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。
