CHAPTER VII.
In spite of all his Machiavellian wisdom, Dr.Riccabocca had been foiled in his attempt to seduce Leonard Fairfield into his service, even though he succeeded in partially winning over the widow to his views.

For to her he represented the worldly advantages of the thing.

Lenny would learn to be fit for more than a day-labourer; he would learn gardening, in all its branches,--rise some day to be a head gardener.

"And," said Riccabocca, "I will take care of his book-learning, and teach him whatever he has a head for." "He has a head for everything," said the widow.
"Then," said the wise man, "everything shall go into it." The widow was certainly dazzled; for, as we have seen, she highly prized scholarly distinction, and she knew that the parson looked upon Riccabocca as a wondrous learned man.

But still Riccabocca was said to be a Papist, and suspected to be a conjuror.