AgaintherewasthelittlenervouscoughfromBattiscomb。"Ihavescarcehadtimetocompletemyroundofvisits,"hetemporized。"YourGracehastakenussobysurprise。I……IwaswithSirWalterYoungatColytonwhenthenewsofyourlandingcamesomefewhoursago。"Hisvoicefalteredandseemedtodieaway。
　　"Well？"criedtheDuke。Hisbrowsweredrawntogether。AlreadyherealizedthatBattiscomb'stidingswerenotgood,elsewouldhebehesitatinglessinutteringthem。"IsSirWalterwithyou,atleast？"
　　"Igrievetosaythatheisnot。"
　　"Not？"ItwasGreywhospoke,andhefollowedtheejaculationbyanoath。"Whynot？"
　　"Heisfollowing,nodoubt？"suggestedFletcher。
　　"Wemayhope,sirs,"answeredBattiscomb,"thatinafewdays—whenheshallhaveseenthezealofthecountryside—hewillbecuredofhispresentluke—warmness。"Thus,discreetly,didthemanoflawbreakthebadnewshebore。
　　Monmouthsankbackintohischairlikeonewhohaslostsomeofhisstrength。"Lukewarmness？"herepeateddully。"SirWalterYounglukewarm！"
　　"Evenso,YourGrace—alas！"andBattiscombsighedaudibly。
　　Ferguson'svoiceboomedforthagaintostartlethem。"Theoxknowethhisowner,"hecried,"theasshismaster'scrib;butIsraeldothnotknow,mypeopledothnotconsider。"
　　Greypushedthebottlecontemptuouslyacrossthetabletotheparson。
　　"Drink,man,andgetsense,saidhe,andturnedasidetoquestionBattiscombtouchingothersoftheneighbourhooduponwhomtheyhaddepended。
　　"WhatofSirFrancisRolles？"heinquired。
　　Battiscombansweredthequestion,addressinghimselftotheDuke。
　　"Alas！SirFrancis,nodoubt,wouldhavebeenfaithfultoYourGrace,but,unfortunately,SirFrancisisinprisonalready。"
　　DeepergrewMonmouth'sfrown;hisfingersdrummedthetableabsently。
　　Fletcherpouredhimselfwine,hisfaceinscrutable。Greythrewonelegovertheotherandinavoicethatwascarefullycarelessheinquired,"AndwhatofSidneyClifford？"
　　"Heisconsidering,"saidBattiscomb。"Iwastohaveseenhimagainattheendofthemonth;meanwhile,hewouldtakenoresolve。"
　　"LordGervaseScoresby？"questionedGrey,lesscarelessly。
　　Battiscombhalfturnedtohim,thenfacedtheDukeagainashemadeanswer,"Mr。Wildingthere,cantellyoumoreconcerningLordGervase。"
　　AlleyessweptroundtoWildingwhosatinsilence,listening;
　　Monmouth'swereladenwithinquiryandsomeanxiety。Wildingshookhisheadslowly,sadly。"Youmustnotdependuponhim,"heanswered;"LordGervasewasnotyetripe。AlittlelongerandIthinkImusthavewonhimforYourGrace。"
　　"Heavenhelpus！"exclaimedtheDukeinpetulantvexation。"Isnoonecomingin？"
　　Fergusonswungahandtowardsthestillopenwindow,drawingattentiontothesoundswithout。
　　"DoesYourGracenothear,thatyecanask？"hecried,almostreproachfully;buttheyscarceheededhim,forGreywasinquiringifMr。
　　Strodemightbedependedupontojoin,andthatwasamatterthatclaimedthegreaterattention。
　　"Ithink,"saidBattiscomb,"thathemighthavebeendependedupon。"
　　"Mighthavebeen？"questionedFletcher,speakingnowforthefirsttimesinceBattiscomb'sarrival。
　　"LikeSirFrancisRolles,heisinprison,"thelawyerexplained。
　　Monmouthleanedforward,andhisyoungfacelookedCarewornnow;hethrustaslenderhandunderthebrowncurlsuponhisbrow。"Willyoutellus,Mr。Battiscomb,uponwhatfriendsyouthinkthatwemaycount？"
　　hesaid。
　　Battiscombpursedhislipsasecond,pondering。"Ithink,"saidhe,"thatyoumaycountuponMr。LeggeandMr。Hooper,andpossiblyuponColonelChurchill,thoughIcannotsaywhatfollowingtheywillbring,ifany。Mr。Trenchard,uponwhomwecountedforfifteenhundredmenofTaunton,hasbeenobligedtoflythecountrytoescapearrest。"
　　"WehaveheardthatfromMr。Trenchard'scousin,"answeredtheDuke。
　　"WhatofPrideaux,ofFord？Ishelukewarm？"
　　"Iwasunabletoelicitadefinitepromisefromhim。ButhewasfavourablydisposedtoYourGrace。"
　　HisGracemadeagesturethatseemedtodismissPrideauxfromtheircalculations。"AndMr。Hucker,ofTaunton？"
　　Battiscomb'smannergrewyetmoreillatease。"Mr。Huckerhimself,Iamsure,wouldplacehisswordatyourdisposal。Buthisbrotherisared—hotTory。"
　　"Well,well,"sighedtheDuke,"ItakeitwemustnotmakecertainofMr。Hucker。ArethereanyothersbesidesLeggeandHooperuponwhomyouthinkthatwemayreckon？"
　　"LordWiltshire,perhaps,"saidBattiscomb,butwithalackofassurance。
　　"Aplagueonperhaps！"exclaimedMonmouth,growingirritable;"Iwantyoutonamethemenofwhomyouarecertain。"
　　Battiscombstoodsilentforamoment,pondering。Helookedalmostfoolish,likeaschoolboywhohesitatestoconfesshisignoranceoftheanswertoaquestionsethim。
　　Fletcherswunground,hisgreyeyesflashingangrily,hisaccentmoreScottishthanever。
　　"Isitthatye'recertaino'none,Mr。Battiscomb？"heexclaimed。
　　"Indeed,"saidBattiscomb,"IthinkwemaybefairlycertainofMr。
　　LeggeandMr。Hooper。"
　　"Andofnonebesides？"questionedFletcheragain。"BethesetheonlyrepresentativesoftheflowerofEngland'snobilitythatistoflocktothebannerofthecauseofEngland'sfreedomandreligion？"Scornwasstampedoneverywordofhisquestion。
　　Battiscombspreadhishands,raisedhisbrows,andsaidnothing。
　　"TheLordknowsIdonotsayitexulting,"saidFletcher;"butItoldYourGraceyourswashardlythecaseofHenrytheSeventh,asmyLordGreywouldhaveyoubelieve。"
　　"Weshallsee,"snappedGrey,scowlingattheScot。"Thepeoplearecominginhundreds—aye,inthousands—thegentrywillfollow;theymust"
　　"Makenottoosure,YourGrace—oh,makenottoosure,"WildingbesoughttheDuke。"AsIhavesaid,thesehindshavenothingtolosebuttheirlives。"
　　"Faith,canamanlosemore？"askedGreycontemptuously。HedislikedWildingbyinstinct,whichwasbutareciprocationofthefeelingwithwhichWildingwasinspiredbyhim。
　　"Ithinkhecan,"saidMr。Wildingquietly。"Amanmaylosehonour,hemayplungehisfamilyintoruin。Thesearethingsofmoreweightwithagentlemanthanlife。"
　　"Oddsdeath！"blazedGrey,givingafreereintohisdislikeofthiscalmgentleman。"Doyousuggestthataman'shonourisimperilledinHisGrace'sservice？"
　　"Isuggestnothing,"answeredWilding,unmoved。"WhatIthink,Istate。
　　IfIthoughtaman'shonourimperilledinthisservice,youwouldnotseemeatthistablenow。Icanmakeyounomoreconvincinganswer。
　　Greylaughedunpleasantly,andWilding,afainttingeonhischeek—bones,measuredhimwithastern,intrepidlookbeforewhichhislordship'sshiftyglancewasobservedtofall。Wilding'seye,havingachievedthatmuch,passedfromhimtotheDuke,anditsexpressionsoftened。
　　"YourGracesees,"saidhe,"howwellfoundedwerethefearsIexpressedthatyourcominghasbeenpremature。"
　　"InGod'sname,whatwouldyouhavemedo？"criedtheDuke,andpetulancemadehisvoiceunsteady。
　　Mr。Wildingrose,movedoutofhishabitualcalmbytheearnestnessthatpervadedhim。"ItisnotformetosayagainwhatIwouldhaveYourGracedo。YourGracehasheardmyviews,andthoseofthesegentlemen。
　　ItisforYourGracetodecide。"
　　"YoumeanwhetherIwillgoforwardwiththisthing？WhatalternativehaveI？"
　　"Noalternative,"putinGreywithfinality。"Norisalternativeneeded。
　　We'llcarrythisthroughinspiteoftimorousfolkandbirdsofill—omenthatcroaktoaifrightus。"
　　"OurserviceistheserviceoftheLord,"criedFerguson,returningfromthewindowintheembrasureofwhichhehadbeenstanding;"theLordcannotbutdestineittoprevail。"
　　"Yesaidsobefore,"quothFletchertestily。"Weneedheremen,money,andweapons—notdivinity。"
　　"YouareplainlyinfectedwithMr。Wilding'sdisease,"sneeredGrey。
　　"Ford,"criedtheDuke,whosawWilding'seyesflashfire;"yougotoofast。Mr。Wilding,youwillnotheedhislordship。"
　　"Ishouldnotbelikelytodoso,YourGrace,"answeredWilding,whohadresumedhisseat。
　　"Whatshallthatmean？"quothGrey,leapingtohisfeet。
　　"Makeitquitecleartohim,Tony,"whisperedTrenchardcoaxingly;
　　butMr。WildingwasnotaslostasweretheseimmediatefollowersoftheDuke'stoallsenseoftherespectduetoHisGrace。
　　"Ithink,"saidWildingquietly,"thatyouhaveforgottensomething。"
　　"Forgottenwhat？"bawledGrey。
　　"HisGrace'spresence。"
　　Hislordshipturnedcrimson,hisangerswelledtothinkthattheverytermsoftherebukeprecludedhisallowinghisfeelingsafreerein。
　　Monmouthleanedforward。"Sitdown,"hesaidtoGrey,andGrey,solatelycalledtotherespectheowedHisGrace,obeyedhim。"Youwillbothpromisemethatthisaffairshallgonofurther。IknowyouwilldoitifIaskyou,particularlywhenyourememberhowfewarethefollowersuponwhomImaydepend。Iamnotincasetoloseeitherofyouthroughfoolishwordsutteredinaheatwhich,inbothyourhearts,isborn,1know,ofyourloyaltytome。
　　Grey'scoarse,elderlyfacetookonasulkylook,hisheavylipswerepouted,hisglancesullen。Mr。Wilding,onthecontrary,smiledacrossthetable。
　　"FormypartIverygladlygiveYourGracetheundertaking,"saidhe,andtookcarenottoobservethesneerthatalteredthelineofLordGrey'slips。Hislordship,too,wasforcedtogivethesamepledge,andhefolloweditupbyinveighingsturdilyagainstthesuggestionthattheyshouldretreat。
　　"Idoprotest,"heexclaimed,"thatthosewhoadviseYourGracetodoanythingbutgoforwardboldlynow,areevilcounsellors。IfyouputbacktoHolland,youmayleaveeveryhopebehind。Therewillbenosecondcomingforyou。Yourinfluencewillhavebeendissipated。Menwillnottrustyouanothertime。IdonotthinkthatevenMr。Wildingcandenythetruthofthis。"
　　"Iambynomeanssure,"saidWilding,andFletcherlookedathimwitheyesthatwerefullofunderstanding。ThissturdyScot,theonlysoldierworthyofthenameintheDuke'sfollowing,who,eversincetheprojecthadfirstbeenmooted,hadheldoutagainstit,counsellingdelay,wasinsympathywithMr。Wilding。
　　Monmouthrose,hisfaceanxious,hisvoicefretful。"Therecanbenoretreatforme,gentlemen。Thoughmanythatwedependeduponarenotheretojoinus,yetletusrememberthatHeavenisonourside,andthatwearecometofightinthesacredcauseofreligionandanation'semancipationfromthethraldomofpopery,oppression,andsuperstition。
　　Letthisdispelsuchdoubtsasyetmaylingerinourminds。"
　　Hiswordshadabravesound,but,whenanalysed,theybutformedaparaphraseofwhatGreyandFergusonhadsaid。Itwashisdestinytobeamereechoofthemindsofothermen,justashewasnowthetoolofthesetwo,oneofwhomplotted,seemingly,becauseplottingwasadiseasethathadgotintohisblood;theotherforreasonsthatmayhavebeenofambitionorofrevenge—nomanwilleverknowforcertain。
　　Inthechambertheyshared,TrenchardandMr。Wildingreviewedthatnightthescenesolatelyenacted,inwhichonehadtakenanactivepart,theotherbeenlittlemorethanaspectator。TrenchardhadcomefromtheDuke'spresenceentirelyoutofconceitwithMonmouthandhiscause,contemptuousofFerguson,angrywithGrey,andindifferenttowardsFletcher。
　　"Iamcommitted,andI'llnotdrawback,"saidhe;butItellyou,Anthony,myheartisnotconfederatewithmyhandinthis。Bah！"
　　herailed。"Weserveamanofstraw,aPerkin,averypopeofafellow。"
　　Mr。Wildingsighed。"He'sscarcethemanforsuchanundertaking,"saidhe。"Ifearwehavebeenmisled。"
　　Trenchardwasdrawingoffhisboots。Hepausedintheact。"Aye,"saidhe,"misledbyourblindness。Whatelse,afterall,shouldwehaveexpectedofhim？"hecriedcontemptuously。"TheCauseisgood;butitsleader—Pshaw！WouldyouhavesuchapuppetasthatonthethroneofEngland？"
　　"Hedoesnotaimsohigh。"
　　"Benotsosure。Weshallhearmoreoftheblackboxanon,andofthemarriagecertificateitcontains。`Twouldnotsurprisemeiftheyweretoproduceforgeriesoftheoneandtheothertoprovehisfather'smarriagetoLucyWalters。Anthony,Anthony！Towhatabusinessarewewedded？"
　　Mr。Wilding,alreadyabed,turnedimpatiently。"Thingscriedaloudtoberedressed;aleaderwasnecessary,andnoneotheroffered。Thatisthewholestory。Butourchanceisslender,anditmighthavebeengreat。"
　　"Thatrake—hell,Ford,LordGreyhasmadeitso,"grumbledTrenchard,busywithhisstockings。"Thissuddencomingishiswork。YouheardwhatFletchersaid—howheopposeditwhenfirstitwasurged。"Hepaused,andlookedupsuddenly。"Blisterme！"hecried,"isithislordship'spurpose,thinkyou,toworktheruinofMonmouth？"
　　"Whatareyousaying,Nick？"
　　"TherearecertainrumourscurrenttouchingHisGraceandLadyGrey。
　　AmanlikeGreymightwellresorttosomesuchschemeofvengeance。"
　　"Gettosleep,Nick,"saidWilding,yawning;"youaredreamingalready。
　　Suchaplanwouldbeoverelaborateforhislordship'smind。Itwouldaskavillainyparallelwithyourown。"
　　Trenchardclimbedintobed,andsettledhimselfunderthecoverlet。
　　"Maybe,"saidhe,"andmaybenot;butIthinkthatwereitnotforthatcursedbusinessoftheletterRichardWestmacottstolefromus,Ishouldbegoingmywaysto—morrowandleavingHisGraceofMonmouthtogohis。"
　　"Aye,andI'dgowithyou,"answeredWilding。"I'velittletasteforsuicide;butweareinitnow。"
　　"`TwasasadpityyoumeddledthismorninginthataffairatTaunton,"
　　musedTrenchardwistfully。"Asadderpityyouwerebittenwithatasteformatrimony,"headdedthoughtfully,andblewouttherushlight。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　LYMEOFTHEKING
　　Onthenextday,whichwasFriday,thecountryfolkcontinuedtocomein,andbyeveningMonmouth'sforcesamountedtoathousandfootandahundredandfiftyhorse。Themenwerearmedasfastastheywereenrolled,andscarceafieldorquietavenueinthedistrictbutresoundedtothetrampoffeet,therattleofweapons,andthesharpordersoftheofficerswho,bydrilling,wereconvertingthisrawmaterialintosoldiers。OntheSaturdaytherallyoftheDuke'sstandardwassuchthatMonmouththrewoffatlastthegloomyforebodingsthathadburdenedhissoulsincethatmeetingonThursdaynight。Wade,Holmes,Foulkes,andFoxwereabletosetaboutformingthefirstfourregiments—theDuke's,andtheGreen,theWhite,andtheYellow。
　　Monmouth'sspiritscontinuedtorise,forhehadbeenjoinedbynowbyLeggeandHooper—thetwouponwhomBattiscombhadcounted—andbyColonelJoshuaChurchill,ofwhomBattiscombhadbeenlesscertain。
　　CaptainMatthewsbroughtnewsthatLordWiltshireandthegentlemenofHampshiremightbeexpectediftheycouldforcetheirwaythroughAlbemarle'smilitia,whichwasalreadyclosingroundLyme。
　　Longbeforeeveningwillingfellowswerebeingturnedawayinhundredsforlackofweapons。InspiteofMonmouth'sbigtalkonlanding,andoftherumourthathadgoneout,thathecouldarmthirtythousandmen,hisstockofarmswasexhaustedbyamerefifteenhundred。Trenchard,whonowheldaMajor'srankinthehorseattachedtotheDuke'sownregiment,wasloudinhisscornofthisstateofthings;Mr。Wildingwassad,andhisdepressionagainspreadtotheDukeafterafewwordshadpassedbetweenthemtowardsevening。Fletcherwasforheroicmeasures。Helookedonlyaheadnow,likethegoodsoldierthathewas;and,already,hebegantosuggestabolddashforExeter,forweapons,horses,andpossiblythemilitiaaswell,fortheyhadampleevidencethatthemencomposingitmighteasilybeinducedtodeserttotheDuke'sside。
　　ThesuggestionwasonethatinstantlyreceivedMr。Wilding'sheartiestapproval。Itseemedtofillhimsuddenlywithhope,andhespokeofit,indeed,asaninspirationwhich,ifactedupon,mightyetsavethesituation。TheDukewasundecidedasever;hewastoomuchtroubledweighingthechancesforandagainst,andhewoulddecideuponnothinguntilhehadconsultedGreyandtheothers。Hewouldsummonacouncilthatnight,hepromised,andthemattershouldbeconsidered。
　　Butthatcouncilwasnevertobecalled,forAndrewFletcher'sassociationwiththerebellionwasdrawingrapidlytoitsclose,andtherewasthattohappeninthenextfewhourswhichshouldcounteractalltheencouragementwithwhichtheDukehadbeenfortifiedthatday。
　　TowardseveninglittleHeywoodDare,theTauntongoldsmith,whohadlandedatSeatownandgoneoutwiththenewsoftheDuke'sarrival,rodeintoLymewithfortyhorse,mounted,himself,uponabeautifulchargerwhichwasdestinedtobetheundoingofhim。
　　Newscame,too,thattheDorsetmilitiawereatBridport,eightmilesaway,whereuponWildingandFletcherpostponedallfurthersuggestionofthedashforExeter,proposingthatinthemeantimeanightattackuponBridportmightresultwell。ForonceLordGreywasinagreementwiththem,andsothematterwasdecided。Fletcherwentdowntoarmandmount,andalltheworldknowsthestoryofthefoolish,ill—fatedquarrelwhichrobbedMonmouthoftwoofhismostvaluedadherents。Byill—lucktheScot'seyeslighteduponthefinehorsethatDarehadbroughtfromFordAbbey。Itoccurredtohimthatnothingcouldbemorefittingthanthatthebestmanshouldsituponthebesthorse,andheforthwithledthebeastfromthestablesandwasabouttomountwhenDarecameforthtocatchhimintheveryact。Thegoldsmithwasarude,pepperyfellow,whodidnotmincehiswords。
　　"Whataplagueareyoudoingwiththathorse？"hecried。
　　Fletcherpaused,onefootinthestirrup,andlookedthefellowupanddown。"Iammountingit,"saidhe,andproceededtodoashesaid。
　　ButDarecaughthimbythetailsofhiscoatandbroughthimbacktoearth。
　　"Youaremakingamistake,Mr。Fletcher,"hecriedangrily。"Thathorseismine。
　　Fletcher,whosetemperwasbynomeansofthemostpeaceful,kepthimselfwithdifficultyinhandattheindignityDareofferedhim。
　　"Yours？"quothhe。
　　"Aye,mine。IbroughtitfromFordAbbeymyself。"
　　"FortheDuke'sservice,"Fletcherremindedhim。"Formyown,sir;formyownIwouldhaveyouknow。"AndbrushingtheScotaside,hecaughtthebridle,andsoughttowrenchitfromFletcher'shand。
　　ButFletchermaintainedhishold。"Softly,Mr。Dare,"saidhe。"Ye'reatrifleo'ertruetoyourname,asyouoncetoldhislateMajestyyourself。"
　　"Takeyourhandsfrommyhorse,"Dareshouted,veryangry。
　　Severalloiterersintheyardgatheredroundtowatchthescene,cullingdiversionfromitandspeculatingupontheconclusionitmighthave。
　　OnerashyoungfellowofferedaudiblytolaytentoonethatPaymasterDarewouldhavethebestoftheargument。
　　Dareoverheard,andwasspurredon。
　　"Iwill,byGod！"heanswered。"Come,Mr。Fletcher！"Andheshookthebridleagain。
　　TherewasadullflushshowingthroughthetanofFletcher'sskin。"Mr。
　　Dare,"saidhe,"thishorseisnomoreyoursthanmine。ItistheDuke's,andI,asoneo'theleaders,claimitintheDuke'sservice。"
　　"Aye,sir,"criedanonlooker,encouragingFletcher,anddidthemischief。ItsogoadedDaretohavehisantagonistinthistriflingmattersupportedthatheutterlylosthishead。
　　"Ihavesaidthehorseismine,andIrepeatit。Letgothebridle—
　　letitgo！"Still,Fletcher,strivinghardtokeephiscalm,clungtothereins。"Letitgo,youdamned,thievingScot！"screamedDareinafury,andstruckFletcherwithhiswhip。
　　Itwasunfortunateforthemboththatheshouldhavehadthatswitchinhishandatsuchatime,butmoreunfortunatestillwasitthatFletchershouldhavehadapistolinhisbelt。TheScotdroppedthebridleatlast;droppedittopluckforththeweapon。
　　"Hi！Ididnot……"beganDare,whohadstoodappalledbywhathehaddoneinthesecondortwothathadpassedsincehehaddeliveredtheblow。TherestofhissentencewasdrownedinthereportofFletcher'spistol,andDaredroppeddeadontheroughcobblesoftheyard。
　　Fergusonhasleftitonrecord—and,presumably,hehadFletcher'swordforit—thatitwasnopartoftheScot'sintenttodoMr。Dareamischief。Hehadbutdrawnthepistoltointimidatehimintobettermanners,butinhishasteheaccidentallypulledthetrigger。
　　Howeverthatmaybe,therewasDareasdeadasthestonesonwhichhelay,andFletcherwithasmokingpistolinhishand。
　　Afterthatallwasconfusion。Fletcherwasseizedbythosewhohadwitnessedthedeed;therewasnonethoughtitanaccident;indeed,theywereallreadyenoughtosaythatFletcherhadreceivedexcessiveprovocation。HewashaledtothepresenceoftheDukewithwhomwereGreyandWildingatthetime;andoldDare'sson—anensigninGoodenough'scompany—cameclamouringforvengeancebackedbysuchgoodlynumbersthatthedistraughtDukewasforcedtoshowatleasttheoutwardseemingofit。
　　Wilding,whoknewthevalueofthisScottishsoldieroffortunewhohadseensomuchservice,strenuouslyurgedhisenlargement。Itwasnotatimetoletthefortunesofacausesufferthroughsuchanactasthis,deplorablethoughitmightbe。TheevidenceshowedthatFletcherhadbeenprovoked;hehadbeenstruck,athingthatmightwelljustifytheangerintheheatofwhichhehaddonethisthing。Greywasstolidandsilent,sayingnothingeitherfororagainstthemanwhohaddividedwithhimundertheDukethehonoursofthesupremecommand。
　　Monmouth,whiteandhorror—stricken,satandlistenedfirsttoWilding,thentoDare,andlastlytoFletcherhimself。ButitwasyoungDare—
　　Dareandhisfollowers,whoprevailed。Theyweretoonumerousandturbulent,andtheymustatallcostsbeconciliated,ortherewasnotellingtowhatextremestheymightnotgo。AndsotherewasanendtotheshareofAndrewFletcherofSaltouninthisundertaking—theendoftheonlymanwhowasofanycapacitytopilotitthroughthetroubledwatersthatlaybeforeit。Monmouthplacedhimunderarrestandsenthimaboardthefrigateagain,orderinghercaptaintosailatonce。
　　ThatwastheutmostMonmouthcoulddotosavehim。
　　WildingcontinuedtopleadwiththeDukeafterFletcher'sremoval,andtosuchgoodpurposethatatlastMonmouthdeterminedthatFletchershouldrejointhemlater,whentheaffairshouldhaveblownover,andhesentwordaccordinglytotheScot。EveninthisthereweremanifestationsofantagonismbetweenMr。WildingandLordGrey,anditalmostseemedenoughthatWildingshouldsuggestacourseforLordGreyinstantlytoopposeit。
　　TheeffectsofFletcher'sremovalwerenotlonginfollowing。OnthemorrowcametheBridportaffair,andGrey'sshamefulconductwhen,hadhestoodhisground,victorymusthavebeenassuredtheDuke'sforcesinsteadofjustthathonourableretreatbywhichColonelWadesogallantlysavedthesituation。Mr。WildingdidnotmincehiswordsinputtingitthatGreyhadrunaway。
　　InhisroomattheGeorgeInn,Monmouth,deeplydistressed,askedWildingandColonelMatthewswhatactionheshouldtakeinthematter—
　　howdealwithGrey。
　　"ThereisnoothergeneralinEuropewouldaskthat,YourGrace,"
　　answeredMatthewsgravely,andMr。Wildingaddedwithoutaninstant'shesitationthatHisGrace'scoursewasplain。
　　"Itwouldbeanunwisethingtoexposethetroopstothechanceofmoresuchhappenings。"
　　MonmouthdismissedthemandsentforGrey,andheseemedresolvedtodealwithhimashedeserved。Yetanhourlater,whenWilding,Matthews,Wade,andtheotherswereorderedtoattendtheDukeincouncil,therewashislordshipseeminglyonasgoodtermsaseverwithHisGrace。
　　Theywereassembledtodiscussthenextstepwhichitmightbeadvisabletotake,forthemilitiawasclosinginaroundthem,andtoremainlongerinLymewouldbetobecaughtthereasinatrap。ItwasGreywhoadvancedthefirstsuggestion,hisassurancenowhitabatedbytheshamefulthingthathadbefallen,bythecowardicewhichhehadbetrayed。