A Gentleman Player

com

ssion as the ma

and Cl

he palace, near the door of the privy chamber, a day or two after the Essex rising, and had been subsequently put to death. Had a thought of assassination taken any root in the queen's mind at sight of the slumbering youth, she would, doubtless, have behaved as on a certain occasion at the time of the Babington conspiracy; when, walking in her garden, and being suddenly approached by one of the conspirators, and finding none of her guards within sight, she held the intruder in so intrepid a look that he shrank back-and the captain of her guard did not soon forget the

ow not," he faltered. "I mean, I have no memory of coming hither. But 'tis not the first time, your

ously confirmed his confession; and then he looked at his coa

n reason for interrogating him quietly herself, instead of call

sty. A player in the lord chamberlain's

lain's company; but a moment after, strange to say, there cam

ell-wisher to the foolish men who partook in the l

to their treason,

o them

fare of England, the happiness of your subjects. But that wish makes no diminution of our loyalty, which for myself I would give my li

me time fulfil a kind wish toward one of those misguided plotters. An you were to be trusted-but nay, your presence here needs some accounting for. Dig your memory, man; knock you

ject of all chivalrous thoughts in every gentleman's breast in England, one moment hold it possible t

ath come to me that you might serve me in a business that needs such a man,-a man not known at court, and whom it would appear impossible I could have given audience to.

mest joy," said Hal, eagerly-and truly. His feeling in t

came you into my private

neighborhood or other-and there I lose myself. It seems as if I went lugging forward through the streets, holding to an arm on either side, and then plunged quite

arched hedge that was to meet at right angles the alley in which the quee

fficient to attract the carpenter's attention. He stood as if petrified, recognizing the queen, then fell upon knees that the presence of Majesty had caused to quake. Elizabeth motioned him to her, and he appr

asked the carpenter, in a tone that command

ous to see his surprise when the porters, guards, or palace officers should confront him; that these functionaries had inattentively let him pass as one of the carpenters; that the carpenters had feared to disclaim him after having missed the proper moment for doing so. The fellow then began whimpering about his

e I shall have cause not to be sorry for their laxity this once. If it be that you are the man to serve me, I shall think you God-sent to my hand, for God he knows 'twas little like I should find in mine own palace a man not known there, and w

or hide traces of her hand in it; but he said nothing, save that, if it mi

y the smallest circumstance. Here, as if indeed dropped from heaven, was a possible agent having that most needed, least expected, qualification. There need not remain the slightest credible evidence of his present interview with her. This qualification found so unexpectedly, without being sought, she was willing to risk that the young player possessed the other requisites, unco

e carpenters, who are all that know of your presence here. I have thrown that fellow into so great a fear, he and his mates will keep silence. Now heed. My privy council hath evidence of a certain gentleman's part in the conspiracy of your friends who abetted the Lord Essex. 'Tis evidence positive enough, and plenty enough, to take off

choed Hal, thinking he m

quite ordinary tone. "I have delayed this messenger of the council for

l's look passed back from su

s against this gentleman. Or that I do not now order them stopped, by my sovereign right. Or that I do not openly pardon him, now or later. You do not see, young s

ng his escape. And yet he might have known that a Tudor's motives in interfering with the natural course of justice were more likely to be private than public, and that a Tudor's circumstances must be unusual indeed to call for clandes

safety of the realm required that the principals should suffer. Yet she might have pardoned her beloved Essex, had she received the ring he sent her in claim of the promise of which it was the pledge.17 But thinking him too proud even to ask the mercy he might have had of her, she let him die. As for his chief satellites, there were some for whom

ction with the plot, but against whom evidence had eventually arisen in private testimony before the council. Of these men, it was decided by

a sudden storm. She prolonged her stay on pretexts, and then kept him in attendance during one of her journeyings. Her association with him was conducted with unusual concealment. It was not violently broken off, nor carried on to satiety and natural death. It was merely interrupted and never resumed. Thus it remained sweet in her memory, took on the soft, idealizing tones that time gives, and was now cherished in her heart

om the smaller persecutions to which his religion had exposed him from neighbors and judges and county officers, and which had forced him to live most of the time an exile in France. But death w

at this time, in her eyes, to a consideration not merited by Essex or Southampton. And, again, her fortitude had been so drawn up

f her people, conqueress of the great Armada, had entertained such feelings in the past, and been so foolish as to disclose them, was the greater reason why she now, when about to leave her final impression upon history, should seem proof against them. To refuse her sanction to the council's decision concerning this gentleman, when there was twofold political reason for that decision, and no political reason to interpose against it, would open the doors upon her secret. And she was as

nt that arrest. For her reputation as a queen, she must seem to favor it, and the prevention must be secret. One weakness, the vanity of strength and resolution, required that the indulgence of another weakness, undue tenderness of heart toward a particular object, should be covert. The queen's right hand must

by herself, that if he ever should betray her part in his mission none would believe him; a man who would take it on faith, as Hal really did, that deep state reasons dictated the null

self, not for me. There must be no evidence of his having served me; so he will never rece

replied Hal, brought to this degree of unsel

uld he find himself in danger of prison or death, in consequence of this service. Indeed, if pressure move h

choice for the business," said Hal, thrilling more and more devot

getting her pretence that he was not yet certainly her choice for

ling next week. I can find necessity for preceding them. One M

him. Your knowledge of his danger must seem to have come through spy work, or treachery in the palace, and your zeal for his safety must appear to sp

nefactor; his father saved my grandfather's life in the days of papistry. I shall not be put to the invention of false

rehend him will ride forth this afternoon at about three o' the clock, with a body of men. You must set out earlier, arrive at Fleetwood house before them, warn

ment, as if the business were neither as dif

ueen

ur warning, or choose to stay and risk trial rather than invite outlawry and confiscation. Suppose, in aiding him, you encounter the pursuivant and his men.20 'Twill be your duty to resist them to the utmost, even with your life. And should you be overcome and taken, you know what are the penalties of resisting officers on the queen's business, and of giving aid to her enemies. This business will make you as much a traitor, by statute, as Sir Valentine himself. Remember

rdon,-'tis shame I must confess it,-there will be

ces into your pocket-no need to count-and leave but two or three to make some noise withal." When Hal had obeyed her, she took back the purse and replaced it at her girdle. "Use what you need in the necessary costs; supply Sir Valentine an he require money, and let

imself as a gentleman pensioner, and as a kni

in me is bounteous

her Majes

, that you may pass out as you entered, in the guise of a w

the queen's days; and a shapely, beautiful thing it was to remain in Hal's mental vision to the last of his. In a kind of dream he stepped back, bowing, to the alley's end. When he raised his eyes, th

it offers the less material reward. The romantic sophistries that youth cherishes may be turned to great use by those who know how to employ them. Indeed, may not the virtue of loyalty and blind devotion have been an invention of ingenious rulers, for their own convenience? May not that of woman-worship be an invention of subtly clever women themselves, when women were wisely content with being worshipped, and we

of a breakfast. He obtained the warming draught at the first tavern within Temple Bar, which was none other than the Devil. A drawer recognized him, despite the 'prentice's coat and cap,-no one who knew Master Marryott could be much surprised at his having got into any possible strange attire in some nocturnal prank,-and notified the landlord, who thereupon restored to H

ut attendant. Fortunately. Paul's Walk, the place in which to obtain either man or woman for any service or purpose whatever, lay in his way to his lodging, where he must go before leaving London. He hastened through Ludgate,

stom to particular purposes, was to London at midday what the interior of the Exchange was by candle-light,-a veritable place of lounging, gossiping, promenading, trading, begging, pimping, pocket-picking, purse-cutting, everything. Hal threaded a swift way through the moving, chattering, multi-colored crowd, wit

ones of Mary, I thought thee swallowed up by some b

ht, I think," said Hal, no

e in the street, without Newgate, what should happen but I should fall asleep, and my purse be cut ere I waked? Old Kit hath not e'en a piece of metal left, to mimic the sound of coin withal!" Old Kit's look was so blue at this that Hal knew h

ew days. Don't stare. I have private business, and require a man like thee. There's meat, drink, and beds in it, while it lasts;

g of a liar and guzzler, and a little of a cheater and boaster, thou'lt fi

wo o'clock, in St. John's Street, close without the bar. But first get thyself dinner, and a warm cl

f with a bath and food, and tell Mr. Shakespeare of news given him by a court scrivener in drunken confidence; of an imperative obligation to go and warn a friend in dang

enignant superiority to his simple task. And then suddenly, causing his smile to fade a little, cam