For the rest Blake was as far from suspecting Mr.Wilding's peculiar frame of mind as had Richard been last night.

This his words showed.
"I am satisfied," said he, "that if Richard were to go to-day to Wilding and express his regret for a thing done in the heat of wine, Wilding would be forced to accept it as satisfaction, and none would think that it did other than reflect credit upon Richard." "Are you very sure of that ?" asked Ruth, her tone dubious, her glance hopefully anxious.
"What else is to be thought ?" "But," put in Diana shrewdly, "it were an admission of Richard's that he had done wrong." "No less," he agreed, and Ruth caught her breath in fresh dismay.
"And yet you have said that he did as you would have a son of yours do," Diana reminded him.
"And I maintain it," answered Blake; his wits worked slowly ever.

It was for Ruth to reveal the flaw to him.
"Do you not understand, then," she asked him sadly, "that such an admission on Richard's part would amount to a lie--a lie uttered to save himself from an encounter, the worst form of lie, a lie of cowardice?
Surely, Sir Rowland, your kindly anxiety for his life outruns your anxiety for his honour." Diana, having accomplished her task, hung her head in silence, pondering.
Sir Rowland was routed utterly.

He glanced from one to the other of his companions, and grew afraid that he--the town gallant--might come to look foolish in the eyes of these country ladies.

He protested again his love for Richard, and increased Ruth's terror by his mention of Wilding's swordsmanship; but when all was said, he saw that he had best retreat ere he spoiled the good effect which he hoped his solicitude had created.