第31章

Andnow，whilethesubduedyetproudsmilewithwhichhedisclaimedthoseinferenceswasyetcurlinghischeek，theQueenshotintothecircle，herpassionsexcitedtotheuttermost;andsupportingwithonehand，andapparentlywithoutaneffort，thepaleandsinkingformofhisalmostexpiringwife，andpointingwiththefingeroftheothertoherhalf—deadfeatures，demandedinavoicethatsoundedtotheearsoftheastoundedstatesmanlikethelastdreadtrumpet—callthatistosummonbodyandspirittothejudgment—seat，"Knowestthouthiswoman？"

As，attheblastofthatlasttrumpet，theguiltyshallcalluponthemountainstocoverthem，Leicester\'sinwardthoughtsinvokedthestatelyarchwhichhehadbuiltinhispridetoburstitsstrongconjunction，andoverwhelmtheminitsruins。Butthecementedstones，architraveandbattlement，stoodfast;anditwastheproudmasterhimselfwho，asifsomeactualpressurehadbenthimtotheearth，kneeleddownbeforeElizabeth，andprostratedhisbrowtothemarbleflag—stonesonwhichshestood。

"Leicester，"saidElizabeth，inavoicewhichtrembledwithpassion，"couldIthinkthouhastpractisedonme——onmethySovereign——onmethyconfiding，thytoopartialmistress，thebaseandungratefuldeceptionwhichthypresentconfusionsurmises——byallthatisholy，falselord，thatheadofthinewereinasgreatperilaseverwasthyfather\'s！"

Leicesterhadnotconsciousinnocence，buthehadpridetosupporthim。Heraisedslowlyhisbrowandfeatures，whichwereblackandswolnwithcontendingemotions，andonlyreplied，"Myheadcannotfallbutbythesentenceofmypeers。TothemIwillplead，andnottoaprincesswhothusrequitesmyfaithfulservice。"

"What！mylords，"saidElizabeth，lookingaround，"wearedefied，Ithink——defiedintheCastlewehaveourselvesbestowedonthisproudman！——MyLordShrewsbury，youareMarshalofEngland，attachhimofhightreason。"

"WhomdoesyourGracemean？"saidShrewsbury，muchsurprised，forhehadthatinstantjoinedtheastonishedcircle。

"WhomshouldImean，butthattraitorDudley，EarlofLeicester！

——CousinofHunsdon，orderoutyourbandofgentlemenpensioners，andtakehimintoinstantcustody。Isay，villain，makehaste！"

Hunsdon，arougholdnoble，who，fromhisrelationshiptotheBoleyns，wasaccustomedtousemorefreedomwiththeQueenthanalmostanyotherdaredtodo，repliedbluntly，"AnditislikeyourGracemightordermetotheTowerto—morrowformakingtoomuchhaste。Idobeseechyoutobepatient。"

"Patient——God\'slife！"exclaimedtheQueen——"namenotthewordtome;thouknowestnotofwhatheisguilty！"

Amy，whohadbythistimeinsomedegreerecoveredherself，andwhosawherhusband，assheconceived，intheutmostdangerfromtherageofanoffendedSovereign，instantly（andalas！howmanywomenhavedonethesame）forgotherownwrongsandherowndangerinherapprehensionsforhim，andthrowingherselfbeforetheQueen，embracedherknees，whilesheexclaimed，"Heisguiltless，madam——heisguiltless;noonecanlayaughttothechargeofthenobleLeicester！"

"Why，minion，"answeredtheQueen，"didstnotthouthyselfsaythattheEarlofLeicesterwasprivytothywholehistory？"

"DidIsayso？"repeatedtheunhappyAmy，layingasideeveryconsiderationofconsistencyandofself—interest。"Oh，ifI

did，Ifoullybeliedhim。MayGodsojudgeme，asIbelievehewasneverprivytoathoughtthatwouldharmme！"

"Woman！"saidElizabeth，"Iwillknowwhohasmovedtheetothis;ormywrath——andthewrathofkingsisaflamingfire——

shallwitherandconsumetheelikeaweedinthefurnace！"

AstheQueenutteredthisthreat，Leicester\'sbetterangelcalledhispridetohisaid，andreproachedhimwiththeutterextremityofmeannesswhichwouldoverwhelmhimforeverifhestoopedtotakeshelterunderthegenerousinterpositionofhiswife，andabandonedher，inreturnforherkindness，totheresentmentoftheQueen。Hehadalreadyraisedhisheadwiththedignityofamanofhonourtoavowhismarriage，andproclaimhimselftheprotectorofhisCountess，whenVarney，born，asitappeared，tobehismaster\'sevilgenius，rushedintothepresencewitheverymarkofdisorderonhisfaceandapparel。

"Whatmeansthissaucyintrusion？"saidElizabeth。

Varney，withtheairofamanaltogetheroverwhelmedwithgriefandconfusion，prostratedhimselfbeforeherfeet，exclaiming，"Pardon，myLiege，pardon！——oratleastletyourjusticeavengeitselfonme，whereitisdue;butsparemynoble，mygenerous，myinnocentpatronandmaster！"

Amy，whowasyetkneeling，startedupasshesawthemanwhomshedeemedmostodiousplacehimselfsonearher，andwasabouttoflytowardsLeicester，when，checkedatoncebytheuncertaintyandeventimiditywhichhislookshadreassumedassoonastheappearanceofhisconfidantseemedtoopenanewscene，shehungback，andutteringafaintscream，besoughtofherMajestytocausehertobeimprisonedinthelowestdungeonoftheCastle——

todealwithherastheworstofcriminals——"butspare，"sheexclaimed，"mysightandhearingwhatwilldestroythelittlejudgmentIhaveleft——thesightofthatunutterableandmostshamelessvillain！"

"Andwhy，sweetheart？"saidtheQueen，movedbyanewimpulse;

"whathathhe，thisfalseknight，sincesuchthouaccountesthim，donetothee？"

"Oh，worsethansorrow，madam，andworsethaninjury——hehassowndissensionwheremostthereshouldbepeace。IshallgomadifI

looklongeronhim！"

"Beshrewme，butIthinkthouartdistraughtalready，"answeredtheQueen。——"MyLordHunsdon，looktothispoordistressedyoungwoman，andletherbesafelybestowed，andinhonestkeeping，tillwerequirehertobeforthcoming。"

Twoorthreeoftheladiesinattendance，eithermovedbycompassionforacreaturesointeresting，orbysomeothermotive，offeredtheirservicestolookafterher;buttheQueenbrieflyanswered，"Ladies，underfavour，no。Youhaveall（giveGodthanks）sharpearsandnimbletongues;ourkinsmanHunsdonhasearsofthedullest，andatonguesomewhatrough，butyetoftheslowest。——Hunsdon，looktoitthatnonehavespeechofher。"

"ByOurLady，"saidHunsdon，takinginhisstrong，sinewyarmsthefadingandalmostswooningformofAmy，"sheisalovelychild！andthougharoughnurse，yourGracehathgivenherakindone。Sheissafewithmeasoneofmyownladybirdsofdaughters。"

Sosaying，hecarriedheroff;unresistinglyandalmostunconsciously，hiswar—wornlocksandlong，greybeardminglingwithherlight—browntresses，asherheadreclinedonhisstrong，squareshoulder。TheQueenfollowedhimwithhereye。Shehadalready，withthatself—commandwhichformssonecessaryapartofaSovereign\'saccomplishments，suppressedeveryappearanceofagitation，andseemedasifshedesiredtobanishalltracesofherburstofpassionfromtherecollectionofthosewhohadwitnessedit。"MyLordofHunsdonsayswell，"sheobserved，"heisindeedbutaroughnurseforsotenderababe。"

"MyLordofHunsdon，"saidtheDeanofSt。Asaph——"Ispeakitnotindefamationofhismorenoblequalities——hathabroadlicenseinspeech，andgarnisheshisdiscoursesomewhattoofreelywiththecruelandsuperstitiousoathswhichsavourbothofprofanenessandofoldPapistrie。"

"Itisthefaultofhisblood，Mr。Dean，"saidtheQueen，turningsharplyrounduponthereverenddignitaryasshespoke;"andyoumayblamemineforthesamedistemperature。TheBoleynswereeverahotandplain—spokenrace，morehastytospeaktheirmindthancarefultochoosetheirexpressions。Andbymyword——Ihopethereisnosininthataffirmation——IquestionifitweremuchcooledbymixingwiththatofTudor。"

Asshemadethislastobservationshesmiledgraciously，andstolehereyesalmostinsensiblyroundtoseekthoseoftheEarlofLeicester，towhomshenowbegantothinkshehadspokenwithhastyharshnessupontheunfoundedsuspicionofamoment。

TheQueen\'seyefoundtheEarlinnomoodtoaccepttheimpliedofferofconciliation。Hisownlookshadfollowed，withlateandruefulrepentance，thefadedformwhichHunsdonhadjustbornefromthepresence。Theynowreposedgloomilyontheground，butmore——soatleastitseemedtoElizabeth——withtheexpressionofonewhohasreceivedanunjustaffront，thanofhimwhoisconsciousofguilt。Sheturnedherfaceangrilyfromhim，andsaidtoVarney，"Speak，SirRichard，andexplaintheseriddles——

thouhastsenseandtheuseofspeech，atleast，whichelsewherewelookforinvain。"

Asshesaidthis，shedartedanotherresentfulglancetowardsLeicester，whilethewilyVarneyhastenedtotellhisownstory。

"YourMajesty\'spiercingeye，"hesaid，"hasalreadydetectedthecruelmaladyofmybelovedlady，which，unhappythatIam，I

wouldnotsuffertobeexpressedinthecertificateofherphysician，seekingtoconcealwhathasnowbrokenoutwithsomuchthemorescandal。