But we have still time: His Majesty does not expect us till half-past five." I made the usual compliments and answers, to which he bowed again; and then, as I thought he would, he began upon what was not his business--at least I thought not then.
"You are come from Rome, I hear.

I trust that His Holiness was in good health ?" "The reports were excellent," I said, determined not to be taken in this way.
"You have seen His Holiness lately, no doubt ?" "It was the French and Spanish ambassadors," I said, "who gave me my letters.

A poor gentleman like myself does not see the Holy Father once in a twelvemonth." He seemed contented with that; and I think he put me down as something of a well-bred simpleton, which was precisely what I wished him to think; for his manner changed a little.
"You have seen His Majesty before, no doubt ?" "I have not been in England for seven years," I said, smiling.

"I saw His Majesty once when I was a lad, as he went to dinner; and I have seen him once, on Saturday last; at least, I saw the top of his hat from a hundred yards off." "And the Duke of York ?" he asked.
"I have never seen the Duke of York in my life, to my knowledge," I said.
Now I saw well enough what he was after.

Without a doubt he had a suspicion that I was an emissary in some way from the Holy Father, or at least that I was more than I appeared to be; and being one of those men who desire to know everything, that they may understand, as the saying is, which way the cat will jump, and how to jump with her, he was determined to find out all that he could.