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。