Quote 141 of 281

From the diary of Samuel Pepys (1663-1703)

... at night to my office, there to do some business.  And being
late at it, comes Mercer to me to tell me that my wife was in bed
and desired me to come home, for they hear, and have night after
night lately heard, noises over their head upon the leads.  Now, it
is strange to think how, knowing that I have a great sum of money in
my house, this puts me into a most mighty affright, that for more
then two hours I could not almost tell what to do or say, but feared
this and that---and remembered that this evening I saw a woman and
two men stand suspiciously in the Entry in the dark; I calling to
them, they made me only this answer: the woman said that the men
came to see her.  But who she was I could not tell.  The truth is,
my house is mighty dangerous, having so many ways to be come to, and
at my windows over the stairs, to see who goes up and down---but if
I escape tonight, I will remedy it.  God preserve us this night
safe.  So at almost 2 a-clock, I home to my house and in great fear
to bed, thinking every running of a mouse really a thief---and so to
sleep, very brokenly all night long---and found all safe in the
morning.

		-- Pepys' Diary, 30 Jan. 1665

Tags: truth god sleep fear clock diary twomen stairs thief mercer sumofmoney affright