d; because he was
cautious: because in his letters to Miss Blanche he had from instinct,
or honesty perhaps, refrained from any avowals which might compromise
him. "Don't you remember the lesson I had, sir, in Lady Mirabel's--Miss
Fotheringay's affair? I am not to be caught again, uncle," Arthur said
with mock frankness and humility. Old Pendennis congratulated himself
and his nephew heartily on the latter's prudence and progress, and was
pleased at the position which Arthur was taking as a man of the world.

No doubt, if Warrington had been consulted, his opinion would have been
different: and he would have told Pen that the boy's foolish letters
were better than the man's adroit compliments and slippery gallantries;
that to win the woman he loves, only a knave or a coward advances under
cover, with subterfuges, and a retreat secured behind him: but Pen spoke
not on this matter to Mr. Warrington, knowing pretty well that he was
guilty, and what his friend's verdict would be.

Colonel Altamont had not been for many weeks absent on his foreign tour,
Sir Francis Clavering having retired meanwhile into the country pursuant
to his agreement with Major Pendennis, when the ills of fate began to
fall rather suddenly and heavily upon the sole remaining partner of the
little firm of Shepherd's Inn. When Strong, at parting with Altamont,
refused the loan proffered by the latter in the fulness of his purse and
the generosity of his heart, he made such a sacrifice to conscience and
delicacy as caused him many an after twinge and pang; he and felt--it
was not very many hours in his life he had experienced the feeling--that
in this juncture of his affairs he had been too delicate and too
scrupulous. Why should a fellow in want refuse a kind offer kindly made?
Why should a thirsty man decline a pitcher of water from a friendly
hand, because it was a little soiled? Strong's conscience smote him for
refusing what the other had fairly come by, and generously proffered:
and he thought ruefully, now it was too late, that Altamont's cash
would have been as well in his pocket as in that of the gambling--house
proprietor at Baden or Ems, with whom his Excellency would infallibly
leave his Derby winnings. It was whispered among the tradesmen,
bill-discounters, and others who had commercial dealings with Captain
Strong, that he and the Baronet had parted company, and that the
Captain's "paper" was henceforth of no value. The tradesmen, who had