第7章

Hetookaturnintheroom,verythoughtful。Notofhimselfwashethinkingnow,butoftheDukeofMonmouth。Trenchardhadtoldhimsomeuglytruthsthatmorningofhowinhislove—makingheappearedtohaveshipwreckedtheCauseereitwaswelllaunched。IfthislettergottoWhitehalltherewasnogauging—ignorantashewasofwhatwasinit—theruinthatmightfollow;buttheyhadreasontofeartheworst。HesawhisdutytotheDukemostclearly,andhebreathedaprayerofthanksthatRichardhadchosentoputthatlettertosuchauseasthis。Heknewhimselfcheckmated;buthewasamanwhoknewhowtobeardefeatinabecomingmanner。Heturnedsuddenly。

"Theletterisinyourhands？"heinquired。

"Itis,"sheanswered。

"MayIseeit？"heasked。

Sheshookherhead—notdaringtoshowitorbetrayitswhereaboutslestheshoulduseforcetobecomepossessedofit—athing,indeed,thatwasveryfarfromhispurpose。

Heconsideredamoment,hismindintentnowratherupontheDuke\'sinterestthanhisown。

"Youknow,"quothhe,"thedesperateenterprisetowhichIstandcommitted。ButitisabargainbetweenusthatyoudonotbetraymenorthatenterprisesolongasIleaveyouridofmypresence。

"ThatisthebargainIpropose,"saidshe。

Helookedatheramomentwithhungryeyes,andshefoundhisglancealmostmorethanshecouldbear,sostrongwasitsappeal。Besides,itmaybethatshewasathoughtbeglamouredbythedangerinwhichhestood,whichseemedtoinvesthimwithacertainheroicdignity。

"Ruth,"hesaidatlength,"itmaywellbethatthatwhichyoudesiremayspeedilycometopass;itmaywellbethatinthecourseofthisrebellionthatishatchingyoumaybewidowed。ButatleastIknowthatifmyheadfallsitwillnotbemywifewhohasbetrayedmetotheaxe。Forthatmuch,believeme,Iamsupremelygrateful。"

Headvanced。Hetookherunresistinghandagainandboreittohislips,bowinglowbeforeher。Thenerectandgracefulheturnedonhisheelandlefther。

CHAPTERIX

MR。TRENCHARD\'SCOUNTERSTROKE

Now,howevermuchitmightsatisfyMr。WildingtohaveRuth\'swordforitthatsolongasheleftherinpeaceneitherhenortheCausehadanybetrayaltofearfromher,Mr。Trenchardwasofaverydifferentmind。

Hefumedandsworeandworkedhimselfintoaverypassion。"Zoons,man！"

hecried,"itwouldmeanutterruintoyouifthatletterreachedWhitehall。"

"Irealizeit;butmymindiseasy。Ihaveherpromise。"

"Awoman\'spromise！"snortedTrenchard,andproceededwithgreatcircumstanceofexpletivestodamn"everythingthatdaggledapetticoat。"

"Yourfearsareidle,"Wildingassuredhim。"Whatshesays,shewilldo。"

"Andherbrother？"quothTrenchard。"Haveyoubethoughtyouofthatcanary—bird？He\'llknowtheletter\'swhereabouts。Hehascausetofearyoumorethanevernow。Areyousurehe\'llnotbemakinguseofittolayyoubytheheels？"

Mr。WildingsmileduponthefuryprovokedbyTrenchard\'sconcernandloveforhim。"Shehaspromised,"hesaidwithaninsistentfaiththatwasfueltoTrenchard,sanger,"andIcandependherword。"

"SocannotI,"snappedhisfriend。

"Thethingthatplaguesmemost,"saidWilding,ignoringtheremark,"isthatwearekeptinignoranceoftheletter\'scontentsatatimewhenwemostlongfornews。Notadoubtbutitwouldhaveenabledustosetourmindsateaseonthescoreofthesefoolishrumours。"

"Aye—orelseconfirmedthem,"saidpessimisticTrenchard。Hewaggedhishead。"TheysaytheDukehasputtoseaalready。"

"Folly！"Wildingprotested。

"Whitehallthinksotherwise。WhatofthetroopsatTaunton？"

"Morefolly。"

"Well—Iwouldyouhadthatletter。"

"Atleast,"saidWilding,"Ihavethesuperscription,andweknowfromShenkethatnonamewasmentionedintheletteritself。"

"There\'sevidenceenoughwithoutit,"`Trenchardremindedhim,andfellsoonafterintoabstraction,turningoverinhismindanotionwithwhichhehadsuddenlybeeninspired。ThatnotionkeptTrenchardsecretlyoccupiedforacoupleofdays;butintheendhesucceededinperfectingit。

NowitbefellthattowardsduskoneeveningearlyintheweekRichardWestmacottwentabroadalone,aswascommonlyhishabit,hisgoalbeingtheSaracen\'sHead,whereheandSirRowlandspentmanyanightoverwineandcards—toSirRowland\'smoderateprofit,forhehadnotplayedthepigeonintownsolongwithouthavingacquiredsufficientknowledgetoenablehimtoplaytherookinthecountry。AsWestmacottwaspassinguptheHighStreet,ablackshadowfellathwartthelightthatstreamedfromthedooroftheBellInn,andoutthroughthedoorwaylurchedMr。TrenchardathoughtunsteadilytohurtlesoviolentlyagainstRichardthathebrokethelongstemofthewhiteclaypipehewascarrying。NowRichardwasnottoknowthatMr。Trenchard—havinginformedhimselfofMr。Westmacott\'seveninghabits—hadbeenwaitingforthepasthalf—hourinthatdoorwayhopingthatMr。Westmacottwouldnotdepartthiseveningfromhisusualcustom。AnotherthingthatMr。

Westmacottwasnottoknow—consideringhisyouth—wasthesingularhistrionicabilitywhichthisoldrakehaddisplayedinthoseyoungerdaysofhiswhenhehadbeenaplayer,andthefurthercircumstancethathehadexcelledinthosepartsinwhichebrietywastobecounterfeited。Indeed,wehaveitonthewordofnolessanauthorityontheatricalmattersthanMr。PepysthatMr。NicholasTrenchard\'sappearanceasPistolin"HenryIV"intheyearoftheblessedRestorationwasthetalkalikeoftownandcourt。

Mr。Trenchardsteadiedhimselffromtheimpact,and,swearingaroundandawfulElizabethanoath,accusedtheotherofbeingdrunk,thenstruckanattitudetodemandwithtruculence,"Wouldyetakethewallo\'me,sir？"

Richardhastenedtomakehimselfknowntothisturbulentroysterer,whostraightwayforgothisgrievancetotakeWestmacottaffectionatelybythehandandoverwhelmhimwithapologies。Andthatdone,Trenchard—whoaffectedtheconditionknownasmaudlindrunk—mustneedsprotestalmostintearshowprofoundwashisloveforRichard,andinsistthattheboyreturnwithhimtotheBellInn,thattheymightpledgeeachother。

Richard,himselfsober,wascontemptuousofTrenchardsoobviouslyobfuscated。Atfirstitwashisimpulsetoexcusehimself,aspossiblyBlakemightbealreadywaitingforhim;butonsecondthoughts,rememberingthatTrenchardwasMr。Wilding\'smostintimatefamulus,itoccurredtohimthatbyalittlecraftyquestioninghemightsucceedinsmokingMr。Wilding\'sintentionsinthematterofthatletter—forfromhissisterhehadfailedtogetsatisfaction。Sohepermittedhimselftobeledindoorstoatablebythewindowwhichstoodvacant。

Therewereatthetimeadozenguestsorsointhecommon—room。

Trenchardbawledforwineandbrandy,andforallthathebabbledinanirresponsible,foolishmannerofallthingsthatwereofnomatter,yetnotthemostadroitofpumpingcouldelicitfromhimanysuchinformationasRichardsought。PerforceyoungWestmacottmustremain,plyinghimwithmoreandmoredrink—andbeingpliedinhisturn—totheendthathemightnotwastetheoccasion。

AnhourlaterfoundRichardmuchtheworseforwear,andTrenchardcertainlynobetter。Richardforgothispurpose,forgotthatBlakewaitedforhimattheSaracen\'sHead。AndnowTrenchardseemedtobepullinghimselftogether。

"Iwanttotalktoyou,Richard,"saidhe,andalthoughthick,therewasinhisvoiceacertainimpressivequalitythathadbeenabsenthitherto。"`Sarumourcurrent。"Heloweredhisvoicetoawhisperalmost,and,leaningacross,tookhiscompanionbythearm。Hehiccoughednoisily,thenbeganagain。"`Sarumourcurrent,sweetheart,thatyou\'redisaffected。"

Richardstarted,andhismindflappedandstruggledlikeatrappedbirdtoescapethemeshesofthewine,totheendthathemightconvincinglydefendhimselffromsuchanimputation—sodangerouslytrue。

"`Salie！"hegasped。

Trenchardshutoneeyeandowlishlysurveyedhiscompanionwiththeother。"Theysay,"headded,"thatyou\'reforforsaking`Duke\'sparty。"

"Villainous！"Richardprotested。"I\'llsli\'throatofanyman`tsaysso。"Anddrainingthepewterathiselbow,hesmasheditdownonthetabletoemphasizehisseriousness。

Trenchardreplenisheditwiththeutmostpromptness,thensatbackinhistallchairandpulledamomentatthefreshpipewithwhichhehadequippedhimself。

IthinkIespy,"\'hequotedpresently,"`virtueandvalourcrouchedinthineeye。\'Andyet……,andyet……ifIhadcausetothinkittrue,I\'d……I\'drunyouthroughthevitals—jus\'so,"andheproddedRichard\'swaistcoatwiththepointofhispipe—stem。Hisswarthyfacedarkened,hiseyesglitteredfiercely。"Areyesureye\'renorrerfoultraitor？"hedemandedsuddenly。"Arey\'sure,forifye\'renot……"

Helefttheterriblemenaceunuttered,butitwasnonethelessunderstood。ItpenetratedthevinousfogthatbesetthebrainofRichard,andstartledhim。

"`SwearI\'mnot！"hecried。"`Swearmos\'solemnlyI\'mnot。"

"Swear？"echoedTrenchard,andhisscowlgrewdarkerstill。"Swear？

Amanmayswearandyetlie—`amanmaysmileandsmileandbeavillain。\'I\'llhaveproofofyourloyaltytous。I\'llhaveproof,orasthere\'saheavenaboveandahellbelow,I\'llripyouup。"

Hismienwasterrific,andhisvoicethemorethreateninginthatitwasnotraisedaboveawhisper。

Richardsatbackappalled,afraid。

"Wha\'……whatproof\'llsatisfyyou？"heasked。

Trenchardconsideredit,pullingathispipeagain。"PledgemetheDuke,"saidheatlength。"Ther\'struth`nwine。PledgemetheDukeandconfusiontoHisMajestythegoldfinch。"Richardreachedforhispewter,gladthatthetestwastobesolight。"Uponyourfeet,man,"

grumbledTrenchard。"Onyourfeet,andseethatyourwordshavearingoftruthinthem。"

Richarddidashewasbidden,thelittlereasonlefthimbeingconcentratedwhollyontheconvincingofhisfellowtippler。Herosetohisfeet,sounsteadilythathischairfelloverwithabang。Heneverheededit,butothersintheroomturnedatthesound,andahushfellinthechamber。DominatingthiscameRichard\'svoice,stridentwithintensity,ifthickofutterance。

"DownwithPopery,andGodsavetheProtestantDuke！"hecried。"DownwithPopery！"AndhelookedatTrenchardforapplause,andassurancethatTrenchardnolongerthoughttherewascausetoquarrelwithhim。

Behindhimtherewasastirintheroomthatwentunheededbytheboy。

Mennudgedtheirneighbours;somelookedfrightenedandsomegrinnedatthetreasonablewords。

AswiftchangecameoverTrenchard。Hisdrunkennessfellfromhimlikeadiscardedmantle。Hesatlikeamanamazed。Thenheheavedhimselftohisfeetinafury,andsmasheddownhispipestemonthewoodentable,sendingitsfragmentsflying。

"Damnme！"heroared。"HaveIsatattablewithatraitor？"AndhethrustatRichardwithhisopenpalm,lightlyyetwithsufficientforcetothrowRichardoffhisprecariousbalanceandsendhimsprawlingonthesandedfloor。Menrosefromthetablesaboutandapproachedthem,somefewamused,butthemajorityverygrave。Dodsley,thelandlord,camehurryingtoassistRichardtohisfeet。

"Mr。Westmacott,"hewhisperedintherashfool\'sear,"youwerebestaway。"

Richardstoodup,leaninghisfullweightuponthearmthelandlordhadabouthiswaist。Hepassedahandoverhisbrow,asiftobrushasidetheveilthatobscuredhiswits。Whathadhappened？Whathadhesaid？

WhathadTrencharddone？Whydidthesefellowsstandandgapeathim？

Heheardhiscompanion\'svoice,raisedtoaddressthecompany。

"Gentlemen,"heheardhimsay,"ItrustthereisnonepresentwillimputetomeanyshareinsuchtreasonablesentimentsasMr。Westmacotthasexpressed。Butifthereisanywhoquestionsmyloyalty,Ihaveaconvincingargumentforhim—inmyscabbard。"Andhestruckhissword—hiltwithhisfist。

Thenheclappedonhishat,aslantoverthelocksofhisgoldenwig,and,takinguphiswhip,hemovedwithleisurelydignitytowardsthedoor。Helookedbackwithasardonicsmileattheadohewasleavingbehindhim,listenedamomenttothevoicesthatalreadywerebeingraisedinexcitement,thenclosedthedoorandmadehiswaybrisklytothestable—yard,wherehecalledforhishorse。HerodeoutofBridgwatertenminuteslater,andtooktheroadtoTauntonasthemoonwasrisingbigandyellowoverthehillsonhisleft。HereachedTauntontowardsteno\'clockthatnight,havingriddenhell—to—leather。

HisfirstvisitwastotheHareandHounds,whereBlakeandWestmacotthadovertakenthecourier。HisnexttothehousewhereSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrell—thegentlemenlatelyorderedtoTauntonbyHisMajesty—hadtheirlodging。

ThefruitsofMr。Trenchard\'sextraordinarybehaviourthatnightweretobeseenatanearlyhouronthefollowingday,whenaconstableandthreetything—mencamewithaLord—Lieutenant\'swarranttoarrestMr。

RichardWestmacottonachargeofhightreason。Theyfoundtheyoungmanstillabed,andmostguiltywashispanicwhentheybadehimriseanddresshimself—thoughlittledidhedreamofthefullextenttowhichMr。Trenchardhadenmeshedhim,orindeedthatMr。Trenchardhadanyhandatallinthisaffair。Whattimehewasgettingintohisclotheswithatything—manoutsidehisdoorandanotheronguardunderhiswindow,theconstableandhisthirdmyrmidonmadeanexhaustivesearchofthehouse。Alltheyfoundofinterestwasalettersigned"Monmouth,"whichtheytookfromthesecretdrawerofasecretaryinthelibrary;butthat,itseemed,wasalltheysought,forhavingfoundit,theyproceedednofurtherwiththeirrecklessanddestructiveransacking。

WiththatletterandthepersonofRichardWestmacott,theconstableandhismentooktheirdeparture,androdebacktoTaunton,leavingalarmandsoredistressatLuptonHouse。InherdespairpoorRuthwasallforfollowingherbrother,inthehopethatatleastbygivingevidenceofhowthatlettercameintohispossessionshemightdosomethingtoassisthim。Butknowing,asshedid,thathehadhadhisshareinthetreasonthatwashatching,shehadcausetofearthathisguiltwouldnotlackforotherproofs。ItwasDianawhourgedhertorepairinsteadtotheonlymanuponwhoseresourceshemightdepend,providedhewerewillingtoexertit。ThatmanwasAnthonyWilding,andwhetherDianaurgeditfrommotivesofherownoroutofconcernforRichard,itwouldbedifficulttosaywithcertainty。

Theverythoughtofgoingtohimforaid,afterallthathadpassed,wasrepugnanttoRuth。Andyetwhatchoicehadshe？ConvincedbyhercousinandurgedbyheraffectionanddutytoRichard,sherepressedheraversion,and,callingforahorse,rodeouttoZoylandChase,attendedbyagroom。Wildingbygoodfortunewasathome,hardatworkuponamassofdocumentsinthatsamelibrarywhereshehadtalkedwithhimontheoccasionofherfirstvisittohishome—tothehomeofwhichsherememberedthatshewasnow,herself,themistress。

HewaspreparingforcirculationintheWestamassoflibelsandincendiarypamphletscalculatedtoforwardthecauseoftheProtestantDuke。

Dissemblinghissurprise,hebadeoldWalters—wholeftherwaitinginthehailwhilsthewenttoannounceher—toadmitherinstantly,andheadvancedtothedoortoreceiveandwelcomeher。

"Ruth,"saidhe,andhisfacewasoddlyalight,"youhavecomeatlast。"

Shesmiledawansmileofself—pity。"Ihavebeenconstrained,"saidshe,andtoldhimwhathadhappened;thatherbrotherhadbeenarrestedforhightreason,andthattheconstableinsearchingthehousehadcomeupontheMonmouthlettershehadlockedawayinherdesk。

"Andnotadoubt,"sheended,"butitwillbebelievedthatitwastoRichardtheletterwasinditedbytheDuke。Youwillrememberthatitsonlyaddresswas`tomygoodfriend,W。,\'andthatwillstandforWestmacottaswellasWilding。"

Mr。Wildingwasfaintolaughattheironyofthissurprisingturnofthingsofwhichshebroughthimnews;forhehadneitherknowledgenorsuspicionofthemachinationsofhisfriendTrenchard,towhichtheseeventsweredue。Butnotingandrespectingheranxietyforherbrother,hecurbedhisnaturalamusement。

"Itisajudgmentuponyou,"saidhe,nevertheless。

"Doyouexult？"sheaskedindignantly。

"No;butIcannotrepressmyadmirationforthewaysofDivineJustice。

Ifyouarecometomeforadvice,Icanbutsuggestthatyoushouldfollowyourbrother\'scaptorstoTaunton,andinformthelieutenantsofhowthelettercameintoyourpower。

Shelookedathiminangeralmostatwhatseemedacallousness。"Wouldhebelieveme,thinkyou？"

"Belikehewouldnot,"saidMr。Wilding。"Youcanbuttry。"

"IfItoldthemitwasaddressedtoyou,"shesaid,eyeinghimsternly,"doesitnotoccurtoyouthattheywouldsendforyoutoquestionyou,andthatiftheydidso,asyouareagentlemanyoucouldnotlieawaymybrother\'slife。"

"Why,yes,"saidhequitecalmly,"itdoesoccurtome。Butdoesitnotoccurtoyouthatbythetimetheycameheretheywouldfindmegone？"Helaughedatherdismay。"Ithankyou,madam,forthiswarning,"headded。"IthinkI\'llbidthemsaddleformewithoutdelay。

ToolongalreadyhaveItarried。"

"AndmustRichardhang？"sheaskedhimfiercely。

Mr。Wildingproducedasnuffboxoftortoiseshellandgold。Heopeneditdeliberately。"Ifhedoes,you\'lladmitthathewillhangonthegallowsthathehasbuilthimself—althoughintendedforanother。

I\'faith！He\'snotthefirstboobytobecaughtinhisownspringe。

Thereisinthisameasureofpoeticjustice。Poetryandjustice！Doyouknow,Ruth,theyaretwothingsIhaveeverloved？"AndhetookapinchofchoiceBergamot。

"Willyoubeserious？"shedemanded。

"Trenchardwouldtellyouthatitweretomakeanexceptionfromtheruleofmylife,"heassuredher,smiling。"YeteventhatmightIdoatyourbidding。"

"Butthisisaseriousmatter,"shetoldhimangrily。"ForRichard,"

heacknowledged,closinghissnuffboxwithasnap。"Tellme,whatwouldyouhavemedo？"

Sinceheaskedherthus,sheansweredhimintwowords。"Savehim。"

"Atthecostofmyownneck？"quothhe。"Thepriceishigh,"heremindedher。"DoyouthinkthatRichardisquiteworthit？"

"Andareyoutosaveyourselfatthecostofhis？"shecounter—questioned。

"Areyoucapableofsuchabaseness？"

Helookedatherthoughtfullyamoment。"Youhavenotreflected,"saidheslowly,"thatinthisaffairisinvolvedmorethanmineorRichard\'slife。Thereisagreatcauseweighinginthebalanceagainstallpersonalconsiderations。IfIaccountedRichardofmorevaluetoMonmouththanIammyself,Ishouldnothesitateinridingtosethimfreebytakinghisplace。Asitis,however,IthinkIamofthegreatestconceivableimportancetoHisGrace,whilstiftwentyRichardsperished—frankly—theirlosswouldbesomethingofagain,forRichardhasplayedatraitor\'spartalready。Thatiswithmethefirstofallconsiderations。"

"AmIofnoconsiderationtoyou？"sheaskedhim。Andinanagonyofterrorforherbrothershenowapproachedhim,and,obeyingasuddenimpulse,castherselfuponherkneesbeforehim。"Listen！"shecried。

"Notthus,"saidhe,afrownbetweenhiseyes。Hetookherbytheelbowsandgentlybutveryfirmlybroughthertoherfeetagain。"Itisnotfittingyoushouldkneelsaveatyourprayers。

Shewasstandingnow,andveryclosetohim,hishandsstillheldherelbows,thoughtheirtouchwassolightthatshescarcefeltit。Toreleasethemwaseasy,andthenextsecondherhandswereonhisshoulders,herbraveeyesraisedtohim。

"Mr。Wilding,"sheimploredhim,"you\'llnotletRichardbedestroyed？"

Helookeddownatherwithkindlingglance,hisarmsslippedroundherlissomwaist。"Itishardtodenyyou,Ruth,"saidhe。"Yetnotmyloveofmyownlifecompelsme;butmyduty,myloyaltytothecausetowhichIampledged。IwereatraitorwereInowtoplacemyselfinperil。"

Shepressed。againsthim,herfacesoclosetohisthatherbreathfannedhischeek,whitherafaintcolourcreptinquickresponse。

Despiteherselfalmost,instinctively,unconsciously,sheexertedtheweaponsofhersextobendhimtoherwill。

"Yousayyouloveme,"shewhispered。"Proveitmenow,andIwillbelieveyou。

"Ah！"hesighed。"Andbelievingme？Whatthen？"

Hehadhimselfgrimlyinhand,yetfearedheshouldnotprovestrongenoughtoholdhimselfforlong。

"You……,youshallfindmeyour……dutifulwife,"shefaltered,crimsoning。

Hisarmstightenedabouther;hecrushedhertohim,hebenthisheadtohersandhislipsburntthelipssheyieldedtohimasthoughtheyhadbeenlivingfire。

Anon,shewastoweepinshame—inshameandinastonishment—atthatinstantofsurrender,butforthemomentshehadnothoughtsaveforherbrother。Exultationfilledher。Sheaccountedthatshehadconquered,andshegloriedinthepowerherbeautygaveher,apowerthathadsufficedtomelttowaterthehard—frozenpurposesofthisself—willedman。Thenextinstant,however,shewascoldagainwithdismayandnewbornterror。Heunclaspedherarms,hedrewback,shakingoffthehandsshehadresteduponhisshoulders。Hiswhiteface—theflushhadfadedfromitagain—smiledathoughtdisdainfully。

"Youbargainwithme,"hesaid。"ButIhavesomeknowledgeofyourwaysoftrading。Theyareovershrewdforanhonestgentleman。"

"Youmean,"shegasped,herhandpressedtoherheart,herfaceadeathlywhite,"youmeanthatyou\'llnotsavehim？"

"Imean,"saidhe,"thatIwillhavenofurtherbargainswithyou。"

Therewassuchhardfinalityinhistonethatsherecoiled,beatenandwithoutpower,toreturntotheassault。Shehadplayedandlost。

Shehadyieldedherlipstohiskisses,and—husbandthoughhemightbeinname—shamewasheronlyguerdon。

Onelookshegavehimfromoutofthatfacesowhiteandpitiful,thenwithashudderturnedfromhimandfledhispresence。Hesprangafterherasthedoorclosed,thencheckedandstoodinthought,verygrimforonewhoprofessedtobestownoseriousnessontheaffairsoflife。

Thenhereturnedslowlytohiswriting—table,andrummagedthereamongthepaperswithwhichitwasencumbered,seekingsomethingofwhichhenowhadneed。Throughtheopenwindowheheardtheretreatingbeatofherhorse\'shoofs。Hesighedandsatdownheavily,totakehislongsquarechininhishandandstarebeforehimatthesunlightonthelawnoutside。

Andwhilsthesatthus,RuthmadeallhastebacktoLuptonHousetotellofthefailurethathadattendedher。TherewasnothinglefthernowbuttoembarkupontheforlornhopeoffollowingRichardtoTaunton,toofferherevidenceofhowtheincriminatingletterhadcometobelockedinthedrawerinwhichtheconstablehaddiscoveredit。Dianametherwithafaceiswhiteasherownandinfinitelymorestartled。

ShehadjustlearntthatSirRowlandBlakehadbeenarrestedalsoandthathehadbeencarriedtoTauntontogetherwithRichard,and,asaconsequence,shewasaseagernowthatRuthshouldrepairtoAlbemarleasshehaderstwhilebeenearnestinurginghertoseekoutMr。Wilding;

indeed,Dianawentsofarastooffertoaccompanyher,anofferthatRuthgladly,gratefullyaccepted。

WithinanhourRuthandDiana—inspiteofallthatpoor,docileLadyHortonhadsaidtostaythem—wereridingtoTaunton,attendedbythesamegroomwhohadsolatelyaccompaniedhismistresstoZoylandChase。

CHAPTERX

THEIROWNPETARD

Inalofty,spaciousroomofthetownhallatTauntonsatSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrelltodispensejustice,andwiththem,flankedbyoneofthemoneithersideofhim,satChristopherMonk,DukeofAlbemarle,Lord—LieutenantofDevonshire,whohadbeensummonedinallhastefromExeterthathemightbepresentatanexaminationwhichpromisedtobeofsovastimportance。Thethreesatatalongtableattheroom\'send,attendedbytwosecretaries。

Beforethem,guardedbyconstableandtything—men,weaponless,theirhandspinionedbehindthem—Blake\'sarmwashealedbynow—stoodMr。

WestmacottandhisfriendSirRowlandtoanswerthisgravecharge。