第18章
Theypoundedonthroughthenightatabreakneckpacewhichtheyneverslackeneduntil,whenwithinaquarterofamileorsoofPenzoyPound,wherethearmywasencampedandslumberingbynow,theycaughtsightofthemusketeers"matchesglowinginthedarkaheadofthem。Anoutpostbarredtheirprogress;butRichardhadthewatchword,andhespurredaheadshouting"Albemarle,"andthesoldiersfellbackandgavethempassage。Ontheygalloped,skirtingPenzoyPoundandthearmysleepinginUtterunconsciousnessofthefatethatwascreepingstealthilyuponitoutofthedarknessandmistsacrossthemoors;theyclatteredonpastLangmoorStoneanddashedstraightintothevillage,RichardneverdrawingreinuntilhereachedthedoorofthecottagewhereFevershamwaslodged。
Theyhadcomenotonlyataheadlongpace,butinaheadlongmanner,withoutquiteconsideringwhatawaitedthemattheendoftheirrideinadditiontotheirobjectoffindingRuth。Itwasonlynow,ashedrewreinbeforethelightedhouseandcaughtthesoundofBlake"sraisedvoicepouringthroughanopenwindowonthegroundfloor,thatRichardfullyrealizedwhatmannerofrashnesshewascommitting。HewastoolatetorescueRuthfromBlake。Whatmorecouldhelooktoachieve？
HishopehadbeenthatwithWilding"shelphemightsnatchherfromSirRowlandbeforethelatterreachedhisdestination。Butnow—toenterFeversham"spresenceandinassociationwithsonotoriousarebelasMr。WildingwereapieceoffollyoftheheroickindthatRicharddidnotsavour。Indeed,haditnotbeenforWilding"smasterfulpresence,itismorethanoddshehadturnedtail,andriddenhomeagaintobed。
ButWilding,whohadleaptnimblytotheground,stoodwaitingforRichardtodismount,impatientnowthatfromthesoundofSirRowland"svoicehehadassurancethatRichardhadprovedanableguide。Theyoungmangotdown,butmightyethavehesitatedhadnotWildingcaughthimbythearmandwhirledhimupthesteps,throughtheopendoor,pastthetwosoldierswhokeptit,andwhoweretoosurprisedtostayhim,straightintothelong,low—ceilingedchamberwhereFeversham,attendedbyacaptainofhorse,waslisteningtoBlake"sangrynarrativeofthatnight"sfailure。
Mr。Wilding"sentrancewasdecidedlysensational。Hesteppedquicklyforward,and,takingBlakewhowasstilltalking,allunconsciousofthosebehindhim,bythecollarofhiscoat,heinterruptedhiminthemiddleofanimpassionedperiod,wrenchedhimbackwardsoffhisfeet,anddashedhimwithaforcealmostincredibleintoaheapinacorneroftheroom。Thereforsomemomentsthebaronetlayhalfdazedbytheshockofhisfall。
Alongtable,whichseemedtodividethechamberintwo,stoodbetweenLordFevershamandhisofficerandMr。WildingandRuth—bywhosesidehehadnowcometostandinBlake"sroom。
Therewasanexclamation,halfanger,halfamazement,atMr。Wilding"soutrageuponSirRowland,andthecaptainofhorsesprangforward。ButWildingraisedhishand,hisfacesocomposedandcalmthatitwasimpossibletothinkhimconceivinganyviolence,asindeedheprotestedatthatmoment。
"Beassured,gentlemen,"hesaid,"thatIhavenofurtherrudenesstoofferanysothatthisladyissufferedtowithdrawwithme。"AndhetookinhisownahandthatRuth,amazedandunresisting,yieldeduptohim。Thattouchofhisseemedtodriveoutherfearsandtorestoreherconfidence;themortalterrorinwhichshehadbeenuntilhiscomingdroppedfromhernow。Shewasnolongeraloneandabandonedtothevindictivenessofrudeandviolentmen。Shehadbesideheroneinwhomexperiencehadtaughthertohavefaith。
LouisDuras,MarquisdeBlanquefort,andEarlofFeversham,coughedwithmockdiscreetnessundercoverofhishand。"Ahem！"
Hewasacomelymanwithalongnose,goodlowliddedeyes,ahumorousmouth,andaweakchin;ataglancehelookedwhathewas,aweak,good—naturedsensualist。Hewasresplendentatthemomentinabluesatindressing—gownstiffwithgoldlace,forhehadbeeninterruptedbyBlake"sarrivalintheveryactofputtinghimselftobed,andhishead—divestedofhiswig—wasboundupinascarfofmanycolours。
Athisside,thered—coatedcaptain,arrestedbythegeneral"ssardoniccough,stood,ared—faced,freckledboy,lookingtohissuperiorfororders。
"It"inkyou`ave`urtSareRowland,"saidFevershamcomposedlyinhisbadEnglish。"Whoareyou,sare？"
"Thislady"shusband,"answeredWilding,whereuponthecaptainstaredandFeversham"sbrowswentupinsurprisedamusement。
"So—ho！T"attrue？"quoththelatterinatonesuggestingthatitexplainedeverythingtohim。"T"isgifadifferen"colourtoyourstory,SareRowlan"。"Thenheaddedinachuckle,"Ho,ho—l"amour！"andlaughedoutright。
Blake,gatheringtogetherhiswitsand。hislimbsatthesametime,madeshifttorise。
"Whataplaguedoestheirrelationshipmatter？"hebegan。Hewouldhaveaddedmore,buttheFrenchmanthoughtthisquestiononethatneededanswering。
"Parbleu！"heswore,hisamusementrising。"Itseemtomattersomet"ing。"
"Damnme！"sworeBlake,redinthefacefrompalethathehadbeen。"DoyouconceivethatifIhadrunawaywithhiswifeforherownsakeIhadfetchedhertoyou？"Helurchedforwardashespoke,butkepthisdistancefromWilding,whostoodbetweenRuthandhim。
Fevershambowedsardonically。"Youareasuchflatterer,SareRowlan","
saidhe,laughterbubblinginhiswords。
BlakelookedhisscornofthistrivialFrenchman,who,uponscentingwhatappearedtobethecomedyofanoutragedhusbandovertakingthemanwhohadcarriedoffhiswife,forgottheseriousbusiness,apartofwhichSirRowlandhadalreadyimpartedtohim。CaptainWentworth—atime—servinggentleman—smiledwiththisFrenchgeneralofaBritisharmythathemightwinthegreatman"sfavour。
"Ihavetoldyourlordship,"saidBlake,frothonhislips,"thatthetwentymenIhadfromyou,aswellasEnsignNorris,aredeadinBridgwater,andthatmyplantocarryoffKingMonmouthhascometoruin,allbecausewewerebetrayedbythiswoman。Itisnowmyfurtherprivilegetopointouttoyourlordshipthemantowhomshesoldus。"
FevershammislikedSirRowland"sarroganttone,mislikedhisangry,scornfulglance。Hiseyesnarrowed,thelaughterfadedslowlyfromhisface。
"Yes,yes,Iremember,"saidhe;"t"islady,youhavetoleus,betrayyou。Ver"well。Butyouhavenottoleuswhobetrayyoutot"islady。"
AndhelookedinquiringlyatBlake。
Thebaronet"sjawdropped;hisfacelostsomeofitshighcolour。Hewasstunnedbythequestionasthebirdisstunnedthatfliesheadlongagainstapaneofglass。Hehadcrashedintoanobstructionsotransparentthathehadnotseenit。
"So！"saidFeversham,andhestrokedthecleftofhischin。"CaptainWentwort",besokindastocallt"eguard。"
Wentworthmovedtoobey,butbeforehehadgoneroundthetable,BlakehadlookedbehindhimandespiedRichardshrinkingbythedoor。
"Byheaven！"hecried,"Icanmorethanansweryourlordship"squestion。"
Wentworthstopped,lookingatFeversham。
"Voyons,"saidtheGeneral。
"Icanplaceyouinpossessionofthemanwhohaswroughtourruin。Heisthere,"andhepointedtheatricallytoRichard。
Fevershamlookedatthelimpfigureinsomebewilderment。Indeed,hewashavingamostbewilderingevening—ormorning,rather,foritwaseventhenonthestrokeofoneo"clock。"An"whoareyou,sare？"heasked。
Richardcameforward,nervinghimselfforwhatwastofollow。IthadjustoccurredtohimthatheheldacardwhichshouldtrumpanytrickofSirRowland"svindictiveness,andtheprospectheartenedandcomfortedhim。
"Iamthislady"sbrother,mylord,"heanswered,andhisvoicewasfairlysteady。
"Tiens！"saidFeversham,and,smiling,heturnedtoWentworth。
"Quiteafamilyparty,sir,"saidthecaptain,smilingback。
"Oh！maistout——fait,"saidtheGeneral,laughingoutright,andthenWildingcreatedadiversionbyleadingRuthtoachairthatstoodatthefarendofthetable,anddrawingitforwardforher。"Ah,yes,"
saidFevershamairily,"letMadamesit。"
"Youareverygood,sir,"saidRuth,hervoicebraveandcalm。
"Butsomewhatlackinginspontaneity,"Wildingcriticized,whichsetWentworthstaringandtheFrenchmanscowling。
"ShallIcalltheguard,mylord？"askedWentworthcrisply。
"It"inkyes,"saidFeversham,andthecaptaingainedthedoor,andspokeawordtooneofthesoldierswithout。
"But,mylord,"exclaimedBlakeinatoneofprotest,"Ivowyouaretooreadytotakethisfellow"sword。"
"He`asspokesofew,"saidFeversham。
"Doyouknowwhoheis？"
"You`af`eard`imsay—t"elady"s`usband。"
"Aye—buthisname,"criedBlake,quiveringwithanger。"DoyouknowthatitisWilding？"
Thenamecertainlymadeanimpressionthatmighthaveflatteredthemantowhomitbelonged。Feversham"swholemannerchanged;thetrivialairofpersiflagethathehadadoptedhithertowasgoneontheinstant,andhisbrowgrewdark。
"T"attrue？"heaskedsharply。"AreyouMistaireWildin"—MistaireAntoineWildin"？"
"Yourlordship"smostdevotedservant,"saidWildingsuavely,andmadealeg。
WentworthinthebackgroundpausedintheactofreclosingthedoortostareatthisgentlemanwhosenameAlbemarlehadrenderedsoexcellentlywellknown。
"Andyoutodarecome`ere？"thunderedFeversham,thoroughlyrousedbytheother"sairyindifference。"Youtodarecome`ere—intomyver"
presence？"
Mr。Wildingsmiledconciliatingly。"Icameformywife,mylord,"
heremindedhim。"Itgrievesmetointrudeuponyourlordshipatsolateanhour,andindeeditwasfarfrommyintent。IhadhopedtoovertakeSirRowlandbeforehereachedyou。"
"NomdeDieu！"sworeFeversham。"Ho！Asogreateffrontery！"HeswungrounduponBlakeagain。"SareRowlan","hebadehimangrily,"besokindtotellmewhat`appeninBreechwater—everyt"ing！"
Blake,hisfacepurple,seemedtostruggleforbreathandwords。Mr。
Wildingansweredforhim。
"SirRowlandissocholeric,mylord,"hesaidinhispleasant,levelvoice,"thatperhapsthetalewouldcomemoreintelligiblyfromme。
Believemethathehasservedyoutothebestofhisability。
Unfortunatelyforthesuccessofyourchoiceplanofmurder,Ihadnewsofitattheeleventhhour,andwithapartyofmusketeersIwasabletosurpriseanddestroyyourcut—throatsinMr。Newlington"sgarden。
Yousee,mylord,Iwastohavebeenoneofthevictimsmyself,andI
resentedtheattentionsthatwereintendedme。IhadnoknowledgethatSirRowlandhadcontrivedtoescape,and,frankly,itisathingI
deploremorethanIcansay,forhadthatnothappenedmuchtroublemighthavebeensavedandyourlordship"sresthadnotbeendisturbed。"
"Butt"ewoman？"criedFevershamimpatiently。"Howisshecomeintothisgalare？"
"Itwasshewhowarnedhim,"Blakegotout,asalreadyIhavehadthehonourtoinformyourlordship。"
"Andyourlordshipcannotblameherforthat,"saidWilding。"TheladyisamostloyalsubjectofKingJames;butsheisalso,asyouobserve,adutifulwife。Iwilladdthatitwasherintentiontowarnmeonlywhentoolateforinterference。SirRowland,asithappened,wasslowin……"
"Silence！"blazedtheFrenchman。"Nowt"atIknowwhoyouare,t"atmakeasogreatdifference。Whereist"eguard,Wentwort"？"
"Ihearthem,"answeredthecaptain,andfromthestreetcamethetrampoftheirmarchingfeet。
FevershamturnedagaintoBlake。"T"eaffaire`as`appen"so,"hesaid,betweenquestionandassertion,summingupthesituationasheunderstoodit。"T"isrogue,"andhepointedtoRichard,"`avebetrayyourplanto`issister,whobetrayitto`er`usband,whosavet"eDucdeMonmoot"。N"est—cepas？"
"Thatisso,"saidBlake,andRuthscarcelythoughtitworthwhiletoaddthatshehadheardoftheplotnotonlyfromherbrother,butfromBlakeaswell。Afterall,Blake"sattitudeinthematter,hisactioninbringinghertoFevershamforpunishment,andtoexculpatehimself,mustsufficetocauseanysuchstatementofherstobelightlyreceivedbytheGeneral。
Shesatinananguishedsilence,hereyeswide,herfacepale,andwaitedfortheendofthisstrangebusiness。Inherheartshedidpermitherselftothinkthatitwouldbedifficulttoassembleagroupofmenlessworthyofrespect。CholericandvindictiveBlake,foolishFeversham,stupidWentworth,andtimidRichard—evenRicharddidnotescapetheunfavourablecriticismtheywereundergoinginhersubconsciousmind。OnlyWildingdetachedinthatassembly—ashehaddetachedinanotherthatsheremembered—andstoodoutinsharpreliefaveryman,calm,intrepid,self—possessed;andifshewasafraid,shewasmoreafraidforhimthanforherself。Thiswassomethingthat,perhaps,shescarcelyrealizedjustthen;butshewastorealizeitsoon。
Fevershamwasspeakingagain,askingBlakeafreshquestion。"Andwhobetrayyoutot"isrogue？"
"ToWestmacott？"criedBlake。"Hewasintheplotwithme。Hewaslefttoguardtherear,toseethatwewerenottakenbysurprise,andhedesertedhispost。Hadhenotdonethat,therehadbeennodisaster,inspiteofMr。Wilding"sintervention。"
Feversham"sbrowwasdark,hiseyesglitteredastheyrestedonthetraitor。
"T"attrue,sare？"heaskedhim。
"Notquite,"putinMr。Wilding。"Mr。Westmacott,Ithink,wasconstrainedaway。Hedidnotintend……"
"Tais—toi！"blazedFeversham。"DidIinterrogateyou？ItisforMistaireWestercotttoanswer。"HesetahandonthetableandleanedforwardtowardsWilding,hisfaceverymalign。"Youshalltoanswerforyourself,MistaireWildin";Ipromiseyouyoushalltoanswerforyourself。"HeturnedagaintoRichard。"Ek,bien？"hesnapped。"Willyouspeak？"
Richardcameforwardastep;hewascertainlynervous,andcertainlypale;butneitheraspalenorasnervousasfromourknowledgeofRichardwemighthavelookedtoseehimatthatmoment。
"Itisinameasuretrue,"hesaid。"ButwhatMr。Wildinghassaidismoreexact。Iwasinducedaway。Ididnotdreamanycouldknowoftheplan,orthatmyabsencecouldcausethiscatastrophe。"
"Soyouwent,eh,vaurien？Yout"oughtt"atbetodoyourduty,eh？
Anditwasyouwhotoleyoursistaire？"
"Imayhavetoldher,butnotbeforeshehadthetalealreadyfromBlake。"
Fevershamsneeredandshrugged。"Naturalyouwillnotspeaktrue。A
traitorI`aveobserve"isalwaysliar。"
Richarddrewhimselfup;heseemedinvestedalmostwithanewdignity。
"Yourlordshipispleasedtoaccountmeatraitor？"heinquired。
"Adam"traitor,"saidhislordship,andatthatmomentthedooropened,andasergeant,withsixmenfollowinghim,stoodatthesaluteuponthethreshold。"Alabonneheure！"hislordshiphailedthem。"Sergean",youwillarrestt"isrogueandt"islady,"—hewavedhishandfromRichardtoRuth—"andyouwilltaket"emtolock……up。"
ThesergeantadvancedtowardsRichard,whodrewastepawayfromhim。
Ruthrosetoherfeetinagitation。Mr。Wildinginterposedhimselfbetweenherandtheguard,hishanduponhissword。
"Mylord,"hecried,"dotheyteachnobettercourtesyinFrance？"
Fevershamscowledathim,smilingdarkly。"Ishalltalkwit"yousoon,sare,"saidhe,hiswordsathreat。
"But,mylord……"beganRichard。"IcanmakeitveryplainIamnotraitor……"
"Int"emornin","saidFevershamblandly,wavinghishand,andthesergeanttookRichardbytheshoulder。
ButRichardtwistedfromhisgrasp。"Inthemorningwillbetoolate,"
hecried。"Ihaveitinmypowertorenderyousuchaserviceasyoulittledreamof。"
"Take`imaway,"saidFevershamwearily。
"Icansaveyoufromdestruction,"bawledRichard,"youandyourarmy。"
PerhapsevennowFevershamhadnotheededhimbutforWilding"ssuddeninterference。
"Silence,Richard！"hecriedtohim。"Wouldyoubetray……？"Hecheckedontheword;morehedarednotsay;buthehopedfaintlythathehadsaidenough。
Feversham,however,chancedtoobservethatthismanwhohadshownhimselfhithertosocalmlookedsuddenlymostsingularlyperturbed。
"Eh？"quoththeGeneral。"Aninstan",Sergean"。Whatist"is,eh？"—andhelookedfromWildingtoRichard。
"Yourlordshipshalllearnataprice,"criedRichard。
"Me,Inotbargainwit"traitors,"saidhislordshipstiffly。
"Verywell,then,"answeredRichard,andhefoldedhisarmsdramatically。
"Butnomatterwhatyourlordship"slifemaybehereafter,youwillneverregretanythingmorebitterlythanyoushallregretthisbysunriseifindeedyoulivetoseeit。"
Fevershamshifteduneasilyonhisfeet。"`Whatyousay？"heasked。
"Whatyoumean？"
"Youshallknowataprice,"saidRichardagain。
Wilding,realizingthehopelessnessofinterferingnow,stoodgloomilyapart,agreatbitternessinhissoulattheindiscretionhehadcommittedintellingRichardofthenightattackthatwasafoot。
"Yourlordshipshallhearmyprice,butyouneednotpayitmeuntilyouhavehadanopportunityofverifyingtheinformationIhavetogiveyou。
"Tellme,"saidFevershamafterabriefpause,duringwhichhescrutinizedtheyoungman"sface。
"Ifyourlordshipwillpromiselibertyandsafe—conducttomysisterandmyself。"
"Tellme,"Fevershamrepeated。
"WhenyouhavepromisedtograntmewhatIaskinreturnformyinformation。"
"Yes,ifIt"inkyourinformationiswort""
"Iamcontent,"saidRichard。Heinclinedhisheadandloosedthequarrelofhisnews。"Yourcampisslumbering,yourofficersareallabedwiththeexceptionoftheoutpostontheroadtoBridgwater。WhatshouldyousayifItoldyouthatMonmouthandallhisarmyaremarchinguponyouatthisverymoment,willprobablyfalluponyoubeforeanotherhourispast？"
Wildingutteredagroan,andhishandsfelltohissides。HadFevershamobservedthishemighthavebeenlessreadywithhissneeringanswer。
"Alie！"heanswered,andlaughed。"Myfren",I`avemyselfbeento—night,atmidnight,ont"emoore,andI`ave`eardt"earmyoft"eDucdeMonmoot"marchingtoBristolont"eroad—whatyoucallt"eroad,Wentwort"？"
"TheEasternCauseway,mylord,"answeredthecaptain。
"Voil！"saidFeversham,andspreadhishands。"Whatyousaynow,eh？"
"ThatthatispartofMonmouth"splantocomeatyouacrossthemoors,bywayofChedzoy,avoidingyouronlyoutpost,andfallinguponyouinyourbeds,allunawares。Lord！sir,donottakemywordforit。Sendoutyourscouts,andIdareswearthey"llnotneedgofarbeforetheycomeupontheenemy。"
FevershamlookedatWentworth。Hislordship"sfacehadundergoneachange。
"Whatyout"ink？"heasked。
"Indeed,mylord,itsoundssolikely,"answeredWentworth,"that……
hat……Imarvelwedidnotprovideagainstsuchacontingency。"
"ButI`aveprovide"！"criedthisnephewofthegreatTurenne。
"Ogelt"orpeisont"emoorandSareFrancisCompton。Ift"isistrue,`owcant"ey`avemissMonmoot"？SendwordtoMilor"Churchillatonce,Wentwort"。Lett"ematterbeinvestigate"—atonce,Wentwort"—atonce！"TheGeneralwasdancingwithexcitement。
Wentworthsalutedandturnedtoleavetheroom。"Ifyou`avetolemetrue,"continuedFeversham,turningnowtoRichard,"youshall`avet"epriceyouask,andt"et"anksoft"eKing"sarmy。Butifnot……"
"Oh,it"strueenough,"brokeinWilding,andhisvoicewaslikeagroan,hisfaceoverchargedwithgloom。
Fevershamlookedathim;hissneeringsmilereturned。
"Me,Inotremember,"saidhe,"thatMr。Westercott`aveincludeyouint"ebargain。"
NothinghadbeenfurtherfromWilding"sthoughtsthansuchasuggestion。
Andhesnortedhisdisdain。ThesergeanthadfallenbackatFeversham"swords,andhismenlinedthewallofthechamber。TheGeneralbadeRichardbeseatedwhilsthewaited。SirRowlandstoodapart,leaningwearilyagainstthewainscot,waitingalso,hisdullwitsnotquiteclearhowRichardmighthavecomebysovaluableapieceofinformation,hisevilspiritalmostwishingituntrue,inhisvindictiveness,totheendthatRichardmightpaythepriceofhavingplayedhimfalseandRuththepriceofhavingscornedhim。
Fevershammeanwhilewasseeking—withnogreatsuccess—toengageMr。
WildingintalkofMonmouth,againstwhomFevershamharbouredinadditiontohispoliticalenmityaverydeadlypersonalhatred;forFevershamhadbeenasuitortothehandoftheLadyHenriettaWentworth,thewomanforwhomMonmouth—worthysonofhisfather—hadpracticallyabandonedhisownwife;thewomanwithwhomhehadrunoff,tothegreatscandalofcourtandnation。
DespairingofdrawinganyusefulinformationfromWilding,hislordshipwasonthepointofturningtoBlake,whenquickstepsandtherattleofascabbardsoundedwithout;thedoorwasthrustopenwithoutceremony,andCaptainWentworthreappeared。
"Mylord,"hecried,hismannerexcitedbeyondaughtonecouldhavebelievedpossibleinsophlegmatic—seemingaperson,"itistrue。
Wearebeset。"
"Beset！"echoedFeversham。"Besetalready？"
"Wecanhearthemmovingonthemoor。TheyarecrossingtheLangmoorRhine。Theywillbeuponusintenminutesatthemost。IhaverousedColonelDouglas,andDunbarton"sregimentisreadyforthem。"
Fevershamexploded。"Whatelse`aveyoudone？"heasked。"WhereisMilor"Churchill？"
"LordChurchillismusteringhismenasquietlyasmaybethattheymaybereadytosurprisethosewhocometosurpriseus。ByHeaven,sir,weoweagreatdebttoMr。Westmacott。Withouthisinformationwemighthavehadallourthroatscutwhilstweslept。"
"BesokindtocallBelmont,"saidFeversham。"Tellhimtobringmyclot"es。"
WentworthturnedandwentoutagaintoexecutetheGeneral"sorders。
FevershamspoketoRichard。"Weareoblige",Mr。Westercott,"saidhe。
"Wearever"muchoblige"。"
Suddenlyfromalittledistancecametherollofdrums。Othersoundsbegantostirinthenightoutsidetotellofawakingarmy。