"Let me call him out," I urged impetuously.
Juggins laughed.
"Then would you climb Tower Hill in short order. No, lad, you are an humble 'prentice to Master Robert Juggins."
He rose.
"Come, you shall have your first lesson. You may attend me to the hearing before the Lords of Trade, and you shall carry me a bag of papers rather than a sword."
"But so I shall not aid you," I demurred.
"Aye, but you shall. I wish you to observe what passes at the hearing, and to study Murray. For if he wins his stay, as I fear he will, then it is my purpose to send you to New York for such evidence as will wreck his conspiracy."
"And I will go gladly," I said, a thrill of exultation in my heart at the bare thought of a man's part to play.
"I would I might go with you," sighed Juggins. "But I am old and fat, and granny can ill spare me. No, it calls for youth and strength. But a truce to talk. Let us to Whitehall."
He collected some documents and maps, placed them in a green string-bag and gave it to me to carry.