"ThatwemustquitLymeweareallagreed,"saidhe。"IwouldproposethatYourGracemarchnorthtoGloucester,whereourCheshirefriendswillassembletomeetus。
　　ColonelMatthewsremindedtheDukeofAndrewFletcher'sproposalthattheyshouldmakearaiduponExeterwithaviewtoseizingarms,ofwhichtheystoodsosorelyinneed。
　　ThisMr。Wildingwasquicktosupport。"Notonlythat,YourGrace,"
　　hesaid,"butIamconfidentthatwithverylittleinducementthegreaterportionofthemilitiawilldeserttousassoonasweappear。
　　"Whatassurancecanyougiveofthat？"askedGrey,hisheavylipprotruded。
　　"Itakeit,"saidMr。Wilding,"thatinsuchmattersnomancangiveanassuranceofanything。Ispeakwithknowledgeofthecountryandthefolkfromwhichthemilitiaisenlisted。IofferitasmyopinionthatthemilitiaisfavourablydisposedtoYourGrace。Icandonomore。
　　"IfMr。Wildingsaysso,YourGrace,"putinMatthews,"Ihavenodoubthehassoundreasonsuponwhichtobasehisopinion。
　　"Nodoubt,"saidMonmouth。"Indeed,Ihadalreadythoughtofthestepthatyousuggest,ColonelMatthews,andwhatMr。Wildingsayscausesmetolookuponitstillmorefavourably。"
　　Greyfrowned。"Consider,YourGrace,"hesaidearnestly,"thatyouareinnocasetofightatpresent。"
　　"Whatfightingdoyousuggesttherewouldbe？"askedtheDuke。
　　"ThereisAlbemarlebetweenusandExeter。"
　　"Butwiththemilitia,"Wildingremindedhim;"andifthemilitiadesertshimforYourGrace,inwhatcasewillAlbemarlefindhimself？"
　　"Andifthemilitiadoesnotdesert？Ifyoushouldbeprovenwrong,sir？Whatthen？Whatthen？"askedGrey。
　　"Aye—true—whatthen,Mr。Wilding？"quoththeDuke,alreadywavering。
　　Wildingconsideredamoment,alleyesuponhim。"Eventhen,"saidhepresently,"IdomaintainthatinthisdashforExeterliesYourGrace'sgreatestchanceofsuccess。Wecandeliverbattleifneedbe。Alreadywearethreethousandstrong……"
　　Greyinterruptedhimrudely。"Nay,"heinsisted。"Youmustnotpresumeuponthat。Wearenotyetfittofight。ItisHisGrace'sbusinessatpresenttodrillanddisciplinehistroopsandinducemorefriendstojoinhim。"
　　"Alreadyweareturningmenawaybecausewehavenoweaponstoputintotheirhands,"Wildingremindedthem,andamurmurofapprovalranround,whichbutservedtoangerGreythemore,torendermoreobstinatehisopposition。
　　"Butallthatcomeinarenotunprovided,"washislordship'sretort。
　　"TherearetheHampshiregentryandtheirfriends。Theywillcomearmed,andsowillothersifwehavepatience。
　　"Aye,"saidWilding,"andifyouhavepatienceenoughtherewillbetroopstheParliamentwillsendagainstus。They,too,willbearmed,Icanassureyourlordship。"
　　"InGod'snameletuskeepfromwrangling,"theDukebesoughtthem。
　　"Itisdifficultenoughtodetermineforthebest。IfthedashtoExeterweresuccessful……"
　　"Itcannotbe,"Greyinterruptedagain。
　　ThelibertieshetookwithMonmouthandwhichMonmouthpermittedhimmightwellbeasourceofwondertoallwhoheardthem。Monmouthpausednowinhisinterruptedspeechandlookedabouthimatriflewearily。
　　"Itseemsidletoinsist,"saidMr。Wilding;"suchisthetemperofYourGrace'scounsellors,thatwegetnofurtherthancontradictions。"Grey'sboldeyeswereuponWildingashespoke。"IwouldremindYourGrace,andIamsurethatmanypresentwillagreewithme,thatinadesperateenterpriseasuddenunexpectedmovementwilloftenstriketerror。"
　　"Thatistrue,"saidMonmouth,butapparentlywithoutenthusiasm,andhavingapprovedwhatwasurgedononeside,helookedatGrey,asifwaitingtohearwhatmightbesaidontheother。Hisindecisionwaspitiful—tragical,indeed,intheleaderofsoboldanenterprise。
　　"Weshoulddobetter,Ithink,"saidGrey,"todealwiththefactsasweknowthem。"
　　"ItiswhatIamendeavouringtodo,YourGrace,"protestedWilding,anoteofdespairinhisvoice。"Perhapssomeothergentlemanwillputforwardbettercounselthanmine。"
　　"Aye！InHeaven'snameletushopeso,"snortedGrey;andMonmouth,catchingthesuddenflashofMr。Wilding'seye,setahanduponhislordship'sarmasiftourgehimtobegentler。Buthecontinued,"Whenmentalkofstrikingterrorbysuddenmovementstheybuildonair。"
　　"Ihadhardlythoughttohearthatfromyourlordship,"saidMr。
　　Wilding,andhepermittedhimselfthattight—lippedsmilethatgavehisfacesowickedalook。
　　"Andwhynot？"askedGrey,stupidlyunsuspicious。
　　"BecauseIhadthoughtyoumighthaveconcludedotherwisefromyourownexperienceatBridportthismorning。"
　　Greygotangrilytohisfeet,rageandshameflushinghisface,anditneededFergusonandtheDuketorestorehimtosomesemblanceofcalm。
　　Indeed,itmaywellbethatitwastocompletethisthatHisGracedecidedthereandthenthattheyshouldfollowGrey'sadviceandgobywayofTaunton,Bridgwater,andBristoltoGloucester。Hewas,likeallweakmen,ofconspicuousmentalshort—sightedness。Thematterofthemomentwaseverofgreaterimportancetohimthananyresultthatmightattenditinthefuture。
　　HeinsistedthatWildingandGreyshouldshakehandsbeforethebreakingupofthatmostastoundingcouncil,andashehaddonelastnight,henowagainimposeduponthemhiscommandsthattheymustnotallowthismattertogofurther。
　　Mr。Wildingpavedthewayforpeacebymakinganapologywithinlimitations。
　　"If,inmyzealtoserveYourGracetothebestofmyability,IhavesaidthatwhichLordGreythinksfittoresent,Iwouldbidhimconsidermymotiveratherthanmyactualwords。"
　　ButwhenallhadgonesaveFerguson,thechaplainapproachedthepreoccupiedanddistressedDukewithcounselthatMr。Wildingshouldbesentawayfromthearmy。
　　"Elsethere'llbetrouble`twixthimandGrey,"theplottingparsonforetold。"We'llbehavingarepetitionoftheunfortunateFletcherandDareaffair,andIthinkthathascostYourGraceenoughalready。"
　　"DoyousuggestthatIdismissWilding？"criedtheDuke。"Youknowhisinfluence,andthebadimpressionhisremovalwouldleave。"
　　Fergusonstrokedhislongleanjaw。"No,no,"saidhe;"allIsuggestisthatyoufindMr。Wildingworktodoelsewhere。"
　　"Elsewhere？"theDukequestioned。"Whereelse？"
　　"Ihavethoughtofthat,too。SendhimtoLondontoseeDanversandtostirupyourfriendsthere。And,"headded,loweringhisvoice,"givehimdiscretiontoseeSunderlandifhethinkswell。"
　　ThepropositionpleasedMonmouth,anditseemedtopleaseMr。Wildingnolesswhen,havingsentforhim,theDukecommunicatedittohiminFerguson'spresence。
　　UponthismissionMr。Wildingsetoutthatverynight,leavingNickTrenchardindespairatbeingseparatedfromhimatatimewhenthereseemedtobeeverychancethatsuchaseparationmightbeeternal。
　　MonmouthandFergusonmayhaveconceivedtheydidawisethinginremovingamanwhowasinstinctivelyspoilingforalittlesword—playwithmyLordGrey。Itisoddsthathadheremained,thebrewingstormbetweenthepairwouldhavecometoahead。Haditdoneso,itismorethanlikely,fromwhatweknowofMr。Wilding'saccomplishments,thathehadgivenLordGreyhisquietus。Andhadthathappened,itistobeinferredfromhistorythatitispossibletheDukeofMonmouth'srebellionmighthavehadalessdisastrousissue。
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　PLOTSANDPLOTTERS
　　Mr。WildingleftMonmouth'sarmyatLymeonSunday,the14thofJune,andrejoineditatBridgwaterexactlythreeweekslater。Inthemeanwhileagooddealhadhappened,yetthehappeningsoneveryhandhadfallenfarshortoftheexpectationsarousedinMr。Wilding'smind,nowbyonecircumstance,nowbyanother。InreachingLondonhehadexperiencednodifficulty。MentravellinginthatdirectionwerenotsubjectedtothescrutinythatfelltotheshareofthosetravellingfromittowardstheWest,or,rather,tothescrutinyordainedbytheGovernment;forWildinghadmorethanoneopportunityofobservinghowverylaxandindifferentweretheconstablesandtything—men—particularlyinSomersetandWiltshire—intheperformanceofthisduty。Wayfarerswerequestionedasamatterofform,butinnocasedidWildinghearofanyonebeingdetaineduponsuspicion。Thiswascalculatedtoraisehisdroopinghopes,pointingasitdidtothegeneralfavouringofMonmouththatwastoward。HegrewlessdespondentonthescoreoftheDuke'spossibleultimatesuccess,andhecametohopethattheeffortshewenttoexertwouldnotbefruitless。
　　Butrudewerethedisappointmentsthatawaitedhimintown。London,liketherestofthecountry,wasnotready。TherewerenotwantingmenwhofavouredMonmouth;butnorisinghadbeenorganized,andtheDuke'spartisanswerenotdisposedtorashness。
　　WildinglodgedatCoventGarden,inahouserecommendedtohimbyColonelDanvers,andthere—anoutlawhimself—hethrewhimselfwithawillintohistask。HeheardoftheburningofMonmouth'sDeclarationbythecommonhangmanattheRoyalExchange,andofthebillpassedbytheCommonstomakeittreasonforanytoassertthatLucyWalterswasmarriedtothelateKing。Heattendedmeetingsatthe"Bull'sHead,"
　　inBishopsgate,wherehemetDisneyandDanvers,PaytonandLock;butthoughtheytalkedandarguedatprodigiouslength,theydidnaughtbesides。Danvers,whowastheirhopeintown,definitelyrefusedtohaveahandinanythingthatwasnotproperlyorganized,andincommonwiththeothersurgedthattheyshouldwaituntilCheshirehadrisen,aswasreportedthatitmust。
　　Meanwhile,troopshadgonewestunderKirkeandChurchill,andtheParliamenthadvotednearlyhalfamillionfortheputtingdownoftherebellion。Londonwasflungintoafeverofexcitementbythenewsthatwasreachingit。ThepositionwasnotquiteasMonmouth'sadvisers—beforecomingoverfromHolland—hadrepresentedthatitwouldbe。
　　Theyhadthoughtthatoutoffearoftumultsabouthisownperson,KingJameswouldhavebeencompelledtokeepnearhimwhattroopshehad,sparingnonetobesentagainstMonmouth。This,KingJameshadnotdone;hehadallbutemptiedLondonofsoldiery,and,consideringthegeneraldisaffection,nomomentcouldhavebeenmorefavourablethanthisforarisinginLondonitself。TheconfusionthatmusthaveresultedfromtherecallingoftroopswouldhavegivenMonmouthnotonlyamightygripoftheWest,butwouldhaveheartenedthosewho—likeSunderlandhimself—weresittingonthewall,todeclarethemselvesfortheProtestantChampion。ThisWildingsaw,andalmostfrenziedlydidheurgeituponDanversthatallLondonneededatthemomentwasaresoluteleader。ButtheColonelstillheldback;indeed,hehadneithertruthnorvalour;hewastimid,anduseddeceittomaskhistimidity;heurgedfrivolousreasonsforinaction,andwhenWildingwaxedimpatientwithhim,hesuggestedthatWildinghimselfshouldheadtherisingifheweresoconfidentofitssuccess。AndWildingwouldhavedoneitbutthat,beingunknowninLondon,hehadnoreasontosupposethatmenwouldflocktohimifheraisedtheDuke'sbanner。
　　Later,whentheexcitementgrewandrumoursranthroughtownthatMonmouthhadnowafollowingoftwentythousandmenandthattheKing'sforceswerefallingbackbeforehim,anddiscontentwasrifeatthecommissioningofCatholiclordstolevytroops,WildingagainpressedthematteruponDanvers。Surelynomomentcouldbemorepropitious。
　　Butagainhereceivedthesameanswer,thatDanvershadlackedtimetoorganizematterssufficiently;thattheDuke'scominghadtakenhimbysurprise。
　　LastlycamethenewsthatMonmouthhadbeencrownedatTauntonamidthewildestenthusiasm,andthattherewerenowinEnglandtwomeneachofwhomcalledhimselfKingJamestheSecond。ThiswastheexcusethatDanversneededtoberidofabusinesshehadnotthecouragetotransacttoafinish。HesworethathewashedhishandsofMonmouth'saffairs;thatthelatterhadbrokenfaithwithhimandthepromisehehadmadehiminhavinghimselfproclaimedKing。HeprotestedthatMonmouthhaddoneill,andprophesiedthathisactwouldalienatefromhimthenumerousrepublicanswho,likeDanvers,hadhithertolookedtohimforthecountry'ssalvation。WildinghimselfwasappalledatthenewsforMonmouthwasindeedgoingfurtherthanmenhadbeengiventounderstand。Nevertheless,forhisownsake,inveryself—defencenow,ifoutofnomotivesofloyaltytotheDuke,hemusturgeforwardthefortunesofthisman。HehadhighwordswithDanvers,andthetwomighthavequarrelledbeforelongbutforthesuddenarrestofDisney,whichthrewDanversintosuchapanicthathefledincontinently,abandoninginbody,ashealreadyappearedtohaveabandonedinspirit,theMonmouthCause。
　　ThearrestofDisneystruckachillintoWilding。FromhislodgingatCoventGardenhehadcommunicatedcautiouslywithSunderlandafewdaysafterhisarrival,buildinguponcertaininformationhehadreceivedfromtheDukeatpartingastoSunderland'sattachmenttotheCause。Hehadcarefullychosenhismomentformakingthiscommunication,havingacertaininnatemistrustofamanwhosoobviouslyasSunderlandwasrunningwiththehareandhuntingwiththehounds。HehadsentalettertotheSecretaryofStatewhenLondonwasagogwiththeAxminsteraffair,andthetale—ofwhichSirEdwardPhelipswrotetoColonelBerkeleyas"theshamefulleststorythatyoueverheard"—ofhowAlbemarle'sforcesandtheSomersetmilitiahadrunbeforeMonmouthinspiteoftheirownoverwhelmingnumbers。ThispromisedillforJames,particularlywhenitwasperceivedasperceiveditwas—thatthisrunningawaywasnotallcowardice,notall"theshamefulleststory"
　　thatPhelipsaccountedit。Itwasanexpressionofgood—willtowardsMonmouthonthepartofthemilitiaoftheWest,anditwasconfidendyexpectedthatthenextnewswouldbethatthesemenwhohaddecampedbeforehimwouldpresentlybefoundtohaverangedthemselvesunderhisbanner。
　　SunderlandhadgivennosignthathehadreceivedWilding'scommunication。AndWildingdrewhisowncontemptuousconclusionsoftheSecretaryofState'scautiouspolicy。Itwasafortnightlater—whenLondonwassettlingdownagainfromthediversionofexcitementcreatedbythenewsofArgyle'sdefeatinScotland—beforeMr。WildingattemptedtoapproachSunderlandagain。Heawaitedafavourableopportunity,andthishehadwhenLondonwasthrownintoconsternationbythealarmingnewsoftheDukeofSomerset'surgentdemandforreinforcements。Unlesshehadthem,hedeclared,thewholecountrywaslost,ashecouldnotgetthemilitiatostand,whilstLordStawell'sregimentwereallfledandmostlygoneovertotherebelsatBridgwater。
　　Thiswasgravenews,butitwasfollowedinafewdaysbygraver。TheaffairatPhilipsNortonwasexaggeratedbyreportintoawholesaledefeatoftheloyalarmy,anditwasreported—on,apparently,suchgoodauthoritythatitreceivedcredenceinquartersthatmighthavewaitedforofficialnews—thattheDukeofAlbemarlehadbeenslainbythemilitiawhichhadmutiniedanddesertedtoMonmouth。
　　ItwaswhilethisnewswasgoingroundthatSunderland—inamomentofpanic—atlastvouchsafedananswertoMr。Wilding'sletters,andhevouchsafeditinperson,justasWilding—particularlysinceDisney'sarrest—wasbeginningtoloseallhope。HecameoneeveningtoMr。
　　Wilding'slodgingsinCoventGarden,unattendedandcloselymuffled,andheremainedclosetedwiththeDuke'sambassadorfornighuponanhour,attheendofwhichheentrustedMr。WildingwithaletterfortheDuke,verybriefbutentirelytothepoint,whichexpressedhimMonmouth'smostdevotedservant。
　　"Youmaywelljudge,sir,"hehadsaidatparting,"thatthisisnotsuchaletterasIshouldentrusttoanyman。"
　　Mr。Wildinghadbowedgravely,andgravelyhehadexpressedhimselfsensibleoftheexceptionalhonourhislordshipdidhimbysuchatrust。
　　"AndIdependuponyou,sir,asyouareamanofhonour,totakesuchmeasuresaswillensureagainstitsfallingintoanybutthehandsforwhichitisintended。"
　　"AsIamamanofhonour,youmaydependuponme,Mr。Wildingsolemnlypromised。"Willyourlordshipgivemethreelinesaboveyoursignaturethatwillsavemefrommolestation;thusyouwillfacilitatethepreservationofthisletter。"
　　"Ihadalreadythoughtofthat,"wasSunderland'sanswer,andheplacedbeforeMr。Wildingthreelinesofwritingsignedandsealedwhichenjoinedall,straitly,intheKing'snametosufferthebearertopassandrepassandtoofferhimnohindrance。
　　Onthattheyshookhandsandparted,SunderlandtoreturntoWhitehallandhisobediencetotheKingJameswhomhewasreadytobetrayassoonashesawprofitforhimselfintheact,Mr。WildingtoreturntoSomersettotheKingJamesinwhomhisfaithwasscant,indeed,butwithwhomhisfortuneswereirrevocablyboundup。
　　Meanwhile,MonmouthwasbackinBridgwater,hissecondoccupationofwhichtownwasnotbeinglookeduponwithunmixedfavour。Theinhabitantshadsufferedenoughalreadyfromhisfirstvisit;hisreturnthere,afterthePhilipsNortonaffair—of。whichsuchgrosslyexaggeratedreportshadreachedLondon,andwhich,inpointoffact,hadbeenlittlebetterthanadrawnbattle—hadbeenlookeduponwithdreadbysome,withdisfavourbyothers,andwithdismaybynotafewwhoviewedinthisanauguryoffailure。
　　NowSirRowlandBlake,whosincehispursuitofMr。WildingandTrenchardontheoccasionoftheirflightfromTauntonhad—inspiteofhisfailureonthatoccasion—beenmoreorlessintheserviceofAlbemarleandtheloyalarmy,sawinthisindispositiontowardsMonmouthofsomanyofBridgwater'sinhabitantsgreatpossibilitiesofprofittohimself。
　　HewasatLuptonHouse,theguestofhisfriendRichardWestmacott,andtheopensuitorofRuth,entirelyignoringthecircumstancethatshewasnominallythewifeofMr。Wilding—thistotheinfinitechagrinofMissHorton,whosawallherscheminglikelytogofornothing。
　　InhisheartofheartsitwasamatterofnottheslightestconsequencetoSirRowlandwhetherJamesStuartorJamesScottoccupiedthethroneofEngland。Hisownaffairsgavehimmorethanenoughtothinkof,andthesedisturbancesintheWestwereverywelcometohim,sincetheyrendereddifficultanyattempttotracehimonthepartofhisLondoncreditors。Ithappens,however,verycommonlythatenmitytoanindividualwillleadtoenmitytothecausewhichthatindividualespouses。ThusmayithavebeenwithSirRowland。HishatredofWildingandhiskeendesiretoseeWildingdestroyedhadmadehimazealouspartisanoftheloyalcause。RichardWestmacott,easilyswayedandoverbornebythetownrake,whosevicesmadehimseemtoRichardtheembodimentofallthatissplendidandenviableinman,hadbecomepracticallythebaronet'stool,nowthathehadabandonedMonmouth'sCause。SirRowlandhadnotconsidereditbeneaththedignityofhisnameandstationtodischargeinBridgwatercertainfunctionsthatmadehimmoreorlessaspy。AndsoreliablehadbeentheinformationhehadsentFevershamandAlbemarleduringMonmouth'sfirstoccupationofthetown,thathehadwonbynowtheircompleteconfidence。
　　Thesecondoccupationanditsunpopularitywithmanyofthosewhoearlier—iflukewarm—hadbeenpartisansoftheDuke,swelledthenumberofloyallyinclinedpeopleinBridgwater,andsuddenlyinspiredSirRowlandwithaschemebywhichatablowhemightsnuffouttherebellion。
　　ThisschemeinvolvedthecaptureoftheDuke,andtherewardofsuccessshouldmeanfarmoretoBlakethanthefivethousandpoundsatwhichthevalueoftheDuke'sheadhadalreadybeenfixedbyParliament。Heneededatoolforthis,andheeventhoughtofWestmacottandLuptonHouse,butafterwardspreferredaMr。Newlington,whowasinbettercasetoassisthim。ThisNewlington,anexceedinglyprosperousmerchantandoneoftherichestmenperhapsinthewholeWestofEngland,lookedwithextremedisfavouruponMonmouth,whoseadventhadparalyzedhisindustriestoanextentthatwascostinghimafineroundsumofmoneyweekly。
　　HewasnowinalarmlestthetownofBridgwatershouldbemadetopaydearlyforhavingharbouredtheProtestantDuke—hehadnofaithwhateverintheProtestantDuke'sultimateprevailing—andthathe,asoneofthetown'smostprominentandprosperouscitizens,mightbeamongsttheheaviestsufferersinspiteofhisneutrality。Thisneutralityheobservedbecauseitwashardlysafeinthatdisaffectedtownforamantoproclaimhimselfaloyalist。
　　TohimSirRowlandexpoundedhisaudaciousplan……HesoughtoutthemerchantinhishandsomemansiononthenightofthatFridaywhichhadwitnessedMonmouth'sreturn,andthemerchant,honouredbythevisitofthisgallant—ignorantashewasofthegentleman'sfameintown—placedhimselfentirelyandinstantlyathisdisposal,thoughthehourwaslate。Soundinghimcarefully,andfindingthefellowmostamenabletoanyschemethatshouldachievethesalvationofhispurseandindustries,Blakeboldlylaidhisplanbeforehim。Startledatfirst,Mr。NewlingtonuponconsideringitbecamesoenthusiasticthathehailedSirRowlandashisdeliverer,andheartilypromisedhiscooperation。Indeed,itwasMr。Newlingtonwhowas,himself,totakethefirststep。
　　Wellpleasedwithhisevening'swork,SirRowlandwenthometoLuptonHouseandtobed。InthemorninghebroachedthemattertoRichard。Hehadallthevanityoftheinferiornotonlytolessentheappearanceofhisinferiority,buttoclothehimselfinamantleofimportance;anditwasthisvanityurgedhimtoacquaintRichardwithhisplansintheverypresenceofRuth。
　　Theyhadbrokentheirfast,andtheystilllingeredinthedining—room,thelargestandmostimportantroominLuptonHouse。ItwascoolandpleasanthereincontrasttotheheatoftheJulysun,which,followinguponthelatewetweather,beatfiercelyonthelawn,thewindow—doorstowhichstoodopen。Theclothhadbeenraised,andDianaandhermotherhadlatelylefttheroom。Ruth,inthewindow—seat,atasmallovaltable,wasarrangingaclusterofrosesinanoldbronzebowl。
　　SirRowland,hisstiffshortfigurecarefullydressedinasuitofbrowncamlet,hisfairwigverycarefullycurled,occupiedatall—backedarmchairneartheemptyfireplace。Richard,perchedonthetable'sedge,swunghisshapelylegsidlybackwardsandforwardsandcogitateduponapretexttocallforamorningdraughtoflastOctober'sale。
　　Ruthcompletedhertaskwiththerosesandturnedhereyesuponherbrother。
　　"Youarenotlookingwell,Richard,"shesaid,whichwastrueenough,formuchharddrinkingwasbeginningtosetitsstamponRichard,andyoungashewas,hisinsipidlyfairfacebegantodisplayabloatednessthatwasexceedinglyunhealthy。
　　"Oh,Iamwellenough,"heansweredalmostpeevishly,fortheseallusionstohislookswerebecomingmorefrequentthanhesavoured。
　　"Gad！"criedSirRowland'sdeepvoice,"you'llneedtobewell。Ihaveworkforyouto—morrow,Dick。"
　　Dickdidnotappeartosharehisenthusiasm。"Iamsickoftheworkyoudiscoverforus,Rowland,"heansweredungraciously。
　　ButBlakeshowednoresentment。"Maybeyou'llfindthepresenttaskmoretoyourtaste。Ifit'sdeedsofderring—doyoupinefor,Iamthemantosatisfyyou。"Hesmiledgrimly,hisboldgreyeyesglancingacrossatRuth,whowasobservinghim,listening。
　　Richardsneered,butofferedhimnoencouragementtoproceed。
　　"Isee,"saidBlake,"thatIshallhavetotellyouthewholestorybeforeyou'llcreditme。Shalthaveit,then。But……"andhecheckedontheword,hisfacegrowingserious,hiseyewanderingtothedoor,"Iwouldnothaveitoverheard—notforaking'sransom,"whichwasmoreliterallytruethanhemayhaveintendedittobe。
　　Richardlookedoverhisshouldercarelesslyatthedoor。
　　"Wehavenoeavesdroppers,"hesaid,andhisvoicebespokehiscontemptofthegravityofthisnewsofwhichSirRowlandmadesomuchinanticipation。HewasacquaintedwithSirRowland'sways,andtheimportanceofthem。"Whatareyouconsidering？"heinquired。
　　"Toendtherebellion,"answeredBlake,hisvoicecautiouslylowered。
　　Richardlaughedoutright。"Thereareseveralothersconsideringthat—notablyHisMajestyKingJames,theDukeofAlbemarle,andtheEarlofFeversham。Yettheydon'tappeartoachieveit。"
　　"Itisinthatparticular,"saidBlakecomplacently,"thatIshalldifferfromthem。"HeturnedtoRuth,eagertoengageherintheconversation,toflatterherbyincludingherinthesecret。Knowingtheloyalistprinciplessheentertained,hehadnoreasontofearthathisplanscouldotherthanmeetherapproval。"Whatdoyousay,MistressRuth？"Presuminguponhisfriendshipwithherbrother,hehadtakentocallingherbythatnameinpreferencetotheotherwhichhecouldnotbringhimselftogiveher。"Isitnotanobjectworthyofagentleman'sendeavour？"
　　"IfyoucansavesomanypoorpeoplefromencompassingtheirruinbyfollowingthatrashyoungmantheDukeofMonmouth,youwillindeedbedoingaworthydeed。"
　　Blakerose,andmadeheraleg。"Madam,"saidhe,"hadaughtbeenwantingtocementmyresolve,yourwordswouldsupplyittome。Myplanissimplicityitself。IproposetocaptureMonmouthandhisprincipalagents,anddeliverthemovertotheKing。Andthatisall。"
　　"Amerenothing,"croakedRichard。
　　"Couldmorebeneeded？"quothBlake。"Oncetherebelarmyisdeprivedofitsleadersitwillmeltanddissolveofitself。OncetheDukeisinthehandsofhisenemiestherewillbenothinglefttofightfor。
　　Isitnotshrewd？"
　　"Youaretellingustheobjectratherthantheplan,"Ruthremindedhim。
　　"Iftheplanisasgoodastheobject……"
　　"Asgood？"heechoed,chuckling。"Youshalljudge。"AndbrieflyhesketchedforherthespringehewassettingwiththehelpofMr。
　　Newlington。"Newlingtonisrich;theDukeisinstraitsformoney。
　　Newlingtongoesto—daytoofferhimtwentythousandpounds;andtheDukeistodohimthehonourofsuppingathishouseto—morrownighttofetchthemoney。ItisareasonablerequestforMr。Newlingtontomakeunderthecircumstances,andtheDukecannot—darenotrefuseit。"
　　"Buthowwillthatadvanceyourproject？"Ruthinquired,forBlakehadpausedagain,thinkingthattherestmustbeobvious。
　　"InMr。Newlington'sorchardIproposetopostascoreorsoofmen,wellarmed。Oh！IshallrunnorisksofbetrayalbyengagingBridgwaterfolk。I'llgetthefellowsIneedfromGeneralFeversham。