such terms as made his ears tingle and his hands itch to be at work in
her defence; for, with smirks and sneers and innuendoes, her escapade
with Lord Rotherby continued to furnish a topic for the town as her
ladyship had sworn it would. Yet by what right could he espouse her
cause with any one of her defamers without bringing her fair name into
still more odious notoriety?

And meanwhile he knew that he was under strict surveillance from Mr.
Green; knew that he was watched wherever he went; and nothing but his
confidence that no evidence could be produced against him allowed him to
remain, as he did, all unconcerned of this.

Leduc had more than once seen Mr. Green about Old Palace Yard, besides a
couple of his underlings, one or the other of whom was never absent
from the place, no doubt with intent to observe who came and went at Mr.
Caryll's. Once, indeed, during the absence of master and servant, Mr.
Caryll's lodging was broken into, and on Leduc's return he found a
confusion which told him how thoroughly the place had been ransacked.

If Mr. Caryll had had anything to hide, this would have given him the
hint to take his precautions; but as he had nothing that was in the
least degree in incriminating, he went his ways in supremest unconcern
of the vigilance exerted over him. He used, however, a greater
discretion in the resorts he frequented. And if upon occasion he visited
such Tory meeting-places as the Bell Tavern in King Street or the
Cocoa-Tree in Pall Mall, he was still more often to be found at White's,
that ultra-Whig resort.

It was at this latter house, one evening three or four days after his
meeting with Hortensia in the park, that the chance was afforded him
at last of vindicating her honor in a manner that need not add to the
scandal that was already abroad, nor serve to couple his name with
hers unduly. And it was Lord Rotherby himself who afforded him the
opportunity.

The thing fell out in this wise: Mr. Caryll was at cards with Harry
Collis and Stapleton and Major Gascoigne, in a room above-stairs. There
were at least a dozen others present, some also at play, others merely
lounging. Of the latter was his Grace of Wharton. He was a slender,
graceful gentleman, whose face, if slightly effeminate and markedly
dissipated, was nevertheless of considerable beauty. He was very
splendid in a suit of green camlett and silver lace, and he wore a
flaxen periwig without powder.

He was awaiting Rother