eyes moving to Lady Horton and her daughter.

Lord Gervase, in some surprise, but overruled by his cousin's calm,
took the bride on his arm and led her from the churchyard to the waiting
carriage. To this he handed her, and after her her aunt and cousin.
Then, mounting himself, they drove away, leaving Wilding and Trenchard
among the tombstones, whither the messenger of evil had meanwhile led
his friend. Trenchard rapped out his story briefly.

"Shenke," said he, "who was riding from Lyme with letters for you from
the Duke, was robbed of his dispatches late last night a mile or so
this side Taunton."

"Highwaymen?" inquired Mr. Wilding, his tone calm, though his glance
had hardened.

"Highwaymen? No! Government agents belike. There were two of them,
he says - for I have the tale from himself - and they met him at the
Hare and Hounds at Taunton, where he stayed to sup last night. One
of them gave him the password, and he conceived him to be a friend.
But afterwards, growing suspicious, he refused to tell them too much.
They followed him, it appears, and on the road they overtook and fell
upon him; they knocked him from his horse, possessed themselves of the
contents of his wallet, and left him for dead - with his head broken."

Mr. Wilding drew a sharp breath. His wits worked quickly. He was,
he realized, in deadly peril. One thought he gave to Ruth. If the
worst came to pass here was one who would rejoice in her freedom.
The reflection cut through him like a sword. He would be loath to die
until he had taught her to regret him. Then his mind returned to what