He had his foibles.

He set his invitations to dinner in a separate category from those of the rag-tag and bobtail of Wellingsford society.

So for the sake of principle he continued to damn the fellow.
On the other hand, for the sake of principle, reparation for injustice, I continued to like the fellow and found pleasure in his company.

For one thing, I hankered after the smoke and smell and din of the front, and Boyce succeeded more than anyone else in satisfying my appetite.
While he talked, as he did freely with me alone, I got near to the grim essence of things.

Also, with the aid of rough military maps, he made actions and strategical movements of which newspaper accounts had given me but a confused notion, as clear as if I had been a chief of staff.
Often he went to considerable trouble in obtaining special information.
He appeared to set himself out to win my esteem.