Evidently he had never done anything nor earned a shilling during all his life and was bringing his family up to follow in his useless footsteps.

The chief note of his character was that intolerable vanity which so often marks men who have nothing whatsoever about which to be vain.

Also he had a great idea of his rights and what was due to him, which he appeared to consider included, upon what ground I could not in the least understand, the reversal of all the Ragnall properties and wealth.

I do not think I need say any more about him, except that he bored me to extinction, especially after his fourth glass of port.
Perhaps, however, the son was worse, for he asked questions without number and when at last I was reduced to silence, lectured me about shooting.

Yes, this callow youth who was at Sandhurst, instructed me, Allan Quatermain, how to kill elephants, he who had never seen an elephant except when he fed it with buns at the Zoo.