It was surprising to see what little circumstances affected many.

When I took out my pen and ink to put down the information, which a person was giving me, he became evidently embarrassed and frightened.

He began to excuse himself from staying, by alleging that he had nothing more to communicate, and he took himself away as quickly as he could with decency.

The sight of the pen and ink had lost me so many good evidences, that I was obliged wholly to abandon the use of them, and to betake myself to other means.

I was obliged for the future to commit my tables of questions to memory, and endeavour by practice to put down, after the examination of a person, such answers as he had given me to each of them.
Others went off because it happened that immediately on my interview, I acquainted them with the nature of my errand, and solicited their attendance in London.