The new minion, Walter Raleigh, and our old acquaintance Tressilian were called for to fill our places just as I hastened away to seek you." "Thou art a devil, Varney," said Leicester hastily; "but thou hast the mastery for the present--I follow thee." Varney replied not, but led the way out of the palace, and towards the river, while his master followed him, as if mechanically; until, looking back, he said in a tone which savoured of familiarity at least, if not of authority, "How is this, my lord?
Your cloak hangs on one side--your hose are unbraced--permit me--" "Thou art a fool, Varney, as well as a knave," said Leicester, shaking him off, and rejecting his officious assistance.

"We are best thus, sir; when we require you to order our person, it is well, but now we want you not." So saying, the Earl resumed at once his air of command, and with it his self-possession--shook his dress into yet wilder disorder--passed before Varney with the air of a superior and master, and in his turn led the way to the river-side.
The Queen's barge was on the very point of putting off, the seat allotted to Leicester in the stern, and that to his master of the horse on the bow of the boat, being already filled up.

But on Leicester's approach there was a pause, as if the bargemen anticipated some alteration in their company.

The angry spot was, however, on the Queen's cheek, as, in that cold tone with which superiors endeavour to veil their internal agitation, while speaking to those before whom it would be derogation to express it, she pronounced the chilling words, "We have waited, my Lord of Leicester." "Madam, and most gracious Princess," said Leicester, "you, who can pardon so many weaknesses which your own heart never knows, can best bestow your commiseration on the agitations of the bosom, which, for a moment, affect both head and limbs.

I came to your presence a doubting and an accused subject; your goodness penetrated the clouds of defamation, and restored me to my honour, and, what is yet dearer, to your favour--is it wonderful, though for me it is most unhappy, that my master of the horse should have found me in a state which scarce permitted me to make the exertion necessary to follow him to this place, when one glance of your Highness, although, alas! an angry one, has had power to do that for me in which Esculapius might have failed ?" "How is this ?" said Elizabeth hastily, looking at Varney; "hath your lord been ill ?" "Something of a fainting fit," answered the ready-witted Varney, "as your Grace may observe from his present condition.