But of him nothing could make a gentleman, because true gentility and his nature were far apart.

He remained, notwithstanding all his advantages, a cunning, and in his way an able man of business, like his father before him.

For the rest, he was big, florid and presentable, with the bluff and hearty manner which sometimes distinguishes a _faux bonhomme_.

"Honest John" they called him in the neighbourhood, a soubriquet which was of service to him in many ways.
Suddenly Honest John's father died, leaving him well off, though not so rich as he would have liked to be.

At first he thought of leaving Hawk's Hall and going to live at Harwich, where most of his business interests were.