I went in some amazement to Malden, Romilly, and Barlow.

Their acquaintance comprehends, I will venture to say, almost every man worth knowing in the university in every field of study.

They had never heard the appellation applied to me by any man.
Their intimacy with me would of course prevent any person from speaking to them on the subject in an insulting manner; for it is not usual here, whatever your unknown informant may do, for a gentleman who does not wish to be kicked downstairs to reply to a man who mentions another as his particular friend, "Do you mean the blackguard or the novel-reader ?" But I am fully convinced that had the charge prevailed to any extent it must have reached the ears of one of those whom I interrogated.

At all events I have the consolation of not being thought a novel-reader by three or four who are entitled to judge upon the subject, and whether their opinion be of equal value with that of this John-a-Nokes against whom I have to plead I leave you to decide.
But stronger evidence, it seems, is behind.

This gentleman was in company with me.