At first they thought that they would have to guard themselves against roguery and double-dealing on the part of the tin workers.

This showed that they had had unpleasant experiences.

For, men who knew their business as well as they did must surely have had some cause for their suspicion.

Baseless suspicion is a trait of ignorant men, and these men were not ignorant.

A burnt child dreads the fire.
I decided to take them as my models, to learn all their virtues and let them know that I was as square in my dealings with them as they were with me.