as I spoke that Mr.
Chiffinch held a note-book below the table to take them down.)

"Sir, these for certain. Rumbald; West; Rumsey--"

"Slowly, man, slowly," I cried.

"Rumsey; Goodenough; Burton; Thompson; Barber--those last three all of
Wapping, sir. Then, sir, there is Wade, Nelthrop, West, Walcot--" he
hesitated.

"Well, sir," demanded Mr. Chiffinch very fiercely. "That is not all."

"No, sir, no no.... There is Hone, a joiner like myself."

"Man," cried the page, "we want better names than snivelling tradesmen
like yourself."

The fellow turned even paler.

"Well, sir; but how can I tell that--"

"Sir," said the page to me sharply, "call the guard!"

"Sir," cried the poor wretch, "I will tell all; indeed I will tell."

"Well?"

"Sir, the Duke of Monmouth was in it--at least we heard so. He was
certainly in the former plot!"

"And what was that?" asked the other very quietly.

"Why, sir; the plot to assault Whitehall; it is all one in reality;
but--"

"We know all about that," snapped the page sharply. "Well; and what
other names?"

"Sir; there was my Lord Russell."

I moved in my chair. Even to this day I cannot believe that that peer
was guilty; though indeed he was found so to be. Mr. Chiffinch cast me a
look.

"Proceed, sir," he said.

"And there was Mr. Ferguson, a minister; and Mr. Wildman; and my Lord
Argyle in Scotland; and my Lord Howard of Escrick; and Mr. Sidney; and
my Lord Essex. I do not say, sir, that all those--"

"There! there: go on. We shall test every word you say; you may depend
upon it. What other names have you?"

"There was my Lord Grey, sir; and Sir Thomas Armstrong ... Sir; I can
remember no more!"

"And a pretty load on any man's conscience!" cried the virtuous Mr.
Chiffinch. "And so all this nest of assassins--"

"Sir; I did not say that. I said--"

"That is enough; we want no comments and glosses, but the bare truth.
Well, Keeling, if this tale be true, you have saved your own life--that
is, if your fellow murderers do not get at you again. You have been in
trouble before, I hear, too."

"Sir; it was on the matter of the Lord Mayor--"

"I know that well enough. Well, sir; so this is the tale you will tell
to-morrow to Mr. Secretary."

"Yes, sir, if I can remember it all."

"You will remember it, I'll warrant. Well, sir; I think I have no more
questions for the present. Sir, have you any questions to ask this man?"

I shook my head. I was near sick