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He laughed, and added in a voice of much sly meaning, "The times are full of peril. There's Kirke and his lambs. And there's no saying how Kirke might act did he chance to learn what Richard failed to do that night when he was left to guard the rear at Newlington's!" "Would you inform him of it?" cried Richard, between anger and alarm.
"Your Majesty will be none too well attended, your officers having this other matter to prepare for. Mr. Wilding would form another to swell your escort of gentlemen." "I think you are right, Colonel Wade," said Monmouth. "We sup at Mr. Newlington's at nine o'clock, Mr. Wilding. We shall expect you to attend us there.
"Ruth," he said, and he took her hands, "there is here something that I do not understand. What is't you mean?" "Promise me that you will not go to Newlington's, and I will tell you." "But what has Newlington to do with...? Nay, I am pledged already to go." She drew closer to him, her hands upon his shoulders. "Yet if I ask you I, your wife?" she pleaded, and almost won him to her will.
"Not yet?" "He sups to-night at Mr. Newlington's," Miss Horton exclaimed in a voice pregnant with meaning. "Ah!" It was a cry from Ruth, sharp as if she had been stabbed. She sank back to her seat by the window, smitten down by this sudden news. There was a pause, which fretted Diana, who now craved knowledge of what might be passing in her cousin's mind.
"What I have to tell Your Majesty is of importance, he exclaimed, and Monmouth seemed to waver, whilst Grey looked disdainful unbelief of the importance of any communication Wilding might have to make. "We have little time, Your Majesty," Ferguson reminded Monmouth. "Perhaps," put in friendly Wade, "Your Majesty might see Mr. Wilding at Mr. Newlington's." "Is it really necessary?" quoth Grey.
Come on" and his arm effected a gentle pressure upon Richard's, to move him thence. But at that moment, down the street with a great rumble of wheels, cracking of whips and clatter of hoofs, came a coach, bearing to Mr. Newlington's King Monmouth escorted by his forty life-guards.
Ruth inquired, for Blake had paused again, thinking that the rest must be obvious. "In Mr. Newlington's orchard I propose to post a score or so of men, well armed. Oh! I shall run no risks of betrayal by engaging Bridgwater folk. I'll get the fellows I need from General Feversham. We take Monmouth at supper, as quietly as may be, with what gentlemen happen to have accompanied him.
"You shall not go until you have told me why you besought me to keep away from Newlington's. What is it?" he asked, and paused suddenly, a flood of light breaking in upon his mind. "Is there some treachery afoot?" he asked her, and his eye went wildly to the clock. A harsh, grating sound rang through the room. "What are you doing?" he cried. "Why have you locked the door?"
Unfortunately for the success of your choice plan of murder, I had news of it at the eleventh hour, and with a party of musketeers I was able to surprise and destroy your cut-throats in Mr. Newlington's garden. You see, my lord, I was to have been one of the victims myself, and I resented the attentions that were intended me.
"But now that you have disposed of that you will sup with us," said Lady Horton, who was convinced that since Ruth had gone to the altar with him he was Ruth's lover in spite of the odd things she had heard. Appearances with Lady Horton counted for everything, and all that glittered was gold to her. "I would," he answered, "but that I am to sup at Mr. Newlington's with His Majesty.
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