At this juncture, the door opened, and the grocer and his wife entered the room.

The former started, on seeing Amabel and the supposed preacher in such close propinquity, and a painful suspicion of the truth crossed his mind.

He was not, however, kept long in suspense.

Throwing off his wig, and letting his own fair ringlets fall over his shoulders, the earl tore open his cassock, and disclosed his ordinary rich attire.

At the same time, his face underwent an equally striking change,--each feature resuming its original expression; and the grocer, though he witnessed the whole transformation, could scarcely believe that the same individual he had recently beheld stood before him.
"You now know who I am, Mr.Bloundel, and what brought me hither," said Rochester, with a haughty salutation.
"I do, my lord," replied the grocer, "and I give you full credit for your daring and ingenuity.