Chapter 17-20 Summary
Chapter 17 Summary
Leicester has "sealed his fate" with his apparent confirmation of Varney's marriage. He can never reveal his marriage to Amy without meriting the Queen's extreme displeasure. He must now, he thinks, secure and preserve the Queen's favor at all costs.
At the council table that day, Leicester makes a good showing, and most people acknowledge him as Elizabeth's favorite. They defer to him and strive to obtain his favor. He greets them courteously, including Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, and Sir Francis Denning. An absurdly dressed man named Robert Laneham asks Leicester for permission to bring his wife to Kenilworth disguised as a player. Leicester is offended.
When the Earl finally has a moment to himself, he agonizes over what he has done, wondering if he should confess to Elizabeth and beg her mercy. Varney rushes in with the news that the Queen is waiting for him. Leicester calls him a fool and a knave and hurries off. He asks for the Queen's pardon and receives his seat on the barge.
During the journey, the discussion turns to the entertainment of bear baiting and stage plays. The Queen has received a complaint from the keeper of bears that the theater is drawing away his audience. The conversation revolves around the benefits and drawbacks of these two types of entertainment, and the Queen praises the merit of men like Shakespeare, especially after Walter Raleigh's heartfelt recitation of the playwright's lines. The Queen lets the petition from the keeper of bears fall into the water.
Back at the palace, Leicester escorts the Queen. Later that evening, Elizabeth notices Raleigh scratching words onto glass with the diamond ring she gave him. They are a line of poetry, and the Queen scratches her own line to finish the couplet.
The scene shifts, and Wayland informs Tressilian that he has seen Demetrius Doboobie and must leave immediately. Sussex, he continues, must be cautious about what he eats and drinks. Tressilian will send Wayland to Giles Gosling for information about what is happening at Cumnor Place.
Chapter 18 Summary
That evening, Leicester retires to his room, exhausted and disturbed. Varney enters and congratulates him on becoming the Queen's clear favorite. Leicester grieves at the web of lies he has been drawn into and admits that "my own ambition has been traitor to my love." Varney quickly says that it is the other way around. Leicester's love for Amy has been a traitor to his potential greatness. Leicester could have been king.
Yet there may be hope if Amy remains firmly in obscurity at Cumnor Place. Leicester comments that Amy longs to be fully acknowledged as his wife, but Varney assures him that is unreasonable. Leicester worries because Elizabeth has demanded Amy's presence at Kenilworth. Varney says he will sleep on the situation.
After Varney leaves, Leicester unlocks a door and calls someone named Alasco. A man descends from the tower. He is an astrologist working on Leicester's horoscope, for the Earl strongly believes in astrology. Leicester accuses Alasco of making predictions that have not come to pass. Sussex is recovering. Alasco reminds the Earl that he never guaranteed Sussex's death. There is a higher power at work than the stars, and God sometimes overrules what astrologers discover.
Leicester is suspicious when Alasco predicts a significant rise in position for him. Alasco reminds him that he has been shut up in the tower working out his calculations, and the Earl relents. He pays Alasco for his work and then calls Varney to escort the astrologer to other quarters.
Alasco, of course, is in Varney's...
(This entire section contains 1138 words.)
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pay and has made his current predictions at Varney's signal. Alasco is none other than Demetrius Doboobie. Varney now has another job for him even though he has failed to poison Sussex properly. He is to go to a little "bird" and make her sick enough to keep her from flying away. There is to be no danger to her life or prejudice to her health, but she must not appear at Kenilworth. Alasco agrees to the position as long as he can escape if necessary. Varney orders Lambourne to escort Alasco to Cumnor Place.
Chapter 19 Summary
The patrons of the Black Bear Inn are enjoying themselves tremendously, for a pedlar has arrived to participate in the fun. Then Michael Lambourne shows up, thoroughly drunk and in the company of a mysterious man. Lambourne brags about his companion's ability to make gold and carries on. At the same time, the old man slips off into a corner.
Lambourne makes another wager with Master Goldthred that Tony Foster will come to the Black Bear that night. Lambourne sends a messenger to the estate, and the boy returns with news that Foster is on his way.
The pedlar, in the meantime, withdraws from the common room. Gosling goes up to see him, for the pedlar has brought the landlord Tressilian's ring. The pedlar, of course, is Wayland, and he means to go up to the estate in Foster's absence and see if he can meet with Amy. Gosling warns him, but Wayland is determined to protect Amy from his former master.
Chapter 20 Summary
Foster keeps a short staff at Cumnor Place, so Wayland, still disguised as a pedlar, can easily convince the serving woman to let him in. Amy and Janet are surprised by his appearance, but Amy decides she wants to shop. She has fun doing it, too, and purchases several items. Wayland reflects that he would be making a mint if he were truly a pedlar.
Wayland hints to Amy that the Earl of Leicester may soon become king. She lashes out in anger, claiming it is a lie. Amy quickly calms down, and Wayland offers her medicine to cure the "black vapours" of melancholy and loneliness. It is perfectly safe, he assures her, and he adds Master Tressilian has been taking it. Amy is quickly convinced and purchases the medicine. Then she loses interest in her purchases and walks into the house.
Wayland is left alone with Janet, and he takes the opportunity to warn her that her mistress is in danger. He informs her that he is not who he seems but is a friend. Janet is slow to believe, but Wayland tells her that evil is at hand and that she must give Amy the medicine as an antidote to poison. Foster, Lambourne, and Alasco enter the garden. Lambourne is fully drunk by now. Wayland hides and watches as Alasco gives Lambourne a drink to put him to sleep. Janet has returned to Amy's chambers, now fearful and on her guard. Wayland escapes the garden, doubting that Varney is acting on his own. He takes his leave of Gosling, who is rather glad to see him go, for he does not like being part of a conspiracy.
