It was only now, as he drew rein before the lighted house and caught the sound of Blake's raised voice pouring through an open window on the ground floor, that Richard fully realized what manner of rashness he was committing.

He was too late to rescue Ruth from Blake.

What more could he look to achieve?
His hope had been that with Wilding's help he might snatch her from Sir Rowland before the latter reached his destination.

But now--to enter Feversham's presence and in association with so notorious a rebel as Mr.
Wilding were a piece of folly of the heroic kind that Richard did not savour.

Indeed, had it not been for Wilding's masterful presence, it is more than odds he had turned tail, and ridden home again to bed.
But Wilding, who had leapt nimbly to the ground, stood waiting for Richard to dismount, impatient now that from the sound of Sir Rowland's voice he had assurance that Richard had proved an able guide.