had come; but I do not think he
noticed it; and, even if he did, it would only encourage him the more.
And when I saw the whole, as plain as a map, my scruples left me
altogether. I would not have betrayed the true confidence of this man,
or of any other; that resolution still held firm; but this was another
matter altogether.

By the time that we reached Covent Garden--for he rode with me as far as
that--I think he was satisfied that he had caught me in the way that he
wished; for he had given me the names of one or two places where I
could communicate with him if I desired; and was nearer actual treason
in his talk than ever before--though he did not go much beyond deploring
the Popish succession, and feigning that he did not know that I was a
Catholic; and, on my side, I had feigned to be greatly interested in all
that he had said, and had let him see, though not too evidently, that it
was feigning on my side too. We parted, outwardly, the best of friends;
inwardly we were at one another's throats.

So soon as I had dismounted--he having left me in the Strand--and gone
indoors, I came out again, not fearing, indeed rather hoping, that he
would be watching for me, and, in my boots just as I was, set out for
Whitehall.

* * * * *

Mr. Chiffinch was within, expecting me. Even he looked a little excited;
and no wonder. But first I made him answer my questions before I would
say a word beyond telling him that his design had prospered.

"Mr. Chiffinch," said I over my supper which he had brought for me to
his parlour. "Before I say one more word, you must tell me three or four
things. The first is this. How did you know that it was in me that my
Lord Essex would confide?"

"That is easily answered," said he. "My men told me that my Lord was
after you everywhere--both in your lodgings and here."

"Ah!" I said, "and was there a fellow called Rumbald, with him?"

"You are right," he said. "How did you know that?"

"Wait," I said. "The next is, If you could tell me so much in your
letter, why did you not tell me the names of the persons?"

He smiled.

"Mr. Mallock," he said, "from your hesitation I knew that you would
refuse to do such work as this. So I intended to catch you unawares, and
to entangle you in it. I knew that you would not refuse to go to Amwell,
and behave there as I directed, if I said no more than I did."

"Well; you would have failed," I said.

"What!" said he.