He was crooked of back, and quick of temper.

He could digest radishes, and sleep after green tea.
His views of human nature were the views of Diogenes, tempered by Rochefoucauld; his personal habits were slovenly in the last degree; and his favorite boast was that he had outlived all human prejudices.
Such was this singular man, in his more superficial aspects.

What nobler qualities he might possess below the surface, no one had ever discovered.

Mr.Vanstone, it is true, stoutly asserted that "Mr.Clare's worst side was his outside"-- but in this expression of opinion he stood alone among his neighbors.

The association between these two widely-dissimilar men had lasted for many years, and was almost close enough to be called a friendship.