He knew the young rascal.

And just when he was at the top of the tree, as you may say, sure enough he made off--goodness knows where." "Lived abroad a great deal, I believe." Sir Peter was anxious to throw a vaguely charitable light on his neighbor's escapades.
"Got into some scrape about a woman, I fancy.

Anyhow he left a pile of debts behind him, and the old man ruined himself paying them." Bristling with curiosity, Sir Peter endeavored to look detached.

But at this point Mr.Vance, remembering, perhaps, that Mr.Nevill Tyson was a great man in his customer's county, and chilled a little by Sir Peter's manner, checked the flow of his reminiscences.

"He was a wild young scamp--another two inches round the waist, sir--but I daresay he's settled down steady enough by this time." "No doubt he has," said Sir Peter, a little loftily.