, saying, "There, Wilton! there. Use them to-night as you go to
Somersbury; and, amongst other pretty things that you may have to say
to the Duke, you may tell him that Sir John Fenwick has accused him
of high treason. My father is going to write to him this very night,
to ask him civilly to come up to town to confer with him on business
of importance. You yourself may be the bait to the trap, Wilton, for
aught I know. So to your horse's back and away, and have all your
plans settled with the Duke before the post arrives to-morrow
morning."
The earnestness of Sherbrooke's manner convinced his friend that what
he said was serious and true, and thanking him eagerly, he left him,
and again passed through the hall. Lord Byerdale was speaking at
that moment to the porter; but he did not appear to notice Wilton,
who passed on without pausing, sought his own lodgings with all
speed, mounted his horse, and set out for Somersbury.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
The world was in all its summer beauty, nature smiling with her
brightest smiles, the glorious sunshine just departing from the sky,
and glowing with double brightness in its dying hour, the woods still
green and fresh, the blackbird tuning his evening song, and
everything speaking peace and promising joy, as Wilton rode through
the gates of Somersbury park.
When he dismounted from his horse and rang the bell, his own servant
took the tired beast and led it round towards the stable with the air
of one who felt himself quite at home in the Duke's house. But the
attendant who opened the doors to him, and who was not the ordinary
porter, bore a certain degree of sadness and gravity in his
demeanour, which caused Wilton instantly to ask after the health of
the Duke and Lady Laura.
"My young lady is quite well, sir," replied the servant; "but the
Duke has had another bad fit of the gout in the beginning of the
week--which has made him wonderfully cross," he added, lowering his
voice and giving a marked look in Wilton's face, which made the young
gentleman feel that he intended his words as a sort of warning.
"I am afraid," thought Wilton, "what I have to tell him will not
diminish his crossness."
But he said nothing aloud, and followed the servant to wards the
Duke's own particular sitting room. He found that nobleman alone,
with his foot upon a stool. He had calculated as he went thither how
he might best soften the tidings he had to bring; but the Duke began
the conversation himself, and in a manner which instantly p