第13章

"ThatwemustquitLymeweareallagreed,"saidhe。"IwouldproposethatYourGracemarchnorthtoGloucester,whereourCheshirefriendswillassembletomeetus。

ColonelMatthewsremindedtheDukeofAndrewFletcher"sproposalthattheyshouldmakearaiduponExeterwithaviewtoseizingarms,ofwhichtheystoodsosorelyinneed。

ThisMr。Wildingwasquicktosupport。"Notonlythat,YourGrace,"

hesaid,"butIamconfidentthatwithverylittleinducementthegreaterportionofthemilitiawilldeserttousassoonasweappear。

"Whatassurancecanyougiveofthat？"askedGrey,hisheavylipprotruded。

"Itakeit,"saidMr。Wilding,"thatinsuchmattersnomancangiveanassuranceofanything。Ispeakwithknowledgeofthecountryandthefolkfromwhichthemilitiaisenlisted。IofferitasmyopinionthatthemilitiaisfavourablydisposedtoYourGrace。Icandonomore。

"IfMr。Wildingsaysso,YourGrace,"putinMatthews,"Ihavenodoubthehassoundreasonsuponwhichtobasehisopinion。

"Nodoubt,"saidMonmouth。"Indeed,Ihadalreadythoughtofthestepthatyousuggest,ColonelMatthews,andwhatMr。Wildingsayscausesmetolookuponitstillmorefavourably。"

Greyfrowned。"Consider,YourGrace,"hesaidearnestly,"thatyouareinnocasetofightatpresent。"

"Whatfightingdoyousuggesttherewouldbe？"askedtheDuke。

"ThereisAlbemarlebetweenusandExeter。"

"Butwiththemilitia,"Wildingremindedhim;"andifthemilitiadesertshimforYourGrace,inwhatcasewillAlbemarlefindhimself？"

"Andifthemilitiadoesnotdesert？Ifyoushouldbeprovenwrong,sir？Whatthen？Whatthen？"askedGrey。

"Aye—true—whatthen,Mr。Wilding？"quoththeDuke,alreadywavering。

Wildingconsideredamoment,alleyesuponhim。"Eventhen,"saidhepresently,"IdomaintainthatinthisdashforExeterliesYourGrace"sgreatestchanceofsuccess。Wecandeliverbattleifneedbe。Alreadywearethreethousandstrong……"

Greyinterruptedhimrudely。"Nay,"heinsisted。"Youmustnotpresumeuponthat。Wearenotyetfittofight。ItisHisGrace"sbusinessatpresenttodrillanddisciplinehistroopsandinducemorefriendstojoinhim。"

"Alreadyweareturningmenawaybecausewehavenoweaponstoputintotheirhands,"Wildingremindedthem,andamurmurofapprovalranround,whichbutservedtoangerGreythemore,torendermoreobstinatehisopposition。

"Butallthatcomeinarenotunprovided,"washislordship"sretort。

"TherearetheHampshiregentryandtheirfriends。Theywillcomearmed,andsowillothersifwehavepatience。

"Aye,"saidWilding,"andifyouhavepatienceenoughtherewillbetroopstheParliamentwillsendagainstus。They,too,willbearmed,Icanassureyourlordship。"

"InGod"snameletuskeepfromwrangling,"theDukebesoughtthem。

"Itisdifficultenoughtodetermineforthebest。IfthedashtoExeterweresuccessful……"

"Itcannotbe,"Greyinterruptedagain。

ThelibertieshetookwithMonmouthandwhichMonmouthpermittedhimmightwellbeasourceofwondertoallwhoheardthem。Monmouthpausednowinhisinterruptedspeechandlookedabouthimatriflewearily。

"Itseemsidletoinsist,"saidMr。Wilding;"suchisthetemperofYourGrace"scounsellors,thatwegetnofurtherthancontradictions。"Grey"sboldeyeswereuponWildingashespoke。"IwouldremindYourGrace,andIamsurethatmanypresentwillagreewithme,thatinadesperateenterpriseasuddenunexpectedmovementwilloftenstriketerror。"

"Thatistrue,"saidMonmouth,butapparentlywithoutenthusiasm,andhavingapprovedwhatwasurgedononeside,helookedatGrey,asifwaitingtohearwhatmightbesaidontheother。Hisindecisionwaspitiful—tragical,indeed,intheleaderofsoboldanenterprise。

"Weshoulddobetter,Ithink,"saidGrey,"todealwiththefactsasweknowthem。"

"ItiswhatIamendeavouringtodo,YourGrace,"protestedWilding,anoteofdespairinhisvoice。"Perhapssomeothergentlemanwillputforwardbettercounselthanmine。"

"Aye！InHeaven"snameletushopeso,"snortedGrey;andMonmouth,catchingthesuddenflashofMr。Wilding"seye,setahanduponhislordship"sarmasiftourgehimtobegentler。Buthecontinued,"Whenmentalkofstrikingterrorbysuddenmovementstheybuildonair。"

"Ihadhardlythoughttohearthatfromyourlordship,"saidMr。

Wilding,andhepermittedhimselfthattight—lippedsmilethatgavehisfacesowickedalook。

"Andwhynot？"askedGrey,stupidlyunsuspicious。

"BecauseIhadthoughtyoumighthaveconcludedotherwisefromyourownexperienceatBridportthismorning。"

Greygotangrilytohisfeet,rageandshameflushinghisface,anditneededFergusonandtheDuketorestorehimtosomesemblanceofcalm。

Indeed,itmaywellbethatitwastocompletethisthatHisGracedecidedthereandthenthattheyshouldfollowGrey"sadviceandgobywayofTaunton,Bridgwater,andBristoltoGloucester。Hewas,likeallweakmen,ofconspicuousmentalshort—sightedness。Thematterofthemomentwaseverofgreaterimportancetohimthananyresultthatmightattenditinthefuture。

HeinsistedthatWildingandGreyshouldshakehandsbeforethebreakingupofthatmostastoundingcouncil,andashehaddonelastnight,henowagainimposeduponthemhiscommandsthattheymustnotallowthismattertogofurther。

Mr。Wildingpavedthewayforpeacebymakinganapologywithinlimitations。

"If,inmyzealtoserveYourGracetothebestofmyability,IhavesaidthatwhichLordGreythinksfittoresent,Iwouldbidhimconsidermymotiveratherthanmyactualwords。"

ButwhenallhadgonesaveFerguson,thechaplainapproachedthepreoccupiedanddistressedDukewithcounselthatMr。Wildingshouldbesentawayfromthearmy。

"Elsethere"llbetrouble`twixthimandGrey,"theplottingparsonforetold。"We"llbehavingarepetitionoftheunfortunateFletcherandDareaffair,andIthinkthathascostYourGraceenoughalready。"

"DoyousuggestthatIdismissWilding？"criedtheDuke。"Youknowhisinfluence,andthebadimpressionhisremovalwouldleave。"

Fergusonstrokedhislongleanjaw。"No,no,"saidhe;"allIsuggestisthatyoufindMr。Wildingworktodoelsewhere。"

"Elsewhere？"theDukequestioned。"Whereelse？"

"Ihavethoughtofthat,too。SendhimtoLondontoseeDanversandtostirupyourfriendsthere。And,"headded,loweringhisvoice,"givehimdiscretiontoseeSunderlandifhethinkswell。"

ThepropositionpleasedMonmouth,anditseemedtopleaseMr。Wildingnolesswhen,havingsentforhim,theDukecommunicatedittohiminFerguson"spresence。

UponthismissionMr。Wildingsetoutthatverynight,leavingNickTrenchardindespairatbeingseparatedfromhimatatimewhenthereseemedtobeeverychancethatsuchaseparationmightbeeternal。

MonmouthandFergusonmayhaveconceivedtheydidawisethinginremovingamanwhowasinstinctivelyspoilingforalittlesword—playwithmyLordGrey。Itisoddsthathadheremained,thebrewingstormbetweenthepairwouldhavecometoahead。Haditdoneso,itismorethanlikely,fromwhatweknowofMr。Wilding"saccomplishments,thathehadgivenLordGreyhisquietus。Andhadthathappened,itistobeinferredfromhistorythatitispossibletheDukeofMonmouth"srebellionmighthavehadalessdisastrousissue。

CHAPTERXVI

PLOTSANDPLOTTERS

Mr。WildingleftMonmouth"sarmyatLymeonSunday,the14thofJune,andrejoineditatBridgwaterexactlythreeweekslater。Inthemeanwhileagooddealhadhappened,yetthehappeningsoneveryhandhadfallenfarshortoftheexpectationsarousedinMr。Wilding"smind,nowbyonecircumstance,nowbyanother。InreachingLondonhehadexperiencednodifficulty。MentravellinginthatdirectionwerenotsubjectedtothescrutinythatfelltotheshareofthosetravellingfromittowardstheWest,or,rather,tothescrutinyordainedbytheGovernment;forWildinghadmorethanoneopportunityofobservinghowverylaxandindifferentweretheconstablesandtything—men—particularlyinSomersetandWiltshire—intheperformanceofthisduty。Wayfarerswerequestionedasamatterofform,butinnocasedidWildinghearofanyonebeingdetaineduponsuspicion。Thiswascalculatedtoraisehisdroopinghopes,pointingasitdidtothegeneralfavouringofMonmouththatwastoward。HegrewlessdespondentonthescoreoftheDuke"spossibleultimatesuccess,andhecametohopethattheeffortshewenttoexertwouldnotbefruitless。

Butrudewerethedisappointmentsthatawaitedhimintown。London,liketherestofthecountry,wasnotready。TherewerenotwantingmenwhofavouredMonmouth;butnorisinghadbeenorganized,andtheDuke"spartisanswerenotdisposedtorashness。

WildinglodgedatCoventGarden,inahouserecommendedtohimbyColonelDanvers,andthere—anoutlawhimself—hethrewhimselfwithawillintohistask。HeheardoftheburningofMonmouth"sDeclarationbythecommonhangmanattheRoyalExchange,andofthebillpassedbytheCommonstomakeittreasonforanytoassertthatLucyWalterswasmarriedtothelateKing。Heattendedmeetingsatthe"Bull"sHead,"

inBishopsgate,wherehemetDisneyandDanvers,PaytonandLock;butthoughtheytalkedandarguedatprodigiouslength,theydidnaughtbesides。Danvers,whowastheirhopeintown,definitelyrefusedtohaveahandinanythingthatwasnotproperlyorganized,andincommonwiththeothersurgedthattheyshouldwaituntilCheshirehadrisen,aswasreportedthatitmust。

Meanwhile,troopshadgonewestunderKirkeandChurchill,andtheParliamenthadvotednearlyhalfamillionfortheputtingdownoftherebellion。Londonwasflungintoafeverofexcitementbythenewsthatwasreachingit。ThepositionwasnotquiteasMonmouth"sadvisers—beforecomingoverfromHolland—hadrepresentedthatitwouldbe。

Theyhadthoughtthatoutoffearoftumultsabouthisownperson,KingJameswouldhavebeencompelledtokeepnearhimwhattroopshehad,sparingnonetobesentagainstMonmouth。This,KingJameshadnotdone;hehadallbutemptiedLondonofsoldiery,and,consideringthegeneraldisaffection,nomomentcouldhavebeenmorefavourablethanthisforarisinginLondonitself。TheconfusionthatmusthaveresultedfromtherecallingoftroopswouldhavegivenMonmouthnotonlyamightygripoftheWest,butwouldhaveheartenedthosewho—likeSunderlandhimself—weresittingonthewall,todeclarethemselvesfortheProtestantChampion。ThisWildingsaw,andalmostfrenziedlydidheurgeituponDanversthatallLondonneededatthemomentwasaresoluteleader。ButtheColonelstillheldback;indeed,hehadneithertruthnorvalour;hewastimid,anduseddeceittomaskhistimidity;heurgedfrivolousreasonsforinaction,andwhenWildingwaxedimpatientwithhim,hesuggestedthatWildinghimselfshouldheadtherisingifheweresoconfidentofitssuccess。AndWildingwouldhavedoneitbutthat,beingunknowninLondon,hehadnoreasontosupposethatmenwouldflocktohimifheraisedtheDuke"sbanner。

Later,whentheexcitementgrewandrumoursranthroughtownthatMonmouthhadnowafollowingoftwentythousandmenandthattheKing"sforceswerefallingbackbeforehim,anddiscontentwasrifeatthecommissioningofCatholiclordstolevytroops,WildingagainpressedthematteruponDanvers。Surelynomomentcouldbemorepropitious。

Butagainhereceivedthesameanswer,thatDanvershadlackedtimetoorganizematterssufficiently;thattheDuke"scominghadtakenhimbysurprise。

LastlycamethenewsthatMonmouthhadbeencrownedatTauntonamidthewildestenthusiasm,andthattherewerenowinEnglandtwomeneachofwhomcalledhimselfKingJamestheSecond。ThiswastheexcusethatDanversneededtoberidofabusinesshehadnotthecouragetotransacttoafinish。HesworethathewashedhishandsofMonmouth"saffairs;thatthelatterhadbrokenfaithwithhimandthepromisehehadmadehiminhavinghimselfproclaimedKing。HeprotestedthatMonmouthhaddoneill,andprophesiedthathisactwouldalienatefromhimthenumerousrepublicanswho,likeDanvers,hadhithertolookedtohimforthecountry"ssalvation。WildinghimselfwasappalledatthenewsforMonmouthwasindeedgoingfurtherthanmenhadbeengiventounderstand。Nevertheless,forhisownsake,inveryself—defencenow,ifoutofnomotivesofloyaltytotheDuke,hemusturgeforwardthefortunesofthisman。HehadhighwordswithDanvers,andthetwomighthavequarrelledbeforelongbutforthesuddenarrestofDisney,whichthrewDanversintosuchapanicthathefledincontinently,abandoninginbody,ashealreadyappearedtohaveabandonedinspirit,theMonmouthCause。

ThearrestofDisneystruckachillintoWilding。FromhislodgingatCoventGardenhehadcommunicatedcautiouslywithSunderlandafewdaysafterhisarrival,buildinguponcertaininformationhehadreceivedfromtheDukeatpartingastoSunderland"sattachmenttotheCause。Hehadcarefullychosenhismomentformakingthiscommunication,havingacertaininnatemistrustofamanwhosoobviouslyasSunderlandwasrunningwiththehareandhuntingwiththehounds。HehadsentalettertotheSecretaryofStatewhenLondonwasagogwiththeAxminsteraffair,andthetale—ofwhichSirEdwardPhelipswrotetoColonelBerkeleyas"theshamefulleststorythatyoueverheard"—ofhowAlbemarle"sforcesandtheSomersetmilitiahadrunbeforeMonmouthinspiteoftheirownoverwhelmingnumbers。ThispromisedillforJames,particularlywhenitwasperceivedasperceiveditwas—thatthisrunningawaywasnotallcowardice,notall"theshamefulleststory"

thatPhelipsaccountedit。Itwasanexpressionofgood—willtowardsMonmouthonthepartofthemilitiaoftheWest,anditwasconfidendyexpectedthatthenextnewswouldbethatthesemenwhohaddecampedbeforehimwouldpresentlybefoundtohaverangedthemselvesunderhisbanner。

SunderlandhadgivennosignthathehadreceivedWilding"scommunication。AndWildingdrewhisowncontemptuousconclusionsoftheSecretaryofState"scautiouspolicy。Itwasafortnightlater—whenLondonwassettlingdownagainfromthediversionofexcitementcreatedbythenewsofArgyle"sdefeatinScotland—beforeMr。WildingattemptedtoapproachSunderlandagain。Heawaitedafavourableopportunity,andthishehadwhenLondonwasthrownintoconsternationbythealarmingnewsoftheDukeofSomerset"surgentdemandforreinforcements。Unlesshehadthem,hedeclared,thewholecountrywaslost,ashecouldnotgetthemilitiatostand,whilstLordStawell"sregimentwereallfledandmostlygoneovertotherebelsatBridgwater。

Thiswasgravenews,butitwasfollowedinafewdaysbygraver。TheaffairatPhilipsNortonwasexaggeratedbyreportintoawholesaledefeatoftheloyalarmy,anditwasreported—on,apparently,suchgoodauthoritythatitreceivedcredenceinquartersthatmighthavewaitedforofficialnews—thattheDukeofAlbemarlehadbeenslainbythemilitiawhichhadmutiniedanddesertedtoMonmouth。

ItwaswhilethisnewswasgoingroundthatSunderland—inamomentofpanic—atlastvouchsafedananswertoMr。Wilding"sletters,andhevouchsafeditinperson,justasWilding—particularlysinceDisney"sarrest—wasbeginningtoloseallhope。HecameoneeveningtoMr。

Wilding"slodgingsinCoventGarden,unattendedandcloselymuffled,andheremainedclosetedwiththeDuke"sambassadorfornighuponanhour,attheendofwhichheentrustedMr。WildingwithaletterfortheDuke,verybriefbutentirelytothepoint,whichexpressedhimMonmouth"smostdevotedservant。

"Youmaywelljudge,sir,"hehadsaidatparting,"thatthisisnotsuchaletterasIshouldentrusttoanyman。"

Mr。Wildinghadbowedgravely,andgravelyhehadexpressedhimselfsensibleoftheexceptionalhonourhislordshipdidhimbysuchatrust。

"AndIdependuponyou,sir,asyouareamanofhonour,totakesuchmeasuresaswillensureagainstitsfallingintoanybutthehandsforwhichitisintended。"

"AsIamamanofhonour,youmaydependuponme,Mr。Wildingsolemnlypromised。"Willyourlordshipgivemethreelinesaboveyoursignaturethatwillsavemefrommolestation;thusyouwillfacilitatethepreservationofthisletter。"

"Ihadalreadythoughtofthat,"wasSunderland"sanswer,andheplacedbeforeMr。Wildingthreelinesofwritingsignedandsealedwhichenjoinedall,straitly,intheKing"snametosufferthebearertopassandrepassandtoofferhimnohindrance。

Onthattheyshookhandsandparted,SunderlandtoreturntoWhitehallandhisobediencetotheKingJameswhomhewasreadytobetrayassoonashesawprofitforhimselfintheact,Mr。WildingtoreturntoSomersettotheKingJamesinwhomhisfaithwasscant,indeed,butwithwhomhisfortuneswereirrevocablyboundup。

Meanwhile,MonmouthwasbackinBridgwater,hissecondoccupationofwhichtownwasnotbeinglookeduponwithunmixedfavour。Theinhabitantshadsufferedenoughalreadyfromhisfirstvisit;hisreturnthere,afterthePhilipsNortonaffair—of。whichsuchgrosslyexaggeratedreportshadreachedLondon,andwhich,inpointoffact,hadbeenlittlebetterthanadrawnbattle—hadbeenlookeduponwithdreadbysome,withdisfavourbyothers,andwithdismaybynotafewwhoviewedinthisanauguryoffailure。

NowSirRowlandBlake,whosincehispursuitofMr。WildingandTrenchardontheoccasionoftheirflightfromTauntonhad—inspiteofhisfailureonthatoccasion—beenmoreorlessintheserviceofAlbemarleandtheloyalarmy,sawinthisindispositiontowardsMonmouthofsomanyofBridgwater"sinhabitantsgreatpossibilitiesofprofittohimself。

HewasatLuptonHouse,theguestofhisfriendRichardWestmacott,andtheopensuitorofRuth,entirelyignoringthecircumstancethatshewasnominallythewifeofMr。Wilding—thistotheinfinitechagrinofMissHorton,whosawallherscheminglikelytogofornothing。

InhisheartofheartsitwasamatterofnottheslightestconsequencetoSirRowlandwhetherJamesStuartorJamesScottoccupiedthethroneofEngland。Hisownaffairsgavehimmorethanenoughtothinkof,andthesedisturbancesintheWestwereverywelcometohim,sincetheyrendereddifficultanyattempttotracehimonthepartofhisLondoncreditors。Ithappens,however,verycommonlythatenmitytoanindividualwillleadtoenmitytothecausewhichthatindividualespouses。ThusmayithavebeenwithSirRowland。HishatredofWildingandhiskeendesiretoseeWildingdestroyedhadmadehimazealouspartisanoftheloyalcause。RichardWestmacott,easilyswayedandoverbornebythetownrake,whosevicesmadehimseemtoRichardtheembodimentofallthatissplendidandenviableinman,hadbecomepracticallythebaronet"stool,nowthathehadabandonedMonmouth"sCause。SirRowlandhadnotconsidereditbeneaththedignityofhisnameandstationtodischargeinBridgwatercertainfunctionsthatmadehimmoreorlessaspy。AndsoreliablehadbeentheinformationhehadsentFevershamandAlbemarleduringMonmouth"sfirstoccupationofthetown,thathehadwonbynowtheircompleteconfidence。

Thesecondoccupationanditsunpopularitywithmanyofthosewhoearlier—iflukewarm—hadbeenpartisansoftheDuke,swelledthenumberofloyallyinclinedpeopleinBridgwater,andsuddenlyinspiredSirRowlandwithaschemebywhichatablowhemightsnuffouttherebellion。

ThisschemeinvolvedthecaptureoftheDuke,andtherewardofsuccessshouldmeanfarmoretoBlakethanthefivethousandpoundsatwhichthevalueoftheDuke"sheadhadalreadybeenfixedbyParliament。Heneededatoolforthis,andheeventhoughtofWestmacottandLuptonHouse,butafterwardspreferredaMr。Newlington,whowasinbettercasetoassisthim。ThisNewlington,anexceedinglyprosperousmerchantandoneoftherichestmenperhapsinthewholeWestofEngland,lookedwithextremedisfavouruponMonmouth,whoseadventhadparalyzedhisindustriestoanextentthatwascostinghimafineroundsumofmoneyweekly。

HewasnowinalarmlestthetownofBridgwatershouldbemadetopaydearlyforhavingharbouredtheProtestantDuke—hehadnofaithwhateverintheProtestantDuke"sultimateprevailing—andthathe,asoneofthetown"smostprominentandprosperouscitizens,mightbeamongsttheheaviestsufferersinspiteofhisneutrality。Thisneutralityheobservedbecauseitwashardlysafeinthatdisaffectedtownforamantoproclaimhimselfaloyalist。

TohimSirRowlandexpoundedhisaudaciousplan……HesoughtoutthemerchantinhishandsomemansiononthenightofthatFridaywhichhadwitnessedMonmouth"sreturn,andthemerchant,honouredbythevisitofthisgallant—ignorantashewasofthegentleman"sfameintown—placedhimselfentirelyandinstantlyathisdisposal,thoughthehourwaslate。Soundinghimcarefully,andfindingthefellowmostamenabletoanyschemethatshouldachievethesalvationofhispurseandindustries,Blakeboldlylaidhisplanbeforehim。Startledatfirst,Mr。NewlingtonuponconsideringitbecamesoenthusiasticthathehailedSirRowlandashisdeliverer,andheartilypromisedhiscooperation。Indeed,itwasMr。Newlingtonwhowas,himself,totakethefirststep。

Wellpleasedwithhisevening"swork,SirRowlandwenthometoLuptonHouseandtobed。InthemorninghebroachedthemattertoRichard。Hehadallthevanityoftheinferiornotonlytolessentheappearanceofhisinferiority,buttoclothehimselfinamantleofimportance;anditwasthisvanityurgedhimtoacquaintRichardwithhisplansintheverypresenceofRuth。

Theyhadbrokentheirfast,andtheystilllingeredinthedining—room,thelargestandmostimportantroominLuptonHouse。ItwascoolandpleasanthereincontrasttotheheatoftheJulysun,which,followinguponthelatewetweather,beatfiercelyonthelawn,thewindow—doorstowhichstoodopen。Theclothhadbeenraised,andDianaandhermotherhadlatelylefttheroom。Ruth,inthewindow—seat,atasmallovaltable,wasarrangingaclusterofrosesinanoldbronzebowl。

SirRowland,hisstiffshortfigurecarefullydressedinasuitofbrowncamlet,hisfairwigverycarefullycurled,occupiedatall—backedarmchairneartheemptyfireplace。Richard,perchedonthetable"sedge,swunghisshapelylegsidlybackwardsandforwardsandcogitateduponapretexttocallforamorningdraughtoflastOctober"sale。

Ruthcompletedhertaskwiththerosesandturnedhereyesuponherbrother。

"Youarenotlookingwell,Richard,"shesaid,whichwastrueenough,formuchharddrinkingwasbeginningtosetitsstamponRichard,andyoungashewas,hisinsipidlyfairfacebegantodisplayabloatednessthatwasexceedinglyunhealthy。

"Oh,Iamwellenough,"heansweredalmostpeevishly,fortheseallusionstohislookswerebecomingmorefrequentthanhesavoured。

"Gad！"criedSirRowland"sdeepvoice,"you"llneedtobewell。Ihaveworkforyouto—morrow,Dick。"

Dickdidnotappeartosharehisenthusiasm。"Iamsickoftheworkyoudiscoverforus,Rowland,"heansweredungraciously。

ButBlakeshowednoresentment。"Maybeyou"llfindthepresenttaskmoretoyourtaste。Ifit"sdeedsofderring—doyoupinefor,Iamthemantosatisfyyou。"Hesmiledgrimly,hisboldgreyeyesglancingacrossatRuth,whowasobservinghim,listening。

Richardsneered,butofferedhimnoencouragementtoproceed。

"Isee,"saidBlake,"thatIshallhavetotellyouthewholestorybeforeyou"llcreditme。Shalthaveit,then。But……"andhecheckedontheword,hisfacegrowingserious,hiseyewanderingtothedoor,"Iwouldnothaveitoverheard—notforaking"sransom,"whichwasmoreliterallytruethanhemayhaveintendedittobe。

Richardlookedoverhisshouldercarelesslyatthedoor。

"Wehavenoeavesdroppers,"hesaid,andhisvoicebespokehiscontemptofthegravityofthisnewsofwhichSirRowlandmadesomuchinanticipation。HewasacquaintedwithSirRowland"sways,andtheimportanceofthem。"Whatareyouconsidering？"heinquired。

"Toendtherebellion,"answeredBlake,hisvoicecautiouslylowered。

Richardlaughedoutright。"Thereareseveralothersconsideringthat—notablyHisMajestyKingJames,theDukeofAlbemarle,andtheEarlofFeversham。Yettheydon"tappeartoachieveit。"

"Itisinthatparticular,"saidBlakecomplacently,"thatIshalldifferfromthem。"HeturnedtoRuth,eagertoengageherintheconversation,toflatterherbyincludingherinthesecret。Knowingtheloyalistprinciplessheentertained,hehadnoreasontofearthathisplanscouldotherthanmeetherapproval。"Whatdoyousay,MistressRuth？"Presuminguponhisfriendshipwithherbrother,hehadtakentocallingherbythatnameinpreferencetotheotherwhichhecouldnotbringhimselftogiveher。"Isitnotanobjectworthyofagentleman"sendeavour？"

"IfyoucansavesomanypoorpeoplefromencompassingtheirruinbyfollowingthatrashyoungmantheDukeofMonmouth,youwillindeedbedoingaworthydeed。"

Blakerose,andmadeheraleg。"Madam,"saidhe,"hadaughtbeenwantingtocementmyresolve,yourwordswouldsupplyittome。Myplanissimplicityitself。IproposetocaptureMonmouthandhisprincipalagents,anddeliverthemovertotheKing。Andthatisall。"

"Amerenothing,"croakedRichard。

"Couldmorebeneeded？"quothBlake。"Oncetherebelarmyisdeprivedofitsleadersitwillmeltanddissolveofitself。OncetheDukeisinthehandsofhisenemiestherewillbenothinglefttofightfor。

Isitnotshrewd？"

"Youaretellingustheobjectratherthantheplan,"Ruthremindedhim。

"Iftheplanisasgoodastheobject……"

"Asgood？"heechoed,chuckling。"Youshalljudge。"AndbrieflyhesketchedforherthespringehewassettingwiththehelpofMr。

Newlington。"Newlingtonisrich;theDukeisinstraitsformoney。

Newlingtongoesto—daytoofferhimtwentythousandpounds;andtheDukeistodohimthehonourofsuppingathishouseto—morrownighttofetchthemoney。ItisareasonablerequestforMr。Newlingtontomakeunderthecircumstances,andtheDukecannot—darenotrefuseit。"

"Buthowwillthatadvanceyourproject？"Ruthinquired,forBlakehadpausedagain,thinkingthattherestmustbeobvious。

"InMr。Newlington"sorchardIproposetopostascoreorsoofmen,wellarmed。Oh！IshallrunnorisksofbetrayalbyengagingBridgwaterfolk。I"llgetthefellowsIneedfromGeneralFeversham。