the sum very much. For example, I had no idea where my
Lord Shaftesbury was. I have no doubt whatever, from what you say, that
he is in Wapping."

"Will you send and take him there?" I asked.

"No," he said shortly. "Leave him alone. We failed last time we took
him. And he can do no great harm there. Plainly too, he is at the
waterside that he may escape if there is need. I shall set spies there;
and no more."

"What is to be done then? Double the guards again?"

"Why that of course," said he.

"And what else?" I asked; for I could see that he had not said all.

"A counterstroke," he said. "But of what kind? You say the rising will
be pretty soon."

"I do not suppose for a week or two at the most. They were decided, I am
sure; but no more."

Suddenly the man slapped his leg; and his eyes grew little with his
smile.

"I have it for sure," he said. "It will be for the seventeenth of
November. That is the popular date. Queen Bess and Dangerfield and the
rest."

"But what can you do?"

"Why," said he, "forbid by proclamation all processions or bonfires on
that day. Then they cannot even begin to gather."

* * * * *

He proved right in every particular. The proclamation was issued, and
met their intended assault to the very moment, as we learned afterwards,
besides frightening the leaders lest their intention had been
discovered: and the next night came one of the spies whom Mr. Chiffinch
had sent down to Wapping, to say that my Lord Shaftesbury had slipped
away and taken boat for Holland.

CHAPTER IX

Now indeed the fear grew imminent. I had thought that once my Lord
Shaftesbury was gone abroad, one of two things would happen--either that
the whole movement would collapse, or that the leaders would be arrested
forthwith. But Mr. Chiffinch was sharper than I this time; and said No
to both.

"No," said he, sitting like a Judge, with his fingers together, on the
morning after my Lord Shaftesbury's evasion. "The feeling is far too
strong to fall away all of a sudden. I dare predict just the contrary,
that, now that the coolest of them all is gone--for he dare not come
back again--the hot-heads will take the lead; and that means the
sharpest peril we have yet encountered. This time they will not stop at
a demonstration; indeed I doubt if they could raise one successfully;
they will aim direct at the person of the King. It is their only hope
left."

"Then why not tak