Sentence:  Cursing these quick retorts of the young gentleman to whom he was so true a friend, Mr. Harthouse <WSD>disembarrassed</WSD> himself of that interview with the smallest conceivable amount of ceremony ... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To get (someone) out of a difficult or embarrassing situation; to free (someone) from the embarrassment ("of" a situation); to relieve (someone "of" a burden, item of clothing, etc.) ("often used reflexively").