To be deceived was to be disgraced.

What was all his wit and acknowledged cunning if a girl--a Christian girl--could outwit him?
For himself, he could see clearly enough into things to be aware that, as a rule, he could do better by truth than he could by falsehood.

He was not prone to deceive others.

But in such matters he desired ever to have the power with him to keep, as it were, the upper hand.

He would fain read the hearts of others entirely, and know their wishes, and understand their schemes, whereas his own heart and his own desires and his own schemes should only be legible in part.