I will watch, disgusting as it is, the coils and mazes of the loathsome snake, ere I put forth my strength and crush him." His hand quitted the sword-hilt, and he advanced slowly towards Tressilian, collecting, for their meeting, all the self-possession he could command, until they came front to front with each other.
Tressilian made a profound reverence, to which the Earl replied with a haughty inclination of the head, and the words, "You sought secret conference with me, sir; I am here, and attentive." "My lord," said Tressilian, "I am so earnest in that which I have to say, and so desirous to find a patient, nay, a favourable hearing, that I will stoop to exculpate myself from whatever might prejudice your lordship against me.

You think me your enemy ?" "Have I not some apparent cause ?" answered Leicester, perceiving that Tressilian paused for a reply.
"You do me wrong, my lord.

I am a friend, but neither a dependant nor partisan, of the Earl of Sussex, whom courtiers call your rival; and it is some considerable time since I ceased to consider either courts or court intrigues as suited to my temper or genius." "No doubt, sir," answered Leicester "there are other occupations more worthy a scholar, and for such the world holds Master Tressilian.

Love has his intrigues as well as ambition." "I perceive, my lord," replied Tressilian, "you give much weight to my early attachment for the unfortunate young person of whom I am about to speak, and perhaps think I am prosecuting her cause out of rivalry, more than a sense of justice." "No matter for my thoughts, sir," said the Earl; "proceed.

You have as yet spoken of yourself only--an important and worthy subject doubtless, but which, perhaps, does not altogether so deeply concern me that I should postpone my repose to hear it.