Patrick and Jane had been seen going in at that mysterious door which led to Chiffinch's apartments.

Some Roman Catholics about the court had, indiscreetly or artfully, told all, and more than all, that they knew.

The Tory churchmen waited anxiously for fuller information.

They were mortified to think that their leader should even have pretended to waver in his opinion; but they could not believe that he would stoop to be a renegade.

The unfortunate minister, tortured at once by his fierce passions and his low desires, annoyed by the censures of the public, annoyed by the hints which he had received from Barillon, afraid of losing character, afraid of losing office, repaired to the royal closet.