And had not the other been a dove all the morning and afternoon?
Yet, jealousy had turned her to a fiend before his eyes.

Then if (which was not probable) no collision took place, what a situation was his! Mrs.Woffington (his buckler from starvation) suspected him, and would distort every word that came from Mrs.Vane's lips.
Triplet's situation was, in fact, that of AEneas in the storm.
"Olim et haec meminisse juvabit--" "But, while present, such things don't please any one a bit." It was the sort of situation we can laugh at, and see the fun of it six months after, if not shipwrecked on it at the time.
With a ghastly smile the poor quaking hypocrite welcomed Mrs.Vane, and professed a world of innocent delight that she had so honored his humble roof.
She interrupted his compliments, and begged him to see whether she was followed by a gentleman in a cloak.
Triplet looked out of the window.
"Sir Charles Pomander!" gasped he.
Sir Charles was at the very door.

If, however, he had intended to mount the stairs he changed his mind, for he suddenly went off round the corner with a businesslike air, real or fictitious.
"He is gone, madam," said Triplet.
Mrs.Vane, the better to escape detection or observation, wore a thick mantle and a hood that concealed her features.

Of these Triplet debarrassed her.
"Sit down, madam;" and he hastily drew a chair so that her back was to the picture.
She was pale, and trembled a little.

She hid her face in her hands a moment, then, recovering her courage, "she begged Mr.Triplet to pardon her for coming to him.