himself thoroughly unpopular throughout the country, then sound a
few regiments. It's only a matter of a year or two. If you'll
wait for a year or two you'll see yourself invited over. Besides,
a sudden rising in the West must fail, sir. Your Majesty would be
in between two great garrisons, Bristol and Portsmouth. We can't
be sure that either would be true to us."

"Yes," the Duke answered. "Yes, Lane. But as I plan it, the army
will be tempted north. Argyle will make a strong feint in
Scotland, with the great clans, just when the Western gentry
declare for us."

"I take it," Lane answered, "that Argyle has sounded the clans.
He knows, I suppose, what force of drilled men will rally to him.
You know nothing, sir, about the West. You know that many men are
for you; but you know not how many nor how good. You will need
mounted men, sir, if you are to dash down upon London with any
speed. You cannot raise cavalry in a week. All that you will get
in the West will be squireens, or dashing young farmers, both
kinds unaccustomed to being ordered; both kinds totally unfitted
for war."

"Yes," said the saturnine little man. "But a rising in the West
would have this natural effect. Argyle will draw troops to the
north, as his Majesty has explained. Very well, then. Let Devon
declare for the King, the business will be done. The usurper will
not dare to send the few troops left to him out of the capital,
lest the town should rise on him."

"Very true. True. A good point," said the man with the eyebrows.