"Notonlysafe,YourMajesty,butthetwentymenofSlape'sandyourownlife—guardsarewaitingtoescortyou。
　　"TheninGod'snameletusbegoing,"saidMonmouth,sheathinghisswordandmovingtowardsthedoor。Notasecondtimedidheoffertoconferthehonourofknighthooduponhissaviour。
　　Mr。Wildingturnedandwentouttomarshalhismen。TheDukeandhisofficersfollowedmoreleisurely。Astheyreachedthedoor,awoman'scrybrokethesilencebehindthem。Monmouthturned。Mr。Newlington,purpleoffaceandhiseyesprotrudinghorridly,wasbeatingtheairwithhishands。Suddenlyhecollapsed,andcrashedforwardwitharmsflungoutamidtheglassandsilverofthetableallspreadwiththeraitor'sbanquettowhichhehadbiddenhisunsuspectingvictim。
　　Hiswifeanddaughterrantohimandcalledhimbyname,Monmouthpausingamomenttowatchthemfromthedoorwaywitheyesunmoved。
　　ButMr。Newlingtonanswered,nottheircall,forhewasdead。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　THERECKONING
　　Ruthhadspedhomethroughthestreetsunattended,asshehadcome,heedlessoftherudejostlingsandrudergreetingsshemetwithfromthoseshepassed;heedless,too,ofthesmartingofherinjuredhand,fortheagonyofhersoulwassuchthatitwhelmedallminorsufferingsoftheflesh。
　　Inthedining—roomatLuptonHouseshecameuponDianaandLadyHortonatsupper,andherappearance—herwhiteanddistraughtfaceandblood—smearedgown—broughtbothwomentotheirfeetinalarmedinquiry,nolessthanitbroughtJasper,thebutler,tohersidewithreadysolicitude。Ruthansweredhimthattherewasnocauseforfear,thatshewasquitewell—hadscratchedherhand,nomore;andwiththatdismissedhim。Whenshewasalonewithherauntandcousin,shesankintoachairandtoldthemwhathadpassed`twixtherhusbandandherselfandmostofwhatshesaidwasGreektoLadyHorton。
　　"Mr。WildinghasgonetowarntheDuke,"sheended,andthedespairofhertonewastragical。"Isoughttodetainhimuntilitshouldbetoolate—IthoughtIhaddoneso,but……,but……Oh,Iamafraid,Diana！"
　　"Afraidofwhat？"askedDiana。"Afraidofwhat？"
　　AndshecametoRuthandsetanarmincomfortabouthershoulders。
　　"AfraidthatMr。WildingmightreachtheDukeintimetobedestroyedwithhim,"hercousinanswered。"Suchawarningcouldbuthastenontheblow。"
　　LadyHortonbeggedtobeenlightened,andwasfilledwithhorrorwhen—fromDiana—enlightenmentwashers。HersympathieswereallwiththehandsomeMonmouth,forhewasbeautifulandshouldthereforebetriumphant;poorLadyHortonnevergotbeyondexternals。ThathernephewandSirRowland,whomshehadesteemed,shouldbeleaguedinthisdastardlyundertakingagainstthatlovelypersonhorrifiedherbeyondwords。Shewithdrewsoonafterwards,havingwarmlypraisedRuth'sactioninwarningMr。Wilding—unabletounderstandthatitshouldbenopartofRuth'sdesigntosavetheDuke—andwenttoherroomtoprayforthepreservationofthelateKing'shandsomeson。
　　Leftalonewithhercousin,RuthgaveexpressiontothefearsforRichardbywhichshewasbeingtortured。Dianapouredwineforherandurgedhertodrink;shesoughttocomfortandreassureher。ButasmomentspassedandgrewtohoursandstillRicharddidnotappear,Ruth'sfearsthathehadcometoharmwerechangedtocertainty。Therewasamomentwhen,butforDiana'sremonstrances,shehadgoneforthinquestofnews。Badnewswerebetterthanthishorrorofsuspense。WhatifWilding'swarningshouldhaveprocuredhelp,andRichardwereslaininconsequence？Oh,itwasunthinkable！Diana,whiteofface,listenedtoandsharedherfears。EvenhershallownaturewasstirredbythetragedyofRuth'sposition,bydreadlestRichardshouldindeedhavemethisendthatnight。Inthesemomentsofdistress,sheforgotherhopesoftriumphingoverBlake,ofpunishinghimforhisindifferencetoherself。
　　Atlast,atsomethingaftermidnight,therecameafeveredrappingattheouterdoor。Bothwomenstartedup,andwitharmsabouteachother,intheirsuddenpanic,stoodtherewaitingforthenewsthatmustbehereatlast。
　　Thedoorofthedining—roomwasflungopen;thewomenrecoiledintheirdreadofwhatmightcome;thenRichardentered,Jasper'sstartledcountenanceshowingbehindhim。
　　Heclosedthedoor,shuttingoutthewonderingservant,andtheysawthat,thoughhisfacewasashenandhislimbsalla—tremble,heshowednosignofanyhurtoreffort。Hisdresswasasmeticulousaswhenlasttheyhadseenhim。Ruthflewtohim,flungherarmsabouthisneck,andpressedhimtoher。
　　"Oh,Richard,Richard！"shesobbedintheimmensityofherrelief。
　　"ThankGod！ThankGod！"
　　Hewriggledpeevishlyinherembrace,disengagedherarms,andputherfromhimalmostroughly。"Havedone！"hegrowled,and,lurchingpasther,hereachedthetable,tookupabottle,andbrimmedhimselfameasure。Hegulpedthewineavidly,setdownthecup,andshivered。
　　"WhereisBlake？"heasked。
　　"Blake？"echoedRuth,herlipswhite。Dianasankintoachair,watchful,fearfulandsilent,takingnownogloryinthethingshehadencompassed。
　　Richardbeathishandstogetherinapassionofdismay。"Ishenothere？"heasked,andgroaned,"0God！"Heflunghimselfalllimpintoachair。"Youhaveheardthenews,Isee,"hesaid。
　　"Notallofit,"saidDianahoarsely,leaningforward。"Telluswhatpassed。"
　　Hemoistenedhislipswithhistongue。"Wewerebetrayed,"hesaidinaquiveringvoice。"Betrayed！DidIbutknowbywhom……"Hebrokeoffwithabitterlaughandshrugged,rubbinghishandstogetherandshiveringtillhisshouldersshook。"Blake'spartywassetuponbyhalfacompanyofmusketeers。TheircorpsesarestrewnaboutoldNewlington`sorchard。Notoneofthemescaped。TheysaythatNewlingtonhimselfisdead。"Hepouredhimselfmorewine。
　　Ruthlistened,hereyesburning,therestofherascoldasice。
　　"But……but……,oh,thankGodthatyouatleastaresafe,Dick！"
　　"Howdidyouescape？"quothDiana。
　　"How？"Hestartedasifhehadbeenstung。Helaughedinahigh,crackedvoice,hiseyeswildandbloodshot。"How？PerhapsitisjustaswellthatBlakehasgonetohisaccount。Perhaps……"Hecheckedontheword,andstartedtohisfeet;Dianascreamedinsheeraifright。
　　Behindherthewindowshadbeenthrustopensoviolentlythatoneofthepaneswasshivered。Blakestoodunderthelintel,scarcerecognizable,sosmearedwashisfacewiththebloodescapingfromthewoundhischeekhadtaken。Hisclothesweremuddied,soiled,torn,anddisordered。
　　Framedthereagainsttheblackbackgroundofthenight,hestoodandsurveyedthemforamoment,hisaspectterrific。Thenheleaptforward,baringhisswordashecame。AnincoherentroarburstfromhislipsasheborestraightdownuponRichard。
　　"Youdamned,infernaltraitor！"hecried。"Draw,draw！Ordielikethemuckwormthatyouare。"
　　Intrepid,herterrorallvanishednowthattherewastheneedforcourage,Ruthconfrontedhim,barringhispassage,abucklertoherpalsiedbrother。
　　"Outofmyway,mistress,orI'llbedoingyouamischief。"
　　"Youaremad,SirRowland,"shetoldhiminavoicethatdidsomethingtowardsrestoringhimtohissenses。
　　Hisfierceeyesconsideredheramoment,andhecontrolledhimselftoofferanexplanation。"ThetwentythatwerewithmeliestarkunderthestarsinNewlington'sgarden,"hetoldher,asRichardhadtoldheralready。"Iescapedbyamiracle,noless,butforwhat？
　　Fevershamwilldemandofmeasternaccountofthoselives,whilstifIamfoundinBridgwatertherewillbeashortshriftformeattherebelhands—formyshareinthisaffairisknown,mynameoneverylipinthetown。Andwhy？"heaskedwithasuddenincreaseoffierceness。"Why？Becausethatcravenvillaintherebetrayedme。"
　　"Hedidnot,"sheansweredinsoassuredavoicethatnotonlydiditgivehimpause,butcausedRichard,coweringbehindher,toraisehisheadinwonder。
　　SirRowlandsmiledhisdisbelief,andthatsmile,twistinghisblood—smearedcountenance,wasgrotesqueandhorrible。"Ilefthimtoguardourbacksandgivemewarningifanyapproached,"heinformedher。
　　"Iknewhimfortoogreatacowardtobetrustedinthefight;soIgavehimasafetask,andyetinthathefailedme—failedmebecausehehadbetrayedandsoldme。"
　　"Hehadnot。Itellyouhehadnot,"sheinsisted。"Iswearit。"
　　Hestaredather。"Therewasnooneelseforit,"hemadeanswer,andbadeherharshlystandaside。
　　Diana,huddledtogether,watchedandwaitedinhorrorfortheendoftheseconsequencesofherwork。
　　BlakemadeasuddenmovementtowinpastRuth。Richardstaggeredtohisfeetintentondefendinghimself;buthewasswordless;retreattothedoorsuggesteditself,andhehadhalfturnedtoattempttogainit,whenRuth'snextwordsarrestedhim,petrifiedhim。
　　"Therewassomeoneelseforit,SirRowland,"shecried。"ItwasnotRichardwhobetrayedyou。It……itwasI。"
　　"You？"Thefiercenessseemedalltodropawayfromhim,whelmedintheimmensityofhisastonishment。"You？"Thenhelaughedloudinscornfuldisbelief。"Youthinktosavehim,"hesaid。
　　"ShouldIlie？"sheaskedhim,calmandbrave。
　　Hestaredatherstupidly;hepassedahandacrosshisbrow,andlookedatDiana。"Oh,itisimpossible！"hesaidatlast。
　　"Youshallhear,"sheanswered,andtoldhimhowatthelastmomentshehadlearntnotonlythatherhusbandwasinBridgwater,butthathewastosupatNewlington'swiththeDuke'sparty。
　　"IhadnothoughtofbetrayingyouorofsavingtheDuke,"shesaid。
　　"Iknewhowjustifiablewaswhatyouintended。ButIcouldnotletMr。
　　Wildinggotohisdeath。Isoughttodetainhim,warninghimonlywhenIthoughtitwouldbetoolateforhimtowarnothers。Butyoudelayedoverlong,and……"
　　Ahoarseinarticulatecryfromhimcametointerruptheratthatpoint。
　　Oneglimpseofhisfaceshehadandofthehandhalfraisedwithswordpointingtowardsher,andsheclosedhereyes,thinkingthathersandswererun。And,indeed,Blake'sintentionwasjustthentokillher。
　　Thatheshouldowehisbetrayaltoherwasinitselfcauseenoughtoenragehim,butthathermotiveshouldhavebeenherdesiretosaveWilding—Wildingofallmen！—thatwasthelaststraw。
　　HadhebeenforewarnedthatWildingwastobeoneofMonmouth'spartyatMr。Newlington's,hispulseswouldhavethrobbedwithjoy,andhewouldhaveflunghimselfintohismurderoustaskwithtwicethezesthehadcarriedtoit。AndnowhelearntthatnotonlyhadshethwartedhisschemesagainstMonmouth,buthaddeprivedhimoftheardentlysoughtfelicityofwidowingher。Hedrewbackhisarmforthethrust;
　　Dianahuddledintoherchairtoohorror—strickentospeakormove:
　　Richard—immediatelybehindhissister—sawnothingofwhatwaspassing,andthoughtofnothingbuthisownsafety。
　　ThenBlakepaused,steppedback,returnedhisswordtoitsscabbard,andbendinghimself—butwhethertobowornotwasnotquiteplain—hetooksomepacesbackwards,thenturnedandwentoutbythewindowashehadcome。Buttherewasasuddenpurposefulnessinthewayhediditthatmighthavewarnedthemthiswithdrawalwasnotquitetheretreatitseemed。
　　Theywatchedhimwithmanyemotions,predominantamongwhichwasrelief,andwhenhewasgoneDianaroseandcametoRuth。
　　"Come,"shesaid,andsoughttoleadherfromtheroom。
　　ButtherewasRichardnowtobereckonedwith,Richardfromwhomthepalsywasofasuddenfallen,nowthatthecauseofithadwithdrawn。
　　Hehadhisbacktothedoor,andhisweakmouthwaspursedupintoasemblanceofresolution,hispaleeyeslookedstern,hiswhiteeyebrowsbenttogetherinafrown。
　　"Wait,"hesaid。Theylookedathim,andtheshadowofasmilealmostflittedacrossDiana'sface。Hesteppedtothedoor,and,openingit,helditwide。"Go,Diana,"hesaid。"RuthandImustunderstandeachother。"
　　Dianahesitated。"Youhadbettergo,Diana,"saidhercousin,whereuponMistressHortonwent。
　　HotandfiercecametherecriminationsfromRichard'slipswhenheandhissisterwerealone,andRuthweatheredthestormbravelyuntilitwasstemmedagainbyfreshfearinRichard。ForBlakehadsuddenlyreappeared。Hecameforwardfromhiswindow;hismannercomposedandfullofresolution。YoungWestmacottrecoiled,theheatallfrozenoutofhim。ButBlakescarcelookedathim,hissmoulderingglancewasallforRuth,whowatchedhimwithincipientfear,despiteherself。
　　"Madam,"hesaid,"`tisnottobesupposedamindholdingsomuchthoughtforahusband'ssafetycouldfindroomforanyconcernastoanother's。Iwillaskyou,natheless,toconsiderwhattaleIamtobearLordFeversham。"
　　"Whattale？"saidshe。
　　"Aye—thatwillaccountforwhathaschanced;formyfailuretodischargethetaskentrustedme,andfortheslaughterofanofficerofhisandtwentymen。
　　"Whyaskmethis？"shedemandedhalfangrily;thensuddenlybethinkingherofhowshehadruinedhisenterprise,andofthepositioninwhichshehadplacedhim,shesoftened。Herclearmindheldjusticeverydear。Sheapproached。"Oh,Iamsorry—sorry,SirRowland,"shecried。
　　Hesneered。Hehadwipedsomeofthebloodfromhisface,butstilllookedterribleenough。
　　"Sorry！"saidhe,andlaughedunpleasantly。"You'llcomewithmetoFevershamandtellhimwhatyoudid,"saidhe。
　　"I？"Sherecoiledinfear。
　　"Atonce"heinformedher。
　　"Wha……what'sthat？"falteredRichard,callinguphismanhood,andcomingforward。"Whatareyousaying,Blake？"
　　SirRowlanddisdainedtoheedhim。"Come,mistress,"hesaid,andputtingforwardhishandhecaughtherwristandpulledherroughlytowardshim。Shestruggledtofreeherself,butheleeredevillyuponher,nowhitdiscomposedbyherendeavours。Thoughshortofstature,hewasamanofconsiderablebodilystrength,andshe,thoughtall,wasslightofframe。Hereleasedherwrist,andbeforesherealizedwhathewasabouthehadstooped,passedanarmbehindherknees,anotherroundherwaist,and,swingingherfromherfeet,tookherupbodilyinhisarms。Heturnedabout,andascreambrokefromher。
　　"Hold！"criedRichard。"Hold,youmadman！"
　　"Keepoff,orI'llmakeanendofyoubeforeIgo,"roaredBlakeoverhisshoulder,foralreadyhehadturnedaboutandwasmakingforthewindow,apparentlynomorehinderedbyhisburdenthanhadshebeenadoll。
　　Richardsprangtothedoor。"Jasper！"hebawled。"Jasper！"Hehadnoweapons,aswehaveseen,elseitmaybethathehadmadeanattempttousethem。
　　RuthgotahandfreeandcaughtatthewindowframeasBlakewasleapingthrough。Itcheckedtheirprogress,butdidnotsensiblydelayit。Itwasunfortunatelyherwoundedhandwithwhichshehadsoughttocling,andwithanangry,brutalwrenchSirRowlandcompelledhertounclosehergrasp。Hespeddownthelawntowardstheorchard,wherehishorsewastethered。Andnowsheknewinasubconscioussortofwaywhyhehadearlierwithdrawn。Hehadgonetosaddleforthispurpose。
　　Shestrugglednow,thinkingthathewouldbetoohamperedtocompelhertohiswill。Hebecameangry,andsetherdownbesidehishorse,onearmstillholdingher。
　　"Lookyou,mistress,"hetoldherfiercely,"livingordead,youcomewithmetoFeversham。Choosenow。"
　　Histonewassuchthatsheneverdoubtedhewouldcarryouthisthreat。
　　Andsoindulldespairshesubmitted,hopingthatFevershammightbeagentlemanandwouldrecognizeandrespectalady。Halffainting,sheallowedhimtoswinghertothewithersofhishorse。Thustheythreadedtheirwayinthedimstarlitnightthroughthetreestowardsthegate。
　　Itstoodopen,andtheypassedoutintothelane。ThereSirRowlandputhishorsetothetrot,whichheincreasedtoagallopwhenhewasoverthebridgeandclearofthetown。
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　THESENTENCE
　　Mr。Wilding,asweknow,wastoremainatBridgwaterforthepurposeofcollectingfromMr。Newlingtonthefinewhichhadbeenimposeduponhim。
　　ItisbynomeansclearwhetherMonmouthrealizedthefullnessofthetragedyatthemerchant'shouse,andwhetherheunderstoodthat,strickenwithapoplexyatthethoughtofpartingwithsoconsiderableaportionofhisfortune,Mr。Newlingtonhadnotmerelyfainted,buthadexpiredunderHisGrace'seyes。Ifhedidrealizeithewascynicallyindifferent,andlestweshouldbedoinghimaninjusticebyassumingthiswehadbettergivehimthebenefitofthedoubt,andtakeitthatinthesubsequentbustleofdeparture,hismindfilledwiththeprospectofthenightattacktobedelivereduponhisuncle'sarmyat—Sedgemoor,hethoughtnomoreeitherofMr。NewlingtonorofMr。Wilding。Thelatter,asweknow,hadnoplaceintherebelarmy;althoughamanofhishands,hewasnotatrainedsoldier,andnotwithstandingthathemayfullyhaveintendedtodrawhisswordforMonmouthwhenthetimecame,yetcircumstanceshadledtohiscontinuingafterMonmouth'slandingthemorediplomaticworkofmovement—man,inwhichhehadbeenengagedforthemonthsthathadprecededit。
　　SoitbefellthatwhenMonmouth'sarmymarchedoutofBridgwaterateleveno'clockonthatSundaynight,nottomakeforGloucesterandCheshire,aswasgenerallybelieved,buttofallupontheencampedFevershamatSedgemoorandslaughtertheroyalarmyintheirbeds,Mr。
　　Wildingwasleftbehind。Trenchardwasgone,incommandofhistroopofhorse,andMr。Wildinghadforonlycompanyhisthoughtstouchingthesingularhappeningsofthatbusynight。
　　HewentbacktothesignofTheShipoverlookingtheCross,and,kickingoffhissoddenshoes,hesuppedquietlyintheroomofwhichshattereddoorandbrokenwindowremindedhimofhisoddinterviewwithRuth,andofthecomedyofloveshehadenactedtodetainhimthere。
　　Thethoughtofitembitteredhim;thepartshehadplayedseemedtohisretrospectivemindalmostawanton'spart—forallthatinnameshewashiswife。Andyet,underlyingacertainirrepressiblenausea,camethereflectionthat,afterall,herpurposehadbeentosavehislife。Itwouldhavebeenasweetthought,sweetenoughtohaveoverlaidthatotherbitterness,hadhenotinsisteduponsettingitdownentirelytohergratitudeandhersenseofjustice。Sheintendedtorepaythedebtinwhichshehadstoodtohimsince,attheriskofhisownlifeandfortune,hehadrescuedherbrotherfromtheclutchesoftheLord—LieutenantatTaunton。
　　Hesighedheavilyashethoughtoftheresultsthathadattendedhiscompulsoryweddingofher。Intheintensityofhispassion,intheblindnessofhisvanity,whichmadehimconfident—gloriouslyconfident—thatdidhemakehimselfherhusband,sheherselfwouldmakeofhimherloverbeforelong,hehadcommittedanunworthinessofwhichitseemedhemightnevercleansehimselfinlife。Therewasbutoneamend,ashehadtoldher。Lethimmakeit,andperhapsshewould—outofgratitude,ifoutofnootherfeeling—cometothinkmorekindlyofhim;andthatnightitseemedtohimashesataloneinthatmeanchamber,thatitwereabetterandasweeterthingtoearnsomemeasureofheresteembydeaththantocontinueinalifethatinspiredherhatredandresentment。Fromwhichitwillbeseenhowutterlyhedisbelievedtheprotestationsshehadutteredinseekingtodetainhim。
　　Theywere—hewasassured—apartofascheme,atrick,tolullhimwhileMonmouthandhisofficerswerebeingbutchered。Andshehadgonethelengthofsayingshelovedhim！Heregrettedthat,beingashewasconvincedofitsuntruth。Whatcausehadshetolovehim？Shehatedhim,andbecauseshehatedhimshedidnotscrupletolietohim—oncewithsuggestionsandthistimewithactualexpressionofaffection—thatshemightgainherends:endsthatconcernedherbrotherandSirRowlandBlake。SirRowlandBlake！Thenamewasaverygoadtohispassionanddespair。
　　Herosefromthetableandtookaturnintheroom,movingnoiselesslyinhisstockingedfeet。Hefelttheneedofairandaction;thewearinessofhisfleshincurredinhislongridefromLondonwascastofforforgotten。Hemustgoforth。HepickeduphisfineshoesofSpanishleather,butasluckwouldhaveit—littlethoughheguessedtheextentjustthen—hefoundthemhardening,thoughstilldampfromthedewsofMr。Newlington'sgarden。Hecastthemaside,and,takingakeyfromhispocket,unlockedanoakcupboardandwithdrewtheheavymuddybootsinwhichhehadriddenfromtown。Hedrewthemonand,takinguphishatandsword,wentdownthecreakingstairsandoutintothestreet。
　　Bridgwaterhadfallenquietbynow;thearmywasgoneandtownsfolkwereintheirbeds。Moodily,unconsciously,yetasifguidedbyasortofinstinct,hewentdowntheHighStreet,andthenturnedoffintothenarrowerlanethatledinthedirectionofLuptonHouse。Bythegatesofthishepaused,recalledoutofhisabstractionandrenderedawareofwhitherhisstepshadledhimbythesightofthehalldoorstandingopen,ablackfiguresilhouettedagainstthelightbehindit。
　　Whatwashappeninghere？Whyweretheynotabedlikealldecentfolk？
　　Thefigurecalledtohiminaquaveringvoice。"Mr。Wilding！Mr。
　　Wilding！"forthelightbeatinguponhisfaceandfigurefromtheopendoorhadrevealedhim。Theformcameswiftlyforward,itsstepspatteringdownthewalk,anotherslendererfiguresurgedinitsplaceuponthethreshold,hoveredthereaninstant,thenplungeddownintothedarknesstocomeafterit。ButthefirstwasbynowuponMr。
　　Wilding。
　　"Whatisit,Jasper？"heasked,recognizingtheoldservant。
　　"MistressRuth！"wailedthefellow,wringinghishands。"She……,shehasbeen……carriedoff。"Hegotitoutingasps,windedbyhisshortrunandbytheexcitementthatpossessedhim。
　　NowordsaidWilding。Hejuststoodandstared,scarcelyunderstanding,andinthatmomenttheywerejoinedbyRichard。HeseizedWildingbythearm。"Blakehascarriedheroff,"hecried。
　　"Blake？"saidMr。Wilding,andwonderedwithasensationofnauseawasitanordinaryrunningaway。ButRichard'snextwordsmadeitplaintohimthatitwasnoamorouselopement,norevenamorousabduction。
　　"HehascarriedhertoFeversham……forherbetrayalofhisto—night'splantoseizetheDuke。"
　　ThatstirredMr。Wilding。Hewastednotimeinidlequestionsoridlercomplainings。"Howlongsince？"heasked,anditwashewhoclutchedRichardnow,bytheshoulderandwithahandthathurt。
　　"Nottenminutesago,"wasthequaveringanswer。
　　"Andyouwereathandwhenitbefell？"criedWilding,thescorninhisvoicerisingsuperiortohisagitationandfearsforRuth。"Youwereathand,andcouldneitherpreventnorfollowhim？"
　　"I'llgowithyounow,ifyou'llgivechase,"whimperedRichard,feelinghimselfforoncethecraventhathewas。
　　"If？"echoedWildingscornfully,anddraggedhimpastthegateanduptowardsthehouseevenashespoke。"Isthereroomforadoubtofit？
　　Haveyouhorses,atleast？"
　　"Tospare,"saidRichardastheyhurriedon。TheyskirtedthehouseandfoundthestabledooropenasBlakehadleftit。OldJasperfollowedwithalampwhichburnedsteadily,socalmwastheairofthatJulynight。Inthreeminutestheyhadsaddledacoupleofnags;infivetheywereridingforthebridgeandtheroadtoWestonZoyland。
　　"ItisamiracleyouremainedinBridgwater,"saidRichardastheyrode。
　　"Howcameyoutobeleftbehind？"
　　"IhadataskassignedmeinthetownagainsttheDuke'sreturnto—morrow,"Wildingexplained,andhespokealmostmechanically,hismindfullof—anguishedby—thoughtsofRuth。
　　"AgainsttheDuke'sreturn？"criedRichard,firstsurprisedandthenthinkingthatWildingspokeatrandom。"AgainsttheDuke'sreturn？"herepeated。
　　"ThatiswhatIsaid？"
　　"ButtheDukeismarchingtoGloucester。"
　　"TheDukeismarchingbycircuitouswaystoSedgemoor,"answeredWilding,neverdreamingthatatthistimeofdaytherecouldbetheslightestimprudenceinsayingsomuch,indeed,takinglittleheedofwhathesaid,hismindobsessedbytheother,tohim,farweightiermatter。
　　"ToSedgemoor？"gaspedWestmacott。
　　"Aye—totakeFevershambysurprise—todestroyKingJames'ssoldiersintheirbeds。Heshouldbenearupontheattackbynow。Butthere！
　　SpuronandsaveyourbreathifwearetoovertakeSirRowland。"