“I take it,” Lane answered, “that Argyle has sounded the clans. He knows, I suppose, what force of drilled men will rally to him. You know nothing, sir, about the West. You know that many men are for you; but you know not how many nor how good. You will need mounted men, sir, if you are to dash down upon London with any speed. You cannot raise cavalry in a week. All that you will get in the West will be squireens, or dashing young farmers, both kinds unaccustomed to being ordered; both kinds totally unfitted for war.”
“Yes,” said the saturnine little man. “But a rising in the West would have this natural effect. Argyle will draw troops to the north, as his Majesty has explained. Very well, then. Let Devon declare for the King, the business will be done. The usurper will not dare to send the few troops left to him out of the capital, lest the town should rise on him.”
“Very true. True. A good point,” said the man with the eyebrows.
“I think that disposes of your argument, Lane,” said the Duke, with a smile.
“It's a supposition, sir, against a certainty. I've told you of a military danger. Falk, there, only tells you of a bare, military possibility.”
“But it's as certain as anything can be,” said the man with the eyebrows. “You can see. That's just what must happen.”
“It is what may happen if you wait for a year or two, your Majesty,” Lane replied. “But a newly crowned King is always popular. I doubt if you will find public opinion so much on your side, your Majesty. No for a year or two, till he's made himself disliked. They've settled down now to this usurper. They'll resent an interruption. The trades-men will resent an interruption.”
“I think you over-rate the difficulties, Lane,” said Mr. Jermyn.
“Yes,” said the Duke, “I'm a great believer in putting a matter to the test. Much must necessarily be left to chance. If we wait, we may not find public opinion turning against our enemies. We may even lose the good opinion of the West by waiting. Besides, by waiting, Lane, we should lose the extraordinary: help of Argyle's diversion in the north.”
“Yes,” the others said in chorus. “We mustn't lose that. A rising this early summer, when the roads are good. A rising as soon as Argyle is ready.”