It was with him a question of stopping his accuser's mouth with whatever mud came under his hands.
"He has no right here.

It is not to be borne.

I know not by what means he has thrust himself among you, but--" "That is a knowledge I can afford your lordship," came Stapleton's steady voice to interrupt the speaker.

"Mr.Caryll is here by my invitation." "And by mine and Gascoigne's here," added Sir Harry Collis, "and I will answer for his quality to any man who doubts it." Rotherby glared at Mr.Caryll's sponsors, struck dumb by this sudden and unexpected refutation of the charge he had leveled.
Wharton, who had stepped aside, knit his brows and flashed his quizzing-glass--through sheer force of habit--upon Lord Rotherby.

Then: "You'll pardon me, Harry," said he, "but you'll see, I hope, that the question is not impertinent; that I put it to the end that we may clearly know with whom we have to deal and what consideration to extend him, what credit to attach to the communication he is to make us touching my lord here.