Sentence:  The Emperor smiled more than a half smile. / "I am not sure," he said, "that any harm was done, anyhow." / "What!" cried Brinnaria. "You excuse me? You defend me?" / "Softly! Softly!" the Emperor <WSD>caveatted</WSD>, raising his hand. "I do not acquit you nor exonerate you. But I do make allowances.nb..." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To qualify a statement with a caveat or proviso.