The press photographer described him accurately to Grant.

The average Londoner would have taken him for a county gentleman on a visit to the Agricultural Show at Islington, with a morning at Tattersall's as a variant.

Yet, Sam Weller's extensive and peculiar knowledge of London compared with his as a freshman's with a don's of a university.

It would be hard to assess, in coin of the realm, the value of the political and social secrets stowed away in that big head.
"First, I must put a question or two," he said, smiling at a baby which cooed at him from the shaded depths of a passing perambulator.

"Is there another woman ?" "Yes, the postmaster's daughter, Doris Martin." "Shy, pretty little bird, of course ?" "Everything that is good and beautiful." "Is Grant a Lothario ?" "Excellent chap.