I hastened on my errand, taking a boat to Westminster, whence it is a short walk across the Parks to Curzon Street, where my Lord Brockenhurst had his town house. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon: I found carriages and chaises waiting outside the open door, and the hall within filled with servants in livery lolling about and exchanging insolent remarks upon the people who crowded up the stairs. I am little versed in the customs of the Great, but I confess that the continual presence of these insolent and hulking varlets in the house and in all the rooms would be to me a burden intolerable. What says Doctor Johnson? 'The pride of awful state, The golden canopy, the glitt'ring plate, The regal palace, the luxurious board, The liveried army and the menial lord I believe he meant the lords who were obsequious to the Cardinal: we may read it, to suit those times, the impudent menials who lord it over their Master's house. I thought of those lines as I waited, neglected, in the Hall among the lacqueys. Fortunately I was reminded of other lines by the same great author. 'Where won by bribes, by flatteries implored, The groom retails the favours of his Lord.' I turned to one of them whose shoulder knots and his rod of office proclaimed him one in authority. 'Sir,' I said, 'I am the bearer of a letter for his Lordship.' 'Wait, friend, wait. His Lordship will receive presently.' 'Sir. It is an important letter. It is from a lady. I assure you that his Lordship would be much vexed not to receive it.' 'Give it to me, then.' 'Sir. By your leave. It is very important. Can you contrive to put it into his Lordship's hand immediately?' He looked at me with an air of surprise, and made no reply. 'Pardon me, Sir,' I said, taking out my purse, in which were two guineas--all I had in the world--'I forgot to add that I rely on your good offices,' with that I slipped a guinea into his hand. 'Ay--' he said. 'Now you talk sense. Well, Sir, you may trust me. His Lordship shall have the letter within an hour, as soon as his company begins to go.' With this assurance I was fain to be content. So I came away hoping that the fellow would keep his word. This, happily, he did. It was too late at that hour to seek out Matthew in his counting-house. Besides, I confess that I felt pity for the poor wretch thus hastening to destruction. His haggard look at the trial showed the miseries he was suffering. He gave his evidence, as you have heard on the threat that otherwise he would be charged with the other four with conspiracy: and now a misfortune almost as bad was to fall upon him. To go to him would have the appearance of exulting over these misfortunes. Yet it was necessary to tell him.