CHAPTERI
　　POT—VALIANCE
　　Thendrinkitthus,criedtherashyoungfool,andsplashedthecontentsofhiscupfullintothefaceofMr。Wildingevenasthatgentleman,onhisfeet,wasproposingtodrinktotheeyesoftheyoungfool'ssister。
　　Themomentsthatfollowedwerefullofinterest。Astillness,abrooding,expectantstillness,felluponthecompany—anditnumberedarounddozen—aboutLordGervase'srichlyappointedboard。Inthesoftcandlelighttheovaltableshonelikeadeepbrownpool,inwhichwerereflectedthegleamingsilverandsparklingcrystalthatseemedtofloatuponit。
　　Blakesuckedinhisnether—lip,hisfloridfaceathoughtlessfloridthanitswont,hisprominentblueeyesathoughtmoreprominent。UnderitsgoldenperiwigoldNickTrenchard'swizenedcountenancewasdarkenedbyascowl,andhisfingers,long,swarthy,andgnarled,drummedfretfullyuponthetable。PortlyLordGervaseScoresby—theirhost,abenignandplacidmanofpeace,detestingturbulence—turnedcrimsonnowinwordlessrage。Theothersgapedandstared—someatyoungWestmacott,someatthemanhehadsogrosslyaffronted—whilstintheshadowsofthehallacoupleoflacqueyslookedonamazed,allteethandeyes。
　　Mr。Wildingstood,verystillandoutwardlyimpasive,thewinetricklingfromhislongface,which,ifpale,wasnopalerthanitshabit,avestigeofthesmilewithwhichhehadproposedthetoaststilllingeringonhisthinlips,thoughdepartedfromhiseyes。AnelegantgentlemanwasMr。Wilding,tall,andseemingeventallerbyvirtueofhisexceedingslenderness。Hehadthecouragetowearhisownhair,whichwasofadarkbrownandveryluxuriant;darkbrowntoowerehissombreeyes,low—liddedandsetatadownwardslant。Fromthoseoddeyesofhis,hiscountenancegatheredanairofsuperciliousnesstemperedbyagentlemelancholy。Fortherest,itwasscoredbylinesthatstampeditwiththeappearanceofanageinexcessofhisthirtyyears。
　　Thirtyguineas'worthofMechlinathisthroatwasdrenched,empurpledandruinedbeyondredemption,andonthebreastofhisbluesatincoatadarkpatchwasspreadinglikeastainofblood。
　　RichardWestmacott,short,sturdy,andfair—complexionedtothepointofinsipidity,watchedhimsullenlyoutofpaleeyes,andwaited。ItwasLordGervasewhobrokeatlastthesilence—brokeitwithanoath,athingunusualinonewhosenaturewasalmostwoman—mild。
　　"AsGod'smylife！"hesplutteredwrathfully,gloweringatRichard。
　　"Tohavethishappeninmyhouse！Theyoungfoolshallmakeapology！"
　　"Withhisdyingbreath,"sneeredTrenchard,andtheoldrake'swords,histone,andthemalevolentlookhebentupontheboyincreasedthecompany'smalaise。
　　"Ithink,"saidMr。Wilding,withamostsingularandexcessivesweetness,"thatwhatMr。Westmacotthasdonehehasdonebecauseheapprehendedmeamiss。"
　　"Nodoubthe'llsayso,"opinedTrenchardwithashrug,andhadcautiondugintohisribsbyBlake'selbow,whilstRichardmadehastetoprovehimwrongbysayingthecontrary。
　　"Iapprehendedyouexactly,sir,"heanswered,defianceinhisvoiceandwine—flushedface。
　　"Ha！"cluckedTrenchard,irrepressible。"He'sbentonself—destruction。
　　Lethimhavehisway,inGod'sname。"
　　ButWildingseemedintentuponshowinghowlong—sufferinghecouldbe。
　　Hegentlyshookhishead。"Nay,now,"saidhe。"Youthought,Mr。
　　Westmacott,thatinmentioningyoursister,Ididsolightly。Isitnotso？"
　　"Youmentionedher,andthatisallthatmatters,"criedWestmacott。
　　"I'llnothavehernameonyourlipsatanytimeorinanyplace—no,norinanymanner。"Hisspeechwasthickfromtoomuchwine。
　　"Youaredrunk,"criedindignantLordGervasewithfinality。
　　"Pot—valiant,"Trenchardelaborated。
　　Mr。Wildingsetdownatlasttheglasswhichhehadcontinuedtoholduntilthatmoment。Herestedhishandsuponthetable,knucklesdownward,andleaningforwardhespokeimpressively,hisfaceverygrave;andthosepresent—knowinghimastheydid—wereoneandalllostinwonderathisunusualpatience。
　　"Mr。Westmacott,"saidhe,"Idothinkyouarewrongtopersistinaffrontingme。Youhavedoneathingthatisbeyondforgiveness,andyet,whenIofferyouthisopportunityofhonourablyretrieving……"
　　Heshruggedhisshoulders,leavingthesentenceincomplete。
　　Thecompanymighthavespareditsdeepsurpriseatsomuchmildness。
　　Therewasbutthesemblanceofit。Wildingproceededthusofpurposeset,andunderthecalmmaskofhislongwhitefacehismindworkedwickedlyanddeliberately。ThetemerityofWestmacott,whosenaturewasnotoriouslytimid,hadsurprisedhimforamoment。Butanon,readingtheboy'smindasreadilyasthoughithadbeenascrollunfoldedforhisinstruction,hesawthatWestmacott,onthestrengthofhispositionashissister'sbrother,conceivedhimselfimmune。
　　Mr。Wilding'savowedcourtshipofthelady,thehopeshestillentertainedofwinningher,despitetheaversionshewasatpainstoshowhim,gaveWestmacottassurancethatMr。Wildingwouldneverelecttoshatterhisalltooslenderchancesbyembroilinghimselfinaquarrelwithherbrother。And—readinghim,thus,aright—Mr。
　　Wildingputonthatmaskofpatience,luringtheboyintogreaterconvictionofthesecurityofhisposition。AndRichard,conceivinghimselfsafeinhisentrenchmentbehindthebulwarksofhisbrothershiptoRuthWestmacott,andheartenedfurtherbytheexcessofwinehehadconsumed,persistedininsultshewouldneverotherwisehavedaredtooffer。
　　"Whoseekstoretrieve？"hecrowedoffensively,boldlylookingupintotheother'sface。"Itseemsyouareyourselfreluctant。"Andhelaughedatriflestridently,andlookedabouthimforapplause,butfoundnone。
　　"Youareoverrash,"LordGervasedisapprovedhimharshly。
　　"NotthefirstcowardI'veseengrowvaliantatatable,"putinTrenchardbywayofexplanation,andmighthavecometowordswithBlakeonthatsamescore,butthatinthatmomentWildingspokeagain。
　　"Reluctanttodowhat？"hequestionedamiably,lookingWestmacottsostraightlybetweentheeyesthattheboyshifteduneasilyonhishigh—backedchair。
　　Nevertheless,stillfullofconfidenceintheunassailabilityofhisposition,themadyouthanswered,"TocleanseyourselfofwhatIthrewatyou。"
　　"Fanme,yewinds！"gaspedNickTrenchard,andlookedwithexpectancyathisfriendWilding。
　　Nowtherewasonefactorwithwhich,inbasingwithsuchcravenshrewdnesshiscalculationsuponMr。Wilding'sfeelingsforhissister,youngRichardhadnotreckoned。HewasnottoknowthatWilding,bruisedandwoundedbyMissWestmacott'sscornofhim,hadreachedthatborderlandwhereloveandhatearesomergedthattheyarescarcetobedistinguished。Embitteredbytheslightsshehadputuponhim—slightswhichhissensitive,lover'sfancyhadmagnifiedahundredfold—AnthonyWilding'sframeofmindwasgrownpeculiar。
　　Ofhisloveshewouldhavenone;hiskindnesssheseeminglydespised。
　　Sobeit;sheshouldtastehiscruelty。Ifshescornedhiswooingandforbadehimtopursueit,atleastitwasnotherstodenyhimthepowertohurt;andinhurtingherthatwouldnotbelovedbyhimsomemeasureoffierceandbitterconsolationseemedtoawaithim。
　　Herealized,perhaps,notquiteallthis—andtotheunworthinessofitallhegavenothought。Butherealizedenoughashetoyed,ascatwithmouse,withRichardWestmacott,toknowthatinstrikingatherthroughtheworthlesspersonofthisbrotherwhomshecherished—andwhopersistedinaffordinghimthisopportunity—awickedvengeancewouldbehis。
　　Peace—lovingLordGervasehadheavedhimselfsuddenlytohisfeetatWestmacott'slastwords,stillintentuponsavingthesituation。
　　"InHeaven'sname……"hebegan,whenMr。Wilding,evercalmandsmiling,thoughnowatriflesinister,wavedhimgentlyintosilence。ButthatpersistingcalmofMr。Wilding'swastoomuchforoldNickTrenchard。
　　Heroseabruptly,drawingalleyesuponhimself。Itwastime,hethought,hetookahandinthis。
　　InadditiontohisaffectionforWildingandhiscontemptforWestmacott,hewasfilledwithafearthatthelattermightbecomedangerousifnotcrushedatonce。Giftedwithashrewdknowledgeofmen,acquiredduringachequeredlifeofmuchsourexperience,oldNickinstinctivelymistrustedRichard。Hehadknownhimforafool,aweakling,ababbler,andabibberofwine。Outofsuchelementsavillainissooncompounded,andTrenchardhadcausetofeartheformofvillainythatlayreadytoRichard'shand。ForitchancedthatMr。TrenchardwassecondcousintothatfamousJohnTrenchard,solatelytriedfortreasonandacquittedtothegreatjoyofthesectariesoftheWest,andstillmorelately—butyesterday,infact—fledthecountrytoescapetherearrestorderedinconsequenceofthatexcessivejoy。Likehismorefamouscousin,NickTrenchardwasoneoftheDukeofMonmouth'smostactiveagents;andWestmacott,likeWilding,Vallancey,andoneortwoothersatthatboard,stood,too,committedtothecauseoftheProtestantChampion。
　　OutofhisknowledgeoftheboyTrenchardwasledtofearthatifhewerelenientlydealtwithnow,tomorrow,when,sober,hecametorealizethegrossnessofthethinghehaddoneandtheunlikelihoodofitsbeingforgivenhim,therewasnosayingbutthattoprotecthimselfhemightbetrayWilding'sshareintheplotthatwasbeinghatched。Thatinitselfwouldbebadenough;buttheremightbeworse,forhecouldscarcelybetrayWildingwithoutbetrayingothersand—whatmatteredmost—theCauseitself。Hemustbedealtwithoutofhand,Trenchardopined,anddealtwithruthlessly。
　　"Ithink,Anthony,"saidhe,"thatwehavehadwordsenough。ShallyoubedisposingofMr。Westmacottto—morrow,ormustIbedoingitforyou？"
　　WithagaspofdismayyoungRichardtwistedinhischairtoconfrontthisfreshandunsuspectedantagonist。Whatdangerwasthisthathehadoverlooked？Then,evenasheturned,Wilding'svoicefellonhisear,andeachwordofthefewhespokewaslikeadropoficywateronWestmacott'soverheatedbrain。
　　"Iprotestyouarevastlykind,Nick。ButIintend,myself,tohavethepleasureofkillingMr。Westmacott。"Andhissmilefellnowinmockeryuponthedisillusionedlad。
　　Crushedbythatboltfromtheblue,Richardsatasifstunned,theflushrecedingfromhisfaceuntilhisverylipswerelivid。Theshockhadsoberedhim,and,sobered,herealizedinterrorwhathehaddone。
　　Andyetevensoberhewasamazedtofindthatthestaffuponwhichwithsuchsecurityhehadleanedshouldhaveprovedrotten。Truehehadputmuchstrainuponit;butthenhehadcountedthatitwouldstandmuchstrain。
　　Hewouldhavespoken,buthelackedwords,sostrickenwashe。Andevenhadhedonesoitisoddsnonewouldhaveheardhim,forthelatecalmwasofasuddenturnedtogarboil。Everymanofthatcompany—withthesoleexceptionofRichardhimself—wasonhisfeet,andallwerespeakingatonce,inclamouring,excitedchorus。
　　Wildingalone—thebuttoftheirexpostulations—stoodquietlysmiling,andwipedhisfaceatlastwithakerchiefoffinestlawn。
　　DominatingtheothersintheBabelrosethevoiceofSirRowlandBlake—impecuniousBlake;BlakelatelyoftheGuards,whohadsoldhiscommissionastheonlythingremaininghimuponwhichhecouldraisemoney;Blake,thatothersuitorforMissWestmacott'shand,thesuitorfavouredbyherbrother。
　　"Youshallnotdoit,Mr。Wilding,"heshouted,hisfacecrimson。"No,byGod！Youwereshamedforever。Heisbutalad,anddrunk。"
　　Trenchardeyedtheshort,powerfullybuiltmanbesidehim,andlaughedunpleasantly。"Youshouldgetyourselfbledoneofthesedays,SirRowland,"headvised。"Theremaybenogreatdangeryet;butamancan'tbetoocarefulwhenhewearsanarrowneckcloth。"
　　Blake—ashort,powerfullybuiltman—tooknoheedofhim,butlookedstraightatMr。Wilding,who,smilingever,calmlyreturnedthegazeofthoseprominentblueeyes。
　　"Youwillsufferme,SirRowland,"saidhesweetly,"tobethejudgeofwhomIwillandwhomIwillnotmeet。"
　　SirRowlandflushedunderthatmockingglanceandcaustictone。"Butheisdrunk,"herepeatedfeebly。
　　"Ithink,""saidTrenchard,"thatheishearingsomethingthatwillmakehimsober。"
　　LordGervasetooktheladbytheshoulder,andshookhimimpatiently。
　　"Well？"quothhe。"Haveyounothingtosay？Youdidadealofpratingjustnow。Imakenodoubtbutthatevenatthislatehourifyouweretomakeapology……"
　　"Itwouldbeidle,"cameWilding'sicyvoicetoquenchthegleamofhopekindlinganewinRichard'sbreast。Theladsawthathewaslost,andheisapoorthing,indeed,whocannotfacetheworstoncethatworstisshowntobeirrevocable。Herosewithsomesemblanceofdignity。
　　"ItisasIwouldwish,"saidhe,buthislividfaceandstaringeyesbeliedthevalourofhiswords。Heclearedhishuskinessfromhisthroat。"SirRowland,"saidhe,"willyouactforme？"
　　"NotI！"criedBlakewithanoath。"I'llbenopartytothebutcheryofaboyunfledged。"
　　"Unfledged？"echoedTrenchard。"Bodyo'me！'TisamatterWildingwillamendto—morrow。He'llfledgehim,neverfear。He'llwinghimonhisflighttoheaven。"
　　OfsetpurposedidTrenchardaddthisfueltotheblazingfire。Itwasnopartofhisviewsthatthisencountershouldbeavoided。IfRichardWestmacottwereallowedtoliveafterwhathadpassed,thereweretoomanytallfellowsmightgoinperiloftheirlives。
　　Richard,meanwhile,hadturnedtothemanonhisleft—youngVallancey,anotoriouspartisanoftheDukeofMonmouth's,ahair—brainedgentlemanwhowashisownworstenemy。
　　"MayIcountonyou,Ned？"heasked。
　　"Aye—tothedeath,"saidVallanceymagniloquently。
　　"Mr。Vallancey,"saidTrenchardwithawrytwistofhissharpfeatures,"yougrowprophetic。"
　　CHAPTERII
　　SIRROWLANDTOTHERESCUE
　　>FromScoresbyHall,nearWestonZoyland,youngWestmacottrodehomethatSaturdaynighttohissister'shouseinBridgwater,asoberedmanandananguished。Hehadcommittedafollywhichwasliketocosthimhislifeto—morrow。Otherfollieshadhecommittedinhistwenty—fiveyears—forhewasnotquitethebabethatBlakehadrepresentedhim,althoughhecertainlylookednothinglikehisage。
　　Butto—nighthehadcontrivedtosetthecrowntoall。HehadgoodcausetoblamehimselfandtocursethemiscalculationthathademboldenedhimtolaunchhimselfuponacourseofinsultagainstthisWilding,whomhehatedwithallthecurrishandresentfulhatredoftheworthlessforthemanofparts。
　　Buttherewasmorethanhateintheaffrontthathehadoffered;therewascalculation—toanevengreaterextentthanwehaveseen。IthappenedthatthroughhisownfaultyoungRichardwasallbutpenniless。Thepious,nonconformistsoulofSirGeoffreyLupton—thewealthyunclefromwhomhehadhadgreatexpectations—hadbeensostirredtoangerbyRichard'sviciousandbesottedwaysthathehadlefteveryguineathatwashis,everyperchofland,andeverybrickofedificetoRichard'shalf—sisterRuth。Atpresentthingswerenotsobadfortheworthlessboy。Ruthworshippedhim。Hewasasacredchargetoherfromtheirdeadfather,who,knowingthestoutnessofhersoulandthefeeblenessofRichard's,hadindyingimposedonherthecareandguidanceofhergracelessbrother。ButRuth,inallthingsstrong,wasweakwithRichardoutofherveryfondnessforhim。Towhatshehadhemighthelphimself,andthusitwasthatthingswerenotsobadwithhimatpresent。ButwhenRichard'scalculatingmindcametogivethoughttothefuturehefoundthatthisoccasionedhimsomecare。
　　Richladies,evenwhentheydonothappentobeequippedinadditionwithRuth'swinsomebeautyandendearingnature,arenotwonttogounmarried。ItwouldhavepleasedRichardbesttohavehadherremainaspinster。Buthewellknewthatthiswasamatterinwhichshemighthaveavoiceofherown,anditbehovedhimbetimestotakewisemeasureswherepossiblehusbandswereconcerned。
　　Thefirstthatcameinasuitor'sobviouspanoplywasAnthonyWilding,ofZoylandChase,andRichardwatchedhisadventwithforeboding。
　　Wilding'swasapersonalitytodazzleanywoman,despite—perhapsevenbecauseof—thereputationforwildnessthatclungtohim。ThathewasknownasWildWildingtothecountrysideistrue;butitwereunfair—asRichardknew—toattachtothistoomuchimportance;
　　fortheadoptionofsoobviousanalliterationtherudecountrymindsneededbutaslightencouragement。
　　FromthefirstitlookedasifRuthmightfavourhim,andRichard'sfearsassumedmoredefiniteshape。IfWildingmarriedher—andhewasabold,masterfulfellowwhousuallyaccomplishedwhatheaimedat—herfortuneandestatemustceasetobeapleasantpasturelandforbovineRichard。TheboythoughtatfirstofmakingtermswithWilding;theideawasold;ithadcometohimwhenfirsthehadcountedthechancesofhissister'smarrying。ButhefoundhimselfhesitatingtolayhisproposalbeforeMr。Wilding。AndwhilsthehesitatedMr。Wildingmadeobviousheadway。StillRicharddarednotdoit。TherewasasomethinginWilding'seyethatcriedhimdanger。Thus,intheend,sincehecouldnotattemptacompromisewiththisfinefellow,theonlycourseremainingwasthatofdirectantagonism—thatistosay,directasRichardunderstooddirectness。
　　Slanderwastheweaponheusedinthatsecretduel;thecountrysidewaswellstockedwithstoriesofMr。Wilding'smanyindiscretions。
　　Idonotwishtosuggestthatthesewereunfounded。Still,thecountryside,cajoledbyitsprimitivesenseofhumourintothatalliterationIhavementioned,foundthathavinggiventhisdogitsbadname,itwasundertheobligationofkeepinguphisreputation。Soitexaggerated。Richard,exaggeratingthoseexaggerationsinhisturn,hadsomedetails,asinterestingandunsavouryastheywereinthemainuntrue,tolaybeforehissister。
　　Nowestablishedlove,itiswellknown,thriveswondrouslyonslander。
　　Therobustgrowthofamaid'sfeelingsforheracceptedsuitorisbutfurtherstrengthenedbymalignrepresentationsofhischaracter。Sheseizeswithjoythechanceofaffordingproofofhergreatloyalty,anddefiestheworldanditseviltoconvinceherthatthemantowhomshehasgivenhertrustisnotmostworthyofit。Notso,however,withthefirsttimidbudofincipientinterest。Slandernipsitlikeafrost;
　　indeadlinessitissecondonlytoridicule。
　　RuthWestmacottlentaneartoherbrother'sstories,incredulousonlyuntilsherememberedvaguehintsshehadcaughtfromthispersonandfromthat,whosemeaningwasnowmadeclearbywhatRichardtoldher,which,incidentally,theyservedtocorroborate。Corroboration,too,didthetaleofinfamyreceivefromthefriendshipthatprevailedbetweenMr。WildingandNickTrenchard,theoldne'er—dowell,whoinhistime—aseverybodyknew—hadcomesolow,despitehisgentlebirth,astohavebeenoneofacompanyofstrollingplayers。HadMr。Wildingbeenotherthanshenowlearnthewas,hewouldsurelynotcherishanattachmentforapersonsoutterlyunworthy。Clearly,theywerebirdsofaplumage。
　　Andso,hermaidenpurityoutragedatthethoughtthatshehadbeenindangeroflendingawillingeartothewooingofsuchaman,shehadcrushedthislovewhichsheblushedtothinkwasonthepointofthrowingoutrootstofastenonhersoul,andwassedulousthereafterinmanifestingtheaversionwhichsheaccounteditherdutytofosterforMr。Wilding。
　　Richardhadwatchedandsmiledinsecret,takingprideinthecunningwayhehadwroughtthischange—thatcunningwhichsooftenisgiventothestupidbywayofcompensationfortheintelligencethathasbeenwithheldthem。
　　Andnowwhattimediscountenanced,Wildingfumedandfrettedallinvain,SirRowlandBlake,freshfromLondonandinfullflightfromhiscreditors,flashedlikeacometintotheBridgwaterheavens。HedazzledtheeyesandmighthavehadfortheaskingtheheartandhandofDianaHorton—Ruth'scousin。Herheart,indeed,hehadwithouttheasking,forDianafellstraightwayinlovewithhimandshowedit,justasheshowedthathewasnotwithoutresponsetoheraffection。
　　Thereweresometenderpassagesbetweenthem;butBlake,forallhisfineexterior,wasabeggar,andDianafarfromrich,andsoherodehisfeelingswithahardgripuponthereins。Andthen,inanevilhourforpoorDiana,youngWestmacotthadtakenhimtoLuptonHouse,andSirRowlandhadhisfirstglimpseofRuth,hisfirstknowledgeofherfortune。HewentdownbeforeRuth'seyeslikeamanofheart;
　　hewentdownmorelowlystillbeforeherpossessionslikeamanofgreed;andpoorDianamightconsoleherselfwithwhomshecould。
　　Herbrotherwatchedhim,appraisedhim,andthoughtthatinthisbrokengamesterhehadamanafterhisownheart;amanwhowouldbereadyenoughforsuchabargainasRichardhadinmind;readyenoughtosellwhatragsmightbelefthimofhishonoursothathecamebythewherewithaltomendhisbrokenfortunes。
　　Thetwainmadeterms。TheyhaggledlikeanypairoftradersoutofJewry,butintheenditwassettled—byabonddulyengrossedandsealed—thatonthedaythatSirRowlandmarriedRuthheshouldmakeovertoherbrothercertainvaluesthatamountedtoperhapsaquarterofherpossessions。TherewasnocausetothinkthatRuthwouldbegreatlyopposedtothis—notthatthatconsiderationwouldhaveweighedwithRichard。
　　ButnowthatallessentialsweresosatisfactorilydeterminedavexationwasofferedWestmacottbythecircumstancethathissisterseemednowisetakenwithSirRowland。Shesufferedhimbecausehewasherbrother'sfriend;onthataccountsheevenhonouredhimwithsomemeasureofherownfriendship;buttonogreaterintimacydidhermannerpromisetoadmithim。Andmeanwhile,Mr。Wildingpersistedinthefaceofallrebuffs。Underhissmilingmaskhehidthesmartofthewoundsshedealthim,untilitalmostseemedtohimthatfromlovingherhehadcometohateher。
　　IthadbeenwellforRichardhadheleftthingsastheywereandwaited。
　　WhetherBlakeprosperedornot,leastwaysitwasclearthatWildingwouldnotprosper,andthat,fortheseason,wasallthatneedhavematteredtoyoungRichard。
　　ButinhiscupsthatnighthehadthoughtinsomedimwaytoprecipitatemattersbyaffrontingMr。Wilding,secure,asIhaveshown,inhisbeliefthatWildingwouldperishsoonerthanraiseafingeragainstRuth'sbrother。Andhisdrunkenastuteness,itseemed,hadbeentohismindasapieceofbottleglasstothesight,distortingtheimageviewedthroughit。
　　Withsomesuchbitterreflectionrodehehometohissleeplesscouch。
　　SomepartofthosedarkhourshespentinbitterrevilingofWilding,ofhimself,andevenofhissister,whomheblamedforthisawfulsituationintowhichhehadtumbled;atothertimesheweptfromself—pityandsheerfright。
　　Once,indeed,heimaginedthathesawlight,thathesawawayoutoftheperilthathemmedhimin。HismindturnedforamomentinthedirectionthatTrenchardhadfeareditmight。HebethoughthimofhisassociationwiththeMonmouthCause—intowhichhehadbeenbeguiledbythesordidhopeofgain—andofWilding'simportantshareinthatsamebusiness。HewasevenmovedtoriseandridethatverynightforExetertobetraytoAlbemarletheCauseitself,sothathemighthaveWildinglaidbytheheels。ButifTrenchardhadbeenrightinhavinglittlefaithinRichard'sloyalty,hehad,itseems,infearingtreacherymadethemistakeofgivingRichardcreditformorecouragethanwashisendowment。Forwhen,sittingupinbed,firedbyhisinspiration,youngWestmacottcametoconsiderthequestionstheLord—LieutenantofDevonwouldbelikelytoaskhim,hereflectedthattheanswershemustreturnwouldsoincriminatehimselfthathewouldberiskinghisownneckinthebetrayal。Heflunghimselfdownagainwithacurseandagroan,andthoughtnomoreofthesalvationthatmightlieforhimthatway。
　　ThemorningofthatlastdayofMayfoundhimpaleandlimpandalla—tremble。Herosebetimesanddressed,butstirrednotfromhischambertillinthegardenunderhiswindowheheardhissister'svoice,andthatofDianaHorton,joinedanonbyaman'sdeepertones,whichherecognizedwithastartasBlake's。Whatdidthebaronetheresoearly？Assuredlyitmustconcerntheimpendingduel。Richardknewnomawkishnessonthescoreofeavesdropping。Hestoletohiswindowandlentanear,hutthevoiceswerereceding,andtohisvexationhecaughtnothingofwhatwassaid。HewonderedhowsoonVallanceywouldcome,andforwhathourtheencounterhadbeenappointed。
　　VallanceyhadremainedbehindatScoresbyHalllastnighttomakethenecessaryarrangementswithTrenchard,whowastoactforMr。Wilding。
　　NowitchancedthatTrenchardandWildinghadbusiness—businessofMonmouth's—totransactinTauntonthatmorning;businesswhichmightnotbedelayed。TherewereoddrumoursafloatintheWest;