Evening star., 1924-04-23
Mistress Wilding
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
By Rafael S0batini
Author of "Scarsmouche," Captain Bleod" etc.
Copyright 1924 BY Houshton Mlmin Company

Continued from Yesterdays Starr
That fat fool Albemarle had swal-
lowed my impeachment like draught
of muscadine. Do you hear me?" he
ended sharply, for Mr.. Wilding stood
bemused, his thoughts plainly wander
ing.
lie let his hand fail upon Trench
ards shoulder NO" said he, II
wasn't listening. No matter: for even
had / known the full extent of your
scheme l still must have interfered."
e.. For the sake of Mistress Westma- :
colts blue eyes, no doubt" sneered
Trenchard. 'Pah! Wherever. there's q
woman there's the loss Of a man"
For the sake of Mistress WiIding' s
blue eyes" his friend corrected him.
in my place"
1T will be interesting to see how
You will rescue him." :.
by telling the truth to Albemarle."
He'll not believe it."
Il shall prove it, said Wildfng
quietly.
Trenchard swung round upon him
in mingled anger and alarm for him.
You shall not do it,' he snarled. Tt
is nothing short Of treason to the
duke to get yourself laid by the heels
at such a time as this"
Il hope to avoid IT," answered Wild
ing confidently.
Avoid it? How?
Not by staying longer here in talk.
That will ruin all. Away with you,
Trenchard!"
BY my soul, no." answered Trench
ard. III not leave you. If I have
got you into this, I'll help to get you
out again. or stay in it with you
Rethink you Of Monmouth" Wild
ing admonished him.
Damn Monmouth" was the vicious
answer. II am here. and here I stay"
:. Get to horse, you fool, and ride to
''Ayalford as you proposed: there to
ambush the messenger. The letter
will go to Whitehall none the less In
Spite of what ! shall tell Albemarle.
II things go well with me shall join
=, why. If that is your intention"
said Trenchard, II had better stay and
we can ride together. 1t will make
it less uncertain for YOU" s'
- But less certain for you.
-l The more reason why / should re-
main"
! The door of the hall was suddenly
Hung open at the far end of the cor
fidor. and Albemarle's booming voice,
impatiently raised. reached them
where they stood.
- In any case" added Trenchard, "it
seems there is no help for 1t now"
Mr. Wilding shrugged his shoulders,
but otherwise dissembled his vexa-
!tion. Up the passage foated the con-
stables voice calling them.
- Side by side they moved down. and
side by side they stepped once more
into the presence of Christopher Monk
and his associates.
"Sirs. you have not been in haste, y
was the dukes ill-humored greeting.
I'VE have tarried a little that we
night make an end the sooner. an :
swered Trenchard dryly, and this was
the first indication he gave Mr.. Wild
ing of how naturally-like the inim-
Stable actor that he was-he had
slipped into his new role.
Albemarle waved the frivolous re-
5oinder aside. Come, Mr.. Wilding,
said he, let US hear what you may
have TO say. You are not, / take it,
<about to urge any Dasons why these
rogues should not be committed?"
u Indeed, your grace" said Wilding,
s'that is what / am about to urge"
Blake and Richard looked at him
ard; but it was only Ruth whose eyes
were shrewd enough to observe the
altered demeanor of the latter. Her
hopes rose, founded upon this oddly
assorted pair. Already in anticipation
she was stirred by gratitude towards
Wilding, and it was in impatient and
almost wondering awe that she wait
ed for him to proceed.
waiting for AIbemarle to express any
of the fresh establishment his coun-
stenance manifested, that the accu-
sation against these gentlemen rests
entirely upon the letter, which you
have been led to believe was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Westmacott."
The duke scowled moment before
replying. Why" said he, eff 1t could
be shown-irrefutably shown-tha'
tho letter was not addressed to either
of them, that would no doubt estab
lish the truth of what they say-tha'
they possessed themselves of the let.
ter in the interests of his majesty
He turned to Luttrell and Phelps
-sand they nodded their concurrence
with his view of the matter. But,
a1e continued, "if you are proposing
to prove any such thing. think: you
will find 1t difficult"
Mr.. Wilding drew a crumpled paper
from his pocket.
~ when the courier whom they
robbed, as they have correctly in
formed you," said he quietly, "sus-
pected their design upon the contents
of his wallet, he bethought him OF
removing the'wrapper from the letter
so that in case the letter were seized