第17章
"Notonlysafe,YourMajesty,butthetwentymenofSlape"sandyourownlife—guardsarewaitingtoescortyou。
"TheninGod"snameletusbegoing,"saidMonmouth,sheathinghisswordandmovingtowardsthedoor。Notasecondtimedidheoffertoconferthehonourofknighthooduponhissaviour。
Mr。Wildingturnedandwentouttomarshalhismen。TheDukeandhisofficersfollowedmoreleisurely。Astheyreachedthedoor,awoman"scrybrokethesilencebehindthem。Monmouthturned。Mr。Newlington,purpleoffaceandhiseyesprotrudinghorridly,wasbeatingtheairwithhishands。Suddenlyhecollapsed,andcrashedforwardwitharmsflungoutamidtheglassandsilverofthetableallspreadwiththeraitor"sbanquettowhichhehadbiddenhisunsuspectingvictim。
Hiswifeanddaughterrantohimandcalledhimbyname,Monmouthpausingamomenttowatchthemfromthedoorwaywitheyesunmoved。
ButMr。Newlingtonanswered,nottheircall,forhewasdead。
CHAPTERXX
THERECKONING
Ruthhadspedhomethroughthestreetsunattended,asshehadcome,heedlessoftherudejostlingsandrudergreetingsshemetwithfromthoseshepassed;heedless,too,ofthesmartingofherinjuredhand,fortheagonyofhersoulwassuchthatitwhelmedallminorsufferingsoftheflesh。
Inthedining—roomatLuptonHouseshecameuponDianaandLadyHortonatsupper,andherappearance—herwhiteanddistraughtfaceandblood—smearedgown—broughtbothwomentotheirfeetinalarmedinquiry,nolessthanitbroughtJasper,thebutler,tohersidewithreadysolicitude。Ruthansweredhimthattherewasnocauseforfear,thatshewasquitewell—hadscratchedherhand,nomore;andwiththatdismissedhim。Whenshewasalonewithherauntandcousin,shesankintoachairandtoldthemwhathadpassed`twixtherhusbandandherselfandmostofwhatshesaidwasGreektoLadyHorton。
"Mr。WildinghasgonetowarntheDuke,"sheended,andthedespairofhertonewastragical。"Isoughttodetainhimuntilitshouldbetoolate—IthoughtIhaddoneso,but……,but……Oh,Iamafraid,Diana！"
"Afraidofwhat？"askedDiana。"Afraidofwhat？"
AndshecametoRuthandsetanarmincomfortabouthershoulders。
"AfraidthatMr。WildingmightreachtheDukeintimetobedestroyedwithhim,"hercousinanswered。"Suchawarningcouldbuthastenontheblow。"
LadyHortonbeggedtobeenlightened,andwasfilledwithhorrorwhen—fromDiana—enlightenmentwashers。HersympathieswereallwiththehandsomeMonmouth,forhewasbeautifulandshouldthereforebetriumphant;poorLadyHortonnevergotbeyondexternals。ThathernephewandSirRowland,whomshehadesteemed,shouldbeleaguedinthisdastardlyundertakingagainstthatlovelypersonhorrifiedherbeyondwords。Shewithdrewsoonafterwards,havingwarmlypraisedRuth"sactioninwarningMr。Wilding—unabletounderstandthatitshouldbenopartofRuth"sdesigntosavetheDuke—andwenttoherroomtoprayforthepreservationofthelateKing"shandsomeson。
Leftalonewithhercousin,RuthgaveexpressiontothefearsforRichardbywhichshewasbeingtortured。Dianapouredwineforherandurgedhertodrink;shesoughttocomfortandreassureher。ButasmomentspassedandgrewtohoursandstillRicharddidnotappear,Ruth"sfearsthathehadcometoharmwerechangedtocertainty。Therewasamomentwhen,butforDiana"sremonstrances,shehadgoneforthinquestofnews。Badnewswerebetterthanthishorrorofsuspense。WhatifWilding"swarningshouldhaveprocuredhelp,andRichardwereslaininconsequence？Oh,itwasunthinkable！Diana,whiteofface,listenedtoandsharedherfears。EvenhershallownaturewasstirredbythetragedyofRuth"sposition,bydreadlestRichardshouldindeedhavemethisendthatnight。Inthesemomentsofdistress,sheforgotherhopesoftriumphingoverBlake,ofpunishinghimforhisindifferencetoherself。
Atlast,atsomethingaftermidnight,therecameafeveredrappingattheouterdoor。Bothwomenstartedup,andwitharmsabouteachother,intheirsuddenpanic,stoodtherewaitingforthenewsthatmustbehereatlast。
Thedoorofthedining—roomwasflungopen;thewomenrecoiledintheirdreadofwhatmightcome;thenRichardentered,Jasper"sstartledcountenanceshowingbehindhim。
Heclosedthedoor,shuttingoutthewonderingservant,andtheysawthat,thoughhisfacewasashenandhislimbsalla—tremble,heshowednosignofanyhurtoreffort。Hisdresswasasmeticulousaswhenlasttheyhadseenhim。Ruthflewtohim,flungherarmsabouthisneck,andpressedhimtoher。
"Oh,Richard,Richard！"shesobbedintheimmensityofherrelief。
"ThankGod！ThankGod！"
Hewriggledpeevishlyinherembrace,disengagedherarms,andputherfromhimalmostroughly。"Havedone！"hegrowled,and,lurchingpasther,hereachedthetable,tookupabottle,andbrimmedhimselfameasure。Hegulpedthewineavidly,setdownthecup,andshivered。
"WhereisBlake？"heasked。
"Blake？"echoedRuth,herlipswhite。Dianasankintoachair,watchful,fearfulandsilent,takingnownogloryinthethingshehadencompassed。
Richardbeathishandstogetherinapassionofdismay。"Ishenothere？"heasked,andgroaned,"0God！"Heflunghimselfalllimpintoachair。"Youhaveheardthenews,Isee,"hesaid。
"Notallofit,"saidDianahoarsely,leaningforward。"Telluswhatpassed。"
Hemoistenedhislipswithhistongue。"Wewerebetrayed,"hesaidinaquiveringvoice。"Betrayed！DidIbutknowbywhom……"Hebrokeoffwithabitterlaughandshrugged,rubbinghishandstogetherandshiveringtillhisshouldersshook。"Blake"spartywassetuponbyhalfacompanyofmusketeers。TheircorpsesarestrewnaboutoldNewlington`sorchard。Notoneofthemescaped。TheysaythatNewlingtonhimselfisdead。"Hepouredhimselfmorewine。
Ruthlistened,hereyesburning,therestofherascoldasice。
"But……but……,oh,thankGodthatyouatleastaresafe,Dick！"
"Howdidyouescape？"quothDiana。
"How？"Hestartedasifhehadbeenstung。Helaughedinahigh,crackedvoice,hiseyeswildandbloodshot。"How？PerhapsitisjustaswellthatBlakehasgonetohisaccount。Perhaps……"Hecheckedontheword,andstartedtohisfeet;Dianascreamedinsheeraifright。
Behindherthewindowshadbeenthrustopensoviolentlythatoneofthepaneswasshivered。Blakestoodunderthelintel,scarcerecognizable,sosmearedwashisfacewiththebloodescapingfromthewoundhischeekhadtaken。Hisclothesweremuddied,soiled,torn,anddisordered。
Framedthereagainsttheblackbackgroundofthenight,hestoodandsurveyedthemforamoment,hisaspectterrific。Thenheleaptforward,baringhisswordashecame。AnincoherentroarburstfromhislipsasheborestraightdownuponRichard。
"Youdamned,infernaltraitor！"hecried。"Draw,draw！Ordielikethemuckwormthatyouare。"
Intrepid,herterrorallvanishednowthattherewastheneedforcourage,Ruthconfrontedhim,barringhispassage,abucklertoherpalsiedbrother。
"Outofmyway,mistress,orI"llbedoingyouamischief。"
"Youaremad,SirRowland,"shetoldhiminavoicethatdidsomethingtowardsrestoringhimtohissenses。
Hisfierceeyesconsideredheramoment,andhecontrolledhimselftoofferanexplanation。"ThetwentythatwerewithmeliestarkunderthestarsinNewlington"sgarden,"hetoldher,asRichardhadtoldheralready。"Iescapedbyamiracle,noless,butforwhat？
Fevershamwilldemandofmeasternaccountofthoselives,whilstifIamfoundinBridgwatertherewillbeashortshriftformeattherebelhands—formyshareinthisaffairisknown,mynameoneverylipinthetown。Andwhy？"heaskedwithasuddenincreaseoffierceness。"Why？Becausethatcravenvillaintherebetrayedme。"
"Hedidnot,"sheansweredinsoassuredavoicethatnotonlydiditgivehimpause,butcausedRichard,coweringbehindher,toraisehisheadinwonder。
SirRowlandsmiledhisdisbelief,andthatsmile,twistinghisblood—smearedcountenance,wasgrotesqueandhorrible。"Ilefthimtoguardourbacksandgivemewarningifanyapproached,"heinformedher。
"Iknewhimfortoogreatacowardtobetrustedinthefight;soIgavehimasafetask,andyetinthathefailedme—failedmebecausehehadbetrayedandsoldme。"
"Hehadnot。Itellyouhehadnot,"sheinsisted。"Iswearit。"
Hestaredather。"Therewasnooneelseforit,"hemadeanswer,andbadeherharshlystandaside。
Diana,huddledtogether,watchedandwaitedinhorrorfortheendoftheseconsequencesofherwork。
BlakemadeasuddenmovementtowinpastRuth。Richardstaggeredtohisfeetintentondefendinghimself;buthewasswordless;retreattothedoorsuggesteditself,andhehadhalfturnedtoattempttogainit,whenRuth"snextwordsarrestedhim,petrifiedhim。
"Therewassomeoneelseforit,SirRowland,"shecried。"ItwasnotRichardwhobetrayedyou。It……itwasI。"
"You？"Thefiercenessseemedalltodropawayfromhim,whelmedintheimmensityofhisastonishment。"You？"Thenhelaughedloudinscornfuldisbelief。"Youthinktosavehim,"hesaid。
"ShouldIlie？"sheaskedhim,calmandbrave。
Hestaredatherstupidly;hepassedahandacrosshisbrow,andlookedatDiana。"Oh,itisimpossible！"hesaidatlast。
"Youshallhear,"sheanswered,andtoldhimhowatthelastmomentshehadlearntnotonlythatherhusbandwasinBridgwater,butthathewastosupatNewlington"swiththeDuke"sparty。
"IhadnothoughtofbetrayingyouorofsavingtheDuke,"shesaid。
"Iknewhowjustifiablewaswhatyouintended。ButIcouldnotletMr。
Wildinggotohisdeath。Isoughttodetainhim,warninghimonlywhenIthoughtitwouldbetoolateforhimtowarnothers。Butyoudelayedoverlong,and……"
Ahoarseinarticulatecryfromhimcametointerruptheratthatpoint。
Oneglimpseofhisfaceshehadandofthehandhalfraisedwithswordpointingtowardsher,andsheclosedhereyes,thinkingthathersandswererun。And,indeed,Blake"sintentionwasjustthentokillher。
Thatheshouldowehisbetrayaltoherwasinitselfcauseenoughtoenragehim,butthathermotiveshouldhavebeenherdesiretosaveWilding—Wildingofallmen！—thatwasthelaststraw。
HadhebeenforewarnedthatWildingwastobeoneofMonmouth"spartyatMr。Newlington"s,hispulseswouldhavethrobbedwithjoy,andhewouldhaveflunghimselfintohismurderoustaskwithtwicethezesthehadcarriedtoit。AndnowhelearntthatnotonlyhadshethwartedhisschemesagainstMonmouth,buthaddeprivedhimoftheardentlysoughtfelicityofwidowingher。Hedrewbackhisarmforthethrust;
Dianahuddledintoherchairtoohorror—strickentospeakormove:
Richard—immediatelybehindhissister—sawnothingofwhatwaspassing,andthoughtofnothingbuthisownsafety。
ThenBlakepaused,steppedback,returnedhisswordtoitsscabbard,andbendinghimself—butwhethertobowornotwasnotquiteplain—hetooksomepacesbackwards,thenturnedandwentoutbythewindowashehadcome。Buttherewasasuddenpurposefulnessinthewayhediditthatmighthavewarnedthemthiswithdrawalwasnotquitetheretreatitseemed。
Theywatchedhimwithmanyemotions,predominantamongwhichwasrelief,andwhenhewasgoneDianaroseandcametoRuth。
"Come,"shesaid,andsoughttoleadherfromtheroom。
ButtherewasRichardnowtobereckonedwith,Richardfromwhomthepalsywasofasuddenfallen,nowthatthecauseofithadwithdrawn。
Hehadhisbacktothedoor,andhisweakmouthwaspursedupintoasemblanceofresolution,hispaleeyeslookedstern,hiswhiteeyebrowsbenttogetherinafrown。
"Wait,"hesaid。Theylookedathim,andtheshadowofasmilealmostflittedacrossDiana"sface。Hesteppedtothedoor,and,openingit,helditwide。"Go,Diana,"hesaid。"RuthandImustunderstandeachother。"
Dianahesitated。"Youhadbettergo,Diana,"saidhercousin,whereuponMistressHortonwent。
HotandfiercecametherecriminationsfromRichard"slipswhenheandhissisterwerealone,andRuthweatheredthestormbravelyuntilitwasstemmedagainbyfreshfearinRichard。ForBlakehadsuddenlyreappeared。Hecameforwardfromhiswindow;hismannercomposedandfullofresolution。YoungWestmacottrecoiled,theheatallfrozenoutofhim。ButBlakescarcelookedathim,hissmoulderingglancewasallforRuth,whowatchedhimwithincipientfear,despiteherself。
"Madam,"hesaid,"`tisnottobesupposedamindholdingsomuchthoughtforahusband"ssafetycouldfindroomforanyconcernastoanother"s。Iwillaskyou,natheless,toconsiderwhattaleIamtobearLordFeversham。"
"Whattale？"saidshe。
"Aye—thatwillaccountforwhathaschanced;formyfailuretodischargethetaskentrustedme,andfortheslaughterofanofficerofhisandtwentymen。
"Whyaskmethis？"shedemandedhalfangrily;thensuddenlybethinkingherofhowshehadruinedhisenterprise,andofthepositioninwhichshehadplacedhim,shesoftened。Herclearmindheldjusticeverydear。Sheapproached。"Oh,Iamsorry—sorry,SirRowland,"shecried。
Hesneered。Hehadwipedsomeofthebloodfromhisface,butstilllookedterribleenough。
"Sorry！"saidhe,andlaughedunpleasantly。"You"llcomewithmetoFevershamandtellhimwhatyoudid,"saidhe。
"I？"Sherecoiledinfear。
"Atonce"heinformedher。
"Wha……what"sthat？"falteredRichard,callinguphismanhood,andcomingforward。"Whatareyousaying,Blake？"
SirRowlanddisdainedtoheedhim。"Come,mistress,"hesaid,andputtingforwardhishandhecaughtherwristandpulledherroughlytowardshim。Shestruggledtofreeherself,butheleeredevillyuponher,nowhitdiscomposedbyherendeavours。Thoughshortofstature,hewasamanofconsiderablebodilystrength,andshe,thoughtall,wasslightofframe。Hereleasedherwrist,andbeforesherealizedwhathewasabouthehadstooped,passedanarmbehindherknees,anotherroundherwaist,and,swingingherfromherfeet,tookherupbodilyinhisarms。Heturnedabout,andascreambrokefromher。
"Hold！"criedRichard。"Hold,youmadman！"
"Keepoff,orI"llmakeanendofyoubeforeIgo,"roaredBlakeoverhisshoulder,foralreadyhehadturnedaboutandwasmakingforthewindow,apparentlynomorehinderedbyhisburdenthanhadshebeenadoll。
Richardsprangtothedoor。"Jasper！"hebawled。"Jasper！"Hehadnoweapons,aswehaveseen,elseitmaybethathehadmadeanattempttousethem。
RuthgotahandfreeandcaughtatthewindowframeasBlakewasleapingthrough。Itcheckedtheirprogress,butdidnotsensiblydelayit。Itwasunfortunatelyherwoundedhandwithwhichshehadsoughttocling,andwithanangry,brutalwrenchSirRowlandcompelledhertounclosehergrasp。Hespeddownthelawntowardstheorchard,wherehishorsewastethered。Andnowsheknewinasubconscioussortofwaywhyhehadearlierwithdrawn。Hehadgonetosaddleforthispurpose。
Shestrugglednow,thinkingthathewouldbetoohamperedtocompelhertohiswill。Hebecameangry,andsetherdownbesidehishorse,onearmstillholdingher。
"Lookyou,mistress,"hetoldherfiercely,"livingordead,youcomewithmetoFeversham。Choosenow。"
Histonewassuchthatsheneverdoubtedhewouldcarryouthisthreat。
Andsoindulldespairshesubmitted,hopingthatFevershammightbeagentlemanandwouldrecognizeandrespectalady。Halffainting,sheallowedhimtoswinghertothewithersofhishorse。Thustheythreadedtheirwayinthedimstarlitnightthroughthetreestowardsthegate。
Itstoodopen,andtheypassedoutintothelane。ThereSirRowlandputhishorsetothetrot,whichheincreasedtoagallopwhenhewasoverthebridgeandclearofthetown。
CHAPTERXXI
THESENTENCE
Mr。Wilding,asweknow,wastoremainatBridgwaterforthepurposeofcollectingfromMr。Newlingtonthefinewhichhadbeenimposeduponhim。
ItisbynomeansclearwhetherMonmouthrealizedthefullnessofthetragedyatthemerchant"shouse,andwhetherheunderstoodthat,strickenwithapoplexyatthethoughtofpartingwithsoconsiderableaportionofhisfortune,Mr。Newlingtonhadnotmerelyfainted,buthadexpiredunderHisGrace"seyes。Ifhedidrealizeithewascynicallyindifferent,andlestweshouldbedoinghimaninjusticebyassumingthiswehadbettergivehimthebenefitofthedoubt,andtakeitthatinthesubsequentbustleofdeparture,hismindfilledwiththeprospectofthenightattacktobedelivereduponhisuncle"sarmyat—Sedgemoor,hethoughtnomoreeitherofMr。NewlingtonorofMr。Wilding。Thelatter,asweknow,hadnoplaceintherebelarmy;althoughamanofhishands,hewasnotatrainedsoldier,andnotwithstandingthathemayfullyhaveintendedtodrawhisswordforMonmouthwhenthetimecame,yetcircumstanceshadledtohiscontinuingafterMonmouth"slandingthemorediplomaticworkofmovement—man,inwhichhehadbeenengagedforthemonthsthathadprecededit。
SoitbefellthatwhenMonmouth"sarmymarchedoutofBridgwaterateleveno"clockonthatSundaynight,nottomakeforGloucesterandCheshire,aswasgenerallybelieved,buttofallupontheencampedFevershamatSedgemoorandslaughtertheroyalarmyintheirbeds,Mr。
Wildingwasleftbehind。Trenchardwasgone,incommandofhistroopofhorse,andMr。Wildinghadforonlycompanyhisthoughtstouchingthesingularhappeningsofthatbusynight。
HewentbacktothesignofTheShipoverlookingtheCross,and,kickingoffhissoddenshoes,hesuppedquietlyintheroomofwhichshattereddoorandbrokenwindowremindedhimofhisoddinterviewwithRuth,andofthecomedyofloveshehadenactedtodetainhimthere。
Thethoughtofitembitteredhim;thepartshehadplayedseemedtohisretrospectivemindalmostawanton"spart—forallthatinnameshewashiswife。Andyet,underlyingacertainirrepressiblenausea,camethereflectionthat,afterall,herpurposehadbeentosavehislife。Itwouldhavebeenasweetthought,sweetenoughtohaveoverlaidthatotherbitterness,hadhenotinsisteduponsettingitdownentirelytohergratitudeandhersenseofjustice。Sheintendedtorepaythedebtinwhichshehadstoodtohimsince,attheriskofhisownlifeandfortune,hehadrescuedherbrotherfromtheclutchesoftheLord—LieutenantatTaunton。
Hesighedheavilyashethoughtoftheresultsthathadattendedhiscompulsoryweddingofher。Intheintensityofhispassion,intheblindnessofhisvanity,whichmadehimconfident—gloriouslyconfident—thatdidhemakehimselfherhusband,sheherselfwouldmakeofhimherloverbeforelong,hehadcommittedanunworthinessofwhichitseemedhemightnevercleansehimselfinlife。Therewasbutoneamend,ashehadtoldher。Lethimmakeit,andperhapsshewould—outofgratitude,ifoutofnootherfeeling—cometothinkmorekindlyofhim;andthatnightitseemedtohimashesataloneinthatmeanchamber,thatitwereabetterandasweeterthingtoearnsomemeasureofheresteembydeaththantocontinueinalifethatinspiredherhatredandresentment。Fromwhichitwillbeseenhowutterlyhedisbelievedtheprotestationsshehadutteredinseekingtodetainhim。
Theywere—hewasassured—apartofascheme,atrick,tolullhimwhileMonmouthandhisofficerswerebeingbutchered。Andshehadgonethelengthofsayingshelovedhim！Heregrettedthat,beingashewasconvincedofitsuntruth。Whatcausehadshetolovehim？Shehatedhim,andbecauseshehatedhimshedidnotscrupletolietohim—oncewithsuggestionsandthistimewithactualexpressionofaffection—thatshemightgainherends:endsthatconcernedherbrotherandSirRowlandBlake。SirRowlandBlake！Thenamewasaverygoadtohispassionanddespair。
Herosefromthetableandtookaturnintheroom,movingnoiselesslyinhisstockingedfeet。Hefelttheneedofairandaction;thewearinessofhisfleshincurredinhislongridefromLondonwascastofforforgotten。Hemustgoforth。HepickeduphisfineshoesofSpanishleather,butasluckwouldhaveit—littlethoughheguessedtheextentjustthen—hefoundthemhardening,thoughstilldampfromthedewsofMr。Newlington"sgarden。Hecastthemaside,and,takingakeyfromhispocket,unlockedanoakcupboardandwithdrewtheheavymuddybootsinwhichhehadriddenfromtown。Hedrewthemonand,takinguphishatandsword,wentdownthecreakingstairsandoutintothestreet。
Bridgwaterhadfallenquietbynow;thearmywasgoneandtownsfolkwereintheirbeds。Moodily,unconsciously,yetasifguidedbyasortofinstinct,hewentdowntheHighStreet,andthenturnedoffintothenarrowerlanethatledinthedirectionofLuptonHouse。Bythegatesofthishepaused,recalledoutofhisabstractionandrenderedawareofwhitherhisstepshadledhimbythesightofthehalldoorstandingopen,ablackfiguresilhouettedagainstthelightbehindit。
Whatwashappeninghere？Whyweretheynotabedlikealldecentfolk？
Thefigurecalledtohiminaquaveringvoice。"Mr。Wilding！Mr。
Wilding！"forthelightbeatinguponhisfaceandfigurefromtheopendoorhadrevealedhim。Theformcameswiftlyforward,itsstepspatteringdownthewalk,anotherslendererfiguresurgedinitsplaceuponthethreshold,hoveredthereaninstant,thenplungeddownintothedarknesstocomeafterit。ButthefirstwasbynowuponMr。
Wilding。
"Whatisit,Jasper？"heasked,recognizingtheoldservant。
"MistressRuth！"wailedthefellow,wringinghishands。"She……,shehasbeen……carriedoff。"Hegotitoutingasps,windedbyhisshortrunandbytheexcitementthatpossessedhim。
NowordsaidWilding。Hejuststoodandstared,scarcelyunderstanding,andinthatmomenttheywerejoinedbyRichard。HeseizedWildingbythearm。"Blakehascarriedheroff,"hecried。
"Blake？"saidMr。Wilding,andwonderedwithasensationofnauseawasitanordinaryrunningaway。ButRichard"snextwordsmadeitplaintohimthatitwasnoamorouselopement,norevenamorousabduction。
"HehascarriedhertoFeversham……forherbetrayalofhisto—night"splantoseizetheDuke。"
ThatstirredMr。Wilding。Hewastednotimeinidlequestionsoridlercomplainings。"Howlongsince？"heasked,anditwashewhoclutchedRichardnow,bytheshoulderandwithahandthathurt。
"Nottenminutesago,"wasthequaveringanswer。
"Andyouwereathandwhenitbefell？"criedWilding,thescorninhisvoicerisingsuperiortohisagitationandfearsforRuth。"Youwereathand,andcouldneitherpreventnorfollowhim？"
"I"llgowithyounow,ifyou"llgivechase,"whimperedRichard,feelinghimselfforoncethecraventhathewas。
"If？"echoedWildingscornfully,anddraggedhimpastthegateanduptowardsthehouseevenashespoke。"Isthereroomforadoubtofit？
Haveyouhorses,atleast？"
"Tospare,"saidRichardastheyhurriedon。TheyskirtedthehouseandfoundthestabledooropenasBlakehadleftit。OldJasperfollowedwithalampwhichburnedsteadily,socalmwastheairofthatJulynight。Inthreeminutestheyhadsaddledacoupleofnags;infivetheywereridingforthebridgeandtheroadtoWestonZoyland。
"ItisamiracleyouremainedinBridgwater,"saidRichardastheyrode。
"Howcameyoutobeleftbehind？"
"IhadataskassignedmeinthetownagainsttheDuke"sreturnto—morrow,"Wildingexplained,andhespokealmostmechanically,hismindfullof—anguishedby—thoughtsofRuth。
"AgainsttheDuke"sreturn？"criedRichard,firstsurprisedandthenthinkingthatWildingspokeatrandom。"AgainsttheDuke"sreturn？"herepeated。
"ThatiswhatIsaid？"
"ButtheDukeismarchingtoGloucester。"
"TheDukeismarchingbycircuitouswaystoSedgemoor,"answeredWilding,neverdreamingthatatthistimeofdaytherecouldbetheslightestimprudenceinsayingsomuch,indeed,takinglittleheedofwhathesaid,hismindobsessedbytheother,tohim,farweightiermatter。
"ToSedgemoor？"gaspedWestmacott。
"Aye—totakeFevershambysurprise—todestroyKingJames"ssoldiersintheirbeds。Heshouldbenearupontheattackbynow。Butthere！
SpuronandsaveyourbreathifwearetoovertakeSirRowland。"