ad of going immediately to my
lodgings, I went first to see Mr. Chiffinch, and found him just come in.
I told him very briefly what James had told me; but made no comment. He
whistled, and bade me sit down.

"They are after you then," he said. "I thought they would be."

"But who are they?" said I, a little peevishly.

"If I knew their names," said the page, "I could put my hands on them
on some excuse or other. But I do not know. It is the dregs of the old
country-party no doubt."

"And what good do they think to get out of me?"

"Why, it is revenge no doubt," he said. "They know that you are down
with the king and have not many friends; and they suspect that you are
still in with the secret service, no doubt."

"They are after my life, then?" I asked.

"I should suppose so."

He considered a minute or two in silence. At last he spoke again.

"I will have a word with His Majesty. He is treating you shamefully, Mr.
Mallock; and I will tell him so. And I will take other measures also."

I asked what those might be.

"I will have my men to look out closely when you go about. You had best
not go alone at all. Within Whitehall you are safe enough; but I would
not go out except with a couple of men, if I were you."

I told him I always took one, at least.

"Well; I would take two," he observed. "There was that murder last week,
in Lincoln's Inn Fields--put down to the Mohocks. Well; it was a
gentleman of my own who was killed, though that is not known; and it was
no more Mohocks than it was you or I."

* * * * *

As we were still talking my man James came up to seek me, with a letter
that he had found in my lodgings, waiting for me. I knew the hand well
enough; and I suppose that I shewed it; for when I looked up from
reading it, Mr. Chiffinch was looking at me with a quizzical face.

"That is good news, Mr. Mallock, is it not?"

I could not refrain from smiling; for indeed it was as if the sun had
risen on my dreariness.

"It is very good news," I said. "It is from my cousin--the 'pretty
cousin,' Mr. Chiffinch. She is come to town with her maid; and asks me
to sup with her."

"Well; take your two men when you go to see her," said he, laughing a
little. "They can entertain the maid, and you the mistress."

* * * * *

I cannot say how wonderfully the whole aspect of the world was changed
to me, as I set out in a little hired coach I used s