Well, then," he added, lowering his tone, "when you said that these two abominable extortioners were the creatures of some great man, who glozed over their villainous practices to the King, and gave a better account of them than they deserve, you were nearer the truth than you imagined; but it could hardly be agreeable to the Marquis to be told this to his face, since it is notorious to all (except to yourself) that he is the man." "Heavens!" exclaimed Jocelyn, "I now see the error I have committed." "A grave error indeed," rejoined Wolfe, shaking his head, "and most difficult to be repaired--for the plea of ignorance, though it may suffice with me, will scarcely avail you with the Marquis.

Indeed, it can never be urged, since he disowns any connection with these men; and it is suspected that his half-brother, Sir Edward Villiers, goes between them in all their secret transactions.

Of this, however, I know nothing personally, and only tell you what I have heard.

But if it were not almost treasonable to say it, I might add, that his Majesty is far too careless of the means whereby his exchequer is enriched, and his favourites gratified; and, at all events, suffers himself to be too easily imposed upon.

Hence all these patents and monopolies under which we groan.