"He'll be jolly pleased to show you the ropes.

Give him my best, old boy!" Of course I took the letter.

But I puzzled greatly over the affair.
What could be the meaning of this sudden warm attachment that Archie had formed for me?
Why should he want to pass me along to his cousin at a time when that gentleman, back home after two years in India, would be, no doubt, extremely busy?
I made up my mind I would not present the letter, despite the fact that Archie had with great persistence wrung from me a promise to do so.

I had met many English gentlemen, and I felt they were not the sort--despite the example of Archie--to take a wandering American to their bosoms when he came with a mere letter.

By easy stages I came on to London.