It was like a summons of doom.

"His Majesty came hither, I am informed, to receive at your hands a sum of money--twenty thousand pounds--towards the expenses of the campaign.

Have you the money at hand ?" And his eye, glittering between cruelty and mockery, fixed itself upon the merchant's ashen face.
"It...

it shall be forthcoming by morning," stammered Newlington.
"By morning ?" cried Grey, who, with the others, watched Mr.Newlington what time they all wondered at Mr.Wilding's question and the manner of it.
"You knew that I march to-night," Monmouth reproached the merchant.
"And it was to receive the money that you invited His Majesty to do you the honours of supping with you here," put in Wade, frowning darkly.
The merchant's wife and daughter stood beside him watching him, and plainly uneasy.

Before he could make any reply, Mr.Wilding spoke again.
"The circumstance that he has not the money by him is a little odd--or would be were it not for what has happened.