Theypoundedonthroughthenightatabreakneckpacewhichtheyneverslackeneduntil,whenwithinaquarterofamileorsoofPenzoyPound,wherethearmywasencampedandslumberingbynow,theycaughtsightofthemusketeers\'matchesglowinginthedarkaheadofthem。Anoutpostbarredtheirprogress;butRichardhadthewatchword,andhespurredaheadshouting\"Albemarle,\"andthesoldiersfellbackandgavethempassage。Ontheygalloped,skirtingPenzoyPoundandthearmysleepinginUtterunconsciousnessofthefatethatwascreepingstealthilyuponitoutofthedarknessandmistsacrossthemoors;theyclatteredonpastLangmoorStoneanddashedstraightintothevillage,RichardneverdrawingreinuntilhereachedthedoorofthecottagewhereFevershamwaslodged。
Theyhadcomenotonlyataheadlongpace,butinaheadlongmanner,withoutquiteconsideringwhatawaitedthemattheendoftheirrideinadditiontotheirobjectoffindingRuth。Itwasonlynow,ashedrewreinbeforethelightedhouseandcaughtthesoundofBlake\'sraisedvoicepouringthroughanopenwindowonthegroundfloor,thatRichardfullyrealizedwhatmannerofrashnesshewascommitting。HewastoolatetorescueRuthfromBlake。Whatmorecouldhelooktoachieve？
HishopehadbeenthatwithWilding\'shelphemightsnatchherfromSirRowlandbeforethelatterreachedhisdestination。Butnow—toenterFeversham\'spresenceandinassociationwithsonotoriousarebelasMr。WildingwereapieceoffollyoftheheroickindthatRicharddidnotsavour。Indeed,haditnotbeenforWilding\'smasterfulpresence,itismorethanoddshehadturnedtail,andriddenhomeagaintobed。
ButWilding,whohadleaptnimblytotheground,stoodwaitingforRichardtodismount,impatientnowthatfromthesoundofSirRowland\'svoicehehadassurancethatRichardhadprovedanableguide。Theyoungmangotdown,butmightyethavehesitatedhadnotWildingcaughthimbythearmandwhirledhimupthesteps,throughtheopendoor,pastthetwosoldierswhokeptit,andwhoweretoosurprisedtostayhim,straightintothelong,low—ceilingedchamberwhereFeversham,attendedbyacaptainofhorse,waslisteningtoBlake\'sangrynarrativeofthatnight\'sfailure。
Mr。Wilding\'sentrancewasdecidedlysensational。Hesteppedquicklyforward,and,takingBlakewhowasstilltalking,allunconsciousofthosebehindhim,bythecollarofhiscoat,heinterruptedhiminthemiddleofanimpassionedperiod,wrenchedhimbackwardsoffhisfeet,anddashedhimwithaforcealmostincredibleintoaheapinacorneroftheroom。Thereforsomemomentsthebaronetlayhalfdazedbytheshockofhisfall。