kenilworth-第123章

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interested　in　popular　sports；　or　whether　from　a　spark　of　old
Henry's　rough；　masculine　spirit；　which　Elizabeth　sometimes
displayed；　it　is　certain　the　Queen　laughed　heartily　at　the
imitation；　or　rather　burlesque；　of　chivalry　which　was　presented
in　the　Coventry　play。　　She　called　near　her　person　the　Earl　of
Sussex　and　Lord　Hunsdon；　partly　perhaps　to　make　amends　to　the
former　for　the　long　and　private　audiences　with　which　she　had
indulged　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　by　engaging　him　in　conversation
upon　a　pastime　which　better　suited　his　taste　than　those　pageants
that　were　furnished　forth　from　the　stores　of　antiquity。　　The
disposition　which　the　Queen　showed　to　laugh　and　jest　with　her
military　leaders　gave　the　Earl　of　Leicester　the　opportunity　he
had　been　watching　for　withdrawing　from　the　royal　presence；　which
to　the　court　around；　so　well　had　he　chosen　his　time；　had　the
graceful　appearance　of　leaving　his　rival　free　access　to　the
Queen's　person；　instead　of　availing　himself　of　his　right　as　her
landlord　to　stand　perpetually　betwixt　others　and　the　light　of　her
countenance。

Leicester's　thoughts；　however；　had　a　far　different　object　from
mere　courtesy；　for　no　sooner　did　he　see　the　Queen　fairly　engaged
in　conversation　with　Sussex　and　Hunsdon；　behind　whose　back　stood
Sir　Nicholas　Blount；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear　at　each　word　which
was　spoken；　than；　making　a　sign　to　Tressilian；　who；　according　to
appointment；　watched　his　motions　at　a　little　distance；　he
extricated　himself　from　the　press；　and　walking　towards　the　Chase；
made　his　way　through　the　crowds　of　ordinary　spectators；　who；　with
open　mouth；　stood　gazing　on　the　battle　of　the　English　and　the
Danes。　　When　he　had　accomplished　this；　which　was　a　work　of　some
difficulty；　he　shot　another　glance　behind　him　to　see　that
Tressilian　had　been　equally　successful；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw　him
also　free　from　the　crowd；　he　led　the　way　to　a　small　thicket；
behind　which　stood　a　lackey；　with　two　horses　ready　saddled。　　He
flung　himself　on　the　one；　and　made　signs　to　Tressilian　to　mount
the　other；　who　obeyed　without　speaking　a　single　word。

Leicester　then　spurred　his　horse；　and　galloped　without　stopping
until　he　reached　a　sequestered　spot；　environed　by　lofty　oaks；
about　a　mile's　distance　from　the　Castle；　and　in　an　opposite
direction　from　the　scene　to　which　curiosity　was　drawing　every
spectator。　　He　there　dismounted；　bound　his　horse　to　a　tree；　and
only　pronouncing　the　words；　〃Here　there　is　no　risk　of
interruption；〃　laid　his　cloak　across　his　saddle；　and　drew　his
sword。

Tressilian　imitated　his　example　punctually；　yet　could　not　forbear
saying；　as　he　drew　his　weapon；　〃My　lord；　as　I　have　been　known　to
many　as　one　who　does　not　fear　death　when　placed　in　balance　with
honour；　methinks　I　may；　without　derogation；　ask　wherefore；　in　the
name　of　all　that　is　honourable；　your　lordship　has　dared　to　offer
me　such　a　mark　of　disgrace　as　places　us　on　these　terms　with
respect　to　each　other？〃

〃If　you　like　not　such　marks　of　my　scorn；〃　replied　the　Earl；
〃betake　yourself　instantly　to　your　weapon；　lest　I　repeat　the
usage　you　complain　of。〃

〃It　shall　not　need；　my　lord；〃　said　Tressilian。　　〃God　judge
betwixt　us！　　and　your　blood；　if　you　fall；　be　on　your　own　head。〃

He　had　scarce　completed　the　sentence　when　they　instantly　closed
in　combat。

But　Leicester；　who　was　a　perfect　master　of　defence　among　all
other　exterior　accomplishments　of　the　time；　had　seen　on　the
preceding　night　enough　of　Tressilian's　strength　and　skill　to　make
him　fight　with　more　caution　than　heretofore；　and　prefer　a　secure
revenge　to　a　hasty　one。　　For　some　minutes　they　fought　with　equal
skill　and　fortune；　till；　in　a　desperate　lunge　which　Leicester
successfully　put　aside；　Tressilian　exposed　himself　at
disadvantage；　and　in　a　subsequent　attempt　to　close；　the　Earl
forced　his　sword　from　his　hand；　and　stretched　him　on　the　ground。
With　a　grim　smile　he　held　the　point　of　his　rapier　within　two
inches　of　the　throat　of　his　fallen　adversary；　and　placing　his
foot　at　the　same　time　upon　his　breast；　bid　him　confess　his
villainous　wrongs　towards　him；　and　prepare　for　death。

〃I　have　no　villainy　nor　wrong　towards　thee　to　confess；〃　answered
Tressilian；　〃and　am　better　prepared　for　death　than　thou。　　Use
thine　advantage　as　thou　wilt；　and　may　God　forgive　you！　　I　have
given　you　no　cause　for　this。〃

〃No　cause！〃　　exclaimed　the　Earl；　〃no　cause！but　why　parley　with
such　a　slave？　　Die　a　liar；　as　thou　hast　lived！〃

He　had　withdrawn　his　arm　for　the　purpose　of　striking　the　fatal
blow；　when　it　was　suddenly　seized　from　behind。

The　Earl　turned　in　wrath　to　shake　off　the　unexpected　obstacle；
but　was　surprised　to　find　that　a　strange…looking　boy　had　hold　of
his　sword…arm；　and　clung　to　it　with　such　tenacity　of　grasp　that
he　could　not　shake　him　of　without　a　considerable　struggle；　in　the
course　of　which　Tressilian　had　opportunity　to　rise　and　possess
himself　once　more　of　his　weapon。　　Leicester　again　turned　towards
him　with　looks　of　unabated　ferocity；　and　the　combat　would　have
recommenced　with　still　more　desperation　on　both　sides；　had　not
the　boy　clung　to　Lord　Leicester's　knees；　and　in　a　shrill　tone
implored　him　to　listen　one　moment　ere　he　prosecuted　this　quarrel。

〃Stand　up；　and　let　me　go；〃　said　Leicester；　〃or；　by　Heaven；　I　will
pierce　thee　with　my　rapier！　　What　hast　thou　to　do　to　bar　my　way
to　revenge？〃

〃Muchmuch！〃　　exclaimed　the　undaunted　boy；　〃since　my　folly　has
been　the　cause　of　these　bloody　quarrels　between　you；　and
perchance　of　worse　evils。　　Oh；　if　you　would　ever　again　enjoy　the
peace　of　an　innocent　mind；　if　you　hope　again　to　sleep　in　peace
and　unhaunted　by　remorse；　take　so　much　leisure　as　to　peruse　this
letter；　and　then　do　as　you　list。〃

While　he　spoke　in　this　eager　and　earnest　manner；　to　which　his
singular　features　and　voice　gave　a　goblin…like　effect；　he　held　up
to　Leicester　a　packet；　secured　with　a　long　tress　of　woman's　hair
of　a　beautiful　light…brown　colour。　　Enraged　as　he　was；　nay；
almost　blinded　with　fury　to　see　his　destined　revenge　so　strangely
frustrated；　the　Earl　of　Leicester　could　not　resist　this
extraordinary　supplicant。　　He　snatched　the　letter　from　his　hand
changed　colour　as　he　looked　on　the　superscriptionundid　with
faltering　hand　the　knot　which　secured　itglanced　over　the
contents；　and　staggering　back；　would　have　fallen；　had　he　not
rested　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　where　he　stood　for　an
instant；　his　eyes　bent　on　the　letter；　and　his　sword…point　turned
to　the　ground；　without　seeming　to　be　conscious　of　the　presence　of
an　antagonist　towards　whom　he　had　shown　little　mercy；　and　who
might　in　turn　have　taken　him　at　advantage。　　But　for　such　revenge
Tressilian　was　too　noble…minded。　　He　also　stood　still　in
surprise；　waiting　the　issue　of　this　strange　fit　of　passion；　but
holding　his　weapon　ready　to　defend　himself　in　case　of　need
against　some　new　and　sudden　attack　on　the　part　of　Leicester；　whom
he　again　suspected　to　be　under　the　influence　of　actual　frenzy。
The　boy；　indeed；　he　easily　recognized　as　his　old　acquaintance
Dickon；　whose　face；　once　seen；　was　scarcely　to　be　forgotten；　but
how　he　came　hither　at　so　critical　a　moment；　why　his　interference
was　so　energetic；　and；　above　all；　how　it　came　to　produce　so
powerful　an　effect　upon　Leicester；　were　questions　which　he　could
not　solve。

But　the　letter　was　of　itself　powerful　enough　to　work　effects　yet
more　wonderful。　　It　was　that　which　the　unfortunate　Amy　had
written　to　her　husband；　in　which　she　alleged　the　reasons　and
manner　of　her　flight　from　Cumnor　Place；　informed　him　of　her
having　made　her　way　to　Kenilworth　to　enjoy　his　protection；　and
mentioned　the　circumstances　which　had　compelled　her　to　take
refuge　in　Tressilian's　apartment；　earnestly　requesting　he　would；
without　delay；　assign　her　a　more　suitable　asylum。　　The　letter
concluded　with　the　most　earnest　expressions　of　devoted　attachment
and　submission　to　his　will　in　all　things；　and　particularly
respecting　her　situation　and　place　of　residence；　conjuring　him
only　that　she　might　not　be　placed　under　the　guardianship　or
restraint　of　Varney。　　The　letter　dropped　from　Leicester's　hand
when　he　had　perused　it。　　〃Take　my　sword；〃　he　said；　〃Tressilian；
and　pierce　my　heart；　as　I　would　but　now　have　pierced　yo