"Whatis'tyouseekofme？"Hereachedforthehathehadcastuponthetablewhentheyhadentered。"Tellmebriefly。Imaystaynolonger。"
　　Sherose,heragitationsuddenlyincreasing,afraidthatafterallhewouldescapeher。"Whereareyougoing？"sheasked。"Answermethat,andIwilltellyouwhyIcame。"
　　"IamtosupatMr。Newlington'sinHisMajesty'scompany。
　　"HisMajesty's？"
　　"KingMonmouth's,"heexplainedimpatiently。"Come,Ruth。AlreadyIamlate。"
　　"IfIweretoaskyounottogo,"shesaidslowly,andsheheldoutherhandstohim,herglancemostpiteous—andthatwasnotacting—assheraisedittomeethisown,"wouldyounotstaytopleasureme？"
　　Heconsideredherfromunderfrowningeyes。"Ruth,"hesaid,andhetookherhands,"thereisheresomethingthatIdonotunderstand。
　　Whatis'tyoumean？"
　　"PromisemethatyouwillnotgotoNewlington's,andIwilltellyou。"
　　"ButwhathasNewlingtontodowith……？Nay,Iampledgedalreadytogo。"
　　Shedrewclosertohim,herhandsuponhisshoulders。"YetifIaskyou—I,yourwife？"shepleaded,andalmostwonhimtoherwill。
　　Butsuddenlyherememberedanotheroccasiononwhich,forpurposesofherown,shehadsopleaded。Helaughedsoftly,mockingly。
　　"Doyouwoome,Ruth,who,whenIwooedyou,wouldhavenoneofme？"
　　Shedrewbackfromhim,crimsoning。"IthinkIhadbettergo,"saidshe。"Youhavenothingbutmockeryforme。Itwaseverso。Whoknows？"shesighedasshetookuphermantle。"Hadyoubutobservedmoregentleways,you……you……"Shepaused,needingtosaynomore。
　　"Good—night！"sheended,andmadeshifttoleave。Hewatchedher,deeplymystified。Shehadgainedthedoorwhensuddenlyhemoved。
　　"Wait！"hecried。Shepaused,andturnedtolookoverhershoulder,herhandapparentlyuponthelatch。"YoushallnotgountilyouhavetoldmewhyyoubesoughtmetokeepawayfromNewlington's。Whatisit？"heasked,andpausedsuddenly,afloodoflightbreakinginuponhismind。"Istheresometreacheryafoot？"heaskedher,andhiseyewentwildlytotheclock。Aharsh,gratingsoundrangthroughtheroom。
　　"Whatareyoudoing？"hecried。"Whyhaveyoulockedthedoor？"Shewastuggingandfumblingdesperatelytoextractthekey,herhandsallclumsyinhernervoushaste。Heleaptather,butinthatmomentthekeycameawayinherhand。Shewheeledroundtofacehim,erect,defiantalmost。
　　"Hereissomedevilry！"hecried。"Givemethatkey。"
　　Hehadnoneedforfurtherquestions。Herewasaproofmoreeloquentthanwordstohisreadywit。SirRowlandorRichard,orboth,wereinsomeplotfortheDuke'sruin—perhapsassassination。HadnotherverywordsshownthatsheherselfwasoutofallsympathywithMonmouth？
　　Hewasoutofsympathyhimself。Butnottotheextentofstandingbytoseehisthroatcut。Shewouldhavetheplotsucceed—whateveritmightbeandyetthathehimselfbespared。Therehisthoughtspaused;butonlyforamoment。Hesawsuddenlyinthis,notaproofofconcernbornoflovebutofdutytowardshimwhohadimperilledhimselfonce—andforalltime,indeed—thathemightsaveherbrotherandSirRowland。
　　Hetoldherwhathadbeensosuddenlyrevealedtohim,taxingherwithit。Sheacknowledgedit,herwitsbattlingtofindsomewaybywhichshemightyetgainafewmomentsmore。Shewouldclingtothekey,andthoughheshouldofferherviolence,shewouldnotletitgowithoutastruggle,andthatstrugglemustconsumethelittletimeyetwantingtomakeittoolateforhimtosavetheDuke,and—whatimportedmore—
　　thussaveherselffrombetrayingherbrother'strust。Anotherfearleaptathersuddenly。IfthroughdeedofhersMonmouthwassparedthatnight,Blake,inhisdespairandrage,mightslakehisvengeanceuponRichard。
　　"Givemethatkey,"hedemanded,hisvoicecoldandquiet,hisfaceset。
　　"No,no,"shecried,settingherhandbehindher。"Youshallnotgo,Anthony。Youshallnotgo。"
　　"Imust,"heinsisted,stillcold,butoh！sodetermined。"Myhonour'sinitnowthatIknow。"
　　"You'llgotoyourdeath,"sheremindedhim。
　　Hesneered。"Whatsignifiesadayorso？Givemethekey。"
　　"Iloveyou,Anthony！"shecried,lividtothelips。
　　"Lies！"heansweredhercontemptuously。"Thekey！"
　　"No,"sheanswered,andherfirmnessmatchedhisown。"Iwillnothaveyouslain。"
　　"`Tisnotmypurpose—notjustyet。ButImustsavetheothers。GodforgivemeifIofferviolencetoawoman,"headded,"andlayrudehandsuponher。Donotcompelmetoit。"Headvanceduponher,butshe,litheandquick,evadedhim,andsprangforthemiddleoftheroom。
　　Hewheeledabout,hisselfcontrolallslippingfromhimnow。Suddenlyshedartedtothewindow,andwiththehandthatclenchedthekeyshesmoteapanewithallhermight。Therewasasmashofshiveringglass,followedaninstantlaterbyafainttinkleonthestonesbelow,andthehandthatshestillheldoutcovereditselfallwithblood。
　　"0God！"hecried,thekeyandallelseforgotten。"Youarehurt。"
　　"Butyouaresaved,"shecried,overwrought,andstaggered,laughingandsobbing,toachair,sinkingherbleedinghandtoherlap,andsmearingrecklesslyherspotless,shimmeringgown。
　　Hecaughtupachairbyitslegs,andatasingleblowsmasheddownthedoor—afrailbarrierafterall。"Nick！"heroared。"Nick！"Hetossedthechairfromhimandvanishedintotheadjoiningroomtoreappearamomentlatercarryingbasinandewer,andashirtofTrenchard's—thefirstpieceoflinenhecouldfind。
　　Shewashalffainting,andshelethimhavehisswift,masterfulway。
　　Hebathedherhand,andwasrelievedtofindthattheinjurywasnonesogreatastheflowofbloodhadmadehimfear。HetoreTrenchard'sfinecambricshirttoshreds—amatteronwhichTrenchardafterwardscommentedinquotationsfromatleastthreefamousElizabethandramatists。Heboundupherhand,justasNickmadehisappearanceatthesplintereddoor,hismouthopen,hispipe,goneout,betweenhisfingers。Hewasfollowedbyastartledserving—wench,theonlyotherpersoninthehouse,foreveryonewasoutofdoorsthatnight。
　　Intothewoman'scareWildingdeliveredhiswife,andwithoutawordtoherhelefttheroom,draggingTrenchardwithhim。Itwasstrikingnineastheywentdownthestairs,andthesoundbroughtasmuchsatisfactiontoRuthaboveasdismaytoWildingbelow。
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　THEBANQUET
　　Itwasstrikingnine。Therefore,Ruththoughtthatshehadachievedherobject,Wildingimaginedthatallwaslost。ItneededthemoretranquilmindofNicholasTrenchardtoshowhimtheflyinmadam'sointment,afterWilding,inhalfadozenwords,hadmadehimacquaintedwiththesituation。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"askedTrenchard。
　　"RuntoNewlington'sandwarntheDuke—ifstillintime。"
　　"Andtherebyprecipitatethecatastrophe？Oh,giveitthought。Itisallitneeds。Youaretakingitforgrantedthatnineo'clockisthehourappointedforKingMonmouth'sbutchery。"
　　"Whatelse？"askedWilding,impatienttobeoff。
　　TheywerestandinginthestreetunderthesignofTheShip,bywhichJonathanEdneyMr。Trenchard'slandlord—distinguishedhispremisesandthechandler'stradehedrovethere。TrenchardsetadetaininghandonMr。Wilding'sarm。
　　"Nineo'clockisthehourappointedforsupper。ItisoddstheDukewillbealittlelate,anditismorethanoddsthatwhenhedoesarrive,theassassinswillwaituntilthecompanyissafelyattableandlulledbygoodeatinganddrinking。Youhadoverlookedthat,Isee。Itasksanoldheadforwisdom,afterall。Lookyou,Anthony。SpeedtoColonelWadeasfastasyourlegscancarryyou,andgetascoreofmen。
　　ThenfindsomefellowtoleadyoutoNewlington'sorchard,andifonlyyoudonotarrivetoolateyoumaytakeSirRowlandandhiscut—throatsintherearanddestroythemtoamanbeforetheyrealizethemselvesattacked。I'llreconnoitrewhileyougo,andkeepaneyeonthefrontofthehouse。Awaywithyou！"
　　OrdinarilyWildingwasamanofacertaindignity,butyouhadnotthoughtithadyouseenhimrunninginsilkstockingsandsilver—buckledshoesataheadlongpacethroughthenarrowstreetsofBridgwater,inthedirectionoftheCastle。Heoversetmorethanone,andoathsfollowedhimfromtheseandfromotherswhomherudelyjostledoutofhispath。WadewasgonewithMonmouth,buthecameuponCaptainSlape,whohadacompanyofscythesandmusketeersincorporatedintheDuke'sownregiment,andtohimWildinggaspedoutthenewsandhisrequestforascoreofmenwithwhatbreathwaslefthim。
　　Timewaslost—andneverwastimemoreprecious—inconvincingSlapethatthiswasnooldwife'stale。Atlast,however,hewonhiswayandtwentymusketeers;butthequarter—pastthehourhadchimederetheylefttheCastle。Heledthemforthatasharprun,withneverathoughtforthecircumstancethattheywouldneedtheirbreathanon,perhapsforfighting,andhebadethemanwhoguidedthemtakethembybackstreetsthattheymightattractaslittleattentionaspossible。
　　Withinastone's—throwofthehousehehaltedthem,andsentoneforwardtoreconnoitre,followinghimselfwiththeothersasquietlyandnoiselesslyaspossible。Mr。Newlington'shousewasallalight,butfromtheabsenceofuproar—soundstherewereinplentyfromthemainstreet,whereadensethronghadcollectedtoseeHisMajestygoin—Mr。Wildinginferredwithsupremereliefthattheywerestillintime。Butthedangerwasnotyetpast。Already,perhaps,theassassinswerepenetrating—orhadpenetrated—tothehouse;andatanymomentsuchsoundsmightgreetthemaswouldannouncetheexecutionoftheirmurderousdesign。
　　MeanwhileMr。Trenchard,havingrelightedhispipe,andsethishatrakishlyatophisgoldenwig,strolleduptheHighStreet,swinginghislongcaneverymuchlikeagentlemantakingtheairinquestofanappetiteforsupper。HestrolledpasttheCrossandonuntilhecametothehandsomemansion—oneofthefewhandsomehousesinBridgwater—whereopulentMr。Newlingtonhadhisresidence。Asmallcrowdhadcongregatedaboutthedoors,forwordhadgoneforththatHisMajestywastosupthere。Trenchardmovedslowlythroughthepeople,seeminglyuninterested,but,infact,scanningcloselyeveryfaceheencountered。
　　Suddenly,outofthecornerofhiseye,heespiedintheindifferentlightMr。RichardWestmacott。
　　Trenchardpassedhim,jostlinghimashewent,andstrolledonsomefewpaces,thenturned,andcameslowlyback,andobservedthatRichardhadalsoturnedandwasnowwatchinghimasheapproached。Hewasallbutupontheboywhensuddenlyhiswrinkledfacelightedwithrecognition。
　　"Mr。Westmacott！"hecried,andtherewassurpriseinhisvoice。
　　Richard,consciousthatTrenchardmustnodoubtregardhimasaturn—tippet,flushed,andstoodasidetogivepassagetotheother。ButMr。Trenchardwasbynomeansmindedtopass。HeclappedahandonRichard'sshoulder。"Nay,"hecried,betweenlaughterandfeignedresentment。"Doyoubearmeill—will,lad？"
　　Richardwassomewhattakenaback。"ForwhatshouldIbearyouill—will,Mr。Trenchard？"quothhe。
　　Trenchardlaughedfrankly,andsouproariouslythathishatover—jauntilycockedwasallbutshakenfromhishead。"Imindmethelasttimewemet,Iplayedyouanunfairtrick,"saidhe。Histonebespoketheveryhighestgood—humour。HeslippedhisarmthroughRichard's。"Neverbearanoldmanmalice,lad,"saidhe。
　　"IassureyouthatIbearyounone,"saidRichard,relievedtofindthatTrenchardapparentlyknewnothingofhisdefection,yetwishingthatTrenchardwouldgohisways,forRichard'staskwastostandsentrythere。
　　"I'llnotbelieveyoutillyouaffordmeproof,"Trenchardreplied。
　　"YoushallcomeandwashyourresentmentdowninthebestbottleofCanarytheWhiteCowcanfurnishus。"
　　"Notnow,Ithankyou,"answeredRichard。
　　"YouarethinkingofthelastoccasiononwhichIdrankwithyou,"saidTrenchardreproachfully。
　　"Notso。But……butIamnotthirsty。"
　　"Notthirsty？"echoedTrenchard。"Andisthatareason？Why,lad,itisthebeastthatdrinksonlywhenhethirsts。Andinthatliesoneofthemaindifferencesbetweenbeastandman。Comeon"—andhisarmeffectedagentlepressureuponRichard's,tomovehimthence。Butatthatmoment,downthestreetwithagreatrumbleofwheels,crackingofwhipsandclatterofhoofs,cameacoach,bearingtoMr。Newlington'sKingMonmouthescortedbyhisfortylife—guards。Cheeringbrokefromthecrowdasthecarriagedrewup,andtheDuke—Kingashealightedturnedhishandsomeface,onwhichshonetheruddyglowoftorches,toacknowledgetheseloyalacclamations。Hepassedupthesteps,atthetopofwhichMr。Newlington—fatandpaleandmonstrouslyoverdressed—stoodbowingtowelcomehisroyalvisitor。Hostandguestvanished,followedbysomesixofficersofMonmouth's,amongwhomwereGreyandWade。Thesight—seersflattenedthemselvesagainstthewallsasthegreatlumberingcoachputaboutandwentoffagainthewayithadcome,thelife—guardsfollowingafter。
　　TrenchardfanciedthathecaughtasighofrelieffromRichard,butthestreetwasnoisyatthetimeandhemaywellhavebeenmistaken。
　　"Come,"saidhe,renewinghisinvitation,"weshallbothbethebetterforalittlemilkoftheWhiteCow。"
　　Richardwaveredalmostbyinstinct。TheWhiteCow,heknew,wasfamousforitssack;ontheotherhand,hewaspledgedtoSirRowlandtostandguardinthenarrowlaneatthebackwhereranthewallofMr。Newlington'sgarden。UnderthegentlesuasionofTrenchard'sarm,hemovedafewstepsupthestreet;thenhalted,hisdutybattlingwithhisinclination。
　　"No,no,"hemuttered。"Ifyouwillexcuseme……"
　　"NotI,"saidTrenchard,drawingfromhishesitationashrewdinferenceastoRichard'sbusiness。
　　"TodrinkaloneisanabominationI'llnotbeguiltyof。"
　　"But……"begantheirresoluteRichard。
　　"Shalturgemenoexcuses,orwe'llquarrel。Come,"andhemovedon,draggingRichardwithhim。
　　AfewstepsRichardtookunwillinglyundertheother'ssoftcompulsion;
　　then,havinggiventhematterthought—hewasalwaysonetotakethelineofleastresistance—heassuredhimselfthathissentryshipwasentirelysuperfluous;thematterofBlake'saffairwasanentiresecret,sharedonlybythosewhohadahandinit。Blakewasquitesafefromallsurprises;Trenchardwasinsistentanditwasdifficulttodenyhim;andthesackattheWhiteCowwasnodoubtthebestinSomerset。
　　Hegavehimselfuptotheinevitableandfellintostepalongsidehiscompanionwhobabbledaimlesslyoftrivialmatters。Trenchardfeltthechangefromunwillingtowillingcompanionship,andapprovedit。
　　Theymountedthethreestepsandenteredthecommonroomoftheinn。
　　Itwaswellthrongedatthetime,buttheyfoundplacesattheendofalongtable,andtheretheysatanddiscussedthelandlady'sCanaryforthebestpartofahalf—hour,untilasuddenspatterofmusketry,nearathand,cametostartlethewholeroom。
　　Therewasamomentarystillnessinthetavern,succeededbyanexcitedclamouring,adashforthewindowsandastormofquestions,towhichnonecouldreturnanyanswer。Richardhadrisenwithasuddenexclamation,verypaleandscaredofaspect。Trenchardtuggedathissleeve。
　　"Sitdown,"saidhe。"Sitdown。Itwillbenothing。"
　　"Nothing？"echoedRichard,andhiseyesweresuddenlybentonTrenchardinalookinwhichsuspicionwasnowblentwithterror。
　　Asecondvolleyofmusketrycrackledforthatthatmoment,andthenextthewholestreetwasinanuproar。Menwererunningandshotsresoundedoneveryside,aboveallofwhichpredominatedthecrythatHisMajestywasmurdered。
　　InaninstantthecommonroomoftheWhiteCowwasemptiedofeveryoccupantsavetwo—TrenchardandWestmacott。Neitherofthemfelttheneedtogoforthinquestofnews。Theyknewhowidlewasthecryinthestreets。Theyknewwhathadtakenplace,andknowingit,Trenchardsmokedonplacidly,satisfiedthatWildinghadbeenintime,whilstRichardstoodstrickenandpetrifiedbydismayatrealizing,withevengreatercertainty,thatsomethinghadsupervenedtothwart,perhapstodestroy,SirRowland。ForheknewthatBlake'spartyhadgonefortharmedwithpistolsonly,andintentnottouseeventhesesaveinthelastextremity;toavoidnoisetheyweretokeeptosteel。ThisknowledgegaveRichardpositiveassurancethatthevolleystheyhadheardmusthavebeenfiredbysomepartythathadfallenuponBlake'smenandtakenthembysurprise。
　　Anditwashisfault！Hewasthetraitortowhomperhapsascoreofmenowedtheirdeathsatthatmoment！Hehadfailedtokeepwatchashehadundertaken。Hisfaultitwas—No！nothis,butthisvillain'swhosattheresmuglytakinghiseaseandpullingathispipe。
　　AtablowRicharddashedthethingfromhiscompanion'smouthandfingers。
　　Trenchardlookedupstartled。
　　"Whatthedevil……？"hebegan。
　　"Itisyourfault,yourfault！"criedRichard,hiseyesblazing,hislipslivid。"Itwasyouwholuredmehither。"
　　Trenchardstaredathiminblandsurprise。"Now,whataplagueis'tyou'resaying？"heasked,andbroughtRichardtohissensesbyawakinginhimtheinstinctofself—preservation。
　　Howcouldheexplainhismeaningwithoutbetrayinghimself？—andsurelythatwereafolly,nowthattheotherswerenodoubtdisposedof。Lethim,rather,bethinkhimofhisownsafety。Trenchardlookedathimkeenly,withwell—assumedintenttoreadwhatmightbepassinginhismind,thenrose,paidforthewine,andexpressedhisintentionofgoingforthtoinquireintothesestrangemattersthatwerehappeninginBridgwater。
　　Meanwhile,thosevolleysfiredinMr。Newlington'sorchardhadcaused—aswellmaybeconceived—anagitatedinterruptionofthesuperbfeastMr。Newlingtonhadspreadforhisnobleanddistinguishedguests。TheDukehadforsomedaysbeengoinginfearofhislife,foralreadyhehadbeenfiredatmorethanoncebymenanxioustoearnthepriceatwhichhisheadwasvalued;instantlyhesurmisedthatwhateverthatfiringmightmean,itindicatedsomeattempttosurprisehimwiththefewgentlemenwhoattendedhim。
　　Thewholecompanycameinstantlytoitsfeet,andColonelWadesteppedtoawindowthatstoodopen—forthenightwasverywarm。TheDuketurnedforexplanationtohishost;thetrader,however,professedhimselfentirelyunabletoofferany。Hewasverypaleandhislimbswerevisiblytrembling,butthenhisagitationwasmostnatural。Hiswifeanddaughtersupervenedatthatmoment,intheiralarmenteringtheroomunceremoniously,inspiteoftheaugustpresence,toinquireintothemeaningofthisfiring,andtoreassurethemselvesthattheirfatherandhisillustriousguestsweresafe。
　　>Fromthewindowstheycouldobserveastirinthegardensbelow。Blackshadowsofmenflittedtoandfro,andaloud,richvoicewasheardcallingtothemtotakecover,thattheywerebetrayed。Thenasheetoflividflameblazedalongthesummitofthelowwall,andasecondvolleyofmusketryrangout,succeededbycriesandscreamsfromtheassailedandtheshoutsoftheassailerswhowerenowpouringintothegardenthroughthebattereddoorwayandoverthewall。Forsomemomentssteelrangonsteel,andpistol—shotscrackedhereandtheretotheaccompanimentofvoices,raisedsomeinanger,someinpain。Butitwassoonover,andacomparativestillnesssucceeded。
　　AvoicecalledupfromthedarknessunderthewindowstoknowifHisMajestywassafe。Therehadbeenaplottotakehim;buttheambuscadershadbeenambuscadedintheirturn,andnotamanofthemremained—whichwashardlyexact,forunderalaurelbush,scarcedaringtobreathe,laySirRowlandBlake,lividwithfearandfury,andbleedingfromarapierscratchinthecheek,butotherwiseunhurt。
　　Intheroomabove,Monmouthhadsunkwearilyintohischairuponhearingofthedesigntherehadbeenagainsthislife。Adeep,bittermelancholyenwrappedhisspirit。LordGrey'sfirstthoughtsflewtothemanhemostdisliked—theonemanmissingfromthosewhohadbeenbiddentoaccompanyHisMajesty,whoseabsencehadalreadyformedthesubjectofcomment。Greyrememberedthisbearingbeforethecouncilthatsameevening,andhisundisguisedresentmentofthereproacheslevelledagainsthim。
　　"WhereisMr。Wilding？"heaskedsuddenly,hisvoicedominatingthedinoftalkthatfilledtheroom。"Doweholdtheexplanationofhisabsence？"
　　Monmouthlookedupquickly,hisbeautifuleyesineffablysad,hisweakmouthdroopingatthecorners。WadeturnedtoconfrontGrey。
　　"YourlordshipdoesnotsuggestthatMr。Wildingcanhaveahandinthis？"
　　"Appearanceswouldseemtopointinthatdirection,"answeredGrey,andinhiswickedhearthealmosthopeditmightbeso。
　　"Thenappearancesspeaktruthforonce,"cameabitter,ringingvoice。
　　Theyturned,andthereonthethresholdstoodMr。Wilding。Unheardhehadcomeuponthem。Hewasbareheadedandcarriedhisdrawnsword。
　　Therewasblooduponit,andtherewasbloodonthelacethathalfconcealedthehandthatheldit;otherwise—andsavingthathisshoesandstockingsweresoddenwiththedewfromthelonggrassintheorchard—hewasasspotlessaswhenhehadleftRuthinTrenchard'slodging;hisface,too,wascalm,saveforthemockingsmilewithwhichheeyedLordGrey。
　　Monmouthroseonhisappearance,andputhishandtohisswordinalarm。
　　Greywhippedhisownfromthescabbard,andplacedhimselfslightlyinfrontofhismasterasiftopreservehim。
　　"Youmistake,sirs,"saidWildingquietly。"ThehandIhavehadinthisaffairhasbeentosaveYourMajestyfromyourenemies。AtthemomentIshouldhavejoinedyou,wordwasbroughtmeoftheplotthatwaslaid,ofthetrapthatwassetforyou。IhastenedtotheCastleandobtainedascoreofmusketeersofSlape'scompany。WiththoseIsurprisedthemurdererslurkinginthegardenthere,andmadeanendofthem。I
　　greatlyfearedIshouldnotcomeintime;butitisplainthatHeavenpreservesYourMajestyforbetterdays。"
　　Intherevulsionoffeeling,Monmouth'seyesshonemoist。Greysheathedhisswordwithanawkwardlaugh,andastillmoreawkwardwordofapologytoWilding。TheDuke,movedbyasuddenimpulsetomakeamendsforhisunworthysuspicions,forhisperhapsunworthyreceptionofWildingearlierthateveninginthecouncil—room,drewtheswordonwhichhishandstillrested。Headvancedastep。
　　"Kneel,Mr。Wilding,"hesaidinavoicestirredbyemotion。ButWilding'ssternspiritscornedthisalltoosuddenfriendlinessofMonmouth'sasmuchashescornedtheaccoladeatMonmouth'shands。
　　"TherearemorepressingmatterstodemandYourMajesty'sattention,"
　　saidMr。Wildingcoldly,advancingtothetableashespoke,andtakingupanapkintowipehisblade,"thantherewardofanunworthyservant。"
　　Monmouthfelthissuddenenthusiasmchilledbythattoneandmanner。
　　"Mr。Newlington,"saidMr。Wilding,afterthebriefestofpauses,andthefat,sinfulmerchantstartedforwardinalarm。Itwaslikeasummonsofdoom。"HisMajestycamehither,Iaminformed,toreceiveatyourhandsasumofmoney—twentythousandpounds—towardstheexpensesofthecampaign。Haveyouthemoneyathand？"Andhiseye,glitteringbetweencrueltyandmockery,fixeditselfuponthemerchant'sashenface。
　　"It……itshallbeforthcomingbymorning,"stammeredNewlington。
　　"Bymorning？"criedGrey,who,withtheothers,watchedMr。NewlingtonwhattimetheyallwonderedatMr。Wilding'squestionandthemannerofit。
　　"YouknewthatImarchto—night,"Monmouthreproachedthemerchant。
　　"AnditwastoreceivethemoneythatyouinvitedHisMajestytodoyouthehonoursofsuppingwithyouhere,"putinWade,frowningdarkly。
　　Themerchant'swifeanddaughterstoodbesidehimwatchinghim,andplainlyuneasy。Beforehecouldmakeanyreply,Mr。Wildingspokeagain。
　　"Thecircumstancethathehasnotthemoneybyhimisalittleodd—orwouldbewereitnotforwhathashappened。Iwouldsubmit,YourMajesty,thatyoureceivefromMr。Newlingtonnottwentythousandpoundsashehadpromisedyou,butthirtythousand,andthatyoureceiveitnotasaloanaswasproposed,butasafineimposeduponhiminconsequenceof……hislackofcareinthematterofhisorchard。"
　　Monmouthlookedatthemerchantverysternly。"YouhaveheardMr。
　　Wilding'ssuggestion,"saidhe。"Youmaythankthegodoftraitorsitwasmade,elsewemighthavethoughtofaharshercourse。Youshallpaythemoneybyteno'clockto—morrowtoMr。Wilding,whomIshallleavebehindforthesolepurposeofcollectingit。"HeturnedfromNewlingtoninplaindisgust。"Ithink,sirs,thathereisnomoretobedone。Arethestreetssafe,Mr。Wilding？"