ut eight
of the clock next morning delivered them at Mistress Crane's house, who
asked no question, but gave me a sixpence for my pains, and bade me
return at once the way I came.

Now, you must know, so soon as I was back in my boat, I pitched that
sixpence into the Thames. For although, to please Jeannette's step-
father, and because I wished well to my Church, I had lent myself to
this business, I liked it not, and remembered it each day in my prayers
as a thing to be forgiven. So that I could not take Mistress Crane's
sixpence, and hoped the throwing of it away would stand somewhat to my
favour when all was reckoned up.

I had not been an hour at work that morning, when in comes John Wolfe
with hungry maw, and demands to search the house. Which my master
craftily tried to put him off; thereby making John the more sure that he
was on a right scent. At last Master Walgrave yielded and bade him take
his will. So after overlooking the usual room, and finding naught there
disorderly, he walks me with a smack of his lips to where the reams
stood piled on the secret door. And with great labour and puffing he
and his men set-to to move them, with no help from us. And the door
being thus uncovered, he calls for a light and goes below.

Now, my master, whether of purpose or by chance, so soon as the cellar
had been cleared the night before, had let run some water over the
floor, which, by standing there, had made a pretty slough in the place.
And Master Wolfe, not knowing as well as we did that the bottom step of
the ladder was a-wanting, and being encumbered with his candle, fell
flat on his face into the mire, and lay there spitting and kicking a
round five minutes before we above had the good fortune to hear him.

I went below to help him up--and it was sad to see so great a man in so
brave a livery so befouled! Instead of thanking me for my pains he
vowed this was a trick put on him, and that some he knew of should smart
for it. But for all that he found neither press, nor forme, nor printed
sheet contrary to regulation, no, not by searching the whole house over,
even to my sweet Jeannette's deserted chamber.

When he inquired where Mistress Walgrave and the children were gone, my
master bade him go packing, and concern himself with his own business
and not hinder honest men in theirs. So John Wolfe and we parted not
too good friends; he threatening to be even with us yet; and we bidding
him go wash his fac