"He was a Papist once, and is turned informer, he says.

He still feigns secretly to be friends with one or two of the Jesuits, he says." "But every word you hear here is _sub sigillo_, Mr.Mallock," added the King.
I knew no such name; and said no more.

I had never heard of the man.
"Have you anything to say, Mr.Mallock ?" asked the King presently.
"I have some reports to hand in, Sir," I said, "but they do not bear directly upon this matter." The King lifted his heavy eyes and let them fall again.

He appeared weary and dispirited.
* * * * * When we broke up at last, nothing was decided.

On the one hand the letters were not destroyed, and the Duke was still unforbidden to pursue his researches; and, on the other there was no permission for a public inquiry to be held.