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。