\"ThatwemustquitLymeweareallagreed,\"saidhe。\"IwouldproposethatYourGracemarchnorthtoGloucester,whereourCheshirefriendswillassembletomeetus。
ColonelMatthewsremindedtheDukeofAndrewFletcher\'sproposalthattheyshouldmakearaiduponExeterwithaviewtoseizingarms,ofwhichtheystoodsosorelyinneed。
ThisMr。Wildingwasquicktosupport。\"Notonlythat,YourGrace,\"
hesaid,\"butIamconfidentthatwithverylittleinducementthegreaterportionofthemilitiawilldeserttousassoonasweappear。
\"Whatassurancecanyougiveofthat？\"askedGrey,hisheavylipprotruded。
\"Itakeit,\"saidMr。Wilding,\"thatinsuchmattersnomancangiveanassuranceofanything。Ispeakwithknowledgeofthecountryandthefolkfromwhichthemilitiaisenlisted。IofferitasmyopinionthatthemilitiaisfavourablydisposedtoYourGrace。Icandonomore。
\"IfMr。Wildingsaysso,YourGrace,\"putinMatthews,\"Ihavenodoubthehassoundreasonsuponwhichtobasehisopinion。
\"Nodoubt,\"saidMonmouth。\"Indeed,Ihadalreadythoughtofthestepthatyousuggest,ColonelMatthews,andwhatMr。Wildingsayscausesmetolookuponitstillmorefavourably。\"
Greyfrowned。\"Consider,YourGrace,\"hesaidearnestly,\"thatyouareinnocasetofightatpresent。\"
\"Whatfightingdoyousuggesttherewouldbe？\"askedtheDuke。
\"ThereisAlbemarlebetweenusandExeter。\"
\"Butwiththemilitia,\"Wildingremindedhim;\"andifthemilitiadesertshimforYourGrace,inwhatcasewillAlbemarlefindhimself？\"
\"Andifthemilitiadoesnotdesert？Ifyoushouldbeprovenwrong,sir？Whatthen？Whatthen？\"askedGrey。
\"Aye—true—whatthen,Mr。Wilding？\"quoththeDuke,alreadywavering。
Wildingconsideredamoment,alleyesuponhim。\"Eventhen,\"saidhepresently,\"IdomaintainthatinthisdashforExeterliesYourGrace\'sgreatestchanceofsuccess。Wecandeliverbattleifneedbe。Alreadywearethreethousandstrong……\"
Greyinterruptedhimrudely。\"Nay,\"heinsisted。\"Youmustnotpresumeuponthat。Wearenotyetfittofight。ItisHisGrace\'sbusinessatpresenttodrillanddisciplinehistroopsandinducemorefriendstojoinhim。\"
\"Alreadyweareturningmenawaybecausewehavenoweaponstoputintotheirhands,\"Wildingremindedthem,andamurmurofapprovalranround,whichbutservedtoangerGreythemore,torendermoreobstinatehisopposition。
\"Butallthatcomeinarenotunprovided,\"washislordship\'sretort。
\"TherearetheHampshiregentryandtheirfriends。Theywillcomearmed,andsowillothersifwehavepatience。
\"Aye,\"saidWilding,\"andifyouhavepatienceenoughtherewillbetroopstheParliamentwillsendagainstus。They,too,willbearmed,Icanassureyourlordship。\"
\"InGod\'snameletuskeepfromwrangling,\"theDukebesoughtthem。
\"Itisdifficultenoughtodetermineforthebest。IfthedashtoExeterweresuccessful……\"
\"Itcannotbe,\"Greyinterruptedagain。
ThelibertieshetookwithMonmouthandwhichMonmouthpermittedhimmightwellbeasourceofwondertoallwhoheardthem。Monmouthpausednowinhisinterruptedspeechandlookedabouthimatriflewearily。
\"Itseemsidletoinsist,\"saidMr。Wilding;\"suchisthetemperofYourGrace\'scounsellors,thatwegetnofurtherthancontradictions。\"Grey\'sboldeyeswereuponWildingashespoke。\"IwouldremindYourGrace,andIamsurethatmanypresentwillagreewithme,thatinadesperateenterpriseasuddenunexpectedmovementwilloftenstriketerror。\"
\"Thatistrue,\"saidMonmouth,butapparentlywithoutenthusiasm,andhavingapprovedwhatwasurgedononeside,helookedatGrey,asifwaitingtohearwhatmightbesaidontheother。Hisindecisionwaspitiful—tragical,indeed,intheleaderofsoboldanenterprise。
\"Weshoulddobetter,Ithink,\"saidGrey,\"todealwiththefactsasweknowthem。\"
\"ItiswhatIamendeavouringtodo,YourGrace,\"protestedWilding,anoteofdespairinhisvoice。\"Perhapssomeothergentlemanwillputforwardbettercounselthanmine。\"
\"Aye！InHeaven\'snameletushopeso,\"snortedGrey;andMonmouth,catchingthesuddenflashofMr。Wilding\'seye,setahanduponhislordship\'sarmasiftourgehimtobegentler。Buthecontinued,\"Whenmentalkofstrikingterrorbysuddenmovementstheybuildonair。\"
\"Ihadhardlythoughttohearthatfromyourlordship,\"saidMr。
Wilding,andhepermittedhimselfthattight—lippedsmilethatgavehisfacesowickedalook。
\"Andwhynot？\"askedGrey,stupidlyunsuspicious。
\"BecauseIhadthoughtyoumighthaveconcludedotherwisefromyourownexperienceatBridportthismorning。\"
Greygotangrilytohisfeet,rageandshameflushinghisface,anditneededFergusonandtheDuketorestorehimtosomesemblanceofcalm。
Indeed,itmaywellbethatitwastocompletethisthatHisGracedecidedthereandthenthattheyshouldfollowGrey\'sadviceandgobywayofTaunton,Bridgwater,andBristoltoGloucester。Hewas,likeallweakmen,ofconspicuousmentalshort—sightedness。Thematterofthemomentwaseverofgreaterimportancetohimthananyresultthatmightattenditinthefuture。
HeinsistedthatWildingandGreyshouldshakehandsbeforethebreakingupofthatmostastoundingcouncil,andashehaddonelastnight,henowagainimposeduponthemhiscommandsthattheymustnotallowthismattertogofurther。
Mr。Wildingpavedthewayforpeacebymakinganapologywithinlimitations。
\"If,inmyzealtoserveYourGracetothebestofmyability,IhavesaidthatwhichLordGreythinksfittoresent,Iwouldbidhimconsidermymotiveratherthanmyactualwords。\"
ButwhenallhadgonesaveFerguson,thechaplainapproachedthepreoccupiedanddistressedDukewithcounselthatMr。Wildingshouldbesentawayfromthearmy。
\"Elsethere\'llbetrouble`twixthimandGrey,\"theplottingparsonforetold。\"We\'llbehavingarepetitionoftheunfortunateFletcherandDareaffair,andIthinkthathascostYourGraceenoughalready。\"
\"DoyousuggestthatIdismissWilding？\"criedtheDuke。\"Youknowhisinfluence,andthebadimpressionhisremovalwouldleave。\"
Fergusonstrokedhislongleanjaw。\"No,no,\"saidhe;\"allIsuggestisthatyoufindMr。Wildingworktodoelsewhere。\"
\"Elsewhere？\"theDukequestioned。\"Whereelse？\"
\"Ihavethoughtofthat,too。SendhimtoLondontoseeDanversandtostirupyourfriendsthere。And,\"headded,loweringhisvoice,\"givehimdiscretiontoseeSunderlandifhethinkswell。\"
ThepropositionpleasedMonmouth,anditseemedtopleaseMr。Wildingnolesswhen,havingsentforhim,theDukecommunicatedittohiminFerguson\'spresence。
UponthismissionMr。Wildingsetoutthatverynight,leavingNickTrenchardindespairatbeingseparatedfromhimatatimewhenthereseemedtobeeverychancethatsuchaseparationmightbeeternal。
MonmouthandFergusonmayhaveconceivedtheydidawisethinginremovingamanwhowasinstinctivelyspoilingforalittlesword—playwithmyLordGrey。Itisoddsthathadheremained,thebrewingstormbetweenthepairwouldhavecometoahead。Haditdoneso,itismorethanlikely,fromwhatweknowofMr。Wilding\'saccomplishments,thathehadgivenLordGreyhisquietus。Andhadthathappened,itistobeinferredfromhistorythatitispossibletheDukeofMonmouth\'srebellionmighthavehadalessdisastrousissue。
CHAPTERXVI
PLOTSANDPLOTTERS
Mr。WildingleftMonmouth\'sarmyatLymeonSunday,the14thofJune,andrejoineditatBridgwaterexactlythreeweekslater。Inthemeanwhileagooddealhadhappened,yetthehappeningsoneveryhandhadfallenfarshortoftheexpectationsarousedinMr。Wilding\'smind,nowbyonecircumstance,nowbyanother。InreachingLondonhehadexperiencednodifficulty。MentravellinginthatdirectionwerenotsubjectedtothescrutinythatfelltotheshareofthosetravellingfromittowardstheWest,or,rather,tothescrutinyordainedbytheGovernment;forWildinghadmorethanoneopportunityofobservinghowverylaxandindifferentweretheconstablesandtything—men—particularlyinSomersetandWiltshire—intheperformanceofthisduty。Wayfarerswerequestionedasamatterofform,butinnocasedidWildinghearofanyonebeingdetaineduponsuspicion。Thiswascalculatedtoraisehisdroopinghopes,pointingasitdidtothegeneralfavouringofMonmouththatwastoward。HegrewlessdespondentonthescoreoftheDuke\'spossibleultimatesuccess,andhecametohopethattheeffortshewenttoexertwouldnotbefruitless。
Butrudewerethedisappointmentsthatawaitedhimintown。London,liketherestofthecountry,wasnotready。TherewerenotwantingmenwhofavouredMonmouth;butnorisinghadbeenorganized,andtheDuke\'spartisanswerenotdisposedtorashness。
WildinglodgedatCoventGarden,inahouserecommendedtohimbyColonelDanvers,andthere—anoutlawhimself—hethrewhimselfwithawillintohistask。HeheardoftheburningofMonmouth\'sDeclarationbythecommonhangmanattheRoyalExchange,andofthebillpassedbytheCommonstomakeittreasonforanytoassertthatLucyWalterswasmarriedtothelateKing。Heattendedmeetingsatthe\"Bull\'sHead,\"
inBishopsgate,wherehemetDisneyandDanvers,PaytonandLock;butthoughtheytalkedandarguedatprodigiouslength,theydidnaughtbesides。Danvers,whowastheirhopeintown,definitelyrefusedtohaveahandinanythingthatwasnotproperlyorganized,andincommonwiththeothersurgedthattheyshouldwaituntilCheshirehadrisen,aswasreportedthatitmust。
Meanwhile,troopshadgonewestunderKirkeandChurchill,andtheParliamenthadvotednearlyhalfamillionfortheputtingdownoftherebellion。Londonwasflungintoafeverofexcitementbythenewsthatwasreachingit。ThepositionwasnotquiteasMonmouth\'sadvisers—beforecomingoverfromHolland—hadrepresentedthatitwouldbe。
Theyhadthoughtthatoutoffearoftumultsabouthisownperson,KingJameswouldhavebeencompelledtokeepnearhimwhattroopshehad,sparingnonetobesentagainstMonmouth。This,KingJameshadnotdone;hehadallbutemptiedLondonofsoldiery,and,consideringthegeneraldisaffection,nomomentcouldhavebeenmorefavourablethanthisforarisinginLondonitself。TheconfusionthatmusthaveresultedfromtherecallingoftroopswouldhavegivenMonmouthnotonlyamightygripoftheWest,butwouldhaveheartenedthosewho—likeSunderlandhimself—weresittingonthewall,todeclarethemselvesfortheProtestantChampion。ThisWildingsaw,andalmostfrenziedlydidheurgeituponDanversthatallLondonneededatthemomentwasaresoluteleader。ButtheColonelstillheldback;indeed,hehadneithertruthnorvalour;hewastimid,anduseddeceittomaskhistimidity;heurgedfrivolousreasonsforinaction,andwhenWildingwaxedimpatientwithhim,hesuggestedthatWildinghimselfshouldheadtherisingifheweresoconfidentofitssuccess。AndWildingwouldhavedoneitbutthat,beingunknowninLondon,hehadnoreasontosupposethatmenwouldflocktohimifheraisedtheDuke\'sbanner。
Later,whentheexcitementgrewandrumoursranthroughtownthatMonmouthhadnowafollowingoftwentythousandmenandthattheKing\'sforceswerefallingbackbeforehim,anddiscontentwasrifeatthecommissioningofCatholiclordstolevytroops,WildingagainpressedthematteruponDanvers。Surelynomomentcouldbemorepropitious。
Butagainhereceivedthesameanswer,thatDanvershadlackedtimetoorganizematterssufficiently;thattheDuke\'scominghadtakenhimbysurprise。
LastlycamethenewsthatMonmouthhadbeencrownedatTauntonamidthewildestenthusiasm,andthattherewerenowinEnglandtwomeneachofwhomcalledhimselfKingJamestheSecond。ThiswastheexcusethatDanversneededtoberidofabusinesshehadnotthecouragetotransacttoafinish。HesworethathewashedhishandsofMonmouth\'saffairs;thatthelatterhadbrokenfaithwithhimandthepromisehehadmadehiminhavinghimselfproclaimedKing。HeprotestedthatMonmouthhaddoneill,andprophesiedthathisactwouldalienatefromhimthenumerousrepublicanswho,likeDanvers,hadhithertolookedtohimforthecountry\'ssalvation。WildinghimselfwasappalledatthenewsforMonmouthwasindeedgoingfurtherthanmenhadbeengiventounderstand。Nevertheless,forhisownsake,inveryself—defencenow,ifoutofnomotivesofloyaltytotheDuke,hemusturgeforwardthefortunesofthisman。HehadhighwordswithDanvers,andthetwomighthavequarrelledbeforelongbutforthesuddenarrestofDisney,whichthrewDanversintosuchapanicthathefledincontinently,abandoninginbody,ashealreadyappearedtohaveabandonedinspirit,theMonmouthCause。
ThearrestofDisneystruckachillintoWilding。FromhislodgingatCoventGardenhehadcommunicatedcautiouslywithSunderlandafewdaysafterhisarrival,buildinguponcertaininformationhehadreceivedfromtheDukeatpartingastoSunderland\'sattachmenttotheCause。Hehadcarefullychosenhismomentformakingthiscommunication,havingacertaininnatemistrustofamanwhosoobviouslyasSunderlandwasrunningwiththehareandhuntingwiththehounds。HehadsentalettertotheSecretaryofStatewhenLondonwasagogwiththeAxminsteraffair,andthetale—ofwhichSirEdwardPhelipswrotetoColonelBerkeleyas\"theshamefulleststorythatyoueverheard\"—ofhowAlbemarle\'sforcesandtheSomersetmilitiahadrunbeforeMonmouthinspiteoftheirownoverwhelmingnumbers。ThispromisedillforJames,particularlywhenitwasperceivedasperceiveditwas—thatthisrunningawaywasnotallcowardice,notall\"theshamefulleststory\"
thatPhelipsaccountedit。Itwasanexpressionofgood—willtowardsMonmouthonthepartofthemilitiaoftheWest,anditwasconfidendyexpectedthatthenextnewswouldbethatthesemenwhohaddecampedbeforehimwouldpresentlybefoundtohaverangedthemselvesunderhisbanner。
SunderlandhadgivennosignthathehadreceivedWilding\'scommunication。AndWildingdrewhisowncontemptuousconclusionsoftheSecretaryofState\'scautiouspolicy。Itwasafortnightlater—whenLondonwassettlingdownagainfromthediversionofexcitementcreatedbythenewsofArgyle\'sdefeatinScotland—beforeMr。WildingattemptedtoapproachSunderlandagain。Heawaitedafavourableopportunity,andthishehadwhenLondonwasthrownintoconsternationbythealarmingnewsoftheDukeofSomerset\'surgentdemandforreinforcements。Unlesshehadthem,hedeclared,thewholecountrywaslost,ashecouldnotgetthemilitiatostand,whilstLordStawell\'sregimentwereallfledandmostlygoneovertotherebelsatBridgwater。
Thiswasgravenews,butitwasfollowedinafewdaysbygraver。TheaffairatPhilipsNortonwasexaggeratedbyreportintoawholesaledefeatoftheloyalarmy,anditwasreported—on,apparently,suchgoodauthoritythatitreceivedcredenceinquartersthatmighthavewaitedforofficialnews—thattheDukeofAlbemarlehadbeenslainbythemilitiawhichhadmutiniedanddesertedtoMonmouth。
ItwaswhilethisnewswasgoingroundthatSunderland—inamomentofpanic—atlastvouchsafedananswertoMr。Wilding\'sletters,andhevouchsafeditinperson,justasWilding—particularlysinceDisney\'sarrest—wasbeginningtoloseallhope。HecameoneeveningtoMr。
Wilding\'slodgingsinCoventGarden,unattendedandcloselymuffled,andheremainedclosetedwiththeDuke\'sambassadorfornighuponanhour,attheendofwhichheentrustedMr。WildingwithaletterfortheDuke,verybriefbutentirelytothepoint,whichexpressedhimMonmouth\'smostdevotedservant。
\"Youmaywelljudge,sir,\"hehadsaidatparting,\"thatthisisnotsuchaletterasIshouldentrusttoanyman。\"
Mr。Wildinghadbowedgravely,andgravelyhehadexpressedhimselfsensibleoftheexceptionalhonourhislordshipdidhimbysuchatrust。
\"AndIdependuponyou,sir,asyouareamanofhonour,totakesuchmeasuresaswillensureagainstitsfallingintoanybutthehandsforwhichitisintended。\"
\"AsIamamanofhonour,youmaydependuponme,Mr。Wildingsolemnlypromised。\"Willyourlordshipgivemethreelinesaboveyoursignaturethatwillsavemefrommolestation;thusyouwillfacilitatethepreservationofthisletter。\"
\"Ihadalreadythoughtofthat,\"wasSunderland\'sanswer,andheplacedbeforeMr。Wildingthreelinesofwritingsignedandsealedwhichenjoinedall,straitly,intheKing\'snametosufferthebearertopassandrepassandtoofferhimnohindrance。
Onthattheyshookhandsandparted,SunderlandtoreturntoWhitehallandhisobediencetotheKingJameswhomhewasreadytobetrayassoonashesawprofitforhimselfintheact,Mr。WildingtoreturntoSomersettotheKingJamesinwhomhisfaithwasscant,indeed,butwithwhomhisfortuneswereirrevocablyboundup。
Meanwhile,MonmouthwasbackinBridgwater,hissecondoccupationofwhichtownwasnotbeinglookeduponwithunmixedfavour。Theinhabitantshadsufferedenoughalreadyfromhisfirstvisit;hisreturnthere,afterthePhilipsNortonaffair—of。whichsuchgrosslyexaggeratedreportshadreachedLondon,andwhich,inpointoffact,hadbeenlittlebetterthanadrawnbattle—hadbeenlookeduponwithdreadbysome,withdisfavourbyothers,andwithdismaybynotafewwhoviewedinthisanauguryoffailure。
NowSirRowlandBlake,whosincehispursuitofMr。WildingandTrenchardontheoccasionoftheirflightfromTauntonhad—inspiteofhisfailureonthatoccasion—beenmoreorlessintheserviceofAlbemarleandtheloyalarmy,sawinthisindispositiontowardsMonmouthofsomanyofBridgwater\'sinhabitantsgreatpossibilitiesofprofittohimself。
HewasatLuptonHouse,theguestofhisfriendRichardWestmacott,andtheopensuitorofRuth,entirelyignoringthecircumstancethatshewasnominallythewifeofMr。Wilding—thistotheinfinitechagrinofMissHorton,whosawallherscheminglikelytogofornothing。
InhisheartofheartsitwasamatterofnottheslightestconsequencetoSirRowlandwhetherJamesStuartorJamesScottoccupiedthethroneofEngland。Hisownaffairsgavehimmorethanenoughtothinkof,andthesedisturbancesintheWestwereverywelcometohim,sincetheyrendereddifficultanyattempttotracehimonthepartofhisLondoncreditors。Ithappens,however,verycommonlythatenmitytoanindividualwillleadtoenmitytothecausewhichthatindividualespouses。ThusmayithavebeenwithSirRowland。HishatredofWildingandhiskeendesiretoseeWildingdestroyedhadmadehimazealouspartisanoftheloyalcause。RichardWestmacott,easilyswayedandoverbornebythetownrake,whosevicesmadehimseemtoRichardtheembodimentofallthatissplendidandenviableinman,hadbecomepracticallythebaronet\'stool,nowthathehadabandonedMonmouth\'sCause。SirRowlandhadnotconsidereditbeneaththedignityofhisnameandstationtodischargeinBridgwatercertainfunctionsthatmadehimmoreorlessaspy。AndsoreliablehadbeentheinformationhehadsentFevershamandAlbemarleduringMonmouth\'sfirstoccupationofthetown,thathehadwonbynowtheircompleteconfidence。
Thesecondoccupationanditsunpopularitywithmanyofthosewhoearlier—iflukewarm—hadbeenpartisansoftheDuke,swelledthenumberofloyallyinclinedpeopleinBridgwater,andsuddenlyinspiredSirRowlandwithaschemebywhichatablowhemightsnuffouttherebellion。
ThisschemeinvolvedthecaptureoftheDuke,andtherewardofsuccessshouldmeanfarmoretoBlakethanthefivethousandpoundsatwhichthevalueoftheDuke\'sheadhadalreadybeenfixedbyParliament。Heneededatoolforthis,andheeventhoughtofWestmacottandLuptonHouse,butafterwardspreferredaMr。Newlington,whowasinbettercasetoassisthim。ThisNewlington,anexceedinglyprosperousmerchantandoneoftherichestmenperhapsinthewholeWestofEngland,lookedwithextremedisfavouruponMonmouth,whoseadventhadparalyzedhisindustriestoanextentthatwascostinghimafineroundsumofmoneyweekly。
HewasnowinalarmlestthetownofBridgwatershouldbemadetopaydearlyforhavingharbouredtheProtestantDuke—hehadnofaithwhateverintheProtestantDuke\'sultimateprevailing—andthathe,asoneofthetown\'smostprominentandprosperouscitizens,mightbeamongsttheheaviestsufferersinspiteofhisneutrality。Thisneutralityheobservedbecauseitwashardlysafeinthatdisaffectedtownforamantoproclaimhimselfaloyalist。
TohimSirRowlandexpoundedhisaudaciousplan……HesoughtoutthemerchantinhishandsomemansiononthenightofthatFridaywhichhadwitnessedMonmouth\'sreturn,andthemerchant,honouredbythevisitofthisgallant—ignorantashewasofthegentleman\'sfameintown—placedhimselfentirelyandinstantlyathisdisposal,thoughthehourwaslate。Soundinghimcarefully,andfindingthefellowmostamenabletoanyschemethatshouldachievethesalvationofhispurseandindustries,Blakeboldlylaidhisplanbeforehim。Startledatfirst,Mr。NewlingtonuponconsideringitbecamesoenthusiasticthathehailedSirRowlandashisdeliverer,andheartilypromisedhiscooperation。Indeed,itwasMr。Newlingtonwhowas,himself,totakethefirststep。
Wellpleasedwithhisevening\'swork,SirRowlandwenthometoLuptonHouseandtobed。InthemorninghebroachedthemattertoRichard。Hehadallthevanityoftheinferiornotonlytolessentheappearanceofhisinferiority,buttoclothehimselfinamantleofimportance;anditwasthisvanityurgedhimtoacquaintRichardwithhisplansintheverypresenceofRuth。
Theyhadbrokentheirfast,andtheystilllingeredinthedining—room,thelargestandmostimportantroominLuptonHouse。ItwascoolandpleasanthereincontrasttotheheatoftheJulysun,which,followinguponthelatewetweather,beatfiercelyonthelawn,thewindow—doorstowhichstoodopen。Theclothhadbeenraised,andDianaandhermotherhadlatelylefttheroom。Ruth,inthewindow—seat,atasmallovaltable,wasarrangingaclusterofrosesinanoldbronzebowl。
SirRowland,hisstiffshortfigurecarefullydressedinasuitofbrowncamlet,hisfairwigverycarefullycurled,occupiedatall—backedarmchairneartheemptyfireplace。Richard,perchedonthetable\'sedge,swunghisshapelylegsidlybackwardsandforwardsandcogitateduponapretexttocallforamorningdraughtoflastOctober\'sale。
Ruthcompletedhertaskwiththerosesandturnedhereyesuponherbrother。
\"Youarenotlookingwell,Richard,\"shesaid,whichwastrueenough,formuchharddrinkingwasbeginningtosetitsstamponRichard,andyoungashewas,hisinsipidlyfairfacebegantodisplayabloatednessthatwasexceedinglyunhealthy。
\"Oh,Iamwellenough,\"heansweredalmostpeevishly,fortheseallusionstohislookswerebecomingmorefrequentthanhesavoured。
\"Gad！\"criedSirRowland\'sdeepvoice,\"you\'llneedtobewell。Ihaveworkforyouto—morrow,Dick。\"
Dickdidnotappeartosharehisenthusiasm。\"Iamsickoftheworkyoudiscoverforus,Rowland,\"heansweredungraciously。
ButBlakeshowednoresentment。\"Maybeyou\'llfindthepresenttaskmoretoyourtaste。Ifit\'sdeedsofderring—doyoupinefor,Iamthemantosatisfyyou。\"Hesmiledgrimly,hisboldgreyeyesglancingacrossatRuth,whowasobservinghim,listening。
Richardsneered,butofferedhimnoencouragementtoproceed。
\"Isee,\"saidBlake,\"thatIshallhavetotellyouthewholestorybeforeyou\'llcreditme。Shalthaveit,then。But……\"andhecheckedontheword,hisfacegrowingserious,hiseyewanderingtothedoor,\"Iwouldnothaveitoverheard—notforaking\'sransom,\"whichwasmoreliterallytruethanhemayhaveintendedittobe。
Richardlookedoverhisshouldercarelesslyatthedoor。
\"Wehavenoeavesdroppers,\"hesaid,andhisvoicebespokehiscontemptofthegravityofthisnewsofwhichSirRowlandmadesomuchinanticipation。HewasacquaintedwithSirRowland\'sways,andtheimportanceofthem。\"Whatareyouconsidering？\"heinquired。
\"Toendtherebellion,\"answeredBlake,hisvoicecautiouslylowered。
Richardlaughedoutright。\"Thereareseveralothersconsideringthat—notablyHisMajestyKingJames,theDukeofAlbemarle,andtheEarlofFeversham。Yettheydon\'tappeartoachieveit。\"
\"Itisinthatparticular,\"saidBlakecomplacently,\"thatIshalldifferfromthem。\"HeturnedtoRuth,eagertoengageherintheconversation,toflatterherbyincludingherinthesecret。Knowingtheloyalistprinciplessheentertained,hehadnoreasontofearthathisplanscouldotherthanmeetherapproval。\"Whatdoyousay,MistressRuth？\"Presuminguponhisfriendshipwithherbrother,hehadtakentocallingherbythatnameinpreferencetotheotherwhichhecouldnotbringhimselftogiveher。\"Isitnotanobjectworthyofagentleman\'sendeavour？\"
\"IfyoucansavesomanypoorpeoplefromencompassingtheirruinbyfollowingthatrashyoungmantheDukeofMonmouth,youwillindeedbedoingaworthydeed。\"
Blakerose,andmadeheraleg。\"Madam,\"saidhe,\"hadaughtbeenwantingtocementmyresolve,yourwordswouldsupplyittome。Myplanissimplicityitself。IproposetocaptureMonmouthandhisprincipalagents,anddeliverthemovertotheKing。Andthatisall。\"
\"Amerenothing,\"croakedRichard。
\"Couldmorebeneeded？\"quothBlake。\"Oncetherebelarmyisdeprivedofitsleadersitwillmeltanddissolveofitself。OncetheDukeisinthehandsofhisenemiestherewillbenothinglefttofightfor。
Isitnotshrewd？\"
\"Youaretellingustheobjectratherthantheplan,\"Ruthremindedhim。
\"Iftheplanisasgoodastheobject……\"
\"Asgood？\"heechoed,chuckling。\"Youshalljudge。\"AndbrieflyhesketchedforherthespringehewassettingwiththehelpofMr。
Newlington。\"Newlingtonisrich;theDukeisinstraitsformoney。
Newlingtongoesto—daytoofferhimtwentythousandpounds;andtheDukeistodohimthehonourofsuppingathishouseto—morrownighttofetchthemoney。ItisareasonablerequestforMr。Newlingtontomakeunderthecircumstances,andtheDukecannot—darenotrefuseit。\"
\"Buthowwillthatadvanceyourproject？\"Ruthinquired,forBlakehadpausedagain,thinkingthattherestmustbeobvious。
\"InMr。Newlington\'sorchardIproposetopostascoreorsoofmen,wellarmed。Oh！IshallrunnorisksofbetrayalbyengagingBridgwaterfolk。I\'llgetthefellowsIneedfromGeneralFeversham。
