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 yours!"

"My lord," said Tressilian, "you have done me great wrong, but something
within my breast ever whispered that it was by egregious error."

"Error, indeed!" said Leicester, and handed him the letter; "I have been
made to believe a man of honour a villain, and the best and purest of
creatures a false profligate.--Wretched boy, why comes this letter now,
and where has the bearer lingered?"

"I dare not tell you, my lord," said the boy, withdrawing, as if to keep
beyond his reach; "but here comes one who was the messenger."

Wayland at the same moment came up; and interrogated by Leicester,
hastily detailed all the circumstances of his escape with Amy, the fatal
practices which had driven her to flight, and her anxious desire to
throw herself under the instant protection of her husband--pointing
out the evidence of the domestics of Kenilworth, "who could not," he
observed, "but remember her eager inquiries after the Earl of Leicester
on her first arrival."

"The villains!" exclaimed Leicester; "but oh, that worst of villains,
Varney!--and she is even now in his power!"

"But not, I trust in God," said Tressilian, "with any commands of fatal
import?"

"No, no, no!" exclaimed the Earl hastily. "I said something in madness;
but it was recalled, fully recalled, by a hasty messenger, and she is
now--she must now be safe."

"Yes," said Tressilian, "she MUST be safe, and I MUST be assured of her
safety. My own quarrel with you is ended, my lord; but there is another
to begin with the seducer of Amy Robsart, who has screened his guilt
under the cloak of the infamous Varney."

"The SEDUCER of Amy!" replied Leicester, with a voice like thunder; "say
her husband!--her misguided, blinded, most unworthy husband! She is
as surely Countess of Leicester as I am belted Earl. Nor can you, sir,
point out that manner of justice which I will not render her at my own
free will. I need scarce sa