CHAPTER VII
THE NUPTIALS OF RUTH WESTMACOTT


Here was Sir Rowland Blake in high fettle at knowing himself armed with
a portentous weapon for the destruction of Anthony Wilding. Upon closer
inspection of it, however, he came to realize - as Richard had realized
earlier - that it was double-edged, and that the wielding of it must be
fraught with as much danger for Richard as for their common enemy. For
to betray Mr. Wilding and the plot would scarce be possible without
betraying young Westmacott, and that was unthinkable, since to ruin
Richard - a thing he would have done with a light heart so far as
Richard was himself concerned - would be to ruin his own hopes of
winning Ruth.

Therefore, during the days that followed, Sir Rowland was forced to
fret in idleness what time his wound was healing; but if his arm was
invalided, his eyes and ears were sound, and he remained watchful for
an opportunity to apply the knowledge he had gained. Richard
mentioned the subject no more, so that Blake almost came to wonder
whether the boy remembered what in his cups he had betrayed.

Meanwhile Mr. Wilding moved serene and smiling on his way. Daily
there were great armfuls of flowers deposited at Lupton House - his
lover's offering to his mistress - and no day went by but that some
richer gift accompanied them. Now it was a collar of brilliants,
anon a rope of pearls, again a priceless ring that had been Mr.
Wilding's mother's. Ruth received with reluctance these pledges
of his undesired affection. It were idle to reject them, considering
that she was to marry him; yet it hurt her sorely to retain them.