kenilworth-第62部分

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those　who　work　abomination；　or　who　frame　lies。〃

〃Well；　my　son；〃　said　the　Doctor；　〃and　what　is　your　inference　from
thence？〃

〃That　those；〃　said　Foster；　〃who　distil　poisons；　and　administer
them　in　secrecy；　can　have　no　portion　in　those　unspeakable
riches。〃

〃You　are　to　distinguish；　my　son；〃　replied　the　alchemist；　〃betwixt
that　which　is　necessarily　evil　in　its　progress　and　in　its　end
also；　and　that　which；　being　evil；　is；　nevertheless；　capable　of
working　forth　good。　　If；　by　the　death　of　one　person；　the　happy
period　shall　be　brought　nearer　to　us；　in　which　all　that　is　good
shall　be　attained；　by　wishing　its　presenceall　that　is　evil
escaped；　by　desiring　its　absencein　which　sickness；　and　pain；
and　sorrow　shall　be　the　obedient　servants　of　human　wisdom；　and
made　to　fly　at　the　slightest　signal　of　a　sagein　which　that
which　is　now　richest　and　rarest　shall　be　within　the　compass　of
every　one　who　shall　be　obedient　to　the　voice　of　wisdomwhen　the
art　of　healing　shall　be　lost　and　absorbed　in　the　one　universal
medicine　when　sages　shall　become　monarchs　of　the　earth；　and　death
itself　retreat　before　their　frown；if　this　blessed　consummation
of　all　things　can　be　hastened　by　the　slight　circumstance　that　a
frail；　earthly　body；　which　must　needs　partake　corruption；　shall
be　consigned　to　the　grave　a　short　space　earlier　than　in　the
course　of　nature；　what　is　such　a　sacrifice　to　the　advancement　of
the　holy　Millennium？〃

〃Millennium　is　the　reign　of　the　Saints；〃　said　Foster；　somewhat
doubtfully。

〃Say　it　is　the　reign　of　the　Sages；　my　son；〃　answered　Alasco；　〃or
rather　the　reign　of　Wisdom　itself。〃

〃I　touched　on　the　question　with　Master　Holdforth　last　exercising
night；〃　said　Foster；　〃but　he　says　your　doctrine　is　heterodox；　and
a　damnable　and　false　exposition。〃

〃He　is　in　the　bonds　of　ignorance；　my　son；〃　answered　Alasco；　〃and
as　yet　burning　bricks　in　Egypt；　or；　at　best；　wandering　in　the　dry
desert　of　Sinai。　　Thou　didst　ill　to　speak　to　such　a　man　of　such
matters。　　I　will；　however；　give　thee　proof；　and　that　shortly；
which　I　will　defy　that　peevish　divine　to　confute；　though　he
should　strive　with　me　as　the　magicians　strove　with　Moses　before
King　Pharaoh。　　I　will　do　projection　in　thy　presence；　my　son；in
thy　very　presenceand　thine　eyes　shall　witness　the　truth。〃

〃Stick　to　that；　learned　sage；〃　said　Varney；　who　at　this　moment
entered　the　apartment；　〃if　he　refuse　the　testimony　of　thy　tongue；
yet　how　shall　he　deny　that　of　his　own　eyes？〃

〃Varney！〃　　said　the　adept〃Varney　already　returned！　　Hast　thou
〃　he　stopped　short。

〃Have　I　done　mine　errand；　thou　wouldst　say？〃　　replied　Varney。　　〃I
have！　　And　thou；〃　he　added；　showing　more　symptoms　of　interest
than　he　had　hitherto　exhibited；　〃art　thou　sure　thou　hast　poured
forth　neither　more　nor　less　than　the　just　measure？〃

〃Ay；〃　replied　the　alchemist；　〃as　sure　as　men　can　be　in　these　nice
proportions；　for　there　is　diversity　of　constitutions。〃

〃Nay；　then；〃　said　Varney；　〃I　fear　nothing。　　I　know　thou　wilt　not
go　a　step　farther　to　the　devil　than　thou　art　justly　considered
forthou　wert　paid　to　create　illness；　and　wouldst　esteem　it
thriftless　prodigality　to　do　murder　at　the　same　price。　　Come；　let
us　each　to　our　chamber　we　shall　see　the　event　to…morrow。〃

〃What　didst　thou　do　to　make　her　swallow　it？〃　　said　Foster；
shuddering。

〃Nothing；〃　answered　Varney；　〃but　looked　on　her　with　that　aspect
which　governs　madmen；　women；　and　children。　　They　told　me　in　St。
Luke's　Hospital　that　I　have　the　right　look　for　overpowering　a
refractory　patient。　　The　keepers　made　me　their　compliments　on't；
so　I　know　how　to　win　my　bread　when　my　court…favour　fails　me。〃

〃And　art　thou　not　afraid；〃　said　Foster；　〃lest　the　dose　be
disproportioned？〃

〃If　so；〃　replied　Varney；　〃she　will　but　sleep　the　sounder；　and　the
fear　of　that　shall　not　break　my　rest。　　Good　night；　my　masters。〃

Anthony　Foster　groaned　heavily；　and　lifted　up　his　hands　and　eyes。
The　alchemist　intimated　his　purpose　to　continue　some　experiment
of　high　import　during　the　greater　part　of　the　night；　and　the
others　separated　to　their　places　of　repose。



CHAPTER　XXIII。

　　Now　God　be　good　to　me　in　this　wild　pilgrimage！
　　All　hope　in　human　aid　I　cast　behind　me。
　　Oh；　who　would　be　a　woman？who　that　fool；
　　A　weeping；　pining；　faithful；　loving　woman？
　　She　hath　hard　measure　still　where　she　hopes　kindest；
　　And　all　her　bounties　only　make　ingrates。　　　　　LOVE'S　PILGRIMAGE。

The　summer　evening　was　closed；　and　Janet；　just　when　her　longer
stay　might　have　occasioned　suspicion　and　inquiry　in　that　zealous
household；　returned　to　Cumnor　Place；　and　hastened　to　the
apartment　in　which　she　had　left　her　lady。　　She　found　her　with　her
head　resting　on　her　arms；　and　these　crossed　upon　a　table　which
stood　before　her。　　As　Janet　came　in；　she　neither　looked　up　nor
stirred。

Her　faithful　attendant　ran　to　her　mistress　with　the　speed　of
lightning；　and　rousing　her　at　the　same　time　with　her　hand；
conjured　the　Countess；　in　the　most　earnest　manner；　to　look　up　and
say　what　thus　affected　her。　　The　unhappy　lady　raised　her　head
accordingly；　and　looking　on　her　attendant　with　a　ghastly　eye；　and
cheek　as　pale　as　clay〃Janet；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　drunk　it。〃

〃God　be　praised！〃　　said　Janet　hastily〃I　mean；　God　be　praised
that　it　is　no　worse；　the　potion　will　not　harm　you。　　Rise；　shake
this　lethargy　from　your　limbs；　and　this　despair　from　your　mind。〃

〃Janet；〃　repeated　the　Countess　again；　〃disturb　me　notleave　me
at　peacelet　life　pass　quietly。　　I　am　poisoned。〃

〃You　are　not；　my　dearest　lady；〃　answered　the　maiden　eagerly。
〃What　you　have　swallowed　cannot　injure　you；　for　the　antidote　has
been　taken　before　it；　and　I　hastened　hither　to　tell　you　that　the
means　of　escape　are　open　to　you。〃

〃Escape！〃　　exclaimed　the　lady；　as　she　raised　herself　hastily　in
her　chair；　while　light　returned　to　her　eye　and　life　to　her　cheek；
〃but　ah！　　Janet；　it　comes　too　late。〃

〃Not　so；　dearest　lady。　　Rise；　take　mine　arm；　walk　through　the
apartment；　let　not　fancy　do　the　work　of　poison！　　So；　feel　you　not
now　that　you　are　possessed　of　the　full　use　of　your　limbs？〃

〃The　torpor　seems　to　diminish；〃　said　the　Countess；　as；　supported
by　Janet；　she　walked　to　and　fro　in　the　apartment；　〃but　is　it　then
so；　and　have　I　not　swallowed　a　deadly　draught？　　Varney　was　here
since　thou　wert　gone；　and　commanded　me；　with　eyes　in　which　I　read
my　fate；　to　swallow　yon　horrible　drug。　　O　Janet！　　it　must　be
fatal；　never　was　harmless　draught　served　by　such　a　cup…bearer！〃

〃He　did　not　deem　it　harmless；　I　fear；〃　replied　the　maiden；　〃but
God　confounds　the　devices　of　the　wicked。　　Believe　me；　as　I　swear
by　the　dear　Gospel　in　which　we　trust；　your　life　is　safe　from　his
practice。　　Did　you　not　debate　with　him？〃

〃The　house　was　silent；〃　answered　the　lady〃thou　goneno　other
but　he　in　the　chamberand　he　capable　of　every　crime。　　I　did　but
stipulate　he　would　remove　his　hateful　presence；　and　I　drank
whatever　he　offered。But　you　spoke　of　escape；　Janet；　can　I　be　so
happy？〃

〃Are　you　strong　enough　to　bear　the　tidings；　and　make　the　effort？〃
said　the　maiden。

〃Strong！〃　　answered　the　Countess。　　〃Ask　the　hind；　when　the　fangs
of　the　deerhound　are　stretched　to　gripe　her；　if　she　is　strong
enough　to　spring　over　a　chasm。　　I　am　equal　to　every　effort　that
may　relieve　me　from　this　place。〃

〃Hear　me；　then；〃　said　Janet。　　〃One　whom　I　deem　an　assured　friend
of　yours　has　shown　himself　to　me　in　various　disguises；　and　sought
speech　of　me；　whichfor　my　mind　was　not　clear　on　the　matter
until　this　eveningI　have　ever　declined。　　He　was　the　pedlar　who
brought　you　goodsthe　itinerant　hawker　who　sold　me　books；
whenever　I　stirred　abroad　I　was　sure　to　see　him。　　The　event　of
this　night　determined　me　to　speak　with　him。　　He　awaits　even　now
at　the　postern　gate　of　the　park　with　means　for　your　flight。But
have　you　strength　of　body？have　you　courage　of　mind？can　you
undertake　the　enterprise？〃

〃She　that　flies　from　death；〃　said　the　lady；　〃finds　strength　of
bodyshe　that　would　escape　from　shame　lacks　no　strength　of　mind。
The　thoughts　of　leaving　behind　me　the　villain　who　menaces　both　my
life　and　honour　would　give　me　strength　to　rise　from　my　deathbed。〃

〃In　God's　name；　then；　lady；〃　said　Janet；　〃I　must　bid　you　adieu；
and　to　God's　charge　I　must　commit　you！〃

〃Will　you　not　fly　with　me；　then；　Janet？〃　　said　the　Countess；
anxiously。　　〃Am　I　to　lose　thee？　　Is　this　thy　faithful　service？〃

〃Lady；　I　would　fly　with　you　as　willingly　as　bird　ever　fled　from
cage；　but　my　doing　so　would　occasion　instant　discovery　and
pursuit。　　I　must　remain；　and　use　means　to　disguise　the　truth　for
some　time。　　May　Heaven　pardon　the　falsehood；　because　of　the
necessity！〃

〃And　am　I　then　to　travel　alone　with　this　stranger？〃　　said　the
lady。　　〃Bethink　thee；　Janet；　may　not　this　prove　some　deeper　and
darker　scheme　to　separate　me　perhaps　from　you；　who　are　my　only
friend？〃

〃No；　madam；　do　not　suppose　it；〃　answered　Janet　readily；　〃the
youth　is　an　honest　youth　in　his　purpose　to　you；　and　a　friend　to
Master　Tressilian；　under　whose　direction　he　is　come　hither。〃

〃If　he　be　a　friend　of　Tressilian；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃I　will
commit　myself　to　his　charge　as　to　that　of　an　angel　sent　from
heaven；　for　than　Tressilian　never　breathed　mortal　man　more　free
of　whatever　was　base；　false；　or　selfish。　　He　forgot　himself
whenever　he　could　be　of　use　to　others。　　Alas！　　and　how　was　he
requited？〃

With　eager　haste　they　collected　the　few　necessaries　which　it　was
thought　proper　the　Countess　should　take　with　her；　and　which
Janet；　with　speed　and　dexterity；　formed　into　a　small　bundle；　not
forgetting　to　add　such　ornaments　of　intrinsic　value　as　came　most
readily　in　her　way；　and　particularly　a　casket　of　jewels；　which
she　wisely　judged　might　prove　of　service　in　some　future
emergency。　　The　Countess　of　Leicester　next　changed　her　dress　for
one　which　Janet　usually　wore　upon　any　brief　journey；　for　they
judged　it　necessary　to　avoid　every　external　distinction　which
might　attract　attention。　　Ere　these　preparations　were　fully　made；
the　moon　had　arisen　in　the　summer　heaven；　and　all　in　the　mansion
had　betaken　themselves　to　rest；　or　at　least　to　the　silence　and
retirement　of　their　chambers。

There　was　no　difficulty　anticipated　in　escaping；　whether　from　the
house　or　garden；　provided　only　they　could