And Shrapnel was a black malignant, the foe of the nation's Constitution, deserving of punishment if ever man was; with his ridiculous metaphors, and talk of organs and pianos, orchestras and despotisms, and flying to the sun! How could Nevil listen to the creature! Shrapnel must be a shameless, hypocrite to mask his wickedness from one so clear-sighted as Nevil, and no doubt he indulged in his impudence out of wanton pleasure in it.

His business was to catch young gentlemen of family, and to turn them against their families, plainly.
That was thinking the best of him.

No doubt he had his objects to gain.
'He might have been as impudent as he liked to me; I would have pardoned him!' Rosamund exclaimed.

Personally, you see, she was generous.

On the whole, knowing Everard Romfrey as she did, she wished that she had behaved, albeit perfectly discreet in her behaviour, and conscientiously just, a shade or two differently.