"You were at school with him, and knew his nature.

Was it possible for him to do it, Sir ?" "As possible as it is for me to go down to Sevenoaks and shoot my dear old father, who is spending a green and agreeable old age there.

Not that your grandfather, if I may say it without causing pain to you, was either green or agreeable.

He was an uncommonly sharp old man; I might even say a hard one.

As you never saw him, you will not think me rude in saying that much.