ting. Better, then, to wait;
better for both their sakes. If he came safely through his ordeal it
would be time enough to bear her news of his preservation.

In deepest mourning, very white, with dark stains beneath her eyes
to tell the tale of anguished vigils, she received Sir Rowland in the
withdrawing-room, her brother at her side. To his expressions of
deep penitence he found them cold; so he passed on to show them what
disastrous results might ensue upon a stubborn maintaining of this
attitude of theirs towards him.

"I have come," he said, his eyes downcast, his face long-drawn, for he
could play the sorrowful with any hypocrite in England, "to do something
more than speak of my grief and regret. I have come to offer proof of it
by service.

"We ask no service of you, sir," said Ruth, her voice a sword of
sharpness.

He sighed, and turned to Richard. "This were folly," he assured his
whilom friend. "You know the influence I wield."

"Do I?" quoth Richard, his tone implying doubt. "You think that the
bungled matter at Newlington's may have shaken it?" quoth Blake. "With
Feversham, perhaps. But Albemarle, remember, trusts me very fully. There
are ugly happenings in the town here. Men are being hung like linen on
a washing-day. Be not too sure that yourself are free from all danger."
Richard paled under the baronet's baleful, half-sneering glance. "Be not
in too great haste to cast me aside, for you may find me useful."

"Do you threaten, sir?" cried Ruth.

"Threaten?" quoth he. He turned up his eyes and showed the whites of
them. "Is it to threaten to promise you my protection; to show you how I
can serve you?--than which I ask no sweeter boon of heaven. A word from
me, and Richard need fear nothing."

"He need fear nothing without that word," said Ruth disdainfully. "Such
service as he did Lord Feversham the other night..."

"Is soon forgotten," Blake cut in adroitly. "Indeed, 'twill be most
convenient to his lordship to forget it. Think you he would care to have
it known that 'twas to such a chance he owes the preservation of his
army?" 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.

Blake thrust out his hands in