"Why I am not far from there myself.

I am of Hoddesdon, or near to it.

Where have you lodged in Hare Street, and what is your business ?" I was in a quandary at that, for it seemed to me then (though it was not in reality), a piece of bad fortune that he should come from thereabouts.
"I am Jack-of-all-trades," I said.

"I did some garden work there for Mr.
Jermyn, the Papist." "The Papist, eh ?" cried Mr.Rumbald.
"I would work for the Devil," said I, "if he would pay me enough." The words appeared to Mr.Rumbald very witty, though God knows why: I suppose it was the ale in him: for he laughed aloud and beat on his leg.
"I'll be bound you would," he said.
And it was these words of mine which (under God's Providence, as I think now) established my reputation with Mr.Rumbald as a dare-devil kind of fellow that would do anything for money.

He began, too, at that (which pleased me better at the time), to speak of precisely those matters of which I wished to hear.