If that were so, it is simply inconceivable that Hobhouse should have remained her lifelong friend. His character is well known. Not only his public but much of his private life is an open book. As a gentleman and a man of honour he was above suspicion. From his long and close intimacy with Byron, there were but few secrets between them; and Hobhouse undoubtedly knew the whole truth of the matter between Byron and his sister. He was Byron's most trusted friend during life, and executor at his death. It has never been disputed that, at the time of the separation, Hobhouse demanded from Lady Byron's representative a formal disavowal of that monstrous charge; otherwise the whole matter would be taken into a court of law. He would allow no equivocation. The charge must either be withdrawn, then and there, or substantiated in open court. When Lady Byron, through her representative, _unreservedly_ disavowed the imputation, Byron was satisfied, and consented to sign the deed of separation. Six months after Byron left England, Hobhouse visited him in Switzerland; and on September 9, 1816, he wrote as follows to Augusta Leigh: 'It would be a great injustice to suppose that [Byron] has dismissed the subject from his thoughts, or indeed from his conversation, _upon any other motive than that which the most bitter of his enemies would commend_. The uniformly tranquil and guarded manner shows the effect which it is meant to hide.... I trust the news from your Lowestoft correspondent [Lady Byron] will not be so bad as it was when I last saw you. Pardon me, dear Mrs. Leigh, if I venture to advise the strictest confinement to very _common_ topics in all you say in that quarter. _Repay kindness in any other way than by confidence._ I say this, not in reference to the lady's character, but as a maxim to serve for all cases. 'Ever most faithfully yours, 'J. C. HOBHOUSE.' This letter shows, not only that the writer was firmly convinced of Mrs. Leigh's innocence, but that he was afraid lest Lady Byron would worm the real secret out of Byron's sister, by appealing, through acts of kindness, to her sense of gratitude. He knew that Mrs. Leigh had a very difficult part to perform. Her loyalty to Byron and Mary Chaworth had already borne a severe test, and he wished her to realize how much depended on her discretion.