kenilworth-第102部分

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had　in　company　a　royal　pursuivant　and　two　stout　serving…men。　　All
were　well…armed；　and　travelled　as　fast　as　it　was　possible　with
justice　to　their　horses；　which　had　a　long　journey　before　them。
They　endeavoured　to　procure　some　tidings　as　they　rode　along　of
Varney　and　his　party；　but　could　hear　none；　as　they　had　travelled
in　the　dark。　　At　a　small　village　about　twelve　miles　from
Kenilworth；　where　they　gave　some　refreshment　to　their　horses；　a
poor　clergyman；　the　curate　of　the　place；　came　out　of　a　small
cottage；　and　entreated　any　of　the　company　who　might　know　aught　of
surgery　to　look　in　for　an　instant　on　a　dying　man。

The　empiric　Wayland　undertook　to　do　his　best；　and　as　the　curate
conducted　him　to　the　spot；　he　learned　that　the　man　had　been　found
on　the　highroad；　about　a　mile　from　the　village；　by　labourers；　as
they　were　going　to　their　work　on　the　preceding　morning；　and　the
curate　had　given　him　shelter　in　his　house。　　He　had　received　a
gun…shot　wound；　which　seemed　to　be　obviously　mortal；　but　whether
in　a　brawl　or　from　robbers　they　could　not　learn；　as　he　was　in　a
fever；　and　spoke　nothing　connectedly。　　Wayland　entered　the　dark
and　lowly　apartment；　and　no　sooner　had　the　curate　drawn　aside　the
curtain　than　he　knew；　in　the　distorted　features　of　the　patient；
the　countenance　of　Michael　Lambourne。　　Under　pretence　of　seeking
something　which　he　wanted；　Wayland　hastily　apprised　his　fellow…
travellers　of　this　extraordinary　circumstance；　and　both
Tressilian　and　Raleigh；　full　of　boding　apprehensions；　hastened　to
the　curate's　house　to　see　the　dying　man。

The　wretch　was　by　this　time　in　the　agonies　of　death；　from　which　a
much　better　surgeon　than　Wayland　could　not　have　rescued　him；　for
the　bullet　had　passed　clear　through　his　body。　　He　was　sensible；
however；　at　least　in　part；　for　he　knew　Tressilian；　and　made　signs
that　he　wished　him　to　stoop　over　his　bed。　　Tressilian　did　so；　and
after　some　inarticulate　murmurs；　in　which　the　names　of　Varney　and
Lady　Leicester　were　alone　distinguishable；　Lambourne　bade　him
〃make　haste；　or　he　would　come　too　late。〃　　It　was　in　vain
Tressilian　urged　the　patient　for　further　information；　he　seemed
to　become　in　some　degree　delirious；　and　when　he　again　made　a
signal　to　attract　Tressilian's　attention；　it　was　only　for　the
purpose　of　desiring　him　to　inform　his　uncle；　Giles　Gosling　of　the
Black　Bear；　that　〃he　had　died　without　his　shoes　after　all。〃　　A
convulsion　verified　his　words　a　few　minutes　after；　and　the
travellers　derived　nothing　from　having　met　with　him；　saving　the
obscure　fears　concerning　the　fate　of　the　Countess；　which　his
dying　words　were　calculated　to　convey；　and　which　induced　them　to
urge　their　journey　with　the　utmost　speed；　pressing　horses　in　the
Queen's　name　when　those　which　they　rode　became　unfit　for　service。



CHAPTER　XLI。

　　The　death…bell　thrice　was　heard　to　ring；
　　　An　aerial　voice　was　heard　to　call；
　　And　thrice　the　raven　flapp'd　its　wing
　　　Around　the　towers　of　Cumnor　Hall。　　　　　MICKLE。

We　are　now　to　return　to　that　part　of　our　story　where　we　intimated
that　Varney；　possessed　of　the　authority　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester；
and　of　the　Queen's　permission　to　the　same　effect；　hastened　to
secure　himself　against　discovery　of　his　perfidy　by　removing　the
Countess　from　Kenilworth　Castle。　　He　had　proposed　to　set　forth
early　in　the　morning；　but　reflecting　that　the　Earl　might　relent
in　the　interim；　and　seek　another　interview　with　the　Countess；　he
resolved　to　prevent；　by　immediate　departure；　all　chance　of　what
would　probably　have　ended　in　his　detection　and　ruin。　　For　this
purpose　he　called　for　Lambourne；　and　was　exceedingly　incensed　to
find　that　his　trusty　attendant　was　abroad　on　some　ramble　in　the
neighbouring　village；　or　elsewhere。　　As　his　return　was　expected；
Sir　Richard　commanded　that　he　should　prepare　himself　for
attending　him　on　an　immediate　journey；　and　follow　him　in　case　he
returned　after　his　departure。

In　the　meanwhile；　Varney　used　the　ministry　of　a　servant　called
Robin　Tider；　one　to　whom　the　mysteries　of　Cumnor　Place　were
already　in　some　degree　known；　as　he　had　been　there　more　than　once
in　attendance　on　the　Earl。　　To　this　man；　whose　character
resembled　that　of　Lambourne；　though　he　was　neither　quite　so
prompt　nor　altogether　so　profligate；　Varney　gave　command　to　have
three　horses　saddled；　and　to　prepare　a　horse…litter；　and　have
them　in　readiness　at　the　postern　gate。　　The　natural　enough　excuse
of　his　lady's　insanity；　which　was　now　universally　believed；
accounted　for　the　secrecy　with　which　she　was　to　be　removed　from
the　Castle；　and　he　reckoned　on　the　same　apology　in　case　the
unfortunate　Amy's　resistance　or　screams　should　render　such
necessary。　　The　agency　of　Anthony　Foster　was　indispensable；　and
that　Varney　now　went　to　secure。

This　person；　naturally　of　a　sour；　unsocial　disposition；　and
somewhat　tired；　besides；　with　his　journey　from　Cumnor　to
Warwickshire；　in　order　to　bring　the　news　of　the　Countess's
escape；　had　early　extricated　himself　from　the　crowd　of
wassailers；　and　betaken　himself　to　his　chamber；　where　he　lay
asleep；　when　Varney；　completely　equipped　for　travelling；　and　with
a　dark　lantern　in　his　hand；　entered　his　apartment。　　He　paused　an
instant　to　listen　to　what　his　associate　was　murmuring　in　his
sleep；　and　could　plainly　distinguish　the　words；　〃AVE　MARIAORA
PRO　NOBIS。　　No；　it　runs　not　sodeliver　us　from　evilay；　so　it
goes。〃

〃Praying　in　his　sleep；〃　said　Varney；　〃and　confounding　his　old　and
new　devotions。　　He　must　have　more　need　of　prayer　ere　I　am　done
with　him。What　ho！　　holy　man；　most　blessed　penitent！awake
awake！　　The　devil　has　not　discharged　you　from　service　yet。〃

As　Varney　at　the　same　time　shook　the　sleeper　by　the　arm；　it
changed　the　current　of　his　ideas；　and　he　roared　out；　〃Thieves！
thieves！　　I　will　die　in　defence　of　my　goldmy　hard…won　gold
that　has　cost　me　so　dear。　　Where　is　Janet？Is　Janet　safe？〃

〃Safe　enough；　thou　bellowing　fool！〃　　said　Varney；　〃art　thou　not
ashamed　of　thy　clamour？〃

Foster　by　this　time　was　broad　awake；　and　sitting　up　in　his　bed；
asked　Varney　the　meaning　of　so　untimely　a　visit。　　〃It　augurs
nothing　good；〃　he　added。

〃A　false　prophecy；　most　sainted　Anthony；〃　returned　Varney；　〃it
augurs　that　the　hour　is　come　for　converting　thy　leasehold　into
copyhold。　　What　sayest　thou　to　that？〃

〃Hadst　thou　told　me　this　in　broad　day；〃　said　Foster；　〃I　had
rejoiced；　but　at　this　dead　hour；　and　by　this　dim　light；　and
looking　on　thy　pale　face；　which　is　a　ghastly　contradiction　to　thy
light　words；　I　cannot　but　rather　think　of　the　work　that　is　to　be
done；　than　the　guerdon　to　be　gained　by　it。〃

〃Why；　thou　fool；　it　is　but　to　escort　thy　charge　back　to　Cumnor
Place。〃

〃Is　that　indeed　all？〃　　said　Foster；　〃thou　lookest　deadly　pale；
and　thou　art　not　moved　by　triflesis　that　indeed　all？〃

〃Ay；　thatand　maybe　a　trifle　more；〃　said　Varney。

〃Ah；　that　trifle　more！〃　　said　Foster；　〃still　thou　lookest　paler
and　paler。〃

〃Heed　not　my　countenance；〃　said　Varney；　〃you　see　it　by　this
wretched　light。　　Up　and　be　doing；　man。　　Think　of　Cumnor　Place
thine　own　proper　copyhold。　　Why；　thou　mayest　found　a　weekly
lectureship；　besides　endowing　Janet　like　a　baron's　daughter。
Seventy　pounds　and　odd。〃

〃Seventy…nine　pounds；　five　shillings　and　fivepence　half…penny；
besides　the　value　of　the　wood；〃　said　Foster；　〃and　I　am　to　have　it
all　as　copyhold？〃

〃All；　mansquirrels　and　all。　　No　gipsy　shall　cut　the　value　of　a
broomno　boy　so　much　as　take　a　bird's　nestwithout　paying　thee
a　quittance。Ay；　that　is　rightdon　thy　matters　as　fast　as
possible；　horses　and　everything　are　ready；　all　save　that　accursed
villain　Lambourne；　who　is　out　on　some　infernal　gambol。〃

〃Ay；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　Foster；　〃you　would　take　no　advice。　　I
ever　told　you　that　drunken　profligate　would　fail　you　at　need。
Now　I　could　have　helped　you　to　a　sober　young　man。〃

〃What；　some　slow…spoken；　long…breathed　brother　of　the
congregation？　　Why；　we　shall　have　use　for　such　also；　man。　　Heaven
be　praised；　we　shall　lack　labourers　of　every　kind。Ay；　that　is
rightforget　not　your　pistols。　　Come　now；　and　let　us　away。〃

〃Whither？〃　　said　Anthony。

〃To　my　lady's　chamber；　and；　mind；　she　MUST　along　with　us。　　Thou
art　not　a　fellow　to　be　startled　by　a　shriek？〃

〃Not　if　Scripture　reason　can　be　rendered　for　it；　and　it　is
written；　'Wives　obey　your　husbands。'　But　will　my　lord's　commands
bear　us　out　if　we　use　violence？〃

〃Tush；　man！　　here　is　his　signet；〃　answered　Varney；　and　having
thus　silenced　the　objections　of　his　associate；　they　went　together
to　Lord　Hunsdon's　apartments；　and　acquainting　the　sentinel　with
their　purpose；　as　a　matter　sanctioned　by　the　Queen　and　the　Earl
of　Leicester；　they　entered　the　chamber　of　the　unfortunate
Countess。

The　horror　of　Amy　may　be　conceived　when；　starting　from　a　broken
slumber；　she　saw　at　her　bedside　Varney；　the　man　on　earth　she　most
feared　and　hated。　　It　was　even　a　consolation　to　see　that　he　was
not　alone；　though　she　had　so　much　reason　to　dread　his　sullen
companion。

〃Madam；〃　said　Varney；　〃there　is　no　time　for　ceremony。　　My　Lord　of
Leicester；　having　fully　considered　the　exigencies　of　the　time；
sends　you　his　orders　immediately　to　accompany　us　on　our　return　to
Cumnor　Place。　　See；　here　is　his　signet；　in　token　of　his　instant
and　pressing　commands。〃

〃It　is　false！〃　　said　the　Countess；　〃thou　hast　stolen　the　warrant
thou；　who　art　capable　of　every　villainy；　from　the　blackest　to
the　basest！〃

〃It　is　TRUE；　madam；〃　replied　Varney；　〃so　true；　that　if　you　do　not
instantly　arise；　and　prepare　to　attend　us；　we　must　compel　you　to
obey　our　orders。〃

〃Compel！　　Thou　darest　not　put　it　to　that　issue；　base　as　thou
art！〃　　exclaimed　the　unhappy　Countess。

〃That　remains　to　be　proved；　madam；〃　said　Varney；　who　had
determined　on　intimidation　as　the　only　means　of　subduing　her　high
spirit；　〃if　you　put　me　to　it；　you　will　find　me　a　rough　groom　of
the　chambers。〃

It　was　at　this　threat　that　Amy　screamed　so　fearfully　that；　had　it
not　been　for　the　received　opinion　of　her　insanity；　she　would
quickly　have　had　Lord　Hunsdon　and　others　to　her　aid。　　Perceiving；
however；　that　her　cries　were　vain；　she　appealed　to　Foster　in　the
most　affecting　terms；　conjuring　him；　as　his　daughter　Janet's
honour　and　purity　were　dear　to　him；　not　to　permit　her　to　be
treated　w