Being all but ruined by his association with the South Sea Company, he was willing for the sake of profit to turn traitor to the king de facto, even as thirty years ago, actuated by similar motives, he had turned traitor to the king de jure.
What was one to make of such a man, wondered Mr.Caryll.If he were equipped with wit enough to apprehend the baseness of his conduct, he would be easily understood and it would be easy to despise him.

But Mr.
Caryll perceived that he was dealing with one who never probed into the deeps of anything--himself and his own conduct least of all--and that a deplorable lack of perception, of understanding almost, deprived his lordship of the power to feel as most men feel, to judge as most men judge.

And hence was it that Mr.Caryll thought him a subject for pity rather than contempt.

Even in that other thirty-year-old matter that so closely touched Mr.Caryll, the latter was sure that the same pitiful shortcomings might be urged in the man's excuse.
Meanwhile, behind him at Stretton House, Mr.Caryll had left a scene of strife between Lady Ostermore and her son on one side and Lord Ostermore on the other.

Weak and vacillating as he was in most things, it seemed that the earl could be strong in his dislike of his son, and firm in his determination not to condone the infamy of his behavior toward Hortensia Winthrop.
"The fault is yours," Rotherby sought to excuse himself again--employing the old argument, and in an angry, contemptuous tone that was entirely unfilial.