第11章

Good—bye,myRuth！Iwouldyoumighthavelovedme。Isoughttoforceit。"Hesmiledeversowanly。"Perhapsthatwasmymistake。Itisanillthingtoeatone"shaywhileitisgrass。"Heraisedtohislipsthelittleglovedhandthatstillrestedonhiswrist。"Godkeepyou,Ruth！"hemurmured。

Shesoughttoanswerhim,butsomethingchokedher;asobwasallsheachieved。Hadhecaughthertohiminthatmomentthereislittledoubtbutthatshehadyielded。Perhapsheknewit;andknowingitkeptthetighterreinupondesire。Shewasasmetalmolteninthecrucible,tobemouldedbyhiscraftsman"shandsintoanypatternthathechose。Butthecruciblewasthecrucibleofpity,notoflove;that,too,heknew,and,knowingit,forbore。

Hedroppedherhand,doffedhishat,and,wheelinghishorseabout,toucheditwiththespurandrodebacktowardsthethicketwherehisfriendsawaitedhim。Ashelefther,shetoowheeledabout,asiftofollowhim。Shestrovetocommandhervoicethatshemightrecallhim;

butatthatsamemomentTrenchard,hearinghisreturninghoofs,thrustoutintotheroadwithVallanceyfollowingathisheels。Theoldplayer"sharshvoicereachedherwhereshestood,anditwasquerulouswithimpatience。

"Whataplaguedoyoumean,dallyinghereatsuchatime,Anthony？"hecried,towhichVallanceyadded:"InGod"sname,letuspushon。

Atthatshecheckedherimpulse—itmayevenbethatshemistrustedit。

Shepaused,lingeringundecidedforaninstant;then,turningherhorseoncemore,sheambleduptheslopetorejoinDiana。

CHAPTERXIII

"PRORELIGIONEETLIBERTATE"

TheeveningwasfaradvancedwhenMr。WildingandhistwocompanionsdescendedtoUplymeCommonfromtheheightswhenceastheyrodetheyhadcommandedaclearviewofthefairvalleyoftheAxe,lyingnowunderathinopalescentveilofeveningmist。

TheyhadpausedatIlminsterforfreshhorses,andthereWildinghadpaidavisittooneofhisagentsfromwhomhehadprocuredahundredguineas。Thencetheyhadcomesouthatasharppace,andwithlittlesaid。Wildingwasmoodyandthoughtful,filledwithchagrinatthisunconscionablerashnessofthemanuponwhomallhishopeswerecentred。

AstheycanteredbrisklyacrossUplymeCommoninthetwilighttheypassedseveralbodiesofcountrymen,allheadingforthetown,andonegroupsentupashoutof"GodsavetheProtestantDuke！"astheyrodepasthim。

"Amentothat,"mutteredMr。Wildinggrimly,"forIamafraidthatnomancan。"

InthenarrowlanebyHayFarmahorseman,goingintheoppositedirection,passedthematthegallop;buttheyhadmetseveralsuchsinceleavingIlminster,forindeedthenewswasspreadingfast,andthewholecountrysidewasalivewithmessengers,someonfootandsomeonhorseback,butallhurryingasiftheirlivesdependedontheirhaste。

TheymadetheirwaytotheMarket—PlacewhereMonmouth"sdeclaration—

thatremarkablemanifestofromthepenofFerguson—hadbeenreadsomehoursbefore。Thence,havingascertainedwhereHisGracewaslodged,theymadetheirwaytotheGeorgeInn。

InCoombeStreettheyfoundthecrowdsodensethattheycouldbutwithdifficultyopenoutawayfortheirhorsesthroughthehumanpress。Notawindowbutwasopen,andthrongedwithsight—seers—mostlywomen,indeed,forthemenwereinthepressbelow。Oneveryhandresoundedthecriesof"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！TheProtestantReligion！ReligionandLiberty,"whichlatterwerethewordsinscribedonthestandardMonmouthhadsetupthateveningontheChurchCliffs。

Intruth,Wildingwasamazedatwhathesaw,andsaidasmuchtoTrenchard。SopessimistichadbeenhisoutlookthathehadalmostexpectedtofindtherebellionsnuffedoutbythetimetheyreachedLyme—of—the—King。WhathadtheauthoritiesbeenaboutthattheyhadpermittedMonmouthtocomeashore,orhadVallancey"sinformationbeenwronginthematterofthenumbersthataccompaniedtheProtestantChampion？Wilding"sredcoatattractedsomeattention。Intheduskitscolourwasalmostallthatcouldbediscernedofit。

"Here"samilitiacaptainfortheDuke！"criedone,andotherstookupthecry,andifitdidnothingelseitopenedawayforthemthroughthatsolidhumanmassandpermittedthemtowinthroughtotheyardoftheGeorgeInn。Theyfoundthespaciousquadranglethrongedwithmen,armedandunarmed,andonthestepsstoodatall,well—knit,soldierlyman,hishatrakishlycocked,aboutwhomacrowdoftownsmenandcountryfellowswerepressingwithinsistence。AtaglanceMr。WildingrecognizedCaptainVenner—raisedtotherankofcolonelbyMonmouthonthewayfromHolland。

Trencharddismounted,andtakingadistractedstable—boybythearm,badehimseetotheirhorses。Thefellowendeavouredtoswinghimselffreeoftheother"stenaciousgrasp。

"Letmego,"hecried。"IamfortheDuke！"

"Andsoarewe,myfinerebel,"answeredTrenchard,holdingfast。

"Letmego,"theloutinsisted。"Iamgoingtoenlist。"

"Andsoyoushallwhenyouhavestabledournags。Seetohim,Vallancey;heisbrainsickwiththefumesofwar。"

Thefellowprotested,butTrenchard"swaywasbriskandshort;andso,protestingstill,heledawaytheircattleintheend,Vallanceygoingwithhimtoseethatheperformedthislastdutyasastable—boyerehetoobecameachampionmilitantoftheProtestantCause。TrenchardspedafterWilding,whowaselbowinghiswaythroughtheyokelsaboutthesteps。Theglareofanewlylightedlampfromthedoorwayfellfulluponhislongwhitefaceasheadvanced,andVennerespiedandrecognizedhim。

"Mr。Wilding！"hecried,andtherewasagladringinhisvoice,forthoughcobblers,tailors,desertersfromthemilitia,pot—boys,stable—boys,andshufflingyokelshadbeencomingininnumbersduringthepastfewhourssincetheDeclarationhadbeenread,thiswasthefirstgentlemanthatarrivedtowelcomeMonmouth。Thesoldierstretchedoutahandtograspthenewcomer"s。"HisGracewillseeyouthisinstant,notadoubtofit。"Heturnedandcalleddownthepassage。

"Cragg！"Ayoungmaninabuffcoatcameforward,andtohimVennerdeliveredWildingandTrenchardthathemightannouncethemtoHisGrace。

Intheroomthathadbeensetapartforhimabovestairs,Monmouthstillsatattable。Hehadjustsupped,withbutanindifferentappetite,sofeveredwashebytheeventsofhislanding。Hewasexcitedwithhope—inspiredbythereadinesswithwhichthemenofLymeanditsneighbourhoodhadflockedtohisbanner—andfrettedbyanxietythatnoneofthegentryofthevicinityshouldyethavefollowedtheexampleofthemeanerfolk,inanswertothemessagesdispatchedatdawnfromSeaton。Theboardatwhichhesatwasstillcumberedwithsomeglassesandplattersandvestigesofhisrepast。BelowhimonhisrightsatFerguson—thatprinceofplotters—verybusywithpenandink,hiskeenfacealmosthiddenbyhisgreatperiwig;oppositewereLordGrey,ofWerke,andAndrewFletcher,ofSaltoun,whilst,standingatthefootofthetablebarelywithinthecircleofcandlelightfromthebranchonhepolishedoak,wasNathanielWade,thelawyer,whohadfledtoHollandonaccountofhisallegedcomplicityintheRyeHouseplotandwasnowreturnedamajorintheDuke"sservice。Erectandsoldierlyoffigure,girtwithagreatswordandwiththebuttofapistolprotrudingfromhisbelt,hehadlittletheairofamanwhosemethodsofcontentionwereforensic。

"Youunderstand,then,MajorWade,"HisGracewassaying,hisvoicepleasantandmusical。"Itisdecidedthatthegunshadbestbegotashoreforthwithandmounted。"

Wadebowed。"Ishallsetaboutitatonce,YourGrace。Ishallnotwantforhelp。HaveIYourGrace"sleavetogo？"

Monmouthnodded,andasWadepassedout,EnsignCraggenteredtoannounceMr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。TheDukerosetohisfeet,hisglancesuddenlybrightening。FletcherandGreyrosewithhim;Fergusonpaidnoheed,absorbedinhistask,whichheindustriouslycontinued。

"Atlast！"exclaimedtheDuke。"Admitthem,sir。"

Whentheyentered,Wildingcomingfirst,hishatunderhisarm,theDukesprangtomeethim,atallyoungfigure,litheandslenderasabladeofsteel,andofasteelystrengthforallhisslimness。Hewasdressedinasuitofpurplethatbecamehimmarvellouslywell,andonhisbreastastarofdiamondsflashedandsmoulderedlikeathingoffire。Hewasofanexceedingbeautyofface,whereinhemainlyfavouredthat"bold,handsomewoman"thatwashismother,without,however,anyofhismother"sinsipidity;fineeyes,agoodnose,straightandslender,andamouthwhich,ifsensualandindicatingalackofstrength,wasbeautifullyshaped。Hischinwasslightlycleft,theshapeofhisfaceadelicateoval,framednowinthewavingmassesofhisbrownwig。SomelikenesstohislateMajestywasalsodiscernible,inspiteofthewart,outofwhichhisuncleJamesmadesomuchcapital。

Therewasaslightflushonhischeeks,anaddedlustreinhiseye,ashetookWilding"shandandshookitheartilybeforeWildinghadtimetokissHisGrace"s。

"Youarelate,"hesaid,buttherewasnoreproachinhisvoice。"Wehadlookedtofindyouherewhenwecameashore。Youhadmyletter？"

"Ihadnot,YourGrace,"answeredWilding,verygrave。"Itwasstolen。"

"Stolen？"criedtheDuke,andbehindhimGreypressedforward,whilstevenFergusonpausedinhiswritingtoraisehispiercingeyesandlisten。

"Itisnomatter,"Wildingreassuredhim。"Althoughstolen,ithasbutgonetoWhitehallto—day,whenitcanaddlittletothenewsthatisalreadyonitswaythere。"

TheDukelaughedsoftly,withaflashofwhiteteeth,andlookedpastWildingatTrenchard。Someofthelightfadedoutofhiseyes。"TheytoldmeMr。Trenchard……"hebegan,whenWilding,halfturningtohisfriend,explained。

"ThisisMr。NicholasTrenchard—JohnTrenchard"scousin。

"Ibidyouwelcome,sir,"saidtheDuke,veryagreeably,"andItrustyourcousinfollowsyou。"

"Alas,"saidTrenchard,"mycousinisinFrance,"andinafewbriefwordsherelatedthematterofJohnTrenchard"shome—comingonhisacquittalandthetroubletherehadbeenconnectedwithit。

TheDukereceivedthenewsinsilence。HehadexpectedgoodsupportfromoldSpeke"sson—in—law。Indeed,therewasapromisethatwhenhecame,JohnTrenchardwouldbringfifteenhundredmenfromTaunton。Hetookaturnintheroomdeepinthought,andtherewasapauseuntilFerguson,rubbinghisgreatRomannose,askedsuddenlyhadMr。WildingseentheDeclaration。Mr。Wildinghadnot,andthereupontheplottingparson,whowasproudofhiscomposition,wouldhavereadittohimthereandthen,butthatGreysourlytoldhimthematterwouldkeep,andthattheyhadotherthingstodiscusswithMr。Wilding。

ThistheDukehimselfconfirmed,statingthatthereweremattersonwhichhewouldbegladtohavetheiropinion。

Heinvitedthenewcomerstodrawchairstothetable;glasseswerecalledfor,andacoupleoffreshbottlesofCanarywentroundtheboard。Thetalkwasdesultoryforafewmoments,whilstWildingandTrenchardwashedthedustfromtheirthroats;thenMonmouthbroketheicebyaskingthembluntlywhattheythoughtofhiscomingthus,earlierthanwasatfirstagreed。

Wildingneverhesitatedinhisreply。"Frankly,YourGrace,"saidhe,"Ilikeitnotatall。"

Fletcherlookedupsharply,hisclearintelligenteyesfulluponWilding"scalmface,hiscountenanceexpressingaslittleasdidWilding"s。Fergusonseemedslightlytakenaback。Grey"sthicklipsweretwistedinasneeringsmile。

"Faith,"saidthelatterwithelaboratesarcasm,"inthatcaseitonlyremainsforustoshipagain,heaveanchor,andbacktoHolland。"

"ItiswhatIshouldadvise,"saidWildingslowlyandquietly,"ifI

thoughttherewasachanceofmyadvicebeingtaken。"Hehadacalm,almostapatheticwayofutteringstartlingthingswhichrenderedthemdoublystartling。ThesneerseemedtofreezeonLordGrey"slips;

Fletchercontinuedtostare,buthiseyeshadgrownmoreround;Fergusonscowleddarkly。TheDuke"sboyishface—itwasstillveryyouthfuldespitehissix—and—thirtyyears—expressedawonderingconsternation。

HelookedatWilding,andfromWildingtotheothers,andhisglanceseemedtoentreatthemtosuggestananswertohim。ItwasGreyatlastwhotookthematterup。

"Youshallexplainyourmeaning,sir,orwemustholdyouatraitor,"

heexclaimed。

"KingJamesdoesthatalready,"answeredWildingwithaquietsmile。

"D"yemeantheDukeofYork？"rumbledFerguson"sScottishaccentwithstartlingsuddenness,andMonmouthnoddedapprovalofthecorrection。

"Ifyemeanthatbloodypapistandfratricide,itwerewellsotospeakofhim。HadyereadtheDeclaration……"

ButFletchercroppedhisspeechinmid—growth。Hewaseverashort—temperedman,intolerantofirrelevancies。

"Itwerewell,perhaps,"saidhe,hisaccentabundantlyproclaiminghimafellowcountrymanofFerguson"s,"tokeeptothematterbeforeus。

Mr。Wilding,nodoubt,willstatethereasonsthatexist,orthathefanciesmayexist,forgivingadvicewhichishardlyworthyofthecausetowhichhestandscommitted。"

"Aye,Fletcher,"saidMonmouth,"thereissenseinyou。Telluswhatisinyourmind,Mr。Wilding。"

"Itisinmymind,YourGrace,thatthisinvasionisrash,premature,andill—advised。"

"Oddslife！"criedGrey,andheswungangrilyroundfullytofacetheDuke,thenostrilsofhisheavynosedilating。"Arewetolistentothismilksopprattle？"

NickTrenchard,whohadhithertobeensilent,clearedhisthroatsonoisilythathedrewalleyestohimself。

"YourGrace,"Mr。Wildingpursued,hisaircalmanddignified,andgatheringmoredignityfromthecircumstancethatheproceededasiftherehadbeennointerruption,"whenIhadthehonourofconferringwithyouatTheHaguetwomonthsago,itwasagreedthatyoushouldspendthesummerinSweden—awayfrompoliticsandscheming,leavingtheworkofpreparationtoyouraccreditedagentshere。ThatworkI

havebeenslowlybutsurelypushingforward。Itwasnottobehurried;

menofpositionarenottobewonoverinaday;menwithanythingtoloseneedsomeguaranteethattheyarenotwantonlycastingtheirpossessionstothewinds。Bynextspring,aswasagreed,allwouldhavebeenready。Delaycouldnothavehurtyou。Indeed,witheverydaybywhichyoudelayedyourcomingyoudidgoodservicetoyourcause,youstrengtheneditsprospectsofsuccess;foreverydaythepeople"sburdenofoppressionandpersecutiongrowsmoreheavy,andthepeople"stempermoreshort;everyday,bythemethodsthatheispursuing,KingJamesbringshimselfintodeeperhatred。Thishatredisspreading。Itwasthebusinessofmyselfandthoseotherstohelpiton,untilfromthecottageoftheploughmantheinfectionofangershouldhavespreadtothemansionofthesquire。HadYourGracebutgivenmetime,asI

entreatedyou,andasyoupromisedme,youmighthavemarchedtoWhitehallwithscarcethesheddingofadropofblood;hadYourGracebutwaiteduntilwewereready,Englandwouldhavesotrembledatyourlandingthatyouruncle"sthronewouldhavetoppledover`neaththeshock。Asitis……"Heshruggedhisshoulders,sighedandspreadhishands,leavinghissentenceuncompleted。

Monmouthsatsoberedbythesesoberwords;theintoxicationthathadcometohimfromthelittlemeasureofsuccessthathadattendedtheopeningofthelistingonChurchCliffs,desertedhimnow;hesawthethingstarkandinitstrueproportions,andnoteventheshoutingofthefolkinthestreetsbelow,cryinghisnameandacclaiminghimtheirchampion,servedtolightenthegloomthatWilding"swordscastlikeacloudoverhisvolatileheart。Alas,poorMonmouth！Hewaseveraweathercock,andevenasWilding"swordsseemedtostrikethecourageoutofhim,sodidGrey"sshortcontemptuousanswerrestoreit。

"Asitis,we"llthrustthatthroneoverwithourhands,"saidheafteramoment"spause。

"Aye,"criedMonmouth。"We"lldoit,Godhelpingus！"

"OurdependenceandtrustisintheLordofHosts,inWhoseNamewegoforth,"boomedthevoiceofFerguson,quotingfromhispreciousDeclaration。"TheLordwilldothatwhichseemethgooduntoHim。"

"Anunanswerableargument,"saidWilding,smiling。"ButtheLord,Iamtoldbythegentlemenofyourcloth,worksinHisowngoodtime,andmyfearsarealllest,findingusunpreparedofourselves,theLord"sgoodtimebenotyet。"

"Outonye,sir,"criedFerguson。"Yewantforreverence！"

"Commonsensewillserveusbetteratthemoment,"answeredWildingwithatouchofsharpness。HeturnedtothefrowningandperplexedDuke—

whosemindwasbeingtossedthiswayandthat,likeashuttlecockuponthebattledoreofthesemen"swords。"YourGrace,"hesaid,"forgivemethatIspeakitifhearityouwill,orforbidmetosayitifyourresolveisunalterableinthismatter。"

"Itisunalterable,"answeredGreyfortheDuke。

ButMonmouthgentlyoverruledhimforonce。

"Nevertheless,speakbyallmeans,Mr。Wilding。Whateveryoumaysay,youneedhavenofearthatanyofuscandoubtyourgoodintentionstoourselves。"

"IthankYourGrace。WhatIhavetosayisbutarepetitionofthefirstwordsIutteredatthistable。IwouldurgeYourGraceevennowtoretreat。"

"What？Areyoumad？"ItwasLordGreywhoaskedtheimpatientquestion。

"Idoubtit"sover—lateforthat,"saidFletcherslowly。

"Iamnotsosure,"answeredWilding。"ButIamsurethattoattemptitwerethesafercourse—thesurerintheend。Imyselfmaynotlingertopushforwardthetaskofstirringupthepeople,forIamalreadysomethingmorethanundersuspicion。ButthereareotherswhowillremaintocarryontheworkafterIhavedepartedwithYourGrace,ifYourGracethinkswell。FromtheContinentbycorrespondencewecanmatureourplans。Inatwelvemonththingswillbeverydifferent,andwecanreturnwithconfidence。"

GreyshruggedandturnedhisshoulderuponWilding,butsaidnoword。

Therewassilenceofsomefewmoments。AndrewFletcherleanedhiselbowonthetableandtookhisbrowinhisgreatbonyhand。Wilding"swordsseemedanechoofthosehehimselfhadspokenaweekortwoago,onlytobeoverruledbyGrey,whoswayedtheDukemorethandidanyother—andthathedidnotdosooffellpurpose,andseekingdeliberatelytoworkMonmouth"sruin,nomanwilleverbeabletosaywithcertainty。

Fergusonrose,atall,spare,stoopingfigure,andsmotetheboardwithhisfist。"Itisagoodcause,"hecried,"andGodwillnotleaveusunlessweleaveHim。"

"HenrytheSeventhlandedwithfewermenthandidYourGrace,"saidGrey,"andhesucceeded。"

"True,"putinFletcher。"ButHenrytheSeventhwassureofthesupportofnotafewofthenobility,whichdoesnotseemtobeourcase。"

FergusonandGreystaredathiminhorror;Monmouthsatbitinghislip,morebewilderedthanthoughtful。

"0manoflittlefaith！"roaredFergusoninapassion。"Areyetobeswayedlikeastrawinthewind？"

"Iamno"swayed。Yekenthiswasevermyownview。Ifeel,inmyheart,thatwhatMr。Wildingsaysisright。ItisbutwhatIsaidmyself,andCaptainMatthewswithme,beforeweembarkeduponthisexpedition。Wewereindangerofruiningallbyaneedlessprecipitancy。

Nay,man,neverstareso,"hesaidtoGrey,"IaminitnowandIamno"

themantodrawback,nordoIgosofarasMr。Wildingincounsellingsuchacourse。We"vesetourhandstotheplough;letusgoforwardinGod"sname。YetIwouldremindyouthatwhatMr。Wildingsaysistrue。

Hadwewaiteduntilnextyear,wehadfoundtheusurper"sthronetotteringunderhim,and,onourlanding,itwouldhavetoppledo"erofitself。"

"Ihavesaidalreadythatwe"lloversetitwithourhands,"Greyanswered。

"Howmanyhandshaveyou？"askedanewvoice,acrisp,discordantvoice,muchsteepedinmockery。ItwasNickTrenchard"s。

"HaveweanotherhereofMr。Wilding"smind？"criedGrey,staringathim。

"Iamseldomofanyother,"answeredTrenchard。"Weshallno"wantforhands,"Fergusonassuredhim。"Hadyearrivedearlieryemighthaveseenhowreadilymenenlisted。"Hehadrisenandapproachedthewindowashespoke;hepulleditopen,toletinthefullvolumeofsoundthatrosefromthestreetbelow。

"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！"voicesshouted。

Fergusonstruckatheatricalposture,onelong,leanarmstretchedoutwardfromtheshoulder。

"Yehearthem,sirs,"hecried,andtherewasagleamoftriumphinhiseye。"Thatisanswerenoughtothosewhowantforfaith,tothefecklessonesthatthinktheLordwillabandonthosethathavesetouttoserveHim,"andhisglancecomprehendedFletcher,Trenchard,andWilding。

TheDukestirredinhischair,stretchedahandforthebottleandfilledaglass。Hismercurialspiritswererisingagain。HesmiledatWilding。

"Ithinkyouareanswered,sir,"saidhe;"andIhopethatlikeFletcherthere,whosharedyourdoubts,youwillcometoagreethatsincewehavesetourhandstotheploughwemustgoforward。"

"IhavesaidthatwhichIhaditonmyconsciencetosay。YourGracemayhavefoundmeover—readywithmycounsel;atleastyoushallfindmenolessreadywithmysword。"

"Odso！Thatisbetter。"Greyapplauded,andhismannerwasalmostpleasant。

"Ineverdoubtedit,Mr。Wilding,"HisGracereplied;"butIshouldliketohearyousaythatyouareconvinced—atleastinpart,"andhewavedhishandtowardsthewindow。Itwasalmostasifhepleadedforencouragement。IncommonwithmostmenwhocameincontactwithWilding,hehadfeltthelatentforceofthisman"snature,thestrengththatwashiddenunderthatcalmsurface,andtheacutenessofthejudgmentthatmustbeweddedtoit。HelongedthavethewordofsuchamanthathisenterprisewasnotasdesperateasWildinghadseemedatfirsttopaintit。ButWildingmadenoconcessiontohopesordesireswhenhedealtwithfacts。

"Menwillflocktoyou,nodoubt;persecutionhasweariedmanyofthecountry—folk,andtheyarereadyforrevolt。Buttheyarealluntrainedinarms;theyarerustics,notsoldiers。Ifanyofthemenofpositionweretorallyroundyourstandardtheywouldbringthemilitia,andothersintheirtrain;theywouldbringarms,horses,andmoney,allofwhichYourGracemustbesorelyneeding。"

"Theywillcome,"answeredtheDuke。

"Some,nodoubt,"Wildingagreed;"buthaditbeennextyear,Iwouldhaveansweredforitthatitwouldhavebeennohandfulhadriddenintowelcomeyou。ScarceagentlemanofDevonorSomerset,ofDorsetorHampshire,ofWiltshireorCheshirebutwouldhavehastenedtoyourside。"

"Theywillcomeasitis,"theDukerepeatedwithanalmostwomanishinsistence,persistinginbelievingwhathehoped,allevidenceapart。

ThedooropenedandEnsignCraggmadehisappearance。"MayitpleaseYourGrace,"heannounced,"Mr。Battiscombhasjustarrived,andaskswillYourGracereceivehimto—night？"

Battiscomb！"criedtheDuke。Againhischeekflushedandhiseyesparkled。"Aye,inHeaven"sname,showhimup。"

"AndmaytheLordrefreshuswithgoodtidings！"prayedFergusondevoutly。

MonmouthturnedtoWilding。"ItistheagentIsentaheadofmefromHollandtostirupthegentryfromheretotheMersey。"

"Iknow,"saidWilding;"weconferredtogethersomeweekssince。"

"Nowyoushallseehowidleareyourfears,"theDukepromisedhim。

AndWilding,whowasbetterinformedonthatscore,keptsilence。

CHAPTERXIV

HISGRACE"INCOUNSEL

Mr。ChristopherBattiscomb,thatmild—manneredDorchestergentleman,who,likeWade,wasbyvocationalawyer,wasusheredintotheDuke"spresence。Hewasdressedinblack,and,likeFerguson,wasalmostsmotheredinagreatperiwig,whichhemayhaveadoptedforpurposesofdisguiseratherthanadornment。Certainlyhehadnoneofthatairofthesoldieroffortunewhichdistinguishedhisbrotheroftherobe。Headvanced,hatinhand,towardsthetable,greetingthecompanyaboutit,andWildingobservedthatheworesilkstockingsandshoes,uponwhichthererestednotaspeckofdust。Mr。Battiscombwasplainlyamanwholovedhisease,sinceonsuchadayhehadtravelledtoLymeinacoach。

ThelawyerbentlowtokisstheDuke"shand,andscarcewasthatformalhomagepaidthanquestionspoureduponhimfromGrey,fromFletcher,andfromFerguson。

"Gentlemen,gentlemen,"theDukeentreatedthem,smiling;andrememberingtheirmannerstheyfellsilent。

AsWildingafterwardstoldTrenchard,theyremindedhimofaparcelofsaucylacqueyswhotakelibertieswithanupstartmasterforwhomtheyarewantinginrespect。

"Iamgladtoseeyou,Battiscomb,"saidMonmouth,whenquietwasrestored,"andItrustIbeholdinyouabearerofgoodtidings。"

Thelawyer"sfullfacewasusuallypale;to—nightitwas,inaddition,solemn,andthesmilethathauntedhislipswasacourtesysmilethatexpressedneithermirthnorsatisfaction。Heclearedhisthroat,asifnervous。HeavoidedtheDuke"squestionastothequalityofthenewshebroughtbyansweringthathehadmadeallhastetocometoLymeuponhearingofHisGrace"slanding。Hewassurprised,hesaid;aswellhemightbe,forthearrangementwasthathavingdonehisworkhewastoreturntoHollandandreporttoMonmouthuponthefeelingofthegentry。

"Butyournews,Battiscomb,"theDukeinsisted。"Aye,"putinGrey;"

inHeaven"sname,letushearthat。"