r weapons, wearing them as if more for fashion's
sake than for use. Do thou thyself keep close to me, I may have business
for you."

The preparations of Sussex and his party were not less anxious than
those of Leicester.

"Thy Supplication, impeaching Varney of seduction," said the Earl to
Tressilian, "is by this time in the Queen's hand--I have sent it through
a sure channel. Methinks your suit should succeed, being, as it is,
founded in justice and honour, and Elizabeth being the very muster of
both. But--I wot not how--the gipsy" (so Sussex was wont to call his
rival on account of his dark complexion) "hath much to say with her in
these holyday times of peace. Were war at the gates, I should be one of
her white boys; but soldiers, like their bucklers and Bilboa blades, get
out of fashion in peace time, and satin sleeves and walking rapiers bear
the bell. Well, we must be gay, since such is the fashion.--Blount, hast
thou seen our household put into their new braveries? But thou knowest
as little of these toys as I do; thou wouldst be ready enow at disposing
a stand of pikes."

"My good lord," answered Blount, "Raleigh hath been here, and taken that
charge upon him--your train will glitter like a May morning. Marry, the
cost is another question. One might keep an hospital of old soldiers at
the charge of ten modern lackeys."

"He must not count cost to-day, Nicholas," said the Earl in reply. "I
am beholden to Raleigh for his care. I trust, though, he has remembered
that I am an old soldier, and would have no more of these follies than
needs must."

"Nay, I understand nought about it," said Blount; "but here are your
honourable lordship's brave kinsmen and friends coming in by scores to
wait upon you to court, where, methinks, we shall bear as brave a front
as Leicester, let him ruffle it as he will."

"Give them the strictest charges," said Sussex, "that they suffer no
provocation short of actual violence to provoke them into quarrel. They
have hot bloods, and I would not give Leicester the advantage over me by
any imprudence of theirs."

The Earl of Sussex ran so hastily through these directions, that it was
with difficulty Tressilian at length found opportunity to express his
surprise that he should have proceeded so far in the affair of Sir Hugh
Robsart as to lay his petition at once before the Queen. "It was the
opinion of the young lady's friends," he said, "that Leicester's
sense of justice should be fi