He perceived how suspicion might now
fall upon himself, how his enemies would direct it, and on the
instant made provision. There and then he seized a pen, and wrote
to his kinsman, Sir Thomas Blount, who even then was on his way
to Cumnor. He stated in the letter what he had learnt from Bowes,
bade Blount engage the coroner to make the strictest investigation,
and send for Amy's natural brother, Appleyard. "Have no respect
to any living person," was the final injunction of that letter
which he sent Blount by the hand of Bowes.
And, then, before he could carry to the Queen the news of this
accident which had broken his matrimonial shackles, Sir Richard
Verney arrived with the true account. He had expected praise and
thanks from his master. Instead, he met first dismay, and then
anger and fierce reproaches.
"My lord, this is unjust," the faithful retainer protested.
"Knowing the urgency, I took the only way--contrived the
accident."
"Pray God," said Dudley, "that the jury find it to have been an
accident; for if the truth should come to be discovered, I leave
you to the consequences. I warned you of that before you engaged
in this. Look for no help from me."
"I look for none," said Sir Richard, stung to hot contempt by the
meanness and cowardice so characteristic of the miserable egotist
he served.
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