persistentrumourswhichhadcomefastupontheheelsofthenewsofArgyle\'slandinginScotland;rumourswhichmaintainedthatMonmouthhimselfwascomingoverfromHolland。ThesetalesWildingandhisassociateshadignored。TheDuke,theyknew,wastospendthesummerinretreatinSweden,with（itwasalleged）theLadyHenriettaWentworthtobearhimcompany,andinthemeantimehistrustedagentsweretopavethewayforhiscominginthefollowingspring。OflatethelackofdirectnewsfromtheDukehadbeenasourceofmystificationtohisfriendsintheWest,andnow,suddenly,theinformationwentabroad—itwassomethingmorethanrumourthistime—thataletterofthegreatestimportancehadbeenintercepted。Fromwhomthatletterproceededortowhomitwasaddressed,couldnotyetbediscovered。
ButitseemedclearthatitwasconnectedwiththeMonmouthCause,anditbehovedMr。Wildingtodiscoverwhathecould。WiththisintentherodewithTrenchardthatSundaymorningtoTaunton,hopingthatattheRedLionInn—thatmeeting—placeofdissenters—hemightcullreliableinformation。
ItwasinconsequenceofthisthatthemeetingwithRichardWestmacottwasnottotakeplaceuntiltheevening,andthereforeVallanceycamenottoLuptonHouseasearlyasRichardthoughtheshouldexpecthim。
Blake,however—morenodoubtoutofaselfishfearoflosingavaluedallyinthewinningofRuth\'shandthanoutofanyexcessiveconcernforRichardhimself—hadrisenearlyandhastenedtoLuptonHouse,inthehope,whichherecognizedasallbutforlorn,ofyetbeingabletoavertthedisasterheforesawforRichard。
Peeringovertheorchardwallasherodeby,hecaughtaglimpse,throughanopeningbetweenthetrees,ofRuthherselfandDianaonthelawnbeyond。Therewasawicketgatethatstoodunlatched,andavailinghimselfofthisSirRowlandtetheredhishorseinthelaneandthreadinghiswaybrisklythroughtheorchardcamesuddenlyuponthegirls。Theirlaughterreachedhimasheadvanced,andtoldhimtheycouldknownothingyetofRichard\'sdanger。