Mistress of mistresses

by E R Eddison

  'That Lessingham is a subtle devil,' said Jeronimy.

  'This latest offer thus made to me', said the Chancellor, 'hath given us the chance if need be to afterthink us. That were pity were it appear in the end that our eyes were greater than our bellies. I would remember you of this, my lord Admiral, that in point of construction the Vicar's claim of suzerainty is good in law. We are precisely bound to uphold the testament. It can be said that, going against him in this, we do merely violate it. The Parry himself none but a ninny would trust further than a might see him; but here 'tis not to deal with him direct, but through Lessingham.'

  'As 't should be handed us,' said Jeronimy, 'in a fair gilded cup, to make his poison go down the smoother.'

  'I see it not altogether so,' said Beroald. ' 'Tis a young man of most supposed abilities both in the council and a soldier of renown. I have these ten days studied him like a book, and I find no point to question, but all to confirm and justify what reputation saith of him: an honourable man, and a man with the power to hold his principal to whatsoever he shall stand warrant for of his behalf. And he hath, in no qualified way but at large, took it upon his honour that upon agreement made betwixt us the Vicar will perform the King's 'testament unto the littlest letter.'

  Jeronimy said, 'He is a subtle devil.

  'It is for you, not me, to determine,' said the Chancellor. 'Only I would have you consider of all this, not as somewhat to be swept up with a sudden and tumultuous judgement, but as a thing of heaviest import. For you see, you may, upon this offer thus made to me, open your dealings anew with him, and take up the regency upon condition of suzerainty and upon his proper warranty of the Vicar's performance.'

  'And so, in a manner,—' said the Admiral slowly, and fell silent. The Chancellor said no more, judging it good to give time for these matters to digest

  They sat in shadow. The sun had for some time now gone behind the hill on their left. The shadows lengthened over the lake. The horses munched on. After a while the Chancellor spoke: 'Will you not change your mind?'

  The Lord Jeronimy rose heavily from his seat and stood looking at him a minute in silence; then said, 'No. And no more must you, my lord Chancellor.'

  'We stand together,' said Beroald, and rose up too. 'Yet remember, things worsen as time goeth by. These country lords are quite debauched by him. 'Tis time to end talking and fall to action.'

  The Admiral's black mare, at her lord's stirring, came to him and nuzzled her nose in his neck. He fondled and petted her. ' 'Tis time indeed,' he said. 'Time indeed.'

  'Better we were not seen too much in conference tonight,' said Beroald. 'Better not enter the gates together.'

  'Will you ride first,' said the Admiral, 'or shall I? Truth is, I had been minded for Sestola to-night, 'bout some business of the fleet. But as things shape, I will let that go by and sleep in Zayana.'

  'I pray you ride first,' said the Chancellor.

  The Admiral came down through the wood at a walking pace, his mind heavy with thought. His men, that had waited this while in the wood with the Chancellor's, rode a score of paces or so behind him. 'Lessingham,' he said in himself. 'A very subtle devil: a devil full of all seduction and charm. Hath a not charmed me too? Ay, but not too far: not to danger. Like to that son of mine, drowned in the Sound of Tabarey: should a been of about his years too, had he lived. Pish! 'tis foolery. And yet, 'tis in the Duke too. Lessingham: Barganax. Strange: so unlike, and yet, in a manner, so like; both of the grape, as 'twere. Red wine: white wine. Away, 'tis foolery. Still, like a shying horse: ride her up to it, let her see and examine it well as to its nature: it frighteth her not another time.' His mind stood still awhile. Then he said again in himself, 'Hath charmed Beroald. Nay, but that's not true neither. Nay, I trust Beroald.'

  He drew rein for a moment as the path rounded the verge of a jutting cliff giving a fair wide prospect over the water. An owl hooted. Jeronimy said in himself, 'If he can handle Horius Parry, as folk say he can: tickle him, make him serve his turn; what wonder in the world can he not do then?' He rode on. 'Beroald is a man of law. There's his element. But with me 'tis substance and intention, not form and accident. And yet indeed, a great wise man; prudent and foreseeing. Ay, "time to afterthink us," that's wisdom. Worse weather than that we put to sea in: ay, 'tis pure truth. There's many would take his rede and think no more on't. Safer. Safer take his rede.

  'Ay, but I do know 'tis wrong. In my bones I know it' He struck spurs into the mare's flanks: she started forward violently: he leaned forward calming her, patting her neck. 'No, I'll not change my mind. Nor you must not neither, my lord Chancellor. But then, what next? Action, next. An end of these talkings: 'tis time indeed.' He stroked her neck again, softly, meditatively. 'And I the main actor. Regent of Meszria. Lieth upon me. Well, we have long since considered on't With right of our side; and with the Duke of our side. "I am of your opinion," said he. Well: now cometh this silver to the trying. Barganax: is he to trust to? 'Tis a doubt whereon hangeth all, on this one thin thread. Trust him discreetly. The word is wiser than the deed, now I consider on't O, the down-bearing weight of this immense charge. Tis a fine toy, make up alliance with a royal prince on terms he must but figure bass for such a man as me to run the divisions on't; comfort and uphold me at all points whiles I sit i' the seat he looked for as his by right. If he have a spice of pride in him still, (and he is made up and compounded of pride, opinion, and disdain), shall he not hate me every while, and seek but first fair occasion to ding me down and take his own back? And yet the man's mind is so noble, I'd trust him, where his word's engaged, even to breaking-point. And yet, no, 'tis midsummer madness: 'tis but the spell of his masterful youth and grace, like t'other's. I had done with this ten minutes since: 'tis 'foolery. And yet, and yet: have I not proof ofs loyal mind within reason: his refusing on't when Lessingham did offer it? Nay, but 'twas but stinking fish then: 'twas under suzerainty. And he of the royal ancient family of Fingiswold.'

  He halted, as with a sudden thought then with a shake of the rein went on. 'Of Fingiswold. Ay, and of Memison. I'll do it. Better hazard sinking there, than sink for sure where we stand. And there's some hope. Say they be corrupted indeed, these young quats, with Lessingham's words and promises: 'tis certain their corruption, even as their fealty, is but skin-deep. They'll follow their own liege sovereign prince of Meszrian blood and line a thousand times, where, were it but me, they'd take but the happy instant to throw me off and so rid them at last of the prime scourge and hate of all their liberties for years. I'll do it. Ay, I'll do it to-night'

  That same night after supper the Chancellor was sat in his chamber writing out fair this letter, which being writ he signed by his name and sealed with his seal. And the letter was conceived in terms following:

  'Unto thonorable my very goode Lo. Lessynghame as wyth fulle powre and awtoritee dymysed and prorogate to speke trette and determyn on byhalve of his hyghnes Horyus Parye Lo. Protector and Vicker of the Qwene in Reyrek:

  I have bin carefull my Lo. to waighe and conseder of hys Highnes proposes wherewithall hys hyghnes hath honored me thorow your lops, mowth to thende that for the bettere setlying and doynge awaie of these presente diffrences I schold in myn owne persoun accept of the Regensy of Meszrya upon condicyons exposed att lardge bi your lop., and bi asspeciall thus condicyon that the Regent schalbe in al poyntes His Hyghnes subgytte and uery leage man. Al whilke I hauing with carefull mind perpended and revuiewed am lefte att length wyth noe other choys that semeth to me agreable unto my propre honor and my dwte ylike to the Qwene (hoom the Goddes tender and preserue) and to thadmerall bi royalle testement named regent but bi hys hyghnes set asyde upon refusell of condicyoun a forseyd, saue to conclud that yt is nat fytt I schold accept of the sed Regensy. Whilke resolue thus consederately taken I will vnmoueably stand upon, and wold dessire your lop. to acqweynt Hys Highnes accordynge.

  The Goddes leade your lo. bi the hande.

  I haue thonor to bee with greatt trewth and respecte your lop
s, most obedient humble Servaunt,

  Beroald'

  The ink was scarce dry and the wax* yet warm when there came in a gentleman of his to say the High Admiral was here and would have speech of him. The Chancellor smiled. 'That saveth me a journey,' he said: ‘I was this instant upon going to see him;' and he bade admit him straight. When they were private, 'My lord Chancellor,' said Jeronimy, and his face was flushed, 'I bring you good tidings. I have seen the Duke upon this matter we talked on.'

  The Chancellor lifted a cold eye upon him. 'You have seen the Duke?'

  Jeronimy's eyes took on that look that a dog's eyes have when, under a detecting gaze, he suddenly bethinks him that this eating of that bit of meat or chewing up of that bird, albeit good and reasonable in his estimation, was yet questionable in the sight of others, and fraught, may be, with consequences he till then ne'er thought upon. 'I'm sorry,' he said. ‘I am come straight from him to you. Perhaps I should a seen you first. I'm sorry, my lord.'

  'You are dark to me yet,' said the Chancellor. 'Did your lordship inform the Duke of this last turn: I mean this offer I told you of?'

  'In a manner, yes,' answered Jeronimy.

  'Had I stood in your shoes, my lord Admiral,' said the Chancellor, 'I should have given you the opportunity to come with me upon such an errand.'

  'You and I', said the Admiral, 'did conclude upon speedy action. A-riding home I did view the matter from all points, and did at last conceive in a manner but one safe way betwixt these quicksands. Brief, I did resign but now into the Duke's hand, as well for present as prospectively, the office of Regent: bade him take it up and defend it, and we would go through and second him.'

  He paused. The Chancellor's jaw set, and his lean face turned ashy. He stood up from his chair, pushed the letter across the table to Jeronimy, and stalked to the window. The Admiral took out his perspective-glass and read the letter, blowing softly with his cheeks the while. 'Your lordship hath an art in drafting of such matters,' he said: * 'tis beyond admiration excellent.' He looked cautiously up, met the Chancellor's eye, and looked away.

  For a minute the Lord Beroald abode silent. When he mastered himself to speak, the words came like chips of ice clinking down an ice-slope. 'Lessingham', he said, 'is an able politician. You and me, my lord, he but turneth to his purpose. You have made a fine hand of it.'

  Jeronimy slowly shook his head. 'I did play for a firm line and no stragglers,' said he. 'We should not have held the Duke with us had we ta'en, in a manner, the course you formerly thought on: had I complied and ta'en up the regency 'pon Lessingham's conditions.'

  'You have now by your act', said Beroald, 'disburdened him of all conditions, and left us open to all injuries. You have, in face of dangerous enemies, set aside the law, which was our strength and our justification; you have struck wide division in our counsels, when a single mind was most needful; you have unleashed the Duke on a course may be shall prove his ruin and ours. Had you gone cap in hand to my Lord Lessingham and professed yourself ready to do his bidding so as to make fair success of his mission hither, he could a thought on no better means to bid you take than these you have taken.'

  Jeronimy's face became drawn and his kindly eyes darkened with anger. He rose from his chair. 'This talk,' he said, thickly, 'doth more disgrace than it helpeth or graceth us. Let us say no more but good night, my lord Chancellor. May be morning shall bring us riper wisdom.'

  On the morrow towards mid-day the Lord Lessingham took horse and rode with Amaury from his lodgings in the old Leantine palace in the northern quarter down through the market-place, and so, turning right along Stonegate and Paddockgate, up into the driving-road that ran by the water-side along the top of the town wall of old red sandstone for a quarter of a mile or more; thence, turning inland at the Heugh, through some winding cobbled streets, they came out into the sunlight of the piazza of the Winds, and, crossing that from north to south, took the Way of the Seven Hundred Pillars. At a walking-pace they climbed its wide zig-zags, pleasant with the shade of ancient holm-oaks and the heavy scent of the mimosa-trees, and came at length a little before noon up to the main gate of the citadel. A guard of honour, of seven of the Duke's red-bearded swordsmen, conducted them up the shining stairs that were built of panteron stone, black green and purple, and so by many courts and colonnades to silver doors and through them to a narrow and high-roofed corridor which opened at its far end, with silver doors, upon that garden of everlasting afternoon. Here, in the low slanting rays under the tufted shade of strawberry-trees, that ancient man stood to do them welcome, Doctor Vandermast. He said, 'You are late, my lord.'

  Lessingham, that had not before beheld the wonder of this garden, bit in his admiration and said, ‘I am, on the contrary, upon the very point of noon. His grace is late, for his own time appointed.'

  'His grace', answered Vandermast 'is always late. That is to say, he o'errunneth the just time by an hour or so; and that is not blameworthy in a royal Duke. But here indeed is a strange impertinent jest of your lordship's, to come hither some four or five hours behind your set time, and look to find him waiting upon your pleasure.'

  Amaury said, 'Will you make game with my lord, sir? Be more civil; for in truth you are but an old fantastical scholar, with a beard like a crow with two or three dirty straws in her mouth, going to build her nest'

  'Hold your tongue, Amaury,' said Lessingham. 'Scandal not the reverend signior. Doctor, I heard tell ere now of this garden, that 'tis one of the wonders of the world, and that you did make it. And now I see it indeed, I am astonished.'

  'It is a natural garden, my lord,' answered that old man. 'This is very sky, and very sun, very clouds and lake, and you and I here in our bodies. You may touch, smell, walk and discourse, inhale the airs. It is natural present.'

  'Come,' said Lessingham: 'that is over high meat for my weak stomach. Why, the sun in a golden bush of glory standeth but a handbreadth above yonder woody hills beyond the water; and yet, ten minutes since, it was white noon, blazing on our heads from the meridian.'

  Vandermast said: 'Save for birds or reremice, winged emmets, wasps, flies, and such manner of filths, there is but one only way into this garden, and it is through the lobby of the silver doors. Your lordship and this froward young man did pass the further door at noon, but the hither door some five hours after noon. It is a nice point of disputation whether you did with tortoise-like slowness transambulate that lobby, so as in five hours to proceed but twenty paces, or whether per contra those five hours did, with a speed whipped to ten thousand times its natural, blow by you as you walked. Experinientum docet: you are here, and 'tis late afternoon.*

  'And if I shall instantly go back again?' said Lessingham. 'What then?'

  'You shall find it then but a little past mid-day without. The Duke expects you, my lord. He will be here ere long.'

  Lessingham walked and stood by the parapet, looking south. Amaury followed him. For a minute or two Lessingham abode there, then turned, leaning with an elbow on the parapet behind him, so as to face that garden. Amaury watched the look in his eyes as they wandered from yellow lily to rose and alkanet and honeysuckle, from bee-haunted lime to strawberry-tree with night-dark foliage, wine-red twisted branches, and jewel-like flower and fruit; shaven sward, porphyry seat, doves at the fountains; all in a sleepy plenitude of golden air and cool long shadows. But once in his life before had Amaury seen that look, and that was a month ago, when Lessingham had stared into the wine in Mornagay. He turned, and saw that that learned man was gazing on Lessingham with a strange intention, and that the look in the eyes of him and the look in the eyes of Lessingham were the same.

  The silver doors opened in the blind northern wall, and one came to say that the council was set now in the Duke's closet and he would there receive them. As they turned to go, Lessingham halted and looked down at Doctor Vandermast. 'One thing I would know,' he said, 'that hath strangely puzzled me since first I came hither to Zayana. What are you, old sir?'

  Vander
mast was silent for a moment, looking straight before him to those sunshiny hills beyond the lake, through half-closed lids, as if remarking and appraising some strange matter. He smiled. ‘I, my lord,' he said slowly, 'am one that am wont to pry beneath the unstable course and fickle flower of man's affairs. Somewhat, may be, I have digged up in my searchings. And I am an old faithful servant of the Duke of Zayana.' Then; looking Lessingham in the eye, he said, 'Forget not, my lord, that all things work together. If, spite all, his grace should bid you guest here this night, in Acrozayana, be very sure you do it.'

  So now came they to the Duke's closet. He himself sat on the north side of the table, his back to the fireplace, with the Admiral on his right, the Chancellor on his left, and beyond the Chancellor Earl Roder. On the Earl's left was Count Zapheles, and the Lords Melates and Barrian to the right of the Admiral. Lessingham sat midmost of the table over against the Duke, Amaury and Doctor Vandermast took notes. Amaury said privately as they sat down, 'Now that we are gotten safe away, sir, out of yon sorcery-witched garden, I'll say I'm sorry I was rude with you. I would not say it there. I would not , you should think I was afeared of you.'