Richard,notknowingwhomighthavebetrayedhimandtowhatextent,wasveryfearful—havingthroughhisconnectionwiththeCauseeveryreasonsotobe。Blake,ontheotherhand,consciousofhisinnocenceofanyplotting,wasimpatientofhisposition,andathoughtcontemptuous。Itwashewho,uponbeingusheredbytheconstableandhismenintotheaugustpresenceoftheLord—Lieutenant,clamouredtoknowpreciselyofwhathewasaccusedthathemightstraightwayclearhimself。
　　Albemarlerearedhisgreatmassivehead,smotheredinamightyblackperuke,andscowleduponthefloridLondonbeau。Ablack—visagedgentlemanwasChristopherMonk。Hispendulouscheeks,itistrue,wereofasallowpallor,butwhatwithhisblackwig,blackeyebrows,darkeyes,andtheblue—blacktintofshavenbeardonhisgreatjawandupperlip,hepresentedanappearancesombrelysinister。Hisnetherlipwasthickandveryprominent;deepcreasesranfromthecornersofhismouthadownhisheavychin;hiseyesweredullandlack—lustre,withgreatpouchesunderthem。Inthemain,theairofthissonofthegreatParliamentariangeneralwasstupid,dull,unprepossessing。
　　ThecreasesofhismouthdeepenedasBlakeprotestedagainstwhathetermedthisoutragethathadbeendonehim;hesneeredponderously,thrustingfurtherforwardhisheavilyundershotjowl。
　　"Weareinformed,sir,ofyourantecedents,"hestaggeredBlakebyanswering。"WehavelearntthereasonwhyyouleftLondonandyourcreditors,andinallmylife,sir,Ihaveneverknownamanmorereadytoturnhishandtotreasonthanabrokengamester。Yourkindturnsbyinstincttosuchworkasthis,asalastresourceforthemendingofbatteredfortunes。"
　　Blakecrimsonedfromchintobrow。"I'mforejudged,it,seems,"hemadeanswerhaughtily,tossinghisfairlocks,hisblueeyesglaringuponhisjudges。"MayI,atleast,knowthenameofmyaccuser？"
　　"Youshallreceiveimpartialjusticeatourhands,"putinPhelips,whosemannerwasofadangerousmildness。"Dependonthat。Notonlyshallyouknowthenameofyouraccuser,butyoushallbeconfrontedbyhim。Meanwhile,sirs"—andhisglancestrayed￡romBlake'sflushedandangrycountenancetoRichard's,paleandtimid—"meanwhile,arewetounderstandthatyoudenythecharge？"
　　"Ihaveheardnoneasyet,"saidSirRowlandinsolently。
　　Albemarleturnedtooneofthesecretaries。"Readthemtheindictment,"
　　saidhe,andsankbackinhischair,hisdullglanceupontheprisoners,whilsttheclerkinadroningvoicereadfromadocumentwhichhetookup。ItimpeachedSirRowlandBlakeandMr。RichardWestmacottofholdingtreasonablecommunicationwithJamesScott,DukeofMonmouth,andofplottingagainstHisMajesty'slifeandthroneandthepeaceofHisMajesty'srealms。
　　Blakelistenedwithunconcealedimpatiencetothefarragooflegalphrases,andsnortedcontemptuouslywhenthereadingcametoanend。
　　Albemarlelookedathimdarkly。"IdothankGod,"saidhe,"thatthroughMr。Westmacott'sfollyhasthishideousplot,thisblackanddamnabletreason,beenbroughttolightintimetoenableustostampoutthisfireereitiswellkindled。Haveyouaughttosay,sir？"
　　"Ihavetosaythatthewholechargeafoulandunfoundedlie,"saidSirRowlandbluntly:"Ineverplottedinmylifeagainstanythingbutmyownprosperity,noragainstanymanbutmyself。"
　　Albemarlesmiledcoldlyathiscolleagues,thenturnedtoWestmacott。
　　"Andyou,sir？"hesaid。"Areyouasstubbornasyourfriend？"
　　"Iincontinentlydenythecharge,"saidRichard,andhecontrivedthathisvoiceshouldringboldandresolute。
　　"Achargebuiltonair,"sneeredBlake,"whichthefirstbreathoftruthshouldutterlydispel。Wehaveheardtheimpeachment。WillYourGracewiththesameconsiderationpermitustoseetheproofsthatwemaylaybaretheirfalseness？Itshouldnotbedifficult。"
　　"Doyousaythereisnosuchplotasisherealleged？"quoththeDuke,andsmoteapapersharply。
　　Blakeshruggedhisshoulders。"HowshouldIknow？"heasked。"IsayIhavenoshareinany,thatIamacquaintedwithnone。"
　　"CallMr。Trenchard,"saidtheDukequietly,andanusherwhohadstoodtamelybythedooratthefarendoftheroomdepartedontheerrand。
　　Richardstartedatthementionofthatname。HehadasingulardreadofMr。Trenchard。
　　ColonelLuttrell—leanandwiry—nowaddressedtheprisoners,Blakemoreparticularly。"Still,"saidhe,"youwilladmitthatsuchaplotmay,indeed,exist？"
　　"Itmay,indeed,foraughtIknow—orcare,"headdedincautiously。
　　Albemarlesmotethetablewithaheavyhand。"ByGod！"hecriedinthatdeepboomingvoiceofhis,"therespokeatraitor！Youdonotcare,yousay,whatplotsmaybehatchedagainstHisMajesty'slifeandcrown！Yetyouaskmetobelieveyouatrueandloyalsubject。"
　　Blakewasangered;hewasatbestashort—temperedman。Deliberatelyheflounderedfurtherintothemire。
　　"IhavenotaskedYourGracetobelievemeanything,"heansweredhotly。"ItisallonetomewhatYourGracebelievesme。ItakeitIhavenotbeenfetchedhithertobeconfrontedwithwhatYourGracebelieves。Youhavepreferredalyingchargeagainstme;Iaskforproofs,notYourGrace'sbeliefsandopinions。"
　　"ByGod,sir,youareadaringrogue！"criedAlbemarle。
　　SirRowland'seyesblazed。"Anon,YourGrace,when,havingfailedofyourproofs,youshallbeconstrainedtorestoremetoliberty,IshallaskYourGracetounsaythatword。"
　　Albemarlestared,confounded,andinthatmomentthedooropened,andTrenchardsaunteredin,caneinhand,hishatunderhisarm,awickedsmileonhiswizenedface。
　　LeavingBlake'sveiledthreatunanswered,theDuketurnedtotheoldrake。"Theserogues,"saidhe,pointingtotheprisoners,"demandproofseretheywilladmitthetruthoftheimpeachment。"
　　"Thoseproofs,"saidTrenchard,"arealreadyinYourGrace'shands。"
　　"Aye,buttheyhaveaskedtobeconfrontedwiththeiraccuser。
　　Trenchardbowed。"Isityourwish,then,thatIreciteforthemthecountsonwhichIhavebasedtheaccusationIlaidbeforeYourGrace？"
　　"Ifyouwillcondescendsofar,"saidAlbemarle。
　　"Blisterme……！"roaredBlake,whentheDukeinterruptedhim。
　　"ByGod,sir！"hecried,"I'llhavenosuchdisrespectfullanguagehere。You'llobservethedecencyofspeechandforbearfromprofanities,youdamnedrogue,orbyGod！I'llcommityouforthwith。"
　　"Iwillendeavour,"saidBlake,withasarcasmlostonAlbemarle,"tofollowYourGrace'sloftyexample。"
　　"Youwilldowell,sir,"saidtheDuke,andwasshockedthatTrenchardshouldlaughatsuchamoment。
　　"Iwasabouttoprotest,sir,"saidBlake,"thatitismonstrousI
　　shouldbeaccusedbyMr。Trenchard。Hehasbuttheslightestacquaintancewithme。"
　　Trenchardbowedtohimacrossthechamber。"Admitted,sir,"saidhe。
　　"WhatshouldIbedoinginbadcompany？"AnanswerthisthatsetAlbemarlebawlingwithlaughter。TrenchardturnedtotheDuke。"Iwillbegin,anitpleaseYourGrace,withtheexpressionsusedlastnightinmypresenceattheBellInnatBridgwaterbyMr。RichardWestmacott,andIwillconfinemyselfstrictlytothosemattersonwhichmytestimonycanbecorroboratedbythatofotherwitnesses。
　　ColonelLuttrellinterruptedhimtoturntoRichard。"Doyourecallthoseexpressions,sir？"heaskedhim。
　　Richardwincedunderthequestion。Nevertheless,hebracedhimselftomakethebestdefencehecould。"Ihavenotyetheard,"saidhe,"whatthoseexpressionswere;norwhenIhearthemmustitfollowthatIrecognizethemasmyown。Imustadmittohavingtakenmorewine,perhaps,than……than……"WhilsthesoughttheexpressionthatheneededTrenchardcutinwithalaugh。"Invinoveritas,gentlemen,"andHisGraceandSirEdwardnoddedsagely;Luttrellpreservedastolidexterior。Heseemedlesspronethanhiscolleaguestoforejudging。
　　"WillyourepeattheexpressionsusedbyMr。Westmacott？"SirEdwardbegged。
　　"Iwillrepeattheonethat,tomymind,mattersmost。Mr。Westmacott,gettingtohisfeetandinaloudvoice,exclaimed,"GodsavetheProtestantDuke！"
　　"Doyouadmitit,sir？"thunderedAlbemarle,hiseyesgloweringuponRichardhesitatedamoment,paleandtrembling。
　　"Youwillwastebreathindenyingit,"saidTrenchardsuavely,"forIhaveadrawerfromtheBellInn,andtwogentlemenwhooverheardyouwaitingoutside。"
　　"I'faith,sir,"criedBlake,"whattreasonwasthereinthat？Ifhe……"
　　"Silence！"thunderedAlbemarle。"LetMr。Westmacottspeakforhimself。"
　　Richard,inspiredbythedefenceBlakehadbegun,tookthesamelineofargument。"IadmitthatintheheatofwineImayhaveusedsuchwords,"saidhe。"ButIdenytheirintenttobetreasonable。TherearemanymenwhodrinktotheprosperityofthelateKingssson……"
　　"Naturalson,sir;naturalson,"Albemarleamended。"Itistreasontospeakofhimotherwise。"
　　"Itwillbeatreasonpresentlytodrawbreath,"sneeredBlake。
　　"Ifitbe,"saidTrenchard,"itisatreasonyou'llnotbelongcommitting。"
　　"Faith,youareright,Mr。Trenchard,"saidtheDukewithalaugh。
　　Indeed,hefoundMr。Trenchardamostpleasantandfacetiousgentleman。
　　"Still,"insistedRichard,endeavouringinspiteoftheseirrelevanciestomakegoodhispoint,"therebemanymenwhodrinkdailytotheprosperityofthelateKing'snaturalson。"
　　"Aye,sir,"answeredAlbemarle;"butnothisprosperityinhorridplotsagainstthelifeofourbelovedsovereign。"
　　"True,YourGrace;verytrue,"purredSirEdward。"ItwasnotsoI
　　meanttotoasthim,"criedRichard。Albemarlemadeanimpatientgesture,andtookupasheetofpaper。"How,then,"heasked,"comesthisletter—thisletterwhichmakesplainthetreasonuponwhichtheDukeofMonmouthisembarked,justasitmakesplainyourparticipationinit—howcomesthislettertobefoundinyourpossession？"Andhewavedtheletterintheair。
　　Richardwentthecolourofashes。Hefalteredamoment,thentookrefugeinthetruth,forallthatheknewbeforehandthatthetruthwasboundtoringmorefalsethananyliehecouldinvent。
　　"Thatletterwasnotaddressedtome,"hestammered。
　　Albemarlereadthesubscription,"TomygoodfriendW。,atBridgwater。"
　　Helookedup,aheavysneerthrustinghisheavylipstillfurtherout。
　　"Whatdoyousaytothat？Doesnot`W'standforWestmacott？"
　　"Itdoesnot。"
　　"Ofcoursenot,"saidAlbemarlewithheavysarcasm。"ItstandsforWilkins,orWilliams,or……or……What—not。"
　　"Indeed,Icanbearwitnessthatitdoesnot,"exclaimedSirRowland。
　　"Besilent,sir,Itellyou！"bawledtheDukeathimagain。"Youshallbearwitnesssoonenough,Ipromiseyou。Towhom,then,"heresumed,turningagaintoRichard,"doyousaythatthisletterwasaddressed？"
　　"ToMr。Wilding—Mr。AnthonyWilding,"Richardanswered。
　　"IwouldhaveYourGracetoobserve,"putinTrenchardquietly,"thatMr。Wilding,properlyspeaking,doesnotresideinBridgwater。"
　　"Tush！"criedAlbemarle;"theroguebutmentionsthefirstnamewitha'W'thatoccurstohim。He'snotevenaningeniousliar。Andhow,sir,"heaskedRichard,"doesitcometobeinyourpossession,havingbeenaddressed,asyousay,toMr。Wilding？"
　　"Aye,sir,"saidSirEdward,blinkinghisweakeyes。"Tellusthat。"
　　Richardhesitatedagain,andlookedatBlake。Blake,whobynowhadcometorealizethathisfriend'saffairswerenotmendedbyhisinterruptions,moodilyshruggedhisshoulders,scowling。
　　"Come,sir,"saidColonelLuttrell,engagingly,answerthequestion。"
　　"Aye,"roaredAlbemarle;"letyourinventionhavefreerein。"
　　AgainpoorRichardsoughtrefugeinthetruth。"We—SirRowlandhereandI—hadreasontosuspectthathewasawaitingsuchaletter。"
　　"Tellusyourreasons,sir,ifwearetocredityou,"saidtheDuke,anditwasplainhemockedtheprisoner。Itwas,moreover,arequestthatstaggeredRichard。Still,hesoughttofindareasonthatshouldsoundplausible。
　　"WeinferreditfromcertainremarksthatMr。Wildingletfallinourpresence。"
　　"Tellustheremarks,sir,"theDukeinsisted。
　　"Indeed,Idonotcallhisprecisewordstomind,YourGrace。Buttheyweresuchthatwesuspicionedhim。"
　　"Andyouwouldhavemebelievethathearingwordswhichawokeinyousuchgravesuspicions,youkeptyoursuspicionsandstraightwayforgotthewords。You'rebutanindifferentliar。"
　　Trenchard,whowasstandingbythelongtable,leanedforwardnow。
　　"Itmightbewell,anitpleaseYourGrace,"saidhe,"towaivethepoint,andletuscometothosematterswhichareofgreatermoment。
　　LethimtellYourGracehowhecamebytheletter。"
　　"Aye,"saidAlbemarle。"Wedobutwastetime。Tellus,then,howcametheletterintoyourhands？"
　　"WithSirRowland,here,IrobbedthecourierashewasridingfromTauntontoBridgwater。"
　　Albemarlelaughed,andSirEdwardsmiled。"Yourobbedhim,eh？"saidHisGrace。"Verywell。Buthowdidithappenthatyouknewhehadtheletteruponhim,orwasitthatyouwereplayingthehightobymen,andthatinrobbinghimyouhopedtofindothermatters？"
　　"Notso,sir,"answeredRichard。"Isoughtbuttheletter。"
　　"Andhowknewyouthathecarriedit？Didyoulearnthat,too,fromMr。Wilding'sindiscretion？"
　　"YourGracehassaidit。"
　　"`Slife！Whatanimpudentroguehavewehere！"criedtheangryDuke,whoconceivedthatRichardwaspurposelydealingineffrontery。"Mr。
　　Trenchard,Idothinkwearewastingtime。Besogoodastoconfoundthembothwiththetruthofthismatter。"
　　"Thatletter,"saidTrenchard,"wasdeliveredtothemattheHareandHounds,hereatTaunton,byagentlemanwhoputupattheinn,andwastherejoinedbyMr。WestmacottandSirRowlandBlake。Theyopenedtheconversationwithcertaincantphrasesveryclearlyintendedaspasswords。Thus:theprisonerssaidtothemessenger,astheyseatedthemselvesatthetableheoccupied,`Youhavetheair,sir,ofbeingfromoverseas,'towhichthecourieranswered,`Indeed,yes。IamfromHolland。'FromthelandofOrange,'saysoneoftheprisoners。`Aye,andotherthings,'repliesthemessenger。`Thereisafairwindblowing,'headds;towhichoneoftheprisoners,IbelieveitwasSirRowland,makesanswer,`MayitprospertheProtestantDukeandblowPoperytohell。'Thereuponthelandlordcaughtsomementionofaletter,buttheseplotters,perceivingthattheywereperhapsbeingoverheard,senthimawaytofetchthemwine。Ahalf—hourlaterthemessengertookhisleave,andtheprisonersfollowedaveryfewminutesafterwards。"
　　Albemarleturnedtotheprisoners。"YouhaveheardMr。Trenchard'sstory。Howdoyousay—isittrueoruntrue？"
　　"Youwillwastebreathindenyingit,"Trenchardtookitagainuponhimselftoadmonishthem。"ForIhavewithmethelandlordoftheHareandHounds,whowillcorroborate,uponoath,whatIhavesaid。"
　　"Wedonotdenyit,"putinBlake。"Butwesubmitthatthematterissusceptibletoexplanation。"
　　"Youcankeepyourexplanationstillyourtrial,then,"snappedAlbemarle。"Ihaveheardmorethanenoughtocommitthepairofyoutogaol。"
　　"But,YourGrace,"criedSirRowland,sofiercelythatoneofthetything—mensetarestraininghanduponhisshoulder,"IamreadytoswearthatwhatIdid,andwhatmyfriendMr。Westmacottdid,wasdoneintheinterestsofHisMajesty。Wewereworkingtodiscoverthisplot。"
　　"Which,nodoubt,"putinTrenchardslyly,"isthereasonwhy,havinggottheletter,yourfriendMr。Westmacottlockeditinadesk,andyoukeptsilenceonthematter。"
　　"Yousee,"exclaimedAlbemarle,"howyourliesdobutservefurthertobindyouinthetoils。Itiseverthuswithtraitors。"
　　"Idothinkyouareadamnedtraitor,Trenchard,"beganBlake;"afoul……"
　　ButwhatmorehewouldhavesaidwascheckedbyAlbemarle,whothunderedforthanorderfortheirremoval,andthen,scarcewerethewordsutteredthanthedooratthefarendofthehallwasopened,andthroughitcameasoundofwomen'svoices。Richardstarted,foronewasthevoiceofRuth。
　　Anusheradvanced。"MayitpleaseYourGrace,therearetwoladiesherebegthatyouwillheartheirevidenceinthematterofMr。
　　WestmacottandSirRowlandBlake。"
　　Albemarleconsideredamoment。Trenchardstoodverythoughtful。
　　"Indeed,"saidtheDuke,atlast,"IhaveheardasmuchasIneedhear,"
　　andSirPhelipsnoddedintokenofconcurrence。
　　Notso,however,ColonelLuttrell。"Still,"saidhe,"intheinterestsofHisMajesty,perhaps,weshouldbedoingwelltoreceivethem。"
　　Albemarleblewouthischeekslikeamanwearied,andstaredaninstantatLuttrell。Thenheshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Admitthem,then,"hecommandedalmostpeevishly,andRuthandDianawereusheredintothehall。Bothwerepale,butwhilstDianawasflutteredwithexcitement,Ruthwascalmandcool,anditwasshewhospokeinanswertotheDuke'sinvitation。Theburdenofherspeechwasaclear,succinctrecitation—inwhichshesparedneitherWildingnorherself—ofhowthelettercametohaveremainedinherhandsandsilencetohavebeenpreservedregardingit。Albemarleheardherverypatiently。
　　"Ifwhatyousayistrue,mistress,"saidhe,"andGodforbidthatI
　　shouldbesoungallantastothrowdoubtuponalady'sword,itcertainlyexplains—althoughmoststrangely—howtheletterwasnotbroughttousatoncebyyourbrotherandhisfriendSirRowland。YouarepreparedtoswearthatthisletterwasintendedforMr。Wilding？"
　　"Iampreparedtoswearit,"shereplied。
　　"Thisisveryserious,"saidtheDuke。
　　"Veryserious,"assentedSirEdwardPhelips。
　　Albemarle,alittleflustered,turnedtohiscolleagues。"Whatdoyousaytothis？WereitperhapswelltoorderMr。Wilding'sapprehension,andtohavehimbroughthither？"
　　"Itweretogiveyourselvesuselesstrouble,gentlemen,"saidTrenchard,withsomuchassurancethatitwasplainAlbemarlehesitated。
　　"BewareofMr。Trenchard,YourGrace,"criedRuth。"HeisMr。Wilding'sfriend,andifthereisaplotheissuretobeinit。"
　　Albemarle,startled,lookedatTrenchard。HadtheaccusationcomefromeitherofthementheDukewouldhavesilencedhimandabusedhim;butcomingfromawoman,andsocomelyawoman,itseemedtoHisGraceworthyatleastofconsideration。ButnimbleMr。Trenchardwaseasilymasterofthesituation。
　　"Which,ofcourse,"heanswered,withfinesarcasm,"isthereasonwhyIhavebeenatworkforthepastfour—and—twentyhourstolayproofsofthisplotbeforeYourGrace。"
　　Albemarlewasashamedofhismomentaryhesitation。
　　"Fortherest,"saidTrenchard,"itisperfectlytruethatIamMr。Wilding'sfriend。Buttheladyisevenmoreintimatelyconnectedwithhim。Ithappensthatsheishiswife。"
　　"His……hiswife！"gaspedtheDuke,whilstPhelipschuckled,andColonelLuttrell'sfacegrewdark。
　　Trenchard'swickedsmileflickereduponhismobilefeatures。"TherearerumourscurrentofcourtpaidherbySirRowland,there。Whoknows？"hequestionedmostsuggestively,archinghisbrowsandtighteninghislips。"Wivesarestrangekittle—kattle,andhusbandshavebeenknownbeforetogrowinconvenient。Uponreflection,YourGracewillnodoubtdiscerntheprecisedegreeoffaithtoattachtowhatthisladymaytellyouagainstMr。Wilding。"
　　"Oh！"exclaimedRuth,hercheeksflamingcrimson。"Butthisismonstrous！"
　　"TishowIshouldmyselfdescribeit,"answeredTrenchardwithoutshame。
　　Spurredtoitthus,Ruthpouredouttheentirestoryofhermarriage,andsoclearandlucidwasherstatementthatitthrewupontheaffairafloodoflight,whilstsofrankandtruthfulwashertone,hernarrativehungsowelltogether,thattheBenchbegantorecoverfromtheshocktoitsfaith,andwasagainindangerofbelievingher。
　　Trenchardsawthisandtrembled。TosaveWildingfortheCausehehadresortedtothisdesperateexpedientofbetrayingthatCause。Itmustbeobserved,however,thathehadnotdonesosaveundertheconvictionthatbetrayeditwasboundtobe,andthatsincethatwasinevitablethethinghadbettercomefromhim—forWilding'ssake—thanfromRichardWestmacott。HehadtakenthebullbythehornsinamostdesperatefashionwhenhehaddeterminedtohoistRichardandBlakewiththeirownpetard,hopingthat,afterall,theharmwouldreachnofurtherthanthedestructionofthesetwo—apurelydefensivemeasure。Butnowthisgirlthreatenedtowreckhisschemejustasitwasbeingsafelysteeredtoharbour。Suddenlyheswunground,interruptingher。
　　"Lies,lies,lies！"heclamoured,andhisinterruptioncomingatsuchatimeservedtoimpresstheDukemostunfavourably—aswellitmight。
　　"Itisourwishtohearthisladyout,Mr。Trenchard,"theDukereprovedhim。
　　ButMr。Trenchardwasundismayed。Indeed,hehadjustdiscoveredahithertoneglectedcard,whichshouldputanendtothisdangerousgame。
　　"IdoabhortohearYourGrace'spatiencethusabused,"heexclaimedwithsomeshowofheat。"Thisladymakesamockofyou。Ifyou'llallowmetoasktwoquestions—orperhapsthree—I'llpromisefinallytoprickthisbubbleforyou。HaveIYourGrace'sleave？"
　　"Well,well,"saidAlbemarle。"Letushearyourquestions。"Andhiscolleaguesnodded。
　　TrenchardturnedairilytoRuth。BehindherDianasat—anattendanthadfetchedachairforher—infearandwonderatwhatshesawandheard,hereyeseverandanonstrayingtoSirRowland'sback,whichwastowardsher。
　　"Thisletter,madam,"saidhe,"forthepossessionofwhichyouhaveaccountedinso……so……picturesqueamanner,wasintendedforandaddressedtoMr。Wilding,yousay。Andyouarepreparedtosweartoit？"
　　RuthturnedindignantlytotheBench。"MustIanswerthisman'squestions？"shedemanded。
　　"Ithink,perhaps,itwerebestyoudid,"saidtheDuke,stillshowingheralldeference。
　　SheturnedtoTrenchard,herheadhigh,hereyesfulluponhiswrinkled,cynicalface。"Iswear,then……"shebegan,buthe—consummateactorthathewasandversedintricksthatimpressanaudience—interruptedher,raisingoneofhisgnarled,yellowhands。
　　"Nay,nay,"saidhe。"Iwouldnothaveperjuryprovedagainstyou。
　　Idonotaskyoutoswear。Itwillbesufficientifyoupronounceyourselfpreparedtoswear。
　　Shepoutedherlipatrifle,herwholeexpressionmanifestinghercontemptofhim。"Iaminnofearofperjuringmyself,"sheansweredfearlessly。"AndIswearthattheletterinquestionwasaddressedtoMr。Wilding。"
　　"Asyouwill,"saidTrenchard,andwascarefulnottoaskherhowshecamebyherknowledge。"Theletter,nodoubt,wasinanouterwrapper,onwhichtherewouldbeasuperscription—thenameofthepersontowhomtheletterwasaddressed？"hehalfquestioned,andLuttrell,whosawthedriftofthequestion,noddedgravely。
　　"Nodoubt,"saidRuth。
　　"Nowyouwillacknowledge,Iamsure,madam,thatsuchawrapperwouldbeadocumentofthegreatestimportance,asimportant,indeed,astheletteritself,sincewecoulddependuponitfinallytoclearupthispointonwhichwediffer。Youwilladmitsomuch,Ithink？"
　　"Why,yes,"sheanswered,buthervoicefalteredalittle,andherglancewasnotquitesofearless。She,too,sawatlastthepithehaddugforher。Heleanedforward,smilingquietly,hisvoiceimpressivelysubdued,andlaunchedtheboltthatwastoannihilatethecredibilityofthestoryshehadtold。