haking hands too with my Lord, taking care to exchange no
glances with him, though it would be evident, even to a child, that
there was some secret between them.

When he was gone, my Lord turned to me.

"A very good fellow, Rumbald--a very good fellow indeed."

I assented, heartily.

"Honest as the day," said my Lord.

"There is no doubt of it," said I, with my mouth full.

"And a good patriot too. It is what we want, Mr. Mallock."

Again I assented; and my Lord presently changed the conversation.

* * * * *

During the rest of dinner he said nothing that was significant of any of
the things I suspected. I knew now, beyond a doubt, both from what Mr.
Chiffinch had said and from the strangely mixed company, and the
circumstances under which I found them, that something was forward; but
as to what it was all about I knew no more than the dead. Neither did I
as yet see a single glimmer of light on the questions that had puzzled
me just now. So I determined that when we were safe out on the lonely
road I would throw a bait or two; though my resolution still held that I
would do no dirty work, even for His Majesty himself.

I dined very tolerably, and lit a pipe afterwards: (my Lord told me that
he used no tobacco); and presently in a kind of impatience--for indeed
the position I found myself in was a little disconcerting--I observed
that it was past noon.

"You are quite right," said my Lord, "quite right. I will tell them to
have the horses ready. Your servants are gone on before, I think you
said, Mr. Mallock?"

I told him Yes; but I wondered why he did not shout for the maid,
instead of going out himself; but I understood the reason when I found
presently, when we took the road, that his own men kept a full hundred
yards in the rear. Evidently he had gone out to tell them to do so.

* * * * *

So soon as we were clear of Amwell, I began. There was a little wind,
and the weather was moist and thick, so there was no danger of our being
overheard.

"My Lord," I said, "I am very much puzzled by what I have seen."

"Eh?" said he.

"It was a very mixed company just now, in Amwell."

He frowned a little.

"Very excellent gentlemen, all of them--" I hastened to add. "But I was
wondering what it was that drew them all together. I can only think of
two things."

"What are they, Mr. Mallock?" asked my Lord a little eagerly.

"Religion or polit