My Lord Essex smiled as he turned to me.
"Mr. Mallock," he said, "I see you know some of these gentlemen by sight."
"I know my Lord Shaftesbury, and my Lord Grey by sight," I said, bowing to each. They each inclined a little in return.
"And this is Mr. West," said my Lord.
This was a very busy-looking active little fellow, with bright dark eyes. (He had the name of being an atheist, I learned afterwards.)
"Sit down, Mr. Mallock," said my Lord, pointing to a chair on my Lord
Shaftesbury's right. I did so. There was no servant in the room. The two
other men were presently made known to me as a Mr. Sheppard and a Mr.
Goodenough. I knew nothing of either of these two at this time.
Now it may seem that it was extraordinary bold of all these persons to admit me, believing as they did, that I was on His Majesty's side, and would reveal all to him; and it was, in one way, bold of them; yet it was the more clever. For, as will appear, they said nothing to me at present that could be taken hold of in any way; and yet they sent, or rather thought they sent, to the King, false news that would help their cause.
When he had discoursed for a little while on general matters, yet drawing nearer ever to the point, my Lord Essex opened the engagement.
"That Mr. Rumbald," he said. "Do you know who he is, Mr. Mallock?"
"Why, he is a maltster, is he not?" I said.