assistedbyDianaandLadyHorton—madepreparationforhermarriageasspiritedwomenhavemadepreparationforthescaffold,determinedtoshowtheworldabrave,sereneexterior。ThesacrificewasnecessaryforRichard\'ssake。Thatwasathinglongsincedetermined。YetitwouldhavebeensomecomforttohertohavehadRichardatherside;
itwouldhavelentherstrengthtohavehadhiskissofthanksfortheholocaustwhichforhimshewasmakingofallthatawomanholdsmostdearandsacred。ButRichardwasaway—hehadbeenabsentsinceyesterday,andnonecouldtellherwherehetarried。
WithLadyHortonandDianashetookherwaytoSaintMary\'sChurchatnoon,andthereshefoundMr。Wilding—veryfineinasuitofsky—bluesatin,lacedwithsilver—awaitingher。AndwithhimwasoldLordGervaseScoresby,hisfriendandcousin,theveryincarnationofbenignityandruddyhealth。
ForawonderNickTrenchardwasnotatMr。Wilding\'sside。ButNickhaddefinitelyrefusedtobeoftheparty,emphasizinghisrefusalbycertainchoicereflectionswhollyunflatteringtothemarriedstate。
Someidlersofthetownweretheonlywitnesses—andlittledidtheyguesstheextentofthetragedytheywerewitnessing。Therewasnomusic,andtheceremonywasbriefandsoonatanend。Theonlytouchofjoy,offestiveness,wasthataffordedbythechoicebloomswithwhichMr。Wildinghadsmotherednaveandchoirandaltar—rails。
Theirperfumehungheavyasincenseinthetemple。
\"Whogiveththiswomantobemarriedtothisman？\"dronedtheparson\'svoice,andWildingsmileddefiantlyasmilewhichseemedtoanswerhim,\"Noman。Ihavetakenherformyself。\"
LordGervasestoodforwardashersponsor,andasinadreamRuthfeltherhandlyinginMr。Wilding\'scool,firmgrasp。
Theecclesiastic\'svoicedronedon,hisvoicehanginglikethehumofsomegreatInsectuponthescentedair。Itwasaccomplished,andtheywereweldedeachtotheotheruntildeathshouldpartthem。
Downthefestoonednaveshecameonhisarm,herstepunfaltering,herfacecalm;blackmiseryinherheart。BehindfollowedherauntandcousinandLordGervase。OnMr。Wilding\'saquilinefaceapalesmileglimmered,likeabeamofmoonlightupontranquilwaters,anditabodethereuntiltheyreachedtheporchandweresuddenlyconfrontedbyNickTrenchard,redoffaceforonce,perspiring,excited,anddust—stainedfromheadtofoot。
Hehadarrivedthatveryinstant;and,urgedbythefearfulnewsthatbroughthim,hehadcomeresolvedtopluckWildingfromthealtarbetheceremonydoneornot。ButinthathereckonedwithoutMr。Wilding—forheshouldhaveknownhimbetterthantohavehopedtosucceed。
Hesteppedforwardnow,andgrippedhimwithhisdustyglovebythesleeveofhisshimmeringbridegroom\'scoat。Hisvoicecameharshwithexcitementandsmoulderingrage。
\"Awordwithyou,Anthony！\"
Mr。Wildingturnedplacidlytoregardhim。\"Whatnow？\"heasked,hisbride\'shandretainedinthecrookofhiselbow。
\"Treachery！\"snappedTrenchardinawhisper。\"Hellanddamnation！
Stepaside,man。\"
Mr。WildingturnedtoLordGervase,andbeggedofhimtotakechargeofMistressWilding。\"Ideplorethisinterruption,\"hetoldher,nowhitruffledbywhathehadheard。\"ButIshallrejoinyousoon。Meanwhile,hislordshipwilldothehonoursforme。ThislasthesaidwithhiseyesmovingtoLadyHortonandherdaughter。
LordGervase,insomesurprise,butoverruledbyhiscousin\'scalm,tookthebrideonhisarmandledherfromthechurchyardtothewaitingcarriage。Tothishehandedher,andafterherherauntandcousin。
Then,mountinghimself,theydroveaway,leavingWildingandTrenchardamongthetombstones,whitherthemessengerofevilhadmeanwhileledhisfriend。Trenchardrappedouthisstorybriefly。
\"Shenke,\"saidhe,\"whowasridingfromLymewithlettersforyoufromtheDuke,wasrobbedofhisdispatcheslatelastnightamileorsothissideTaunton。\"
\"Highwaymen？\"inquiredMr。Wilding,histonecalm,thoughhisglancehadhardened。
\"Highwaymen？No！Governmentagentsbelike。Thereweretwoofthem,hesays—forIhavethetalefromhimself—andtheymethimattheHareandHoundsatTaunton,wherehestayedtosuplastnight。Oneofthemgavehimthepassword,andheconceivedhimtobeafriend。
Butafterwards,growingsuspicious,herefusedtotellthemtoomuch。
Theyfollowedhim,itappears,andontheroadtheyovertookandfelluponhim;theyknockedhimfromhishorse,possessedthemselvesofthecontentsofhiswallet,andlefthimfordead—withhisheadbroken。\"
Mr。Wildingdrewasharpbreath。Hiswitsworkedquickly。Hewas,herealized,indeadlyperil。OnethoughthegavetoRuth。Iftheworstcametopassherewasonewhowouldrejoiceinherfreedom。
Thereflectioncutthroughhimlikeasword。Hewouldbeloathtodieuntilhehadtaughthertoregrethim。ThenhismindreturnedtowhatTrenchardhadtoldhim。
\"YousaidaGovernmentagent,\"hemusedslowly。\"HowwouldaGovernmentagentknowthepassword？\"
Trenchard\'smouthfellopen。\"Ihadnotthought……\"hebegan。Thenendedwithanoath。\"`Tisatraitorfrominside。\"
Wildingnodded。\"ItmustbeoneofthosewhometatWhiteLackingtonthreenightsago,\"heanswered。
Idlers—thewitnessesofthewedding—werewatchingthemwithinterestfromthepath,andothersfromoverthelowwallofthechurchyard,aswelltheymight,forMr。Wilding\'sbehaviourwas,forabridegroom,extraordinary。Trencharddidnotrelishtheaudience。
\"Wehadbestaway,\"saidhe。\"Indeed,\"headded,\"wehadbestoutofEnglandaltogetherbeforethehueandcryisraised。Thebubble\'spricked。\"
Wilding\'shandfellonhisarm,anditsgraspwassteady。Wilding\'seyesmethis,andtheirgazewascalm。
\"Wherehaveyoubestowedthismessenger？\"quothhe。
\"HeishereinBridgwater,inbed,attheBellInn,whencehesentforyoutoZoylandChase。Suspectingtrouble,Irodetohimatoncemyself。\"
\"Come,then,\"saidWilding。\"We\'llgotalkwithhim。Thismatterneedsprobingerewedecideonflight。Youdonotseemtohavesoughttodiscoverwhowerethethieves,norothermattersthatitmaybeofusetoknow。\"
\"Ratme！\"sworeTrenchard。\"Iwasinhastetobringyounewsofit。
Besides,therewereotherthingstotalkof。ThereisnewsthatAlbemarlehasgonetoExeter,andthatSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrellhavebeenorderedtoTauntonbytheKing。\"
Mr。Wildingstaredathimwithsuddendismay。
\"Odso！\"heexclaimed。\"IsKingJamestakingfrightatlast？\"Thenheshruggedhisshouldersandlaughed;\"Pshaw！\"hecried。\"Theyarestartingatashadow。\"
\"Heavensend,\"prayedTrenchard,\"thattheshadowdoesnotprovetohaveasubstanceimmediatelybehindit。\"
\"Folly！\"saidWilding。\"WhenMonmouthcomes,indeed,weshallnotlackforewarning。Come,\"headdedbriskly。\"We\'llseethismessengerandendeavourtodiscoverwhowerethesefellowsthatbesethim。\"AndhedrewTrenchardfromamongthetombstonestotheopenpath,andthusfromthechurchyardandtheeyesofthegapingonlookers。
CHAPTERVIII
BRIDEANDGROOM
Andsothebridegroom,inallhisweddingfinery,madehiswaywithTrenchardtotheBellInn,intheHighStreet,whilsthisbride,escortedbyLordGervase,wasbeingdriventoZoylandChase,ofwhichshewasnowthemistress。
Butshewasnotdestinedjustyettocrossitsthreshold。Forscarcelyweretheyovertheriverwhenahorsemanbarredtheirway,andcalleduponthedrivertopullup。LadyHorton,inapanic,huddledherselfinthegreatcoachandspokeoftobymen,whilstLordGervasethrusthisheadfromthewindowtodiscoverthattheriderwhostayedtheirprogresswasRichardWestmacott。Hislordshiphailedtheboy,who,thereupon,walkedhishorsetothecarriagedoor。
\"LordGervase,\"saidhe,\"willyoubidthecoachmanputaboutanddrivetoLuptonHouse？\"
LordGervasestaredathiminhopelessbewilderment。\"DrivetoLuptonHouse？\"heechoed。Themorehesawofthisoddwedding,thelessheunderstoodofit。ItseemedtotheplacidoldgentlemanthathewasfallenamongaparcelofBedlamites。\"Surely,sir,itisforMistressWildingtosaywhithershewillbedriven,\"andhedrewinhisheadandturnedtoRuthforhercommands。But,bewilderedherself,shehadnonetogivehim。Itwasherturntoleanfromthecarriagewindowtoaskherbrotherwhathemeant。
\"Imeanyouaretodrivehomeagain,\"saidhe。\"ThereissomethingImusttellyou。WhenyouhaveheardmeitshallbeyourstodecidewhetheryouwillproceedornottoZoylandChase。\"
Herstodecide？Howwasthatpossible？Whatcouldhemean？Shepressedhimwithsomesuchquestions。
\"Itmeans,inshort,\"heansweredimpatiently,\"thatIholdyoursalvationinmyhands。Fortherest,thisisnotthetimeorplacetotellyoumore。Bidthefellowputabout。\"
Ruthsatbackandlookedoncemoreathercompanions。Butfromnonedidshereceivetheleasthelpfulsuggestion。LadyHortonmadegreatprattletolittlepurpose;LordGervasefollowedherexample,whilstDiana,whosealertiftrivialmindwastheonethatmighthaveofferedassistance,satsilent。Ruthpondered。ShebethoughtherofTrenchard\'ssuddenarrivalatSaintMary\'s,hisdust—stainedpersonandexcitedmanner,andofhowhehaddrawnMr。Wildingasidewithnewsthatseemedofmoment。Andnowherbrotherspokeofsavingher;
itwasalittlelateforthat,shethought。Outsidethecoachhisvoicestillurgedher,anditgrewpeevishandangry,aswasusualwhenhewascrossed。Intheendsheconsentedtodohiswill。Ifsheweretofathomthismysterythatwasthickeningaboutherthereseemedtobenoothercourse。SheturnedtoLordGervase。
\"WillyoudoasRichardsays？\"shebeggedhim。
Hislordshipblewouthischubbycheeksinhisastonishment;hehesitatedamoment,thinkingofhiscousinWilding;then,withashrug,heleanedfromthewindowandgavetheordershedesired。Thecarriageturnedabout,andwithRichardfollowinglumberedbackacrossthebridgeandthroughthetowntoLuptonHouse。AtthedoorLordGervasetookhisleaveofthem。HehadactedasRuthhadbiddenhim;
buthehadnowishtobefurtherinvolvedinthisaffair,whateveritmightportend。RatherwasithisdutyatoncetogoacquaintMr。
Wilding—ifhecouldfindhim—withwhatwastakingplace,andleaveittoMr。Wildingtotakewhatmeasuresmightseembesttohim。Hetoldthemso,andhavingtoldthem,leftthem。
Richardbeggedtobealonewithhissister,andalonetheypassedtogetherintothelibrary。Hismannerwasrestless;hetrembledwithexcitement,andhiseyesglitteredalmostfeverishly。
\"Youmayhavethought,Ruth,thatIwasresignedtoyourmarriagewiththisfellowWilding,\"hebegan;\"orthatforotherreasonsI
thoughtitwisernottointerfere。Ifyouthoughtthatyouwrongedme。I—BlakeandI—havebeenatworkforyouduringtheselastdays,andIrejoicetosayourlabourshavenotbeenidle。\"Hismannergrewassertive,boastful,asheproceeded。
\"Youknow,ofcourse,\"saidshe,\"thatIammarried。\"
Hemadeagestureofdisdain。\"Nomatter,\"saidheexultantly。
\"Itmatterssomething,Ithink,\"sheanswered。\"ORichard,Richard,whydidyounotcometomesoonerifyoupossessedthemeansofsparingmethisthing？\"
Heshruggedimpatiently;herremonstranceseemedtothrowhimoutoftemper。\"Oons！\"hecried;\"Icameassoonaswaseverpossible,and,dependuponit,Iamnotcometoolate。Indeed,IthinkIamcomeintheverynickoftime。\"Hedrewasheetofpaperfromaninsidepocketofhiscoatandslappeditdownuponthetable。\"Thereisthewherewithaltohangyourfinehusband,\"heannouncedintriumph。
Sherecoiled。\"Tohanghim？\"sheechoed。WithallheraversiontoMr。Wildingitwasplainshedidnotwishhimhanged。
\"Aye,tohanghim,\"Richardrepeated,anddrewhimselftothefullheightofhisshortstatureinprideatthethinghehadachieved。
\"Readit。\"
Shetookthepaperalmostmechanically,andforsomemomentsshestudiedthecrabbedsignaturebeforerealizingwhoseitwas。Thenshestarted。
\"FromtheDukeofMonmouth！\"sheexclaimed。
Helaughed。\"Readit,\"hebadeheragain,thoughtherewasnoneedfortheinjunction,foralreadyshewasdecipheringthecrabbedhandandtheatrociousspelling—forHisGraceofMonmouth\'seducationhadbeennotoriouslyneglected。Theletter,whichwasdatedfromTheHague,wasaddressed\"TomygoodfriendW。,atBridgwater。\"Itbegan,\"Sir,\"
spokeoftheimminentarrivalofHisGraceintheWest,andgavecertaininstructionsforthecollectionofarmsandtheworkofpreparingmenforenlistmentinhisCause,endingwithprotestationsofHisGrace\'sfriendshipandesteem。
Ruthreadtheepistletwicebeforeitstreasonablenaturewasmadecleartoher;beforesheunderstoodthethingthatwasforeshadowed。Thensheraisedtroubledeyestoherbrother\'sface,andinanswertothequestionofherglancehemadecleartohertheshrewdmeansbywhichtheyhadbecomepossessedofthisweaponthatshoulddestroytheirenemyMr。
Wilding。
Blakeandhe,forewarned—hesaidnothow—ofthecomingofthismessenger,hadlaininwaitforhimattheHareandHounds,atTaunton。
Theyhadsoughtatfirsttobecomepossessedoftheletterwithoutviolence。But,havingfailedinthisthroughhavingarousedthemessenger\'ssuspicions,theyhadbeenforcedtofollowandattackhimonalonelystretchofroad,wheretheyhadrobbedhimofthecontentsofhiswallet。Richardaddedthattheletterwas,nodoubt,oneofseveralsentoverbyMonmouthtosomefriendatLymefordistributionamonghisprincipalagentsintheWest。Itwasregrettablethattheyshouldhaveendeavouredtotakegentlemeasureswiththecourier,asthishadforewarnedhim,andhehadapparentlybeenledtoremovetheletter\'souterwrapper—which,nodoubt,boreWilding\'sfullnameandaddress—againstthechanceofsuchanattackastheyhadmadeuponhim。Nevertheless,asitwas,thatletter\"tomygoodfriendW。,\"
backedbyRichard\'sandBlake\'sevidenceofthedestinationintendedforit,wouldbemorethanenoughtolayMr。Wildingsafelybytheheels。
\"IwouldtoHeaven,\"herepeatedinconclusion,\"Icouldhavecomeintimetosaveyoufrombecominghiswife。Butatleastitisinmypowertomakeyouveryspeedilyhiswidow。\"
\"That,\"saidRuth,stillretainingtheletter,\"iswhatyouproposetodo？\"
\"Whatelse？\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Itmustnotbe,Richard,\"shesaid。\"I\'llnotconsenttoit。\"
Takenaback,hestaredather;thenlaughedunpleasantly。\"Oddsmylife！Areyouinlovewiththeman？Haveyoubeenfoolingus？\"
\"No,\"sheanswered。\"ButI\'llbenopartytohismurder。\"
\"Murder,quotha！Whotalksofmurder？\"Hershrewdeyessearchedhisface。\"HowcameyoubyyourknowledgethatthiscourierrodetoMr。
Wilding？\"sheaskedhimsuddenly,andtheswiftchangethatoverspreadhiscountenanceshowedherthatshehadtouchedhiminatenderspot,assuredherofthethingshehadsuddenlycometosuspect—asuspicionwhichatthesametimestartedfromandexplainedmuchthathadbeenmysteriousinRichard\'swaysoflate。\"Youhadknowledgeofthisconspiracy,shepursued,answeringherownquestionbeforehehadtimetospeak,\"becauseyouwereoneoftheconspirators。\"
\"AtleastIamsonolonger,\"heblurtedout。\"IthankHeavenforthat,Richard;foryourlifeisverydeartome。Butitwouldillbecomeyoutomakesuchuseasthisoftheknowledgeyoucamebyinthatmanner。
ItwereaJudas\'sact。\"Hewouldhaveinterruptedher,buthermannerdominatedhim。\"Youwillleavethisletterwithme,Richard,\"shecontinued。
\"Damnme！no……\"hebegan。
\"Ah,yes,Richard,\"sheinsisted。\"Youwillgiveittome,andIshallthankyouforthegift。Itshallproveaweaponformysalvation,neverfear。\"
\"Itshall,indeed,\"hecried,withanuglylaugh;\"whenIhaveriddentoExetertolayitbeforeAlbemarle。\"
\"Notso,\"sheansweredhim。\"Itshallbeaweaponofdefence—notofoffence。ItshallstandasabucklerbetweenmeandMr。Wilding。Trustme,Ishallknowhowtouseit。\"
\"ButthereisBlaketoconsider,\"heexpostulated,growingangry。\"Iampledgedtohim。\"
\"Yourfirstdutyistome……\"
\"Tut！\"heinterrupted。\"BlakefeelsthatheowesittohisloyaltytolaythisletterbeforetheLord—Lieutenant,and,forthatmatter,sodoI。\"
\"SirRowlandwouldnotcrossmywishesinthis,sheansweredhim。
\"Folly！\"hecried,nowthoroughlyaroused。\"Givemethatletter。\"
\"Nay,Richard,\"sheanswered,andwavedhimback。
Butheadvancednevertheless。
\"Giveitme,\"hebadeher,waxingfierce。\"Gad！Itwasfollytohavetoldyouofit。IhadnotdonesobutthatIneverthoughtyousuchafoolastoopposeyourselftothethingweintend。\"
\"Listen,Richard……\"shebesoughthim。
Buthewasgrowninsensibletopleadings。
\"Givemethatletter,\"heinsisted,andcaughtherwrist。Herotherhand,however—theonethatheldthesheet—wasalreadybehindherback。
Thedoorwassuddenlythrustopen,andDianaappeared。\"Ruth,\"sheannounced,\"Mr。Wildingishere。\"
Atthementionofthatname,Richardletherfree。\"Wilding！\"heejaculated,hisfiercenessallblownoutofhim。HehadimaginedthatalreadyMr。Wildingwouldbeinfullflight。Wasthefellowmad？
\"Heisfollowingme,\"saidDiana,and,indeed,astepcouldbeheardinthepassage。
\"Theletter！\"growledRichardinafrenzy,betweenfearandangernow。
\"Giveitme！Giveitmedoyouhear？\"
\"Sh！You\'llbetrayyourself,\"shecried。\"Heishere。\"
AndatthatsamemomentMr。Wilding\'stallfigure,stillarrayedinhisbridegroom\'sfineryofsky—bluesatin,loomedinthedoorway。Hewassereneandcalmasever。Neitherthediscoveryoftheplotbytheabstractionofthemessenger\'sletter,norRuth\'sstrangeconduct—ofwhichhehadheardfromLordGervase—hadsufficedtoruffle,outwardlyatleast,theinscrutableserenityofhisairandmanner。Hepausedtomakehisbow,thenadvancedintotheroom,withapassingglanceatRichardstillspurredandbootedandalldust—stained。
\"Youappeartohaveriddenfar,Dick,\"saidhe,smiling,andRichardshiveredinspiteofhimselfatthemockingnotethatseemedtoringfaintlyatthewords。\"Isawyourfriend,SirRowland,inthegarden,\"headded。\"Ithinkhewaitsforyou。
ThoughRichardcouldnotfailtoapprehendtheimplieddismissal,hewasmindedatfirsttodisregardit。ButMr。Wilding,turning,heldthedoor,addressingDiana。
\"MistressHorton,saidhe,\"willyougiveusleave？\"
Dianacurtsiedandpassedout,andMr。Wilding\'seyefallinguponthelingeringRichardatthatmoment,Richardthoughtitbesttofollowherexample。Buthewentwithrageinhisheartatbeingforcedtoleavethatpreciousdocumentbehindhim。
AsMr。Wilding,hisbacktoheramoment,closedthedoor,Ruthslippedthepaperhurriedlyintothebosomofherlow—neckedgown。Heturnedtoher,calmbutverygrave,andhisdarkeyesseemedtoreproachher。
\"Thisisilldone,Ruth,\"saidhe。
\"Illdone,orwelldone,\"sheansweredhim,\"doneitis,andshallsoremain。\"
Heraisedhisbrows。\"Ah,\"saidhe,\"Iappear,then,tohavemisapprehendedthesituation。FromwhatGervasetoldme,Iunderstooditwasyourbrotherforcedyoutoreturn。\"
\"Notforced,sir,\"sheansweredhim。
\"Induced,then,\"saidhe。\"ItbutremainsmetoinduceyoutorepairwhatIthinkwasamistake。\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Ihavereturnedhomeforgood,\"saidshe。
\"You\'llpardonme,\"saidhe,\"thatIamsoegotisticalastopreferZoylandChasetoLuptonHouse。Despitethemanifoldattractionsofthelatter,Idonotintendtotakeupmyabodehere。\"
\"Youarenotaskedto。\"
\"What,then？\"
Shehatedhimforthesmile,forhismasterfulair,whichseemedtoimplythathehumouredherbecausehescornedtouseauthority,butthatwhenhediduseit,hersmustitbetoobeyhim。Againshefeltthateverlastingcalm,arguingsuchlatentforces,wasthethingshehatedmostinhim。
\"IthinkIhadbestbeplainwithyou,\"saidshe。\"Ihavefulfilledmypartofthebargainthatwemade。Iintendtodonomore。I
promisedthatifyousparedmybrother,Iwouldgotothealtarwithyouto—day。Ihavecarriedoutmycontracttotheletter。Itisatanend。\"
\"Indeed,\"saidhe;\"Ithinkithasnotyetbegun。\"Headvancedtowardsher,andtookherhand。Sheyieldedit,unwillingthoughshewas。
\"Thisisunworthyofyou,madam,\"saidhe,histonegraveanddeferential。
\"Youthinktoescapefulfillingthespiritofyourbargainbyadheringtotheletterofit。Notso,\"heended,andshookhishead,smilinggently。\"Thecarriageisstillatyourdoor。YoureturnwithmetoZoylandChasetotakepossessionofyourhome。\"
\"Youmistake,\"saidshe,andtoreherhandfromhis。\"YousaythatwhatIhavedoneisunworthy。Iadmitit;butitiswithunworthinessthatwemustcombatunworthiness。Wasyourattitudetowardsmelessunworthy？\"
\"I\'llmakeamendsforitifyou\'llcomehome,\"saidhe。
\"Myhomeishere。Youcannotcompelme。\"
\"Ishouldbeloathto,\"headmitted,sighing。
\"Youcannot,\"sheinsisted。
\"IthinkIcan,\"saidhe。\"Thereisalaw……\"
\"Alawthatwillhangyouifyouinvokeit,\"shecutinquickly。\"ThismuchcanIsafelypromiseyou。
Shehadneedtosaynomoretotellhimeverything。AtalltimeshalfawordwasasmuchtoMr。Wildingasawholesentencetoanother。
Shesawthetighteningofhislips,thehardeningofhiseyes,beyondwhichhegavenoothersignthatshehadhithim。
\"Isee,\"saidhe。\"Itisanotherbargainthatyoumake。Idosuspectthereissometrader\'sbloodintheWestmacottveins。Letusbeclear。
Youholdthewherewithaltoruinme,andyouwilluseitifIinsistuponmyhusband\'srights。Isitnotso？\"
Shenoddedinsilence,surprisedattherapiditywithwhichhehadreadthesituation。
\"Iadmit,\"saidhe,\"thatyouhavemebetweenswordandwall。\"Helaughedshortly。\"Letmeknowmore,\"hebeggedher。\"AmItounderstandthatsolongasIleaveyouinpeace—solongasIdonotinsistuponyourbecomingmywifeinmorethanname—youwillnotwieldtheweaponthatyouhold？\"
\"Youaretounderstandso,\"sheanswered。