he
started at the sudden change. No sooner did his eyes encounter the Earl's than
the latter withdrew his head, and shut the door of the closet. This manoeuvre
Leicester repeated twice, without speaking a word, so that Varney began to doubt
whether his brain was not actually affected by his mental agony. The third time,
however, he beckoned, and Varney obeyed the signal. When he entered, he soon
found his patron's perturbation was not caused by insanity, but by the fellness
of purpose which he entertained, contending with various contrary passions. They
passed a full hour in close consultation; after which the Earl of Leicester,
with an incredible exertion, dressed himself, and went to attend his royal
guest.
 

                             Chapter Thirty-Seventh

 You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting
 With most admired disorder.
                                                                        Macbeth.
 
It was afterwards remembered, that during the banquets and revels which occupied
the remainder of this eventful day, the bearing of Leicester and Varney was
totally different from their usual demeanour. Sir Richard Varney had been held
rather a man of counsel and of action, than a votary of pleasure. Business,
whether civil or military, seemed always to be his proper sphere; and while in
festivals and revels, although he well understood how to trick them up and
present them, his own part was that of a mere spectator; or if he exercised his
wit, it was in a rough, caustic, and severe manner, rather as if he scoffed at
the exhibition and the guests, than shared the common pleasure.
    But upon the present day his character seemed changed. He mixed among the
younger courtiers and ladies, and appeared for the moment to be actuated by a
spirit of light-hearted gaiety, which rendered him a match for the liveliest.
Those who had looked upon him as a man given up to graver and more ambitious
pursuits, a bitter sneerer and passer of sarcasms at the expense of those, who,
taking life as they find it, were disposed to snatch at each pastime it
presents, now perceived with astonishment that his wit could carry as smooth an
edge as their own, his laugh be as lively, and his brow as unclouded. By what
art of damnable hypocrisy he could draw this veil of gaiety over the black
thoughts of one of the worst of human bosoms, must remain unintelligible to all
but his compeers, if any such ever existed; but he was a man of extraordinary
powers, and those powers were unhappily dedicated in all their energy to the
very worst of purposes.
    It was entirely different with Leicester. However habituated