Part 40 (2/2)

”It was she who warned him,” Blake got out, ”as already I have had the honour to inform your lords.h.i.+p.”

”And your lords.h.i.+p cannot blame her for that,” said Wilding. ”The lady is a most loyal subject of King James; but she is also, as you observe, a dutiful wife. I will add that it was her intention to warn me only when too late for interference. Sir Rowland, as it happened, was slow in...”

”Silence!” blazed the Frenchman. ”Now t'at I know who you are, t'at make a so great difference. Where is t'e guard, Wentwort'?”

”I hear them,” answered the captain, and from the street came the tramp of their marching feet.

Feversham turned again to Blake. ”T'e affaire 'as 'appen' so,” he said, between question and a.s.sertion, summing up the situation as he understood it. ”T'is rogue,” and he pointed to Richard, ”'ave betray your plan to 'is sister, who betray it to 'er 'usband, who save t'e Duc de Monmoot'. N'est-ce pas?”

”That is so,” said Blake, and Ruth scarcely thought it worth while to add that she had heard of the plot not only from her brother, but from Blake as well. After all, Blake's att.i.tude in the matter, his action in bringing her to Feversham for punishment, and to exculpate himself, must suffice to cause any such statement of hers to be lightly received by the General.

She sat in an anguished silence, her eyes wide, her face pale, and waited for the end of this strange business. In her heart she did permit herself to think that it would be difficult to a.s.semble a group of men less worthy of respect. Choleric and vindictive Blake, foolish Feversham, stupid Wentworth, and timid Richard--even Richard did not escape the unfavourable criticism they were undergoing in her subconscious mind. Only Wilding detached in that a.s.sembly--as he had detached in another that she remembered--and stood out in sharp relief a very man, calm, intrepid, self-possessed; and if she was afraid, she was more afraid for him than for herself. This was something that, perhaps, she scarcely realized just then; but she was to realize it soon.

Feversham was speaking again, asking Blake a fresh question. ”And who betray you to t'is rogue?”

”To Westmacott?” cried Blake. ”He was in the plot with me. He was left to guard the rear, to see that we were not taken by surprise, and he deserted his post. Had he not done that, there had been no disaster, in spite of Mr. Wilding's intervention.”

Feversham's brow was dark, his eyes glittered as they rested on the traitor.

”T'at true, sare?” he asked him.

”Not quite,” put in Mr. Wilding. ”Mr. Westmacott, I think, was constrained away. He did not intend...”

”Tais-toi!” blazed Feversham. ”Did I interrogate you? It is for Mistaire Westercott to answer.” He set a hand on the table and leaned forward towards Wilding, his face very malign. ”You shall to answer for yourself, Mistaire Wildin'; I promise you you shall to answer for yourself.” He turned again to Richard. ”Eh, bien?” he snapped. ”Will you speak?”

Richard came forward a step; he was certainly nervous, and certainly pale; but neither as pale nor as nervous as from our knowledge of Richard we might have looked to see him at that moment.

”It is in a measure true,” he said. ”But what Mr. Wilding has said is more exact. I was induced away. I did not dream any could know of the plan, or that my absence could cause this catastrophe.”

”So you went, eh, vaurien? You t'ought t'at be to do your duty, eh? And it was you who tole your sistaire?”

”I may have told her, but not before she had the tale already from Blake.”

Feversham sneered and shrugged. ”Natural you will not speak true. A traitor I 'ave observe' is always liar.”

Richard drew himself up; he seemed invested almost with a new dignity.

”Your lords.h.i.+p is pleased to account me a traitor?” he inquired.

”A dam' traitor,” said his lords.h.i.+p, and at that moment the door opened, and a sergeant, with six men following him, stood at the salute upon the threshold. ”A la bonne heure!” his lords.h.i.+p hailed them. ”Sergean', you will arrest t'is rogue and t'is lady,”--he waved his hand from Richard to Ruth--”and you will take t'em to lock..up.”

The sergeant advanced towards Richard, who drew a step away from him.

Ruth rose to her feet in agitation. Mr. Wilding interposed himself between her and the guard, his hand upon his sword.

”My lord,” he cried, ”do they teach no better courtesy in France?”

Feversham scowled at him, smiling darkly. ”I shall talk wit' you soon, sare,” said he, his words a threat.

”But, my lord...” began Richard. ”I can make it very plain I am no traitor...”

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