t they were engaged
in, they had spilled a bottle full of ink upon a despatch of four pages,
and that the King's monkey, which was blamed for this accident, had been
a long time in disgrace.

Jermyn mentioned many places where he had received long and favourable
audiences: however, all these articles of accusation amounted only
to some delicate familiarities, or at most, to what is generally
denominated the innocent part of an intrigue; but Killegrew, who wished
to surpass these trivial depositions, boldly declared that he had had
the honour of being upon the most intimate terms with her he was of a
sprightly and witty humour, and had the art of telling a story in the
most entertaining manner, by the graceful and natural turn he could
give it: he affirmed that he had found the critical minute in a certain
closet built over the water, for a purpose very different from that
of giving ease to the pains of love: that three or four swans had been
witnesses to his happiness, and might perhaps have been witnesses to the
happiness of many others, as the lady frequently repaired to that place,
and was particularly delighted with it.

The Duke of York found this last accusation greatly out of bounds, being
convinced he himself had sufficient proofs of the contrary: he therefore
returned thanks to these officious informers for their frankness,
ordered them to be silent for the future upon what they had been telling
him, and immediately passed into the King's apartment.

As soon as he had entered the cabinet, Lord Falmouth, who had followed
him, related what had passed to the Earl of Ossory, whom he met in the
presence chamber: they strongly suspected what was the subject of the
conversation of the two brothers, as it was long; and the Duke of York
appeared to be in such agitation when he came out, that they no longer
doubted that the result had been unfavourable for poor Miss Hyde. Lord
Falmouth began to be affected for her disgrace, and to relent that he
had been concerned in it, when the Duke of York told him and the Earl of
Ossory to meet him in about an hour's time at the chancellor's.

They were rather surprised that he should have the cruelty himself to
announce such a melancholy piece of news: they found his Royal Highness
at the appointed hour in Miss Hyde's chamber: a few tears trickled down
her cheeks, which she endeavoured to restrain. The chancellor, leaning
against the wall, appeared to them to be puffed up with so