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While Wayland obeyed the Earl's commands； his servants； by the
artist's direction； undressed their master； and placed him in
bed。
〃I warn you；〃 he said； 〃that the first operation of this medicine
will be to produce a heavy sleep； during which time the chamber
must be kept undisturbed； as the consequences may otherwise he
fatal。 I myself will watch by the Earl with any of the gentlemen
of his chamber。〃
〃Let all leave the room； save Stanley and this good fellow；〃 said
the Earl。
〃And saving me also；〃 said Tressilian。 〃I too am deeply
interested in the effects of this potion。〃
〃Be it so； good friend；〃 said the Earl。 〃And now for our
experiment； but first call my secretary and chamberlain。〃
〃Bear witness；〃 he continued； when these officers arrived〃bear
witness for me； gentlemen； that our honourable friend Tressilian
is in no way responsible for the effects which this medicine may
produce upon me； the taking it being my own free action and
choice； in regard I believe it to be a remedy which God has
furnished me by unexpected means to recover me of my present
malady。 Commend me to my noble and princely Mistress； and say
that I live and die her true servant； and wish to all about her
throne the same singleness of heart and will to serve her； with
more ability to do so than hath been assigned to poor Thomas
Ratcliffe。〃
He then folded his hands； and seemed for a second or two absorbed
in mental devotion； then took the potion in his hand； and；
pausing； regarded Wayland with a look that seemed designed to
penetrate his very soul； but which caused no anxiety or
hesitation in the countenance or manner of the artist。
〃Here is nothing to be feared；〃 said Sussex to Tressilian； and
swallowed the medicine without further hesitation
〃I am now to pray your lordship；〃 said Wayland； 〃to dispose
yourself to rest as commodiously as you can； and of you；
gentlemen； to remain as still and mute as if you waited at your
mother's deathbed。〃
The chamberlain and secretary then withdrew； giving orders that
all doors should be bolted； and all noise in the house strictly
prohibited。 Several gentlemen were voluntary watchers in the
hall； but none remained in the chamber of the sick Earl； save his
groom of the chamber； the artist； and Tressilian。Wayland
Smith's predictions were speedily accomplished； and a sleep fell
upon the Earl； so deep and sound that they who watched his
bedside began to fear that； in his weakened state； he might pass
away without awakening from his lethargy。 Wayland Smith himself
appeared anxious； and felt the temples of the Earl slightly； from
time to time； attending particularly to the state of his
respiration； which was full and deep； but at the same time easy
and uninterrupted。
CHAPTER XV；
You loggerheaded and unpolish'd grooms；
What； no attendance； no regard； no duty？
Where is the foolish knave I sent before？ TAMING OF THE SHREW。
There is no period at which men look worse in the eyes of each
other； or feel more uncomfortable； than when the first dawn of
daylight finds them watchers。 Even a beauty of the first order；
after the vigils of a ball are interrupted by the dawn； would do
wisely to withdraw herself from the gaze of her fondest and most
partial admirers。 Such was the pale； inauspicious； and
ungrateful light which began to beam upon those who kept watch
all night in the hall at Sayes Court； and which mingled its cold；
pale； blue diffusion with the red； yellow； and smoky beams of
expiring lamps and torches。 The young gallant； whom we noticed
in our last chapter； had left the room for a few minutes； to
learn the cause of a knocking at the outward gate； and on his
return was so struck with the forlorn and ghastly aspects of his
companions of the watch that he exclaimed； 〃Pity of my heart； my
masters； how like owls you look！ Methinks； when the sun rises； I
shall see you flutter off with your eyes dazzled； to stick
yourselves into the next ivy…tod or ruined steeple。〃
〃Hold thy peace； thou gibing fool；〃 said Blount； 〃hold thy peace。
Is this a time for jeering； when the manhood of England is
perchance dying within a wall's breadth of thee？〃
〃There thou liest；〃 replied the gallant。
〃How； lie！〃 exclaimed Blount； starting up； 〃lie！ and to me？〃
〃Why； so thou didst； thou peevish fool；〃 answered the youth；
〃thou didst lie on that bench even now； didst thou not？ But art
thou not a hasty coxcomb to pick up a wry word so wrathfully？
Nevertheless； loving and； honouring my lord as truly as thou； or
any one； I do say that； should Heaven take him from us； all
England's manhood dies not with him。〃
〃Ay；〃 replied Blount； 〃a good portion will survive with thee；
doubtless。〃
〃And a good portion with thyself； Blount； and with stout Markham
here； and Tracy； and all of us。 But I am he will best employ the
talent Heaven has given to us all。〃
〃As how； I prithee？〃 said Blount； 〃tell us your mystery of
multiplying。〃
〃Why； sirs；〃 answered the youth； 〃ye are like goodly land； which
bears no crop because it is not quickened by manure； but I have
that rising spirit in me which will make my poor faculties labour
to keep pace with it。 My ambition will keep my brain at work； I
warrant thee。〃
〃I pray to God it does not drive thee mad；〃 said Blount； 〃for my
part； if we lose our noble lord； I bid adieu to the court and to
the camp both。 I have five hundred foul acres in Norfolk； and
thither will I； and change the court pantoufle for the country
hobnail。〃
〃O base transmutation！〃 exclaimed his antagonist； 〃thou hast
already got the true rustic slouchthy shoulders stoop； as if
thine hands were at the stilts of the plough； and thou hast a
kind of earthy smell about thee； instead of being perfumed with
essence； as a gallant and courtier should。 On my soul； thou hast
stolen out to roll thyself on a hay mow！ Thy only excuse will be
to swear by thy hilts that the farmer had a fair daughter。〃
〃I pray thee； Walter；〃 said another of the company； 〃cease thy
raillery； which suits neither time nor place； and tell us who was
at the gate just now。〃
〃Doctor Masters； physician to her Grace in ordinary； sent by her
especial orders to inquire after the Earl's health；〃 answered
Walter。
〃Ha！ what？〃 exclaimed Tracy； 〃that was no slight mark of
favour。 If the Earl can but come through； he will match with
Leicester yet。 Is Masters with my lord at present？〃
〃Nay；〃 replied Walter； 〃he is half way back to Greenwich by this
time； and in high dudgeon。〃
〃Thou didst not refuse him admittance？〃 exclaimed Tracy。
〃Thou wert not； surely； so mad？〃 ejaculated Blount。
〃I refused him admittance as flatly； Blount； as you would refuse
a penny to a blind beggaras obstinately； Tracy； as thou didst
ever deny access to a dun。〃
〃Why； in the fiend's name； didst thou trust him to go to the
gate？〃 said Blount to Tracy。
〃It suited his years better than mine；〃 answered Tracy； 〃but he
has undone us all now thoroughly。 My lord may live or die； he
will never have a look of favour from her Majesty again。〃
〃Nor the means of making fortunes for his followers；〃 said the
young gallant； smiling contemptuously；〃there lies the sore
point that will brook no handling。 My good sirs； I sounded my
lamentations over my lord somewhat less loudly than some of you；
but when the point comes of doing him service； I will yield to
none of you。 Had this learned leech entered； think'st thou not
there had been such a coil betwixt him and Tressilian's
mediciner； that not the sleeper only； but the very dead might
have awakened？ I know what larurm belongs to the discord of
doctors。〃
〃And who is to take the blame of opposing the Queen's orders？〃
said Tracy； 〃for； undeniably； Doctor Masters came with her
Grace's positive commands to cure the Earl。〃
〃I； who have done the wrong； will bear the blame；〃 said Walter。
〃Thus； then； off fly the dreams of court favour thou hast
nourished；〃 said Blount； 〃and despite all thy boasted art and
ambition； Devonshire will see thee shine a true younger brother；
fit to sit low at the board； carve turn about with the chaplain；
look that the hounds be fed； and see the squire's girths drawn
when he goes a…hunting。〃
〃Not so；〃 said the young man； colouring； 〃not while Ireland and
the Netherlands have wars； and not while the sea hath pathless
waves。 The rich West hath lands undreamed of； and Britain
contains bold hearts to venture on the quest of them。 Adieu for
a space； my masters。 I go to walk in the court and look to the
sentinels。〃
〃The lad hath quicksilver in his veins； that is certain；〃 said
Blount； looking at Markham。
〃He hath that both in brain and blood；〃 said Markham； 〃which may
either make or mar him。 But in closing the door against Masters；
he hath done a daring and loving piece of service； for
Tressilian's fellow hath ever averred that to wake the Earl were
death； and Masters would wake the Seven Sleepers themselves； if
he thought they slept not by the regular ordinance of medicine。〃
Morning was well advanced when Tressilian； fatigued and over…
watched； came down to the hall with the joyful intelligence that
the Earl had awakened of himself； that