rust my wits when I have not slept my seven
or eight hours. But there was no help for it.

"James," said I, "bring my morning up here at once, with some meat too.
I may not be able to dine to-day, or not till late. When you have
brought it I shall have a letter ready, for Mr. Chiffinch. That you must
take yourself. Then return here, and pack a pair of valises, with a suit
in them for yourself. Have two horses ready at eleven o'clock: you must
come with me, and no one else. I do not know how long we may be away.
You understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. I must get some sleep if I can before eleven."

Then a thought came to me. If Rumbald must be gone from town by noon,
would he not likely want me to go with him?

"Wait," I said. "I do not know this man very well; but I will tell you
that his name is Rumbald and that he lives at the Rye, near Hoddesdon.
You had best not come with me. But do all else as I have said; but you
must ride by yourself at eleven, to Hoddesdon; and put up at the inn
there--I forget its name, but the largest there, if there be more than
one. Remain there until you hear from me again: I may want a courier. Do
not go a hundred yards from the inn on any account; and do not seem to
know me, unless I speak to you first. You may see me, or you may not. I
know nothing till I have seen Rumbald. If you do not hear of me before
ten o'clock to-night, you can go to bed, and return here in the morning.
I will communicate with you by to-morrow night at latest. If I do not,
go to Mr. Chiffinch yourself and tell him."

My mind was working at that swift feverish speed which weariness
sometimes will give. I was amazed afterwards at my own foresight, for
there was very little evidence of what was intended; and yet there had
come upon me, as in an illumination, that the time for which we had
waited so long was arrived at last. I do not see how I could have
guessed more than I did; neither do I now see how I guessed so much.

My letter to Mr. Chiffinch was not long. It ran as follows:

"Rumbald hath been to see me; and bids me be with him, if I can, by noon
to-day at the _Mitre_, without Aldgate. I know no more than that; but I
am making ready to go down with him to the Rye at Hoddesdon, if he
should want me there. I think that something is intended, if we are
right in our conjectures. I shall have my man at the inn in Hoddesdon.
You must send no one else for fear of alarming them, unless my man comes
to you