Mr. Chiffinch was within, expecting me. Even he looked a little excited; and no wonder. But first I made him answer my questions before I would say a word beyond telling him that his design had prospered.
"Mr. Chiffinch," said I over my supper which he had brought for me to his parlour. "Before I say one more word, you must tell me three or four things. The first is this. How did you know that it was in me that my Lord Essex would confide?"
"That is easily answered," said he. "My men told me that my Lord was after you everywhere—both in your lodgings and here."
"Ah!" I said, "and was there a fellow called Rumbald, with him?"
"You are right," he said. "How did you know that?"
"Wait," I said. "The next is, If you could tell me so much in your letter, why did you not tell me the names of the persons?"
He smiled.
"Mr. Mallock," he said, "from your hesitation I knew that you would refuse to do such work as this. So I intended to catch you unawares, and to entangle you in it. I knew that you would not refuse to go to Amwell, and behave there as I directed, if I said no more than I did."
"Well; you would have failed," I said.
"What!" said he. "You are still going to refuse?"