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with the finger of the other to her half…dead features； demanded
in a voice that sounded to the ears of the astounded statesman
like the last dread trumpet…call that is to summon body and
spirit to the judgment…seat； 〃Knowest thou this woman？〃
As； at the blast of that last trumpet； the guilty shall call upon
the mountains to cover them； Leicester's inward thoughts invoked
the stately arch which he had built in his pride to burst its
strong conjunction； and overwhelm them in its ruins。 But the
cemented stones； architrave and battlement； stood fast； and it
was the proud master himself who； as if some actual pressure had
bent him to the earth； kneeled down before Elizabeth； and
prostrated his brow to the marble flag…stones on which she stood。
〃Leicester；〃 said Elizabeth； in a voice which trembled with
passion； 〃could I think thou hast practised on meon me thy
Sovereignon me thy confiding； thy too partial mistress； the
base and ungrateful deception which thy present confusion
surmisesby all that is holy； false lord； that head of thine
were in as great peril as ever was thy father's！〃
Leicester had not conscious innocence； but he had pride to
support him。 He raised slowly his brow and features； which were
black and swoln with contending emotions； and only replied； 〃My
head cannot fall but by the sentence of my peers。 To them I will
plead； and not to a princess who thus requites my faithful
service。〃
〃What！ my lords；〃 said Elizabeth； looking around； 〃we are
defied； I thinkdefied in the Castle we have ourselves bestowed
on this proud man！My Lord Shrewsbury； you are Marshal of
England； attach him of high treason。〃
〃Whom does your Grace mean？〃 said Shrewsbury； much surprised；
for he had that instant joined the astonished circle。
〃Whom should I mean； but that traitor Dudley； Earl of Leicester！
Cousin of Hunsdon； order out your band of gentlemen pensioners；
and take him into instant custody。 I say； villain； make haste！〃
Hunsdon； a rough old noble； who； from his relationship to the
Boleyns； was accustomed to use more freedom with the Queen than
almost any other dared to do； replied bluntly； 〃And it is like
your Grace might order me to the Tower to…morrow for making too
much haste。 I do beseech you to be patient。〃
〃PatientGod's life！〃 exclaimed the Queen〃name not the word
to me； thou knowest not of what he is guilty！〃
Amy； who had by this time in some degree recovered herself； and
who saw her husband； as she conceived； in the utmost danger from
the rage of an offended Sovereign； instantly （and alas！ how
many women have done the same） forgot her own wrongs and her own
danger in her apprehensions for him； and throwing herself before
the Queen； embraced her knees； while she exclaimed； 〃He is
guiltless； madamhe is guiltless； no one can lay aught to the
charge of the noble Leicester！〃
〃Why； minion；〃 answered the Queen； 〃didst not thou thyself say
that the Earl of Leicester was privy to thy whole history？〃
〃Did I say so？〃 repeated the unhappy Amy； laying aside every
consideration of consistency and of self…interest。 〃Oh； if I
did； I foully belied him。 May God so judge me； as I believe he
was never privy to a thought that would harm me！〃
〃Woman！〃 said Elizabeth； 〃I will know who has moved thee to
this； or my wrathand the wrath of kings is a flaming fire
shall wither and consume thee like a weed in the furnace！〃
As the Queen uttered this threat； Leicester's better angel called
his pride to his aid； and reproached him with the utter extremity
of meanness which would overwhelm him for ever if he stooped to
take shelter under the generous interposition of his wife； and
abandoned her； in return for her kindness； to the resentment of
the Queen。 He had already raised his head with the dignity of a
man of honour to avow his marriage； and proclaim himself the
protector of his Countess； when Varney； born； as it appeared； to
be his master's evil genius； rushed into the presence with every
mark of disorder on his face and apparel。
〃What means this saucy intrusion？〃 said Elizabeth。
Varney； with the air of a man altogether overwhelmed with grief
and confusion； prostrated himself before her feet； exclaiming；
〃Pardon； my Liege； pardon！or at least let your justice avenge
itself on me； where it is due； but spare my noble； my generous；
my innocent patron and master！〃
Amy； who was yet kneeling； started up as she saw the man whom she
deemed most odious place himself so near her； and was about to
fly towards Leicester； when； checked at once by the uncertainty
and even timidity which his looks had reassumed as soon as the
appearance of his confidant seemed to open a new scene； she hung
back； and uttering a faint scream； besought of her Majesty to
cause her to be imprisoned in the lowest dungeon of the Castle
to deal with her as the worst of criminals〃but spare；〃 she
exclaimed； 〃my sight and hearing what will destroy the little
judgment I have leftthe sight of that unutterable and most
shameless villain！〃
〃And why； sweetheart？〃 said the Queen； moved by a new impulse；
〃what hath he； this false knight； since such thou accountest him；
done to thee？〃
〃Oh； worse than sorrow； madam； and worse than injuryhe has sown
dissension where most there should be peace。 I shall go mad if I
look longer on him！〃
〃Beshrew me； but I think thou art distraught already；〃 answered
the Queen。〃My Lord Hunsdon； look to this poor distressed young
woman； and let her be safely bestowed； and in honest keeping；
till we require her to be forthcoming。〃
Two or three of the ladies in attendance； either moved by
compassion for a creature so interesting； or by some other
motive； offered their services to look after her； but the Queen
briefly answered； 〃Ladies； under favour； no。 You have all （give
God thanks） sharp ears and nimble tongues； our kinsman Hunsdon
has ears of the dullest； and a tongue somewhat rough； but yet of
the slowest。Hunsdon； look to it that none have speech of her。〃
〃By Our Lady；〃 said Hunsdon； taking in his strong； sinewy arms
the fading and almost swooning form of Amy； 〃she is a lovely
child！ and though a rough nurse； your Grace hath given her a
kind one。 She is safe with me as one of my own ladybirds of
daughters。〃
So saying； he carried her off； unresistingly and almost
unconsciously； his war…worn locks and long； grey beard mingling
with her light…brown tresses； as her head reclined on his strong；
square shoulder。 The Queen followed him with her eye。 She had
already； with that self…command which forms so necessary a part
of a Sovereign's accomplishments； suppressed every appearance of
agitation； and seemed as if she desired to banish all traces of
her burst of passion from the recollection of those who had
witnessed it。 〃My Lord of Hunsdon says well；〃 she observed； 〃he
is indeed but a rough nurse for so tender a babe。〃
〃My Lord of Hunsdon；〃 said the Dean of St。 Asaph〃I speak it not
in defamation of his more noble qualitieshath a broad license
in speech； and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with
the cruel and superstitious oaths which savour both of
profaneness and of old Papistrie。〃
〃It is th