I saw the lots shortly afterwards in Kimber's lodgings--through the window--and I easily made out that there had been a sneaking pretence of lending them till better times.

A man with a smaller knowledge of the world than myself might have been led to suspect that Kimber had held back money from his creditors, and fraudulently bought the goods.

But, besides that I knew for certain he had no money, I knew that this would involve a species of forethought not to be made compatible with the frivolity of a caperer, inoculating other people with capering, for his bread.
As it was the first time I had seen either of those two since the sale, I kept myself in what I call Abeyance.

When selling him up, I had delivered a few remarks--shall I say a little homily ?--concerning Kimber, which the world did regard as more than usually worth notice.

I had come up into my pulpit, it was said, uncommonly like--and a murmur of recognition had repeated his (I will not name whose) title, before I spoke.