for certain which; but I supposed the latter.)

The third thing that Mr. Goodenough said, relating how he had heard it
from a Mr. Ferguson of Bristol, was that the West of England was in a
very discontented condition, and that His Majesty would do well to send
troops there.

Now I knew that his statement was tolerably true; and that therefore the
false part must be the second. The only conclusion I could draw was that
they wished troops to be withdrawn from London.

To all these things, however, I assented civilly, arguing a little, for
form's sake; but not too much.

* * * * *

When at last we broke up, my Lord Essex again came with me to the door,
and carried me first, for an instant into the little parlour.

"Mr. Mallock," he said, "we have had a pleasant evening, have we not?
But I need not tell you that our talk had best not be repeated. We have
said not a word that is disloyal to His Majesty: but even a little
fault-finding is apt to be misrepresented in these days."

I said that I understood him perfectly (which indeed I did); and nodded
very sagely.

"Let us meet again, then, Mr. Mallock--on that understanding. I have
some more friends I would wish you to meet; and whom I am sure you could
do good to. There is a quantity of discontent about."

I went to see Mr. Chiffinch the next day, and reported all that had
passed, as they had intended me to do. We drew up a little report which
was carried into effect: first, that no troops should be sent out of
London; but that they should be dispersed as much as possible within the
confines of the City; next that the guards at the gates of Whitehall
should be diminished by one half--(this, to give colour to the
malcontents' hope; and provoke them to action)--but the guards within
increased by the same amount, yet kept out of sight so much as was
possible; thirdly, that a rumour should be set about that the King would
call a Parliament within the year at latest; and this Mr. Chiffinch
promised to undertake (for a very great effect indeed can be produced on
popular opinion by those who know the value of false rumours); but that
His Majesty should be dissuaded from doing anything of the kind. Such
then was the result of that first meeting to which I was admitted; and
such more or less was our course of procedure all through the spring and
summer. This I have related in full, to serve as an example of our
method, because, since it was t