If either, he was piling up trouble, should he be discovered.
On leaving the Old Swan, I went back to the palace and met Frances at the Holbein Gate, cloaked and bonneted, ready to go to see her father.
I offered to accompany her, and we took a coach at Charing Cross for Sir Richard's house.
My conscience had troubled me because I had done nothing to clear Hamilton of her unjust suspicions.

Up to that time I had found no opportunity to speak to her privately after my return from Sheerness, nor had I fully made up my mind to try to convince her that George was not guilty of Roger's death.

But when she and I entered the coach to go to her father's house, I broached the subject:-- "You remember, cousin," I began, "what I said to you in Hamilton's presence on the Bourne Path ?" "Every word," she replied.

"It was all true, and I shall be grateful so long as I live." "But what I said at that time did not seem to cause you to hate him ?" I continued, wondering what her reply would be.
"No," she answered, with slight hesitancy.

"It did not." "Is the aversion you now feel toward him the result of what I said at that time ?" I asked.
"No, no," she returned quickly.