through the worthless person of this brother whom she cherished - and
who persisted in affording him this opportunity - a wicked vengeance
would be his.

Peace-loving Lord Gervase had heaved himself suddenly to his feet at
Westmacott's last words, still intent upon saving the situation.

"In Heaven's name..." he began, when Mr. Wilding, ever calm and smiling,
though now a trifle sinister, waved him gently into silence. But that
persisting calm of Mr. Wilding's was too much for old Nick Trenchard.
He rose abruptly, drawing all eyes upon himself. It was time, he
thought, he took a hand in this.

In addition to his affection for Wilding and his contempt for Westmacott,
he was filled with a fear that the latter might become dangerous if not
crushed at once. Gifted with a shrewd knowledge of men, acquired during
a chequered life of much sour experience, old Nick instinctively
mistrusted Richard. He had known him for a fool, a weakling, a babbler,
and a bibber of wine. Out of such elements a villain is soon compounded,
and Trenchard had cause to fear the form of villainy that lay ready to
Richard's hand. For it chanced that Mr. Trenchard was second cousin to
that famous John Trenchard, so lately tried for treason and acquitted to
the great joy of the sectaries of the West, and still more lately - but
yesterday, in fact - fled the country to escape the rearrest ordered in
consequence of that excessive joy. Like his more famous cousin, Nick
Trenchard was one of the Duke of Monmouth's most active agents; and
Westmacott, like Wilding, Vallancey, and one or two others at that
board, stood, too, committed to the cause of the Protestant Champion.

Out of his knowledge of the boy Trenchard was led to fear that if he