Sussex and the other nobles were also richly attired, but in point of splendour and gracefulness of mien Leicester far exceeded them all.
Elizabeth received him with great complacency.

"We have one piece of royal justice," she said, "to attend to.

It is a piece of justice, too, which interests us as a woman, as well as in the character of mother and guardian of the English people." An involuntary shudder came over Leicester as he bowed low, expressive of his readiness to receive her royal commands; and a similar cold fit came over Varney, whose eyes (seldom during that evening removed from his patron) instantly perceived from the change in his looks, slight as that was, of what the Queen was speaking.

But Leicester had wrought his resolution up to the point which, in his crooked policy, he judged necessary; and when Elizabeth added, "it is of the matter of Varney and Tressilian we speak--is the lady here, my lord ?" his answer was ready--"Gracious madam, she is not." Elizabeth bent her brews and compressed her lips.

"Our orders were strict and positive, my lord," was her answer-- "And should have been obeyed, good my liege," replied Leicester, "had they been expressed in the form of the lightest wish.