It was not till we were coming down St. Martin's Lane on the way to Whitehall, that my thoughts ran clear again, and I could think upon the designs I had formed. Until then, it seemed to me that I rode as in a dream, seeing my thoughts before me, but having no power to look within or consider myself. One thing too moved before me whenever I closed my eyes; and that was the slow twisting frieze of the five figures against the blue sky. * * * * * I spoke suddenly to James as we went. "You will leave me," I said, "at the Whitehall gate; and go back to my lodgings. Procure a pair of good horses at the Covent Garden inn; and say we will leave them at any place they name on the Dover Road." He answered that he would do so, and it was the first word he had spoken since we had left Tyburn. At the palace-doors I found no difficulty in admittance, for it was the hour for changing guard, and a lieutenant that was known to me let me in at once; so I went straight in and across the court, just as I was, in my dusty clothes and boots, carrying nothing but my riding-whip. My mind now seethed with bitter thoughts and words, now fell into a stupor, and I rehearsed nothing of what I should say to His Majesty, except that I was done with his service and was then going to France for a little, unless it pleased him to have me arrested and hanged too for nothing. Then I would give him back his papers and begone. * * * * * I came up the stairs to Mr. Chiffinch's lodgings, just as himself came out; and he fell back a step when he saw me. "Why, where do you come from?" he asked. "They are after me," I said briefly. "But that is not all." "Why, what else?" said he, staring at me. "I am come from seeing the martyrdoms," I said. "For God's sake!--" he cried; and caught me by the arm and drew me in. "Now have you dined?" he said, when he had me in a chair. "Not yet." He looked at me, fingering his lip. "I suppose you have come to see His Majesty?" he said. I told him, Yes: no more. "And what if His Majesty will not see you?" he asked, trying me. "His Majesty will see me," I said. "I have something for him." Again he hesitated. I think for a minute or two he thought it might be a pistol or a knife that I had for the King. "If I bring you to him," he said, "will you give me your word to remain here till I come for you?" "Yes; I will do that," I said. "But I must see him immediately." "Well--" said Mr. Chiffinch. And then without a word he wheeled and went out of the room. I do not know how long I sat there; but it may have been half an hour. I sat like a dazed man; for I had had no sleep, and what I had seen drove away all desire for it. I sat there, staring, and pondering round and round in circles, like a wheel turning. Now it was of Dorothy; now of the Jesuits; now of His Majesty and Mr. Chiffinch; now again, of the road to Dover, and of what I should do in France.