You know him, my lord.

You know he had formerly an interest in her, which it cost your lordship some pains to supersede.

You know the eagerness with which he has pressed on the suit against me in behalf of this lady, the open object of which is to drive your lordship to an avowal of what I must ever call your most unhappy marriage, the point to which my lady also is willing, at any risk, to urge you." Leicester smiled constrainedly.

"Thou meanest well, good Sir Richard, and wouldst, I think, sacrifice thine own honour, as well as that of any other person, to save me from what thou thinkest a step so terrible.

But remember"-- he spoke these words with the most stern decision--"you speak of the Countess of Leicester." "I do, my lord," said Varney; "but it is for the welfare of the Earl of Leicester.