He seized Wilding by the arm.

"Blake has carried her off," he cried.
"Blake ?" said Mr.Wilding, and wondered with a sensation of nausea was it an ordinary running away.

But Richard's next words made it plain to him that it was no amorous elopement, nor even amorous abduction.
"He has carried her to Feversham...

for her betrayal of his to-night's plan to seize the Duke." That stirred Mr.Wilding.He wasted no time in idle questions or idler complainings.

"How long since ?" he asked, and it was he who clutched Richard now, by the shoulder and with a hand that hurt.
"Not ten minutes ago," was the quavering answer.
"And you were at hand when it befell ?" cried Wilding, the scorn in his voice rising superior to his agitation and fears for Ruth.