WetakeMonmouthatsupper,asquietlyasmaybe,withwhatgentlemenhappentohaveaccompaniedhim。WebindandgagtheDuke,andweconveyhimwithallspeedandquietoutofBridgwater。FevershamshallsendatrooptoawaitmeamileorsofromthetownontheroadtoWestonZoyland。Weshalljointhemwithourcaptive,andthusconveyhimtotheRoyalistGeneral。Couldaughtbesimplerormoreinfallible？\"
Richardhadslippedfromthetable。HehadchangedhismindonthesubjectoftheimportanceofthebusinessBlakehadinview。Excitedbyit,heclappedhisfriendonthebackapprovingly。
\"Agreatplan！\"hecried。\"Isitnot,Ruth？\"
\"Itshouldbethemeansofsavinghundreds,perhapsthousandsoflives,\"
saidshe,\"andsoitdeservestoprosper。ButwhatoftheofficerswhomaybewiththeDuke？\"sheinquired。
\"Therearenotlikelytobemany—halfadozen,say。Weshallhavetomakeshortworkofthem,lesttheyshouldraiseanalarm。\"Hesawherglanceclouding。\"Thatistheuglypartoftheaffair,\"hewasquicktoadd,himselfassumingalookofsadness。Hesighed。\"Whathelpisthere？\"heasked。\"Betterthatthosefewshouldsufferthanthat,asyouyourselfhavesaid,thereshouldbesomethousandsofliveslostbeforethisrebellionisputdown。Besides,\"hecontinued,\"Monmouth\'sofficersarefar—seeing,ambitiousmen,whohaveenteredintothisaffairtopromotetheirownpersonalfortunes。Theyaregamesterswhohavesettheirlivesupontheboardagainstagreatprize,andtheyknowit。Buttheseotherpoormisguidedpeoplewhohavegoneouttofightforlibertyandreligion—itisthesewhomIamstrivingtorescue。\"
Hiswordssoundedfervent,hissentimentsalmostheroic。Ruthlookedathim,andwonderedhadshemisjudgedhiminthepast。Shesighed。ThenshethoughtofWilding。Hewasontheotherside,butwherewashe？
Rumourranthathewasdead;thatheandGreyhadquarrelledatLyme,andthatWildinghadbeenkilledasaresult。HaditnotbeenforDiana,whostrenuouslybadeherattachnocredittothesereports,shewouldreadilyhavebelievedthem。Asitwasshewaited,wondering,thinkingofhimalwaysasshehadseenhimonthatdayatWalfordwhenhehadtakenhisleaveofher,andmorethanonce,whensheponderedthewordshehadsaid,thelookthathadinvestedhisdroopingeyes,shefoundherselfwithtearsinherown。Theywelledupnow,andsherosehastilytoherfeet。
ShelookedamomentatBlakewhowaswatchingherkeenly,speculatinguponthisemotionofwhichshebetrayedsomesign,andwonderingmightnothisheroismhavetouchedher,for,aswehaveseen,hehadarrayedadeedofexcessivemeanness,adeedworthy,almost,oftheIscariot,inthepanoplyofheroicachievement。
\"Ithink,\"shesaid,\"thatyouaresettingyourhandtoaveryworthyandgloriousenterprise,andIhope,nay,Iamsure,thatsuccessmustattendyourefforts。\"Hewasstillbowinghisthankswhenshepassedoutthroughtheopenwindow—doorsintothesunshineofthegarden。
SirRowlandswungrounduponRichard。\"Agreatenterprise,Dick,\"hecried;\"Imaycountuponyouforone？\"
\"Aye,\"saidDick,whohadfoundatlastthepretextthatheneeded,\"youmaycountonme。Pullthebell,we\'lldrinktothesuccessoftheventure。\"
CHAPTERXVII
MR。WILDING\'SRETURN
ThepreparationstobemadeforthemomentouscoupSirRowlandmeditatedwereconsiderable。Mr。Newlingtonwasyettobeconcertedwithandadvised,and,thatdone,SirRowlandhadtofacethedifficultyofeludingtheBridgwaterguardsandmakehiswaytoFeversham\'scampatSomertontoenlistthegeneral\'scooperationtotheextentthatwehaveseenhelookedfor。Thatdone,hewastoreturnandripenhispreparationsforthebusinesshehadundertaken。Nevertheless,inspiteofallthatlaybeforehim,hedidnotfinditpossibletoleaveLuptonHousewithoutsteppingoutintothegardeninquestofRuth。Throughthewindow,whilstheandRichardwereattheirale,hehadwatchedherbetweenwhiles,andhadlingered,waiting;forDianawaswithher,anditwasnothiswishtoseekherwhilstDianawasathand。Speakwithher,erehewent,hemust。Hewasanopportunist,andnow,hefondlyimagined,washisopportunity。Hehadmadethatday,atlast,afavourableimpressionuponRichard\'ssister;hehadrevealedhimselfinanheroiclight,andegregiouslymisreadingtheemotionshehadshownbeforewithdrawing,hewassatisfiedthatdidhestrikenowvictorymustattendhim。Hesighedhissatisfactionandpleasurableanticipation。
Hehadbeenwaryandhehadknownhowtowait;andnow,itseemedtohim,hewastoberewardedforhispatience。Thenhefrowned,asanotherglanceshowedhimthatDianastilllingeredwithhercousin;hewishedDianaatthedevil。Hehadcometohatethisfair—haireddolltowhomhehadoncepaidcourt。Shewastoocontinuallyinhisway,aconstantobstacleinhispath,everreadytoremindRuthofAnthonyWildingwhenSirRowlandmostdesiredAnthonyWildingtobeforgotten;andinDiana\'sfeelingstowardshimselfsuchachangehadbeengraduallywroughtthatshehadcometoreciprocatehissentiments—tohatehimwithallthebitterhatredintowhichlovecanbebyscorntransmuted。AtfirstherobjectinkeepingRuth\'sthoughtsonMr。Wilding,inpleadinghiscause,andseekingtopresenthiminafavourablelighttotheladywhomhehadconstrainedtobecomehiswife,hadbeenthathemightstandabarrierbetweenRuthandSirRowlandtotheendthatDianamighthopetoseerevived—fautedemieux,sincepossibleinnootherway—thefeelingsthatonceSirRowlandhadprofessedforherself。Thesituationwasrichinhumiliationsforpoor,vain,foolishlycraftyDiana,andthesehumiliationsweredailyrenderedmorebitterbySirRowland\'sunwaveringcourtshipofhercousinindespiteofallthatshecoulddo。
Intheendthepoisonofthementeredhersoul,corrodedhersentimentstowardshim,dissolvedtheloveshehadbornehim,andtransformeditintovenom。Shewouldnothavehimnowifhedidpenitenceforhisdisaffectionbygoinginsackclothandcrawlingafterheronhiskneesforafulltwelvemonth。ButneithershouldhehaveRuthifshecouldthwarthispurpose。Onthatshewasresolved。
Hadshebutguessedthathewatchedthemfromthewindows,waitingforhertotakeherdeparture,shehadlingeredallthemorning,andalltheafternoonifneedbe,atRuth\'sside。Butbeingignorantofthecircumstance—believingthathehadalreadyleftthehouse—shepresentlyquittedRuthtogoindoors,andnosoonerwasshegonethantherewasBlakereplacingheratRuth\'selbow。MistressWildingmethimwithunsmiling,butnotungentleface。
\"Notyetgone,SirRowland？\"sheaskedhim,andalesssanguinemanhadbeendiscouragedbythewords。
\"ItmaybeforgivenmethatItarryatsuchatime,\"saidhe,\"whenweconsiderthatIgo,perhaps—toreturnnomore。\"Itwasaninspirationonhisparttoassumetheroleoftheherogoingforthtoapossibledeath。Itinvestedhimwithnoble,valiantpathoswhichcouldnot,hethought,failofitseffectuponawoman\'smind。Buthelookedinvainforachangeofcolour,beitneversoslight,oraquickeningofthebreath。Hefoundneither;though,indeed,herdeepblueeyesseemedtosoftenastheyobservedhim。
\"Thereisdangerinthisthingthatyouareundertaking？\"saidshe,betweenquestionandassertion。
\"Itisnotmywishtooverstateit;yetIleaveyoutoimaginewhattheriskmaybe。\"
\"Itisagoodcause,\"saidshe,thinkingofthepoor,deluded,humblefolkthatfollowedMonmouth\'sbanner,whomBlake\'sfineactionwastorescuefromimpendingruinandannihilation,\"andsurelyHeavenwillbeonyourside。\"
\"Wemustprevail,\"criedBlakewithkindlingeye,andyouhadthoughthimafanatic,notamiserableearnerofblood—money。\"Wemustprevail,thoughsomeofusmaypaydearlyforthevictory。Ihaveaforeboding……\"Hepaused,sighed,thenlaughedandflungbackhishead,asifthrowingoffsomeweightthathadoppressedhim。
Itwasadmirablyplayed;NickTrenchard,hadheobservedit,mighthaveenviedtheperformance;andittookeffectwithher,thisaddingofaprospectivemartyr\'scrowntothehero\'sraimenthehadearlierdonned。
Itwasamaster—touchworthyofonewhowasdeeplylearned—fromtheschooloffoulexperience—inthesecretwaysthatleadtoawoman\'sfavour。Inapursuitofthiskindtherewasnosubterfugetoomean,notreacherytoobaseforSirRowlandBlake。
\"Willyouwalk,mistress？\"hesaid,andshe,feelingthatitwereanunkindnessnottodohiswill,assentedgravely。Theymoveddowntheslopinglawn,sidebyside,SirRowlandleaningonhiscane,bareheaded,hisfeatheredhattuckedunderhisarm。Beforethemtheriver\'ssmoothexpanse,swollenandyellowwiththerecentrains,glowedlikeasheetofcopper,sothatitblurredthesighttolookuponitlong。
Afewstepstheytookwithnoworduttered,thenSirRowlandspoke。
\"Withthisforebodingthatisonme,\"saidhe,\"Icouldnotgowithoutseeingyou,withoutsayingsomethingthatImayneverhaveanotherchanceofsaying;somethingthat—whoknows？—butfortheemprisetowhichIamnowweddedyouhadneverheardfromme。\"
Heshotherafurtive,sidelongglancefromunderhisheavy,beetlingbrows,andnow,indeed,heobservedachangerippleoverthecomposureofherfacelikeasuddenbreezeacrossasheetofwater。Thedeeplacecollaratherthroatroseandfell,andherfingerstoyednervouslywitharibbonofhergreybodice。Sherecoveredinaninstant,andthrewupentrenchmentsagainsttheattackshesawhewasabouttomake。
\"Youexaggerate,Itrust,\"saidshe。\"Yourforebodingswillbeprovedgroundless。Youwillreturnsafeandsoundfromthisventure,asindeedIhopeyoumay。
Thatwashiscue。\"Youhopeit？\"hecried,arrestinghisstep,turning,andimprisoningherlefthandinhisright。\"Youhopeit？Ah,ifyouhopeformyreturn,returnIwill;butunlessIknowthatyouwillhavesomewelcomeformesuchasIdesirefromyou,Ithink……\"hisvoicequiveredcleverly,\"Ithink,perhaps,itwerewellif……ifmyforebodingswerenotasgroundlessasyousaytheyare。Tellme,Ruth……\"
Butsheinterruptedhim。Itwashightime,shethought。Herfacehesawwasflushed,hereyeshadhardenedsomewhat。Calmlyshedisengagedherhand。
\"Whatis\'tyoumean？\"sheasked。\"Speak,SirRowland,speakplainly,thatImaygiveyouaplainanswer。\"
Itwasachallengeinwhichanothermanhadseenhowhopelesswashiscase,and,acceptingdefeat,hadmadeasorderlyaretreatasstillwaspossible。ButSirRowland,strickeninhisvanity,wentheadlongontoutterrout。
\"SinceyouaskmeinsuchtermsIwillbeplain,indeed,\"heansweredher。\"Imean……\"Healmostquailedbeforethelookthatmethimfromherintrepideyes。\"Doyounotseemymeaning,Ruth？\"
\"ThatwhichIsee,\"saidshe,\"Idonotbelieve,andasIwouldnotwrongyoubyanyfoolishimaginings,Iwouldhaveyouplainwithme。\"
Yettheegregiousfoolwenton。\"Andwhyshouldyounotbelieveyoursenses？\"heaskedher,betweenangerandentreaty。\"IsitwonderfulthatIshouldloveyou？Isit……？\"
\"Stop！\"Shedrewbackapacefromhim。Therewasamoment\'ssilence,duringwhichitseemedshegatheredherforcestodestroyhim,and,inthespirit,hebowedhisheadbeforethecomingstorm。Then,withasuddenrelaxingofthestiffnessherlissomfigurehadassumed,\"Ithinkyouhadbetterleaveme,SirRowland,\"sheadvisedhim。Shehalfturnedandmovedastepaway;hefollowedwithloweringglance,hisupperlipliftingandlayingbarehispowerfulteeth。Inastridehewasbesideher。
\"Doyouhateme,Ruth？\"heaskedherhoarsely。
\"WhyshouldIhateyou？\"shecounter—questioned,sadly。\"Idonotevendislikeyou,\"shecontinuedinamorefriendlytone,adding,asifbywayofexplainingthisphenomenon,\"Youaremybrother\'sfriend。ButIamdisappointedinyou,SirRowland。Youhad,Iknow,nointentionofofferingmedisrespect;andyetitiswhatyouhavedone。\"
\"Ashow？\"heasked。
Knowingmeanother\'swife……\"
Hebrokeintempestuously。\"Amockmarriage！Ifitisbutthatscruplestandsbetweenus……\"
\"Ithinkthereismore,\"sheansweredhim。\"Youcompelmetohurtyou;
Idosoasthesurgeondoes—thatImayhealyou。\"
\"Why,thanksfornothing,\"hemadeanswer,unabletorepressasneer。
Then,checkinghimself,andresumingthehero—martyrposture,\"Igo,mistress,\"hetoldhersadly,\"andifIlosemylifeto—night,orto—morrow,inthisaffair……\"
\"Ishallprayforyou,\"saidshe;forshehadfoundhimoutatlast,perceivedthenatureofthebowhesoughttodrawacrossherheart—strings,and,havingperceivedit,contemptawokeinher。Hehadattemptedtomoveherbyunfair,insidiousmeans。
Hefellback,crimsonfromchintobrow。Hestifledthewraththatwelledup,threateningtochokehim。Hewasashort—neckedman,ofthesort—asTrenchardhadonceremindedhim—thatfallsapreytoapoplexy,andsurelyhewasneverneareritthanatthatmoment。Hemadeheraprofoundbow,bendinghimselfalmostintwobeforeherinaveryironyofdeference;then,drawinghimselfupagain,heturnedandlefther。
Theplotwhichwithsomepridehehadhatchedandtherewardhelookedtocullfromit,werenowtohissoulasashestohislips。WhatcoulditprofithimtodestroyMonmouthsothatAnthonyWildinglived？ForwhethershelovedWildingornot,shewasWilding\'swife。Wilding,nominally,atleast,wasmasterofthatwhichSirRowlandcoveted;notherheart,indeed,butheramplefortune。Wildinghadbeenastumbling—blocktohimsincehehadcometoBridgwater;butforWildinghemighthaverunasmoothcourse;hewasstillfoolenoughtohugthatdearillusiontohissoul。SomewhereinEngland—ifnotdeadalready—thisWildinglurked,anoutlaw,whomanymightshootdownatsight。SirRowlandsworehewouldnotrestuntilheknewthatAnthonyWildingcumberedtheearthnomore—leastways,notthesurfaceofit。
HewentforthtoseekNewlington。ThemerchanthadsenthismessagetotherebelKing,andhadwordinanswerthatHisMajestywouldbegraciouslypleasedtosupatMr。Newlington\'satnineo\'clockonthefollowingevening,attendedbyafewgentlemenofhisimmediatefollowing。SirRowlandreceivedthenewswithsatisfaction,andsighedtothinkthatMr。Wilding—stillabsent,Heavenknewwhere—wouldnotbeoftheparty。ItwasreportedthatontheMondayMonmouthwastomarchtoGloucester,hopingtheretobejoinedbyhisCheshirefriends,sothatitseemedSirRowlandhadnotmaturedhisplanadaytoosoon。
Hegottohorse,andcontrivingtowinoutofBridgwater,rodeofftoSomertontoconcertwithLordFevershamconcerningthemenhewouldneedforhisundertaking。
ThatnightRichardmadefreetalkoftheundertakingtoDianaandtoRuth,loving,asdoesthepusillanimous,toshowhimselfengagedindaringenterprises。EmulatinghisfriendSirRowland,heheldforthwithprolixityuponthegreatservicehewastodotheState,andRuth,listeningtohim,wasproudofhiszeal,thesincerityofwhichitneverenteredhermindtodoubt。
Dianalistened,too,butwithoutillusionsconcerningMasterRichard,andshekeptherconclusionstoherself。
Duringtheafternoonofthemorrow,whichwasSunday,SirRowlandreturnedtoBridgwater,hismissiontoFevershamentirelysuccessful,andallpreparationsmade。Hecompletedhisarrangements,andtowardseighto\'clockthatnightthetwentymensentbyFeversham—theyhadslippedsinglyintothetown—begantomusterintheorchardatthebackofMr。Newlington\'shouse。
ItwasjustaboutthatsamehourthatMr。Wilding,saddle—wornanddust—cloggedineverypore,rodeintoBridgwater,andmadehiswaytothesignofTheShipintheHighStreet,overlookingtheCrosswhereTrenchardwaslodged。Hisfriendwasabsent—possiblygonewithhismentothesermonFergusonwaspreachingtothearmyintheCastleFields。Havingputuphishorse,Mr。Wilding,alldustyashewas,repairedstraighttotheCastletoreporthimselftoMonmouth。
HewasinformedthatHisMajestywasincouncil。Nevertheless,urgingthathisnewswasofimportance,hebeggedtobeinstantlyannounced。
Afterapause,hewasusheredintoalofty,roomychamberwhere,inthefadingdaylight,KingMonmouthsatincouncilwithGreyandWade,Matthews,Speke,Ferguson,andothers。Atthefootofthetablestoodasturdycountry—fellow,unknowntoWilding。ItwasGodfrey,thespy,whowastoactastheirguideacrossSedgemoorthatnight;forthematterthatwasengagingthemjustthenwasthecompletionoftheirplansfortheattackthatwastobemadethatverynightuponFeversham\'sunpreparedcamp—amatterwhichhadbeenresolvedduringthelastfewhoursasanalternativepreferabletotheretreattowardsGloucesterthathadatfirstbeenintended。
WildingwasshockedatthechangethathadbeenwroughtinMonmouth\'sappearanceduringthefewweekssincelasthehadseenhim。Hisfacewasthin,pale,andhaggard,hiseyesweremoresombre,andbeneaththemtherewereheavy,darkstainsofsleeplessnessandcare,hisveryvoice,whenpresentlyhespoke,seemedtohavelostthemusicaltimbrethathadearlierdistinguishedit;itwasgrownharshandrasping。Disappointmentafterdisappointment,setdowntoill—luck,butinrealitythefruitofincompetence,hadservedtosourhim。TheclimaxhadbeenreachedintheseriousdesertionsafterthePhilipsNortonfight,andtheflightofPaymasterGoodenoughwiththefundsforthecampaign。Thecompanysataboutthelongoaktableonwhichamapwasspread,andColonelWadewasspeakingwhenWildingentered。
OnhisappearanceWadeceased,andeveryeyewasturneduponthemessengerfromLondon。Ferguson,freshfromhissermon,satwithelbowsrestingonthetable,hislongchinsupportedbyhishands,hiseyesgleamingsharplyundertheshadowofhiswigwhichwaspulleddowninfronttothelevelofhiseyebrows。
ItwastheDukewhoaddressedMr。Wilding,andthelatter\'skeenearswerequicktocatchthebitternessthatunderlayhiswords。
\"Wearegladtoseeyou,sir;wehadnotlookedtodosoagain。\"
\"Notlookedtodoso,YourGr……Majesty！\"heechoed,plainlynotunderstanding,anditwasobservedthathestumbledovertheDuke\'snewtitle。
\"Wehadimaginedthatthepleasuresofthetownwereclaimingyourentireattention。\"
Wildinglookedfromonetotheotherofthemenbeforehim,andonthefaceofallhesawagravitythatamountedtodisapprovalofhim。
\"Thepleasuresofthetown？\"saidhe,frowning,andagain—\"thepleasuresofthetown？ThereissomethinginthisthatIfearIdonotunderstand。\"
\"DoyoubringusnewsthatLondonhasrisen？\"askedGreysuddenly。
\"IwouldIcould,\"saidWilding,smilingwistfully。\"Isitalaughingmatter？\"quothGreyangrily。
\"Asmilingmatter,mylord,\"answeredWilding,nettled。\"YourlordshipwillobservethatIdidbutsmile。\"
\"Mr。Wilding,\"saidMonmouthdarkly,\"wearenotpleasedwithyou。\"
\"Inthatcase,\"returnedWilding,moreandmoreirritated,\"YourMajestyexpectedofmemorethanwaspossibletoanyman。\"
\"YouhavewastedyourtimeinLondon,sir,\"theDukeexplained。\"Wesentyouthithercountinguponyourloyaltyanddevotiontoourselves。
Whathaveyoudone？\"
\"Asmuchasamancould……\"Wildingbegan,whenGreyagaininterruptedhim。
\"Aslittleasamancould,\"heanswered。\"WereHisGracenotthemostfoolishlyclementprinceinChristendom,ahalterwouldbeyourrewardforthefinethingsyouhavedoneinLondon。\"
Mr。Wildingstiffenedvisibly,hislongwhitefacegrewset,andhisslantingeyeslookedwicked。Hewasnotamanreadilymovedtoanger,buttobegreetedinsuchwordsasthesebyonewhoconstitutedhimselfthemouthpieceofhimforwhomWildinghadincurredruinwasmorethanhecouldbearwithequanimity;thattheriskstowhichhehadexposedhimselfinLondon—where,indeed,hehadbeeninalmosthourlyexpectationofarrestandsuchshortshriftaspoorDisneyhad—shouldbeacknowledgedinsuchtermsasthese,wassomethingthatturnedhimalmostsickwithdisgust。Towhatmannerofmenhadheleaguedhimself？
HelookedGreysteadilybetweentheeyes。
\"Imindmeofanoccasiononwhichsuchachargeoffoolishclemencymight,indeed—andwithgreaterjustice—havebeenlevelledagainstHisMajesty,\"saidheandhiscalmwasalmostterrible。
HislordshipgrewpaleattheobviousallusiontoMonmouth\'smildtreatmentofhimforhiscowardiceatBridport,andhiseyeswereasbalefulasWilding\'sownatthatmoment。Butbeforehecouldspeak,MonmouthhadalreadyansweredMr。Wilding。
\"Youarewantinginrespecttous,sir,\"headmonishedhim。
Mr。Wildingbowedtotherebukeinasubmissionthatseemedironical。
ThebloodmountedslowlytoMonmouth\'scheeks。
\"Perhaps,\"putinWade,whowasanxiousforpeace,Mr。Wildinghassomeexplanationtoofferusofhisfailure。\"
Hisfailure！Theytooktoomuchforgranted。StitchedintheliningofhisbootwastheletterfromtheSecretaryofState。Tohaveachievedthatwassurelytohaveachievedsomething。
\"Ithankyou,sir,forsupposingit,\"answeredWilding,hisvoicehardwithself—restraint;\"Ihaveindeedanexplanation。\"
\"Wewillhearit,\"saidMonmouthcondescendingly,andGreysneered,thrustingouthisbloatedlips。
\"IhavetooffertheexplanationthatYourMajestyisservedinLondonbycowards;self—sufficientandself—importantcowardswhohavehinderedmeinmytaskinsteadofhelpingme。IreferparticularlytoColonelDanvers。\"
Greyinterruptedhim。\"Youhavearareeffrontery,sir—aye,byGod！
DoyoudarecallDanversacoward？\"
\"ItisnotIwhosocallhim;butthefacts。ColonelDanvershasrunaway。
\"Danversgone？\"criedFerguson,voicingtheconsternationofall。
Wildingshruggedandsmiled;Grey\'seyewasoffensivelyuponhim。Heelectedtoanswerthechallengeofthatglance。\"HehasfollowedtheillustriousexamplesethimbyotherofYourMajesty\'sdevotedfollowers,\"saidWilding。
Greyrosesuddenly。Thiswastoomuch。\"I\'llnotendureitfromthisknave！\"hecried,appealingtoMonmouth。
Monmouthwearilywavedhimtoaseat;butGreydisregardedthecommand。
\"WhathaveIsaidthatshouldtouchyourlordship？\"askedWilding,and,smilingsardonically,helookedintoGrey\'seyes。
\"Itisnotwhatyouhavesaid。Itiswhatyouhaveinferred。\"
\"Andtocallmeknave！\"saidWildinginamockinghorror。
Therepressionofhisangerlenthimararebitterness,andanalmostdevilishlysubtlemannerofexpressingwordlesslywhatwaspassinginhismind。TherewasnotonepresentbutgatheredfromhisutteranceofthosefivewordsthathedidnotholdGreyworthythehonourofbeingcalledtoaccountforthatoffensiveepithet。Hemadejustanexclamatoryprotest,suchashemighthavemadehadawomanappliedthetermtohim。
GreyturnedfromhimslowlytoMonmouth。\"Itmightbewell,\"saidhe,inhisturncontrollinghimselfatlast,\"toplaceMr。Wildingunderarrest。\"
Mr。Wilding\'smannerquickenedontheinstantfrompassivetoactiveanger。
\"Uponwhatcharge,sir？\"hedemandedsharply。Intruthitwastheonlythingwantingthat,afterallthathehadundergone,heshouldbearrested。HiseyeswereupontheDuke\'smelancholyface,andhisangerwassuchthatinthatmomenthevowedthatifMonmouthacteduponthissuggestionofGrey\'sheshouldnothavesomuchastheconsolationofSunderland\'sletter。
\"Youhavebeenwantinginrespecttous,sir,\"theDukeansweredhim。
Heseemedabletodolittlemorethanrepeathimself。\"YoureturnfromLondonempty—handed,yourtaskunaccomplished,andinsteadofabecomingcontrition,youhectoritherebeforeusinthismanner。\"Heshookhishead。\"Wearenotpleasedwithyou,Mr。Wilding。\"\"But,YourGrace,\"exclaimedWilding,\"isitmyfaultthatyourLondonagentshadfailedtoorganizetherising？Thatrisingshouldhavetakenplace,anditwouldhavetakenplacehadYourMajestybeenmoreablyrepresentedthere。\"
\"Youwerethere,Mr。Wilding,\"saidGreywithheavysarcasm。
\"Woulditno\'bebettertoleaveMr。Wilding\'saffairuntilafterwards？\"
suggestedFergusonatthatmoment。\"Itisalreadypasteight,YourMajesty,andtherebestillsomedetailsofthisattacktosettlethatyourofficersmayprepareforit,whilstMr。NewlingtonawaitsYourMajestytosupperatnine。\"
\"True,\"saidMonmouth,everreadytotakeasolutionofferedbyanother。
\"Wewillconferwithyouagainlater,Mr。Wilding。\"
Wildingbowed,acceptinghisdismissal。\"BeforeIgo,YourMajesty,therearecertainthingsIwouldreport……\"hebegan。
\"Youhaveheard,sir,\"Greybrokein。\"Notnow。Thisisnotthetime。\"
\"Indeed,no。Thisisnotthetime,Mr。Wilding,\"echoedtheDuke。
Wildingsethisteethintheintensityofhisvexation。
\"WhatIhavetotellYourMajestyisofimportance,heexclaimed,andMonmouthseemedtowaver,whilstGreylookeddisdainfulunbeliefoftheimportanceofanycommunicationWildingmighthavetomake。
\"Wehavelittletime,YourMajesty,\"FergusonremindedMonmouth。
\"Perhaps,\"putinfriendlyWade,\"YourMajestymightseeMr。WildingatMr。Newlington\'s。\"
\"Isitreallynecessary？\"quothGrey。