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。