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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 with unwomanly violence。
〃Why； madam； wives must obey their husbands…there's Scripture
warrant for it；〃 said Foster； 〃and if you will dress yourself；
and come with us patiently； there's no one shall lay finger on
you while I can draw a pistol…trigger。〃
Seeing no help arrive； and comforted even by the dogged language
of Foster； the Countess promised to arise and dress herself； if
they would agree to retire from the room。 Varney at the same
time assured her of all safety and honour while in their hands；
and promised that he himself would not approach her； since his
presence was so displeasing。 Her husband； he added； would be at
Cumnor Place within twenty…four hours after they had reached it。
Somewhat comforted by this assurance； upon which； however； she
saw little reason to rely； the unhappy Amy made her toilette by
the assistance of the lantern； which they left with her when they
quitted the apartment。
Weeping； trembling； and praying； the unfortunate lady dressed
herself with sensations how different from the days in which she
was wont to decorate herself in all the pride of conscious
beauty！ She endeavoured to delay the completing her dress as
long as she could； until； terrified by the impatience of Varney；
she was obliged to declare herself ready to attend them。
When they were about to move； the Countess clung to Foster with
such an appearance of terror at Varney's approach that the latter
protested to her； with a deep oath； that he had no intention
whatever of even coming near her。 〃If you do but consent to
execute your husband's will in quietness； you shall；〃 he said；
〃see but little of me。 I will leave you undisturbed to the care
of the usher whom your good taste prefers。〃
〃My husband's will！〃 she exclaimed。 〃But it is the will of God；
and let that be sufficient to me。 I will go with Master Foster
as unresistingly as ever did a literal sacrifice。 He is a father
at least； and will have decency； if not humanity。 For thee；
Varney； were it my latest word； thou art an equal stranger to
both。〃
Varney replied only she was at liberty to choose； and walked some
paces before them to show the way； while； half leaning on Foster；
and half carried by him； the Countess was transported from
Saintlowe's Tower to the postern gate； where Tider waited with
the litter and horses。
The Countess was placed in the former without resistance。 She
saw with some satisfaction that； while Foster and Tider rode
close by the litter； which the latter conducted； the dreaded
Varney lingered behind； and was soon lost in darkness。 A little
while she strove； as the road winded round the verge of the lake；
to keep sight of those stately towers which called her husband
lord； and which still； in some places； sparkled with lights；
where wassailers were yet revelling。 But when the direction of
the road rendered this no longer possible； she drew back her
head； and sinking down in the litter； recommended herself to the
care of Providence。
Besides the desire of inducing the Countess to proceed quietly on
her journey； Varney had it also in view to have an interview with
Lambourne； by whom he every moment expected to be joined； without
the presence of any witnesses。 He knew the character of this
man； prompt； bloody； resolute； and greedy； and judged him the
most fit agent he could employ in his further designs。 But ten
miles of their journey had been measured ere he heard the hasty
clatter of horse's hoofs behind him； and was overtaken by Michael
Lambourne。
Fretted as he was with his absence； Varney received his
profligate servant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness。 〃Drunken
villain；〃 he said； 〃thy idleness and debauched folly will stretch
a halter ere it be long； and； for me； I care not how soon！〃
This style of objurgation Lambourne； who was elated to an unusual
degree； not only by an extraordinary cup of wine； but by the sort
of confidential interview he had just had with the Earl； and the
secret of which he had made himself master； did not receive with
his wonted humility。 〃He would take no insolence of language；〃
he said； 〃from the best knight that ever wore spurs。 Lord
Leicester had detained him on some business of import； and that
was enough for Varney； who was but a servant like himself。〃
Varney was not a little surprised at his unusual tone of
insolence； but ascribing it to liquor； suffered it to pass as if
unnoticed； and then began to tamper with Lambourne touching his
willingness to aid in removing out of the Earl of Leicester's way
an obstacle to a rise； which would put it in his power to reward
his trusty followers to their utmost wish。 And upon Michael
Lambourne's seeming ignorant what was meant； he plainly indicated
〃the litter…load； yonder；〃 as the impediment which he desired
should be removed。
〃Look you； Sir Richard； and so forth；〃 said Michael； 〃some are
wiser than some； that is one thing； and some are worse than some；
that's another。 I know my lord's mind on this matter better than
thou； for he hath trusted me fully in the matter。 Here are his
mandates； and his last words were； Michael Lambournefor his
lordship speaks to me as a gentleman of the sword； and useth not
the words drunken villain； or such like phrase； of those who know
not how to bear new dignitiesVarney； says he； must pay the
utmost respect to my Countess。 I trust to you for looking to it；
Lambourne； says his lordship； and you must bring back my signet
from him peremptorily。〃
〃Ay；〃 replied Varney； 〃said he so； indeed？ You know all； then？〃
〃Allall； and you were as wise to make a friend of me while the
weather is fair betwixt us。〃
〃And was there no one present；〃 said Varney； 〃when my lord so
spoke？〃
〃Not a breathing creature；〃 replied Lambourne。 〃Think you my
lord would trust any one with such matters； save an approved man
of action like myself？〃
〃Most true；〃 said Varney； and making a pause； he looked forward
on the moonlight road。 They were traversing a wide and open
heath。 The litter being at least a mile before them； was