CHAPTER XIX. THE BANQUET

It was striking nine. Therefore, Ruth thought that she had achieved her object, Wilding imagined that all was lost. It needed the more tranquil mind of Nicholas Trenchard to show him the fly in madam's ointment, after Wilding, in half a dozen words, had made him acquainted with the situation. "What are you going to do?" asked Trenchard. "Run to Newlington's and warn the Duke--if still in time." "And thereby precipitate the catastrophe? Oh, give it thought. It is all it needs. You are taking it for granted that nine…