第1章
CHAPTERI
POT—VALIANCE
Thendrinkitthus,criedtherashyoungfool,andsplashedthecontentsofhiscupfullintothefaceofMr。Wildingevenasthatgentleman,onhisfeet,wasproposingtodrinktotheeyesoftheyoungfool"ssister。
Themomentsthatfollowedwerefullofinterest。Astillness,abrooding,expectantstillness,felluponthecompany—anditnumberedarounddozen—aboutLordGervase"srichlyappointedboard。Inthesoftcandlelighttheovaltableshonelikeadeepbrownpool,inwhichwerereflectedthegleamingsilverandsparklingcrystalthatseemedtofloatuponit。
Blakesuckedinhisnether—lip,hisfloridfaceathoughtlessfloridthanitswont,hisprominentblueeyesathoughtmoreprominent。UnderitsgoldenperiwigoldNickTrenchard"swizenedcountenancewasdarkenedbyascowl,andhisfingers,long,swarthy,andgnarled,drummedfretfullyuponthetable。PortlyLordGervaseScoresby—theirhost,abenignandplacidmanofpeace,detestingturbulence—turnedcrimsonnowinwordlessrage。Theothersgapedandstared—someatyoungWestmacott,someatthemanhehadsogrosslyaffronted—whilstintheshadowsofthehallacoupleoflacqueyslookedonamazed,allteethandeyes。
Mr。Wildingstood,verystillandoutwardlyimpasive,thewinetricklingfromhislongface,which,ifpale,wasnopalerthanitshabit,avestigeofthesmilewithwhichhehadproposedthetoaststilllingeringonhisthinlips,thoughdepartedfromhiseyes。AnelegantgentlemanwasMr。Wilding,tall,andseemingeventallerbyvirtueofhisexceedingslenderness。Hehadthecouragetowearhisownhair,whichwasofadarkbrownandveryluxuriant;darkbrowntoowerehissombreeyes,low—liddedandsetatadownwardslant。Fromthoseoddeyesofhis,hiscountenancegatheredanairofsuperciliousnesstemperedbyagentlemelancholy。Fortherest,itwasscoredbylinesthatstampeditwiththeappearanceofanageinexcessofhisthirtyyears。
Thirtyguineas"worthofMechlinathisthroatwasdrenched,empurpledandruinedbeyondredemption,andonthebreastofhisbluesatincoatadarkpatchwasspreadinglikeastainofblood。
RichardWestmacott,short,sturdy,andfair—complexionedtothepointofinsipidity,watchedhimsullenlyoutofpaleeyes,andwaited。ItwasLordGervasewhobrokeatlastthesilence—brokeitwithanoath,athingunusualinonewhosenaturewasalmostwoman—mild。
"AsGod"smylife！"hesplutteredwrathfully,gloweringatRichard。
"Tohavethishappeninmyhouse！Theyoungfoolshallmakeapology！"
"Withhisdyingbreath,"sneeredTrenchard,andtheoldrake"swords,histone,andthemalevolentlookhebentupontheboyincreasedthecompany"smalaise。
"Ithink,"saidMr。Wilding,withamostsingularandexcessivesweetness,"thatwhatMr。Westmacotthasdonehehasdonebecauseheapprehendedmeamiss。"
"Nodoubthe"llsayso,"opinedTrenchardwithashrug,andhadcautiondugintohisribsbyBlake"selbow,whilstRichardmadehastetoprovehimwrongbysayingthecontrary。
"Iapprehendedyouexactly,sir,"heanswered,defianceinhisvoiceandwine—flushedface。
"Ha！"cluckedTrenchard,irrepressible。"He"sbentonself—destruction。
Lethimhavehisway,inGod"sname。"
ButWildingseemedintentuponshowinghowlong—sufferinghecouldbe。
Hegentlyshookhishead。"Nay,now,"saidhe。"Youthought,Mr。
Westmacott,thatinmentioningyoursister,Ididsolightly。Isitnotso？"
"Youmentionedher,andthatisallthatmatters,"criedWestmacott。
"I"llnothavehernameonyourlipsatanytimeorinanyplace—no,norinanymanner。"Hisspeechwasthickfromtoomuchwine。
"Youaredrunk,"criedindignantLordGervasewithfinality。
"Pot—valiant,"Trenchardelaborated。
Mr。Wildingsetdownatlasttheglasswhichhehadcontinuedtoholduntilthatmoment。Herestedhishandsuponthetable,knucklesdownward,andleaningforwardhespokeimpressively,hisfaceverygrave;andthosepresent—knowinghimastheydid—wereoneandalllostinwonderathisunusualpatience。
"Mr。Westmacott,"saidhe,"Idothinkyouarewrongtopersistinaffrontingme。Youhavedoneathingthatisbeyondforgiveness,andyet,whenIofferyouthisopportunityofhonourablyretrieving……"
Heshruggedhisshoulders,leavingthesentenceincomplete。
Thecompanymighthavespareditsdeepsurpriseatsomuchmildness。
Therewasbutthesemblanceofit。Wildingproceededthusofpurposeset,andunderthecalmmaskofhislongwhitefacehismindworkedwickedlyanddeliberately。ThetemerityofWestmacott,whosenaturewasnotoriouslytimid,hadsurprisedhimforamoment。Butanon,readingtheboy"smindasreadilyasthoughithadbeenascrollunfoldedforhisinstruction,hesawthatWestmacott,onthestrengthofhispositionashissister"sbrother,conceivedhimselfimmune。
Mr。Wilding"savowedcourtshipofthelady,thehopeshestillentertainedofwinningher,despitetheaversionshewasatpainstoshowhim,gaveWestmacottassurancethatMr。Wildingwouldneverelecttoshatterhisalltooslenderchancesbyembroilinghimselfinaquarrelwithherbrother。And—readinghim,thus,aright—Mr。
Wildingputonthatmaskofpatience,luringtheboyintogreaterconvictionofthesecurityofhisposition。AndRichard,conceivinghimselfsafeinhisentrenchmentbehindthebulwarksofhisbrothershiptoRuthWestmacott,andheartenedfurtherbytheexcessofwinehehadconsumed,persistedininsultshewouldneverotherwisehavedaredtooffer。
"Whoseekstoretrieve？"hecrowedoffensively,boldlylookingupintotheother"sface。"Itseemsyouareyourselfreluctant。"Andhelaughedatriflestridently,andlookedabouthimforapplause,butfoundnone。
"Youareoverrash,"LordGervasedisapprovedhimharshly。
"NotthefirstcowardI"veseengrowvaliantatatable,"putinTrenchardbywayofexplanation,andmighthavecometowordswithBlakeonthatsamescore,butthatinthatmomentWildingspokeagain。
"Reluctanttodowhat？"hequestionedamiably,lookingWestmacottsostraightlybetweentheeyesthattheboyshifteduneasilyonhishigh—backedchair。
Nevertheless,stillfullofconfidenceintheunassailabilityofhisposition,themadyouthanswered,"TocleanseyourselfofwhatIthrewatyou。"
"Fanme,yewinds！"gaspedNickTrenchard,andlookedwithexpectancyathisfriendWilding。
Nowtherewasonefactorwithwhich,inbasingwithsuchcravenshrewdnesshiscalculationsuponMr。Wilding"sfeelingsforhissister,youngRichardhadnotreckoned。HewasnottoknowthatWilding,bruisedandwoundedbyMissWestmacott"sscornofhim,hadreachedthatborderlandwhereloveandhatearesomergedthattheyarescarcetobedistinguished。Embitteredbytheslightsshehadputuponhim—slightswhichhissensitive,lover"sfancyhadmagnifiedahundredfold—AnthonyWilding"sframeofmindwasgrownpeculiar。
Ofhisloveshewouldhavenone;hiskindnesssheseeminglydespised。
Sobeit;sheshouldtastehiscruelty。Ifshescornedhiswooingandforbadehimtopursueit,atleastitwasnotherstodenyhimthepowertohurt;andinhurtingherthatwouldnotbelovedbyhimsomemeasureoffierceandbitterconsolationseemedtoawaithim。
Herealized,perhaps,notquiteallthis—andtotheunworthinessofitallhegavenothought。Butherealizedenoughashetoyed,ascatwithmouse,withRichardWestmacott,toknowthatinstrikingatherthroughtheworthlesspersonofthisbrotherwhomshecherished—andwhopersistedinaffordinghimthisopportunity—awickedvengeancewouldbehis。
Peace—lovingLordGervasehadheavedhimselfsuddenlytohisfeetatWestmacott"slastwords,stillintentuponsavingthesituation。
"InHeaven"sname……"hebegan,whenMr。Wilding,evercalmandsmiling,thoughnowatriflesinister,wavedhimgentlyintosilence。ButthatpersistingcalmofMr。Wilding"swastoomuchforoldNickTrenchard。
Heroseabruptly,drawingalleyesuponhimself。Itwastime,hethought,hetookahandinthis。
InadditiontohisaffectionforWildingandhiscontemptforWestmacott,hewasfilledwithafearthatthelattermightbecomedangerousifnotcrushedatonce。Giftedwithashrewdknowledgeofmen,acquiredduringachequeredlifeofmuchsourexperience,oldNickinstinctivelymistrustedRichard。Hehadknownhimforafool,aweakling,ababbler,andabibberofwine。Outofsuchelementsavillainissooncompounded,andTrenchardhadcausetofeartheformofvillainythatlayreadytoRichard"shand。ForitchancedthatMr。TrenchardwassecondcousintothatfamousJohnTrenchard,solatelytriedfortreasonandacquittedtothegreatjoyofthesectariesoftheWest,andstillmorelately—butyesterday,infact—fledthecountrytoescapetherearrestorderedinconsequenceofthatexcessivejoy。Likehismorefamouscousin,NickTrenchardwasoneoftheDukeofMonmouth"smostactiveagents;andWestmacott,likeWilding,Vallancey,andoneortwoothersatthatboard,stood,too,committedtothecauseoftheProtestantChampion。
OutofhisknowledgeoftheboyTrenchardwasledtofearthatifhewerelenientlydealtwithnow,tomorrow,when,sober,hecametorealizethegrossnessofthethinghehaddoneandtheunlikelihoodofitsbeingforgivenhim,therewasnosayingbutthattoprotecthimselfhemightbetrayWilding"sshareintheplotthatwasbeinghatched。Thatinitselfwouldbebadenough;buttheremightbeworse,forhecouldscarcelybetrayWildingwithoutbetrayingothersand—whatmatteredmost—theCauseitself。Hemustbedealtwithoutofhand,Trenchardopined,anddealtwithruthlessly。
"Ithink,Anthony,"saidhe,"thatwehavehadwordsenough。ShallyoubedisposingofMr。Westmacottto—morrow,ormustIbedoingitforyou？"
WithagaspofdismayyoungRichardtwistedinhischairtoconfrontthisfreshandunsuspectedantagonist。Whatdangerwasthisthathehadoverlooked？Then,evenasheturned,Wilding"svoicefellonhisear,andeachwordofthefewhespokewaslikeadropoficywateronWestmacott"soverheatedbrain。
"Iprotestyouarevastlykind,Nick。ButIintend,myself,tohavethepleasureofkillingMr。Westmacott。"Andhissmilefellnowinmockeryuponthedisillusionedlad。
Crushedbythatboltfromtheblue,Richardsatasifstunned,theflushrecedingfromhisfaceuntilhisverylipswerelivid。Theshockhadsoberedhim,and,sobered,herealizedinterrorwhathehaddone。
Andyetevensoberhewasamazedtofindthatthestaffuponwhichwithsuchsecurityhehadleanedshouldhaveprovedrotten。Truehehadputmuchstrainuponit;butthenhehadcountedthatitwouldstandmuchstrain。
Hewouldhavespoken,buthelackedwords,sostrickenwashe。Andevenhadhedonesoitisoddsnonewouldhaveheardhim,forthelatecalmwasofasuddenturnedtogarboil。Everymanofthatcompany—withthesoleexceptionofRichardhimself—wasonhisfeet,andallwerespeakingatonce,inclamouring,excitedchorus。
Wildingalone—thebuttoftheirexpostulations—stoodquietlysmiling,andwipedhisfaceatlastwithakerchiefoffinestlawn。
DominatingtheothersintheBabelrosethevoiceofSirRowlandBlake—impecuniousBlake;BlakelatelyoftheGuards,whohadsoldhiscommissionastheonlythingremaininghimuponwhichhecouldraisemoney;Blake,thatothersuitorforMissWestmacott"shand,thesuitorfavouredbyherbrother。
"Youshallnotdoit,Mr。Wilding,"heshouted,hisfacecrimson。"No,byGod！Youwereshamedforever。Heisbutalad,anddrunk。"
Trenchardeyedtheshort,powerfullybuiltmanbesidehim,andlaughedunpleasantly。"Youshouldgetyourselfbledoneofthesedays,SirRowland,"headvised。"Theremaybenogreatdangeryet;butamancan"tbetoocarefulwhenhewearsanarrowneckcloth。"
Blake—ashort,powerfullybuiltman—tooknoheedofhim,butlookedstraightatMr。Wilding,who,smilingever,calmlyreturnedthegazeofthoseprominentblueeyes。
"Youwillsufferme,SirRowland,"saidhesweetly,"tobethejudgeofwhomIwillandwhomIwillnotmeet。"
SirRowlandflushedunderthatmockingglanceandcaustictone。"Butheisdrunk,"herepeatedfeebly。
"Ithink,""saidTrenchard,"thatheishearingsomethingthatwillmakehimsober。"
LordGervasetooktheladbytheshoulder,andshookhimimpatiently。
"Well？"quothhe。"Haveyounothingtosay？Youdidadealofpratingjustnow。Imakenodoubtbutthatevenatthislatehourifyouweretomakeapology……"
"Itwouldbeidle,"cameWilding"sicyvoicetoquenchthegleamofhopekindlinganewinRichard"sbreast。Theladsawthathewaslost,andheisapoorthing,indeed,whocannotfacetheworstoncethatworstisshowntobeirrevocable。Herosewithsomesemblanceofdignity。
"ItisasIwouldwish,"saidhe,buthislividfaceandstaringeyesbeliedthevalourofhiswords。Heclearedhishuskinessfromhisthroat。"SirRowland,"saidhe,"willyouactforme？"
"NotI！"criedBlakewithanoath。"I"llbenopartytothebutcheryofaboyunfledged。"
"Unfledged？"echoedTrenchard。"Bodyo"me！"TisamatterWildingwillamendto—morrow。He"llfledgehim,neverfear。He"llwinghimonhisflighttoheaven。"
OfsetpurposedidTrenchardaddthisfueltotheblazingfire。Itwasnopartofhisviewsthatthisencountershouldbeavoided。IfRichardWestmacottwereallowedtoliveafterwhathadpassed,thereweretoomanytallfellowsmightgoinperiloftheirlives。
Richard,meanwhile,hadturnedtothemanonhisleft—youngVallancey,anotoriouspartisanoftheDukeofMonmouth"s,ahair—brainedgentlemanwhowashisownworstenemy。
"MayIcountonyou,Ned？"heasked。
"Aye—tothedeath,"saidVallanceymagniloquently。
"Mr。Vallancey,"saidTrenchardwithawrytwistofhissharpfeatures,"yougrowprophetic。"
CHAPTERII
SIRROWLANDTOTHERESCUE
>FromScoresbyHall,nearWestonZoyland,youngWestmacottrodehomethatSaturdaynighttohissister"shouseinBridgwater,asoberedmanandananguished。Hehadcommittedafollywhichwasliketocosthimhislifeto—morrow。Otherfollieshadhecommittedinhistwenty—fiveyears—forhewasnotquitethebabethatBlakehadrepresentedhim,althoughhecertainlylookednothinglikehisage。
Butto—nighthehadcontrivedtosetthecrowntoall。HehadgoodcausetoblamehimselfandtocursethemiscalculationthathademboldenedhimtolaunchhimselfuponacourseofinsultagainstthisWilding,whomhehatedwithallthecurrishandresentfulhatredoftheworthlessforthemanofparts。
Buttherewasmorethanhateintheaffrontthathehadoffered;therewascalculation—toanevengreaterextentthanwehaveseen。IthappenedthatthroughhisownfaultyoungRichardwasallbutpenniless。Thepious,nonconformistsoulofSirGeoffreyLupton—thewealthyunclefromwhomhehadhadgreatexpectations—hadbeensostirredtoangerbyRichard"sviciousandbesottedwaysthathehadlefteveryguineathatwashis,everyperchofland,andeverybrickofedificetoRichard"shalf—sisterRuth。Atpresentthingswerenotsobadfortheworthlessboy。Ruthworshippedhim。Hewasasacredchargetoherfromtheirdeadfather,who,knowingthestoutnessofhersoulandthefeeblenessofRichard"s,hadindyingimposedonherthecareandguidanceofhergracelessbrother。ButRuth,inallthingsstrong,wasweakwithRichardoutofherveryfondnessforhim。Towhatshehadhemighthelphimself,andthusitwasthatthingswerenotsobadwithhimatpresent。ButwhenRichard"scalculatingmindcametogivethoughttothefuturehefoundthatthisoccasionedhimsomecare。
Richladies,evenwhentheydonothappentobeequippedinadditionwithRuth"swinsomebeautyandendearingnature,arenotwonttogounmarried。ItwouldhavepleasedRichardbesttohavehadherremainaspinster。Buthewellknewthatthiswasamatterinwhichshemighthaveavoiceofherown,anditbehovedhimbetimestotakewisemeasureswherepossiblehusbandswereconcerned。
Thefirstthatcameinasuitor"sobviouspanoplywasAnthonyWilding,ofZoylandChase,andRichardwatchedhisadventwithforeboding。
Wilding"swasapersonalitytodazzleanywoman,despite—perhapsevenbecauseof—thereputationforwildnessthatclungtohim。ThathewasknownasWildWildingtothecountrysideistrue;butitwereunfair—asRichardknew—toattachtothistoomuchimportance;
fortheadoptionofsoobviousanalliterationtherudecountrymindsneededbutaslightencouragement。
FromthefirstitlookedasifRuthmightfavourhim,andRichard"sfearsassumedmoredefiniteshape。IfWildingmarriedher—andhewasabold,masterfulfellowwhousuallyaccomplishedwhatheaimedat—herfortuneandestatemustceasetobeapleasantpasturelandforbovineRichard。TheboythoughtatfirstofmakingtermswithWilding;theideawasold;ithadcometohimwhenfirsthehadcountedthechancesofhissister"smarrying。ButhefoundhimselfhesitatingtolayhisproposalbeforeMr。Wilding。AndwhilsthehesitatedMr。Wildingmadeobviousheadway。StillRicharddarednotdoit。TherewasasomethinginWilding"seyethatcriedhimdanger。Thus,intheend,sincehecouldnotattemptacompromisewiththisfinefellow,theonlycourseremainingwasthatofdirectantagonism—thatistosay,directasRichardunderstooddirectness。
Slanderwastheweaponheusedinthatsecretduel;thecountrysidewaswellstockedwithstoriesofMr。Wilding"smanyindiscretions。
Idonotwishtosuggestthatthesewereunfounded。Still,thecountryside,cajoledbyitsprimitivesenseofhumourintothatalliterationIhavementioned,foundthathavinggiventhisdogitsbadname,itwasundertheobligationofkeepinguphisreputation。Soitexaggerated。Richard,exaggeratingthoseexaggerationsinhisturn,hadsomedetails,asinterestingandunsavouryastheywereinthemainuntrue,tolaybeforehissister。
Nowestablishedlove,itiswellknown,thriveswondrouslyonslander。
Therobustgrowthofamaid"sfeelingsforheracceptedsuitorisbutfurtherstrengthenedbymalignrepresentationsofhischaracter。Sheseizeswithjoythechanceofaffordingproofofhergreatloyalty,anddefiestheworldanditseviltoconvinceherthatthemantowhomshehasgivenhertrustisnotmostworthyofit。Notso,however,withthefirsttimidbudofincipientinterest。Slandernipsitlikeafrost;
indeadlinessitissecondonlytoridicule。
RuthWestmacottlentaneartoherbrother"sstories,incredulousonlyuntilsherememberedvaguehintsshehadcaughtfromthispersonandfromthat,whosemeaningwasnowmadeclearbywhatRichardtoldher,which,incidentally,theyservedtocorroborate。Corroboration,too,didthetaleofinfamyreceivefromthefriendshipthatprevailedbetweenMr。WildingandNickTrenchard,theoldne"er—dowell,whoinhistime—aseverybodyknew—hadcomesolow,despitehisgentlebirth,astohavebeenoneofacompanyofstrollingplayers。HadMr。Wildingbeenotherthanshenowlearnthewas,hewouldsurelynotcherishanattachmentforapersonsoutterlyunworthy。Clearly,theywerebirdsofaplumage。
Andso,hermaidenpurityoutragedatthethoughtthatshehadbeenindangeroflendingawillingeartothewooingofsuchaman,shehadcrushedthislovewhichsheblushedtothinkwasonthepointofthrowingoutrootstofastenonhersoul,andwassedulousthereafterinmanifestingtheaversionwhichsheaccounteditherdutytofosterforMr。Wilding。
Richardhadwatchedandsmiledinsecret,takingprideinthecunningwayhehadwroughtthischange—thatcunningwhichsooftenisgiventothestupidbywayofcompensationfortheintelligencethathasbeenwithheldthem。
Andnowwhattimediscountenanced,Wildingfumedandfrettedallinvain,SirRowlandBlake,freshfromLondonandinfullflightfromhiscreditors,flashedlikeacometintotheBridgwaterheavens。HedazzledtheeyesandmighthavehadfortheaskingtheheartandhandofDianaHorton—Ruth"scousin。Herheart,indeed,hehadwithouttheasking,forDianafellstraightwayinlovewithhimandshowedit,justasheshowedthathewasnotwithoutresponsetoheraffection。
Thereweresometenderpassagesbetweenthem;butBlake,forallhisfineexterior,wasabeggar,andDianafarfromrich,andsoherodehisfeelingswithahardgripuponthereins。Andthen,inanevilhourforpoorDiana,youngWestmacotthadtakenhimtoLuptonHouse,andSirRowlandhadhisfirstglimpseofRuth,hisfirstknowledgeofherfortune。HewentdownbeforeRuth"seyeslikeamanofheart;
hewentdownmorelowlystillbeforeherpossessionslikeamanofgreed;andpoorDianamightconsoleherselfwithwhomshecould。
Herbrotherwatchedhim,appraisedhim,andthoughtthatinthisbrokengamesterhehadamanafterhisownheart;amanwhowouldbereadyenoughforsuchabargainasRichardhadinmind;readyenoughtosellwhatragsmightbelefthimofhishonoursothathecamebythewherewithaltomendhisbrokenfortunes。
Thetwainmadeterms。TheyhaggledlikeanypairoftradersoutofJewry,butintheenditwassettled—byabonddulyengrossedandsealed—thatonthedaythatSirRowlandmarriedRuthheshouldmakeovertoherbrothercertainvaluesthatamountedtoperhapsaquarterofherpossessions。TherewasnocausetothinkthatRuthwouldbegreatlyopposedtothis—notthatthatconsiderationwouldhaveweighedwithRichard。
ButnowthatallessentialsweresosatisfactorilydeterminedavexationwasofferedWestmacottbythecircumstancethathissisterseemednowisetakenwithSirRowland。Shesufferedhimbecausehewasherbrother"sfriend;onthataccountsheevenhonouredhimwithsomemeasureofherownfriendship;buttonogreaterintimacydidhermannerpromisetoadmithim。Andmeanwhile,Mr。Wildingpersistedinthefaceofallrebuffs。Underhissmilingmaskhehidthesmartofthewoundsshedealthim,untilitalmostseemedtohimthatfromlovingherhehadcometohateher。
IthadbeenwellforRichardhadheleftthingsastheywereandwaited。
WhetherBlakeprosperedornot,leastwaysitwasclearthatWildingwouldnotprosper,andthat,fortheseason,wasallthatneedhavematteredtoyoungRichard。
ButinhiscupsthatnighthehadthoughtinsomedimwaytoprecipitatemattersbyaffrontingMr。Wilding,secure,asIhaveshown,inhisbeliefthatWildingwouldperishsoonerthanraiseafingeragainstRuth"sbrother。Andhisdrunkenastuteness,itseemed,hadbeentohismindasapieceofbottleglasstothesight,distortingtheimageviewedthroughit。
Withsomesuchbitterreflectionrodehehometohissleeplesscouch。
SomepartofthosedarkhourshespentinbitterrevilingofWilding,ofhimself,andevenofhissister,whomheblamedforthisawfulsituationintowhichhehadtumbled;atothertimesheweptfromself—pityandsheerfright。
Once,indeed,heimaginedthathesawlight,thathesawawayoutoftheperilthathemmedhimin。HismindturnedforamomentinthedirectionthatTrenchardhadfeareditmight。HebethoughthimofhisassociationwiththeMonmouthCause—intowhichhehadbeenbeguiledbythesordidhopeofgain—andofWilding"simportantshareinthatsamebusiness。HewasevenmovedtoriseandridethatverynightforExetertobetraytoAlbemarletheCauseitself,sothathemighthaveWildinglaidbytheheels。ButifTrenchardhadbeenrightinhavinglittlefaithinRichard"sloyalty,hehad,itseems,infearingtreacherymadethemistakeofgivingRichardcreditformorecouragethanwashisendowment。Forwhen,sittingupinbed,firedbyhisinspiration,youngWestmacottcametoconsiderthequestionstheLord—LieutenantofDevonwouldbelikelytoaskhim,hereflectedthattheanswershemustreturnwouldsoincriminatehimselfthathewouldberiskinghisownneckinthebetrayal。Heflunghimselfdownagainwithacurseandagroan,andthoughtnomoreofthesalvationthatmightlieforhimthatway。
ThemorningofthatlastdayofMayfoundhimpaleandlimpandalla—tremble。Herosebetimesanddressed,butstirrednotfromhischambertillinthegardenunderhiswindowheheardhissister"svoice,andthatofDianaHorton,joinedanonbyaman"sdeepertones,whichherecognizedwithastartasBlake"s。Whatdidthebaronetheresoearly？Assuredlyitmustconcerntheimpendingduel。Richardknewnomawkishnessonthescoreofeavesdropping。Hestoletohiswindowandlentanear,hutthevoiceswerereceding,andtohisvexationhecaughtnothingofwhatwassaid。HewonderedhowsoonVallanceywouldcome,andforwhathourtheencounterhadbeenappointed。
VallanceyhadremainedbehindatScoresbyHalllastnighttomakethenecessaryarrangementswithTrenchard,whowastoactforMr。Wilding。
NowitchancedthatTrenchardandWildinghadbusiness—businessofMonmouth"s—totransactinTauntonthatmorning;businesswhichmightnotbedelayed。TherewereoddrumoursafloatintheWest;