Now, tell me." "I came up from Sheerness on a Dutch boat and landed at Deptford yesterday morning," he began hesitatingly.

"After sending a messenger on business in which I was deeply interested, I came to the Old Swan to get a bite to eat and to find a bed.

While waiting in the tap-room for my dinner, I recognized Nelly's laugh and went into the private dining room to see her, hoping that she might drop a word concerning another person.
I should not have gone to see her, for while in France I had heard from De Grammont, with whom I have had some correspondence, that I was out of favor with the king and that Crofts had been trying to fix on me the guilt of a crime which he himself committed.
"Grammont wrote me, also, of the triumphs of Mistress Jennings, the new beauty of the court, but I paid little heed to the gossip, though I confess I was thrown into great fear by what he wrote about her.

I knew also that the king would help Crofts make trouble for me, so I felt it was just as well that my presence in London should remain unknown.

But I did go in to see Nelly, and, much to my surprise, found the other person." It was to my surprise, also, but I said only: "Yes, yes, George.