He had made enemies, and still made them, for he had not the art of suffering fools gladly; and, on the other hand, he made no friends.

He had no sense of humour and no general information.

He was, therefore, of no assistance at a dinner-party, but when there was trouble upon the Frontier, or beyond it, he was usually found to be the chief agent in the settlement.
Luffe alone had foreseen and given warning of the danger.

Even Linforth, who was actually superintending the making of the road, had been kept in ignorance.

At times, indeed, some spokesman from among the merchants of Kohara, the city of Chiltistan where year by year the caravans from Central Asia met the caravans from Central India, would come to his tent and expostulate.
"We are better without the road, your Excellency.