Though the difficulties, therefore, that surrounded him had been unexpectedly overcome; though, by the exertions of the Conde de Gondomar, who had followed up his first success with wonderful promptitude and perseverance, and had dexterously contrived, by all the insidious arts of which lie was so perfect a master, to ingratiate his protege still further with the King, without the protege himself being aware of the manner in which he was served; though James himself appeared greatly pleased with him, at the banquet in the evening, to which, owing to the skilful management of the Spanish ambassador, he was invited, and bestowed such marked attention upon him, that the envy and jealousy of most of the courtiers were excited by it; though he seemed on the high-road to still greater favour, and was already looked upon as a rising favourite, who might speedily supplant others above him in this ever-changing sphere, if he did not receive a check; though his present position was thus comparatively secure, and his prospects thus brilliant, he felt ill at ease, and deeply dissatisfied with himself.  He could not acquit himself of blame for the part he had played, though involuntarily, in the arrest of Hugh Calveley.  It was inexpressibly painful to him; and he felt it as a reproach from which he could not free himself, to have risen, however unexpectedly on his own part, by the unfortunate Puritan’s fall.  How could he ever face Aveline again!  She must regard him with horror and detestation, as the involuntary cause of her father’s destruction.  A bar had been placed between them, which nothing could ever remove.  And though, on the one hand, he was suddenly exalted far beyond his hopes; yet on the other he was as suddenly cast down, and threatened to be for ever deprived of the bliss he had in view, the possession of which he coveted far more than wealth or grandeur.  Additional complexity had been given to his position from the circumstance that, at De Gondomar’s secret instance, of which, like all the rest, he was unaware, he had been appointed as officer in custody of Hugh Calveley, until the latter, who was still detained a close prisoner in the porter’s lodge, should be removed to the Tower, or the Fleet, as his Majesty might direct.  This post he would have declined, had there been a possibility of doing so.  Any plan he might have formed of aiding the prisoner’s escape was thus effectually prevented, as he could not violate his duty; and it was probably with this view that the wily ambassador had obtained him the appointment.  In fact, he had unconsciously become little more than a puppet in the hands of the plotting Spaniard, who pulled the strings that moved him at pleasure, regardless of the consequences.  What De Gondomar’s ulterior designs were with him had not yet become manifest.

These perplexing thoughts swept through Sir Jocelyn’s breast, as he stood by the marble fountain, and listened to the sound of its falling waters.