148 
Sheridan, as already stated, being away. A great stir too arose in 
Bath. Mathews busied himself to find out where the fugitives. 
had gone, and called naturally enough on the Sheridans as being 
most likely to know. Here Charles Sheridan agreed with him in 
condemning his brother’s conduct and both used the strongest 
language about him, not only did these two agree, but Sheridan’s 
father presently agreed with them, and was, perhaps, more severe. 
In the course of their chat, Charles, we are told, “ unguardedly ” 
dropped these expressions of displeasure. As all his expressions 
must have been of the same tenor why “unguardedly,” is not 
clear. Sheridan left behind him letters against Mathews charging 
him with designing the seduction of Miss Linley, thus throwing 
the blame of the elopement upon him and claiming for himself 
the virtuous roll of saving the girl from the snares of vice and 
dissimulation. Whilst the whereabouts was unknown Mathews 
constantly called on the Sheridans, or as Lefanu puts it rather 
sharply —he never ceased for the four or five weeks the youngsters 
were absent—to haunt the family with inquiries, rumours, and 
other disturbing visitations.* In the new biography this sentence 
is echoed and becomes—this incomprehensible man continued to 
plague the Sheridans with visits and inquiries.} Why should this 
or the man _ be considered incomprehensible. In such 
a case it may be concluded that others also must have 
made inquiry. Mathews, the intimate friend of Mr. Linley 
and the familiar of the lost girl, was angry enough as 
any other would be, and was certainly the first to be justified in 
his anxiety. Lefanu’s account makes this conduct as of the worst 
as “almost avowing in his rage the unprincipled design” which 
this elopement had frustrated. The “almost” here must be noted 
in this pretty insinuation. In the last version this is improved, 
the “almost” is dropped and then we are told as if a. fact—he 
was outrageous and made no scruple of avowing his passion and 
* Moore 53. + Rae 173. + Moore 53. 
