I said but that the Countess was ill.

And Countess though she be--lovely and beloved as she is--surely your lordship must hold her to be mortal?
She may die, and your lordship's hand become once more your own." "Away! away!" said Leicester; "let me have no more of this." "Good night, my lord," said Varney, seeming to understand this as a command to depart; but Leicester's voice interrupted his purpose.
"Thou 'scapest me not thus, Sir Fool," said he; "I think thy knighthood has addled thy brains.

Confess thou hast talked of impossibilities as of things which may come to pass." "My lord, long live your fair Countess," said Varney; "but neither your love nor my good wishes can make her immortal.

But God grant she live long to be happy herself, and to render you so! I see not but you may be King of England notwithstanding." "Nay, now, Varney, thou art stark mad," said Leicester.
"I would I were myself within the same nearness to a good estate of freehold," said Varney.

"Have we not known in other countries how a left-handed marriage might subsist betwixt persons of differing degree ?--ay, and be no hindrance to prevent the husband from conjoining himself afterwards with a more suitable partner ?" "I have heard of such things in Germany," said Leicester.
"Ay, and the most learned doctors in foreign universities justify the practice from the Old Testament," said Varney.