"Why I suppose so—though I would not have been so sure two years ago.
But a King is another matter from an High Admiral."
"Well; what else has he done?" I asked.
"He hath been readmitted to the Council, in the very face of the Test Act too. But it is how he bears himself and speaks that is the worst of all. He carries himself and his religion as openly as he can; and does all that is in His power to relieve the Papists of disabilities. That is very courageous, I know; but it is not very shrewd. God knows where he will stop if once he is on the throne. I think he will not be there long."
I said nothing; for indeed my instructions were on those very points; and I knew them all as well as Chiffinch, and, I think, better.
He spoke, presently, of myself.
"As for you, Mr. Mallock, I need not tell you how high you are in favour here. Si monumentum requiris, circumspice"; and he waved his hands at the rich rooms.
"His Majesty is very good," I said.
"His Majesty hath a peerage for you, if you want it. He said he had made too many grocers and lickspittles into knights, to make you one."
I cannot deny that to hear that news pleased me. Yet even then I hesitated.
"Mr. Chiffinch," said I at last, "if you mean what you say, I have something to answer to that."