第14章

WetakeMonmouthatsupper,asquietlyasmaybe,withwhatgentlemenhappentohaveaccompaniedhim。WebindandgagtheDuke,andweconveyhimwithallspeedandquietoutofBridgwater。FevershamshallsendatrooptoawaitmeamileorsofromthetownontheroadtoWestonZoyland。Weshalljointhemwithourcaptive,andthusconveyhimtotheRoyalistGeneral。Couldaughtbesimplerormoreinfallible？"

Richardhadslippedfromthetable。HehadchangedhismindonthesubjectoftheimportanceofthebusinessBlakehadinview。Excitedbyit,heclappedhisfriendonthebackapprovingly。

"Agreatplan！"hecried。"Isitnot,Ruth？"

"Itshouldbethemeansofsavinghundreds,perhapsthousandsoflives,"

saidshe,"andsoitdeservestoprosper。ButwhatoftheofficerswhomaybewiththeDuke？"sheinquired。

"Therearenotlikelytobemany—halfadozen,say。Weshallhavetomakeshortworkofthem,lesttheyshouldraiseanalarm。"Hesawherglanceclouding。"Thatistheuglypartoftheaffair,"hewasquicktoadd,himselfassumingalookofsadness。Hesighed。"Whathelpisthere？"heasked。"Betterthatthosefewshouldsufferthanthat,asyouyourselfhavesaid,thereshouldbesomethousandsofliveslostbeforethisrebellionisputdown。Besides,"hecontinued,"Monmouth"sofficersarefar—seeing,ambitiousmen,whohaveenteredintothisaffairtopromotetheirownpersonalfortunes。Theyaregamesterswhohavesettheirlivesupontheboardagainstagreatprize,andtheyknowit。Buttheseotherpoormisguidedpeoplewhohavegoneouttofightforlibertyandreligion—itisthesewhomIamstrivingtorescue。"

Hiswordssoundedfervent,hissentimentsalmostheroic。Ruthlookedathim,andwonderedhadshemisjudgedhiminthepast。Shesighed。ThenshethoughtofWilding。Hewasontheotherside,butwherewashe？

Rumourranthathewasdead;thatheandGreyhadquarrelledatLyme,andthatWildinghadbeenkilledasaresult。HaditnotbeenforDiana,whostrenuouslybadeherattachnocredittothesereports,shewouldreadilyhavebelievedthem。Asitwasshewaited,wondering,thinkingofhimalwaysasshehadseenhimonthatdayatWalfordwhenhehadtakenhisleaveofher,andmorethanonce,whensheponderedthewordshehadsaid,thelookthathadinvestedhisdroopingeyes,shefoundherselfwithtearsinherown。Theywelledupnow,andsherosehastilytoherfeet。

ShelookedamomentatBlakewhowaswatchingherkeenly,speculatinguponthisemotionofwhichshebetrayedsomesign,andwonderingmightnothisheroismhavetouchedher,for,aswehaveseen,hehadarrayedadeedofexcessivemeanness,adeedworthy,almost,oftheIscariot,inthepanoplyofheroicachievement。

"Ithink,"shesaid,"thatyouaresettingyourhandtoaveryworthyandgloriousenterprise,andIhope,nay,Iamsure,thatsuccessmustattendyourefforts。"Hewasstillbowinghisthankswhenshepassedoutthroughtheopenwindow—doorsintothesunshineofthegarden。

SirRowlandswungrounduponRichard。"Agreatenterprise,Dick,"hecried;"Imaycountuponyouforone？"

"Aye,"saidDick,whohadfoundatlastthepretextthatheneeded,"youmaycountonme。Pullthebell,we"lldrinktothesuccessoftheventure。"

CHAPTERXVII

MR。WILDING"SRETURN

ThepreparationstobemadeforthemomentouscoupSirRowlandmeditatedwereconsiderable。Mr。Newlingtonwasyettobeconcertedwithandadvised,and,thatdone,SirRowlandhadtofacethedifficultyofeludingtheBridgwaterguardsandmakehiswaytoFeversham"scampatSomertontoenlistthegeneral"scooperationtotheextentthatwehaveseenhelookedfor。Thatdone,hewastoreturnandripenhispreparationsforthebusinesshehadundertaken。Nevertheless,inspiteofallthatlaybeforehim,hedidnotfinditpossibletoleaveLuptonHousewithoutsteppingoutintothegardeninquestofRuth。Throughthewindow,whilstheandRichardwereattheirale,hehadwatchedherbetweenwhiles,andhadlingered,waiting;forDianawaswithher,anditwasnothiswishtoseekherwhilstDianawasathand。Speakwithher,erehewent,hemust。Hewasanopportunist,andnow,hefondlyimagined,washisopportunity。Hehadmadethatday,atlast,afavourableimpressionuponRichard"ssister;hehadrevealedhimselfinanheroiclight,andegregiouslymisreadingtheemotionshehadshownbeforewithdrawing,hewassatisfiedthatdidhestrikenowvictorymustattendhim。Hesighedhissatisfactionandpleasurableanticipation。

Hehadbeenwaryandhehadknownhowtowait;andnow,itseemedtohim,hewastoberewardedforhispatience。Thenhefrowned,asanotherglanceshowedhimthatDianastilllingeredwithhercousin;hewishedDianaatthedevil。Hehadcometohatethisfair—haireddolltowhomhehadoncepaidcourt。Shewastoocontinuallyinhisway,aconstantobstacleinhispath,everreadytoremindRuthofAnthonyWildingwhenSirRowlandmostdesiredAnthonyWildingtobeforgotten;andinDiana"sfeelingstowardshimselfsuchachangehadbeengraduallywroughtthatshehadcometoreciprocatehissentiments—tohatehimwithallthebitterhatredintowhichlovecanbebyscorntransmuted。AtfirstherobjectinkeepingRuth"sthoughtsonMr。Wilding,inpleadinghiscause,andseekingtopresenthiminafavourablelighttotheladywhomhehadconstrainedtobecomehiswife,hadbeenthathemightstandabarrierbetweenRuthandSirRowlandtotheendthatDianamighthopetoseerevived—fautedemieux,sincepossibleinnootherway—thefeelingsthatonceSirRowlandhadprofessedforherself。Thesituationwasrichinhumiliationsforpoor,vain,foolishlycraftyDiana,andthesehumiliationsweredailyrenderedmorebitterbySirRowland"sunwaveringcourtshipofhercousinindespiteofallthatshecoulddo。

Intheendthepoisonofthementeredhersoul,corrodedhersentimentstowardshim,dissolvedtheloveshehadbornehim,andtransformeditintovenom。Shewouldnothavehimnowifhedidpenitenceforhisdisaffectionbygoinginsackclothandcrawlingafterheronhiskneesforafulltwelvemonth。ButneithershouldhehaveRuthifshecouldthwarthispurpose。Onthatshewasresolved。

Hadshebutguessedthathewatchedthemfromthewindows,waitingforhertotakeherdeparture,shehadlingeredallthemorning,andalltheafternoonifneedbe,atRuth"sside。Butbeingignorantofthecircumstance—believingthathehadalreadyleftthehouse—shepresentlyquittedRuthtogoindoors,andnosoonerwasshegonethantherewasBlakereplacingheratRuth"selbow。MistressWildingmethimwithunsmiling,butnotungentleface。

"Notyetgone,SirRowland？"sheaskedhim,andalesssanguinemanhadbeendiscouragedbythewords。

"ItmaybeforgivenmethatItarryatsuchatime,"saidhe,"whenweconsiderthatIgo,perhaps—toreturnnomore。"Itwasaninspirationonhisparttoassumetheroleoftheherogoingforthtoapossibledeath。Itinvestedhimwithnoble,valiantpathoswhichcouldnot,hethought,failofitseffectuponawoman"smind。Buthelookedinvainforachangeofcolour,beitneversoslight,oraquickeningofthebreath。Hefoundneither;though,indeed,herdeepblueeyesseemedtosoftenastheyobservedhim。

"Thereisdangerinthisthingthatyouareundertaking？"saidshe,betweenquestionandassertion。

"Itisnotmywishtooverstateit;yetIleaveyoutoimaginewhattheriskmaybe。"

"Itisagoodcause,"saidshe,thinkingofthepoor,deluded,humblefolkthatfollowedMonmouth"sbanner,whomBlake"sfineactionwastorescuefromimpendingruinandannihilation,"andsurelyHeavenwillbeonyourside。"

"Wemustprevail,"criedBlakewithkindlingeye,andyouhadthoughthimafanatic,notamiserableearnerofblood—money。"Wemustprevail,thoughsomeofusmaypaydearlyforthevictory。Ihaveaforeboding……"Hepaused,sighed,thenlaughedandflungbackhishead,asifthrowingoffsomeweightthathadoppressedhim。

Itwasadmirablyplayed;NickTrenchard,hadheobservedit,mighthaveenviedtheperformance;andittookeffectwithher,thisaddingofaprospectivemartyr"scrowntothehero"sraimenthehadearlierdonned。

Itwasamaster—touchworthyofonewhowasdeeplylearned—fromtheschooloffoulexperience—inthesecretwaysthatleadtoawoman"sfavour。Inapursuitofthiskindtherewasnosubterfugetoomean,notreacherytoobaseforSirRowlandBlake。

"Willyouwalk,mistress？"hesaid,andshe,feelingthatitwereanunkindnessnottodohiswill,assentedgravely。Theymoveddowntheslopinglawn,sidebyside,SirRowlandleaningonhiscane,bareheaded,hisfeatheredhattuckedunderhisarm。Beforethemtheriver"ssmoothexpanse,swollenandyellowwiththerecentrains,glowedlikeasheetofcopper,sothatitblurredthesighttolookuponitlong。

Afewstepstheytookwithnoworduttered,thenSirRowlandspoke。

"Withthisforebodingthatisonme,"saidhe,"Icouldnotgowithoutseeingyou,withoutsayingsomethingthatImayneverhaveanotherchanceofsaying;somethingthat—whoknows？—butfortheemprisetowhichIamnowweddedyouhadneverheardfromme。"

Heshotherafurtive,sidelongglancefromunderhisheavy,beetlingbrows,andnow,indeed,heobservedachangerippleoverthecomposureofherfacelikeasuddenbreezeacrossasheetofwater。Thedeeplacecollaratherthroatroseandfell,andherfingerstoyednervouslywitharibbonofhergreybodice。Sherecoveredinaninstant,andthrewupentrenchmentsagainsttheattackshesawhewasabouttomake。

"Youexaggerate,Itrust,"saidshe。"Yourforebodingswillbeprovedgroundless。Youwillreturnsafeandsoundfromthisventure,asindeedIhopeyoumay。

Thatwashiscue。"Youhopeit？"hecried,arrestinghisstep,turning,andimprisoningherlefthandinhisright。"Youhopeit？Ah,ifyouhopeformyreturn,returnIwill;butunlessIknowthatyouwillhavesomewelcomeformesuchasIdesirefromyou,Ithink……"hisvoicequiveredcleverly,"Ithink,perhaps,itwerewellif……ifmyforebodingswerenotasgroundlessasyousaytheyare。Tellme,Ruth……"

Butsheinterruptedhim。Itwashightime,shethought。Herfacehesawwasflushed,hereyeshadhardenedsomewhat。Calmlyshedisengagedherhand。

"Whatis"tyoumean？"sheasked。"Speak,SirRowland,speakplainly,thatImaygiveyouaplainanswer。"

Itwasachallengeinwhichanothermanhadseenhowhopelesswashiscase,and,acceptingdefeat,hadmadeasorderlyaretreatasstillwaspossible。ButSirRowland,strickeninhisvanity,wentheadlongontoutterrout。

"SinceyouaskmeinsuchtermsIwillbeplain,indeed,"heansweredher。"Imean……"Healmostquailedbeforethelookthatmethimfromherintrepideyes。"Doyounotseemymeaning,Ruth？"

"ThatwhichIsee,"saidshe,"Idonotbelieve,andasIwouldnotwrongyoubyanyfoolishimaginings,Iwouldhaveyouplainwithme。"

Yettheegregiousfoolwenton。"Andwhyshouldyounotbelieveyoursenses？"heaskedher,betweenangerandentreaty。"IsitwonderfulthatIshouldloveyou？Isit……？"

"Stop！"Shedrewbackapacefromhim。Therewasamoment"ssilence,duringwhichitseemedshegatheredherforcestodestroyhim,and,inthespirit,hebowedhisheadbeforethecomingstorm。Then,withasuddenrelaxingofthestiffnessherlissomfigurehadassumed,"Ithinkyouhadbetterleaveme,SirRowland,"sheadvisedhim。Shehalfturnedandmovedastepaway;hefollowedwithloweringglance,hisupperlipliftingandlayingbarehispowerfulteeth。Inastridehewasbesideher。

"Doyouhateme,Ruth？"heaskedherhoarsely。

"WhyshouldIhateyou？"shecounter—questioned,sadly。"Idonotevendislikeyou,"shecontinuedinamorefriendlytone,adding,asifbywayofexplainingthisphenomenon,"Youaremybrother"sfriend。ButIamdisappointedinyou,SirRowland。Youhad,Iknow,nointentionofofferingmedisrespect;andyetitiswhatyouhavedone。"

"Ashow？"heasked。

Knowingmeanother"swife……"

Hebrokeintempestuously。"Amockmarriage！Ifitisbutthatscruplestandsbetweenus……"

"Ithinkthereismore,"sheansweredhim。"Youcompelmetohurtyou;

Idosoasthesurgeondoes—thatImayhealyou。"

"Why,thanksfornothing,"hemadeanswer,unabletorepressasneer。

Then,checkinghimself,andresumingthehero—martyrposture,"Igo,mistress,"hetoldhersadly,"andifIlosemylifeto—night,orto—morrow,inthisaffair……"

"Ishallprayforyou,"saidshe;forshehadfoundhimoutatlast,perceivedthenatureofthebowhesoughttodrawacrossherheart—strings,and,havingperceivedit,contemptawokeinher。Hehadattemptedtomoveherbyunfair,insidiousmeans。

Hefellback,crimsonfromchintobrow。Hestifledthewraththatwelledup,threateningtochokehim。Hewasashort—neckedman,ofthesort—asTrenchardhadonceremindedhim—thatfallsapreytoapoplexy,andsurelyhewasneverneareritthanatthatmoment。Hemadeheraprofoundbow,bendinghimselfalmostintwobeforeherinaveryironyofdeference;then,drawinghimselfupagain,heturnedandlefther。

Theplotwhichwithsomepridehehadhatchedandtherewardhelookedtocullfromit,werenowtohissoulasashestohislips。WhatcoulditprofithimtodestroyMonmouthsothatAnthonyWildinglived？ForwhethershelovedWildingornot,shewasWilding"swife。Wilding,nominally,atleast,wasmasterofthatwhichSirRowlandcoveted;notherheart,indeed,butheramplefortune。Wildinghadbeenastumbling—blocktohimsincehehadcometoBridgwater;butforWildinghemighthaverunasmoothcourse;hewasstillfoolenoughtohugthatdearillusiontohissoul。SomewhereinEngland—ifnotdeadalready—thisWildinglurked,anoutlaw,whomanymightshootdownatsight。SirRowlandsworehewouldnotrestuntilheknewthatAnthonyWildingcumberedtheearthnomore—leastways,notthesurfaceofit。

HewentforthtoseekNewlington。ThemerchanthadsenthismessagetotherebelKing,andhadwordinanswerthatHisMajestywouldbegraciouslypleasedtosupatMr。Newlington"satnineo"clockonthefollowingevening,attendedbyafewgentlemenofhisimmediatefollowing。SirRowlandreceivedthenewswithsatisfaction,andsighedtothinkthatMr。Wilding—stillabsent,Heavenknewwhere—wouldnotbeoftheparty。ItwasreportedthatontheMondayMonmouthwastomarchtoGloucester,hopingtheretobejoinedbyhisCheshirefriends,sothatitseemedSirRowlandhadnotmaturedhisplanadaytoosoon。

Hegottohorse,andcontrivingtowinoutofBridgwater,rodeofftoSomertontoconcertwithLordFevershamconcerningthemenhewouldneedforhisundertaking。

ThatnightRichardmadefreetalkoftheundertakingtoDianaandtoRuth,loving,asdoesthepusillanimous,toshowhimselfengagedindaringenterprises。EmulatinghisfriendSirRowland,heheldforthwithprolixityuponthegreatservicehewastodotheState,andRuth,listeningtohim,wasproudofhiszeal,thesincerityofwhichitneverenteredhermindtodoubt。

Dianalistened,too,butwithoutillusionsconcerningMasterRichard,andshekeptherconclusionstoherself。

Duringtheafternoonofthemorrow,whichwasSunday,SirRowlandreturnedtoBridgwater,hismissiontoFevershamentirelysuccessful,andallpreparationsmade。Hecompletedhisarrangements,andtowardseighto"clockthatnightthetwentymensentbyFeversham—theyhadslippedsinglyintothetown—begantomusterintheorchardatthebackofMr。Newlington"shouse。

ItwasjustaboutthatsamehourthatMr。Wilding,saddle—wornanddust—cloggedineverypore,rodeintoBridgwater,andmadehiswaytothesignofTheShipintheHighStreet,overlookingtheCrosswhereTrenchardwaslodged。Hisfriendwasabsent—possiblygonewithhismentothesermonFergusonwaspreachingtothearmyintheCastleFields。Havingputuphishorse,Mr。Wilding,alldustyashewas,repairedstraighttotheCastletoreporthimselftoMonmouth。

HewasinformedthatHisMajestywasincouncil。Nevertheless,urgingthathisnewswasofimportance,hebeggedtobeinstantlyannounced。

Afterapause,hewasusheredintoalofty,roomychamberwhere,inthefadingdaylight,KingMonmouthsatincouncilwithGreyandWade,Matthews,Speke,Ferguson,andothers。Atthefootofthetablestoodasturdycountry—fellow,unknowntoWilding。ItwasGodfrey,thespy,whowastoactastheirguideacrossSedgemoorthatnight;forthematterthatwasengagingthemjustthenwasthecompletionoftheirplansfortheattackthatwastobemadethatverynightuponFeversham"sunpreparedcamp—amatterwhichhadbeenresolvedduringthelastfewhoursasanalternativepreferabletotheretreattowardsGloucesterthathadatfirstbeenintended。

WildingwasshockedatthechangethathadbeenwroughtinMonmouth"sappearanceduringthefewweekssincelasthehadseenhim。Hisfacewasthin,pale,andhaggard,hiseyesweremoresombre,andbeneaththemtherewereheavy,darkstainsofsleeplessnessandcare,hisveryvoice,whenpresentlyhespoke,seemedtohavelostthemusicaltimbrethathadearlierdistinguishedit;itwasgrownharshandrasping。Disappointmentafterdisappointment,setdowntoill—luck,butinrealitythefruitofincompetence,hadservedtosourhim。TheclimaxhadbeenreachedintheseriousdesertionsafterthePhilipsNortonfight,andtheflightofPaymasterGoodenoughwiththefundsforthecampaign。Thecompanysataboutthelongoaktableonwhichamapwasspread,andColonelWadewasspeakingwhenWildingentered。

OnhisappearanceWadeceased,andeveryeyewasturneduponthemessengerfromLondon。Ferguson,freshfromhissermon,satwithelbowsrestingonthetable,hislongchinsupportedbyhishands,hiseyesgleamingsharplyundertheshadowofhiswigwhichwaspulleddowninfronttothelevelofhiseyebrows。

ItwastheDukewhoaddressedMr。Wilding,andthelatter"skeenearswerequicktocatchthebitternessthatunderlayhiswords。

"Wearegladtoseeyou,sir;wehadnotlookedtodosoagain。"

"Notlookedtodoso,YourGr……Majesty！"heechoed,plainlynotunderstanding,anditwasobservedthathestumbledovertheDuke"snewtitle。

"Wehadimaginedthatthepleasuresofthetownwereclaimingyourentireattention。"

Wildinglookedfromonetotheotherofthemenbeforehim,andonthefaceofallhesawagravitythatamountedtodisapprovalofhim。

"Thepleasuresofthetown？"saidhe,frowning,andagain—"thepleasuresofthetown？ThereissomethinginthisthatIfearIdonotunderstand。"

"DoyoubringusnewsthatLondonhasrisen？"askedGreysuddenly。

"IwouldIcould,"saidWilding,smilingwistfully。"Isitalaughingmatter？"quothGreyangrily。

"Asmilingmatter,mylord,"answeredWilding,nettled。"YourlordshipwillobservethatIdidbutsmile。"

"Mr。Wilding,"saidMonmouthdarkly,"wearenotpleasedwithyou。"

"Inthatcase,"returnedWilding,moreandmoreirritated,"YourMajestyexpectedofmemorethanwaspossibletoanyman。"

"YouhavewastedyourtimeinLondon,sir,"theDukeexplained。"Wesentyouthithercountinguponyourloyaltyanddevotiontoourselves。

Whathaveyoudone？"

"Asmuchasamancould……"Wildingbegan,whenGreyagaininterruptedhim。

"Aslittleasamancould,"heanswered。"WereHisGracenotthemostfoolishlyclementprinceinChristendom,ahalterwouldbeyourrewardforthefinethingsyouhavedoneinLondon。"

Mr。Wildingstiffenedvisibly,hislongwhitefacegrewset,andhisslantingeyeslookedwicked。Hewasnotamanreadilymovedtoanger,buttobegreetedinsuchwordsasthesebyonewhoconstitutedhimselfthemouthpieceofhimforwhomWildinghadincurredruinwasmorethanhecouldbearwithequanimity;thattheriskstowhichhehadexposedhimselfinLondon—where,indeed,hehadbeeninalmosthourlyexpectationofarrestandsuchshortshriftaspoorDisneyhad—shouldbeacknowledgedinsuchtermsasthese,wassomethingthatturnedhimalmostsickwithdisgust。Towhatmannerofmenhadheleaguedhimself？

HelookedGreysteadilybetweentheeyes。

"Imindmeofanoccasiononwhichsuchachargeoffoolishclemencymight,indeed—andwithgreaterjustice—havebeenlevelledagainstHisMajesty,"saidheandhiscalmwasalmostterrible。

HislordshipgrewpaleattheobviousallusiontoMonmouth"smildtreatmentofhimforhiscowardiceatBridport,andhiseyeswereasbalefulasWilding"sownatthatmoment。Butbeforehecouldspeak,MonmouthhadalreadyansweredMr。Wilding。

"Youarewantinginrespecttous,sir,"headmonishedhim。

Mr。Wildingbowedtotherebukeinasubmissionthatseemedironical。

ThebloodmountedslowlytoMonmouth"scheeks。

"Perhaps,"putinWade,whowasanxiousforpeace,Mr。Wildinghassomeexplanationtoofferusofhisfailure。"

Hisfailure！Theytooktoomuchforgranted。StitchedintheliningofhisbootwastheletterfromtheSecretaryofState。Tohaveachievedthatwassurelytohaveachievedsomething。

"Ithankyou,sir,forsupposingit,"answeredWilding,hisvoicehardwithself—restraint;"Ihaveindeedanexplanation。"

"Wewillhearit,"saidMonmouthcondescendingly,andGreysneered,thrustingouthisbloatedlips。

"IhavetooffertheexplanationthatYourMajestyisservedinLondonbycowards;self—sufficientandself—importantcowardswhohavehinderedmeinmytaskinsteadofhelpingme。IreferparticularlytoColonelDanvers。"

Greyinterruptedhim。"Youhavearareeffrontery,sir—aye,byGod！

DoyoudarecallDanversacoward？"

"ItisnotIwhosocallhim;butthefacts。ColonelDanvershasrunaway。

"Danversgone？"criedFerguson,voicingtheconsternationofall。

Wildingshruggedandsmiled;Grey"seyewasoffensivelyuponhim。Heelectedtoanswerthechallengeofthatglance。"HehasfollowedtheillustriousexamplesethimbyotherofYourMajesty"sdevotedfollowers,"saidWilding。

Greyrosesuddenly。Thiswastoomuch。"I"llnotendureitfromthisknave！"hecried,appealingtoMonmouth。

Monmouthwearilywavedhimtoaseat;butGreydisregardedthecommand。

"WhathaveIsaidthatshouldtouchyourlordship？"askedWilding,and,smilingsardonically,helookedintoGrey"seyes。

"Itisnotwhatyouhavesaid。Itiswhatyouhaveinferred。"

"Andtocallmeknave！"saidWildinginamockinghorror。

Therepressionofhisangerlenthimararebitterness,andanalmostdevilishlysubtlemannerofexpressingwordlesslywhatwaspassinginhismind。TherewasnotonepresentbutgatheredfromhisutteranceofthosefivewordsthathedidnotholdGreyworthythehonourofbeingcalledtoaccountforthatoffensiveepithet。Hemadejustanexclamatoryprotest,suchashemighthavemadehadawomanappliedthetermtohim。

GreyturnedfromhimslowlytoMonmouth。"Itmightbewell,"saidhe,inhisturncontrollinghimselfatlast,"toplaceMr。Wildingunderarrest。"

Mr。Wilding"smannerquickenedontheinstantfrompassivetoactiveanger。

"Uponwhatcharge,sir？"hedemandedsharply。Intruthitwastheonlythingwantingthat,afterallthathehadundergone,heshouldbearrested。HiseyeswereupontheDuke"smelancholyface,andhisangerwassuchthatinthatmomenthevowedthatifMonmouthacteduponthissuggestionofGrey"sheshouldnothavesomuchastheconsolationofSunderland"sletter。

"Youhavebeenwantinginrespecttous,sir,"theDukeansweredhim。

Heseemedabletodolittlemorethanrepeathimself。"YoureturnfromLondonempty—handed,yourtaskunaccomplished,andinsteadofabecomingcontrition,youhectoritherebeforeusinthismanner。"Heshookhishead。"Wearenotpleasedwithyou,Mr。Wilding。""But,YourGrace,"exclaimedWilding,"isitmyfaultthatyourLondonagentshadfailedtoorganizetherising？Thatrisingshouldhavetakenplace,anditwouldhavetakenplacehadYourMajestybeenmoreablyrepresentedthere。"

"Youwerethere,Mr。Wilding,"saidGreywithheavysarcasm。

"Woulditno"bebettertoleaveMr。Wilding"saffairuntilafterwards？"

suggestedFergusonatthatmoment。"Itisalreadypasteight,YourMajesty,andtherebestillsomedetailsofthisattacktosettlethatyourofficersmayprepareforit,whilstMr。NewlingtonawaitsYourMajestytosupperatnine。"

"True,"saidMonmouth,everreadytotakeasolutionofferedbyanother。

"Wewillconferwithyouagainlater,Mr。Wilding。"

Wildingbowed,acceptinghisdismissal。"BeforeIgo,YourMajesty,therearecertainthingsIwouldreport……"hebegan。

"Youhaveheard,sir,"Greybrokein。"Notnow。Thisisnotthetime。"

"Indeed,no。Thisisnotthetime,Mr。Wilding,"echoedtheDuke。

Wildingsethisteethintheintensityofhisvexation。

"WhatIhavetotellYourMajestyisofimportance,heexclaimed,andMonmouthseemedtowaver,whilstGreylookeddisdainfulunbeliefoftheimportanceofanycommunicationWildingmighthavetomake。

"Wehavelittletime,YourMajesty,"FergusonremindedMonmouth。

"Perhaps,"putinfriendlyWade,"YourMajestymightseeMr。WildingatMr。Newlington"s。"

"Isitreallynecessary？"quothGrey。