"I have already told you that I dispatched a messenger to detain him until we arrived," retorted the Earl hotly.
"Aye! And later another messenger to hurry him on," said Richard laconically.
"What proof have you for that?" demanded Rivers, reining back.
"This!" replied the Duke sternly, producing the captured letter.
"I see nothing but a bit of parchment; yet well I know that it can be made to tell strange tales for selfish ends."
"It is parchment, unfortunately for you, my lord, and it tells a selfish tale," said Gloucester calmly. "It is the letter you dispatched last night to Edward's Chamberlain, but which was taken by one of my good Knights, though your Squire died in its defence. You know its contents—and, mayhap, you also begin to know the depth of your folly."
"It is evident that I am in the toils of a plot laid by you and yonder brother-in-law of mine," said the Earl with haughty contempt. "You have entrapped me; and the deepest folly that I know would be to hope for justice in such clutches. I am to be sacrificed because, forsooth, I am dangerous to the conspiracy that you have afoot; and well can I foresee what the conspiracy designs… Yet did I flatter you overmuch, my Lord of Buckingham; it is no creature of your brain, this scheme whose end is treason. You are too vain and empty-headed to be of any service except to aid its execution—and then, later, to be the leading figure at your own. Your sires were overmuch Lancastrian for you to be trusted by a son of York—after your usefulness is ended."
Gloucester's stern mouth relaxed in a faint smile, but Buckingham flushed angrily.
"By the Holy Saints!" he broke out, "were it not that the very touch would soil a Stafford's gauntlet, I would lay my hand across your Woodville mouth."
"It is passing strange then, if we be so degraded," said Rivers quickly, "that you should have chosen a Woodville for a wife."