It chanced that I found a solution the very next day.
Bible, Deuteronomy xxii. 6
if a bird's nest chance to be before thee
Shakespeare
I chanced on this letter.
1843, (w), (w), book 2, ch. XV, Practical — Devotional
Once (..) it chanced that Geoffrey Riddell (w), a Prelate rather troublesome to (w), made a request of him for timber from his woods towards certain edifices going on at (w).
1847, (w), (w), Chapter XVIII
Mr. Mason, shivering as some one chanced to open the door, asked for more coal to be put on the fire, which had burnt out its flame, though its mass of cinder still shone hot and red. The footman who brought the coal, in going out, stopped near Mr. Eshton's chair, and said something to him in a low voice, of which I heard only the words, "old woman,"—"quite troublesome."
(..) while the King and Godwine sate at the table, accompanied with others of the nobilitie, it chanced the cupbearer (as he brought wine to the bourd) to slip with the one foote, and yet by good strength of his other leg, to recover himselfe without falling (..)
1859, (w), (w), ch. VI, The Shoe Maker (Heron Book Centenial Edition)
No crowd was about the door; no people were discernible at any of the many windows; not even a chance passer-by was in the street. An unnatural silence and desertion reigned there.