came in and exclaimed at our sitting in the dark
as he called it.

* * * * *

The interruption came that very night.

We were at supper, and speaking of Christmas, and of how we would have
again the dancing as last year, when we heard a man ride past the house,
pulling up his horse as he came. Such interruptions came pretty
often;--it was so that I had been first sent for by Mr. Chiffinch: and
it was so again that the Duke of Monmouth had come, and others--but we
had plenty too of others who came, seeing the house at the end of the
village, to ask their way, or what not; so we paid no attention to it.
Presently, however, we heard a man's steps come along the paved walk,
and then a knocking at the door. James went out to see who was there;
and came back immediately saying that it was a courier with a letter for
me. My conscience smote me a little, for I had delayed more than a week
now from answering Mr. Chiffinch: and, sure enough, when I went out,
the man was come from him. I took the letter he gave me into the Great
Chamber to read it, and was astonished at its contents. There were but
four lines in it.

"Mr. Mallock," it ran, "come immediately--that is to-morrow. The Lord
hath delivered them into our hands. Ride by Amwell; and go through the
place slowly between eleven and twelve with no servant near." And it was
signed with his initials only.

I went back again into the dining-room immediately, and shut the door
behind me.

"I must go to town, to-morrow," I said, all short.

Dolly looked up at me, gone a little white. I shook my head and smiled
at her, but secretly; so that Tom did not see.

CHAPTER VI

I do not think that I have yet related how great was the work that Mr.
Chiffinch had done in the matter of the spies that he had everywhere
during those later years of His Majesty Charles the Second. That which
he had done during Monmouth's progress in the north--his receiving of
reports day by day, and even hour by hour--this was only one instance of
his activity. The secret-looking men, or even the bold-looking
gentlemen, whom I had met on his stairs so continually, or for whose
sake I was kept waiting sometimes when I went to see him--these were his
tools and messengers. This company of spies was of all grades; and it
was to serve in that company that he had sent for me from France, and
that I was determined to decline.

Though, however, I was so determined, I di