ten o'clock before
But thither , before she could drive off , she was followed by Mr Gosport , who gravely came to offer his advice that she would immediately lodge an information at the Public Office at Bow Street , that a very suspicious looking man had been observed loitering in those parts , who appeared to harbour most dangerous designs against her person and property . Cecilia was too much confounded to rally or reply , and Mr Gosport returned to his party with his speech unanswered . The rest of the journey was without any new casualty , for late as it was , they escaped being robbed ; but neither robbers nor new casualties were wanting to make it unpleasant to Cecilia ; the incidents which had already happened sufficed for that purpose ; and the consciousness of being so generally betrayed , added to the delay of her recantation , prepared her for nothing but mortifications to herself , and conflicts with Delvile the most bitter and severe . It was near ten o'clock before they arrived in Pall-Mall . The house to which Delvile had given directions was easily found , and the servant sent forward had prepared the people of it for their reception . In the cruellest anxiety and trepidation , Cecilia then counted every moment till Delvile came . She planned an apology for her conduct with all the address of which she was mistress , and determined to bear his disappointment and indignation with firmness ; yet the part she had to act was both hard and artificial ; she sighed to have it over , and repined she must have it at all .