I waited and waited, but no word came, so at last I betook myself to the levee and was duly presented to him.

"Ah," said he, greeting me with the cordiality which he could assume so well, "you are, if I mistake not, Sir Jasper Killigrew ?" "Nay, your Majesty," I answered, "I am Sir Jacob Clancing, formerly of Snellaby Hall, in Staffordshire;" and with that I reminded him of Worcester fight and of many passages which had occurred to us in common.

"Od's fish!" he cried, "how could I be so forgetful! And how are all at Snellaby ?" I then explained to him that the Hall had passed out of my hands, and told him in a few words the state to which I had been reduced.

His face clouded over and his manner chilled to me at once.

"They are all on to me for money and for places," he said, "and truly the Commons are so niggardly to me that I can scarce be generous to others.