Spare me further prelude, sir, and speak to the purpose if indeed you have aught to say that concerns me.
When you have done, I, in my turn, have something to communicate." "I will speak, then, without further prelude, my lord," answered Tressilian, "having to say that which, as it concerns your lordship's honour, I am confident you will not think your time wasted in listening to.

I have to request an account from your lordship of the unhappy Amy Robsart, whose history is too well known to you.

I regret deeply that I did not at once take this course, and make yourself judge between me and the villain by whom she is injured.

My lord, she extricated herself from an unlawful and most perilous state of confinement, trusting to the effects of her own remonstrance upon her unworthy husband, and extorted from me a promise that I would not interfere in her behalf until she had used her own efforts to have her rights acknowledged by him." "Ha," said Leicester, "remember you to whom you speak ?" "I speak of her unworthy husband, my lord," repeated Tressilian, "and my respect can find no softer language.

The unhappy young woman is withdrawn from my knowledge, and sequestered in some secret place of this Castle--if she be not transferred to some place of seclusion better fitted for bad designs.