 the Earl he could not suspect; but even the discovery of such a
passing intrigue with a lady of Mistress Amy Robsart's rank, was a secret of the
deepest importance to the stability of the favourite's power over Elizabeth. »If
Leicester himself should hesitate to stifle such a rumour by very strange
means,« said he to himself, »he has those about him who would do him that favour
without waiting for his consent. If I would meddle in this business, it must be
in such guise as my old master uses when he compounds his manna of Satan, and
that is with a close mask on my face. So I will quit Giles Gosling to-morrow,
and change my course and place of residence as often as a hunted fox. I should
like to see this little puritan, too, once more. She looks both pretty and
intelligent, to have come of such a caitiff as Anthony Fire-the-Fagot.«
    Giles Gosling received the adieus of Wayland rather joyfully than otherwise.
The honest publican saw so much peril in crossing the course of the Earl of
Leicester's favourite, that his virtue was scarce able to support him in the
task, and he was well pleased when it was likely to be removed from his
shoulders; still, however, professing his goodwill, and readiness, in case of
need, to do Mr. Tressilian or his emissary any service, in so far as consisted
with his character of a publican.
 

                              Chapter Twenty-First

 Vaulting ambition, that o'erleaps itself,
 And falls on t'other sid
                                                                        Macbeth.
 
The splendour of the approaching revels at Kenilworth was now the conversation
through all England; and every thing was collected at home, or from abroad,
which could add to the gaiety or glory of the prepared reception of Elizabeth,
at the house of her most distinguished favourite. Meantime, Leicester appeared
daily to advance in the Queen's favour. He was perpetually by her side in
council, willingly listened to in the moments of courtly recreation - favoured
with approaches even to familiar intimacy - looked up to by all who had aught to
hope at court - courted by foreign ministers with the most flattering
testimonies of respect from their sovereigns - the Alter Ego, as it seemed, of
the stately Elizabeth, who was now very generally supposed to be studying the
time and opportunity for associating him, by marriage, into her sovereign power.
    Amid such a tide of prosperity, this minion of fortune, and of the Queen's
favour, was probably the most unhappy man in the realm which seemed at his
