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。
Heconsideredamoment,hismindintentnowratherupontheDuke\'sinterestthanhisown。
\"Youknow,\"quothhe,\"thedesperateenterprisetowhichIstandcommitted。ButitisabargainbetweenusthatyoudonotbetraymenorthatenterprisesolongasIleaveyouridofmypresence。
\"ThatisthebargainIpropose,\"saidshe。
Helookedatheramomentwithhungryeyes,andshefoundhisglancealmostmorethanshecouldbear,sostrongwasitsappeal。Besides,itmaybethatshewasathoughtbeglamouredbythedangerinwhichhestood,whichseemedtoinvesthimwithacertainheroicdignity。
\"Ruth,\"hesaidatlength,\"itmaywellbethatthatwhichyoudesiremayspeedilycometopass;itmaywellbethatinthecourseofthisrebellionthatishatchingyoumaybewidowed。ButatleastIknowthatifmyheadfallsitwillnotbemywifewhohasbetrayedmetotheaxe。Forthatmuch,believeme,Iamsupremelygrateful。\"
Headvanced。Hetookherunresistinghandagainandboreittohislips,bowinglowbeforeher。Thenerectandgracefulheturnedonhisheelandlefther。
CHAPTERIX
MR。TRENCHARD\'SCOUNTERSTROKE
Now,howevermuchitmightsatisfyMr。WildingtohaveRuth\'swordforitthatsolongasheleftherinpeaceneitherhenortheCausehadanybetrayaltofearfromher,Mr。Trenchardwasofaverydifferentmind。
Hefumedandsworeandworkedhimselfintoaverypassion。\"Zoons,man！\"
hecried,\"itwouldmeanutterruintoyouifthatletterreachedWhitehall。\"
\"Irealizeit;butmymindiseasy。Ihaveherpromise。\"
\"Awoman\'spromise！\"snortedTrenchard,andproceededwithgreatcircumstanceofexpletivestodamn\"everythingthatdaggledapetticoat。\"
\"Yourfearsareidle,\"Wildingassuredhim。\"Whatshesays,shewilldo。\"
\"Andherbrother？\"quothTrenchard。\"Haveyoubethoughtyouofthatcanary—bird？He\'llknowtheletter\'swhereabouts。Hehascausetofearyoumorethanevernow。Areyousurehe\'llnotbemakinguseofittolayyoubytheheels？\"
Mr。WildingsmileduponthefuryprovokedbyTrenchard\'sconcernandloveforhim。\"Shehaspromised,\"hesaidwithaninsistentfaiththatwasfueltoTrenchard,sanger,\"andIcandependherword。\"
\"SocannotI,\"snappedhisfriend。
\"Thethingthatplaguesmemost,\"saidWilding,ignoringtheremark,\"isthatwearekeptinignoranceoftheletter\'scontentsatatimewhenwemostlongfornews。Notadoubtbutitwouldhaveenabledustosetourmindsateaseonthescoreofthesefoolishrumours。\"
\"Aye—orelseconfirmedthem,\"saidpessimisticTrenchard。Hewaggedhishead。\"TheysaytheDukehasputtoseaalready。\"
\"Folly！\"Wildingprotested。
\"Whitehallthinksotherwise。WhatofthetroopsatTaunton？\"
\"Morefolly。\"
\"Well—Iwouldyouhadthatletter。\"
\"Atleast,\"saidWilding,\"Ihavethesuperscription,andweknowfromShenkethatnonamewasmentionedintheletteritself。\"
\"There\'sevidenceenoughwithoutit,\"`Trenchardremindedhim,andfellsoonafterintoabstraction,turningoverinhismindanotionwithwhichhehadsuddenlybeeninspired。ThatnotionkeptTrenchardsecretlyoccupiedforacoupleofdays;butintheendhesucceededinperfectingit。
NowitbefellthattowardsduskoneeveningearlyintheweekRichardWestmacottwentabroadalone,aswascommonlyhishabit,hisgoalbeingtheSaracen\'sHead,whereheandSirRowlandspentmanyanightoverwineandcards—toSirRowland\'smoderateprofit,forhehadnotplayedthepigeonintownsolongwithouthavingacquiredsufficientknowledgetoenablehimtoplaytherookinthecountry。AsWestmacottwaspassinguptheHighStreet,ablackshadowfellathwartthelightthatstreamedfromthedooroftheBellInn,andoutthroughthedoorwaylurchedMr。TrenchardathoughtunsteadilytohurtlesoviolentlyagainstRichardthathebrokethelongstemofthewhiteclaypipehewascarrying。NowRichardwasnottoknowthatMr。Trenchard—havinginformedhimselfofMr。Westmacott\'seveninghabits—hadbeenwaitingforthepasthalf—hourinthatdoorwayhopingthatMr。Westmacottwouldnotdepartthiseveningfromhisusualcustom。AnotherthingthatMr。
Westmacottwasnottoknow—consideringhisyouth—wasthesingularhistrionicabilitywhichthisoldrakehaddisplayedinthoseyoungerdaysofhiswhenhehadbeenaplayer,andthefurthercircumstancethathehadexcelledinthosepartsinwhichebrietywastobecounterfeited。Indeed,wehaveitonthewordofnolessanauthorityontheatricalmattersthanMr。PepysthatMr。NicholasTrenchard\'sappearanceasPistolin\"HenryIV\"intheyearoftheblessedRestorationwasthetalkalikeoftownandcourt。
Mr。Trenchardsteadiedhimselffromtheimpact,and,swearingaroundandawfulElizabethanoath,accusedtheotherofbeingdrunk,thenstruckanattitudetodemandwithtruculence,\"Wouldyetakethewallo\'me,sir？\"
Richardhastenedtomakehimselfknowntothisturbulentroysterer,whostraightwayforgothisgrievancetotakeWestmacottaffectionatelybythehandandoverwhelmhimwithapologies。Andthatdone,Trenchard—whoaffectedtheconditionknownasmaudlindrunk—mustneedsprotestalmostintearshowprofoundwashisloveforRichard,andinsistthattheboyreturnwithhimtotheBellInn,thattheymightpledgeeachother。
Richard,himselfsober,wascontemptuousofTrenchardsoobviouslyobfuscated。Atfirstitwashisimpulsetoexcusehimself,aspossiblyBlakemightbealreadywaitingforhim;butonsecondthoughts,rememberingthatTrenchardwasMr。Wilding\'smostintimatefamulus,itoccurredtohimthatbyalittlecraftyquestioninghemightsucceedinsmokingMr。Wilding\'sintentionsinthematterofthatletter—forfromhissisterhehadfailedtogetsatisfaction。Sohepermittedhimselftobeledindoorstoatablebythewindowwhichstoodvacant。
Therewereatthetimeadozenguestsorsointhecommon—room。
Trenchardbawledforwineandbrandy,andforallthathebabbledinanirresponsible,foolishmannerofallthingsthatwereofnomatter,yetnotthemostadroitofpumpingcouldelicitfromhimanysuchinformationasRichardsought。PerforceyoungWestmacottmustremain,plyinghimwithmoreandmoredrink—andbeingpliedinhisturn—totheendthathemightnotwastetheoccasion。
AnhourlaterfoundRichardmuchtheworseforwear,andTrenchardcertainlynobetter。Richardforgothispurpose,forgotthatBlakewaitedforhimattheSaracen\'sHead。AndnowTrenchardseemedtobepullinghimselftogether。
\"Iwanttotalktoyou,Richard,\"saidhe,andalthoughthick,therewasinhisvoiceacertainimpressivequalitythathadbeenabsenthitherto。\"`Sarumourcurrent。\"Heloweredhisvoicetoawhisperalmost,and,leaningacross,tookhiscompanionbythearm。Hehiccoughednoisily,thenbeganagain。\"`Sarumourcurrent,sweetheart,thatyou\'redisaffected。\"
Richardstarted,andhismindflappedandstruggledlikeatrappedbirdtoescapethemeshesofthewine,totheendthathemightconvincinglydefendhimselffromsuchanimputation—sodangerouslytrue。
\"`Salie！\"hegasped。
Trenchardshutoneeyeandowlishlysurveyedhiscompanionwiththeother。\"Theysay,\"headded,\"thatyou\'reforforsaking`Duke\'sparty。\"
\"Villainous！\"Richardprotested。\"I\'llsli\'throatofanyman`tsaysso。\"Anddrainingthepewterathiselbow,hesmasheditdownonthetabletoemphasizehisseriousness。
Trenchardreplenisheditwiththeutmostpromptness,thensatbackinhistallchairandpulledamomentatthefreshpipewithwhichhehadequippedhimself。
IthinkIespy,\"\'hequotedpresently,\"`virtueandvalourcrouchedinthineeye。\'Andyet……,andyet……ifIhadcausetothinkittrue,I\'d……I\'drunyouthroughthevitals—jus\'so,\"andheproddedRichard\'swaistcoatwiththepointofhispipe—stem。Hisswarthyfacedarkened,hiseyesglitteredfiercely。\"Areyesureye\'renorrerfoultraitor？\"hedemandedsuddenly。\"Arey\'sure,forifye\'renot……\"
Helefttheterriblemenaceunuttered,butitwasnonethelessunderstood。ItpenetratedthevinousfogthatbesetthebrainofRichard,andstartledhim。
\"`SwearI\'mnot！\"hecried。\"`Swearmos\'solemnlyI\'mnot。\"
\"Swear？\"echoedTrenchard,andhisscowlgrewdarkerstill。\"Swear？
Amanmayswearandyetlie—`amanmaysmileandsmileandbeavillain。\'I\'llhaveproofofyourloyaltytous。I\'llhaveproof,orasthere\'saheavenaboveandahellbelow,I\'llripyouup。\"
Hismienwasterrific,andhisvoicethemorethreateninginthatitwasnotraisedaboveawhisper。
Richardsatbackappalled,afraid。
\"Wha\'……whatproof\'llsatisfyyou？\"heasked。
Trenchardconsideredit,pullingathispipeagain。\"PledgemetheDuke,\"saidheatlength。\"Ther\'struth`nwine。PledgemetheDukeandconfusiontoHisMajestythegoldfinch。\"Richardreachedforhispewter,gladthatthetestwastobesolight。\"Uponyourfeet,man,\"
grumbledTrenchard。\"Onyourfeet,andseethatyourwordshavearingoftruthinthem。\"
Richarddidashewasbidden,thelittlereasonlefthimbeingconcentratedwhollyontheconvincingofhisfellowtippler。Herosetohisfeet,sounsteadilythathischairfelloverwithabang。Heneverheededit,butothersintheroomturnedatthesound,andahushfellinthechamber。DominatingthiscameRichard\'svoice,stridentwithintensity,ifthickofutterance。
\"DownwithPopery,andGodsavetheProtestantDuke！\"hecried。\"DownwithPopery！\"AndhelookedatTrenchardforapplause,andassurancethatTrenchardnolongerthoughttherewascausetoquarrelwithhim。
Behindhimtherewasastirintheroomthatwentunheededbytheboy。
Mennudgedtheirneighbours;somelookedfrightenedandsomegrinnedatthetreasonablewords。
AswiftchangecameoverTrenchard。Hisdrunkennessfellfromhimlikeadiscardedmantle。Hesatlikeamanamazed。Thenheheavedhimselftohisfeetinafury,andsmasheddownhispipestemonthewoodentable,sendingitsfragmentsflying。
\"Damnme！\"heroared。\"HaveIsatattablewithatraitor？\"AndhethrustatRichardwithhisopenpalm,lightlyyetwithsufficientforcetothrowRichardoffhisprecariousbalanceandsendhimsprawlingonthesandedfloor。Menrosefromthetablesaboutandapproachedthem,somefewamused,butthemajorityverygrave。Dodsley,thelandlord,camehurryingtoassistRichardtohisfeet。
\"Mr。Westmacott,\"hewhisperedintherashfool\'sear,\"youwerebestaway。\"
Richardstoodup,leaninghisfullweightuponthearmthelandlordhadabouthiswaist。Hepassedahandoverhisbrow,asiftobrushasidetheveilthatobscuredhiswits。Whathadhappened？Whathadhesaid？
WhathadTrencharddone？Whydidthesefellowsstandandgapeathim？
Heheardhiscompanion\'svoice,raisedtoaddressthecompany。
\"Gentlemen,\"heheardhimsay,\"ItrustthereisnonepresentwillimputetomeanyshareinsuchtreasonablesentimentsasMr。Westmacotthasexpressed。Butifthereisanywhoquestionsmyloyalty,Ihaveaconvincingargumentforhim—inmyscabbard。\"Andhestruckhissword—hiltwithhisfist。
Thenheclappedonhishat,aslantoverthelocksofhisgoldenwig,and,takinguphiswhip,hemovedwithleisurelydignitytowardsthedoor。Helookedbackwithasardonicsmileattheadohewasleavingbehindhim,listenedamomenttothevoicesthatalreadywerebeingraisedinexcitement,thenclosedthedoorandmadehiswaybrisklytothestable—yard,wherehecalledforhishorse。HerodeoutofBridgwatertenminuteslater,andtooktheroadtoTauntonasthemoonwasrisingbigandyellowoverthehillsonhisleft。HereachedTauntontowardsteno\'clockthatnight,havingriddenhell—to—leather。
HisfirstvisitwastotheHareandHounds,whereBlakeandWestmacotthadovertakenthecourier。HisnexttothehousewhereSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrell—thegentlemenlatelyorderedtoTauntonbyHisMajesty—hadtheirlodging。
ThefruitsofMr。Trenchard\'sextraordinarybehaviourthatnightweretobeseenatanearlyhouronthefollowingday,whenaconstableandthreetything—mencamewithaLord—Lieutenant\'swarranttoarrestMr。
RichardWestmacottonachargeofhightreason。Theyfoundtheyoungmanstillabed,andmostguiltywashispanicwhentheybadehimriseanddresshimself—thoughlittledidhedreamofthefullextenttowhichMr。Trenchardhadenmeshedhim,orindeedthatMr。Trenchardhadanyhandatallinthisaffair。Whattimehewasgettingintohisclotheswithatything—manoutsidehisdoorandanotheronguardunderhiswindow,theconstableandhisthirdmyrmidonmadeanexhaustivesearchofthehouse。Alltheyfoundofinterestwasalettersigned\"Monmouth,\"whichtheytookfromthesecretdrawerofasecretaryinthelibrary;butthat,itseemed,wasalltheysought,forhavingfoundit,theyproceedednofurtherwiththeirrecklessanddestructiveransacking。
WiththatletterandthepersonofRichardWestmacott,theconstableandhismentooktheirdeparture,androdebacktoTaunton,leavingalarmandsoredistressatLuptonHouse。InherdespairpoorRuthwasallforfollowingherbrother,inthehopethatatleastbygivingevidenceofhowthatlettercameintohispossessionshemightdosomethingtoassisthim。Butknowing,asshedid,thathehadhadhisshareinthetreasonthatwashatching,shehadcausetofearthathisguiltwouldnotlackforotherproofs。ItwasDianawhourgedhertorepairinsteadtotheonlymanuponwhoseresourceshemightdepend,providedhewerewillingtoexertit。ThatmanwasAnthonyWilding,andwhetherDianaurgeditfrommotivesofherownoroutofconcernforRichard,itwouldbedifficulttosaywithcertainty。
Theverythoughtofgoingtohimforaid,afterallthathadpassed,wasrepugnanttoRuth。Andyetwhatchoicehadshe？ConvincedbyhercousinandurgedbyheraffectionanddutytoRichard,sherepressedheraversion,and,callingforahorse,rodeouttoZoylandChase,attendedbyagroom。Wildingbygoodfortunewasathome,hardatworkuponamassofdocumentsinthatsamelibrarywhereshehadtalkedwithhimontheoccasionofherfirstvisittohishome—tothehomeofwhichsherememberedthatshewasnow,herself,themistress。
HewaspreparingforcirculationintheWestamassoflibelsandincendiarypamphletscalculatedtoforwardthecauseoftheProtestantDuke。
Dissemblinghissurprise,hebadeoldWalters—wholeftherwaitinginthehailwhilsthewenttoannounceher—toadmitherinstantly,andheadvancedtothedoortoreceiveandwelcomeher。
\"Ruth,\"saidhe,andhisfacewasoddlyalight,\"youhavecomeatlast。\"
Shesmiledawansmileofself—pity。\"Ihavebeenconstrained,\"saidshe,andtoldhimwhathadhappened;thatherbrotherhadbeenarrestedforhightreason,andthattheconstableinsearchingthehousehadcomeupontheMonmouthlettershehadlockedawayinherdesk。
\"Andnotadoubt,\"sheended,\"butitwillbebelievedthatitwastoRichardtheletterwasinditedbytheDuke。Youwillrememberthatitsonlyaddresswas`tomygoodfriend,W。,\'andthatwillstandforWestmacottaswellasWilding。\"
Mr。Wildingwasfaintolaughattheironyofthissurprisingturnofthingsofwhichshebroughthimnews;forhehadneitherknowledgenorsuspicionofthemachinationsofhisfriendTrenchard,towhichtheseeventsweredue。Butnotingandrespectingheranxietyforherbrother,hecurbedhisnaturalamusement。
\"Itisajudgmentuponyou,\"saidhe,nevertheless。
\"Doyouexult？\"sheaskedindignantly。
\"No;butIcannotrepressmyadmirationforthewaysofDivineJustice。
Ifyouarecometomeforadvice,Icanbutsuggestthatyoushouldfollowyourbrother\'scaptorstoTaunton,andinformthelieutenantsofhowthelettercameintoyourpower。
Shelookedathiminangeralmostatwhatseemedacallousness。\"Wouldhebelieveme,thinkyou？\"
\"Belikehewouldnot,\"saidMr。Wilding。\"Youcanbuttry。\"
\"IfItoldthemitwasaddressedtoyou,\"shesaid,eyeinghimsternly,\"doesitnotoccurtoyouthattheywouldsendforyoutoquestionyou,andthatiftheydidso,asyouareagentlemanyoucouldnotlieawaymybrother\'slife。\"
\"Why,yes,\"saidhequitecalmly,\"itdoesoccurtome。Butdoesitnotoccurtoyouthatbythetimetheycameheretheywouldfindmegone？\"Helaughedatherdismay。\"Ithankyou,madam,forthiswarning,\"headded。\"IthinkI\'llbidthemsaddleformewithoutdelay。
ToolongalreadyhaveItarried。\"
\"AndmustRichardhang？\"sheaskedhimfiercely。
Mr。Wildingproducedasnuffboxoftortoiseshellandgold。Heopeneditdeliberately。\"Ifhedoes,you\'lladmitthathewillhangonthegallowsthathehasbuilthimself—althoughintendedforanother。
I\'faith！He\'snotthefirstboobytobecaughtinhisownspringe。
Thereisinthisameasureofpoeticjustice。Poetryandjustice！Doyouknow,Ruth,theyaretwothingsIhaveeverloved？\"AndhetookapinchofchoiceBergamot。
\"Willyoubeserious？\"shedemanded。
\"Trenchardwouldtellyouthatitweretomakeanexceptionfromtheruleofmylife,\"heassuredher,smiling。\"YeteventhatmightIdoatyourbidding。\"
\"Butthisisaseriousmatter,\"shetoldhimangrily。\"ForRichard,\"
heacknowledged,closinghissnuffboxwithasnap。\"Tellme,whatwouldyouhavemedo？\"
Sinceheaskedherthus,sheansweredhimintwowords。\"Savehim。\"
\"Atthecostofmyownneck？\"quothhe。\"Thepriceishigh,\"heremindedher。\"DoyouthinkthatRichardisquiteworthit？\"
\"Andareyoutosaveyourselfatthecostofhis？\"shecounter—questioned。
\"Areyoucapableofsuchabaseness？\"
Helookedatherthoughtfullyamoment。\"Youhavenotreflected,\"saidheslowly,\"thatinthisaffairisinvolvedmorethanmineorRichard\'slife。Thereisagreatcauseweighinginthebalanceagainstallpersonalconsiderations。IfIaccountedRichardofmorevaluetoMonmouththanIammyself,Ishouldnothesitateinridingtosethimfreebytakinghisplace。Asitis,however,IthinkIamofthegreatestconceivableimportancetoHisGrace,whilstiftwentyRichardsperished—frankly—theirlosswouldbesomethingofagain,forRichardhasplayedatraitor\'spartalready。Thatiswithmethefirstofallconsiderations。\"
\"AmIofnoconsiderationtoyou？\"sheaskedhim。Andinanagonyofterrorforherbrothershenowapproachedhim,and,obeyingasuddenimpulse,castherselfuponherkneesbeforehim。\"Listen！\"shecried。
\"Notthus,\"saidhe,afrownbetweenhiseyes。Hetookherbytheelbowsandgentlybutveryfirmlybroughthertoherfeetagain。\"Itisnotfittingyoushouldkneelsaveatyourprayers。
Shewasstandingnow,andveryclosetohim,hishandsstillheldherelbows,thoughtheirtouchwassolightthatshescarcefeltit。Toreleasethemwaseasy,andthenextsecondherhandswereonhisshoulders,herbraveeyesraisedtohim。
\"Mr。Wilding,\"sheimploredhim,\"you\'llnotletRichardbedestroyed？\"
Helookeddownatherwithkindlingglance,hisarmsslippedroundherlissomwaist。\"Itishardtodenyyou,Ruth,\"saidhe。\"Yetnotmyloveofmyownlifecompelsme;butmyduty,myloyaltytothecausetowhichIampledged。IwereatraitorwereInowtoplacemyselfinperil。\"
Shepressed。againsthim,herfacesoclosetohisthatherbreathfannedhischeek,whitherafaintcolourcreptinquickresponse。
Despiteherselfalmost,instinctively,unconsciously,sheexertedtheweaponsofhersextobendhimtoherwill。
\"Yousayyouloveme,\"shewhispered。\"Proveitmenow,andIwillbelieveyou。
\"Ah！\"hesighed。\"Andbelievingme？Whatthen？\"
Hehadhimselfgrimlyinhand,yetfearedheshouldnotprovestrongenoughtoholdhimselfforlong。
\"You……,youshallfindmeyour……dutifulwife,\"shefaltered,crimsoning。
Hisarmstightenedabouther;hecrushedhertohim,hebenthisheadtohersandhislipsburntthelipssheyieldedtohimasthoughtheyhadbeenlivingfire。
Anon,shewastoweepinshame—inshameandinastonishment—atthatinstantofsurrender,butforthemomentshehadnothoughtsaveforherbrother。Exultationfilledher。Sheaccountedthatshehadconquered,andshegloriedinthepowerherbeautygaveher,apowerthathadsufficedtomelttowaterthehard—frozenpurposesofthisself—willedman。Thenextinstant,however,shewascoldagainwithdismayandnewbornterror。Heunclaspedherarms,hedrewback,shakingoffthehandsshehadresteduponhisshoulders。Hiswhiteface—theflushhadfadedfromitagain—smiledathoughtdisdainfully。
\"Youbargainwithme,\"hesaid。\"ButIhavesomeknowledgeofyourwaysoftrading。Theyareovershrewdforanhonestgentleman。\"
\"Youmean,\"shegasped,herhandpressedtoherheart,herfaceadeathlywhite,\"youmeanthatyou\'llnotsavehim？\"
\"Imean,\"saidhe,\"thatIwillhavenofurtherbargainswithyou。\"
Therewassuchhardfinalityinhistonethatsherecoiled,beatenandwithoutpower,toreturntotheassault。Shehadplayedandlost。
Shehadyieldedherlipstohiskisses,and—husbandthoughhemightbeinname—shamewasheronlyguerdon。
Onelookshegavehimfromoutofthatfacesowhiteandpitiful,thenwithashudderturnedfromhimandfledhispresence。Hesprangafterherasthedoorclosed,thencheckedandstoodinthought,verygrimforonewhoprofessedtobestownoseriousnessontheaffairsoflife。
Thenhereturnedslowlytohiswriting—table,andrummagedthereamongthepaperswithwhichitwasencumbered,seekingsomethingofwhichhenowhadneed。Throughtheopenwindowheheardtheretreatingbeatofherhorse\'shoofs。Hesighedandsatdownheavily,totakehislongsquarechininhishandandstarebeforehimatthesunlightonthelawnoutside。
Andwhilsthesatthus,RuthmadeallhastebacktoLuptonHousetotellofthefailurethathadattendedher。TherewasnothinglefthernowbuttoembarkupontheforlornhopeoffollowingRichardtoTaunton,toofferherevidenceofhowtheincriminatingletterhadcometobelockedinthedrawerinwhichtheconstablehaddiscoveredit。Dianametherwithafaceiswhiteasherownandinfinitelymorestartled。
ShehadjustlearntthatSirRowlandBlakehadbeenarrestedalsoandthathehadbeencarriedtoTauntontogetherwithRichard,and,asaconsequence,shewasaseagernowthatRuthshouldrepairtoAlbemarleasshehaderstwhilebeenearnestinurginghertoseekoutMr。Wilding;
indeed,Dianawentsofarastooffertoaccompanyher,anofferthatRuthgladly,gratefullyaccepted。
WithinanhourRuthandDiana—inspiteofallthatpoor,docileLadyHortonhadsaidtostaythem—wereridingtoTaunton,attendedbythesamegroomwhohadsolatelyaccompaniedhismistresstoZoylandChase。
CHAPTERX
THEIROWNPETARD
Inalofty,spaciousroomofthetownhallatTauntonsatSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrelltodispensejustice,andwiththem,flankedbyoneofthemoneithersideofhim,satChristopherMonk,DukeofAlbemarle,Lord—LieutenantofDevonshire,whohadbeensummonedinallhastefromExeterthathemightbepresentatanexaminationwhichpromisedtobeofsovastimportance。Thethreesatatalongtableattheroom\'send,attendedbytwosecretaries。
Beforethem,guardedbyconstableandtything—men,weaponless,theirhandspinionedbehindthem—Blake\'sarmwashealedbynow—stoodMr。
WestmacottandhisfriendSirRowlandtoanswerthisgravecharge。