He has no reason to complain of my want of frankness; he knows my opinion of him, and that I am quite inclined to give him a thrashing.

If I wanted to meet his cunning with cunning I should get the worst of it, for he is far superior to me in intrigue.

I shall fare better with him by my own unconcealed mode of fighting, which is new to him and puzzles him; besides it is better suited to my own nature, and more consonant to me than any other.

He is not only sly, but is keen-witted, and he has at once connected the complaint which I have threatened to bring against him with the manuscript which Serapion, the recluse, gave me in his presence.

There it lies--only look.
"Now, being not merely crafty, but a daring rascal too--two qualities which generally contradict each other, for no one who is really prudent lives in disobedience to the laws--he has secretly untied the strings which fastened it.