However, this had played upon Cousin Tom's fears, and he had fortified the house with bolts, and slept with a pistol by his bed.
I told him that same night--not indeed all that happened to me; but enough of it to satisfy him.

I said that I had been a good deal at the Jesuits' lodgings; and at the trial of the three; and that a fellow had attempted to follow me home; but that I had thrown him off.
Cousin Tom had the pipe from his mouth and was holding it in his hand, by the time I had done.
"Now, Cousin," I said, "if you think I am anything of a danger to the house, you have but to say the word, and I will be off.

On the other hand, I and my man might be of some small service to you if it came to a brawl." "You threw him off ?" asked Cousin Tom.
"It was at Whitehall--" I began; and then I stopped: for I had not intended to speak of the King.
"Oho!" said Cousin Tom.

"Then you have been at Whitehall again ?" "Why, yes," I said, trying to pass it off.

"I have been there and everywhere." Cousin Tom put the pipe back again into his mouth.
"And there is another matter," I said (for Hare Street suited me very well as a lodging, and I had named it as such to His Majesty).