In the first place, he told James that he regarded him as a fool, for mixing up in an affair in which he had no concern whatever.

Then he congratulated him on the fact that circumstances had broken the chain from which he would never otherwise have freed himself.
"You must not be angry with me," he said, "for having betrayed your confidence, and told the truth to your mother.

I did it in order to console her, by showing her that things were, after all, for the best; and I must say that madam took my news in the very best spirit, and I am sure you will see this by her letter to you.

There is no one I honour and esteem more than I do her, and I was sure, all along, that you were making a mistake in not telling her frankly what your wishes were.

Now you have got a roving commission for a time, and it will be your own fault if you don't make the best of it.