KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Kenilworthimport. As he turned, however, he caught the eye of the astrologerfixed on him, while an observing glance of the mostshrewd penetration shot from under the penthouse of hisshaggy, dark eyebrows. Leicester’s haughty and suspicious soulat once caught fire. He darted towards the old man from thefarther end of the lofty apartment, only standing still whenhis extended hand was within a foot of the astrologer’s body.“Wretch!” he said, “if you dare to palter with me, I willhave your skin stripped from your living flesh! Confess thouhast been hired to deceive and to betray me—that thou art acheat, and I thy silly prey and booty!”The old man exhibited some symptoms of emotion, butnot more than the furious deportment of his patron mighthave extorted from innocence itself.“What means this violence, my lord?” he answered, “or inwhat can I have deserved it at your hand?”“Give me proof,” said the Earl vehemently, “that you havenot tampered with mine enemies.”“My lord,” replied the old man, with dignity, “you can haveno better proof than that which you yourself elected. In thatturret I have spent the last twenty-four hours under the keywhich has been in your own custody. The hours of darkness Ihave spent in gazing on the heavenly bodies with these dimeyes, and during those of light I have toiled this aged brain tocomplete the calculation arising from their combinations.Earthly food I have not tasted—earthly voice I have not heard.You are yourself aware I had no means of doing so; and yet I tellyou—I who have been thus shut up in solitude and study—that within these twenty-four hours your star has become predominantin the horizon, and either the bright book of heavenspeaks false, or there must have been a proportionate revolutionin your fortunes upon earth. If nothing has happened withinthat space to secure your power, or advance your favour, thenam I indeed a cheat, and the divine art, which was first devisedin the plains of Chaldea, is a foul imposture.”“It is true,” said Leicester, after a moment’s reflection, “thouwert closely immured; and it is also true that the change hastaken place in my situation which thou sayest the horoscopeindicates.”“Wherefore this distrust then, my son?” said the astrologer,assuming a tone of admonition; “the celestial intelligencesbrook not diffidence, even in their favourites.”226