ally
true?" asked Wilding. "Or is it but another rumour?"

"Remember the letter your friends intercepted," Trenchard bade him.

"I am not forgetting it," said Wilding.

"It's no rumour," Vallancey assured them. "I was at White Lackington
three hours ago when the news came to George Speke, and I was riding to
carry it to you, going by way of Taunton that I might drop word of it
for our friends at the Red Lion."

Trenchard needed no further convincing; he looked accordingly dismayed.
But Wilding found it still almost impossible--in spite of what already
he had learnt--to credit this amazing news. It was hard to believe the
Duke of Monmouth mad enough to spoil all by this sudden and unheralded
precipitation.

"You heard the news at Whitp Lackington?" said he slowly. "Who carried
it thither?"

"There were two messengers," answered Vallancey, with restrained
impatience, "and they were Heywood Dare--who has been appointed
paymaster to the Duke's forces--and Mr. Chamberlain."

Mr. Wilding was observed for once to change colour. He gripped Vallancey
by the wrist. "You saw them?" he demanded, and his voice had a husky,
unusual sound. "You saw them?"

"With these two eyes," answered Vallancey, "and I spoke with them."

It was true, then! There was no room for further doubt.

Wilding looked at Trenchard, who shrugged his shoulders and made a wry
face. "I never thought but that we were working in the service of a
hairbrain," said he contemptuously.

Vallancey proceeded to details. "Dare and Chamberlain," he informed
them, "came off the Duke's own frigate at daybreak to-day. They were put
ashore at Seatown, and they rode straight to Mr. Speke's with the news,
returning afterwards to Lyme."

"What men has the Duke with him, did you learn?" asked Wilding.

"Not more than a hundred or so, from what Dare told us."

"A hundred! God help us all! And is England to be conquered with a
hundred men? Oh, this is midsummer frenzy."

"He counts on all true Protestants to flock to his banner," put in
Trenchard, and it was not plain whether he expressed a fact or sneered
at one.

"Does he bring money and arms, at least?" asked Wilding.

"I did not ask," answered Vallancey. "But Dare told us that three
vessels had come over, so that it is to be supposed he brings some
manner of provision with him."

"It is to be hoped so, Vallancey; but hardly to be supposed," quoth
Trenchard, and then he touched Wilding on the arm and pointe