There be divers modes of falling into love.  Some slip in through means of themselves; to wit, from sheer vanity, being never so well pleased as when they are the objects of admiration.  Some from sheer contradiction, and from the well-known tendency of extremes to meet.  Some, for very idlesse; and some for very love.  But in none of these modes had the boy Cupid made arrow-holes through the heart of our illustrious hero; for, as we before intimated, no yielding place did seem visible, as the common discourse testified.  How far this report was true the sequel of our history will set forth.

Now, this gay gallant being the wonder and admiration of the whole place, many were the unthrifty hours spent in such profitless discourse by the wives and daughters of the townsfolk, to the great discomfort and discredit of their liege lords.  He was at present abiding in the college, where John Dee had apartments distinct from the warden’s house, along with his former coadjutor and seer, Edward Kelly.  Since the last quarrel between these two confederates, they had long been estranged; but Kelly had recently come for a season to visit his old master:  when the Doctor returned from Trebona, in Bohemia, whence he had been invited back to his own country by Queen Elizabeth, he having received great honours and emoluments from foreign princes.  This youth, being son to the governor of the castle at Trebona, was about to travel for his improvement and understanding in foreign manners.  At the suit of his parents, Dee undertook the charge of his education and safe return.  Since then young Rodolf had generally resided under Dr Dee’s roof, and accompanied him on his accession to the wardenship.  His accent was decidedly foreign, though he had resided some years in Britain, but not sufficiently so for Mancestrian ears to distinguish it from a sort of lisping euphuism then fashionable at court and amongst the higher ranks of society.  An appearance of mystery was connected with his person.  His birthplace and condition were not generally divulged, and though of an open and gallant bearing, yet on this head he was not very communicative.  Mystery begets wonder and excitement—­a sort of interest usually attached to subjects not easily understood.  When it emanates from an object capable of enthralling the affections, this feeling soon kindles admiration, and admiration ripens into love.  No wonder, then, if all tender and compassionate dames were ready to open upon him their dread artillery of sighs and glances, and the more especially as it soon began to be manifest that success was nigh hopeless.  The heart entrenched, the wearer was impenetrable.