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。