“No, Excellency. An unlooked-for event happened. He rode out from the grounds of the Hall, fighting his way, as it appeared, against a band of Rudby’s followers, who were attacking him, and ran into the arms of our men, who were watching for him. The attacking party, seeing, as they supposed, an unknown force of rescuers, turned and fled. The night was very dark, and the account of what took place is confused, but Wentworth was carried back to Corbiton, tried, and condemned for deserting while on duty and holding commerce with the enemy.”
“Umph! What version did Wentworth give of the affair?”
“He maintained he was no traitor, but did not give any explanation of his absence from duty.”
“I thought Rudby had surrendered all arms and had taken the oath to remain neutral?”
“His men were armed with staves only, and so Wentworth, better equipped, held his own against them.”
“What view did the court take of this affray?”
“They thought it merely a feint to cover the retreat of a discovered traitor. The night, as I said, was dark, and our men, being mounted, could not move silently. Knowing the house would be searched if Wentworth was hidden, this plan of seeming enmity against him was prepared beforehand, in case of discovery.”
“How old a man is Rudby?”
“Nearing fifty.”
“What family has he?”