eight o'clock
Emulating his friend Sir Rowland , he held forth with prolixity upon the great service he was to do the State , and Ruth , listening to him , was proud of his zeal , the sincerity of which it never entered her mind to doubt . Diana listened , too , but without illusions concerning Master Richard , and she kept her conclusions to herself . During the afternoon of the morrow , which was Sunday , Sir Rowland returned to Bridgwater , his mission to Feversham entirely successful , and all preparations made . He completed his arrangements , and towards eight o'clock that night the twenty men sent by Feversham -- they had slipped singly into the town -- began to muster in the orchard at the back of Mr. Newlington 's house . It was just about that same hour that Mr. Wilding , saddle-worn and dust-clogged in every pore , rode into Bridgwater , and made his way to the sign of The Ship in the High Street , overlooking the Cross where Trenchard was lodged . His friend was absent -- possibly gone with his men to the sermon Ferguson was preaching to the army in the Castle Fields . Having put up his horse , Mr. Wilding , all dusty as he was , repaired straight to the Castle to report himself to Monmouth .