Good—bye,myRuth！Iwouldyoumighthavelovedme。Isoughttoforceit。"Hesmiledeversowanly。"Perhapsthatwasmymistake。Itisanillthingtoeatone'shaywhileitisgrass。"Heraisedtohislipsthelittleglovedhandthatstillrestedonhiswrist。"Godkeepyou,Ruth！"hemurmured。
　　Shesoughttoanswerhim,butsomethingchokedher;asobwasallsheachieved。Hadhecaughthertohiminthatmomentthereislittledoubtbutthatshehadyielded。Perhapsheknewit;andknowingitkeptthetighterreinupondesire。Shewasasmetalmolteninthecrucible,tobemouldedbyhiscraftsman'shandsintoanypatternthathechose。Butthecruciblewasthecrucibleofpity,notoflove;that,too,heknew,and,knowingit,forbore。
　　Hedroppedherhand,doffedhishat,and,wheelinghishorseabout,toucheditwiththespurandrodebacktowardsthethicketwherehisfriendsawaitedhim。Ashelefther,shetoowheeledabout,asiftofollowhim。Shestrovetocommandhervoicethatshemightrecallhim;
　　butatthatsamemomentTrenchard,hearinghisreturninghoofs,thrustoutintotheroadwithVallanceyfollowingathisheels。Theoldplayer'sharshvoicereachedherwhereshestood,anditwasquerulouswithimpatience。
　　"Whataplaguedoyoumean,dallyinghereatsuchatime,Anthony？"hecried,towhichVallanceyadded:"InGod'sname,letuspushon。
　　Atthatshecheckedherimpulse—itmayevenbethatshemistrustedit。
　　Shepaused,lingeringundecidedforaninstant;then,turningherhorseoncemore,sheambleduptheslopetorejoinDiana。
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　"PRORELIGIONEETLIBERTATE"
　　TheeveningwasfaradvancedwhenMr。WildingandhistwocompanionsdescendedtoUplymeCommonfromtheheightswhenceastheyrodetheyhadcommandedaclearviewofthefairvalleyoftheAxe,lyingnowunderathinopalescentveilofeveningmist。
　　TheyhadpausedatIlminsterforfreshhorses,andthereWildinghadpaidavisittooneofhisagentsfromwhomhehadprocuredahundredguineas。Thencetheyhadcomesouthatasharppace,andwithlittlesaid。Wildingwasmoodyandthoughtful,filledwithchagrinatthisunconscionablerashnessofthemanuponwhomallhishopeswerecentred。
　　AstheycanteredbrisklyacrossUplymeCommoninthetwilighttheypassedseveralbodiesofcountrymen,allheadingforthetown,andonegroupsentupashoutof"GodsavetheProtestantDuke！"astheyrodepasthim。
　　"Amentothat,"mutteredMr。Wildinggrimly,"forIamafraidthatnomancan。"
　　InthenarrowlanebyHayFarmahorseman,goingintheoppositedirection,passedthematthegallop;buttheyhadmetseveralsuchsinceleavingIlminster,forindeedthenewswasspreadingfast,andthewholecountrysidewasalivewithmessengers,someonfootandsomeonhorseback,butallhurryingasiftheirlivesdependedontheirhaste。
　　TheymadetheirwaytotheMarket—PlacewhereMonmouth'sdeclaration—
　　thatremarkablemanifestofromthepenofFerguson—hadbeenreadsomehoursbefore。Thence,havingascertainedwhereHisGracewaslodged,theymadetheirwaytotheGeorgeInn。
　　InCoombeStreettheyfoundthecrowdsodensethattheycouldbutwithdifficultyopenoutawayfortheirhorsesthroughthehumanpress。Notawindowbutwasopen,andthrongedwithsight—seers—mostlywomen,indeed,forthemenwereinthepressbelow。Oneveryhandresoundedthecriesof"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！TheProtestantReligion！ReligionandLiberty,"whichlatterwerethewordsinscribedonthestandardMonmouthhadsetupthateveningontheChurchCliffs。
　　Intruth,Wildingwasamazedatwhathesaw,andsaidasmuchtoTrenchard。SopessimistichadbeenhisoutlookthathehadalmostexpectedtofindtherebellionsnuffedoutbythetimetheyreachedLyme—of—the—King。WhathadtheauthoritiesbeenaboutthattheyhadpermittedMonmouthtocomeashore,orhadVallancey'sinformationbeenwronginthematterofthenumbersthataccompaniedtheProtestantChampion？Wilding'sredcoatattractedsomeattention。Intheduskitscolourwasalmostallthatcouldbediscernedofit。
　　"Here'samilitiacaptainfortheDuke！"criedone,andotherstookupthecry,andifitdidnothingelseitopenedawayforthemthroughthatsolidhumanmassandpermittedthemtowinthroughtotheyardoftheGeorgeInn。Theyfoundthespaciousquadranglethrongedwithmen,armedandunarmed,andonthestepsstoodatall,well—knit,soldierlyman,hishatrakishlycocked,aboutwhomacrowdoftownsmenandcountryfellowswerepressingwithinsistence。AtaglanceMr。WildingrecognizedCaptainVenner—raisedtotherankofcolonelbyMonmouthonthewayfromHolland。
　　Trencharddismounted,andtakingadistractedstable—boybythearm,badehimseetotheirhorses。Thefellowendeavouredtoswinghimselffreeoftheother'stenaciousgrasp。
　　"Letmego,"hecried。"IamfortheDuke！"
　　"Andsoarewe,myfinerebel,"answeredTrenchard,holdingfast。
　　"Letmego,"theloutinsisted。"Iamgoingtoenlist。"
　　"Andsoyoushallwhenyouhavestabledournags。Seetohim,Vallancey;heisbrainsickwiththefumesofwar。"
　　Thefellowprotested,butTrenchard'swaywasbriskandshort;andso,protestingstill,heledawaytheircattleintheend,Vallanceygoingwithhimtoseethatheperformedthislastdutyasastable—boyerehetoobecameachampionmilitantoftheProtestantCause。TrenchardspedafterWilding,whowaselbowinghiswaythroughtheyokelsaboutthesteps。Theglareofanewlylightedlampfromthedoorwayfellfulluponhislongwhitefaceasheadvanced,andVennerespiedandrecognizedhim。
　　"Mr。Wilding！"hecried,andtherewasagladringinhisvoice,forthoughcobblers,tailors,desertersfromthemilitia,pot—boys,stable—boys,andshufflingyokelshadbeencomingininnumbersduringthepastfewhourssincetheDeclarationhadbeenread,thiswasthefirstgentlemanthatarrivedtowelcomeMonmouth。Thesoldierstretchedoutahandtograspthenewcomer's。"HisGracewillseeyouthisinstant,notadoubtofit。"Heturnedandcalleddownthepassage。
　　"Cragg！"Ayoungmaninabuffcoatcameforward,andtohimVennerdeliveredWildingandTrenchardthathemightannouncethemtoHisGrace。
　　Intheroomthathadbeensetapartforhimabovestairs,Monmouthstillsatattable。Hehadjustsupped,withbutanindifferentappetite,sofeveredwashebytheeventsofhislanding。Hewasexcitedwithhope—inspiredbythereadinesswithwhichthemenofLymeanditsneighbourhoodhadflockedtohisbanner—andfrettedbyanxietythatnoneofthegentryofthevicinityshouldyethavefollowedtheexampleofthemeanerfolk,inanswertothemessagesdispatchedatdawnfromSeaton。Theboardatwhichhesatwasstillcumberedwithsomeglassesandplattersandvestigesofhisrepast。BelowhimonhisrightsatFerguson—thatprinceofplotters—verybusywithpenandink,hiskeenfacealmosthiddenbyhisgreatperiwig;oppositewereLordGrey,ofWerke,andAndrewFletcher,ofSaltoun,whilst,standingatthefootofthetablebarelywithinthecircleofcandlelightfromthebranchonhepolishedoak,wasNathanielWade,thelawyer,whohadfledtoHollandonaccountofhisallegedcomplicityintheRyeHouseplotandwasnowreturnedamajorintheDuke'sservice。Erectandsoldierlyoffigure,girtwithagreatswordandwiththebuttofapistolprotrudingfromhisbelt,hehadlittletheairofamanwhosemethodsofcontentionwereforensic。
　　"Youunderstand,then,MajorWade,"HisGracewassaying,hisvoicepleasantandmusical。"Itisdecidedthatthegunshadbestbegotashoreforthwithandmounted。"
　　Wadebowed。"Ishallsetaboutitatonce,YourGrace。Ishallnotwantforhelp。HaveIYourGrace'sleavetogo？"
　　Monmouthnodded,andasWadepassedout,EnsignCraggenteredtoannounceMr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。TheDukerosetohisfeet,hisglancesuddenlybrightening。FletcherandGreyrosewithhim;Fergusonpaidnoheed,absorbedinhistask,whichheindustriouslycontinued。
　　"Atlast！"exclaimedtheDuke。"Admitthem,sir。"
　　Whentheyentered,Wildingcomingfirst,hishatunderhisarm,theDukesprangtomeethim,atallyoungfigure,litheandslenderasabladeofsteel,andofasteelystrengthforallhisslimness。Hewasdressedinasuitofpurplethatbecamehimmarvellouslywell,andonhisbreastastarofdiamondsflashedandsmoulderedlikeathingoffire。Hewasofanexceedingbeautyofface,whereinhemainlyfavouredthat"bold,handsomewoman"thatwashismother,without,however,anyofhismother'sinsipidity;fineeyes,agoodnose,straightandslender,andamouthwhich,ifsensualandindicatingalackofstrength,wasbeautifullyshaped。Hischinwasslightlycleft,theshapeofhisfaceadelicateoval,framednowinthewavingmassesofhisbrownwig。SomelikenesstohislateMajestywasalsodiscernible,inspiteofthewart,outofwhichhisuncleJamesmadesomuchcapital。
　　Therewasaslightflushonhischeeks,anaddedlustreinhiseye,ashetookWilding'shandandshookitheartilybeforeWildinghadtimetokissHisGrace's。
　　"Youarelate,"hesaid,buttherewasnoreproachinhisvoice。"Wehadlookedtofindyouherewhenwecameashore。Youhadmyletter？"
　　"Ihadnot,YourGrace,"answeredWilding,verygrave。"Itwasstolen。"
　　"Stolen？"criedtheDuke,andbehindhimGreypressedforward,whilstevenFergusonpausedinhiswritingtoraisehispiercingeyesandlisten。
　　"Itisnomatter,"Wildingreassuredhim。"Althoughstolen,ithasbutgonetoWhitehallto—day,whenitcanaddlittletothenewsthatisalreadyonitswaythere。"
　　TheDukelaughedsoftly,withaflashofwhiteteeth,andlookedpastWildingatTrenchard。Someofthelightfadedoutofhiseyes。"TheytoldmeMr。Trenchard……"hebegan,whenWilding,halfturningtohisfriend,explained。
　　"ThisisMr。NicholasTrenchard—JohnTrenchard'scousin。
　　"Ibidyouwelcome,sir,"saidtheDuke,veryagreeably,"andItrustyourcousinfollowsyou。"
　　"Alas,"saidTrenchard,"mycousinisinFrance,"andinafewbriefwordsherelatedthematterofJohnTrenchard'shome—comingonhisacquittalandthetroubletherehadbeenconnectedwithit。
　　TheDukereceivedthenewsinsilence。HehadexpectedgoodsupportfromoldSpeke'sson—in—law。Indeed,therewasapromisethatwhenhecame,JohnTrenchardwouldbringfifteenhundredmenfromTaunton。Hetookaturnintheroomdeepinthought,andtherewasapauseuntilFerguson,rubbinghisgreatRomannose,askedsuddenlyhadMr。WildingseentheDeclaration。Mr。Wildinghadnot,andthereupontheplottingparson,whowasproudofhiscomposition,wouldhavereadittohimthereandthen,butthatGreysourlytoldhimthematterwouldkeep,andthattheyhadotherthingstodiscusswithMr。Wilding。
　　ThistheDukehimselfconfirmed,statingthatthereweremattersonwhichhewouldbegladtohavetheiropinion。
　　Heinvitedthenewcomerstodrawchairstothetable;glasseswerecalledfor,andacoupleoffreshbottlesofCanarywentroundtheboard。Thetalkwasdesultoryforafewmoments,whilstWildingandTrenchardwashedthedustfromtheirthroats;thenMonmouthbroketheicebyaskingthembluntlywhattheythoughtofhiscomingthus,earlierthanwasatfirstagreed。
　　Wildingneverhesitatedinhisreply。"Frankly,YourGrace,"saidhe,"Ilikeitnotatall。"
　　Fletcherlookedupsharply,hisclearintelligenteyesfulluponWilding'scalmface,hiscountenanceexpressingaslittleasdidWilding's。Fergusonseemedslightlytakenaback。Grey'sthicklipsweretwistedinasneeringsmile。
　　"Faith,"saidthelatterwithelaboratesarcasm,"inthatcaseitonlyremainsforustoshipagain,heaveanchor,andbacktoHolland。"
　　"ItiswhatIshouldadvise,"saidWildingslowlyandquietly,"ifI
　　thoughttherewasachanceofmyadvicebeingtaken。"Hehadacalm,almostapatheticwayofutteringstartlingthingswhichrenderedthemdoublystartling。ThesneerseemedtofreezeonLordGrey'slips;
　　Fletchercontinuedtostare,buthiseyeshadgrownmoreround;Fergusonscowleddarkly。TheDuke'sboyishface—itwasstillveryyouthfuldespitehissix—and—thirtyyears—expressedawonderingconsternation。
　　HelookedatWilding,andfromWildingtotheothers,andhisglanceseemedtoentreatthemtosuggestananswertohim。ItwasGreyatlastwhotookthematterup。
　　"Youshallexplainyourmeaning,sir,orwemustholdyouatraitor,"
　　heexclaimed。
　　"KingJamesdoesthatalready,"answeredWildingwithaquietsmile。
　　"D'yemeantheDukeofYork？"rumbledFerguson'sScottishaccentwithstartlingsuddenness,andMonmouthnoddedapprovalofthecorrection。
　　"Ifyemeanthatbloodypapistandfratricide,itwerewellsotospeakofhim。HadyereadtheDeclaration……"
　　ButFletchercroppedhisspeechinmid—growth。Hewaseverashort—temperedman,intolerantofirrelevancies。
　　"Itwerewell,perhaps,"saidhe,hisaccentabundantlyproclaiminghimafellowcountrymanofFerguson's,"tokeeptothematterbeforeus。
　　Mr。Wilding,nodoubt,willstatethereasonsthatexist,orthathefanciesmayexist,forgivingadvicewhichishardlyworthyofthecausetowhichhestandscommitted。"
　　"Aye,Fletcher,"saidMonmouth,"thereissenseinyou。Telluswhatisinyourmind,Mr。Wilding。"
　　"Itisinmymind,YourGrace,thatthisinvasionisrash,premature,andill—advised。"
　　"Oddslife！"criedGrey,andheswungangrilyroundfullytofacetheDuke,thenostrilsofhisheavynosedilating。"Arewetolistentothismilksopprattle？"
　　NickTrenchard,whohadhithertobeensilent,clearedhisthroatsonoisilythathedrewalleyestohimself。
　　"YourGrace,"Mr。Wildingpursued,hisaircalmanddignified,andgatheringmoredignityfromthecircumstancethatheproceededasiftherehadbeennointerruption,"whenIhadthehonourofconferringwithyouatTheHaguetwomonthsago,itwasagreedthatyoushouldspendthesummerinSweden—awayfrompoliticsandscheming,leavingtheworkofpreparationtoyouraccreditedagentshere。ThatworkI
　　havebeenslowlybutsurelypushingforward。Itwasnottobehurried;
　　menofpositionarenottobewonoverinaday;menwithanythingtoloseneedsomeguaranteethattheyarenotwantonlycastingtheirpossessionstothewinds。Bynextspring,aswasagreed,allwouldhavebeenready。Delaycouldnothavehurtyou。Indeed,witheverydaybywhichyoudelayedyourcomingyoudidgoodservicetoyourcause,youstrengtheneditsprospectsofsuccess;foreverydaythepeople'sburdenofoppressionandpersecutiongrowsmoreheavy,andthepeople'stempermoreshort;everyday,bythemethodsthatheispursuing,KingJamesbringshimselfintodeeperhatred。Thishatredisspreading。Itwasthebusinessofmyselfandthoseotherstohelpiton,untilfromthecottageoftheploughmantheinfectionofangershouldhavespreadtothemansionofthesquire。HadYourGracebutgivenmetime,asI
　　entreatedyou,andasyoupromisedme,youmighthavemarchedtoWhitehallwithscarcethesheddingofadropofblood;hadYourGracebutwaiteduntilwewereready,Englandwouldhavesotrembledatyourlandingthatyouruncle'sthronewouldhavetoppledover`neaththeshock。Asitis……"Heshruggedhisshoulders,sighedandspreadhishands,leavinghissentenceuncompleted。
　　Monmouthsatsoberedbythesesoberwords;theintoxicationthathadcometohimfromthelittlemeasureofsuccessthathadattendedtheopeningofthelistingonChurchCliffs,desertedhimnow;hesawthethingstarkandinitstrueproportions,andnoteventheshoutingofthefolkinthestreetsbelow,cryinghisnameandacclaiminghimtheirchampion,servedtolightenthegloomthatWilding'swordscastlikeacloudoverhisvolatileheart。Alas,poorMonmouth！Hewaseveraweathercock,andevenasWilding'swordsseemedtostrikethecourageoutofhim,sodidGrey'sshortcontemptuousanswerrestoreit。
　　"Asitis,we'llthrustthatthroneoverwithourhands,"saidheafteramoment'spause。
　　"Aye,"criedMonmouth。"We'lldoit,Godhelpingus！"
　　"OurdependenceandtrustisintheLordofHosts,inWhoseNamewegoforth,"boomedthevoiceofFerguson,quotingfromhispreciousDeclaration。"TheLordwilldothatwhichseemethgooduntoHim。"
　　"Anunanswerableargument,"saidWilding,smiling。"ButtheLord,Iamtoldbythegentlemenofyourcloth,worksinHisowngoodtime,andmyfearsarealllest,findingusunpreparedofourselves,theLord'sgoodtimebenotyet。"
　　"Outonye,sir,"criedFerguson。"Yewantforreverence！"
　　"Commonsensewillserveusbetteratthemoment,"answeredWildingwithatouchofsharpness。HeturnedtothefrowningandperplexedDuke—
　　whosemindwasbeingtossedthiswayandthat,likeashuttlecockuponthebattledoreofthesemen'swords。"YourGrace,"hesaid,"forgivemethatIspeakitifhearityouwill,orforbidmetosayitifyourresolveisunalterableinthismatter。"
　　"Itisunalterable,"answeredGreyfortheDuke。
　　ButMonmouthgentlyoverruledhimforonce。
　　"Nevertheless,speakbyallmeans,Mr。Wilding。Whateveryoumaysay,youneedhavenofearthatanyofuscandoubtyourgoodintentionstoourselves。"
　　"IthankYourGrace。WhatIhavetosayisbutarepetitionofthefirstwordsIutteredatthistable。IwouldurgeYourGraceevennowtoretreat。"
　　"What？Areyoumad？"ItwasLordGreywhoaskedtheimpatientquestion。
　　"Idoubtit'sover—lateforthat,"saidFletcherslowly。
　　"Iamnotsosure,"answeredWilding。"ButIamsurethattoattemptitwerethesafercourse—thesurerintheend。Imyselfmaynotlingertopushforwardthetaskofstirringupthepeople,forIamalreadysomethingmorethanundersuspicion。ButthereareotherswhowillremaintocarryontheworkafterIhavedepartedwithYourGrace,ifYourGracethinkswell。FromtheContinentbycorrespondencewecanmatureourplans。Inatwelvemonththingswillbeverydifferent,andwecanreturnwithconfidence。"
　　GreyshruggedandturnedhisshoulderuponWilding,butsaidnoword。
　　Therewassilenceofsomefewmoments。AndrewFletcherleanedhiselbowonthetableandtookhisbrowinhisgreatbonyhand。Wilding'swordsseemedanechoofthosehehimselfhadspokenaweekortwoago,onlytobeoverruledbyGrey,whoswayedtheDukemorethandidanyother—andthathedidnotdosooffellpurpose,andseekingdeliberatelytoworkMonmouth'sruin,nomanwilleverbeabletosaywithcertainty。
　　Fergusonrose,atall,spare,stoopingfigure,andsmotetheboardwithhisfist。"Itisagoodcause,"hecried,"andGodwillnotleaveusunlessweleaveHim。"
　　"HenrytheSeventhlandedwithfewermenthandidYourGrace,"saidGrey,"andhesucceeded。"
　　"True,"putinFletcher。"ButHenrytheSeventhwassureofthesupportofnotafewofthenobility,whichdoesnotseemtobeourcase。"
　　FergusonandGreystaredathiminhorror;Monmouthsatbitinghislip,morebewilderedthanthoughtful。
　　"0manoflittlefaith！"roaredFergusoninapassion。"Areyetobeswayedlikeastrawinthewind？"
　　"Iamno'swayed。Yekenthiswasevermyownview。Ifeel,inmyheart,thatwhatMr。Wildingsaysisright。ItisbutwhatIsaidmyself,andCaptainMatthewswithme,beforeweembarkeduponthisexpedition。Wewereindangerofruiningallbyaneedlessprecipitancy。
　　Nay,man,neverstareso,"hesaidtoGrey,"IaminitnowandIamno'
　　themantodrawback,nordoIgosofarasMr。Wildingincounsellingsuchacourse。We'vesetourhandstotheplough;letusgoforwardinGod'sname。YetIwouldremindyouthatwhatMr。Wildingsaysistrue。
　　Hadwewaiteduntilnextyear,wehadfoundtheusurper'sthronetotteringunderhim,and,onourlanding,itwouldhavetoppledo'erofitself。"
　　"Ihavesaidalreadythatwe'lloversetitwithourhands,"Greyanswered。
　　"Howmanyhandshaveyou？"askedanewvoice,acrisp,discordantvoice,muchsteepedinmockery。ItwasNickTrenchard's。
　　"HaveweanotherhereofMr。Wilding'smind？"criedGrey,staringathim。
　　"Iamseldomofanyother,"answeredTrenchard。"Weshallno'wantforhands,"Fergusonassuredhim。"Hadyearrivedearlieryemighthaveseenhowreadilymenenlisted。"Hehadrisenandapproachedthewindowashespoke;hepulleditopen,toletinthefullvolumeofsoundthatrosefromthestreetbelow。
　　"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！"voicesshouted。
　　Fergusonstruckatheatricalposture,onelong,leanarmstretchedoutwardfromtheshoulder。
　　"Yehearthem,sirs,"hecried,andtherewasagleamoftriumphinhiseye。"Thatisanswerenoughtothosewhowantforfaith,tothefecklessonesthatthinktheLordwillabandonthosethathavesetouttoserveHim,"andhisglancecomprehendedFletcher,Trenchard,andWilding。
　　TheDukestirredinhischair,stretchedahandforthebottleandfilledaglass。Hismercurialspiritswererisingagain。HesmiledatWilding。
　　"Ithinkyouareanswered,sir,"saidhe;"andIhopethatlikeFletcherthere,whosharedyourdoubts,youwillcometoagreethatsincewehavesetourhandstotheploughwemustgoforward。"
　　"IhavesaidthatwhichIhaditonmyconsciencetosay。YourGracemayhavefoundmeover—readywithmycounsel;atleastyoushallfindmenolessreadywithmysword。"
　　"Odso！Thatisbetter。"Greyapplauded,andhismannerwasalmostpleasant。
　　"Ineverdoubtedit,Mr。Wilding,"HisGracereplied;"butIshouldliketohearyousaythatyouareconvinced—atleastinpart,"andhewavedhishandtowardsthewindow。Itwasalmostasifhepleadedforencouragement。IncommonwithmostmenwhocameincontactwithWilding,hehadfeltthelatentforceofthisman'snature,thestrengththatwashiddenunderthatcalmsurface,andtheacutenessofthejudgmentthatmustbeweddedtoit。HelongedthavethewordofsuchamanthathisenterprisewasnotasdesperateasWildinghadseemedatfirsttopaintit。ButWildingmadenoconcessiontohopesordesireswhenhedealtwithfacts。
　　"Menwillflocktoyou,nodoubt;persecutionhasweariedmanyofthecountry—folk,andtheyarereadyforrevolt。Buttheyarealluntrainedinarms;theyarerustics,notsoldiers。Ifanyofthemenofpositionweretorallyroundyourstandardtheywouldbringthemilitia,andothersintheirtrain;theywouldbringarms,horses,andmoney,allofwhichYourGracemustbesorelyneeding。"
　　"Theywillcome,"answeredtheDuke。
　　"Some,nodoubt,"Wildingagreed;"buthaditbeennextyear,Iwouldhaveansweredforitthatitwouldhavebeennohandfulhadriddenintowelcomeyou。ScarceagentlemanofDevonorSomerset,ofDorsetorHampshire,ofWiltshireorCheshirebutwouldhavehastenedtoyourside。"
　　"Theywillcomeasitis,"theDukerepeatedwithanalmostwomanishinsistence,persistinginbelievingwhathehoped,allevidenceapart。
　　ThedooropenedandEnsignCraggmadehisappearance。"MayitpleaseYourGrace,"heannounced,"Mr。Battiscombhasjustarrived,andaskswillYourGracereceivehimto—night？"
　　Battiscomb！"criedtheDuke。Againhischeekflushedandhiseyesparkled。"Aye,inHeaven'sname,showhimup。"
　　"AndmaytheLordrefreshuswithgoodtidings！"prayedFergusondevoutly。
　　MonmouthturnedtoWilding。"ItistheagentIsentaheadofmefromHollandtostirupthegentryfromheretotheMersey。"
　　"Iknow,"saidWilding;"weconferredtogethersomeweekssince。"
　　"Nowyoushallseehowidleareyourfears,"theDukepromisedhim。
　　AndWilding,whowasbetterinformedonthatscore,keptsilence。
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　HISGRACE'INCOUNSEL
　　Mr。ChristopherBattiscomb,thatmild—manneredDorchestergentleman,who,likeWade,wasbyvocationalawyer,wasusheredintotheDuke'spresence。Hewasdressedinblack,and,likeFerguson,wasalmostsmotheredinagreatperiwig,whichhemayhaveadoptedforpurposesofdisguiseratherthanadornment。Certainlyhehadnoneofthatairofthesoldieroffortunewhichdistinguishedhisbrotheroftherobe。Headvanced,hatinhand,towardsthetable,greetingthecompanyaboutit,andWildingobservedthatheworesilkstockingsandshoes,uponwhichthererestednotaspeckofdust。Mr。Battiscombwasplainlyamanwholovedhisease,sinceonsuchadayhehadtravelledtoLymeinacoach。
　　ThelawyerbentlowtokisstheDuke'shand,andscarcewasthatformalhomagepaidthanquestionspoureduponhimfromGrey,fromFletcher,andfromFerguson。
　　"Gentlemen,gentlemen,"theDukeentreatedthem,smiling;andrememberingtheirmannerstheyfellsilent。
　　AsWildingafterwardstoldTrenchard,theyremindedhimofaparcelofsaucylacqueyswhotakelibertieswithanupstartmasterforwhomtheyarewantinginrespect。
　　"Iamgladtoseeyou,Battiscomb,"saidMonmouth,whenquietwasrestored,"andItrustIbeholdinyouabearerofgoodtidings。"
　　Thelawyer'sfullfacewasusuallypale;to—nightitwas,inaddition,solemn,andthesmilethathauntedhislipswasacourtesysmilethatexpressedneithermirthnorsatisfaction。Heclearedhisthroat,asifnervous。HeavoidedtheDuke'squestionastothequalityofthenewshebroughtbyansweringthathehadmadeallhastetocometoLymeuponhearingofHisGrace'slanding。Hewassurprised,hesaid;aswellhemightbe,forthearrangementwasthathavingdonehisworkhewastoreturntoHollandandreporttoMonmouthuponthefeelingofthegentry。
　　"Butyournews,Battiscomb,"theDukeinsisted。"Aye,"putinGrey;"
　　inHeaven'sname,letushearthat。"