenteredthedarkandlowlyapartment，andnosoonerhadthecuratedrawnasidethecurtainthanheknew，inthedistortedfeaturesofthepatient，thecountenanceofMichaelLambourne。Underpretenceofseekingsomethingwhichhewanted，Waylandhastilyapprisedhisfellow—
travellersofthisextraordinarycircumstance;andbothTressilianandRaleigh，fullofbodingapprehensions，hastenedtothecurate\'shousetoseethedyingman。
Thewretchwasbythistimeintheagoniesofdeath，fromwhichamuchbettersurgeonthanWaylandcouldnothaverescuedhim，forthebullethadpassedclearthroughhisbody。Hewassensible，however，atleastinpart，forheknewTressilian，andmadesignsthathewishedhimtostoopoverhisbed。Tressiliandidso，andaftersomeinarticulatemurmurs，inwhichthenamesofVarneyandLadyLeicesterwerealonedistinguishable，Lambournebadehim\"makehaste，orhewouldcometoolate。\"ItwasinvainTressilianurgedthepatientforfurtherinformation;heseemedtobecomeinsomedegreedelirious，andwhenheagainmadeasignaltoattractTressilian\'sattention，itwasonlyforthepurposeofdesiringhimtoinformhisuncle，GilesGoslingoftheBlackBear，that\"hehaddiedwithouthisshoesafterall。\"A
convulsionverifiedhiswordsafewminutesafter，andthetravellersderivednothingfromhavingmetwithhim，savingtheobscurefearsconcerningthefateoftheCountess，whichhisdyingwordswerecalculatedtoconvey，andwhichinducedthemtourgetheirjourneywiththeutmostspeed，pressinghorsesintheQueen\'snamewhenthosewhichtheyrodebecameunfitforservice。
CHAPTERXLI。
Thedeath—bellthricewasheardtoring，Anaerialvoicewasheardtocall，Andthricetheravenflapp\'ditswingAroundthetowersofCumnorHall。MICKLE。
WearenowtoreturntothatpartofourstorywhereweintimatedthatVarney，possessedoftheauthorityoftheEarlofLeicester，andoftheQueen\'spermissiontothesameeffect，hastenedtosecurehimselfagainstdiscoveryofhisperfidybyremovingtheCountessfromKenilworthCastle。Hehadproposedtosetforthearlyinthemorning;butreflectingthattheEarlmightrelentintheinterim，andseekanotherinterviewwiththeCountess，heresolvedtoprevent，byimmediatedeparture，allchanceofwhatwouldprobablyhaveendedinhisdetectionandruin。ForthispurposehecalledforLambourne，andwasexceedinglyincensedtofindthathistrustyattendantwasabroadonsomerambleintheneighbouringvillage，orelsewhere。Ashisreturnwasexpected，SirRichardcommandedthatheshouldpreparehimselfforattendinghimonanimmediatejourney，andfollowhimincasehereturnedafterhisdeparture。
Inthemeanwhile，VarneyusedtheministryofaservantcalledRobinTider，onetowhomthemysteriesofCumnorPlacewerealreadyinsomedegreeknown，ashehadbeentheremorethanonceinattendanceontheEarl。Tothisman，whosecharacterresembledthatofLambourne，thoughhewasneitherquitesopromptnoraltogethersoprofligate，Varneygavecommandtohavethreehorsessaddled，andtoprepareahorse—litter，andhavetheminreadinessattheposterngate。Thenaturalenoughexcuseofhislady\'sinsanity，whichwasnowuniversallybelieved，accountedforthesecrecywithwhichshewastoberemovedfromtheCastle，andhereckonedonthesameapologyincasetheunfortunateAmy\'sresistanceorscreamsshouldrendersuchnecessary。TheagencyofAnthonyFosterwasindispensable，andthatVarneynowwenttosecure。
Thisperson，naturallyofasour，unsocialdisposition，andsomewhattired，besides，withhisjourneyfromCumnortoWarwickshire，inordertobringthenewsoftheCountess\'sescape，hadearlyextricatedhimselffromthecrowdofwassailers，andbetakenhimselftohischamber，wherehelayasleep，whenVarney，completelyequippedfortravelling，andwithadarklanterninhishand，enteredhisapartment。Hepausedaninstanttolistentowhathisassociatewasmurmuringinhissleep，andcouldplainlydistinguishthewords，\"AVEMARIA——ORA
PRONOBIS。No，itrunsnotso——deliverusfromevil——ay，soitgoes。\"
\"Prayinginhissleep，\"saidVarney，\"andconfoundinghisoldandnewdevotions。HemusthavemoreneedofprayerereIamdonewithhim。——Whatho！holyman，mostblessedpenitent！——awake——
awake！Thedevilhasnotdischargedyoufromserviceyet。\"
AsVarneyatthesametimeshookthesleeperbythearm，itchangedthecurrentofhisideas，andheroaredout，\"Thieves！——
thieves！Iwilldieindefenceofmygold——myhard—wongold——
thathascostmesodear。WhereisJanet？——IsJanetsafe？\"
\"Safeenough，thoubellowingfool！\"saidVarney;\"artthounotashamedofthyclamour？\"
Fosterbythistimewasbroadawake，andsittingupinhisbed，askedVarneythemeaningofsountimelyavisit。\"Itaugursnothinggood，\"headded。
\"Afalseprophecy，mostsaintedAnthony，\"returnedVarney;\"itaugursthatthehouriscomeforconvertingthyleaseholdintocopyhold。Whatsayestthoutothat？\"
\"Hadstthoutoldmethisinbroadday，\"saidFoster，\"Ihadrejoiced;butatthisdeadhour，andbythisdimlight，andlookingonthypaleface，whichisaghastlycontradictiontothylightwords，Icannotbutratherthinkoftheworkthatistobedone，thantheguerdontobegainedbyit。\"
\"Why，thoufool，itisbuttoescortthychargebacktoCumnorPlace。\"
\"Isthatindeedall？\"saidFoster;\"thoulookestdeadlypale，andthouartnotmovedbytrifles——isthatindeedall？\"
\"Ay，that——andmaybeatriflemore，\"saidVarney。
\"Ah，thattriflemore！\"saidFoster;\"stillthoulookestpalerandpaler。\"
\"Heednotmycountenance，\"saidVarney;\"youseeitbythiswretchedlight。Upandbedoing，man。ThinkofCumnorPlace——
thineownpropercopyhold。Why，thoumayestfoundaweeklylectureship，besidesendowingJanetlikeabaron\'sdaughter。
Seventypoundsandodd。\"
\"Seventy—ninepounds，fiveshillingsandfivepencehalf—penny，besidesthevalueofthewood，\"saidFoster;\"andIamtohaveitallascopyhold？\"
\"All，man——squirrelsandall。Nogipsyshallcutthevalueofabroom——noboysomuchastakeabird\'snest——withoutpayingtheeaquittance。——Ay，thatisright——donthymattersasfastaspossible;horsesandeverythingareready，allsavethataccursedvillainLambourne，whoisoutonsomeinfernalgambol。\"
\"Ay，SirRichard，\"saidFoster，\"youwouldtakenoadvice。I
evertoldyouthatdrunkenprofligatewouldfailyouatneed。
NowIcouldhavehelpedyoutoasoberyoungman。\"
\"What，someslow—spoken，long—breathedbrotherofthecongregation？Why，weshallhaveuseforsuchalso，man。Heavenbepraised，weshalllacklabourersofeverykind。——Ay，thatisright——forgetnotyourpistols。Comenow，andletusaway。\"
\"Whither？\"saidAnthony。
\"Tomylady\'schamber;and，mind，sheMUSTalongwithus。Thouartnotafellowtobestartledbyashriek？\"
\"NotifScripturereasoncanberenderedforit;anditiswritten，\'Wivesobeyyourhusbands。\'Butwillmylord\'scommandsbearusoutifweuseviolence？\"
\"Tush，man！hereishissignet，\"answeredVarney;andhavingthussilencedtheobjectionsofhisassociate，theywenttogethertoLordHunsdon\'sapartments，andacquaintingthesentinelwiththeirpurpose，asamattersanctionedbytheQueenandtheEarlofLeicester，theyenteredthechamberoftheunfortunateCountess。
ThehorrorofAmymaybeconceivedwhen，startingfromabrokenslumber，shesawatherbedsideVarney，themanonearthshemostfearedandhated。Itwasevenaconsolationtoseethathewasnotalone，thoughshehadsomuchreasontodreadhissullencompanion。
\"Madam，\"saidVarney，\"thereisnotimeforceremony。MyLordofLeicester，havingfullyconsideredtheexigenciesofthetime，sendsyouhisordersimmediatelytoaccompanyusonourreturntoCumnorPlace。See，hereishissignet，intokenofhisinstantandpressingcommands。\"
\"Itisfalse！\"saidtheCountess;\"thouhaststolenthewarrant——thou，whoartcapableofeveryvillainy，fromtheblackesttothebasest！\"
\"ItisTRUE，madam，\"repliedVarney;\"sotrue，thatifyoudonotinstantlyarise，andpreparetoattendus，wemustcompelyoutoobeyourorders。\"
\"Compel！Thoudarestnotputittothatissue，baseasthouart！\"exclaimedtheunhappyCountess。
\"Thatremainstobeproved，madam，\"saidVarney，whohaddeterminedonintimidationastheonlymeansofsubduingherhighspirit;\"ifyouputmetoit，youwillfindmearoughgroomofthechambers。\"
ItwasatthisthreatthatAmyscreamedsofearfullythat，haditnotbeenforthereceivedopinionofherinsanity，shewouldquicklyhavehadLordHunsdonandotherstoheraid。Perceiving，however，thathercrieswerevain，sheappealedtoFosterinthemostaffectingterms，conjuringhim，ashisdaughterJanet\'shonourandpurityweredeartohim，nottopermithertobetreatedwithunwomanlyviolence。
\"Why，madam，wivesmustobeytheirhusbands———there\'sScripturewarrantforit，\"saidFoster;\"andifyouwilldressyourself，andcomewithuspatiently，there\'snooneshalllayfingeronyouwhileIcandrawapistol—trigger。\"
Seeingnohelparrive，andcomfortedevenbythedoggedlanguageofFoster，theCountesspromisedtoariseanddressherself，iftheywouldagreetoretirefromtheroom。Varneyatthesametimeassuredherofallsafetyandhonourwhileintheirhands，andpromisedthathehimselfwouldnotapproachher，sincehispresencewassodispleasing。Herhusband，headded，wouldbeatCumnorPlacewithintwenty—fourhoursaftertheyhadreachedit。
Somewhatcomfortedbythisassurance，uponwhich，however，shesawlittlereasontorely，theunhappyAmymadehertoilettebytheassistanceofthelantern，whichtheyleftwithherwhentheyquittedtheapartment。
Weeping，trembling，andpraying，theunfortunateladydressedherselfwithsensationshowdifferentfromthedaysinwhichshewaswonttodecorateherselfinalltheprideofconsciousbeauty！Sheendeavouredtodelaythecompletingherdressaslongasshecould，until，terrifiedbytheimpatienceofVarney，shewasobligedtodeclareherselfreadytoattendthem。
Whentheywereabouttomove，theCountessclungtoFosterwithsuchanappearanceofterroratVarney\'sapproachthatthelatterprotestedtoher，withadeepoath，thathehadnointentionwhateverofevencomingnearher。\"Ifyoudobutconsenttoexecuteyourhusband\'swillinquietness，youshall，\"hesaid，\"seebutlittleofme。Iwillleaveyouundisturbedtothecareoftheusherwhomyourgoodtasteprefers。\"
\"Myhusband\'swill！\"sheexclaimed。\"ButitisthewillofGod，andletthatbesufficienttome。IwillgowithMasterFosterasunresistinglyaseverdidaliteralsacrifice。Heisafatheratleast;andwillhavedecency，ifnothumanity。Forthee，Varney，wereitmylatestword，thouartanequalstrangertoboth。\"
Varneyrepliedonlyshewasatlibertytochoose，andwalkedsomepacesbeforethemtoshowtheway;while，halfleaningonFoster，andhalfcarriedbyhim，theCountesswastransportedfromSaintlowe\'sTowertotheposterngate，whereTiderwaitedwiththelitterandhorses。
TheCountesswasplacedintheformerwithoutresistance。Shesawwithsomesatisfactionthat，whileFosterandTiderrodeclosebythelitter，whichthelatterconducted，thedreadedVarneylingeredbehind，andwassoonlostindarkness。Alittlewhileshestrove，astheroadwindedroundthevergeofthelake，tokeepsightofthosestatelytowerswhichcalledherhusbandlord，andwhichstill，insomeplaces，sparkledwithlights，wherewassailerswereyetrevelling。Butwhenthedirectionoftheroadrenderedthisnolongerpossible，shedrewbackherhead，andsinkingdowninthelitter，recommendedherselftothecareofProvidence。
BesidesthedesireofinducingtheCountesstoproceedquietlyonherjourney，VarneyhaditalsoinviewtohaveaninterviewwithLambourne，bywhomheeverymomentexpectedtobejoined，withoutthepresenceofanywitnesses。Heknewthecharacterofthisman，prompt，bloody，resolute，andgreedy，andjudgedhimthemostfitagenthecouldemployinhisfurtherdesigns。Buttenmilesoftheirjourneyhadbeenmeasuredereheheardthehastyclatterofhorse\'shoofsbehindhim，andwasovertakenbyMichaelLambourne。
Frettedashewaswithhisabsence，Varneyreceivedhisprofligateservantwitharebukeofunusualbitterness。\"Drunkenvillain，\"hesaid，\"thyidlenessanddebauchedfollywillstretchahalterereitbelong，and，forme，Icarenothowsoon！\"
ThisstyleofobjurgationLambourne，whowaselatedtoanunusualdegree，notonlybyanextraordinarycupofwine，butbythesortofconfidentialinterviewhehadjusthadwiththeEarl，andthesecretofwhichhehadmadehimselfmaster，didnotreceivewithhiswontedhumility。\"Hewouldtakenoinsolenceoflanguage，\"
hesaid，\"fromthebestknightthateverworespurs。LordLeicesterhaddetainedhimonsomebusinessofimport，andthatwasenoughforVarney，whowasbutaservantlikehimself。\"
Varneywasnotalittlesurprisedathisunusualtoneofinsolence;butascribingittoliquor，sufferedittopassasifunnoticed，andthenbegantotamperwithLambournetouchinghiswillingnesstoaidinremovingoutoftheEarlofLeicester\'swayanobstacletoarise，whichwouldputitinhispowertorewardhistrustyfollowerstotheirutmostwish。AnduponMichaelLambourne\'sseemingignorantwhatwasmeant，heplainlyindicated\"thelitter—load，yonder，\"astheimpedimentwhichhedesiredshouldberemoved。
\"Lookyou，SirRichard，andsoforth，\"saidMichael，\"somearewiserthansome，thatisonething，andsomeareworsethansome，that\'sanother。Iknowmylord\'smindonthismatterbetterthanthou，forhehathtrustedmefullyinthematter。Herearehismandates，andhislastwordswere，MichaelLambourne——forhislordshipspeakstomeasagentlemanofthesword，andusethnotthewordsdrunkenvillain，orsuchlikephrase，ofthosewhoknownothowtobearnewdignities——Varney，sayshe，mustpaytheutmostrespecttomyCountess。Itrusttoyouforlookingtoit，Lambourne，sayshislordship，andyoumustbringbackmysignetfromhimperemptorily。\"
\"Ay，\"repliedVarney，\"saidheso，indeed？Youknowall，then？\"
\"All——all;andyouwereaswisetomakeafriendofmewhiletheweatherisfairbetwixtus。\"
\"Andwastherenoonepresent，\"saidVarney，\"whenmylordsospoke？\"
\"Notabreathingcreature，\"repliedLambourne。\"Thinkyoumylordwouldtrustanyonewithsuchmatters，saveanapprovedmanofactionlikemyself？\"
\"Mosttrue，\"saidVarney;andmakingapause，helookedforwardonthemoonlightroad。Theyweretraversingawideandopenheath。Thelitterbeingatleastamilebeforethem，wasbothoutofsightandhearing。Helookedbehind，andtherewasanexpanse，lightedbythemoonbeams，withoutonehumanbeinginsight。HeresumedhisspeechtoLambourne:\"Andwillyouturnuponyourmaster，whohasintroducedyoutothiscareerofcourt—
likefavour——whoseapprenticeyouhavebeen，Michael——whohastaughtyouthedepthsandshallowsofcourtintrigue？\"
\"Michaelnotme！\"saidLambourne;\"IhaveanamewillbrookaMASTERbeforeitaswellasanother;andastotherest，ifI
havebeenanapprentice，myindentureisout，andIamresolutetosetupformyself。\"
\"Takethyquittancefirst，thoufool！\"saidVarney;andwithapistol，whichhehadforsometimeheldinhishand，shotLambournethroughthebody。
Thewretchfellfromhishorsewithoutasinglegroan;andVarney，dismounting，rifledhispockets，turningoutthelining，thatitmightappearhehadfallenbyrobbers。HesecuredtheEarl\'spacket，whichwashischiefobject;buthealsotookLambourne\"spurse，containingsomegoldpieces，therelicsofwhathisdebaucheryhadlefthim，andfromasingularcombinationoffeelings，carrieditinhishandonlythelengthofasmallriver，whichcrossedtheroad，intowhichhethrewitasfarashecouldfling。Sucharethestrangeremnantsofconsciencewhichremainaftersheseemstotallysubdued，thatthiscruelandremorselessmanwouldhavefelthimselfdegradedhadhepocketedthefewpiecesbelongingtothewretchwhomhehadthusruthlesslyslain。
Themurdererreloadedhispistolaftercleansingthelockandbarrelfromtheappearancesoflateexplosion，androdecalmlyafterthelitter，satisfyinghimselfthathehadsoadroitlyremovedatroublesomewitnesstomanyofhisintrigues，andthebearerofmandateswhichhehadnointentionstoobey，andwhich，therefore，hewasdesirousitshouldbethoughthadneverreachedhishand。
TheremainderofthejourneywasmadewithadegreeofspeedwhichshowedthelittlecaretheyhadforthehealthoftheunhappyCountess。Theypausedonlyatplaceswhereallwasundertheircommand，andwherethetaletheywerepreparedtotelloftheinsaneLadyVarneywouldhaveobtainedreadycredithadshemadeanattempttoappealtothecompassionofthefewpersonsadmittedtoseeher。ButAmysawnochanceofobtainingahearingfromanytowhomshehadanopportunityofaddressingherself;andbesides，wastooterrifiedforthepresenceofVarneytoviolatetheimpliedconditionunderwhichshewastotravelfreefromhiscompany。TheauthorityofVarney，oftensousedduringtheEarl\'sprivatejourneystoCumnor，readilyprocuredrelaysofhorseswherewanted，sothattheyapproachedCumnorPlaceuponthenightaftertheyleftKenilworth。
AtthisperiodofthejourneyVarneycameuptotherearofthelitter，ashehaddonebeforerepeatedlyduringtheirprogress，andasked，\"Howdoesshe？\"
\"Shesleeps，\"saidFoster。\"Iwouldwewerehome——herstrengthisexhausted。\"
\"Restwillrestoreher，\"answeredVarney。\"Sheshallsoonsleepsoundandlong。Wemustconsiderhowtolodgeherinsafety。\"
\"Inherownapartments，tobesure，\"saidFoster。\"IhavesentJanettoheraunt\'swithaproperrebuke，andtheoldwomenaretruthitself——fortheyhatethisladycordially。\"
\"Wewillnottrustthem，however，friendAnthony，\"saidVarney;
\"Wemustsecureherinthatstrongholdwhereyoukeepyourgold。\"
\"Mygold！\"saidAnthony，muchalarmed;\"why，whatgoldhaveI？
Godhelpme，Ihavenogold——IwouldIhad！\"
\"Now，marryhangthee，thoustupidbrute，whothinksoforcaresforthygold？IfIdid，couldInotfindanhundredbetterwaystocomeatit？Inoneword，thybedchamber，whichthouhastfencedsocuriously，mustbeherplaceofseclusion;andthou，thouhind，shaltpressherpillowsofdown。IdaretosaytheEarlwillneveraskaftertherichfurnitureofthesefourrooms。\"
ThislastconsiderationrenderedFostertractable;heonlyaskedpermissiontoridebefore，tomakemattersready，andspurringhishorse，hepostedbeforethelitter，whileVarneyfallingaboutthreescorepacesbehindit，itremainedonlyattendedbyTider。
WhentheyhadarrivedatCumnorPlace，theCountessaskedeagerlyforJanet，andshowedmuchalarmwheninformedthatshewasnolongertohavetheattendanceofthatamiablegirl。
\"Mydaughterisdeartome，madam，\"saidFostergruffly;\"andI
desirenotthatsheshouldgetthecourt—tricksoflyingand\'scaping——somewhattoomuchofthathasshelearnedalready，anitpleaseyourladyship。\"
TheCountess，muchfatiguedandgreatlyterrifiedbythecircumstancesofherjourney，madenoanswertothisinsolence，butmildlyexpressedawishtoretiretoherchamber，\"Ay，ay，\"mutteredFoster，\"\'tisbutreasonable;but，underfavour，yougonottoyourgew—gawtoy—houseyonder——youwillsleepto—nightinbettersecurity。\"
\"Iwoulditwereinmygrave，\"saidtheCountess;\"butthatmortalfeelingsshiverattheideaofsoulandbodyparting。\"
\"You，Iguess，havenochancetoshiveratthat，\"repliedFoster。
\"Mylordcomeshitherto—morrow，anddoubtlessyouwillmakeyourownwaysgoodwithhim。\"
\"Butdoeshecomehither？——doesheindeed，goodFoster？\"
\"Oh，ay，goodFoster！\"repliedtheother。\"ButwhatFostershallIbeto—morrowwhenyouspeakofmetomylord——thoughallIhavedonewastoobeyhisownorders？\"
\"Youshallbemyprotector——aroughoneindeed——butstillaprotector，\"answeredtheCountess。\"OhthatJanetwerebuthere！\"
\"Sheisbetterwheresheis，\"answeredFoster——\"oneofyouisenoughtoperplexaplainhead。Butwillyoutasteanyrefreshment？\"
\"Ohno，no——mychamber——mychamber！Itrust，\"shesaidapprehensively，\"Imaysecureitontheinside？\"
\"Withallmyheart，\"answeredFoster，\"soImaysecureitontheoutside;\"andtakingalight，heledthewaytoapartofthebuildingwhereAmyhadneverbeen，andconductedherupastairofgreatheight，precededbyoneoftheoldwomenwithalamp。
Attheheadofthestair，whichseemedofalmostimmeasurableheight，theycrossedashortwoodengallery，formedofblackoak，andverynarrow，atthefartherendofwhichwasastrongoakendoor，whichopenedandadmittedthemintothemiser\'sapartment，homelyinitsaccommodationsintheverylastdegree，and，exceptinname，littledifferentfromaprison—room。
Fosterstoppedatthedoor，andgavethelamptotheCountess，withouteitherofferingorpermittingtheattendanceoftheoldwomanwhohadcarriedit。Theladystoodnotonceremony，buttakingithastily，barredthedoor，andsecureditwiththeamplemeansprovidedontheinsideforthatpurpose。
Varney，meanwhile，hadlurkedbehindonthestairs;buthearingthedoorbarred，henowcameupontiptoe，andFoster，winkingtohim，pointedwithself—complacencetoapieceofconcealedmachineryinthewall，which，playingwithmucheaseandlittlenoise，droppedapartofthewoodengallery，afterthemannerofadrawbridge，soastocutoffallcommunicationbetweenthedoorofthebedroom，whichheusuallyinhabited，andthelanding—placeofthehigh，windingstairwhichascendedtoit。Theropebywhichthismachinerywaswroughtwasgenerallycarriedwithinthebedchamber，itbeingFoster\'sobjecttoprovideagainstinvasionfromwithout;butnowthatitwasintendedtosecuretheprisonerwithin，thecordhadbeenbroughtovertothelanding—place，andwastheremadefast，whenFosterwithmuchcomplacencyhaddroppedtheunsuspectedtrap—door。