Evening star., 1924-04-21
Mistress Wilding
By Rafael Sabatini
Author of "Scaramouche," captain Blood" etc
Copyright. 1924. by Houghton Minin Company

that Mr.. Wilding, properly speaking
| does not reside in Bridgwater"
| "Tush.' cried Albemarle. the rogue
but mentions the first name with a
| even an ingenious liar. And how. sir"
! he asked Richard. does it come 10 be
IN Your possession, having been ad-
dressed, as you say, to Mr.. Wilding?"
Aye, sir said Sir Edward. blink
ing his weak eyes. Tell US that"
Richard hesitated again. and looked
at Blake. Blake. who by now had
come to realize that his friends af-
ruptions, moodily shrugged his shoul-
ders, scowling.
Come, sir" said Col. LuttrelI en-
gagingly. answer the question
Aye" roared Albemarl", let your
invention have free reign.
Again poor Richard sought refuge
in the truth. ''We-Sir Rowland. here.
! and had reason TO suspect that he
was awaiting such a letter.
| > Tell us your reasons. sir. if we are
! to credit you" said the duke, and it
was plain he Knocked the prisoner. It
was, moreover, request that stag
! gered Richard. Still he sought to find
a reason that should sound plausible
| We inferred it from certain re-
marks that Mr. Wilding let fall in
our presence"
Tell us the remarks. sir" the duke
! insisted.
Indeed. do not call his precise
words to mind, your grace. But they
were such that VIC suspicioned him"
And you would have me believe
| that hearing words which awoke in
| you such grave suspicious. you kept
| your suspicious and straightway for
got the words. You're but an indif-
| ferent liar"
the long table, leaned forward now.
'It might be well, an it please your
! grace" said he, ito waive the point
and let US come to those matters
him tell your grace how he came by
| the letter."
aye" said AIbemarle. I'VE do but
waste time. Tell u.s.. then. how the
letter came into your hands
With Sir Rowland, here, | robbed
the courier as he was riding from
| Taunton to Bridgwater."
Albemarle laughed and Sir Edwa rd
smiled. You robbed him. eh?" said
| his grace. Very well. But how did
letter upon him, or was it you were
playing the hightobymen, and that in
robbing him you hoped to find other
matterS?'
"I sought but the letter."
"And how knew you that he car
| r:ed it? Did you learn that. too, from
Mr.. Wildings indiscretion?"
| "'Slfe, What an impudent rogue
we have here" cried the angry duke,
who conceived that Richard was pur-
pose1y dealing in effrontery. Mr..
Trenchard, L do think we are wasting
time Be so good as to confound
them both with the truth of this
matter"
THAT letter" said Trenchard, was
delivered to them at the Hare and
| Hounds, here at Taunton, by gem
tleman who put up at the inn, and
| was there joined by Mr.. Westmacott
and Sir Rowland Blake. They opened
the conversation with certain cant
phrases very clearly intended as
passwords. Thus, the prisoners said
to the messenger, as they seated
themselves at the table he occupied,
You have the air, sir, of being from
overseas to which the courier an
swered, Indeed. yes; ] am from Hol-
land From the land of Orange
says one of the prisoners. Aye, and
other things, replies the messenger.
There is n fair wind blowing he
I believe it was Sir Rowland. makes
answer. May it prosper the Protest
ant duke and blow popery to hell
Thereupon the landlord caught some
mention of a letter, but these plot
ters, perceiving that they We're per-
| haps being overheard, sent him away
to fetch them wine. A half hour later
the messenger took his leave, and the
utes afterward.'
Albemarle turned, to the prisoners
"You have heard Mr.. Trenchard's
story. How do you SAYS it true or
untrue?"
You will waste breath in denying
it," Trenchard took 1T again upon
himself to admonish them. For
have with me the landlord of the
Hare and Hounds, who will corrobo-
rate, upon oath, what l have said"
I'VE do not deny it," put in Blake.
"But we submit that the matter is
susceptible to explanation"
You can keep your explanations
till your trial, then" snapped Albe-
marie. II have heard more than
enough to commit the pair OF you to
Jail"
eBut, your grace cried Sir Row.
land. so fiercely that one of the tyth-
ing men set restraining hand upon
his shoulder, Il am ready to swear
that what did. and what my friend
Mr. Westmacott did. was done in the