"No," said I, "I accept the work: but it is not what you think it is."
"Why—what is it then?"
"Wait," I said. "The next is, How did you know that they would be at
Amwell at that time?"
"Oh! that is easy enough; one of my fellows got that out of one of Rumbald's maids—that a party of six would lie at the Ryehouse last night; and that they would meet two more at dinner in Amwell at eleven o'clock to-day. Rumbald has been known to us a long while. But it is the others we are waiting for."
I was silent. There were no more questions I wished to ask at present; though there might be others later.
"Well," said the page, a little eagerly; and his narrow face looked very like a fox's, as he spoke. "Well; and what is your news?"
I finished my stew, and laid down the spoon.
"Mr. Chiffinch," said I, "let me first ask one more question. Why do you think that my Lord Essex was after me at all? How did he know of me?"
"Plainly from Rumbald," said he.
"And why did he want me?"