“It shews a lack of confidence in the people,” said my Lord Essex.

(From that, then, I argued that an attempt was contemplated upon Whitehall.)

The second thing that Mr. West was very emphatic upon was the need of proceeding, if any reform were to be brought about, in a legal and Parliamentary manner.

“Why does not His Majesty call another Parliament?” he added, “that at least we may air our grievances?  It is true enough that my Lord Shaftesbury—­” (here he bowed to my Lord who blinked in return)—­“that my Lord Shaftesbury found Parliament against him in the event; but he does not complain of that.  He hath at least been heard.”

(From that I argued either that they thought they would be stronger in a new Parliament, or that they contemplated acting in quite another manner.  I could not tell for certain which; but I supposed the latter.)

The third thing that Mr. Goodenough said, relating how he had heard it from a Mr. Ferguson of Bristol, was that the West of England was in a very discontented condition, and that His Majesty would do well to send troops there.

Now I knew that his statement was tolerably true; and that therefore the false part must be the second.  The only conclusion I could draw was that they wished troops to be withdrawn from London.

To all these things, however, I assented civilly, arguing a little, for form’s sake; but not too much.

* * * * *

When at last we broke up, my Lord Essex again came with me to the door, and carried me first, for an instant into the little parlour.

“Mr. Mallock,” he said, “we have had a pleasant evening, have we not?  But I need not tell you that our talk had best not be repeated.  We have said not a word that is disloyal to His Majesty:  but even a little fault-finding is apt to be misrepresented in these days.”

I said that I understood him perfectly (which indeed I did); and nodded very sagely.

“Let us meet again, then, Mr. Mallock—­on that understanding.  I have some more friends I would wish you to meet; and whom I am sure you could do good to.  There is a quantity of discontent about.”

I went to see Mr. Chiffinch the next day, and reported all that had passed, as they had intended me to do.  We drew up a little report which was carried into effect:  first, that no troops should be sent out of London; but that they should be dispersed as much as possible within the confines of the City; next that the guards at the gates of Whitehall should be diminished by one half—­(this, to give colour to the malcontents’ hope; and provoke them to action)—­but the guards within increased by the same amount, yet kept out of sight so much as was possible; thirdly, that a rumour should be set about that the King would call a Parliament within the year at latest; and this Mr. Chiffinch promised to undertake (for a very great effect indeed can be