\"Whatis\'tyouseekofme？\"Hereachedforthehathehadcastuponthetablewhentheyhadentered。\"Tellmebriefly。Imaystaynolonger。\"
Sherose,heragitationsuddenlyincreasing,afraidthatafterallhewouldescapeher。\"Whereareyougoing？\"sheasked。\"Answermethat,andIwilltellyouwhyIcame。\"
\"IamtosupatMr。Newlington\'sinHisMajesty\'scompany。
\"HisMajesty\'s？\"
\"KingMonmouth\'s,\"heexplainedimpatiently。\"Come,Ruth。AlreadyIamlate。\"
\"IfIweretoaskyounottogo,\"shesaidslowly,andsheheldoutherhandstohim,herglancemostpiteous—andthatwasnotacting—assheraisedittomeethisown,\"wouldyounotstaytopleasureme？\"
Heconsideredherfromunderfrowningeyes。\"Ruth,\"hesaid,andhetookherhands,\"thereisheresomethingthatIdonotunderstand。
Whatis\'tyoumean？\"
\"PromisemethatyouwillnotgotoNewlington\'s,andIwilltellyou。\"
\"ButwhathasNewlingtontodowith……？Nay,Iampledgedalreadytogo。\"
Shedrewclosertohim,herhandsuponhisshoulders。\"YetifIaskyou—I,yourwife？\"shepleaded,andalmostwonhimtoherwill。
Butsuddenlyherememberedanotheroccasiononwhich,forpurposesofherown,shehadsopleaded。Helaughedsoftly,mockingly。
\"Doyouwoome,Ruth,who,whenIwooedyou,wouldhavenoneofme？\"
Shedrewbackfromhim,crimsoning。\"IthinkIhadbettergo,\"saidshe。\"Youhavenothingbutmockeryforme。Itwaseverso。Whoknows？\"shesighedasshetookuphermantle。\"Hadyoubutobservedmoregentleways,you……you……\"Shepaused,needingtosaynomore。
\"Good—night！\"sheended,andmadeshifttoleave。Hewatchedher,deeplymystified。Shehadgainedthedoorwhensuddenlyhemoved。
\"Wait！\"hecried。Shepaused,andturnedtolookoverhershoulder,herhandapparentlyuponthelatch。\"YoushallnotgountilyouhavetoldmewhyyoubesoughtmetokeepawayfromNewlington\'s。Whatisit？\"heasked,andpausedsuddenly,afloodoflightbreakinginuponhismind。\"Istheresometreacheryafoot？\"heaskedher,andhiseyewentwildlytotheclock。Aharsh,gratingsoundrangthroughtheroom。
\"Whatareyoudoing？\"hecried。\"Whyhaveyoulockedthedoor？\"Shewastuggingandfumblingdesperatelytoextractthekey,herhandsallclumsyinhernervoushaste。Heleaptather,butinthatmomentthekeycameawayinherhand。Shewheeledroundtofacehim,erect,defiantalmost。
\"Hereissomedevilry！\"hecried。\"Givemethatkey。\"
Hehadnoneedforfurtherquestions。Herewasaproofmoreeloquentthanwordstohisreadywit。SirRowlandorRichard,orboth,wereinsomeplotfortheDuke\'sruin—perhapsassassination。HadnotherverywordsshownthatsheherselfwasoutofallsympathywithMonmouth？
Hewasoutofsympathyhimself。Butnottotheextentofstandingbytoseehisthroatcut。Shewouldhavetheplotsucceed—whateveritmightbeandyetthathehimselfbespared。Therehisthoughtspaused;butonlyforamoment。Hesawsuddenlyinthis,notaproofofconcernbornoflovebutofdutytowardshimwhohadimperilledhimselfonce—andforalltime,indeed—thathemightsaveherbrotherandSirRowland。
Hetoldherwhathadbeensosuddenlyrevealedtohim,taxingherwithit。Sheacknowledgedit,herwitsbattlingtofindsomewaybywhichshemightyetgainafewmomentsmore。Shewouldclingtothekey,andthoughheshouldofferherviolence,shewouldnotletitgowithoutastruggle,andthatstrugglemustconsumethelittletimeyetwantingtomakeittoolateforhimtosavetheDuke,and—whatimportedmore—
thussaveherselffrombetrayingherbrother\'strust。Anotherfearleaptathersuddenly。IfthroughdeedofhersMonmouthwassparedthatnight,Blake,inhisdespairandrage,mightslakehisvengeanceuponRichard。
\"Givemethatkey,\"hedemanded,hisvoicecoldandquiet,hisfaceset。
\"No,no,\"shecried,settingherhandbehindher。\"Youshallnotgo,Anthony。Youshallnotgo。\"
\"Imust,\"heinsisted,stillcold,butoh！sodetermined。\"Myhonour\'sinitnowthatIknow。\"
\"You\'llgotoyourdeath,\"sheremindedhim。
Hesneered。\"Whatsignifiesadayorso？Givemethekey。\"
\"Iloveyou,Anthony！\"shecried,lividtothelips。
\"Lies！\"heansweredhercontemptuously。\"Thekey！\"
\"No,\"sheanswered,andherfirmnessmatchedhisown。\"Iwillnothaveyouslain。\"
\"`Tisnotmypurpose—notjustyet。ButImustsavetheothers。GodforgivemeifIofferviolencetoawoman,\"headded,\"andlayrudehandsuponher。Donotcompelmetoit。\"Headvanceduponher,butshe,litheandquick,evadedhim,andsprangforthemiddleoftheroom。
Hewheeledabout,hisselfcontrolallslippingfromhimnow。Suddenlyshedartedtothewindow,andwiththehandthatclenchedthekeyshesmoteapanewithallhermight。Therewasasmashofshiveringglass,followedaninstantlaterbyafainttinkleonthestonesbelow,andthehandthatshestillheldoutcovereditselfallwithblood。
\"0God！\"hecried,thekeyandallelseforgotten。\"Youarehurt。\"
\"Butyouaresaved,\"shecried,overwrought,andstaggered,laughingandsobbing,toachair,sinkingherbleedinghandtoherlap,andsmearingrecklesslyherspotless,shimmeringgown。
Hecaughtupachairbyitslegs,andatasingleblowsmasheddownthedoor—afrailbarrierafterall。\"Nick！\"heroared。\"Nick！\"Hetossedthechairfromhimandvanishedintotheadjoiningroomtoreappearamomentlatercarryingbasinandewer,andashirtofTrenchard\'s—thefirstpieceoflinenhecouldfind。
Shewashalffainting,andshelethimhavehisswift,masterfulway。
Hebathedherhand,andwasrelievedtofindthattheinjurywasnonesogreatastheflowofbloodhadmadehimfear。HetoreTrenchard\'sfinecambricshirttoshreds—amatteronwhichTrenchardafterwardscommentedinquotationsfromatleastthreefamousElizabethandramatists。Heboundupherhand,justasNickmadehisappearanceatthesplintereddoor,hismouthopen,hispipe,goneout,betweenhisfingers。Hewasfollowedbyastartledserving—wench,theonlyotherpersoninthehouse,foreveryonewasoutofdoorsthatnight。
Intothewoman\'scareWildingdeliveredhiswife,andwithoutawordtoherhelefttheroom,draggingTrenchardwithhim。Itwasstrikingnineastheywentdownthestairs,andthesoundbroughtasmuchsatisfactiontoRuthaboveasdismaytoWildingbelow。
CHAPTERXIX
THEBANQUET
Itwasstrikingnine。Therefore,Ruththoughtthatshehadachievedherobject,Wildingimaginedthatallwaslost。ItneededthemoretranquilmindofNicholasTrenchardtoshowhimtheflyinmadam\'sointment,afterWilding,inhalfadozenwords,hadmadehimacquaintedwiththesituation。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"askedTrenchard。
\"RuntoNewlington\'sandwarntheDuke—ifstillintime。\"
\"Andtherebyprecipitatethecatastrophe？Oh,giveitthought。Itisallitneeds。Youaretakingitforgrantedthatnineo\'clockisthehourappointedforKingMonmouth\'sbutchery。\"
\"Whatelse？\"askedWilding,impatienttobeoff。
TheywerestandinginthestreetunderthesignofTheShip,bywhichJonathanEdneyMr。Trenchard\'slandlord—distinguishedhispremisesandthechandler\'stradehedrovethere。TrenchardsetadetaininghandonMr。Wilding\'sarm。
\"Nineo\'clockisthehourappointedforsupper。ItisoddstheDukewillbealittlelate,anditismorethanoddsthatwhenhedoesarrive,theassassinswillwaituntilthecompanyissafelyattableandlulledbygoodeatinganddrinking。Youhadoverlookedthat,Isee。Itasksanoldheadforwisdom,afterall。Lookyou,Anthony。SpeedtoColonelWadeasfastasyourlegscancarryyou,andgetascoreofmen。
ThenfindsomefellowtoleadyoutoNewlington\'sorchard,andifonlyyoudonotarrivetoolateyoumaytakeSirRowlandandhiscut—throatsintherearanddestroythemtoamanbeforetheyrealizethemselvesattacked。I\'llreconnoitrewhileyougo,andkeepaneyeonthefrontofthehouse。Awaywithyou！\"
OrdinarilyWildingwasamanofacertaindignity,butyouhadnotthoughtithadyouseenhimrunninginsilkstockingsandsilver—buckledshoesataheadlongpacethroughthenarrowstreetsofBridgwater,inthedirectionoftheCastle。Heoversetmorethanone,andoathsfollowedhimfromtheseandfromotherswhomherudelyjostledoutofhispath。WadewasgonewithMonmouth,buthecameuponCaptainSlape,whohadacompanyofscythesandmusketeersincorporatedintheDuke\'sownregiment,andtohimWildinggaspedoutthenewsandhisrequestforascoreofmenwithwhatbreathwaslefthim。
Timewaslost—andneverwastimemoreprecious—inconvincingSlapethatthiswasnooldwife\'stale。Atlast,however,hewonhiswayandtwentymusketeers;butthequarter—pastthehourhadchimederetheylefttheCastle。Heledthemforthatasharprun,withneverathoughtforthecircumstancethattheywouldneedtheirbreathanon,perhapsforfighting,andhebadethemanwhoguidedthemtakethembybackstreetsthattheymightattractaslittleattentionaspossible。
Withinastone\'s—throwofthehousehehaltedthem,andsentoneforwardtoreconnoitre,followinghimselfwiththeothersasquietlyandnoiselesslyaspossible。Mr。Newlington\'shousewasallalight,butfromtheabsenceofuproar—soundstherewereinplentyfromthemainstreet,whereadensethronghadcollectedtoseeHisMajestygoin—Mr。Wildinginferredwithsupremereliefthattheywerestillintime。Butthedangerwasnotyetpast。Already,perhaps,theassassinswerepenetrating—orhadpenetrated—tothehouse;andatanymomentsuchsoundsmightgreetthemaswouldannouncetheexecutionoftheirmurderousdesign。
MeanwhileMr。Trenchard,havingrelightedhispipe,andsethishatrakishlyatophisgoldenwig,strolleduptheHighStreet,swinginghislongcaneverymuchlikeagentlemantakingtheairinquestofanappetiteforsupper。HestrolledpasttheCrossandonuntilhecametothehandsomemansion—oneofthefewhandsomehousesinBridgwater—whereopulentMr。Newlingtonhadhisresidence。Asmallcrowdhadcongregatedaboutthedoors,forwordhadgoneforththatHisMajestywastosupthere。Trenchardmovedslowlythroughthepeople,seeminglyuninterested,but,infact,scanningcloselyeveryfaceheencountered。
Suddenly,outofthecornerofhiseye,heespiedintheindifferentlightMr。RichardWestmacott。
Trenchardpassedhim,jostlinghimashewent,andstrolledonsomefewpaces,thenturned,andcameslowlyback,andobservedthatRichardhadalsoturnedandwasnowwatchinghimasheapproached。Hewasallbutupontheboywhensuddenlyhiswrinkledfacelightedwithrecognition。
\"Mr。Westmacott！\"hecried,andtherewassurpriseinhisvoice。
Richard,consciousthatTrenchardmustnodoubtregardhimasaturn—tippet,flushed,andstoodasidetogivepassagetotheother。ButMr。Trenchardwasbynomeansmindedtopass。HeclappedahandonRichard\'sshoulder。\"Nay,\"hecried,betweenlaughterandfeignedresentment。\"Doyoubearmeill—will,lad？\"
Richardwassomewhattakenaback。\"ForwhatshouldIbearyouill—will,Mr。Trenchard？\"quothhe。
Trenchardlaughedfrankly,andsouproariouslythathishatover—jauntilycockedwasallbutshakenfromhishead。\"Imindmethelasttimewemet,Iplayedyouanunfairtrick,\"saidhe。Histonebespoketheveryhighestgood—humour。HeslippedhisarmthroughRichard\'s。\"Neverbearanoldmanmalice,lad,\"saidhe。
\"IassureyouthatIbearyounone,\"saidRichard,relievedtofindthatTrenchardapparentlyknewnothingofhisdefection,yetwishingthatTrenchardwouldgohisways,forRichard\'staskwastostandsentrythere。
\"I\'llnotbelieveyoutillyouaffordmeproof,\"Trenchardreplied。
\"YoushallcomeandwashyourresentmentdowninthebestbottleofCanarytheWhiteCowcanfurnishus。\"
\"Notnow,Ithankyou,\"answeredRichard。
\"YouarethinkingofthelastoccasiononwhichIdrankwithyou,\"saidTrenchardreproachfully。
\"Notso。But……butIamnotthirsty。\"
\"Notthirsty？\"echoedTrenchard。\"Andisthatareason？Why,lad,itisthebeastthatdrinksonlywhenhethirsts。Andinthatliesoneofthemaindifferencesbetweenbeastandman。Comeon\"—andhisarmeffectedagentlepressureuponRichard\'s,tomovehimthence。Butatthatmoment,downthestreetwithagreatrumbleofwheels,crackingofwhipsandclatterofhoofs,cameacoach,bearingtoMr。Newlington\'sKingMonmouthescortedbyhisfortylife—guards。Cheeringbrokefromthecrowdasthecarriagedrewup,andtheDuke—Kingashealightedturnedhishandsomeface,onwhichshonetheruddyglowoftorches,toacknowledgetheseloyalacclamations。Hepassedupthesteps,atthetopofwhichMr。Newlington—fatandpaleandmonstrouslyoverdressed—stoodbowingtowelcomehisroyalvisitor。Hostandguestvanished,followedbysomesixofficersofMonmouth\'s,amongwhomwereGreyandWade。Thesight—seersflattenedthemselvesagainstthewallsasthegreatlumberingcoachputaboutandwentoffagainthewayithadcome,thelife—guardsfollowingafter。
TrenchardfanciedthathecaughtasighofrelieffromRichard,butthestreetwasnoisyatthetimeandhemaywellhavebeenmistaken。
\"Come,\"saidhe,renewinghisinvitation,\"weshallbothbethebetterforalittlemilkoftheWhiteCow。\"
Richardwaveredalmostbyinstinct。TheWhiteCow,heknew,wasfamousforitssack;ontheotherhand,hewaspledgedtoSirRowlandtostandguardinthenarrowlaneatthebackwhereranthewallofMr。Newlington\'sgarden。UnderthegentlesuasionofTrenchard\'sarm,hemovedafewstepsupthestreet;thenhalted,hisdutybattlingwithhisinclination。
\"No,no,\"hemuttered。\"Ifyouwillexcuseme……\"
\"NotI,\"saidTrenchard,drawingfromhishesitationashrewdinferenceastoRichard\'sbusiness。
\"TodrinkaloneisanabominationI\'llnotbeguiltyof。\"
\"But……\"begantheirresoluteRichard。
\"Shalturgemenoexcuses,orwe\'llquarrel。Come,\"andhemovedon,draggingRichardwithhim。
AfewstepsRichardtookunwillinglyundertheother\'ssoftcompulsion;
then,havinggiventhematterthought—hewasalwaysonetotakethelineofleastresistance—heassuredhimselfthathissentryshipwasentirelysuperfluous;thematterofBlake\'saffairwasanentiresecret,sharedonlybythosewhohadahandinit。Blakewasquitesafefromallsurprises;Trenchardwasinsistentanditwasdifficulttodenyhim;andthesackattheWhiteCowwasnodoubtthebestinSomerset。
Hegavehimselfuptotheinevitableandfellintostepalongsidehiscompanionwhobabbledaimlesslyoftrivialmatters。Trenchardfeltthechangefromunwillingtowillingcompanionship,andapprovedit。
Theymountedthethreestepsandenteredthecommonroomoftheinn。
Itwaswellthrongedatthetime,buttheyfoundplacesattheendofalongtable,andtheretheysatanddiscussedthelandlady\'sCanaryforthebestpartofahalf—hour,untilasuddenspatterofmusketry,nearathand,cametostartlethewholeroom。
Therewasamomentarystillnessinthetavern,succeededbyanexcitedclamouring,adashforthewindowsandastormofquestions,towhichnonecouldreturnanyanswer。Richardhadrisenwithasuddenexclamation,verypaleandscaredofaspect。Trenchardtuggedathissleeve。
\"Sitdown,\"saidhe。\"Sitdown。Itwillbenothing。\"
\"Nothing？\"echoedRichard,andhiseyesweresuddenlybentonTrenchardinalookinwhichsuspicionwasnowblentwithterror。
Asecondvolleyofmusketrycrackledforthatthatmoment,andthenextthewholestreetwasinanuproar。Menwererunningandshotsresoundedoneveryside,aboveallofwhichpredominatedthecrythatHisMajestywasmurdered。
InaninstantthecommonroomoftheWhiteCowwasemptiedofeveryoccupantsavetwo—TrenchardandWestmacott。Neitherofthemfelttheneedtogoforthinquestofnews。Theyknewhowidlewasthecryinthestreets。Theyknewwhathadtakenplace,andknowingit,Trenchardsmokedonplacidly,satisfiedthatWildinghadbeenintime,whilstRichardstoodstrickenandpetrifiedbydismayatrealizing,withevengreatercertainty,thatsomethinghadsupervenedtothwart,perhapstodestroy,SirRowland。ForheknewthatBlake\'spartyhadgonefortharmedwithpistolsonly,andintentnottouseeventhesesaveinthelastextremity;toavoidnoisetheyweretokeeptosteel。ThisknowledgegaveRichardpositiveassurancethatthevolleystheyhadheardmusthavebeenfiredbysomepartythathadfallenuponBlake\'smenandtakenthembysurprise。
Anditwashisfault！Hewasthetraitortowhomperhapsascoreofmenowedtheirdeathsatthatmoment！Hehadfailedtokeepwatchashehadundertaken。Hisfaultitwas—No！nothis,butthisvillain\'swhosattheresmuglytakinghiseaseandpullingathispipe。
AtablowRicharddashedthethingfromhiscompanion\'smouthandfingers。
Trenchardlookedupstartled。
\"Whatthedevil……？\"hebegan。
\"Itisyourfault,yourfault！\"criedRichard,hiseyesblazing,hislipslivid。\"Itwasyouwholuredmehither。\"
Trenchardstaredathiminblandsurprise。\"Now,whataplagueis\'tyou\'resaying？\"heasked,andbroughtRichardtohissensesbyawakinginhimtheinstinctofself—preservation。
Howcouldheexplainhismeaningwithoutbetrayinghimself？—andsurelythatwereafolly,nowthattheotherswerenodoubtdisposedof。Lethim,rather,bethinkhimofhisownsafety。Trenchardlookedathimkeenly,withwell—assumedintenttoreadwhatmightbepassinginhismind,thenrose,paidforthewine,andexpressedhisintentionofgoingforthtoinquireintothesestrangemattersthatwerehappeninginBridgwater。
Meanwhile,thosevolleysfiredinMr。Newlington\'sorchardhadcaused—aswellmaybeconceived—anagitatedinterruptionofthesuperbfeastMr。Newlingtonhadspreadforhisnobleanddistinguishedguests。TheDukehadforsomedaysbeengoinginfearofhislife,foralreadyhehadbeenfiredatmorethanoncebymenanxioustoearnthepriceatwhichhisheadwasvalued;instantlyhesurmisedthatwhateverthatfiringmightmean,itindicatedsomeattempttosurprisehimwiththefewgentlemenwhoattendedhim。
Thewholecompanycameinstantlytoitsfeet,andColonelWadesteppedtoawindowthatstoodopen—forthenightwasverywarm。TheDuketurnedforexplanationtohishost;thetrader,however,professedhimselfentirelyunabletoofferany。Hewasverypaleandhislimbswerevisiblytrembling,butthenhisagitationwasmostnatural。Hiswifeanddaughtersupervenedatthatmoment,intheiralarmenteringtheroomunceremoniously,inspiteoftheaugustpresence,toinquireintothemeaningofthisfiring,andtoreassurethemselvesthattheirfatherandhisillustriousguestsweresafe。
>Fromthewindowstheycouldobserveastirinthegardensbelow。Blackshadowsofmenflittedtoandfro,andaloud,richvoicewasheardcallingtothemtotakecover,thattheywerebetrayed。Thenasheetoflividflameblazedalongthesummitofthelowwall,andasecondvolleyofmusketryrangout,succeededbycriesandscreamsfromtheassailedandtheshoutsoftheassailerswhowerenowpouringintothegardenthroughthebattereddoorwayandoverthewall。Forsomemomentssteelrangonsteel,andpistol—shotscrackedhereandtheretotheaccompanimentofvoices,raisedsomeinanger,someinpain。Butitwassoonover,andacomparativestillnesssucceeded。
AvoicecalledupfromthedarknessunderthewindowstoknowifHisMajestywassafe。Therehadbeenaplottotakehim;buttheambuscadershadbeenambuscadedintheirturn,andnotamanofthemremained—whichwashardlyexact,forunderalaurelbush,scarcedaringtobreathe,laySirRowlandBlake,lividwithfearandfury,andbleedingfromarapierscratchinthecheek,butotherwiseunhurt。
Intheroomabove,Monmouthhadsunkwearilyintohischairuponhearingofthedesigntherehadbeenagainsthislife。Adeep,bittermelancholyenwrappedhisspirit。LordGrey\'sfirstthoughtsflewtothemanhemostdisliked—theonemanmissingfromthosewhohadbeenbiddentoaccompanyHisMajesty,whoseabsencehadalreadyformedthesubjectofcomment。Greyrememberedthisbearingbeforethecouncilthatsameevening,andhisundisguisedresentmentofthereproacheslevelledagainsthim。
\"WhereisMr。Wilding？\"heaskedsuddenly,hisvoicedominatingthedinoftalkthatfilledtheroom。\"Doweholdtheexplanationofhisabsence？\"
Monmouthlookedupquickly,hisbeautifuleyesineffablysad,hisweakmouthdroopingatthecorners。WadeturnedtoconfrontGrey。
\"YourlordshipdoesnotsuggestthatMr。Wildingcanhaveahandinthis？\"
\"Appearanceswouldseemtopointinthatdirection,\"answeredGrey,andinhiswickedhearthealmosthopeditmightbeso。
\"Thenappearancesspeaktruthforonce,\"cameabitter,ringingvoice。
Theyturned,andthereonthethresholdstoodMr。Wilding。Unheardhehadcomeuponthem。Hewasbareheadedandcarriedhisdrawnsword。
Therewasblooduponit,andtherewasbloodonthelacethathalfconcealedthehandthatheldit;otherwise—andsavingthathisshoesandstockingsweresoddenwiththedewfromthelonggrassintheorchard—hewasasspotlessaswhenhehadleftRuthinTrenchard\'slodging;hisface,too,wascalm,saveforthemockingsmilewithwhichheeyedLordGrey。
Monmouthroseonhisappearance,andputhishandtohisswordinalarm。
Greywhippedhisownfromthescabbard,andplacedhimselfslightlyinfrontofhismasterasiftopreservehim。
\"Youmistake,sirs,\"saidWildingquietly。\"ThehandIhavehadinthisaffairhasbeentosaveYourMajestyfromyourenemies。AtthemomentIshouldhavejoinedyou,wordwasbroughtmeoftheplotthatwaslaid,ofthetrapthatwassetforyou。IhastenedtotheCastleandobtainedascoreofmusketeersofSlape\'scompany。WiththoseIsurprisedthemurdererslurkinginthegardenthere,andmadeanendofthem。I
greatlyfearedIshouldnotcomeintime;butitisplainthatHeavenpreservesYourMajestyforbetterdays。\"
Intherevulsionoffeeling,Monmouth\'seyesshonemoist。Greysheathedhisswordwithanawkwardlaugh,andastillmoreawkwardwordofapologytoWilding。TheDuke,movedbyasuddenimpulsetomakeamendsforhisunworthysuspicions,forhisperhapsunworthyreceptionofWildingearlierthateveninginthecouncil—room,drewtheswordonwhichhishandstillrested。Headvancedastep。
\"Kneel,Mr。Wilding,\"hesaidinavoicestirredbyemotion。ButWilding\'ssternspiritscornedthisalltoosuddenfriendlinessofMonmouth\'sasmuchashescornedtheaccoladeatMonmouth\'shands。
\"TherearemorepressingmatterstodemandYourMajesty\'sattention,\"
saidMr。Wildingcoldly,advancingtothetableashespoke,andtakingupanapkintowipehisblade,\"thantherewardofanunworthyservant。\"
Monmouthfelthissuddenenthusiasmchilledbythattoneandmanner。
\"Mr。Newlington,\"saidMr。Wilding,afterthebriefestofpauses,andthefat,sinfulmerchantstartedforwardinalarm。Itwaslikeasummonsofdoom。\"HisMajestycamehither,Iaminformed,toreceiveatyourhandsasumofmoney—twentythousandpounds—towardstheexpensesofthecampaign。Haveyouthemoneyathand？\"Andhiseye,glitteringbetweencrueltyandmockery,fixeditselfuponthemerchant\'sashenface。
\"It……itshallbeforthcomingbymorning,\"stammeredNewlington。
\"Bymorning？\"criedGrey,who,withtheothers,watchedMr。NewlingtonwhattimetheyallwonderedatMr。Wilding\'squestionandthemannerofit。
\"YouknewthatImarchto—night,\"Monmouthreproachedthemerchant。
\"AnditwastoreceivethemoneythatyouinvitedHisMajestytodoyouthehonoursofsuppingwithyouhere,\"putinWade,frowningdarkly。
Themerchant\'swifeanddaughterstoodbesidehimwatchinghim,andplainlyuneasy。Beforehecouldmakeanyreply,Mr。Wildingspokeagain。
\"Thecircumstancethathehasnotthemoneybyhimisalittleodd—orwouldbewereitnotforwhathashappened。Iwouldsubmit,YourMajesty,thatyoureceivefromMr。Newlingtonnottwentythousandpoundsashehadpromisedyou,butthirtythousand,andthatyoureceiveitnotasaloanaswasproposed,butasafineimposeduponhiminconsequenceof……hislackofcareinthematterofhisorchard。\"
Monmouthlookedatthemerchantverysternly。\"YouhaveheardMr。
Wilding\'ssuggestion,\"saidhe。\"Youmaythankthegodoftraitorsitwasmade,elsewemighthavethoughtofaharshercourse。Youshallpaythemoneybyteno\'clockto—morrowtoMr。Wilding,whomIshallleavebehindforthesolepurposeofcollectingit。\"HeturnedfromNewlingtoninplaindisgust。\"Ithink,sirs,thathereisnomoretobedone。Arethestreetssafe,Mr。Wilding？\"