In short, matters were so far changed in twenty-four hours that some of the more experienced and sagacious courtiers foresaw a strong possibility of Leicester's restoration to favour, and regulated their demeanour towards him, as those who might one day claim merit for not having deserted him in adversity.

It is time, however, to leave these intrigues, and follow Tressilian and Raleigh on their journey.
The troop consisted of six persons; for, besides Wayland, they had in company a royal pursuivant and two stout serving-men.

All were well-armed, and travelled as fast as it was possible with justice to their horses, which had a long journey before them.

They endeavoured to procure some tidings as they rode along of Varney and his party, but could hear none, as they had travelled in the dark.

At a small village about twelve miles from Kenilworth, where they gave some refreshment to their horses, a poor clergyman, the curate of the place, came out of a small cottage, and entreated any of the company who might know aught of surgery to look in for an instant on a dying man.
The empiric Wayland undertook to do his best, and as the curate conducted him to the spot, he learned that the man had been found on the highroad, about a mile from the village, by labourers, as they were going to their work on the preceding morning, and the curate had given him shelter in his house.