First, that the Colonel had forgiven his sister on his death-bed.

Second, that he had forgiven everybody else, and had made a most edifying end.

I have myself (in spite of the bishops and the clergy) an unfeigned respect for the Church; but I am firmly persuaded, at the same time, that the devil remained in undisturbed possession of the Honourable John, and that the last abominable act in the life of that abominable man was (saving your presence) to take the clergyman in! This was the sum-total of what I had to tell Mr.Franklin.I remarked that he listened more and more eagerly the longer I went on.

Also, that the story of the Colonel being sent away from his sister's door, on the occasion of his niece's birthday, seemed to strike Mr.Franklin like a shot that had hit the mark.

Though he didn't acknowledge it, I saw that I had made him uneasy, plainly enough, in his face.
"You have said your say, Betteredge," he remarked.