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"So much the better," observed his companion, drily.

I left her to calm herself at her leisure, and hastened through the private gate in the garden to seek you here by the secret way."

"You did right, my good lord," said Cecil, as he sat himself down, somewhat abstractedly, leaning his head upon his hand.

"And now, methinks, this fine fellow, who evidently liveth in the opinion that nothing is so good as that which he doeth, hath done for himself; and I shall not be sorry for one. I like not such whippersnappers-persons of no extraction-ignoble adventurers, who are ever thrusting themselves before their superiors, and winning from them such honours as they alone were born to possess. Indeed, this Raleigh is a most pestilent piece of conceit, and I mislike him hugely: I shall glory in his downfall; and I care not how low his pride is humbled. Besides, when he hath been put out of the way, there will be only the haughty Essex to cope with; who must easily be overthrown, for he hath not the cunning of the other."

"Tush, my lord," exclaimed Cecil, with some impatience; "see you not, that if Raleigh be quite removed, Essex will be paramount? 'Tis a business that must be managed with exceeding delicacy. Hark!" he cried, in a more subdued voice, rising

quickly from his seat, and opening the secret door as the Lord Howard prepared to depart, "Here are visitors coming. Haste and tell my Lady Howard not to stir in this matter till I have seen her." Then closing it upon his retreating associate, and unfastening the other door, he was in a minute very busily employed upon some writings on a table before him, when there came a knock; and as soon as he had called out to them that they might have admittance, there entered Sir Walter Raleigh, with a very courtier-like looking gentleman, most daintily attired.

"Now I take this as exceeding kind of you, Sir Walter," exclaimed Cecil, in a manner marvellously friendly, as he recognised his visitors. "And my worthy brother-in-law, my Lord Cobham, too! I know not which to be thankful for most-the presence of yourself or your friend. I pray you be seated."

"Indeed I have but called to acquaint you that her majesty hath signified her consent to my expedition," observed Raleigh.

“Of that I am very heartily glad, believe me,” said Sir Robert, shaking Sir Walter by the hand with as much earnestness as if he had been the best friend he had in the world, "and knowing, as I do, your fitness to lead to a profitable and glorious issue all such armaments, in which, as far as I have

heard of the best judges, is no man living your superior, I do build upon it great hopes of your advancement in the queen's favour; whereat none of all your friends will feel more infinite delight than myself. But sit, I pray you, and let us drink a bottle of Ippocras to your successful voyage."

"With all my heart!" exclaimed the Lord Cobham, cheerfully, as he flung himself carelessly into a chair, and did put aside his hat. "Such a proposition must be welcome for the sake of mine accomplished friend-but there is another consideration that claimeth to be taken into accountmy throat is dry."

"A good consideration truly," remarked Cecil with a smile, as he rang a silver bell that lay upon the table.

"Nay, if you will have wine, I must leave you two to the enjoyment of it-my duties permitting me not to assist you in what would otherwise be mightily agreeable to me; for I must hurry to attend upon her majesty to the playhouse."

"Now sit you down," replied Sir Robert with great demonstration of friendship, preventing Sir Walter from leaving the room, "it wanteth, to my certain knowledge, a good half hour to the time when her majesty is like to be ready, so your haste need not be so immediate-besides I take it hugely unkind of you, seeing that while I, who am of so noto

rious a gravity, for the sake of one to whose admirable qualities I stand so well affected, am inclined to unbend to a becoming sociality; you, who are well known to be the most absolute prince of good fellows, on the poor excuse of press of time, do seek to play the churl with my well disposedness."

"I'faith, Raleigh, there must surely be time for a glass or two with my worthy brother-in-law," said his friend, and then added very gravely, "and there is a very good reason why I think so."

"Out with your reason, my good lord," exclaimed Cecil, somewhat urgently, "out with your reason, if you love me, for I do truly hope it will be a convincing one."

"My throat is dry," sagely replied the Lord Cobham.

"O'my life there is no standing against so grave an argument," said Sir Walter, laughingly, as he uncovered and did sit himself down, "so I must e'en be indebted to your courtesy."

At this instant a serving man entered, to whom orders were given for the bringing of the Ippocras; and Sir Walter Raleigh noticing a peculiar suit of armour, Sir Robert Cecil then did acquaint him how his father, the Lord Burghley, took great delight in making a collection of offensive and defensive arms, of different times and countries, the which he had that room built on purpose to receive,

in preference to keeping them at his magnificent mansion at Theobald's, or at Burghley House; and when Sir Walter, being very learned in these things, did explain to him the age and nature of some, he listened with exceeding respect. In truth, although Cecil was the youngest of the three, he was the very craftiest man in all her majesty's dominions. His appearance was in no ways prepossessing-being short of stature, and with a face not at all handsome, shrewd eyes, and a scanty beard; yet by falling into the humours of the great-affecting a wonderful sincerity, and seeming of a serious turn, he had advanced himself to her majesty's confidence-nor was he inclined there to stop, for ambition was his ruling passion: and every thing he schemed about, had for its object, without making enemies, to get as much power as was possible into his own hands. All this time my Lord Cobham was arranging his hair, and trifling with his beard before a very polished coat of mail, that served him as a mirror.

The wine now having been brought in and poured out by the serving man before he left the room, into three tall Venetian glasses, Sir Robert Cecil standing up with his glass in his hand, said, with an abundance of humility,

"It ill becometh me, who am so little skilled in speech, to attempt what requireth such true elo

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