He preferred, as we may perhaps conjecture, to settle in his own mind that it would fit the Duchess of Buckingham, and possibly introduced some of the touches to which Mr.Dilke refers.

He thought it sufficiently disguised to be willing to publish it whilst the person with whom it was naturally identified was still alive.

Had she complained, he would have relied upon those touches, and have equivocated as he equivocated to Hill and Chandos.

He always seems to have fancied that he could conceal himself by very thin disguises.

But he ought to have known, and perhaps did know, that it would be immediately applied to the person who had conferred an obligation.