the other supporting the stem of a long clay pipe, at which he was
pulling thoughtfully. The pipe and he were all but inseparable; indeed,
the year before in London he had given appalling scandal by appearing
with it in the Mall, and had there remained him any character to lose,
he must assuredly have lost it then.

He observed his friend through narrowing eyes - he had small eyes, very
blue and very bright, in which there usually abode a roguish gleam.

"My sight, Anthony," said he, "reminds me that I am growing old. I
wonder did it mislead me on the score of your visitor?"

"The lady who left," said Wilding with a touch of severity, "will be
Mistress Wilding by this day se'night."

Trenchard took the pipe from his lips, audibly blew out a cloud of
smoke and stared at his friend. "Body o' me!" quoth he. "Is this a
time for marrying? - with these rumours of Monmouth's coming over."

Wilding made an impatient gesture. "I thought to have convinced you
they are idle," said he, and flung himself into a chair at his
writing-table.

Nick came over and perched himself upon the table's edge, one leg
swinging in the air. "And what of this matter of the intercepted
letter from London to our Taunton friends?"

"I can't tell you. But of this I am sure, His Grace is incapable of
anything so rash. Certain is it that he'll not stir until Battiscomb
returns to Holland, and Battiscomb is still in Cheshire sounding the