off."
"No, no!" answered Green; "I never enter London in the day. I might
risk much by doing so, and must not do it except in case of great
need."
"Then let it be at Beaufort House," replied Wilton: "I sleep there
to-night. But why should we not settle and determine the whole at
once? Tell me but where is this place to which they have taken Lady
Laura, and I will undertake to rescue her."
"You alone, Wilton?" said Green.
"Aided by none but the Messenger," replied Wilton: "armed with the
force of the law, I fear not whom I encounter."
"Armed with the force of love!" answered Green, after looking at him
for a moment with eyes in which affection and admiration were equally
evident. "You want not the spirit of your race; and it will carry you
through. If you will promise me to take none but the Messenger with
you, you shall have some one to guide you to the house, and to aid
you on my part. I need not tell you what you have to do. Demand the
young lady's liberty simply and straightforwardly; say to all those
who oppose you, that the task of investigating what have been the
causes, and who the perpetrators of the outrage committed, must fall
upon the Duke; that you have no authority to meddle with that part of
the business. Say this, I repeat, and I doubt not that you will be
fully successful. They dare not--I am sure they dare not--resist you,
if you do not attempt to arrest any of their own number."
"I promise you most faithfully," replied Wilton, "to act as you have
said. I will go with the Messenger and the person you send only. But
where am I to meet this person? When, and how, and where, am I to
find the house?"
"You would find it with difficulty," replied Green; "for it lies far
off from the high road, not many miles from Rochester; and the lanes
and woods about it are not arranged for the purpose of making it
easily discovered. You must not, therefore, attempt to find your way
alone. However, set out early to-morrow with strong fresh horses, and
ride on till you come to the village of High Halstow. Should you
reach that place before nightfall, remain there till it turns dusk.
As it begins to become grey, ride out again, taking the way towards
Cowley Castle. As you go along that road, you will find some one to
show you the way. He will ask you what colour you are of. Answer him
'Brown,' but that 'Green' will do as well. I would be there myself if
I could; but that, I fear, cannot be. Let me hear of you and of your
success, however--though I wil