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.