Verily the time cometh." I had met many of these mad fellows, for the country was full of them, some being disbanded soldiers of the Commonwealth, some ministers who had lost their benefices; but this fellow seemed more crazy than any I had seen: though, indeed, I must confess there was a full measure of truth, if not of charity, in the description of the King's Court on which he presently launched himself with great vigour of declamation and an intense, although ridiculous, exhibition of piety.
"You may be very right, sir----" "My name is Phineas Tate." "You may be very right, friend Phineas," said I, yawning; "but I can't alter all this.

Go and preach to the King." "The King shall be preached to in words that he must hear," he retorted with a frown, "but the time is not yet." "The time now is to seek our beds," said I, smiling.

"Do you lodge here ?" "For this night I lie here.

To-morrow I preach to this city." "Then I fear you are likely to lie in a less comfortable place to-morrow." And bidding him good-night, I turned to go.

But he sprang after me, crying, "Remember, the time is short"; and I doubt whether I should have got rid of him had not Darrell at that moment entered the room.